History of the star: A double white and purplish star that marks both the head of Andromeda, the Chained Woman, and the navel of Pegasus, the Horse.

Alpheratz, Alpherat "the Broken Down".

Sirrah, another name, is from the Arabians' Al Surrat al Faras, the "Horse's Navel", as this star formerly was associated with Pegasus and called delta Pegasus, whence it was transferred to the Woman's hair; and someone has strangely called it Umbilicus Andromedae.

In all late Arabian astronomy taken from Ptolemy it was described as Al Ras al Mar'ah al Musalsalah, "the Head of the Woman in Chains".

In England, two centuries ago, it was familiarly known as Andromeda's Head. 

With beta Cassiopeiae (Caph) and gamma Pegasi (Algenib), as the Three Guides, it marks the equinoctial colure, the prime meridian of the heavens.

In the Hindu lunar zodiac alpha Andromeda (Alpheratz), alpha Pegasus (Markab), beta Pegasus (Scheat), and gamma Pegasus (Algenib) were "the Great Square of Pegasus"; a large asterism that constituted the double Hindu nakshatra (mansion of the Moon), — the 24th and 25th, — Purva and Uttara Bhadrapadas, the Former and the Latter, Beautiful, Auspicious, or Happy Feet, sometimes also called Proshthapada, (this star was noted as the junction star of the Bhadra-pada nakshatras) with various meanings; "Carp", "Ox"; "Footstool Feet," "Couch" or "Bed", "Bifaced Figure", or "Twins", "Stand" or "Support": The regents of these nakshatras being Aja Ekapat, the "One-footed Goat", and Ahi Budhya, the "Bottom Snake", "two mythical figures, of obscure significance, from the Vedic Pantheon."

It marked the Arabic 25th mansil (mansion of the moon) Al Fargu, from Al Farigh al Mu'ah.h.ar, the "Hindmost Loiterer"; or, perhaps more correctly, "the Hind Spout of the Water-jar", for Kazwini called it Al Farigh al Thani, the "Second Spout"; a "Well-mouth" and its accompaniments being imagined here by the early Arabs.

The Persian title for this lunar station, Miyan; the Sogdian, Bar Farshat; the Khorasmian, Wabir; and the Coptic, Artulosia, all have somewhat similar meanings.

In astrology alpha portended honor and riches to all born under its influence.

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

Influences of 25th Moon Mansion (mansil) Al Fargu: Increases harvests, revenues, gain, heals infirmities, hinders building, upholds prisons, causes danger to seamen and destruction of enemies. With Moon transiting here; marry, take medicine, pursue business but do not travel or lend money.

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

Etymology: Nearly every inventor and "famous first" has a connection to this star and Alpheratz was activated when many worthwhile inventions were patented or brought to public attention. The traditional influences gives independence, freedom, love. Isaac Mozeson in The Word dictionary links (Al) pheratz "the broken down" with a number of Hebrew words which are listed below.

The P(H)-R root indicates breaking out or spreading forth in scores of Hebrew words.

FREE The IE root of FREE is pri (to love). Anglo-Saxon freo means not in bondage; Hebrew PHAROOA or PAROOA is unrestrained or "broken loose". Hebrew FRE or PRK relates to both PARAK (to free, untie, loosen, save) and PEREH (wild - Genesis 16:12).

BURST: The "BURSTING a hole" connotation is evident in terms like Hebrew (MI)BHORUTZ (broken through). One IE root, bhres, means "to burst," while a second root (bhreus) is "to break." The latter root takes in BRUISE, BRUSH, and FRUSTULE. A BURST is also a BLAST or quick action. IE root bheres (quick) includes FESTINATE. PRESTO [presto is like eurika! "so suddenly that magic seems involved; right away" American Heritage Dictionary].

BLAZE is spreading abroad or publicizing. Spreading is sprouting, and a sprout is a blastos (Greek) in all the BLASTO- words.

BREACH: Derived from terms like Old High German brecha, a BREACH is specifically an opening made by breaking something. Hebrew PERETZ and PREETZA are specifically defined as "breach, "break" and "opening." A more formal BREACH, and one closer to Hebrew P-R-T(S), is the opening we call a PORT, PORTAL, PORTCULLIS, PORTE-COCHERE, PORTHOLE, and PORTIERE.

"... Out (of the womb) came his brother; and she said,"What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named PEREZ. Genesis 38:29.

To BROACH (make a hole, introduce) the subject of BRASH, the word BRASH means hasty and bold, a good quality for a BREACH-maker to have.

Hebrew (MI)PHRATZ is a bay; (MI)PHORAZ is open or militarily accessible.

