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The Behenian fixed stars are a selection of fifteen stars considered especially useful for magical applications in the medieval astrology of Europe and the Arab world. Their name derives from the Arabic bahman, "root," as each was considered a source of astrological power for one or more planets. Each is also connected with a gemstone and plant that would be used in rituals meant to draw the star's influence (e.g., into a talisman). When a planet was within six degrees of an associated star, this influence was thought to be particularly strong.
History
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa discussed them in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy (Book II, chapters 47 & 52) as the Behenii (singular Behenius), describing their magical workings and sigils. He attributed these to Hermes Trismegistus, as was common with occult traditions in the Middle Ages. Their true origin remains unknown, though Sir Wallis Budge suspects a possible Sumerian source.
Table of Behenian stars
The following table uses symbols from a 1531 quarto edition of Agrippa, but other forms exist. Where the name used in old texts differs from the one in use today, the modern form is given first.
Name | Astronomical designation | Longitude (2020)[1][a] |
Planet | Gemstone | Plant | Symbol | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algol | Caput Larvæ | Beta Persei | 26 Taurus 26 | Saturn & Jupiter | diamond | black hellebore | |
Alcyone | (or Pleiades) | Eta Tauri | 00 Gemini 16 | Moon & Mars | rock crystal | fennel | |
Aldebaran | Aldaboram | Alpha Tauri | 10 Gemini 04 | Mars & Venus | ruby / garnet | milk thistle | |
Capella | Alhayhoch, Hircus | Alpha Aurigæ | 22 Gemini 08 | Jupiter & Saturn | sapphire | thyme | |
Sirius | Canis major | Alpha Canis Majoris | 14 Cancer 21 | Venus | beryl | juniper | |
Procyon | Canis minor | Alpha Canis Minoris | 26 Cancer 03 | Mercury & Mars | agate | water buttercup | |
Regulus | Cor leonis | Alpha Leonis | 00 Virgo 06 | Jupiter & Mars | garnet | mugwort | |
Alkaid | Tail of the Great Bear | Eta Ursae Majoris | 27 Virgo 12 | Venus & Moon | magnet | succory | |
Algorab | Corvi | Delta Corvi | 13 Libra 43 | Saturn & Mars | onyx | burdock | |
Spica | Alpha Virginis | 24 Libra 06 | Venus & Mercury | emerald | sage | ||
Arcturus | Alchameth | Alpha Boötis | 24 Libra 30 | Mars & Jupiter | jasper | plantain | |
Alphecca | Elpheia | Alpha Coronæ Borealis | 12 Scorpio 34 | Venus & Mars | topaz | rosemary | |
Antares | Cor scorpii | Alpha Scorpii | 10 Sagittarius 01 | Venus & Jupiter | sardonyx | birthwort | |
Vega | Vultur cadens | Alpha Lyræ | 15 Capricorn 34 | Mercury & Venus | chrysolite | winter savory | |
Deneb Algedi | Cauda capricorni | Delta Capricorni | 23 Aquarius 48 | Saturn & Mercury | chalcedony | marjoram |
See also
References
Notes
- ^ These locations are given in celestial longitude, the relatively fixed reference frame of tropical signs used in astrology. Due to the precession of the equinoxes the fixed stars appear to precess through space at the rate of ~1 degree of arc per 72 years. In order to fix the measurement to a specific date and degree of arc the values published are utilized for the year 2020. All celestial bodies, including stars and constellations, are measured according to various fixed frameworks, in this instance a geocentric tropical zodiac. Cf. Heliocentric model as a fixed framework and sidereal and tropical astrology to identify the measuring system used here. For example, "26 Taurus 10" means 26 degrees 10 minutes of the tropical sign Taurus. See ecliptic coordinate system for further information.
Citations
Works cited
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2021) |
- Budge, E. A. Wallis (1930). Amulets and Superstitions. London, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0486235734, 978-0486235738
- Robson, Vivian E. (1979). The Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology. Samuel Weiser. ISBN 0877284636, 978-0877284635
External links
- Hermes Trismegistus on the Fifteen Fixed Stars features alternate symbols.