Auriga (constellation) horizon. A large constellation, with an area of 657 square degrees, it is half the size of the largest constellation, Hydra. Its brightest star, Capella, is an unusual multiple star system among the brightest stars in the night sky. Beta Aurigae is an interesting variable star in the constellation; Epsilon Aurigae, a nearby eclipsing binary with an unusually long period, has been studied intensively. Because of its position near the winter Milky Way, Auriga has many bright open clusters in its borders, including M36, M37, and M38, popular targets for amateur astronomers. In addition, it has one prominent nebula, the
Porphyrius the Charioteer his history, is collected from these statues. They are described in detail by a selection of epigrams from the Greek anthology, and by The Chronicle of John Malalas. Although his precise age is not known, Porphyrius was described as a mature youth, as a youngish man, and as a youth with the first down on his cheeks. Porphyrius was unique in that, at a young age, he was not only victorious in his many races, but he was the youngest charioteer to have a monument built honoring him. Traditionally a charioteer would have a statue built after his retirement (usually