| Fixed star: YED PRIOR | |
| Constellation: Delta (δ) Ophiuchus | |
| Longitude 1900: 00SAG54 | Longitude 2000: 02SAG18 |
| Declination 1900: -03.26′ | Declination 2000: -03.41′ |
| Right ascension: 16h 14m | Latitude: +17.14′ |
| Spectral class: M1 | Magnitude: 3.0 |
The history of the star: Yed Prior
from p.302 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
[A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage
Delta (δ) Ophiuchus, Yed Prior, is a deep yellow star in the left hand of the Serpent Bearer.
Yed Prior, the Former of the two stars in the Hand,— the Arabic Yad (“hand”),— originating with the 17th century German astronomer Bayer, adopted by Flamsteed, and now common. It is sometimes written Jed
It was Leang, a Mast, in China.
Epsilon (ε Yed Posterior), delta (δ, this star Yed Prior) zeta (ζ Han), eta (η Sabik) of Ophiuchus, along with alpha (α Unukalhai), delta (δ), and epsilon (ε) of Serpens, constituted the Nasak al Yamaniyy, “the Southern Boundary Line of the Raudah”, or “Pasture”, which here occupied a large portion of the heavens; other stars in Ophiuchus and Hercules forming the Nasak al Shamiyyah, or Northern Boundary. The stars between these two Nasak or boundaries marked the Raudah or pasture itself and Al Aghnam, the Sheep within it, now the Club of Hercules (Kajam is the main star). These sheep were guarded by the Shepherd and his Dog, the two lucidae or alpha stars marking the heads of Ophiuchus (Ras Alhague the Shepherd) and Hercules (Ras algethi the Dog).
Delta (δ, this star Yed Prior) and epsilon (ε Yed Posterior) point out the left hand grasping the body of the Serpent (Serpens); tau (τ) and nu (ν, Sinistra), the other hand, holding the tail.
Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889].
The astrological influences of the constellation Ophiuchus
According to Ptolemy it is like Saturn and moderately like Venus. It is said to give a passionate, blindly good-hearted, wasteful and easily seduced nature, unseen dangers, enmity and slander. Pliny said that it occasioned much mortality by poisoning. This constellation has also been called Aesculapius and held to rule medicines. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Oin and the 16th Tarot Trump “The Lightning Struck Tower”. [Robson, p.54.]
The astrological influences of the constellation Ophiuchus given by Manilius:
“When Ophiuchus, encircled by the serpent’s great coils, rises he renders the forms of snakes innocuous to those born under him. They will receive snakes into the folds of their flowing robes, and will exchange kisses with these poisonous monsters and suffer no harm.” [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 5, p.333].
“One called Ophiuchus holds apart the serpent which with its mighty spirals [gyris] and twisted body encircles his own, that so he may untie its knots and back that winds in loops. But, bending its supple neck, the serpent looks back and returns; and the other’s hands slide over the loosened coils. The struggle will last for ever, since they wage it on level terms with equal powers.” [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 1, p.31].
The astrological influences of the star Yed Prior
Of the nature of Saturn and Venus. It causes immorality, shamelessness and revolution. [Robson, p.218.]
References:
Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].