Greek and Roman writers related that Hera placed the Hydra and crab as constellations in the night sky after Heracles slew him.[13] When the sun is in the sign of Cancer (Latin for "The Crab"), the constellation Hydra has its head nearby. In fact, both constellations derived from the earlier Babylonian signs: Bashmu ("The Venomous Snake") and Alluttu ("The Crawdad").