SAGITTARIUS: The Archer
Once, there lived a noble centaur named Cheiron. He was semi-divine, as he was the son of God Poseidon. He was the oldest and wisest of all the centaurs and was a skilled archer. One day, Cheiron encountered some drunken centaurs attacking Hercules and Pholus (another centaur). Cheiron came to the aid of Hercules and Pholus but was accidentally wounded by one of Hercules’ poison-tipped arrows. Because Cheiron was immortal, he did not die. Instead he suffered painfully for a long time. Zeus took pity on Cheiron, and not wanting him to live in horrible pain forever, ended his life. To
honour Cheiron and his valiant efforts to help Hercules and Pholus, Zeus placed Sagittarius in the sky, depicting him as a strong and fearless warrior, armed with his bow and arrow.
SCORPIUS: The Scorpion
Once, there was a great hunter named Orion. Orion liked to boast that he was the best hunter who lived and that he could rid the Earth of all creatures should he wish. This angered Gaia, Mother Earth, who then commanded a large scorpion to sting Orion as punishment. The venom of the scorpion was deadly and Orion died instantly. The scorpion was set up in the sky by Gaia to mark her victory. The Goddess Artemis (the Goddess of Hunting), who had loved Orion, placed his image in the sky as well, forming his own constellation. Because Orion had cared so much for his hunting dog, Artemis also put up a star for his dog: Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens. Embroiled in constant conflict, Orion and Scorpio appear to pursue each other across the sky with the annual rising and setting of their constellations.
Despite being set 180 degrees apart from each other, their feud seems to continue with time.