History of the star: This star along with Alnilam and Alnitak form the Belt of Orion the Hunter. Mintaka, Al Mintaqah (1) or Al Mintakah, "The belt" or "Dividing" of Orion is a double and slightly variable, 2.5 and 6.8, brilliant white and pale violet. Mintaka at the west end is the first star of the belt stars seen to rise. Astrologers considered it of importance as portending good fortune. [Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889].

The Belt of Orion: Epsilon (Alnilam), zeta (Alnitak), and delta (Mintaka), form the Belt across the middle of Orion. These three stars are one of the most obvious features people see in the sky, and are formed in a row that appear to us of almost equal size and of equal distance from each other; Mintaka, the westernmost star in the belt, comes from the Arabic word for "belt"; Alnilam, the center star in the belt, means "a belt of pearls"; and Alnitak, the eastern-most star, means the girdle. 

Known to the Arabs as the Golden Nuts, referring to walnuts.

The Bible makes reference to this famous group. God, while pointing out how all-powerful he was, asked Job if he was able to "loose the bands of Orion" (Job 38.31).

They were known in various cultures as; the "Line", the "Golden Grains", "Nuts", or "Spangles", "The Vertebrae in the Jauzah's back". "The Vagina", "Scabbard"; "The Three-jointed Arrow"; "Rectitude," Jacob "Rod" or "Staff", "Distaff"; 

Seamen have called it the "Golden Yard-arm"; Tradesmen; the "Yard", the "Yard-stick", and the "Yard-wand"; Catholics; "Our Lady's Wand"; and French farmers; Rateau, the "Rake".

To the Arabs they were known as, "Accurate Scale-beam". The Chinese similarly knew them as a Weighing-beam, with the stars of the sword as a weight at one end.

The ancient Jews sometimes called these stars "Nimrod", a biblical figure who was bound to the heavens for disobeying God, whence perhaps came the "Bands", or "Bonds", of Orion, which some say should be "Cords", or a "Girdle"; but the conception of Nimrod as "the mighty Hunter before the Lord," at least in the ordinary sense of that word, is erroneous, for the original, according to universal Eastern tradition, signifies "a Lurking Enemy", or a Hunter of men rather than of beasts. This idea may have led to a Latin title, Venator (hunter), for the stellar Orion.

It is often "the Magi", the "Three Kings", the "Three Marys", or simply the "Three Stars". 

The celestial equator now passes through the Belt, but was 12° (latitude) below it 4000 years ago. [Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889].

The astrological influences of the constellation: It is said to give a strong and dignified nature, self-confidence, inconstancy, arrogance, violence, impiety, and prosperity in trade and particularly in voyages or abroad, but danger of treachery and poison. It was thought by the Romans to be very harmful to cattle and productive of storms. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Aleph and the 1^st Tarot Trump "The Juggler". (The Magician). (Robson*).  

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius: 

Near neighbor to the Twins (Gemini), Orion may be seen stretching his arms over a vast expanse of sky and rising to the stars with no less huge a stride. A single light marks each of his shining shoulders, and three aslant trace the downward line of his sword ; but three mark Orion's head, which is imbedded in high heaven with his countenance remote." It is Orion who leads the constellations as they speed over the full circuit of heaven. [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD. p.35.]

Orion will fashion alert minds and agile bodies, souls prompt to respond to duty's call, and hearts which press on with unflagging energy in spite of every trial. A son of Orion's will be worth a multitude and will seem to dwell in every quarter of the city; flying from door to door with the one word of morning greeting, he will enjoy the friendship of all. [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD. p.305.]

The general astrological influences of the star: According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Saturn and Mercury; and, to Alvidas, of Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter. It gives good fortune. (Robson*).

General influence of the Cingula Orionis (Orion's Belt): The joint influence is to give strength, energy, industry, organizing abilities, notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness, a sharp mind and a good memory. (Robson*).

Good fortune as regards the growing of grain crops. "Passionately devoted to hunting, but not noble hunting with falcon or bow". Excellent fishermen. Treacherous, irreligious. All kinds of dangers. A shrew, in a female chart, rising and aspected by both Mars and a benefic. (Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990).

Cingula Orionis with a malefic and the Moon at the same time with Markab (23 Pisces), death at human hands. (Robson*).

Cingula Orionis rising: Legacies, love or dissipation, gravity and austerity. (Robson*).

Mintaka with Sun: Discreet, cautious, somewhat changeable. (Robson*).

Cingula Orionis with Sun: Notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness. (Robson*).

Mintaka with the Moon: Active, sharp, alert in business, public position, many enemies more successful in business. (Robson*)

Cingula Orionis with Moon: Blindness of at least one eye, new and influential friends, valuable gifts, love of respectable women. If a malefic be with Markab, drowning. If the moon is with Saturn also, drowning and assassination. (Robson*).

With Mercury: Studious, fond of seclusion, deliberate and fixed mind, little sympathy or disagreements with relatives, bad for gain. (Robson*).

With Venus: Public position, enmity of women, love disappointments. (Robson*).

With Mars: Energetic, quick mind, good speaker arid debater, quarrelsome, strong passions. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: High position in law or church, studious and philosophical mind, gain through inheritance. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Far-seeing, studious, good judge of human nature, psychic, domestic disharmony, sickness to family. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Selfish, studious, eccentric, difficult to get on with, losses through lawsuits and business, successful in middle age but poverty at end of life, favorable for domestic matters, death from consumption. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Thoughtful, studious, keeps discoveries to himself, sarcastic writer, generous but not wealthy, marries, death unattended in old age. (Robson*).

References

Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology