History of the star: A star on the left arm of Virgo. With zeta (Heze), it almost exactly marks the line of the celestial equator.

The Arabic spelling for Zaniah, is Az-Zawiyah (1), "The angle".

Eric Morse in The Living Stars says about this Mercury-Venus star; "The name must bring a smile to astrologers who often associate Mercury with money and Venus with love, and Ptolemy having put the money first for Zaniyah means "Adulteress" or "Harlot". We have seen how Virgo has had such a reputation in past times, having been Lilith and Ashtoreth as much as more honored ladies like Mary. A little amusement is permitted in reading older books in which the word is either not translated at all, or the authors digress into a learned discussion on whether or not this star belongs to a group once known as the "Kennels", along with the title "little mosque" [for Zavijava], Victorian avoidance of the unmentionable does have its comic side!" (Morse).

Delta (Auva), with eta (Zaniah), gamma (Porrima), epsilon (Vindemiatrix), [with the exceptian of epsilon, Zavijava, they are all Mercury-Venus stars] outlined a "Kennel", of the Dogs, and formed the Arabic 11th manzil, Al 'Awwa', "The barker".

In China it was Tso Chih Fa, "the Left-hand Maintainer of Law".

Beta (Zavijava) and this star eta (Zaniah), were perhaps Ninsar, the "Lady of Heaven", probably a reference to Istar; and Urra-gal, the "God of the Great City"; and one of the seven pairs of stars famous in that astronomy.

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

Influences of the Arabic 11th manzil Al 'Awwa': Gives benevolence, gain, voyages, harvests and freedom of captives. With Moon transiting here; sow, plant, take medicine but do not travel or marry. (Robson*).

The astrological influences of the constellation: By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Gimel and the 3^rd Tarot Trump "The Empress". (Robson*).

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

"spicifera est Virgo Cereris"  —  "The Virgin with her sheaf belongs to Ceres". [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, p.117]

"Virginis in propriam descendunt ilia sortem",  —  "the belly comes down to the Maid as her rightful lot"  [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, p.119]

"At her rising Erigone, who reigned with Justice over a bygone age and fled when it fell into sinful ways, bestows high eminence by bestowing supreme power; she will produce a man to direct the laws of the state and the sacred code; one who will tend with reverence the hallowed temples of the gods. [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, p.265]

The temperaments of those whose span of life she pronounces at their birth Erigone will direct to study, and she will train their minds in the learned arts. She will give not so much abundance of wealth as the impulse to investigate the causes and effects of things. On them she will confer a tongue which charms, the mastery of words, and that mental vision which can discern all things, however concealed they be by the mysterious workings of nature. From the Virgin will also come the stenographer: his letter represents a word, and by means of his symbols he can keep ahead of utterance and record in novel notation the long speech of a rapid speaker. But with the good there comes a flaw: bashfulness handicaps the early years of such persons, for the Maid, by holding back their great natural gifts, puts a bridle on their lips and restrains them by the curb of authority. And (small wonder in a virgin) her offspring is not fruitful. [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, p.237 and 239] 

The general astrological influences of the star: According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Mercury and Venus; and, to Alvidas, of Venus and Mercury in sextile. It gives refinement, honor, congeniality, order and a lovable nature. (Robson*).

An attribute of Zaniah can be seen in the Mercury-Venus-in-Libra talent for negotiating peace. One attribute which a good commander (or salesman) must surely need is an intuition for knowing to call a halt to battle and either offer or seek terms for peace. If well aspected and on the right planet, Mercury, Venus, Sun, or Jupiter for example this is what will show up in the horoscope. With Mars or Saturn the terms for peace may be too harsh for acceptance; with the Moon or Neptune they may be either unrealistic or downright "shady". (The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse).

With Sun: Educational and studious interests, popular, social success, much pleasure, favorable for marriage. (Robson*).

With Moon: Worry, loss through legal and Venusian affairs, trouble through writings, led astray by sympathies. (Robson).

With Mercury: Musical or artistic ability, gain through writing short stories, popular, social success, many friends especially among opposite sex. (Robson*).

With Venus: Quick in learning, musical and artistic ability, fond of society, many friends, favorable for gain. (Robson*).

With Mars: Active, energetic, loss through lawsuits, trouble through opposite sex. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Religious and philosophical mind, social success, many friends. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Sober, industrious, many influential elderly friends, gain through old people, grand-parents, and marriage. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Studious, psychic, retiring, some what unpractical, uneventful life, many friends, social success, favorable for marriage if male but less so if female, gain through marriage and business, natural death. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Kind, sympathetic, somewhat impatient, good at detail work, peculiar love affairs, gain through marriage and partnership, help from influential friends, uneventful life, danger of death at about 10 years of age or natural death in middle life. (Robson*).

References

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

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