History of the star: Antares is a red binary star, fiery red and emerald green, near the center of the constellation Scorpius and was sometimes called "the Heart of the Scorpion".

It is often more visible than the planet Mars and is sometimes confused with it when the positions are close. One of Antares' translations is Anti-Ares, meaning "Rival of Mars". The ancient inscriptions make much of it in connection with the planet Mars. Astrologers considered the Scorpion the House of that planet and that god its guardian. Thus it naturally followed the character of its constellation, — perhaps originated it, — and was always associated with eminence and activity in mankind.

This is one of the four key stars in the heavens, also called archangel stars. Michael (Aldebaran) watcher of the East. Gabriel (Fomalhaut) watcher of the South. Raphael (Regulus) Watcher of the North. Oriel (Antares) Watcher of the West. At one time they marked the two Equinoxes and two Solstices. Aldebaran marked the zero Aries point in 3044 BC, Antares marked zero Libra 3052 BC, Fomalhaut marked zero Capricorn, 2582 BC, Regulus marked zero Cancer 2345 BC. As one of the four Royal stars of Persia its name was Satevis; but, as their lunar asterism, it was Gel, the "Red"; the Sogdians changing this to Maghan sadwis, the "Great One" saffron-colored.

These four stars have been characterized as Horses, reflected both in the famed Four Horsemen of Apocalypse (Revelations 6) and Chariot Horses in the Book of Zechariah.

Arabic Kalb al 'Akrab, the Scorpion's Heart, Latin Cor Scorpionis; Greek Kardia Skorpiou; "The Scorpion's Heart". Antares alone constituted the 16th Arabic manzil, Al Kalb, "the Heart", one of the fortunate lunar stations.

Euphratean names were Bilu-sha-ziri, "The Lord of the Seed"; Kak-shisa, "The Creator of Prosperity" (although this is generally assigned to Sirius). Dar Lugal, "The King", identified with "The God Of Lightning", Lugal Thdda, "The Lusty King". Masu(?) Sar, "the Hero and the King", and Kakkab Bir, "the Vermilion Star".

It was identified with the seventh antediluvian king, …, or Udda-an-xu, "the Day-heaven-bird".

It pointed out to the Babylonians their 24th ecliptic constellation, Hurru, of uncertain meaning, Antares itself being Urbat.

Mesopotamian ... "The Traveller's Gravedigger".

The Khorasmians called it Dharind, "the Seizer"; and the Egyptian Copts, Kharthian, the "Heart".

Antares was the "Fire Star" in China, Who Sing. It seems to have been invoked in worship centuries before our era for protection against fire.

The Hindus used alpha (Antares), sigma, and tau for their 16th nakshatra Jyestha, "Oldest", also known as Rohini, "Ruddy", from the color of Antares, — Indra, the sky-goddess, being regent of the asterism that was figured as a pendent Ear Jewel.

In Egyptian astronomy it represented the goddess Selkit, heralding the sunrise through her temples at the autumnal equinox about 3700-3500 BCE, and was the symbol of Isis (Isis is linked to many stars) in the pyramid ceremonials. Renouf included it with Arcturus in the immense figure Menat.

Some said that the word, Antares, signifies a "Bat", which, as Vespertilio, Sophocles perhaps called it; but Bayer erroneously quoted from Hesychios …, a "Rebel", and Tyrannus. Caesius appropriately styled the constellation Insidiata, "the Lurking One".

Others say that it was Antar’s Star, — but they forget Ptolemy, — the celebrated Antar or Antarah who, just previous to the time of Muhammad, was the mulatto warrior-hero of one of the Golden Mu'allakat [These were the famous seven selected poems of Arabia, said to have been inscribed in letters of gold on silk, or Egyptian linen, and suspended, as their title signifies, in the Ka'bah at Mecca.] Sometimes written Antar, which Beigel said is the Arabic equivalent of "Shone"; but the Latin translator of the 1515 Almagest connected it with Natar, "Rapine", and so possibly explaining the generally unintelligible expression tendit ad rapinam applied to Antares in that work and in the Alfonsine Tables of 1521; or the expression here may refer to the character of …, the god of war. The Rudolphine Tables designated it as rutilans, Pliny's word for "glowing redly."

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

Allen (Starnames, Their Lore and Meaning) says "Others say that Antares was Antar's Star, and referring to the celebrated Arabic hero Antar or Antarah or Ántara.."  Antar well portrays the "Heart of the Scorpion" as in the Manilius' representation of Scorpion character. "By virtue of its tail armed with its powerful sting, the Scorpion creates natures ardent for war and active service, which rejoices in plenteous bloodshed and in carnage more than in plunder".

