History of the star: On the front paw of the Greater Bear Ursa Major. This title Talitha "Third [leap of the Gazelle]" was applied by the Arabs to iota and kappa together; Talitha Borealis (this star iota) "Third Leap [of the Gazelle] north", and Talitha Australis (kappa) "Third Leap [of the Gazelle] south"; (iota, now in 2001, at 02LEO49, kappa at 03LEO59.).  

Talitha is from Arabic Ath-Thalithah (1), Ulug Beigh has it Al Phikra al Thalitha, perhaps for Al Kafzah al-thalithah, the third spring, or leap, of the ghazal; [al Ula , the First (leap), being shown by nu (Alula Boreale, and xi (Alula Australis), and al Thaniyah, the Second (leap), by lamda (Tania Borealis) and nu (Tania Australis).

[See Alula Boreale for the Leaps of the Gazelle.]

Smyth wrote that this star, Talitha, has obtained the name of Talita, "the third vertebra", the meaning of which is not quite clear. Hyde strangely rendered the original words of Ulug Beg as the "Vertebrae" of the Greater Bear, — whence probably Smyth's statement, — or "the Cavity of the Heel", which, from the star's position in the figure, is a much more likely translation.

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

"Talitha" means "Daughter of the assembly". A star in the right front leg of the Greater Bear. Therein lies an amazing story of the origin of the Bible. In Mark 5:22&23, Jairus one of the rulers of the synagogue (assembly), comes to Jesus and said "my little daughter is at the point of death". So here we have the "daughter of the assembly". Jesus goes to the house of the daughter and in Mark 5:41 he takes her hand and says "Talitha Cumi" which means "daughter arise". So what's being said? The star in the right rear leg of Ursa and the star in the front leg of Ursa is used as the basis of this story of healing and compassion. It is written in the stars and one must consider, is the power in the stars as well?" http://www.hiddenmeanings.com/hidden.html  

The astrological influences of the constellation: It is said to give a quiet, prudent, suspicious, mistrustful, self-controlled, patient nature, but an uneasy spirit and great anger when roused. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Zain and the 7^th Tarot Trump "The Chariot". (Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923)

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

"Now when, after completing a revolution round the pole, the Bear (Ursa Major) with muzzle foremost replaces her unceasing steps in her former tracks, never immersed in Ocean but ever turning in a circle, to those born at such a time wild creatures will show no hostile face, and in their dealings with animals these men will find them submissive to their rule. Such a one will be able to control huge lions with a gesture, to fondle wolves, and to play with captive panthers; so far from shunning the powerful bears that are the kin of the constellation, he will train them to human accomplishments and feats foreign to their nature; he will seat himself on the elephant's back and with a goad will direct the movements of a beast which disgraces its massive weight by yielding to tiny jabs; he will dispel the fury of the tiger, training it to become a peaceful animal, whilst all the other beasts which molest the earth with their savageness he will join in friendship to himself; keen-scented whelps he will train..." [here the translator notes that eight pages have been lost] [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 5, p.357, 359]

"Now where heaven reaches its culmination in the shining Bears, which from the summit of the sky look down on all the stars and know no setting and, shifting their opposed stations about the same high point, set sky and stars in rotation, from there an insubstantial axis runs down through the wintry air and controls the universe, keeping it pivoted at opposite poles: it forms the middle about which the starry sphere revolves and wheels its heavenly flight, but is itself without motion and, drawn straight through the empty spaces of the great sky to the two Bears and through the very globe of the Earth, stands fixed, since the entire atmosphere ever revolves in a circle, and every part of the whole rotates to the place from which it once began, that which is in the middle, about which all moves, so insubstantial that it cannot turn round upon itself or even submit to motion or spin in circular fashion, this men have called the axis, since, motionless itself, it yet sees everything spinning about it. The top of the axis is occupied by constellations well known to hapless mariners, guiding them over the measureless deep in their search for gain. Helice (Ursa Major), the greater, describes the greater arc; it is marked by seven stars which vie with each other under its guidance the ships of Greece set sail to cross the seas. Cynosura [Ursa Minor] is small and wheels round in a narrow circle, less in brightness as it is in size, but in the judgement of the Tyrians it excels the larger bear. Carthaginians count it the surer-guide when at sea they make for unseen shores. They are not set face to face : each with its muzzle points at the other's tail and follows one that follows it. Sprawling between them and embracing each the Dragon separates and surrounds them with its glowing stars lest they ever meet or leave their stations." [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 1, p.27, 29].