The constellation of Hercules, the hero. Hercules is an important spring and summmer constellation for northern observers. It lies between Lyra and Corona Borealis and contains many bright stars. The constellation has long been associated with the figure of a kneeling man. He is shown on Assyrian texts of 3000 BC with a foot on the head of the dragon, Draco. At this time he was known as Izhdubar and was connected with sun worship. Since then, many cultures have given him different names. Hercules, or Heracles, was a hero of early Greek mythology, who completed twelve seemingly impossible tasks or labours. The son of Zeus by a mortal mother, he then became a full god. See "Observing the constellations", page 102.