| Fixed star: ALNILAM | |
| Constellation: Epsilon (ε) Orion | |
| Longitude 1900: 22GEM04 | Longitude 2000: 23GEM28 |
| Declination 1900: -01.16′ | Declination 2000: -01.12′ |
| Right ascension: 05h 36m | Latitude: -24.30′ |
| Spectral class: B0 | Magnitude: 1.8 |
The history of the star: Alnilam
from p.314 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
Epsilon (ε) Orion, Alnilam, is a brilliant white star occupying the central position in Orion‘s belt.
Alnilam, Anilam, Ainilam, and Alnihan are from Al Nitham, or Al Nathm, the String of Pearls, or, as British physicist Robert Recorde (1500-1558) said, the Bullions set in the middle of Orion’s Belt.
It portended fleeting public honors to those born under its influence.
Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889].
The Belt of Orion
from p.315 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
[A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage
Epsilon (ε Alnilam), zeta (ζ Alnitak), and delta (δ Mintaka), form the Belt of Orion
One of the most obvious features people see in the sky is the three stars that form the “belt” across the middle of Orion; three stars in a row that appear to us of almost equal size and of equal distance from each other; Mintaka, the westernmost star in the belt, comes from the Arabic word for “belt” Alnilam, this center star in the belt, means “a belt of pearls” and Alnitak, the eastern-most star, means the girdle.
These Arabian titles of delta (δ), epsilon (ε), and zeta (ζ), although now applied to them individually, were at first indiscriminately used for the three together; but they had other names also,— Al Nijad, the Belt; Al Nasak, the Line; Al Alkat, the Golden Grains, Nuts, or Spangles; and Fakar al Jauzah, the Vertebrae in the Jauzah’s (Orion‘s) back. Niebuhr cited the modern Arabic Al Mizan al H-akk, the Accurate Scale-beam, so distinguishing them from the curved line of the fainter , theta (θ), iota (ι), , and kappa (κ), Al Mizan al Batil, the False Scale-beam. The Chinese similarly knew them as a Weighing-beam, with the stars of the sword as a weight at one end.
They were the Jugula and Jugulae of Plautus, Varro, and others in Roman literature; the Balteus, or Belt, and the Vagina, or Scabbard, of Germanicus. The Zona of Ovid (43 B.C.-18?A.D.) may have been taken from the Zone of Aristotle.
The early Hindus called them Isus Trikanda, the Three-jointed Arrow; but the later transferred to it the nakshatra (Hindu Moon Mansion) title, Mrigashiras
The Sogdian Iranian Rashnawand and the Khorasmian (east of Persia) Khawiya have significations akin to our word “Rectitude,” which this straight line of stars personified. The Rabbi Isaac Israel said that it was the Mazzaroth, Mazzaloth, or Mazlatha that most of his nation applied to the zodiac.
The Italian astronomer Riccioli (1598-1671) cited Baculus Jacobi, which became in popular English speech Jacob’s Rod or Staff,—the German Jakob Stab,— from the tradition given by Eusebius that Israel was an astrologer, as, indeed, he doubtless was; and some had it Peter’s Staff. Similarly, it was the Norse Fiskikallar, or Staff; the Scandinavian Frigge Rok, Frigg’s, or Freya’s, Distaff,— in West Gothland Frigge Rakken— and Maria Rok, Mary’s Distaff; in Schleswig, Peri-pik. In Lapland it was altered to Kalevan Miekka, Kaleva’s Sword, or still more changed to Niallar, a Tavern; while the Greenlanders had a very different figure here,— Siktut, the Seal-hunters, bewildered when lost at sea, and transferred together to the sky.
The native Australians knew the stars as Young Men dancing a corroboree, the Pleiades being the Maidens playing for them; and the Poignave Indians of the Orinoco, according to Von Humboldt, as Fuebot, a word that he said resembled the Phoenician.
The University of Leipsic, in 1807, gave to the Belt and the stars in the Sword the new title Napoleon, which a retaliating Englishman offset by Nelson; but neither of these has been recognized on star-maps or globes.
{p.316} Seamen have called it the Golden Yard-arm; tradesmen, the , or Ell, the Ell and Yard, the Yard-stick, and the Yard-wand, as occupying 3° between the outer stars,— the Elwand of Gavin Douglas; Catholics, Our Lady’s Wand; and the husbandmen of France and along the Rhine, Rateau, the Rake. In Upper Germany it has been the Three Mowers; and it is often the Magi, the Three Kings, the Three Marys, or simply the Three Stars, that Tennyson had in his Princess,—
“those three stars of the airy Giants’ zone
That glitter burnished by the frosty dark.”
The celestial equator now passes through the Belt, but was 12° below it 4000 years ago.
Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889].
