About this star:

A white binary star (some call both yellow) and slightly variable in light; 3 and 3.2, on the waist of Virgo.

Listed as Caphir in Vivian Robson's book The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology; - called "An Atonement Offering" and "the Submissive One". Referring to this title, Eric Morse says:; "The Arabic title Caphir (infidel) no doubt springs from the Islamic revulsion of pagan goddesses".

The Latins called this Porrima, or Antevorta, sometimes Postvorta, names of two ancient goddesses of prophecy, sisters and assistants of Carmenta or Carmentis [Latin carmen = "prophesy", "incantation"], worshiped and at times invoked by their women. Porrima was known as Prorsa and Prosa by Aulus Gellius of our 2d century. [Carmenta was the Roman goddess of childbirth. Pierre Grimal (Diictionary of Classical Mythology) says Carmenta was regarded as a divinity of procreation; she was invoked by two names, Prorsa (head first) and Postversa (feet first), the two positions in which a child can be born].

This star Porrima (gamma) was specially mentioned as itself being Zawiat al 'Awwa', the "Angle", or "Corner", of the "Barker"; [it exactly marks this Corner] with delta (Auva), eta (Zaniah), epsilon (Vindemiatrix), outlined a "Kennel", of the Dogs [Eric Morse in The Living stars says this Kennel has brothel associations, see Zaniah], and formed the 11th manzil, Al 'Awwa', "The barker" [Influences: Gives benevolence, gain, voyages, harvests and freedom of captives. With Moon transiting here; sow, plant, take medicine but do not travel or marry (Robson)].

In Babylonia it marked the 19th ecliptic constellation, Shur-mahru-Bhiru, the Front, or West, Shur (?); while individually it was Kakkab Dan-nu, "the Star of the Hero". (Allen).

Influence of the constellation:

By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Gimel and the 3rd Tarot Trump "The Empress". (Robson).

General influence of the star:

According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Mercury and Venus; to Simmonite, of Mercury alone; and to Alvidas, of Venus and Mars. It gives a courteous, refined and lovable character with prophetic instincts. (Robson).

With Sun: Involved in an intrigue, some difficulty of short duration leaving native in unpleasant position. (Robson).

With Moon: Popular, business worries, domestic disharmony and divorce, poor health. (Robson).

With Mercury: Legal troubles, criticism, many worries, business difficulties which will be overcome, ill-health, loses respect of associates. (Robson).

With Venus: Unfavorable for gain, much scandal from passionate love affair. (Robson).

With Mars: Loss through lawsuits and by fire or storm, trouble with opposite sex, marriage partner and public. (Robson).

With Jupiter: Trouble through legal affairs or with the Church, disputes over inheritance, domestic disharmony through intrigue and consequent scandal. (Robson).

With Saturn: Intelligent, studious, home troubles in early life, evil environment, liable to imprisonment or execution for another's crime especially if in 12th house, suffers through conspiracy of friends or relatives, domestic disharmony, sickly children, home broken up, death in prison. (Robson).

With Uranus: Well educated, good intellect, early influenced, led astray into extremely unpleasant environment by false friends strong passions, often remains single, frequent accidents to the head, sudden and unexpected death through accident. (Robson).

With Neptune: Shrewd and cunning for evil, changes in early life, many disappointments affecting the mental balance, abnormal religious enthusiasm, unpractical and useless pursuits, bad for gain, marriage and children. (Robson).