| Fixed star: KAUS MEDIUS | |
| Constellation: Delta (δ) Sagittarius | |
| Longitude 1900: 03CAP11 | Longitude 2000: 04CAP35 |
| Declination 1900: -29.52′ | Declination 2000: -29.49′ |
| Right ascension: 18h 20m | Latitude: -06.28′ |
| Spectral class: K2 | Magnitude: 2.8 |
The history of the star: Kaus Medius
from p.358 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
[A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage
Delta (δ) Sagittarius, Kaus Medius, or Kaus Media, is a double star, 2.8 and 14.5, orange yellow and bluish in the middle of the Archer’s bow.
Kaus Meridionalis, or Media, is Arabic and Latin for the Middle of the Bow. It marked the junction of the two Ashadha [the 18th nakshatra or Hindu moon mansion Purva Ashadha, and the 19th nakshatra Uttara Ashadha].
Delta (δ Kaus Medius) with gamma (γ Alnasl) and epsilon (ε Kaus Australis), was the Akkadian Sin-nun-tu, or Si-nu-nu-tum, the Swallow.
In ancient Arabia the two small groups of stars now marking the head and the vane of the Archer’s arrow were of much note as relics of still earlier asterisms, as well as a lunar station. The westernmost of these, — gamma (Alnasl), delta (this star Kaus Medius), epsilon (Kaus Australis), and eta — were Al Na’am al Warid, the Going Ostriches; and the easternmost, — sigma (Nunki), zeta (Ascella), phi, chi, and tau, — Al Na’am al Sadirah, the Returning Ostriches, passing to and from the celestial river, the Milky Way, with the star lambda (Kaus Borealis) for their Keeper.
Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889].
The Lunar Mansions
Kaus Medius marked the junction of the two Ashadha [the 18th nakshatra or Hindu moon mansion Purva Ashadha, and the 19th nakshatra Uttara Ashadha]. Robson has Kaus Medius as marking the 19th nakshatra Uttara Ashadha. The Latter Unconquered. Symbol, an Elephant’s Tusk, or, together with the 18th asterism, a Bed. Regents, Apas, Waters, and Visve Devas, the Combined Gods. Ruled by the Sun.
Influences of the 19th Hindu Moon Mansion Uttara Ashadha: A stable asterism belonging to the Kshattriya caste and favorable for coronations, expiatory ceremonies, planting of trees, sowing of seeds, building of towns, and matters of a permanent nature when containing the Moon. Those born on the lunar day will be honorable, handsome, happy, religious, fond of large animals and will be soldiers or wrestlers. With Moon here at birth native will be obedient, polite, popular, grateful and have many friends. Rules wash-houses and the hips. [Robson, p.83.]
The astrological influences of the constellation Sagittarius
The following are Ptolemy’s remarks: “The stars at the point of the arrow in Sagittarius have influence similar to that of Mars and the Moon: those on the bow, and at the grasp of the hand, act like Jupiter and Mars . . . those in the waist and in the back resemble Jupiter, and also Mercury moderately: those in the feet, Jupiter and Saturn.” … By the Kabalists Sagittarius is associated with the Hebrew letter Vau and the 6th Tarot Trump “The Lovers.” [Robson, p.60.]
The astrological influences of the constellation Sagittarius given by Manilius:
“As for the Archer, when the foremost portion of his cloak rises, he will give birth to hearts renowned in war and will conduct the conqueror, celebrating great triumphs in the sight of all, to his country’s citadels. Such a one will build high walls (moenia from Latin murus) one moment and pull them down the next. But if Fortune favors them too generously with success, the mark of her envy is to be seen on their faces, for she works cruel havoc upon their features. So was it that a dread warrior paid for his victories at the Trebia, Cannae, and the Lake, even before the hour of his retreat, with such disfigurement.” [Translator’s note: *Hanibal who lost an eye (Livy 22.2.11: Sagittarius is one-eyed; see p.103] [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 4, p.267]
“But they whose lot it is to be born under the Centaur of double form delight in yoking a team, in bringing a fiery horse to obey the pliant reins, in following herds which graze all over the grasslands, and in imposing a master on every kind of quadruped and taming them: they soften tigers, rid the lion of his fierceness, speak to the elephant and through speech adapt its huge bulk to human skills in a variety of displays. Indeed, in the stars of this constellation the human form is blended with a beast’s and placed above it; wherefore it has lordship over beasts. And because it carries a shaft poised on drawn bow, it imparts strength to limb and keenness to the intellect, swiftness of movement, and an indefatigable spirit.” [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 4, p.241.]
References:
Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].