A Guide to Bootes – 2c 295
As stated by Wikipedia, “In Greek folklore, the god of wine, Bacchus, gives a feast to the hero Bacchus and his friends after winning a contest in which each contestant must wear a helmet adorned with a ram’s horn.” In modern times, bootes are primarily used as outer wear for men. They can be found in a variety of colors and materials, including leather, suede, and leatherette. They are designed to protect the wearer’s toes, ankles, and heels, while also creating a show-worthy look.
Bootes come in many shapes and sizes, varying from those that are short to those that are long and sturdier. The word “boot” comes from a combination of two Latin terms, meaning boot or shoe and heel. Bootes are believed to honor the constellations. Bootes is identified with the Greek zodiac signs (Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Taurus, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces) and the Egyptian realm of Ankh (Upper Pair) and Set (Lower Pair). In Greek mythology, Cupid was the personification of the ram, while Optimus Prime is the personification of the horse.
Bootes were used in ancient times as protection from harm, possibly as a talisman, or charms in addition to footwear. They may also have been used to make the wearer invisible at night, or to ward off evil spirits. Bootees were commonly worn by priests, who wore special shoes to protect their feet while traveling. They were also worn by Knights, and some of them even had armor-like soles. Some bootees were made with charms to ward off evil. Among the most popular charms worn by Knights were thorns, which symbolized the thorns suffered by King Arthur, and an eye patch that protected the eyes.
The Bootes constellation, although not directly visible in the night sky, can be found easily with the help of a powerful telescope. To the casual observer, the Bootes constellation is a faint, elongated pattern much like the border of a sailboat’s planking; but to an expert, it is much more than that. It is a well-defined, concentric circle encompassing many stars in the Northern hemisphere. Though it cannot be seen with the unaided eye, it is perhaps the most visible component of our solar system, and is the reason why it is called the Bootes.