Berard Haile

The Pleiades star cluster, a prominent feature in the night sky, has been recognized and imbued with meaning by numerous cultures throughout history. Its visibility along the ecliptic and seasonal appearances, influenced by precession, led to its incorporation into folklore and ritual practices. Across different regions, the cluster is frequently envisioned as a group of sisters, with myths attempting to explain their number. In North Africa, Berber peoples refer to the Pleiades as "daughters of the night" or "the group," associating their rising and setting with seasonal changes vital for nomadic life. The Middle East holds rich traditions, from Mesopotamian astronomical texts using the Pleiades for calendar calculations to biblical references in the Old Testament and Talmudic interpretations. Jewish folklore also weaves narratives involving celestial beings and the Pleiades. Arabic and Islamic traditions recognize the cluster as al-Thurayya, with some suggesting it is the "star" mentioned in the Quran, and its name has become a popular given name and brand identifier. Further east, in Turkey and Iran, the Pleiades are known by distinct names, also serving as common given names. European cultures also attribute significance, with Greek mythology depicting them as the Seven Sisters. Western astrology associates the Pleiades with coping mechanisms and considers them a fixed star, while esoteric interpretations suggest planetary systems revolve around them. Celtic traditions linked the cluster to mourning and funerals due to its rising time during ancient festivals, an association that persisted despite celestial shifts. Baltic, Danish, Hungarian, and Slavic folklore further illustrate diverse personifications and symbolic meanings, ranging from helpful brothers and hens with chicks to mythological figures and calendrical markers.

The Pleiades, a highly visible star cluster on the ecliptic, has been significant across cultures since antiquity. Its heliacal rising and setting, shifting over millennia due to precession, marked important seasonal points for various ancestral groups, influencing folklore and rituals. The constellation is almost universally perceived as a group of seven sisters, with myths often addressing why only six are apparent. Scientific theories suggest this discrepancy might stem from ancient observations of Pleione's visibility as a distinct star, possibly as far back as 100,000 BC.

In Mesopotamia, cuneiform texts dating back to the 7th century BC, with roots in the 26th century BC, detail rules for intercalary months using the Pleiades (Sumerian: MUL.MUL, meaning "stars"). These rules, recorded in the MUL.APIN series, governed the alignment of the moon and Pleiades to maintain a synchronized lunar and solar calendar. The Hebrew Bible mentions the Pleiades (Khima) three times, often alongside Orion, in passages discussing creation and divine power, as seen in the Book of Job. The Talmudic tradition interprets Khima as representing "about one hundred" stars, with some sages suggesting hundreds in the cluster and associating this knowledge with divine revelation. Jewish folklore also presents a myth where a fallen angel's transgression leads to a maiden being placed in the Pleiades.

In Arabic, the Pleiades are known as al-Thurayya, a name adopted into Persian and Turkish and used as a common given name, notably for royalty and public figures, and even for a satellite system. Some Islamic scholars propose al-Thurayya is the "star" referenced in the Quran's Sura An-Najm. A Hadith attributed to Imam Bukhari suggests that if faith were to ascend to the Pleiades, a man from among certain individuals would attain it, highlighting a spiritual significance. In Turkey, the Pleiades are called Ülker, and historically, the term "ülker çerig" described a military tactic, drawing a parallel to the cluster's formation. Ülker is also a popular name and brand.

Greek mythology identifies the Pleiades as the Seven Sisters, a concept also alluded to in ancient Greek poetry. Western astrology, as described by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, associates the Pleiades with coping with sorrow and considers them a fixed star with connections to quartz and fennel. Esoteric astrology posits that seven planetary systems orbit the Pleiades. Celtic traditions linked the cluster to mourning and funerals due to its acronychal rising around the time of ancient festivals for the dead; this association persisted despite precession altering its position. Baltic, Danish, Hungarian, and Slavic folklore offer further interpretations, personifying the Pleiades as helpful figures, celestial animals, or objects used in magical contexts, reflecting their enduring symbolic presence.

“When the Pleiades "fall" with the sunset on the west, it still roughly (at J2000) means the hot, dry summer is coming. When they rise from the east with sunrise, the cold somewhat rainy season is coming. Nomads and others need to brace for these.”

“8 When on the first Nisannu Pleiades and moon are in balance, this year is normal.”

“9 When on the third Nisannu Pleiades and moon are in balance, this year is full.”

“10 When the Pleiades rise on the first Ajaru, this year is normal.”

“11 When the Pleiades rise on the first Simanu, this year is full.”