Lyrids: Showers and flowers

Orpheus with Lyre  (Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto)

Although some within the Northern Hemisphere are doubting whether spring will ever really arrive this year, the Lyrids assure us that it will.

Alan Boyle, Science Editor at NBC News, heralds

these flaming leftovers from Comet Thatcher by

comparing them to spring flowers. They will especially dazzle 2013 viewers on the night of April 21-22, when "the meteors should flash every three to six minutes or so."

Because their "streaks appear to emanate from a

point in the constellation Lyra," that constellation

became their namesake.  Lyra, in turn, was named

after the lyre, an Ancient Greek musical instrument

that was allegedly first created by Hermes (and later

tweaked by Orpheus).

It is said that Hermes, messenger of the gods, once stole some sacred cows from Apollo.  Figuring he'd need all the help he could get after Apollo found out, Hermes sacrificed one of these cows to some other gods.  Only its entrails were left, and from these Hermes created the first lyre.  When Apollo finally caught up with him, Hermes was playing it.  The sound was so sweet that Apollo's anger faded.

Orpheus, "a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth," was also in tune with the effects of this instrument.  Wikipedia tells us that he not only charmed "all living things" with his lyre proficiency, but "even stones" as well.  He was known as "the father of songs," and his music even soothed the torments of Hades.

Perhaps a bit of this healing lyre power continues to burn brightly within the Lyrids.  If so, then these April showers will surely bring the May flowers that so many winter-weary Northerners are now craving.    

Resources

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/17/17795142-springtimes-lyrid-meteor-shower-beginning-to-bloom-in-the-night-sky?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus

Copyright April 18, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved