History of the star: A star positioned in front of Castor's foot. "Forward foot" (of the Northern Twin, Castor) in Gemini. Propus is its universal title, with the equivalent Praepes. Some called it Tropus, "Turn", referring to the apparent turning-point of the sun's course at the summer solstice, which nowadays is more precisely marked by the star gamma (Alhena) just eastward from this star.

This was Pish Pai of the Persians.

The Arabs included it with gamma (Alhena) and mu (Tejat Posterior), in their Nuhatai; as explained with Alhena.

In Babylonia gamma (Alhena) with eta (Propus), probably was Mas-tab-ba-tur-tur, the "Little Twins"; and, with eta (Propus), mu (Tejat Posterior), nu, and xi (Alzirr), all in the Milky Way, may have been the Babylonian lunar mansion Khigalla, the "Canal", and the equivalent Persian Rakhvad, the Sogdian Ghathaf, and the Khorasmian Gawthaf.

It was included in the Arabic 4th manzil, Al Han'ah, "The brand-mark" which comprised of; gamma (Alhena), mu (Tejat Posterior), nu, eta (this star Propus), and xi (Alzirr), in the feet of the Twins.

It portended lives of eminence to all born under its influence.

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

Influences of Arabic 4th manzil Al Han'ah, "The brand-mark": Favorable for hunting, besieging towns, and the revenge of princes. (Robson*)

The astrological influences of the constellation: "Ptolemy makes the following observations; the stars in the feet of Gemini have an influence similar to that of Mercury, and moderately to that of Venus; the bright stars in the thighs are like Saturn. It is said to cause trouble and disgrace, sickness, loss of fortune, affliction and danger to the knees. By the Cabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Qoph and the 19^th Tarot Trump, The Sun". (Robson*)

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

"The arms to shoulders joined are accounted to the Twins" [Manilius p.119]

From the Twins come less laborious callings and a more agreeable way of life, provided by varied song and voices of harmonious tone, slender pipes, the melodies inborn in strings and the words fitted thereto : those so endowed find even work a pleasure. They would banish the arms of war, the trumpet's call, and the gloom of old age : theirs is a life of ease and unfading youth spent in the arms of love. They also discover paths to the skies, complete a survey of the heavens with numbers and measurements, and outstrip the flight of the stars: nature yields to their genius, which it serves in all things. So many are the accomplishments of which the Twins are fruitful. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD. p.281.]

 

The general astrological influences of the star: Of the nature of Mercury and Venus. It causes violence, pride, over-confidence and shamelessness. (Robson*).

The ability to express ideas in reasonable and acceptable ways which win because of their manifest intelligence.  Al Hena with Tegat Posterior and Propus (Tegat Prior) entered Cancer 1349, 1621 and 1755 AD. respectively.  Each of these dates, within a year or two, was significant in the rise of European thought and literature from the Renaissance onwards. (The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse).

References

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

• Starlists
• Homepage
• Discussion
• Moon Mansions