About this star:

A widely double star; alpha² and alpha¹, 3 and 6, pale yellow and light gray, in the southern Claw of the Scorpion in Libra.

The early Greeks did not associate Libra's stars with a "Balance" or "Scales", to them it was the Chelae; the Claws of the Scorpion.

This star alpha, Zuben Elgenubi, is the southern Scale of Libra; beta, Zubenelschemali, is the Northern Scale.

Robson lists it as "Scale South" and says it is symbolically called "the Insufficient Price". [The two scales of Libra were the Price of the Deficient (Zuben Algenubi) balanced by the Price which Covers (Zubenelschemali)]

Arabic titles were Mizan Aliemin, Al Kiffah al Janubiyyah, "the Southern Tray of the Scale", from which came the Arabo-Latin Kiffa australis of modern lists; and as Al Wazn al Janubiyyah, "the Southern Weight", distorted into Vazneganubi. The Lanx meridionalis of two centuries ago is synonymous with the first of these Arabian designations.

The alphas (this star Zuben Elgenubi) and beta (Zubenelschemali) constituted the Arabic 14th manzil, Al Zubana "the Claws", although Al Biruni said that this title should be Zaban, "to push," as though one of the stars were pushing away the other (!). [Influences: Hinders journeys and marriage, harvest and merchandise, favorable for redemption of captives. With Moon transiting here; buy cattle but do not navigate. (Robson)].

This star, alpha, marked the Hindu 14th nakshatra Vicakha or Vishaka ("The Star of Purpose" (1)), "Branched", or "Forked Branch". This lunar station was figured as a decorated Gateway. [Influences: Those born on the lunar day will be religious, dealers in produce, and fond of red flowers. With Moon transiting here at birth native will be jealous, miserly, good-looking, clever in speech, honest, and quarrelsome (Robson)].

The two alphas (this star Zuben Elgenubi) were the determinants of the 21st Babylonian ecliptic constellation Nura-sha-Shutu, "the Southern Light"; and some have included beta (Zubenelschemali) and gamma (Zuben Elakrab) with them in the Euphratean Entena-mas-luv, "the Star of the Tail-tip", as though they marked that part of the enormous, but undetermined, ancient Hydra of Chaldaea, the very early Afr of Arabia. (Allen).

The Arabian names for the two main stars reveal an interesting reflection upon the essence of balance: the Southern Scale is termed Zuben Elgenubi, 'the price to be paid', with the Northern Scale, Zubenelschemali, translating as 'the Price to be Received'. Because of the malefic nature of the Southern Scale, astrological influences relating to justice and good fortune through legal skills have tended to be focused upon the Northern Scale, which is considered a very fruitful and prosperous star, associated with riches, honour and good fortune. This is an emerald, 2nd magnitude star, noted for its unusual colour and attributed a Jupiter-Mercury influence by Ptolemy. According to Ebertin and Hoffman, its conjunction with the Sun, Moon or Jupiter favours civil servants, lawyers and scientists.

Influence of the constellation:

The Scales are associated with the Hebrew letter Heth and the 8th Tarot Trump "Justice". (Robson).

General influence of the star:

According to Ptolemy and the old writers it is of the nature of Saturn and Mars, but later authors substitute Saturn and Venus or Saturn and Mercury, and Alvidas likens it to Mars, Venus and Saturn. It causes malevolence, obstruction, an unforgiving character, violence, disease, lying, crime, disgrace, and danger of poison. (Robson).

It is well to remember here the association of this star with a scorpion's claw, used for making love as well as for slaying its prey. It does not let go until one or other matter is complete and onlookers are not sure which of the two acts are in process. Sometimes even the Scorpion seems to get it wrong along the way! It frequently shows up ill-aspected in many unfortunate situations, from domestic strife and miscarriages of justice to psychopathic killings that started out in the guise of love. Its appearance in better aspect is often just the right moment to repair a relationship and to reconsider an earlier harsh judgment. Well aspected and on the 'right planet' we have someone of courage who will fight for right, but is generous to his opponents when they are defeated. If harshly aspected, especially to Mars, Saturn or the Moon, justice may well take a back seat to vengeance. (Dr. Eric Morse, The Living Stars).

The unhelpful influence of this star is said to be noticeable especially in natives who were born during the night. A bad omen for health of the native is given if Sun or Moon is in conjunction with The Southern Scales. It has been noted that it is particularly disadvantageous to have Saturn or Neptune tied up with this star. Even the conjunction with Jupiter is credited as being adverse. Vehlow has recorded "confiscation of possessions during times of war'. A credit given to the Southern and Northern Scales is that they both bestow an immortal name. However, this comes about more by tragic circumstances than by well noted success. Conjunct the Ascendant, this star could mean rise in fortunes, followed by a downfall. There is also an indication of danger coming about in connection with water. (Ebertin).

With Fortuna: Loss by thieves, soldiers, servants, gambling, speculation, fire and lawsuits. (Robson).

With Sun: Sickness, loss in business and through fire or speculation, disgrace, ruin, disfavor of superiors, suffers through wrongful accusations, sickness to family. (Robson).

With Moon: Trouble through opposite sex, wrongful accusations, disgrace, ruin, mental anxiety, loss of relatives, many disappointments, much sick- ness, disease in those parts of the body ruled by the sign. (Robson).

With Mercury: Crafty, revengeful, treacherous, quick mind, bad health, bad for gain, disgrace, poverty at end of life. (Robson).

With Venus: Bad for marriage, sudden and secret death, may be poisoned owing to jealousy of one of own sex. (Robson).

With Mars: Bitter quarrels, entailing bloodshed or death. (Robson).

With Jupiter: Hypocrisy, deceit, dishonesty, pretended religious zeal for business purposes, danger of imprisonment. (Robson).

With Saturn: Dishonorable, often escapes justice but finally suffers, jealous, quick-tempered, domestic disharmony, bad for marriage, gain and legacies; miserable death. (Robson).

With Uranus: Sharp, cunning, dangerous, abnormal mind, thought reader, always injuring others, may commit undiscovered crime, violent passions but great control, secret revenge, latter part of life in asylum or prison, violent death. (Robson).

With Neptune: Morose, melancholy, isolated, shrewd, cunning, evil use of occult powers and of poisons or drugs, cynical, dangerous, broods over some secret, peculiar death, often suicide. (Robson).