PROTO(TYPE) PROTO- is from Greek protos (first). Hebrew PETER is the firstborn or "firstling" in Exodus 34:19-20. PETER means beginning or opening; PORATS is to burst forth. In birth, the PETER is the FIRST to BURST the womb, the PROTOTYPE of the siblings to come.

In Genesis 38:29 "Peretz" is so named for the "breach" he makes in order to be born first, before his twin brother. As a firstborn, PERETZ is destined to be a proteios (prime or chief in Greek) or a PORETZ (prince, nobleman - PRINCE appears at "PIRATE"). The Latin etymon for PRINCE, princeps, means "he who takes first place." Since the BURST-FIRST-PRI(N)CE association has already been BROACHED (introduced), it is notable that a German prince is a furst.

A brief selection of relevant PROT- words includes: PROTAGONIST, PROTEIN, PROTOCOL, PROTON, PROTOPLASM and PROTOZOA.

[Isaac Mozeson, author of The Word dictionary, Edenic (Biblical Hebrew)].

The astrological influences of the constellation: It is said to bestow purity of thought, virtue, honor and dignity upon its natives, but to cause battle with chimerical (wildly fanciful, highly improbable) fears and a tendency to become easily discouraged. It gives love between husband and wife and reconciles adulterers. If Mars afflicts the luminaries from Andromeda and especially if in an angle, it causes death by hanging, decapitation, crucifixion or impalement. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Pe and the 17th Tarot Trump, "The Stars". (Robson*).   

Note: As this star was formally located in pegasus it is believed to take more of the nature of that constellation than from Andromeda.  

The man whose birth coincides with the rising of Andromeda from the sea will prove merciless, a dispenser of punishment, a warder of dungeon dire; he will stand arrogantly by while the mothers of wretched prisoners lie prostrate on his threshold, and the fathers wait all night to catch the last kisses of their sons and receive into their inmost being the dying breath. From the same constellation comes the figure of the executioner, ready to take money for a speedy death and the rites of a funeral pyre, for him execution means profit, and oft will he bare his axe; in short, he is a man who could have looked unmoved on Andromeda herself fettered to the rock. Governor of the imprisoned he occasionally becomes a fellow convict, chained to criminals so as to save them for execution. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century A.D., Book 5, p.351.]

The English translation of the myth of Andromeda as told by Manilius in Astronomica, 1st century A.D. can be found on the Andromeda constellation page. 

Pegasus portends events concerning ships and the ocean and also changes in the weather. In medieval times it was said to indicate vain individuals with a great deal of ambition, but with very poor judgment. (Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990).

The general astrological influences of the star: According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Jupiter and Venus, and to these Alvidas adds Mars also. It gives independence, freedom, love, riches, honor and a keen intellect. (Robson*).

HHarmonious nature which makes for popularity. If it is in affinity to propitious stellar bodies and with the personal points MC, Asc, Sun, Moon, one can count on becoming well known in public and popularity with the masses. If connected to the Sun, the native can easily become unpopular and can be toppled over. Also if transiting Saturn passes over the fixed star in conjunction with another stellar body (planet) a weakening of popular appeal is indicated. In this way E. Ebertin noted that, in many cases, directors and administrators, who had in their cosmogram. Sun in conjunction with this star, lost their posts, when in 1938 and 1939 transiting Saturn passed over this conjunction. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

With a malefic and the Moon at the same time with Sirius, death by a fiery cutting weapon or from beasts; if the Moon be with Vega, violent death. (Robson*).

With Sun: Honor, preferment and favors from others. (Robson*).

With Moon: Energetic, persevering, honor, wealth, many good friends and business success. (Robson*).

With Mercury: Active mind, benefits from judges, lawyers or churchmen, pioneer work bringing prominence, accused of selfish motives, writes on science, religion or philosophy. (Robson*).

With Venus: Neat and tidy appearance, quiet life, good health, fond of pleasure and society, fortunate for speculation. (Robson*).

With Mars: Sharp mind, energetic, business success through own endeavors. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Philosophical or religious mind, benefits from professional men, ecclesiastical honor and dignity, favorable for gain. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Open and affable but miserly, seeks popularity, pretends to be religious for business ends, favors from clergy and lawyers, likelihood of wealth, domestic harmony, liable to diseases in the head and tumors that finally cause death. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Just, honorable, good speaker, domestic harmony if male, but not so fortunate for female, benefit from practical application of ideas, interest in occultism, considerable psychic power if female, favorable for gain. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Sincere, earnest, humane, good speaker and writer, engaged in charitable work, religious reform or animal protection, knowledge of human nature, money sought and obtained chiefly for charitable purposes many friends, domestic harmony, not very favorable for children. (Robson*).

References

Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology