\b0 By the time he was killed by an arrow loosed by\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht13 Artemis\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , even though she
loved him, the hunter\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht11508 Orion\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , renowned for his beauty and extraordinary strength, had already suffered his share of misfortunes. One day on the island of Chios he fell in love with\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht11311 Merope
\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , but, befuddled by wine, raped her instead of courting her. To efface this dishonor her father blinded him with the help of\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht10 Dionysus\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 . Orion appealed to an oracle, who informed him that he could onl
y regain his sight by exposing his eyes to the rising sun in the East. When Orion reached\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht11207 Lemnos\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , the site of\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht7 Hephaestus\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 ' forge, the god placed his son Cedalion on his should
ers as a guide. Cedalion led him toward the east where the rays of the sun instantly healed his eyes. Orion then went back to his life as a hunter, attracting the attention of Artemis and rousing the suspicions of\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht9 Apollo\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 . The god, fearing that his sister's chastity was under threat, challenged her to an archery contest. Cunningly, he suggested a distant point, far out to sea, as a target. Artemis hit it without difficulty, but the point was actually the head of Orion,
who was swimming to meet her. After his death the handsome hunter was given a place in the heavens, where he shines as the constellation that bears his name.
