History of the star: A binary star, pale yellow and gold yellow. The ancient Arabic name for Alya is Al-Alyah (1), "The fatty tail of a sheep". [In the early days of Arab astronomy a space in the heavens, coinciding with parts of Hercules, Ophiuchus, and Serpens, was the Raudah, or Pasture].

Alya, of the Palermo Catalogue and others (sometimes, but erroneously, Alga), probably is from the same source as the similar title of the lucida (Unukalhai). It is the terminal star in the Snake's tail; and lies southwest of Aquila, in a comparatively starless region between the two branches of the Milky Way.

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

The astrological influences of the constellation: It is said to give wisdom, craft, deceit, malice, a feeble will and danger of poison. (Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923)

"Ophiuchus means 'he who holds the serpent' and that is how he is depicted. The struggle will last forever, since they wage it on equal terms with equal powers". [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 1, p.31]