Fixed star:  MARKAB
Constellation:  Alpha Pegasus
Longitude 1900:  22PIS06. Longitude 2000:  23PIS29.
Declination 1900:  +14.40'. Declination 2000:  +15.11'.
Right ascension:  23h04m. Latitude:  +19.24'.
Spectral class:  B9. Magnitude:  2.6.

History of the star: A white star on the wing of the Winged Horse Pegasus. Markab or Marchab is the early Arabic title referring to as a "Saddle", "Ship", or "Vehicle", — anything ridden upon [Ford Motor Company was formed Jun 16 1903 with Jupiter conjunct this star].

They also designated it as Matn al Faras, the Horse's "Withers" or "Shoulder", and Yed Alpheras, the "Horse's Hand", or, more properly, "Forearm", — the Arabic Yad.

It was known with beta (Scheat) as Al 'Arku-wah, the "Cross-bar" of the well in which Al Dalw, the Bucket, was used (probably Situla in Aquarius was the bucket) and formed the 24th Arabic manzil (mansion of the Moon), as Al Fargh al Mukdim, the "Fore Spout", i. e. of the water-bucket.

In the Hindu lunar zodiac alpha Andromeda (Alpheratz), alpha Pegasus (this star 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 was thought that Alpha (Markab), with gamma (Algenib) and zeta (Homam), was the Euphratean asterism Lik-bar-ra (perhaps Ur-bar-ra), "the Hyaena".

These stars also were the Persian Vaht, the Sogdian and Khorasmian Farshat Bath, and the Coptic Artulos, all signifying something pertaining to Water.

Among astrologers it portended danger to life from cuts, or stabs, and fire [cuts and stabs can be operations nowadays].

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

Influences the 24th Arabic manzil (Moon Mansion): Causes union, health of captives, and destroys buildings and prisons. With Moon transiting here; plant, sow, bargain, marry but do not navigate.

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

 

The astrological influences of the constellation: The constellation gives ambition, vanity, intuition, enthusiasm, caprice and bad judgment. (Robson*).

The constellation 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 Pegasus Syndrome, as exemplified in the legends of Perseus and Bellerophon, is concerned with the innate ability possessed by some people to negotiate difficulties by rising above them, on the one hand, and the danger of overreaching themselves, on the other. Pegasus, by birth, is the child of Medusa and Neptune, symbols of 'wisdom' and 'emotion,' respectively, which shows the dichotomy of his nature. As in the story, Bellerophon attempted to fly to Olympus (overreach his potential). He believed that Pegasus was subject to his will. However, it was Pegasus who made it to Olympus, while Bellerophon was tossed back to earth, lame and reproached by others. It is unwise to take any situation for granted as the 'lesser' person (or, in this case, beast) may be the very one to teach us the much needed lesson in humility. Pegasus is also indicative of a specific mission in life which the inquirer will always find the time and energy to pursue, although the path may be sewn with difficulties (the Chimaera) and limitations (Bellerophon's doubt or arrogance). So, the Pegasus Syndrome is the seeming ability to "fly over any situation," though the reverse may be a lesson in humility, being "taken down a peg," as it were. (Rich's Pegopedia http://thanasis.com/pegasus.htm).

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

Pegasus the winged Horse will appear and gallop aloft in the heavens. It will bring forth people endowed with swiftness of movement and limbs alert to perform every task. One man will cause his horse to wheel round in caracoles, and proudly mounted on its back he will wage war from on high; horseman and soldier in one. Another will possess the ability to rob the racecourse of its true length such is his speed that he will seem to dissemble the movement of his feet and make the ground vanish before him. Who more swiftly could fly back from the ends of the earth as messenger or with light foot to the earth's ends make his way?  He will also heal a horse's wounds with the sap of common plants, and will know the herbs which bring aid to an animal's limbs and those which grow for the use of man. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 5, p.350-353.]

The general astrological influences of the star: According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Mars and Mercury; to Simmonite, of Mars and Venus; and, to Alvidas, of Jupiter in square to Mercury with Saturn from Pisces and Gemini. It gives honor, riches, fortune, danger from fevers, cuts, blows, stabs [can be operations nowadays] and fire and a violent death. (Robson*).

It has a Mercury-Mars nature. Tradition has it that, in conjunction with Mars, Uranus or Saturn, this will bring dangers from fire, weapons or explosions. Tied up with propitious stellar bodies, Markeb is said to influence above all the spiritual and mental nature, to give a good head for figures, intellectual alertness, mental powers in general and last but not least, the ability to further propaganda activity, if at the same time relevant aspects are also present. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

With a malefic and the Moon at the same time with Alnilam, Alnitak and Mintaka - Orion’s Belt (22-24 Gemini) death by drowning. (Robson*).

If culminating: Disgrace, ruin and often a violent death. (Robson*).

With Sun: Energetic, unlucky, impermanent martial honors, disappointed ambitions, accidents, sickness. (Robson*).

With Moon: Injuries from enemies, bad for gain and domestic matters, fairly good health but many accidents. If Mars be with Moon, death by wild beasts or soldiers. If a malefic be with Cingula Orionis, death by human hands. (Robson*).

With Mercury: Good mind, rash and headstrong, quick in speech, diplomatic, capable writer, criticized, friends become enemies, bad for gain. (Robson*).

With Venus: Evil associates, drink and other excesses, bad for gain. (Robson*).

With Mars: Quarrelsome, violent, many difficulties and losses through Mercurial affairs. (Robson).

With Jupiter: Trouble and loss through legal matters, danger of judicial sentence or banishment and exile. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Born in poverty, prison or asylum, may be abandoned, hard life, imprisoned for crime, few friends, unfavorable for domestic matters, death under similar conditions to birth. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Evil habits, mental disturbances, clever, wanderer, unavailing efforts, peculiar life, trouble with parent of opposite sex, bad for gain and domestic matters, many accidents, violent death. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Unbalanced or abnormal mind, many disappointments, emotional, romantic, distasteful environment, secret enemies, domestic disharmony, many accidents, violent death in early life. (Robson*).

References

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