Dog Days of Summer are upon us as the sun beats down and the temperatures increase. These sweltering days have a long history going back to ancient times; they are not just a contemporary phenomenon. What, though, are the Dog Days, and why are they so named?
Imagine that it’s a warm summer day and you’re running to the shade of a tall oak tree. Look up through the foliage and you see Canis Major, a well-known constellation in the sky. And the star Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, is there, flashing brilliantly. You have no idea, but this heavenly occasion heralds in the Dog Days of Summer.
Ancient Greeks and Romans observed the Sirius rising before the sun in summer, linking it to heightened heat due to alignment. Dog Days of Summer earned their name from Sirius, known as the “Dog Star,” rising before the sun in sweltering days.
Beyond the summer heat, the Dog Days held great meaning. For instance, Ancient Greeks associated Dog Days with Sirius’s astrological influence, believing they caused misfortune, madness, and drought, prompting rituals to appease gods.
Though our knowledge of the Dog Days of Summer has changed, their influence on the environment and humans has not. Extreme temperatures and sometimes rains during these warmest summer days can have an impact on animals, agriculture, and ecosystems. Individually, we need to take care to avoid dehydration and shield ourselves from the heat-related ailments that might accompany these sweltering days.
The Origins and Significance of the Dog Days
Knowing the world was greatly aided by the night sky in classical Greek and Roman periods. The Dog Days of Summer originated at this period, more precisely in ancient Greece. Dog Days started when a certain star rose in the sky at this time of year. Known by many as the Greater Dog, Sirius is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.
When Sirius aligned with the Sun, the ancient Greeks and Romans thought that longer days and higher temperatures signalled the Dog Days. They linked this time of year—which often falls in July—to the rising and setting of the constellation Canis Major.
Sirius’s old Greek name, “scorcher,” reflects its significance in the Dog Days. Rising during this time of year signaled the beginning of the warmest and most humid days, which lasted for around 20 days.
Ancient Greek astrology and culture saw the Dog Days as a pivotal time when the hot weather and Sirius alignment have different impacts on the natural world as well as on people. Beyond astrology, the cultural relevance of the Dog Days shaped daily life and activities in Greek culture at this time.
Dog Days of Summer
When Are the Dog Days of Summer?
Since the Dog Days are historically associated with Sirius rising at dawn, the dates of the event can differ from one source to another and have evolved over time. All sources, however, concur that the Dog Days take place in the middle to end of July.
The 40 days from July 3 to August 11 are referred to as the Dog Days here at the Old Farmer’s Almanac. This occurs just after June’s Summer Solstice, which also marks the start of the summer’s harshest heatwaves.
Impact of the Dog Days on the Natural World and You
The Dog Days of Summer, occurring in the northern hemisphere, are notorious for bringing some of the hottest days of summer. These scorching days, often accompanied by rain, have significant effects on both the natural world and individuals.
Further Information about Sirius, the Brightest Star in the Sky
Leaving aside our own Sun, Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. It is even visible during the day with the unaided eye under the proper circumstances. Sirius is one star in the constellation Canis Major, which translates to “Greater Dog.” It follows that the nickname for this large, brash star evolved to be “the Dog Star.”
Considering that Sirius is the brightest star in the sky, finding it is easy. Discover where in the night sky to locate the Dog Star here.
Dog Star Sirius is the Brightest Star in the Sky
Every year in old Egypt, the Nile River flooded, often starting in late June. The floodwaters delivered fertile soil required to produce crops in what was otherwise a desert, hence the inhabitants embraced this event, known as the Inundation.
Though they were unaware of the precise timing of the floods, Egyptians were able to deduce one thing: the water rose on the days when Sirius, also called Sothis, rose before the Sun. So crucial to the Egyptians’ existence were this and the Inundation that the new Moon that appeared on the eastern horizon at the start of each year.
Fortune at This Time?
The ancient Greeks and Romans were less thrilled by Sirius’s arrival than the Egyptians were. For them, the arrival of evil in the shape of sickness, drought, or suffering to their fields was indicated by Sirius.
“Fiery Sirius, bringer of drought and plague to frail mortals, rises and saddens the sky with sinister light,” said the Roman poet Virgil in the Aeneid.
Is superstition all that this is? A 2009 Finnish study examined the conventional wisdom that illnesses are more common on Dog Days. “This study was carried out to dispel the myth that the incidence of infections is higher during the dog days,” the writers stated. Unexpectedly, the myth turned out to be genuine.
Also read: Small Dog Breeds Exploring the Charms Pocket-Sized Companions
Final Thought of Dog Days of Summer
Rich in history and originating in ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures are the Dog Days of Summer. Ancient Greeks and Romans linked the days known as Sirius, named after the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, to superstitions and beliefs about the impact of Sirius’s sun-alignment on the natural world and human affairs. They believed these days coincided with the temperature rising and the arrival of hot, muggy weather.
Greeks and Romans feared Dog Days, foreseeing droughts, diseases, and madness as ominous signs of impending disasters. But in ancient Egypt, the yearly flooding of the Nile—which was important for agriculture and hailed as a good thing—began when Sirius appeared before the sun.
The Dog Days of Summer still represent some of the hottest and most miserable days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, however we interpret them differently now than we did in the past. They can seriously affect the ecology as well as human health, hence it’s important to take care to keep hydrated and cool.
Modern science may have disproved the dog days’ myths, but their cultural and historical importance still fascinates and shapes our perception of the extremes of July.
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