NASA features Berenice’s Hair constellation named after Egyptian Queen

The lock of hair that was stolen from an Egyptian Queen and placed in the stars: The constellation shown above is called Berenice’s Hair and it’s the only modern constellation to be named in honor of a real person from history. Queen Berenice II of Egypt was born in 280 BC and married King Ptolemy III. She’s known for ruling the country while her husband led a war against Antiochus III the Great. On another note, she’s also known for having beautiful hair, and the myth foretells that she sacrificed a lock to the Goddess Aphrodite as an offering to ensure her husband’s safe return from battle. It was that same lock that was stolen and placed among the stars, creating the constellation we see centuries later.