THE FIXED STARS - Astroweb

with foam-flecked bits, guide their powerful strength, and keep close to the curve round which they wheel. Again,
when the bolts have been drawn and the horses have escaped from the starting-pens, he will urge on the spirited
steeds and, leaning forward, he will seem to precede them in their swift career; hardly touching the surface of the
track with his light wheels, he will outstrip the winds with his coursers' feet.
Holding first place in the contest he will drive to the side in a baulking course and, his obstruction delaying his rivals,
deny them the whole breadth of the circus-track; or if he is placed mid-way in the press, he will now swing to a course
on the outside, trusting in the open, now keep close to the pointed turning- post, and will leave the result in doubt to
the very last moment. As a trick-rider too he will be able to settle himself now on one, now on a second horse, and
plant his feet firmly upon them; flying from horse to horse he will perform tricks on the backs of animals in flight
themselves; or mounted on a single horse he will now engage in exercise of arms, now whilst still riding pick up gifts
scattered along the length of the circus. He will possess virtuosity in all that is connected with such pursuits. Of this
constellation, I think, Salmoneus may be held to have been born imitating heaven on earth, he imagined that by
setting his team of four on a bridge of bronze and driving it across he had expressed the crash of the heavens and
had brought to earth Jove's very self; however, while counterfeiting thunderbolts he was struck by real ones and,
falling after the fires he had flung himself, discovered in death that Jove existed. You may well believe that under this
constellation was born Bellerophon (Some sources identify the Charioteer with Bellerophon (Schol. Aratus, Phaea.
161). Men like Cato (the Censor, Bellerophon, see the Bellerophon story on the Pegasus page), who flew amid the
stars and laid a road on heaven: the sky was the field over which he sped, whilst land and sea lay far beneath his feet,
and his path was unmarked by footprints. By examples such as these are you to mark the rising figure of the
Charioteer. (Manilus, book 5 of Astronomica, 1st century AD).
Fixed star: YILDUN. Pherkard.
Notes: A star in the middle of the tail of the Small Bear.
Constellation: Delta Ursa Minor
Longitude 1900: 29GEM48. Longitude 2000: 01CAN12.
Declination 1900: +86.37'. Declination 2000: +86.35'.
Right ascension: 17h32m. Latitude: +69.56'.
Spectral class: A0. Magnitude: 4.4.
Suggested orb: 0' 31" Planetary nature: Sat-Ven
Influence of the constellation: It is said to give indifference and improvidence of spirit and to lead to many troubles.
By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Tau and the 21 st Tarot Trump "The Universe", "The World".
(Robson).
Fixed star: PROPUS. Tejat Prior.
English translation: Forward foot (of the Northern Twin, Castor). A
star positioned in front of Castor's foot.
Constellation: Eta Gemini
Longitude 1900: 02CAN02. Longitude 2000: 03CAN26.
Declination 1900: +22.32'. Declination 2000: +22.30'.
Right ascension: 06h14m. Latitude: -00.53'.
Spectral class: M3. Magnitude: 3.3 Variable
Suggested orb: 0' 42" Planetary nature: Saturn.
Influence of the constellation: "Ptolemy makes the following observations; the stars in the feet of Gemini have an
influence similar to that of Mercury, and moderately to that of Venus; the bright stars in the thighs are like Saturn. It is
said to cause trouble and disgrace, sickness, loss of fortune, affliction and danger to the knees.
By the Cabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Qoph and the 19 th Tarot Trump, The Sun". (Robson). (In
astrology, the Sun is in Leo and not in Gemini, the Tarot takes into account the fact that Gemini ends with the longest
days, hence at the triumph of light. Also, the Sun in Gemini is essentially life-giving, as opposed to that of the Lion
which dries up and kills).
General influence of the star: Of the nature of Mercury and Venus. It causes violence, pride, over-confidence and
shamelessness. (Robson).
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