Ancient Greece - 500-470 BCE Sicily Acragas AR Didrachm NGC XF - Eagle of Zeus

Eagles were prominent among birds in classical antiquity. Legends assign them unique attributes. Aristotle claimed that sea eagles raised only young with the ability to gaze directly at the sun without their eyes watering. Pliny the Elder maintained that eagles were immune to being struck by lightning. Those majestic birds were believed to be endowed with prophetic  properties, to be divine creatures, messengers of Zeus, and an omen of victory. It is said that Zeus himself had transformed himself into an eagle upon occasion. Because of these divine attributes the eagle came to be the symbol of several Greek rulers.

In Greek mythology, Karkinos (Carcinus) was a gigantic Crab that came to the assistance of the Hydra in its battle against Heracles at Lerna. It awoke the Hydra with a sharp pinch to warn of Heracles' advance. Hera, the queen of the gods saw what the Crab did. But Heracles crushed the Crab under foot before slaying the Hydra. Hera grieved for the brave Crab, and wanted to honor his courage and compassion. Therefore Hera made the Crab the stars in the sky. The constellation of Cancer is the Crab now, protecting us all from the comfort of the night sky.