| MANUBRIUM | |
| Omicron Sagittarius | |
| 13CAP36. | 14CAP59. |
| -21.53'. | -21.44'. |
| 19h04m. | +00.51'. |
| G8. | 3.0. |
History of the star: One of the cluster of stars in the Archer's face called "the Handle".
"Manubrium" a handle-shaped anatomical part, for example the upper part of the sternum or part of the inner ear. From Latin, ‘handle’, from manus ‘hand’. - Encarta Dictionary.
The astrological influences of the constellation: The Archer is associated with the Hebrew letter Vau and the 6th Tarot Trump "The Lovers". (Robson*).
The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:
"As for the Archer, when the foremost
portion of his cloak rises, he will give birth to hearts renowned in
war and will conduct the conqueror, celebrating great triumphs in
the sight of all, to his country's citadels. Such a one will build
high walls (moenia from Latin murus) one moment and
pull them down the next. But if Fortune favours them too generously
with success, the mark of her envy is to be seen on their faces, for
she works cruel havoc upon their features. So was it that a dread
warrior* paid for his victories at the Trebia, Cannae,
and the Lake, even before the hour of his retreat, with such
disfigurement." [Translator's note: *Hanibal who lost an eye (Livy
22.2.11: Sagittarius is one-eyed; see p.103) [Manilius,
Astronomica, 1st century AD,
book 4, p.267]
But they whose lot it is to be born under the Centaur of double form
delight in yoking a team, in bringing a fiery horse to obey the
pliant reins, in following herds which graze all over the
grasslands, and in imposing a master on every kind of quadruped and
taming them: they soften tigers, rid the lion of his fierceness,
speak to the elephant and through speech adapt its huge bulk to
human skills in a variety of displays. Indeed, in the stars of this
constellation the human form is blended with a beast's and placed
above it; wherefore it has lordship over beasts. And because it
carries a shaft poised on drawn bow, it imparts strength to limb and
keenness to the intellect, swiftness of movement, and an
indefatigable spirit. [Manilius,
Astronomica,
1st century AD, book 4, p.241.]
The general astrological influences of the star: It causes blindness, explosions, fire, flaring heat heroism, courage, and defiance. (Robson*).
The name Manubrium means a
handle. Possibly this comes from some sketches of the Archer in which the hand
holding the string of the bow is pulled right back to the position of this
star. It is a Sun-Mars type, by Ptolemy and must thus be considered one of the
`blind stars'. But the same planetary simile is of course symbolic of the fatal
potency in the hand that may at any moment release the arrow into flight. To
find a major planet in a chart very precisely on Manubrium rather than its
neighbors (which are very close in longitude) is likely to show up the more
aggressive connotations of the constellation and sign here, we should often find
less of the philosopher than the high-performance athlete or the high court
judge. The military strategist is also likely to have this star strong. (The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse).
References
*(Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923)