The astrological influences of the constellation Orion
Legend: The giant Orion was created out of an ox-hide by the Gods, Jupiter, Neptune and Mercury, at the request of Hyreus who had entertained them. He was blinded by Oenopion (the name means “wine-faced”) for having raped Merope, Oenopion’s daughter, but recovered his sight by exposing his eyes to the rising sun. In consequence of his boast that he could slay any beast bred upon the earth the scorpion (Scorpius) was brought forth and Orion died from its sting. [Robson, p.55.]
Influences: According to Ptolemy the bright stars with the exception of Betelgeuze and Bellatrix are like Jupiter and Saturn. It is said to give a strong and dignified nature, self-confidence, inconstancy, arrogance, violence, impiety, prosperity in trade and particularly by voyages or abroad, but danger of treachery and poison. It was thought by the Romans to be very harmful to cattle and productive of storms. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Aleph and the 1st Tarot Trump “The Juggler.” [Robson, p.55.]
The astrological influences of the constellation Orion given by Manilius:
“Near neighbor to the Twins (Gemini), Orion may be seen stretching his arms over a vast expanse of sky and rising to the stars with no less huge a stride. A single light marks each of his shining shoulders, and three aslant trace the downward line of his sword: but three mark Orion’s head, which is imbedded in high heaven with his countenance remote. It is Orion who leads the constellations as they speed over the full circuit of heaven.” [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD. p.35.]
Orion will fashion alert minds and agile bodies, souls prompt to respond to duty’s call, and hearts which press on with unflagging energy in spite of every trial. A son of Orion’s will be worth a multitude and will seem to dwell in every quarter of the city; flying from door to door with the one word of morning greeting, he will enjoy the friendship of all.” [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD. p.305.]
The astrological influences of the star Alnilam
According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Jupiter and Saturn; and to Alvidas of Mercury and Saturn. It gives fleeting public honors. [Robson, p.128.]
The star Alnilam portends public honors to all those born under its influence. It is also said to indicate a good nut crop. When rising, Alnilam. together with Alnitak and Mintaka, portend irreligious and treacherous individuals. These stars in medieval times were said to presage those who were “passionately devoted to hunting, but not noble hunting with falcon or bow”. Aspected by Saturn, the indications are for excellent fishermen, and in a female chart, any of these three stars rising or aspected by both Mars and a benefic portend a shrew. When setting and aspected by Mars any of these three stars indicate individuals who will incur all kinds of dangers. [Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990, p.44.]
General influence of the Cingula Orionis (Orion’s Belt): The joint influence is to give strength, energy, industry, organizing abilities, notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness, a sharp mind and a good memory. [Robson, p.156.]
Cingula Orionis with a malefic and the Moon at the same time with Markab (23 Pisces): death at human hands. [Robson, p.157.]
Cingula Orionis rising: Legacies, love or dissipation, gravity and austerity. [Robson, p.156.]
Alnilam with the Sun: Rash, headstrong, surly. If also culminating, military preferment and gain. [Robson, p.128.]
Cingula Orionis with Sun: Notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness. [Robson, p.157.]
Alnilam with the Moon: Many sudden and unexpected losses and reverses, much help from friends, ill health of family. [Robson, p.129.]
Cingula Orionis with Moon: Blindness of at least one eye, new and influential friends, valuable gifts, love of respectable women. If a malefic be with Markab, drowning. If the moon is with Saturn also, drowning and assassination. [Robson, p.157.]
Influences for Alnilam alone:
Alnilam with Mercury: hasty, quick temper, quarrels with associates, domestic disharmony through actions, troubles through writings and opposite sex. [Robson, p.129.]
With Venus: Trouble through love affairs, scandal, enemies among women. [Robson].
With Mars: Quarrels, loss by lawsuits, domestic disharmony, bad health, violent death. [Robson, p.129.]
With Jupiter: Legal or Church preferment but danger of disgrace, loss by speculation, trouble through relatives and foreign affairs. [Robson, p.129.]
With Saturn: Courageous, domestic disharmony, leaves home early, successful but many unexpected losses, favorable for health. [Robson, p.129.]
With Uranus: Scientific ability, critical, enthusiastic, too many interests, may practice medicine or invent new surgical appliances but reaps no gain from them, many troubles and annoyances, disharmony with brothers and sisters who may cheat native out of inheritance, loss through law and in business, several marriages, enmity between native and partner’s relatives, unfavorable for children, sudden death in middle age while travelling, leaving affairs involved in litigation. [Robson, p.129.]
With Neptune: Honest, outspoken, hasty in speech, rash and impulsive, offends others through irreligious speech, business and mercantile pursuits or engaged in science, may be head of learned institution or connected with large companies, fond of speculation, sports and the water, quick and level headed in emergencies, many friends but loss through some, danger of accidents, domestic harmony, dies before old age. [Robson, p.129.]
References:
Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].