History of the star: A yellow star at the nostrils of the Snake charmer Ophiuchus. Cebalrai, Celbalrai, and Cheleb are from Kalb al Ra'i.or Kalb ar-Ra'i (1), "The shepherd's dog". The meaning "The Heart of the Shepherd," often given for Celabrai, is erroneous, doubtless from confusion of the Arabic Kalb, Heart, and Kalb, Dog. The early Arabs saw in this area a shepherd and his flock with a dog as Ras Algethi.

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

The astrological influences of the constellation: It is said to give a passionate, blindly good-hearted, wasteful and easily seduced nature, together with little happiness, unseen dangers, enmity, strife and slander. Pliny said that it occasioned much mortality by poisoning. This constellation has also been called Aesculapius and held to rule medicines. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Oin and the 16^th Tarot Trump "The Lightning Struck Tower". (Robson).

The astrological influences given by Manilius for the constellation Ophiuchus:

When Ophiuchus, encircled by the serpent's great coils, rises he renders the forms of snakes innocuous to those born under him. They will receive snakes into the folds of their flowing robes, and will exchange kisses with these poisonous monsters and suffer no harm. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 5,  p.333].

One called Ophiuchus holds apart the serpent which with its mighty spirals [gyris] and twisted body encircles his own, that so he may untie its knots and back that winds in loops. But, bending its supple neck, the serpent looks back and returns; and the other's hands slide over the loosened coils. The struggle will last for ever, since they wage it on level terms with equal powers. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD,  book 1, p.31].

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