Fixed star:  EL NATH
Constellation:  Beta (β) Taurus
Longitude 1900: 21GEM11	Longitude 2000: 22GEM35
Declination 1900:  +28.31′	Declination 2000:  +28.36′
Right ascension:  05h 26m	Latitude:  +05.23′
Spectral class:  B7	Magnitude:  1.8

The history of the star: El Nath

from p.89 and p.390 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
[A scanned copy of page 89 can be viewed on this webpage

Beta (β) Taurus, El Nath, is a double brilliant pure white and pale gray star, marking the tip of the northern or left horn of the Bull. This star also has the redundant Bayer designation gamma γ Auriga, or γ Aur, which is today very rarely used.

This star, El Nath, beta (β) Taurus, was once the gamma-star of Auriga, it is now astronomically assigned to Taurus and is situated on tip of the left horn of the Bull. It has been considered as belonging to either constellation; Burritt’s Atlas calling it Aurigae or El Nath. As a member of Auriga it lies on the right ankle of the Reinholder (see picture in the constellation Auriga), and was the Arabic Al Ka’b dhi’l Inan, usually translated “the Heel of the Rein-holder” though its position is on the ankle.

The Arabic spelling for El Nath is An-Nath (), “The butting” from Al Natih, “the Butting One”, located on the tip of the northern horn of the Bull, 5° from zeta, (Al Hecka) similarly placed on the tip of the southern horn. This title El Nath, also appears for Aries and its alpha star Hamal

From the earliest days of descriptive astronomy it has been identical with the star Al Nath, the beta (β) of Taurus at the extremity of the right horn, and the Greek astronomer Aratus, circa 270 B.C., so mentioned it. Vitruvius, however, said that it was Aurigae Manus, because the Charioteer (Auriga) was supposed to hold it in his hand, which would imply a very different drawing from that of Rome, Greece, and our own; and Father Hell, in 1769, {p.90} correctly had this expression for the star theta (θ). The later Arabian astronomers also considered it in Taurus by designating it as Al Karn al Thaur al Shamaliyyah, the Northern Horn of the Bull; but the 13th century Persian astronomical writer Al Kazwini adhered to Auriga by giving “the two in the ankles” as Al Tawabi al Ayyuk, the Goat’s Attendants, Ideler identifying these with gamma (γ) and iota (ι).

In Babylonia it was Shur-narkabti-sha-iltanu, the “Star in the Bull towards the North”, or the “Northern Star towards the Chariot”, referring to the Chariot of Auriga, — and marked the 6th ecliptic constellation.

With Capella and other stars in Auriga it was the Chinese Woo Chay, a “Fire-carriage”.

Among the Hindus it represented Agni, the god of fire, and commonly bore that title; as also the similar Hutabhuj, the “Devourer of the Sacrifice”.

Astrologers said that El Nath portended eminence and fortune to all who could claim it as their natal star.

Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889].

The astrological influences of the constellation Taurus

Legend: Jupiter, assuming the form of a bull, mingled with the herd when Europa, with whom he was infatuated, and her maidens disported themselves on the sea-shore. Encouraged by the tameness of the bull Europa mounted it, whereupon the God rushed into the sea and bore her away to Crete. According to other accounts Taurus represents Io whom Jupiter turned into a cow in order to deceive his wife Juno. [Robson, p.62-63.]

Influences: Ptolemy makes the following observations: “Those stars in Taurus which are in the abscission of the sign resemble in their temperament the influence of Venus, and in some degree that of Saturn . . . the stars in the head (except Aldebaran) resemble Saturn, and, partly, Mercury; and those at the top of the horns are like Mars.” By the Kabalists Taurus is associated with the Hebrew letter Aleph and the 1st Tarot Trump “The Juggler.” In all the ancient Zodiacs, Taurus is the beginning sign and marked the Vernal Equinox from about 4,000 to 1,700 B.C. [Robson, p.63.]

The astrological influences of the constellation Taurus given by Manilius:

“The Bull will dower the countryside with honest farmers and will come as a source of toil into their peaceful lives; it will bestow, not gifts of glory, but the fruits of the earth. It bows its neck amid the stars and of itself demands a yoke for its shoulders. When it carries the sun’s orb on its horns, it bids battle with the soil begin and rouses the fallow land to its former cultivation, itself leading the work, for it neither pauses in the furrows nor relaxes its breast in the dust. The sign of the Bull has produced a Serranus and a Curius, has carried the rods of office through the fields, and has left its plough to become a dictator. Its sons have the love of unsung excellence; their hearts and bodies derive strength from a massiveness that is slow to move, whilst in their faces dwells the boy-god Love (Cupido).” [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.233].

The astrological influences of the star El Nath

Of the nature of Mars and Mercury. It gives fortune, eminence and neutrality for good or evil. [Robson, p.164.]

Martian in nature; reputed to be an indication of success. [Larousse Encyclopedia of astrology].

With Sun: Ecclesiastical preferment, honor through science, religion or philosophy. [Robson, p.164.]

With Moon: Quarrels with questionable associates, business success, environment detrimental owing to wife, partner or relative. [Robson, p.164.]

With Mercury: Favor of superiors, but enmity of colleagues, rises to high position or changes vocation, favorable for gain, but many small losses, domestic expenses, often obliged to support an invalid. [Robson, p.164.]

With Venus: Favorable for gain, enemies who are powerless to injure. [Robson, p.164.]

With Mars: Good lawyer, speaker, and debater, quick-witted. [Robson, p.164.]

With Jupiter: Success in legal or ecclesiastical affairs, favorable for gain and inheritance. [Robson, p.164.]

With Saturn: Cautious, thoughtful, bad-tempered, accumulates money, favorable for domestic affairs, gain through relatives, may receive start in life through a legacy. [Robson, p.164.]

With Uranus: Great mental energy and force of character, weak body, original and practical ideas, occult interests, but material aims, late success, favorable for domestic affairs, death in middle age. [Robson, p.165.]

With Neptune: Active in mind and body, vacillating, some physical defect, occult interests, may make discoveries in medicine, domestic disharmony owing to peculiar matrimonial ideas, may become famous, death in middle age. [Robson, p.165.]

References:

Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].