ORI'ON (Lat.. from Gk. In Greek legend, a giant hunter; also the name of a con stellation. In the Homeric poem: Orion appears as the name of a constellation, conceived as a hunter who is watched by the bear, and of a handsome hero, beloved by Eos and slain by Artemis, hut there is no hint of a connection be tween the twit stories. Later writers preserve a multitude of local legends about Orion. which cannot be united into a consistent narrative. In Iitpotia he enjoyed special fame, as a hunter of mighty strength, who, while reputed son of King Hyrieus, was borne from the earth by the inter vention of three gods. A Cretan version made him the son of Euryale, daughter of Minn.s and Poseidon, who gave him the power of traversing the sea. Here also he appears as a hunter and the chosen companion of Artemis and Leto. The Chians connected him with their local hero (Eno pion, for whose daughter Merope he became a suitor. Here too he. with the aid of Artemis, cleared the land of wild beasts. but (Enopion still refused to give hint his daughter, and finally by strategy blinded him; according to one ver sion, because Orion in drunkenness had offered violence to \lerope. Orion forced a by to him to the rising sun. whose rays, falling full upon his eyes. restored their sight, or Wa, helped to this cure by liephxstus, and returned to take vengeance on (Enopion. who was saved by Posei
don. Front the Homeric story of his death was developed a series of stories of his love for Arte mis, who slew him when his passion became t..0 violent. or she loved hint and only killed him by accident. for Apollo. in his anger at her love, ehalletwed her to hit a black spot on the sea she shot her arrow and found only too late that it was the head of her lover. who was swimming.. In general these myths seem to have no connec tion with the constellation, but in the following it is difficult not to see astronomical origin. Orion in Iheotht met Pkione and her daughters. and pursued them for. five years till they were eaught up into the sky as the Pleiades. who still seemed to flee before the giant. In Crete Orion boasted that he would kill all beast- upon the earth. whereupon sent a scorpion. who killed the hunter by stinging his heel. Artemis -et both in the sky. and Orion -till haste!- to set as he sees the scorpion appear above the horizon.
ORION, .'re-lay. A town of Luzon, Philip pi ne., in the Province of Bataan. situated near the west shore of Manila Bay, four miles south of Balanga (Map: Luzon, D 8). Population, in 1896, 10,373.