History of the star: An orange star in the neck of the Watersnake, Hydra.

Alphard, Alfard, Alpherd, Alphart, Alpharad, Alphora, from Al Fard al Shuja', the "Solitary One in the Serpent", well describing its position in the sky.

It was also Arabic Al Fakar al Shuja', "the Backbone of the Serpent"; and Al 'Unk al Shuja', "the Serpent's Neck"; and it shared the Suhel of other bright stars as Suhel al Fard, and Suhel al Sham, "the Solitary".

Latin Cor Hydrae, "the Hydra's Heart", Kalb Elhavich and Kalhelaphard, Collum Hydrae, "the Hydra's Neck" (The heart is located in the neck of serpents; about where this star is positioned on the Hydra).

The Euphrateans called Hydra the "Source of the Fountains of the Great Deep".

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

The general astrological influences of the star: Ptolemy states that it is of the nature of Saturn and Venus, but according to Alvidas it is similar to the Sun and Jupiter in sextile. It gives wisdom, musical and artistic appreciation, knowledge of human nature, strong passions, lack of self control, immorality, revolting deeds and a sudden death by drowning, poison or asphyxiation. (Robson*).

Of a Saturn nature, however, there is a measure of influence of Venus and Neptune. This combination is of a disadvantage in most cases. Particularly matters connected with 'poison' are accentuated badly, e.g. blood poisoning, murder by poison, attempts of poisoning, poisoned hatred in women, gas poisoning, danger to life by wrong use of drugs and over indulgence of good living, smoke inhalation and danger of suffocation, snake bite, bites by poisonous insect bites, or bites from dogs with rabies. Danger is marked if either Sun, Moon, Mars, Neptune, Ascendant or MC are linked up with this star. A 'poisoning' is also possible in a relationship between man and woman in marriage. This is especially true in a male chart. On the material plane, nearly always unhelpful, though if the native is able to conceive it in the spiritual sphere, the Saturn-Neptune combination may give enlightenment. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

If rising: Much trouble, anxiety and loss in connection with estates and building; addicted to women and intemperance. (Robson*).

With Sun: Power and authority but suffering through own acts and from enemies, loss of position and honor, overcome by enemies. (Robson*).

With Moon: Lust, wantonness, profligacy, failure in projects but financial help often from a relative, ill-fortune to wife or mother, eventual disgrace and ruin, danger of death by asphyxiation. If afflicted by Mars or Saturn, death by drowning or poison especially if Mars be angular. If a malefic is in conjunction with Algol; death by water or poison. (Robson).

With Mercury: Trouble through writings, unfavorable for marriage, suffering through a passionate attachment that entirely changes the course of the life. (Robson*).

With Venus: Passionate attachments that are opposed by relatives, handsome and admired by opposite sex, favorable for gain, sorrow through love affairs if female. (Robson*).

With Mars: Trouble and scandal through love affairs. Attachment to a married person. Bad for childbirth, if a woman liable to miscarriage and death, together with death of child, danger of serious accidents; if afflicting luminaries, danger of death by drowning or poison. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Strong passions, favorable for gain, attachment to widow or widower liable to disgrace, legal trouble and judicial sentence. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Strong passions but cool, cautious and slow to anger, secret and sorrowful love affairs of short duration, unfavorable for gain, domestic disharmony, danger of death by poison. (Robson).

With Uranus: Disgrace especially through love affairs, evil habits, unbalanced mind, tendency to great crime, bad for gain and marriage, downfall through love disappointment; if a woman, early ruin and depraved life. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Strong passions, shallow affections, seducer, led astray in early in life, bad for gain and marriage, separation from or loss of parents, accidents, public death through secret enemies. If culminating, death of mother at native's birth. (Robson*).

References

*(Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923)