Behenian fixed star

The Behenian fixed stars are a selection of fifteen stars considered especially useful for magical applications in the medieval astrology of Europe and the Arab world. Their name derives from Arabic bahman, "root," as each was considered a source of astrological power for one or more planets. Each is also connected with a gemstone and plant that would be used in rituals meant to draw the star's influence (e.g., into a talisman). When a planet was within six degrees of an associated star, this influence was thought to be particularly strong.

History

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa discussed them in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy (Book II, chapters 47 & 52) as the Behenii (singular Behenius), describing their magical workings and kabbalistic symbols. He attributed these to Hermes Trismegistus, as was common with occult traditions in the Middle Ages. Their true origin remains unknown, though Sir Wallis Budge suspects a possible Sumerian source.

Table of Behenian stars

The following table uses symbols from a 1531 quarto edition of Agrippa, but other forms exist. Where the name used in old texts differs from the one in use today, the modern form is given first.

Name		Astronomical designation	Longitude (2020)[1][lower-alpha 1]	Planet	Gemstone	Plant
Algol	Caput Larvæ	Beta Persei	26 Taurus 26	Saturn & Jupiter	diamond	black hellebore
Alcyone	(or Pleiades)	Eta Tauri	00 Gemini 16	Moon & Mars	rock crystal	fennel
Aldebaran	Aldaboram	Alpha Tauri	10 Gemini 04	Mars & Venus	ruby / garnet	milk thistle
Capella	Alhayhoch, Hircus	Alpha Aurigæ	22 Gemini 08	Jupiter & Saturn	sapphire	thyme
Sirius	Canis major	Alpha Canis Majoris	14 Cancer 21	Venus	beryl	juniper
Procyon	Canis minor	Alpha Canis Minoris	26 Cancer 03	Mercury & Mars	agate	water buttercup
Regulus[lower-alpha 2]	Cor leonis	Alpha Leonis	00 Virgo 06	Jupiter & Mars	garnet	mugwort
Alkaid	Tail of the Great Bear	Eta Ursae Majoris	27 Virgo 12	Venus & Moon	magnet	succory
Algorab	Corvi	Delta Corvi	13 Libra 43	Saturn & Mars	onyx	burdock
Spica		Alpha Virginis	24 Libra 06	Venus & Mercury	emerald	sage
Arcturus	Alchameth	Alpha Boötis	24 Libra 30	Mars & Jupiter	jasper	plantain
Alphecca	Elpheia	Alpha Coronæ Borealis	12 Scorpio 34	Venus & Mars	topaz	rosemary
Antares	Cor scorpii	Alpha Scorpii	10 Sagittarius 01	Venus & Jupiter	sardonyx	birthwort
Vega	Vultur cadens	Alpha Lyræ	15 Capricorn 34	Mercury & Venus	chrysolite	winter savory
Deneb Algedi	Cauda capricorni	Delta Capricorni	23 Aquarius 48	Saturn & Mercury	chalcedony	marjoram

Notes

These locations are given in celestial longitude, the relatively fixed reference frame of tropical signs used in astrology. Due to the precession of the equinoxes the fixed stars appear to precess through space at the rate of ~1 degree of arc per 72 years. In order to fix the measurement to a specific date and degree of arc the values published are utilized for the year 2020. All celestial bodies, including stars and constellations, are measured according to various fixed frameworks, in this instance a geocentric tropical zodiac. Cf. Heliocentric model as a fixed framework and sidereal and tropical astrology to identify the measuring system used here. For example, "26 Taurus 10" means 26 degrees 10 minutes of the tropical sign Taurus. See ecliptic coordinate system for further information.
For the purposes of Behenian fixed stars the star Alpha Leo, also known as Cor Leonis ('Heart of the Lion') or Regulus, should be considered under the auspices of the differences noted in zodiacs as listed above, sidereal versus tropical. In November 2011, through the process of precession, Regulus precessed to 0 Degrees Virgo according to the tropical zodiac, which uses the Vernal Equinox as the primary point of reference. In the sidereal zodiac, Regulus is still considered to be within both the sign and constellation Leo, but in the tropical system, Regulus is no longer in the sign of Leo but instead has precessed into the sign of Virgo.

References

Citations

Fixed Stars - Astrology Online Calculator

Works cited

Budge, E. A. Wallis (1930). Amulets and Superstitions. London, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0486235734, 978-0486235738
Robson, Vivian E. (1979). The Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology. Samuel Weiser. ISBN 0877284636, 978-0877284635

External links

Hermes Trismegistus on the Fifteen Fixed Stars features alternate symbols.

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[2] These locations are given in celestial longitude, the relatively fixed reference frame of tropical signs used in astrology. Due to the precession of the equinoxes the fixed stars appear to precess through space at the rate of ~1 degree of arc per 72 years. In order to fix the measurement to a specific date and degree of arc the values published are utilized for the year 2020. All celestial bodies, including stars and constellations, are measured according to various fixed frameworks, in this instance a geocentric tropical zodiac. Cf. Heliocentric model as a fixed framework and sidereal and tropical astrology to identify the measuring system used here. For example, "26 Taurus 10" means 26 degrees 10 minutes of the tropical sign Taurus. See ecliptic coordinate system for further information.

[3] For the purposes of Behenian fixed stars the star Alpha Leo, also known as Cor Leonis ('Heart of the Lion') or Regulus, should be considered under the auspices of the differences noted in zodiacs as listed above, sidereal versus tropical. In November 2011, through the process of precession, Regulus precessed to 0 Degrees Virgo according to the tropical zodiac, which uses the Vernal Equinox as the primary point of reference. In the sidereal zodiac, Regulus is still considered to be within both the sign and constellation Leo, but in the tropical system, Regulus is no longer in the sign of Leo but instead has precessed into the sign of Virgo.

[1] Fixed Stars - Astrology Online Calculator