Arcturus
Arcturus, credit: Yuuji Kitahara
Arcturus (Alpha Boötis) 24°33’ tropical Libra, 00°23’ sidereal Libra
Arcturus (Alpha Boötis) is a golden, red giant star and the brightest in the constellation of Boötes, marking the lower belt or inner thighs of the Herdsman. It is located at the projected zodiacal longitude of 24°33’ tropical Libra, 00°23’ sidereal Libra. Shining with an apparent visual magnitude of –0.05, Arcturus is the 4th brightest star in the night sky and the brightest in the northern celestial hemisphere.
Boötes in the Uranographia by Johannes Hevelius, 1687
Mythos & Star Lore
The Mesopotamians associated Arcturus with Enlil, the lord of the gods and a creator deity of the forces of nature (primarily wind, storms, floods) and the Earth. The star was known to them as Shudan, meaning "yoke". In Sumerian creation stories, Enlil separates An (heaven) from Ki (earth) to create a tenantable realm for humankind to live in. The Babylonians viewed the heavens in three divisions: the northern sky was the Way of Enlil; the equatorial and most of the zodiac marked the Way of Anu (the ancient god of the heavens); and the southern sky was known as the Way of Ea (the god of earth and of life, who dwells in the abysmal waters). As Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern sky, it came to be seen as Enlil who kept watch over this part of the celestial domain.
The Greeks inherited the constellation from the Babylonians and came to associate it with Arcas, son of Callisto, who almost killed his mother in her bear form. The name of Arcturus comes from the ancient Greek Ἀρκτοῦρος (Arktouros), meaning "Guardian of the Bear". Boötes is derived from the Greek Βοώτης, meaning “Herdsman” or “Ox-driver”. Earlier accounts indicate that ancient Greeks also viewed this constellation as the celestial form of Icarius, father of Erigone who was also seen as the constellation Virgo nearby. The Athenian Icarius welcomed the wandering demigod Dionysius into his home, offering him food and shelter. Dionysius rewarded his generous hospitality with the knowledge of wine-making. But when Icarius shared his wine with his shepherd neighbors they stoned him to death in their intoxication, believing that he had poisoned them. Erigone and their hound Maira tragically came upon her father’s body. In her overwhelming grief Erigone hung herself and Maira fell into a well. Dionysius was so furious over Icarius’ murder and the deaths of Erigone and Maira that he inflicted drought, plague and madness upon Athens. Dionysius also placed Icarius, Erigone and Maira in the heavens as the Boötes, Virgo and Canis Major constellations. An oracle revealed that to appease Dionysius and lift his divine wrath, Athenians would need to honor the dead through a festival dedicated to Dionysius.
Milky Way with Airglow Australis showing Antares at the top along the central Milky Way, the Summer Triangle stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair near the horizon, and brilliant Arcturus to the left. (Credit: Yuri Beletsky)
Arcturus was also a prominent star in a number of other Indigenous cosmologies. The Inuit named Alpha Boötis Uttuqalualuk (Old Man) and Sivullik (the First One), which was a guiding star during the winter fishing and seal trapping season. The Mi'kmaq of eastern so-called Canada viewed Arcturus as Kookoogwess, a sacred owl. For the Wotjobaluk Koori of so-called Australia, Arcturus was seen as the mother of Antares and its cosmical setting signaled the summer and harvest season. Arcturus was a significant navigation star for the Polynesians, known to them as "the Star of Joy" and "a Pillar to Stand By".
To the Egyptians, Arcturus was significant enough to build some of their temples in alignment with its heliacal rising. In an ancient legend, the constellation Boötes was seen as the apotropaic goddess Tawaret (The Great One) in her hippopotamus form warding off the spirits of the circumpolar stars. In temples, Tawaret is depicted as swinging the Great Bull (Ursa Major) by it's leg.
Tawaret as Boötes controlling the leg of Ursa Major, Temple at Esna
To the Arabs, Alpha Boötis was called al-Simak al-Ramih, meaning "the Elevated One of the Lancer", and al-Haris al-Sama ("the Protector of Heaven"). It was also referred to as al-Haris al-Simak ("the Keeper of the Unarmed One" or “Protector of the Defenseless One”) since Arcturus was seen as the fierce protector of the more innocent natured Spica (al-Simak, "Unarmed").
The medieval Persian astronomer, astrologer and poly-math al-Biruni described Alpha Boötis as part of an asterism of a greater Lion expanding beyond the Leo constellation. Arcturus was seen as the Second Calf or Shin (Spica was the First Calf/Shin) of the Lion, with Regulus as the head of the Lion, Castor & Pollux as the Paw, and Corvus as the Hind.
For the Chinese, Alpha Boötis marked "the Palace of the Emperors" and they also referred to it as Da Jiao, meaning "the Great Horn".
The Indians call Alpha Boötis Svati, meaning "Highly Beneficient," and is seen as a luminous pearl marking the Svati nakshatra closely following Citra (the Brilliant Pearl, Spica).
Svati, artist unknown, Kolkata 1890
Lunar Mansion
✧ Svati nakshatra • स्वाति • Great Mover • The symbol for this asterism is a Young Sprout Quivering in the Wind, and in some instances a Sword, representing energy of movement, adaptability, independence and fierceness. Svati is the celestial abode of Vayu, god of the wind who also manifests as prana. Its ruler is Rahu and its indicator star is Arcturus. Svati is associated with swiftness, freedom, independence, diplomacy and mediation.
Astrological Magic
"To those born under Arcturus, fortune herself makes bold to entrust her treasures, so that the wealth of monarchs and temple finances will be in their keeping; they will be kings under kings and ministers of state, and be charged with the guardianship of the people or, as the stewards of grand houses, they will confine their business to the care of another’s home." —Manilius, Astronomica
Talismans of Arcturus are prescribed for the making of “astringent medicines, for the curing of fevers and healing bleeding disorders and the restraining of blood flow,” as well as for bestowing “wealth, honors, high reknown, self-determination and for successful voyages, especially by sea”.
“Under Arcturus they made the image of a Horse or Wolf, or the figure of a Dancing Man; it is good against Fevers, it astringeth and retaineth the blood.”
Sigil of Arcturus as drawn by Agrippa, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus
Plants & Gemstones
Arcturus’ plant sympathies are with plantain, and its gemstones are red and green jasper.
Candles & Incense
Red and green candles are used, and any incense is appropriate for fumigations in its ritualistic invocations.
Plantain (Plantago major)
Ritual Communal Hours
Approximately an hour before sunrise the stars making their heliacal rising will begin their ascent on the eastern horizon. This is the star deities' rebirth or return from the Otherworld and as such is the most appropriate time to commune with, make offerings and petitions to said deities. The heliacal rising hours are also the most potent time, depending on all other astrological factors, for creating talismanic materia imbued with the star's influences and powers. The second best times for ritualistically working with the fixed stars is when the Moon conjoins said star. Again, depending on all other astrological factors, Moon-Star alignments are also potent times for talismanic magic.
The Heliacal Rising of Arcturus Dates:
November 6: Cotonou, Benin 06°24' N
November 1: Dakar, Senegal 14°45' N
October 26: Miami, FL 25°47' N
October 24: Alexandria, Egypt 31°11' N
October 22: Phoenix, AZ 33°27' N
October 19: Oakland, CA 37°48' N / Athens, Greece 38°00' N
October 18: NY, NY 40°45' N
October 13: Seattle, WA 47°37' N
October 11: London, UK 51°30' N
