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Cornelius Agrippa

Agrippa's Table of Behenian Fixed Stars

The Behenian Fixed Stars are a selection of fifteen stars considered especially useful for magical applications in the mediæval 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. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa discussed them in his De Occulta Philosophia 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.
[NOTE: the symbols drawn by Agrippa for Aldebaran (Aldaboram), for Capella (Hircus) and for the Pleiades differ somewhat from those displayed in Wikipedia. There are a number of versions extant, but I have used those presented in J.F's 1651 English translation of Book II of Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy.]
Name
Latin Name
Astronomical Designation
Location1
Planet
Gemstone
Plant
Symbol
Caput Algol
Beta Persei
26º Taurus 07'
algol symbol
Pleiades
M45 (Taurus)
29º Taurus 55'
Aldaboram
Alpha Tauri
09º Gemini 11'
Image:Agrippa1531_Hircus.png
Alhayhoch, Hircus
Alpha Aurigæ
21º Gemini 48'
Alpha Canis Majoris
14º Cancer 03'
Image:Agrippa1531_Canismaior.png
Alpha Canis Minoris
25º Cancer 45'
water buttercup
Image:Agrippa1531_Canisminor.png
Alpha Leonis
29º Leo 47'
Image:Agrippa1531_corLeonis.png
Cauda ursæ
Alpha Ursæ Minoris
28º Gemini 31'
Image:Agrippa1531_caudaUrsae.svg
Ala corvi
Gamma Corvi
13º Libra 23'
Image:Agrippa1531_alaCorui.png
Spica
Alpha Virginis
23º Libra 47'
Image:Agrippa1531_Spica.png
Alchameth
Alpha Boötis
24º Libra 11'
Image:Agrippa1531_Alchameth.png
Elpheia
Alpha Coronæ Borealis
12º Scorpio 14'
Image:Agrippa1531_Elpheia.png
Cor scorpii
Alpha Scorpii
09º Sagittarius 43'
Image:Agrippa1531_corScorpii.png
Vultur cadens
Alpha Lyræ
15º Capricorn 16'
Image:Agrippa1531_Vulturcadens.png
Cauda capricorni
Delta Capricorni
05º Pisces 18'
Image:Agrippa1531_caudaCapricorni.png

1 See Stars & Signs: The Precession of the Equinoxes for further information.

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