Draco, in astronomy

Draco [Lat.,=the dragon], northern constellation constellation, in common usage, group of stars that appear to form a configuration in the sky; properly speaking, a constellation is a definite region of the sky in which the configuration of stars is contained.
..... Click the link for more information. lying SE of Ursa Minor and N of Lyra and Hercules. It is traditionally depicted as a dragon. Draco contains the bright star Eltanin (Gamma Draconis). Thuban (Alpha Draconis) was the polestar 5,000 years ago, i.e., it was the star nearest the celestial pole, but because of the precession of the equinoxes precession of the equinoxes, westward motion of the equinoxes along the ecliptic . This motion was first noted by Hipparchus c.120 B.C. The precession is due to the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun on the equatorial bulge of the earth, which causes the
..... Click the link for more information. , the polestar is now Polaris Polaris (pōlâr`ĭs) or North Star,
..... Click the link for more information. . Draco reaches its highest point in the evening sky in July, and is visible throughout the year for observers north of 40°N lat.

Draco, Athenian politician and law codifier

Draco (drā`kō) or Dracon (drā`kŏn), fl. 621 B.C., Athenian politician and law codifier. Of his codification of Athenian customary law only the section dealing with involuntary homicide is preserved. From this and from later accounts in the writings of Aristotle and Plutarch it appears that in Athens the penalty of death was prescribed for the most trivial offense. The code adopted the principle that murder must be punished by the state and not by vendetta vendetta (vĕndĕt`ə) [Ital.,=vengeance], feud between members of two kinship groups to avenge a wrong done to a relative.
..... Click the link for more information. . Though the code was considerably ameliorated by Solon Solon (sō`lən), c.639–c.559 B.C., Athenian statesman, lawgiver, and reformer.
..... Click the link for more information. , its name became a synonym for harsh legislation.

Draco

or Dracon

(flourished 7th century BC) Athenian lawgiver. Almost nothing is known of his life. His harsh legal code (621 BC) punished most crimes, even trivial ones, with death. Solon repealed Draco's code, retaining only the homicide statutes.

Draco

(fl. 621 B.C.) codified Athenian law. [Gk. Hist.: Benét, 286]

See : Lawgiving

Draco (redirected from Draconian)

Draco, in astronomy

Draco, Athenian politician and law codifier

Draco

Draco
(redirected from Draconian)