View source for Behenian fixed star

{{Short description|Application in medieval astrology}}
{{astrology}}

The '''Behenian fixed stars''' are a selection of fifteen [[star]]s considered especially useful for [[magic (paranormal)|magic]]al applications in the [[medieval]] [[astrology]] of Europe and the Arab world. Their name derives from the Arabic ''bahman'', "root," as each was considered a source of astrological power for one or more [[Classical planet|planet]]s. Each is also connected with a [[gemstone]] and [[herbalism|plant]] that would be used in [[ritual]]s meant to draw the star's influence (e.g., into a [[amulet|talisman]]). When a planet was within six [[degree (angle)|degree]]s 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&nbsp;II, chapters 47 & 52) as the ''Behenii'' (singular ''Behenius''), describing their magical workings and [[sigil]]s. He attributed these to [[Hermes Trismegistus]], as was common with [[occult]] traditions in the Middle Ages. Their true origin remains unknown, though [[E. A. Wallis Budge|Sir Wallis Budge]] suspects a possible [[Sumer]]ian source.

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==Table of Behenian stars==
The following table uses symbols from a 1531 [[quarto]] edition of Agrippa, but other forms exist. Where the [[list of traditional star names|name]] used in old texts differs from the one in use today, the modern form is given first.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" | Name
! Astronomical designation !! Longitude<br />(2020)<ref>[https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/calculate-fixed-stars/?tradicni=1&narozeni_rok=2020&stalice_skupina=&aya=lahiri&razeni=3 Fixed Stars - Astrology Online Calculator]</ref>{{efn|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.}} !! Planet !! Gemstone !! Plant !! Symbol
|-
|[[Algol]]
|Caput Larvæ
|Beta Persei
|26 [[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]] 26
|[[Saturn]] & [[Jupiter]]
|[[diamond]]
|[[Helleborus niger|black hellebore]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 01 Caput Algol.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Alcyone (star)|Alcyone]] 
| (or [[Pleiades]])
|Eta Tauri
|00 [[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]] 16
|[[Moon]] & [[Mars]]
|[[quartz|rock crystal]]
|[[fennel]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 02 Pleiades.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Aldebaran]]
|Aldaboram
|Alpha Tauri
|10 Gemini 04
|Mars & [[Venus]]
|[[ruby]] / [[garnet]]
|[[milk thistle]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 03 Aldebaram.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Capella]]
|Alhayhoch, Hircus
|Alpha Aurigæ
|22 Gemini 08
|Jupiter & Saturn
|[[sapphire]]
|[[thyme]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 04 Hircus.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Sirius]]
|[[Canis Major|Canis major]]
|Alpha Canis Majoris
|14 [[Cancer (constellation)|Cancer]] 21
|Venus
|[[beryl]]
|[[juniper]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 05 Canis maior.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Procyon]]
|[[Canis Minor|Canis minor]]
|Alpha Canis Minoris
|26 Cancer 03
|[[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] & Mars
|[[agate]]
|[[Ranunculus aquatilis|water buttercup]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 06 Canis minor.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Regulus]]
|Cor leonis
|Alpha Leonis
|00 [[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]] 06
|Jupiter & Mars
|garnet
|[[mugwort]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 07 Cor leonis.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Alkaid]]
|Tail of the Great Bear
|Eta Ursae Majoris
|27 Virgo 12
|Venus & Moon
|[[Lodestone|magnet]]
|[[chicory|succory]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 08 Cauda ursae.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Delta Corvi|Algorab]]
|[[Corvus (constellation)|Corvi]]
|Delta Corvi
|13 [[Libra (constellation)|Libra]] 43
|Saturn & Mars
|[[onyx]]
|[[burdock]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 09 Ala corui.svg|100px]]
|-
| colspan="2" | [[Spica]]
|Alpha Virginis
|24 Libra 06
|Venus & Mercury
|[[emerald]]
|[[Common sage|sage]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 10 Spica.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Arcturus]]
|Alchameth
|Alpha Boötis
|24 Libra 30
|Mars & Jupiter
|[[jasper]]
|[[plantago|plantain]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 11 Alchameth.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Alpha Coronae Borealis|Alphecca]]
|Elpheia
|Alpha Coronæ Borealis
|12 [[Scorpius|Scorpio]] 34
|Venus & Mars
|[[topaz]]
|[[rosemary]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 12 Elpheia.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Antares]]
|Cor scorpii
|Alpha Scorpii
|10 [[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]] 01
|Venus & Jupiter
|[[sardonyx]]
|[[birthwort]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 13 Cor Scorpii.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Vega]]
|Vultur cadens
|Alpha Lyræ
|15 [[Capricornus|Capricorn]] 34
|Mercury & Venus
|[[Peridot|chrysolite]]
|[[winter savory]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 14 Vultur cadens.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[Delta Capricorni|Deneb Algedi]]
|Cauda capricorni
|Delta Capricorni
|23 [[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]] 48
|Saturn & Mercury
|[[chalcedony]]
|[[marjoram]]
|[[File:Agrippa Behenian star 15 Cauda capricorni.svg|100px]]
|}

==See also==
*[[Olympian spirits]]
*[[Worship of heavenly bodies]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Works cited===
{{more footnotes|date=September 2021}}
*Budge, E. A. Wallis (1930). ''Amulets and Superstitions''. London, Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0486235734}}, {{ISBNT|978-0486235738}}
*Robson, Vivian E. (1979). ''The Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology''. Samuel Weiser. {{ISBN|0877284636}}, {{ISBNT|978-0877284635}}

==External links==
*[http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/hermesfixedstars.html Hermes Trismegistus on the Fifteen Fixed Stars] features alternate symbols.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Behenian Fixed Star}}
[[Category:Stellar groupings]]
[[Category:Technical factors of Western astrology]]
[[Category:History of astrology]]
[[Category:History of magic]]
[[Category:Hermes Trismegistus]]