| MULIPHEIN | |
| Gamma Canis Major | |
| 18CAN13. | 19CAN36. |
| -15.29'. | -15.37'. |
| 07h03m. | -37.59'. |
| B8. | 4.1. |
History of the star: Situated in the neck of the Greater Dog Canis Major. Burritt's Muliphen that properly belongs to delta (Wezen) and to stars in Columba; but the Century Atlas has it Mirza.
It is Isis with others but some applied the title, Isis, to the adjacent mu, adding, however, nisi potius quarta sit, thus referring to this star, gamma [Isis is the Egyptian goddess of the Moon and is a title applied to a number of stars].
It was said to have entirely disappeared in 1670, and was not again observed for twenty-three years, when it reappeared to astronomers, and since has maintained a steady luster.
It marks the top of the Dog's head [? actually on the neck].
[Star
Names,
Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen,
1889].
This translation of the starname from Steve Gibson's page Muliphein: "the two causing dispute and the swearing of an oath".
The astrological influences of the constellation: It is said to give
good qualities, charity and a faithful heart, but violent and dangerous
passions. There is some danger from, or fear of, darkness and the night, and
liability to dog bites, though the latter characteristic is probably associated
more particularly with Sirius (this star). Canis
Major is connected by the Kabalists with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18th
Tarot Trump, "The Moon". (Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology
The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:
It is Orion who leads the constellations as they speed over the full circuit of the heavens. At his heels follows the Dog outstretched in full career: no star comes on mankind more violently or causes more trouble when it departs. Now it rises shivering with cold, now it leaves a radiant world open to the heat of the Sun [translator's note: In ancient times the Dogstar's evening rising occurred in early January, its evening setting in early May (for an explanation of these terms see the Loeb Aratus, Introduction E, or Dicks 12]: thus it moves the world to either extreme and brings opposite effects. Those who from Mount Taurus' lofty peak observe it ascending when it returns at its first rising learn of the various outcomes of harvests and seasons, what state of health lies in store, and what measure of harmony. It stirs up war and restores peace, and returning in different guise affects the world with the glance it gives it and governs with its mien. Sure proof that the star has this power are its colour and the quivering of the fire that sparkles in its face. Hardly is it inferior to the Sun, save that its abode is far away and the beams it launches from its sea-blue face are cold. In splendour it surpasses all other constellations, and no brighter star is bathed in ocean or returns to heaven from the waves. [Manilius, Astronomica
"The brilliant constellation of the Dog: it barks forth flame, raves with its fire, and doubles the burning heat of the Sun. When it put its torch to the earth and discharges its rays, the earth foresees its conflagration and tastes its ultimate fate [translator's note: the ecpyrosis of the Stoics, who held that the Universe would ultimately be engulfed in conflagration and all things would return to the condition of primeval fire].
Neptune lies motionless in the midst of his waters and the green blood is drained from leaves and grass. All living things seek alien climes and the world looks for another world to repair to; beset by temperatures too great to bear, nature is afflicted with a sickness of its own making, alive, but on a funeral-pyre: such is the heat diffused among the constellations, and everything is brought to a halt by a single star. When the Dogstar rises over the rim of the sea, which at its birth not even the flood of Ocean can quench, it will fashion unbridled spirits and impetuous hearts; it will bestow on its sons billows of anger, and draw upon them the hatred and fear of the whole populace.
"Words run ahead of the speakers: the mind is too fast for the mouth [translator's note: the impetuosity of the speaker causes him to utter words before he has time to adapt them to grammar or logic]. Their hearts start throbbing at the slightest cause, and when speech comes their tongues rave and bark, and constant gnashing imparts the sound of teeth to their utterance. Their failings are intensified by wine, for Bacchus [meaning alcohol] gives them strength and fans their savage wrath to flame.
"No fear have they of woods or mountains, or monstrous lions, the tusks of the foaming boar, or the weapons which nature has given wild beasts; they vent their burning fury upon all legitimate prey.
"Lest you wonder at these tendencies under such a constellation, you see how even the constellation itself hunts among the stars, for in its course it seeks to catch the Hare (Lepus) in front. [Manilius, Astronomica