The hero Ántara lived just previous to the time of Muhammad - died 615 AD at age 90, -  was the mulatto warrior-hero of one of the Golden Mu'allakat. Son of an African slave woman and an Arab sheikh, Ántara was the bravest warrior of all of the Arabs. As a lowly slave himself he was spurred to greatness by love for his noble cousin 'Abla. He had his chance when the fortunes of war turned against the tribe. With the enemy closing in on their encampment, his father called him to battle. He followed the call and soon proved himself the most valiant warrior in Arabia. In doing so he held his family to the ancient rule that only a free man with full rights may join in battle. The rule freed him of the taint of slavery and entitled him to marry his beloved. He was a poet of the first rank; his most eloquent poem can be seen on this website page; "Ántara's Ode," where he tells 'Abla and the world of his love for her and of the victories that made him worthy of her hand.  

Antares alone constituted the 16th Arabic manzil, Al Kalb, "the Heart", one of the fortunate lunar stations.

Influences the 16th Arabic manzil, Al Kalb, "the Heart": Causes discord, sedition, conspiracy against princes and rulers, and revenge from enemies, but frees captives and helps building. With Moon transiting here, sow seeds, travel and go to war. (Robson*). 

The general astrological influences of the star: It causes malevolence, destructiveness, liberality, broad-mindedness, evil presages and danger of fatality and makes its natives rash, ravenous, headstrong and destructive to themselves by their own obstinacy. (Robson*).

A Mars nature, in which the powers of Mercury and Jupiter and Saturn are also added. Antares makes people tough, belligerent and pugnacious. This is an important star for military personnel and is said to convey mental alertness, strategic ability and courage and to make dare-devils, especially if tied up with the MC, Ascendant, Sun or Jupiter. If associated with Mars, courage is said to become foolhardiness, leading to increased dangers. Natives with this particular configuration have to be prepared at all times for sudden incidents, unforeseen events and potential accidents. According to tradition, Antares is of violent character and is credited with being significant for a violent death, either in battle or by process of law. On the other hand, danger may come about by fire, weapons or machinery. Antares is also said to be unfortunate for the eyes, if in conjunction with the Ascendant, Moon or Sun and this has proven to be the case by later researchers. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

If rising: Riches and honor, violence, sickness, benefits seldom last. (Robson*).

If culminating: Honor, preferment and good fortune. (Robson*).

With Fortuna or its dispositor, poverty. (Robson*).

With Sun: Pretended religion, insincere, honor and riches ending in disgrace and ruin, military preferment, danger of treachery, violence committed or suffered, fevers and sickness, injuries to the right eye, violent death. If rising or culminating, great honor through violence attended by difficulties and casualties. If with Mars also, pestilential disease. (Robson*).

With Moon: Popular, broad-minded, interested in philosophy, science and metaphysics, liable to change religious opinions, influential friends, favorable for business and domestic matters, active in local affairs, great power, honor and wealth but benefits may not prove lasting, danger of violence, sickness, drowning or assassination. If in 1st or 10th houses, honor and preferment but many dangers and calamities. Liable to blindness or eye injuries especially if at the same time Mars or Saturn be with Regulus. If Saturn be with Aldebaran, danger of a violent death probably by hanging; but if Mars be with Aldebaran death by a stab, blow or fall especially if in angles. If a malefic be with Aldebaran in the 4th, 7th, 11th or 12th houses, death by a sudden sword-thrust, stab or fall. (Robson*).

With Mercury: Suspicious, wrongfully accuses friends, unpopular, uses ecclesiastic influence in business, money obtained slowly and with much difficulty, danger of sickness to the native and his family, and death of a relative at home or away. (Robson*).

With Venus: Insincere, dishonest, energetic and able but selfish, unfavorable for gain and health. (Robson*).

With Mars: Detrimental habits powerfully affecting the life, quarrels with friends and relatives, fairly favorable for gain. If at the same time the Moon is with Aldebaran, danger of death by sword or hanging. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Great religious zeal real or pretended, ecclesiastical preferment, tendency to hypocrisy, benefits through relatives. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Materialistic, dishonest through circumstances created by environment, religious hypocrisy, many disappointments, loss through quarrels and legal affairs, trouble through enemies, many failures, hampered by relatives unfavorable for domestic matters, much sickness to and sorrow from children. If at the same time the Moon is with Aldebaran, danger of death by sword or hanging. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Abnormal and extreme ideas, hypocritical, lies and exaggerates, extremely socialistic, incites to riot, lawlessness and anarchism and in danger of imprisonment on this account, occasional poverty, disharmony with relatives, more than one marriage, unfavorable for children, violent death. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Shrewd, cunning, unbalanced and mentally unsound, secretive but apparently candid, dishonest, tendency to theft, economical, untruthful, strange religious ideas, evil environment, gain through hard work, sudden and unexpected death brought about by treachery or through enemies who will escape retribution. (Robson*).

References

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