Cepheus is a noun of Greek origin that can refer to multiple concepts. In ancient Greek mythology, Cepheus was the name of a legendary king of Ethiopia who was married to Cassiopeia and was the father of Andromeda. The constellation Cepheus, which is located in the northern hemisphere, is named after this king.
In astronomy, Cepheus is also the name of a class of variable stars called Cepheid variables. These stars are characterized by their regular pulsations in brightness, which have been used as important indicators for measuring astronomical distances. Cepheid variables played a crucial role in the discovery of the expanding universe and the determination of the Hubble constant.
Furthermore, Cepheus can also be an alternative spelling of the name Cepheas, which is of Hebrew origin. In the Bible, Cepheus was mentioned in the New Testament as one of the seventy disciples appointed by Jesus Christ. However, it is important to note that this usage of Cepheus as a personal name is relatively uncommon.
In summary, Cepheus is a term with various meanings depending on the context. It can refer to a legendary king of Ethiopia in Greek mythology, a constellation in astronomy, a class of variable stars, or an alternative spelling of the name Cepheas with biblical connotations.
