| ALIOTH | |
| Epsilon Ursa Major | |
| 07VIR31. | 08VIR56. |
| +56.30'. | +55.58'. |
| 12h53m. | +54.18'. |
| A0. | 1.7. |
History of the star: A star situated on the root of the tail of the Great Bear, Ursa Major - the thickest part of the tail.
This star is known under a number of titles:
The Arabic name for Alioth is Al-Jawn, "The black horse". Risalioth is a variation.
Alyat [the syllable Al, in this word Alyat, is not the Arabic definite article] the "Fat Tail" of "the Eastern sheep".
Al Hawar, the "White of the Eye", or the "White Poplar Tree", i.e. "Intensely Bright".
It was Angiras (or Angirasa, Angirasas) among the Hindu Seven Sages. The name Angiras comes from the same root as Agni, fire; many of his functions are associated with fire. Angiras inspires the lawgivers, is an author on astronomy, and is often considered a personification of Brihaspati, the regent of the planet Jupiter, or the planet itself. Aurobindo ascribes to Angiras the role of the revealer of divine enlightenment. (1)
This star is located on the Bear's tail which occurred when Jupiter lay hold of the tails of the two bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, and lifted them up into the heavens by their tails. On the long journey, the tails stretched which explains why these bears have long tails unlike earthly bears.
Ursa Major has been called "the Bear with her train," referring to the stars epsilon (Alioth, this star), zeta (Mizar), and eta (Alkaid) which mark the tail. These three stars along the tail have been depicted as three draught-horses in line, pulling the Plough. "The Plough", also called "the Big Dipper" which is the bucket shaped figure in the back of the Great Bear, outlined by the stars; beta (Merak), alpha (Dubhe), gamma (Phecda) and delta (Megrez).
These three stars in the tail of the Great Bear were also portrayed by the Arabs as "Mourners" around a Bier or coffin. The bier was marked by the Plough or Big Dipper stars as named above. The coffin was followed by "Mourners" (the three stars in the tail; Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid), as in the Arabic Banat Na'ash al Kubra, "the Daughters of the Great Bier", and this constellation was seen as a funeral procession, attributing this title to the nightly slow and solemn motion of the figure around the pole. These mourners, the children of Al Na'ash, who was murdered by Al Jadi, the pole-star (Polaris), are still nightly surrounding him in their thirst for vengeance.
[Star
Names,
Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen,
1889].
, Vivian E. Robson, 1923)
The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:
"Now when, after completing a revolution round
the pole, the Bear (Ursa Major) with muzzle foremost replaces her
unceasing steps in her former tracks, never immersed in Ocean but
ever turning in a circle, to those born at such a time wild
creatures will show no hostile face, and in their dealings with
animals these men will find them submissive to their rule. Such a
one will be able to control huge lions with a gesture, to fondle
wolves, and to play with captive panthers; so far from shunning the
powerful bears that are the kin of the constellation, he will train
them to human accomplishments and feats foreign to their nature; he
will seat himself on the elephant's back and with a goad will direct
the movements of a beast which disgraces its massive weight by
yielding to tiny jabs; he will dispel the fury of the tiger,
training it to become a peaceful animal, whilst all the other beasts
which molest the earth with their savageness he will join in
friendship to himself; keen-scented whelps he will train..." [here
the translator notes that eight pages have been lost]
[Astronomica
"Now where heaven reaches its culmination in the shining Bears, which
from the summit of the sky look down on all the stars and know no
setting and, shifting their opposed stations about the same high
point, set sky and stars in rotation, from there an insubstantial
axis runs down through the wintry air and controls the universe,
keeping it pivoted at opposite poles: it forms the middle about
which the starry sphere revolves and wheels its heavenly flight, but
is itself without motion and, drawn straight through the empty
spaces of the great sky to the two Bears and through the very globe
of the Earth, stands fixed, since the entire atmosphere ever
revolves in a circle, and every part of the whole rotates to the
place from which it once began, that which is in the middle, about
which all moves, so insubstantial that it cannot turn round upon
itself or even submit to motion or spin in circular fashion, this
men have called the axis, since, motionless itself, it yet sees
everything spinning about it. The top of the axis is occupied by
constellations well known to hapless mariners, guiding them over the
measureless deep in their search for gain. Helice (Ursa
Major), the greater, describes the greater arc; it is marked by
seven stars which vie with each other under its guidance the ships
of Greece set sail to cross the seas. Cynosura [Ursa
Minor] is small and wheels round in a narrow circle, less in brightness as
it is in size, but in the judgement of the Tyrians it excels the
larger bear. Carthaginians count it the surer-guide when at sea they
make for unseen shores. They are not set face to face : each with
its muzzle points at the other's tail and follows one that follows
it. Sprawling between them and embracing each the Dragon separates
and surrounds them with its glowing stars lest they ever meet or
leave their stations."
[Astronomica
The general astrological influences of the star: In 'the Tail of the Great Bear', it
is not supposed to have a strong influence on account of its great distance from
the ecliptic. However, if Alioth is felt to make an impact, it is Mars like and
of a destructive kind. Associated with the Sun, suicidal thoughts will be
eminent in female cosmograms. Joined with the Moon, it will be an indication of
possible danger during pregnancy and delivery.
Amalgamated with possible non propitious planets, it will indicate fiascoes, bad
fortunes within the family circle or within the profession or disappointments
brought about by friends. It is advised not to include these findings in a
prognosis, as these records were not borne out by later research. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation