Antares

Antares (Alpha Scorpii) 10°04’ tropical Sagittarius, 15°54’ sidereal Scorpio

Antares (Alpha Scorpii) is a binary star system that appears as a red supergiant, one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye. The brightest in Scorpius with an apparent visual magnitude of +0.6 to +1.6, located at the center of the constellation found at the projected zodiacal longitude of 10°05' tropical Sagittarius, 15°54' sidereal Scorpio.

Scorpio in the Uranographia by Johannes Hevelius,1687

Mythos & Star Lore

Alpha Scorpii’s prominence in the celestial realm is recognized throughout a vast spectrum of cosmologies, with its significance tracing back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations. The Babylonians first described Antares as the Heart of the Scorpion. The Egyptians associated the firey star with the goddess of Death, Selkit or Serqet. The Persians came to designate Antares as one of their Royal Stars, Satevis, the “Watcher of the West”. The Chinese named Alpha Scorpii the tutelary star of the Shang Dynasty. The Maori call Antares Rēhua, the chief of all the stars.

Selkit

To the Egyptians, Selkit (Serqet) was seen embodied in Antares and the star's heliacal rising was aligned with this deity's temples. Selkit is a chthonic goddess who guards the canopic jars that held the deceased's intestines upon embalment. Selkit was also a healing divinity that was invoked for curing venemous bites, stings or infections.

Mesopotamian peoples associated Antares with the mother creator goddess Lisin and in some places saw it as the breast of the goddess Ishara, who is often depicted symbolically as a scorpion. Ishara was associated with oaths and divination, as well as the royal family in ancient Syria. She was invoked in funerary rites of deceased Eblaite kings and queen mothers, among other royal ceremonies.

Kudurru depicting various celestial deities, including the symbol for Ishara (the scorpion)

The name Antares comes from the ancient Greek Ἀντάρης, meaning "rival to Ares". Its red hue and position near the ecliptic is comparable to and would be confused for Mars (Ares). The ancient Greeks connected the constellation of Scorpius with the Scorpion sent to kill Orion: upon boasting that he would hunt and kill all of the animals of Earth, the goddess Gaia summoned the mighty Scorpion who stung Orion in his heel, stopping him in his tracks. Both were immortalized in the heavens as their respective constellations.

The Arabs called Alpha Scorpii, قَلْبُ ٱلْعَقْرَبِ (al-Qalb al-Άqrab), translating it from the Greek Καρδία Σκορπίου (Kardia Skorpiū), meaning “the heart of the Scorpion”, which is a term derived from the Babylonians. Al-Qalb became the name of the eighteenth lunar mansion in which Antares is found. The Latin translation of the heart of the Scorpion is Cor Scorpii.

Within medieval Jewish and Christian cosmology the Heart of the Scorpion would be associated with the archangel Uriel, the angel of wisdom, truth and light who delivers God’s messages among mortals. Islamic cosmology identifies the star Antares with Azrael, the angel of Death.

The Scorpion constellation in Al Sufi's "Book of Fixed Stars" (964 CE)

Lunar Station

Antares is the principal host star for the Eighteenth Lunar Station.

Manzil: Al Qalb (Al Kalb) •  قَلْبُ • Heart • Ghayat al Hakim describes the symbolic image of this asterism to be that of a snake holding its tail above its head. Its indicator star is Antares. The angelic lord of this manzil is Egribel. Al Qalb’s key theme is protection. Workings in this manzil benefit conspiring against rulers, avenging injustices, liberating captives and separating friends. It is also favorable for the strengthening of buildings, planting, sowing, traveling and for war.[1] Ghayat al Hakim says of Al Qalb, "...in this Manzil make images for men to conspire against kings and vengeance against enemies and whatever else [of this nature] you wish, to construct buildings that will be strong, to free captives from incarceration, and to separate friends."[2]

Nakshatra: Jyestha • ज्येष्ठा • Eldest or Elder •  The symbol for this asterism is of an Amulet, Pendant Ear Jewel or Umbrella. It is the celestial abode of Indra, king of the devas and heaven, god of the Sky, Lightning, Thunder, Storms, Rains, Rivers and War. The indicator star is Antares and the planetary lord is Mercury. Its temperament is considered fierce and sharp. The name for this nakshatra comes from the goddess of adversity and misfortune, Jyestha, who is the eldest sister of the goddess Lakshmi.[3] Jyestha was seen as the “negative” qualities of a traditional housewife by patriarchal standards, while Lakshmi denotes the “positive” qualities. The goddess Jyestha is associated with inauspicious places, sinners, sloth, poverty, sorrow, and ugliness. The nakshatra is seen favorable for punishment, torture, imprisonment, exorcism, mesmerism and separations.[2] As a goddess, Jyestha was depicted as having a long nose and in some instances is described as “elefant-faced,” alluding to her power for removing obstacles. Some believe her to be a precursor to Ganesha for these reasons. As such the nakshatra is said to bestow power, prosperity and success to its natives. Its gifts include psychic skills and occult powers, profundity, inventiveness, courageousness and protectiveness.

Xiù: Xīn (Sin) • 心宿 • Heart •  The symbol for this asterism is the heart of Qinglong, the Azure Dragon, one of the Dragon gods representing the chthonic forces of Wufang Shangdi, Highest Deities of the Five Regions or the fivefold manifestation of the supreme God of Heaven. The Wufang Shangdi are also described as the five changeable faces of Heaven, representing the cosmic mandala that forms the worlds as celestial altars. Being one of the Four Symbols that comprise the Chinese constellations marking the seasons and directions, the Azure Dragon also represents the East and the Spring. Its determinative star is Alpha Scorpii and its planetary ruler is Mars.

Astrological Magic

Ptolemy classified Antares as being of the nature of Mars and Jupiter combined. Its influence causes malevolence, destructiveness, but also broad-mindedness and liberality.[1] There is danger of fatality with this star so approach working with caution and reverance of the spirits invoked here.

Talisman of the 18th Mansion

The principal theme of Antares as the host of Al Qalb is protection, especially protection of one’s health and against psychic attacks. Ghayat al Hakim prescribes talismans of Al Qalb "to take away fevers and pains of the stomach". According to Agrippa, the angel of Al Qalb is Egibiel and is invoked in the following way to consecrate its talismans. While suffimigating with a horn of a stag, say:

You, Egibiel, guard this house of mine that no serpent nor any other beast may enter.

Ghayat al Hakim draws an image of a snake holding its tail above its head; the snake may be coiled and behind them a sun sets. Place this image in a vessel buried beneath your house for protection of the home. To ward off stomach ailments and fever, carry this talismanic image on your person.[4]

Talisman of Antares

Antares talismans are likewise specifically prescribed for protection against spiritual attacks, uncrossings, banishments and liberatory justice work. These talismans are also tied to increasing memory and intellgience.

From the Bodlein MS: “Birthwort juice with a little yew placed etc. gives men healthy color, grants good memory and intelligence, makes them appear wise, and banishes demons.”

From Agrippa: “They made the image of a man armed, and with a coat of Male, or the figure of a Scorpion; it giveth understanding and memory, it maketh a good colour, and aideth against evil spirits and driveth them away and bindeth them.”[5]

Antares sigil as drawn by Agrippa

Plants, Gemstones, Incense, Colors

Antares’ gemstones are sardonyx and amethyst, and its plant is birthwort (Aristolochia labiata). Copal and Dragon's Blood resins may be burned for invocations of this star and consecrations of its stellar or lunar mansion talismans. The colors red and purple are associated with Antares. Likewise, red or purple candles may be used in its workings.[4]

Aristolochia labiata

Deep Space Objects

Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex found in the direction of Antares, image credit: James Webb Space Telescope

References

[1] Robson, Vivian. The Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology. Astrology Classics, 2005, Abingdon, Maryland.

[2] Attrell, Dan and Porreca, David. Picatrix, A Medieval Treatise of Astral Magic. The Pennsylvania University Press, 2019, University Park, Pennsylvania.

[3] Mani, Vettam. Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Delhi, 1975.

[4] Warnock, Christopher. The Mansions of the Moon: A Lunar Zodiac For Astrology and Magic. Renaissance Astrology, 2019, Middletown, Delaware.

[5] Warnock, Christopher. Fixed Star, Sign & Constellation Magic. Renaissance Astrology, 2019, Middletown, Delaware.