History of the star: A deep yellow star in the left hand of the Serpent Bearer Ophiuchus.

Yed Prior, the Former or Preceding one of the two stars in "the Hand", — the Arabic Yad. It is sometimes written Jed.

Epsilon (Yed Posterior), delta (this star Yed Prior) zeta (Han), eta Ophiuchi (Sabik) with 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. The stars between these two Nasak or boundaries marked the Raudah or pasture itself and Al Aghnam, the Sheep within it, now the Club of Hercules (Kajam is the main star). These sheep were guarded by the Shepherd and his Dog, the two lucidae or alpha stars marking the heads of Ophiuchus (Ras Alhague the Shepherd) and Hercules (Ras algethi the Dog).

Delta (this star Yed Prior) and epsilon (Yed Posterior) point out the left hand grasping the body of the Serpent; tau and nu (Sinistra), the other hand, holding the tail.

[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].

• Starlists
• Homepage
• Discussion
• Moon Mansions