| ALHENA | |
| Gamma Gemini | |
| Longitude 1900: 07CAN42 | Longitude. 2000: 09CAN06 |
| +16.29'. | +16.24'. |
| 06h37m. | -06.44'. |
| A1. | 1.9. |
History of the star: The Arabic name for this brilliant white star in Gemini located on the left foot of Pollux is Alhena. Other titles for this star are: Almeisan, Almisan, Almeisam, and Almisam are from Al-Maisan, "The shining one". Another interpretation or title is the "Proudly Marching One".
The title Alhena is from Al Han'ah, "The brand-mark" of the Arabic 4th manzil, which comprised of; gamma (Alhena), mu (Tejat Posterior), nu, eta (Propus), and xi (Alzirr), in the feet of the Twins. This word, usually translated a Brand, or Mark, on the right side of a camel's, or horse's, neck, was defined by Al Biruni as "Winding", as though the stars of this station were winding around each other, or curving from the central star; and they were Al Nuhatai, the dual form of Al Nuhat, a "Camel's Hump", itself a curved line.
Some Arabic authority found in them, with chi1 and chi2 of Orion, the "Bow" with which the Hunter is shooting at the Lion (the early Arabic depiction of Leo extended to Gemini).
In Babylonia this star marked the 10th ecliptic constellation, Mash-mashu-sha-Risu, the "Twins of the Shepherd (?)", and, with eta (Propus), probably was Mas-tab-ba-tur-tur, the "Little Twins".
Gamma (Alhena), eta (Propus), mu (Tejat Posterior), nu, and xi (Alzirr), all in the Milky Way, may have been the Babylonian lunar mansion Khigalla, the "Canal", and the equivalent Persian Rakhvad, the Sogdian Ghathaf, and the Khorasmian Gawthaf. It was included in the Arabic 4th manzil, Al Han'ah, "The brand-mark".
[Star
Names,
Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen,
1889].
Bullinger (biblical writer
Witness of the Stars)
called this star Al Henah
and said it means "hurt, wounded, or afflicted".
Robson wrote that it has been called "the wound in the tendon of Achilles". (Robson*).
Influences of the 4th Moon Mansion: Favorable for hunting, besieging towns, and the revenge of princes. (Robson*).
The astrological influences of the constellation: "Ptolemy makes the following observations; the stars in the feet of Gemini have an influence similar to that of Mercury, and moderately to that of Venus; the bright stars in the thighs are like Saturn. It is said to cause trouble and disgrace, sickness, loss of fortune, affliction and danger to the knees. By the Cabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Qoph and the 19th Tarot Trump, The Sun". (Robson*).The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:
"The arms to shoulders joined are accounted to the Twins" [Manilius p.119]
From the Twins come less laborious callings and a more agreeable way of life, provided by varied song
and voices of harmonious tone, slender pipes, the melodies inborn in
strings and the words fitted thereto : those so endowed find even
work a pleasure. They would banish the arms of war, the trumpet's
call, and the gloom of old age : theirs is a life of ease and
unfading youth spent in the arms of love. They also discover paths
to the skies, complete a survey of the heavens with numbers and
measurements, and outstrip the flight of the stars: nature
yields to their genius, which it serves in all things. So many are
the accomplishments of which the Twins are fruitful. [Manilius,
Astronomica
The general astrological influences of the star: It bestows imminence in art, but gives liability to accidents effecting the feet. (Robson*).
Artistic skills, especially with the
written or spoken word and ability to negotiate a peaceful settlement in
disputes. Al Hena with Tegat Posterior and Propus (Tegat Prior) entered Cancer
1349, 1621 and 1755 A.D. respectively. Each of these dates, within a year
or two, was significant in the rise of European thought and literature, from the
Renaissance onwards. (The Living Stars
Alhena is supposed to have a Venus nature with a Jupiterian influence.
This will confer a spiritual orientation on people thus effected and also give
an artistic inclination, with interest in the sciences. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation
With Sun: Pride, love of ease, luxury and pleasure. There may be martial honors but danger of losing them. (Robson*).
With Moon: Good health, honor, riches, pleasure and society, domestic benefits. (Robson*).
With Mercury: Popularity, benefits from opposite sex, musical arid artistic ability but little fame, domestic harmony, business adversely affected by pleasure and society. (Robson*).
With Venus: Material concerns, love of dress, pleasure and flattery, artistic and musical ability. (Robson*).
With Mars: Superficial nature, fond of pleasure, ease, luxury, ornament and display. (Robson*).
With Jupiter: Social advancement and success, philosophical mind, love of ostentation. (Robson*).
With Saturn: Caution, reserve, studiousness, prominence in science or art, some domestic discord, sickness to the children, unexpected losses but possibility of wealth, ill-health at the end of life. (Robson*).
With Uranus: Timid, suspicious, selfish, economical over small things and extravagant in large ones, emotional, vacillating, unpractical and much influenced by habits, easily hypnotized, occult interests and secret psychic ability; afflicted with Cancerian ailments; two or more marriages, one very early and extremely unhappy especially if female; unfavorable for home and children. If a woman, good-looking and many friends but enemies among women. (Robson*).
With Neptune: Easily influenced, suffers through indiscreet actions, mediumistic, very sympathetic, often domestic disharmony, unfavorable for gain, death brought about by own acts. (Robson*).
References
*(Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology