Constellation Sagittarius Astrology

Constellation Sagittarius the Archer, is an ecliptic constellation laying between constellation Scorpio and constellation Capricorn. It spans nearly 30 degrees longitude in the zodiac sign Capricorn. The Sagittarius constellation contains 15 named fixed stars.

The following are Ptolemy’s remarks: The stars at the point of the arrow in Sagittarius have an influence similar to that of Mars and the Moon (adventurous, perfidious, insolent, wanton, brutal, danger to eyes. If rising, sore eyes, weak sight, trouble and loss through women. If culminating, disgrace and imprisonment): those on the bow, and at the grasp of the hand, act like Jupiter and Mars (high ambition, pride, love of power, grandeur of view, If rising, military honors. If culminating, high ecclesiastical honor, martial preferment, prosperity in business)… those in the waist and in the back resemble Jupiter, and also Mercury moderately (religious mind, thoughtful, philosophical, writer on religious or similar subjects): those in the feet, Jupiter and Saturn (legacies, inheritance, fame, especially if rising, but foolish and unfortunate in love affairs. If culminating, honor and preferment). By the Kabbalists Sagittarius is associated with the Hebrew letter Vau and the 6th Tarot Trump “The Lovers.” [1]

Sagittarius, the Archer…next to the eastward from Scorpio, was Toxeutes, the Archer, and Rutor toxon, the Bow-stretcher, with Aratos; Toxeuter with other Greeks; and Toxetes with Eratosthenes, Hipparchos, Plutarch, and Ptolemy…

The formation of this constellation on the Euphrates undoubtedly preceded that of the larger figure, the Centaur Chiron (the constellation Centaurus); but the first recorded classic figuring was in Eratosthenes’ description of it as a Satyr, probably derived from the characteristics of the original Centaur, Hea-bani (Heabani), and it so appeared on the more recent Farnese globe. But Manilius mentioned it, as in our modern style, mixtus equo, and with threatening look, very different from the mild aspect of the educated Chiron, the Centaur of the South (Centaurus); while it sometimes is given in later manuscripts and maps with flowing robes; but his crown (the constellation Corona Australis) always appears near his fore feet, and his arrow is always aimed at the Scorpion’s heart.

Dupuis said that it was shown in Egypt as an Ibis or Swan; but the Denderah zodiac has the customary Archer with the face of a lion added, so making it bifaced. Kircher gave its title from the Copts as IIemaere, Statio amoenitatis.

We have already noticed the confusion in the myths and titles of this zodiacal Centaur with those of the southern Centaur (the constellation Centaurus), some thinking Sagittarius the Chiron of the Greeks, — Chiron with Hyginus and the Romans; although Eratosthenes and others, as did the modern Ideler, understood this name to refer to the Centaur proper (the constellation Centaurus)…

Astrologically the constellation was the House of Jupiter, that planet having appeared here at the Creation, a manuscript of 1386 calling it the Schoter “ye principal howce of Jupit “; although this honor was shared by Aquarius and Leo. Nor did Jupiter monopolize its possession, for it also was the domicile of Diana, one of whose temples was at Stymphalus, the home of the Stymphalian birds. These last, when slain by Hercules, were transferred to the sky as Aquila, Cygnus, and Vultur Cadens (Lyra), and are all paranatellons of Sagittarius, as has been explained under Aquila. Thus the constellation was known as Dianae Sidus. It inclined to fruitfulness, a character assigned to it as far back as the Babylonian inscriptions; and was a fortunate sign, reigning over Arabia Felix, Hungary, Liguria, Moravia, and Spain, and the cities of Avignon, Cologne, and Narbonne; while Manilius said that it ruled Crete, Latium, and Trinacria. Ampelius associated it with the south wind, Auster, and the southwest wind, Africus; Aries and Scorpio being also associated with the latter. Yellow was the color attributed to it, or the peculiar green sanguine; and Arcandum in 1542 wrote that a man born under this sign would be thrice wedded, very fond of vegetables, would become a matchless tailor, and have three special illnesses, the last at eighty years of age. Such was much of the science of his day!…

The symbol of the sign, ♐, shows the arrow with part of the bow. [2]

As for the Archer, when the foremost portion of his cloak rises, he will give birth to hearts renowned in war and will conduct the conqueror, celebrating great triumphs in the sight of all, to his country’s citadels. Such a one will build high walls (moenia from Latin murus) one moment and pull them down the next. But if Fortune favours them too generously with success, the mark of her envy is to be seen on their faces, for she works cruel havoc upon their features. So was it that a dread warrior* paid for his victories at the Trebia, Cannae, and the Lake, even before the hour of his retreat, with such disfigurement.

But they whose lot it is to be born under the Centaur of double form delight in yoking a team, in bringing a fiery horse to obey the pliant reins, in following herds which graze all over the grasslands, and in imposing a master on every kind of quadruped and taming them: they soften tigers, rid the lion of his fierceness, speak to the elephant and through speech adapt its huge bulk to human skills in a variety of displays. Indeed, in the stars of this constellation the human form is blended with a beast’s and placed above it; wherefore it has lordship over beasts. And because it carries a shaft poised on drawn bow, it imparts strength to limb and keenness to the intellect, swiftness of movement, and an indefatigable spirit. [3]

This is the concluding chapter of the first great book of this Heavenly Revelation; and it is occupied wholly with the triumph of the Coming One, who is represented as going forth “conquering and to conquer.”…This is precisely what is foreshadowed in the star-pictured sign now called by the modern Latin name Sagittarius, which means the Archer. The Hebrew and Syriac name of the sign is Kesith, which means the Archer (as in Genesis 21:20). The Arabic name is Al Kaus, the arrow. In Coptic it is Pimacre, the graciousness, or beauty of the coming forth. In Greek it is Toxotes, the archer, and in Latin Sagittarius.

There are 69 stars in the sign, viz., five of the 3rd magnitude (all in the bow), nine of the 4th, etc…An ancient Akkadian name in the sign is Nun-ki, which means Prince of the Earth. Again we have the picture of a Centaur as to his outward form, i.e. a being with two natures. Not now far down in the south, or connected with His sufferings and sacrifice as man; but high up, as a sign of the Zodiac itself, on the ecliptic, i.e. in the very path in which the sun “rejoiceth in his going forth as a strong man.” According to Grecian fable, this Sagittarius is Cheiron, the chief Centaur; noble in character, righteous in his dealings, divine in his power…

In the ancient Zodiac of Denderah he is called (as in Coptic) Pi-maere, i.e. graciousness, beauty of the appearing or coming forth. The characters under the hind foot read Knem, which means He conquers…In all the pictures he is similarly represented, and the arrow in his bow is aimed directly at the heart of the Scorpion. [4]

References

1. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.60.
2. Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Richard H. Allen, 1889, p.337-342.
3. Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.241.
4. The Witness of the Stars, E. W. Bullinger, 12. Sagittarius (the Archer).