| ALBALDAH | |
| Pi Sagittarius | |
| 14CAP51. | 16CAP15. |
| -21.11'. | -21.01'. |
| 19h09m. | +01.26'. |
| F3. | 3.0. |
History of the star: An eastern star in the head of the Archer Sagittarius, in an area of the sky that is comparatively untenanted except for this and other faint stars. The Arabic 19th manzil lay in this vacant space from the upper part of the Sagittarius toward the horns of the Sea-Goat, and was known as Al Baldah, the "City", or "District", to which this star owes its name.
Al Biruni described the 19th Manzil as "the head of Sagittarius and his two locks." He compared this 19th manzil to "the interstice between the two eyebrows which are not connected with each other," — a condition described by the word 'Ablad, somewhat similar to the Baldah generally applied to it.
Al Na'ir, "the Bright One", of that lunar station was another name for it.
[Star
Names, Their Lore and Meaning,
Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889].
Influences of the 19th
Manzil: Favorable for harvest, gain, buildings, and travelers.
[Fixed
Stars and Constellations in Astrology,
Vivian E. Robson, 1923]
The astrological influences of the constellation: The
Archer is associated with the Hebrew letter Vau and the 6th Tarot Trump "The
Lovers". (Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923)
The astrological influences of the constellation 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 favours 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.]