The protecting Mother Camels (Arabic العوائذ alʽawaʼid) is an asterism in the constellation of Draco described by ancient Arabic nomadic tribes. The asterism was interpreted as a ring of mother camels – Beta Draconis (Rastaban), Gamma Draconis (Eltanin), Nu Draconis (Kuma) and Xi Draconis (Grumium) – surrounding a foal (the faint star Alruba), with another mother camel, Mu Draconis (Alrakis) running to join them.[1][2]
The Arabs did not see the constellation Draco as it is now. The Mother Camels were protecting the foal from the attack of two wolves or jackals – Zeta Draconis (Aldhibah) and Eta Draconis (Athebyne). The faint pair Omega Draconis and 27 Draconis was known as the "wolf's claws" (الأظفار الذئب al-ʼaẓfār al-dhiʼb).[1]
