The Greater Dog symbolizes the appearance of Christ as the great King and Victor, whose coming is foretold by the Forerunner. The heart of the whole figure is Sirius — the brightest star in the night sky. In ancient Mesopotamia, this region of the sky was not originally a dog at all: Sirius represented an Arrow, and the surrounding stars — a huge celestial Bow, i.e. an image of the decisive defeat of the enemy. Before Sirius rises Mirzam — 'Announcer', and even earlier appears Procyon — 'one who goes before'. Thus the whole composition says: first the announcement — then the Great One appears, who conquers and reigns.
Full interpretation
Verifiable historical, etymological and topographical statements are accompanied by sources. The theological conclusions are the project’s interpretation according to its published methodology.
The Greater Dog should not be understood only through the later Greek picture of Orion's dog. The oldest Mesopotamian layer of this region of the sky was completely different.[Hunger & Pingree · MUL.APIN][Rogers · Origins][Вавилонские звёздные каталоги][Stellarium · MUL.APIN]
Sirius was associated with MUL.KAK.SI.SÁ — 'Arrow', and nearby lay the constellation MUL.PAN — 'Bow', covering the stars of the modern Greater Dog and Puppis. Researchers consider them as a single ancient complex of Bow and Arrow. Sirius was the bright central point of this image — a directed Arrow.
For the biblical picture this is very significant. The Greater Dog appears in the region of Orion, whom we already see as the coming Messiah and Victor. Beneath Orion's feet lies the defeated enemy, and nearby shines the celestial image of God's decisive defeat of the adversary. Therefore the Greater Dog reveals not another character, but another side of the same Christ: the coming King comes not only to save His people, but finally to crush the enemy's power and establish His Kingdom.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
At the same time, the main star — Sirius — is brighter than any other star in the night sky. The Greek name Seirios rather means 'glowing, scorching', not 'prince', so one should not derive 'Prince' directly from Sirius as Bullinger did. But the celestial composition itself still remarkably fits the image of the King: after the Forerunner appears the brightest luminary of this region, and with it the ancient image of victory over the adversary.
Especially strong is the star Mirzam, β Canis Majoris. It rises immediately before Sirius, and its Arabic name was traditionally understood as 'announcer, proclaiming'. The sequence emerges:[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
Procyon — The one who goes before. Mirzam — Announcer. Sirius — the main brightest appearance.
This strongly resembles the structure of the Gospel: first John comes and announces the Lord, then Christ Himself appears. At the first coming He comes as Savior; in the final fulfillment — as King of kings, before whom all opposing power will fall.[Kunitzsch & Smart][IAU · имена звёзд]
And the sky map reinforces this meaning. Both constellations lie next to Orion: Canis Minor above, Canis Major below Orion and near His feet; Sirius is in the region to which Orion's Belt points. Therefore Canis Minor and Canis Major are best read not independently of each other, but as a sequence of one event:
Forerunner → announcement → appearance of the King → victory over the enemy.
Thus the difference between them becomes clear. Canis Minor is not Christ, but the one who goes before Him. Canis Major is not just a 'second dog', but the celestial image of the great King who has appeared, whom the Forerunner announced.