History of the star: A star on the left knee of the Serpent Bearer Ophiuchus.

With zeta (Han) it shared the title Sabik, or As-Sabiq (1), "Preceding One".

Zeta (Han), eta (this star Sabik), theta, and xi, were the Persian Garafsa, or "Serpent-tamer".

Zeta (Han) with eta (this star Sabik), were the Sogdian Bastham, "Bound", i.e. "Ophiuchus enveloped in the coils of Ophis"; and they were the Khorasmian Sardhiwa, the "Head of the Evil One" [although this star is not anywhere near the head of the snake Serpens].

This star eta was also included with theta and xi in the Egyptian Coptic Tshio, "the Snake", and Aggia, "the Magician". These same stars were the Akkadian Tsir, or Sir, "the Snake".

Epsilon (Yed Posterior), delta (Yed Prior) with zeta (Han), and eta Ophiuchi (this star Sabik) and alpha (Unukalhai), delta, and epsilon of Serpens, constituted the Nasak al Yamaniyy, "the Southern Boundary Line of the Raudah", or "Pasture", which here occupied a large portion of the heavens; other stars in Ophiuchus and Hercules forming the Nasak al Shamiyyah, or Northern Boundary.

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

The astrological influences of the constellation: It is said to give a passionate, blindly good-hearted, wasteful and easily seduced nature, together with little happiness, unseen dangers, enmity, strife and slander. Pliny said that it occasioned much mortality by poisoning. This constellation has also been called Aesculapius and held to rule medicines. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Oin and the 16^th Tarot Trump "The Lightning Struck Tower". (Robson*).

The astrological influences given by Manilius for the constellation Ophiuchus:

When Ophiuchus, encircled by the serpent's great coils, rises he renders the forms of snakes innocuous to those born under him. They will receive snakes into the folds of their flowing robes, and will exchange kisses with these poisonous monsters and suffer no harm. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 5,  p.333].

One called Ophiuchus holds apart the serpent which with its mighty spirals [gyris] and twisted body encircles his own, that so he may untie its knots and back that winds in loops. But, bending its supple neck, the serpent looks back and returns; and the other's hands slide over the loosened coils. The struggle will last for ever, since they wage it on level terms with equal powers. [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD,  book 1, p.31].

With Sun: Sincere, honorable, scientific, religious and philosophical interests, unorthodox or heretical, moral courage, bad for gain. (Robson*).

With Moon: Secret enmity and jealousy, trouble through relatives, successful but not wealthy, success in breeding stock. (Robson*).

With Mercury: Injury from open enemies, little help from friends, failure in business, fairly good for gain but legal losses, scandal through relatives of marriage partner. (Robson*).

With Venus: Musical and artistic ability, not very favorable for gain. (Robson*).

With Mars: Unorthodox or heretical religious views that may cause trouble, domestic disharmony, trouble through love affairs, bad for gain. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Material success, preferment in Church or law but criticized, gain through large animals, trouble through relatives. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Industrious, persevering, economical, strong passions, trouble through some active indiscretion affecting whole life, trouble and disappointment in love affairs, secret help from female friends which may cause scandal, success especially in latter part of life in affairs of an earthy or Sagittarian nature, but little prominence. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Sincere, sober, retiring, melancholy, thoughtful, calm and patient in trouble, clergyman or associated with the Church, some physical disability, separated from friends and relatives, some great sorrow in the life, occupied in doing good but disappointed in results, rarely marries. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Highly sensitive, psychic strong will, prominent writer or speaker, success, many friend, favors from opposite sex, gifts and legacies used for scientific purposes, domestic harmony, sudden death in middle age from colds or consumption. (Robson*).

References

Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology

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