Constellation Corvus Astrology

Constellation Corvus the Crow is a small constellation, perched on the back of the Water Snake, Hydra. It lays south of the ecliptic under the head of the Maiden, Virgo constellation. The name Corvus is Latin for raven or crow. Corvus spans less than 10 degree of the zodiac in the Sign Libra, and has 5 named fixed stars.

Constellation Corvus Stars

2000	B	Star	Mag	Orb
10 ♎ 43	γ	Gienah	2.58	1°50′
11 ♎ 39	ε	Minkar	3.02	1°40′
12 ♎ 14	α	Alchiba	4.02	1°00′
13 ♎ 26	δ	Algorab	2.94	1°40′
13 ♎ 48	η	Zuǒxiá	4.30	1°00′
17 ♎ 12	β	Kraz	2.65	1°50′

According to Ptolemy, Corvus is like Mars and Saturn (malicious, thieving, merciless, fiendish, repulsive, liar, accidents, violent death. If culminating, military preferment but final disgrace.) It is said to give craftiness, greediness, ingenuity, patience, revengefulness, passion, selfishness, lying, aggressiveness, and material instincts, and sometimes causes its natives to become agitators.

Apollo gave a feast to Jupiter and requiring water sent the raven with a cup (constellation Crater) to fetch some. On his way the raven noticed a fig tree, and, resting there until the figs became ripe, feasted himself upon them until, remembering his errand and fearing the anger of Apollo, he picked up a snake (Hydra) and on his return gave as an excuse that it had prevented him from filling the cup. Apollo ordained in punishment that the raven should never drink so long as figs were not ripe, and placed the raven (Corvus), cup (Crater) and snake (Hydra) in the heavens as a memorial. [1]

The Greek figure of Corvus is modeled on the Babylonian Raven (MUL.UGA.MUSHEN), which was similarly placed sitting on the tail of the Serpent (Greek Hydra). The Babylonian constellation was sacred to Adad, the god of rain and storm; in the second Millennium it would have risen just before the start of the autumnal rainy season. [2]

When Typhon came rushing toward Olympus, the gods fled in terror to Egypt where they disguised themselves as animals; Apollo (Phoebus) became a raven: Corvinus, winner of spoils and a name, aided in combat by a bird which hides beneath a bird’s exterior the godhead of Phoebus [3]

Corvus, the Crow was the Raven in Chaucer’s time… It contains only 15 naked-eye stars according to Argelander, — 26 according to Heis, — yet was a noted constellation with the Greeks and Romans, and always more or less associated with the Cup (Crater) and with the Hydra, on whose body it rests… Manilius designating it as Phoebo Sacer Ales, and Ovid as Phoebeius Ales, mythology having made the bird sacred to Phoebus Apollo in connection with his prophetic functions, and because he assumed its shape during the conflict of the gods with the giants…

This story gave rise to the stellar title Garrulus Proditor. Another version of the legend appears in the Fasti — viz., that the bird, being sent with a cup for water, loitered at a fig-tree till the fruit became ripe, and then returned to the god with a water-snake (adjacent Hydra) in his claws and a lie in his mouth, alleging the snake to have been the cause of his delay. In punishment he was forever fixed in the sky with the Cup (Crater) and the Snake (Hydra); and, we may infer, doomed to everlasting thirst by the guardianship of the Hydra over the Cup and its contents. From all this came other poetical names for our Corvus — Avis Ficarius, the Fig Bird; and Emansor, one who stays beyond his time; and a belief, in early folklore, that this alone among birds did not carry water to its young. [4]

He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. [Psalms 147:9]

Here is the final scene of judgment. We have had Zeeb, the Wolf; now we have Oreb, the Raven. Her-na is its name in the Denderah Zodiac. Her, means the enemy; and Na, means breaking up or failing. That is to say, this scene represents the breaking up of the enemy.

There are nine stars (the number of judgment) in this constellation. The bright star α (in the eye) is called Al Chibar (Arabic), joining together, from the Hebrew Chiba (Num 23:8), which means accursed. This star, then, tells of the curse inflicted. The star β (in the right wing) is called Al Goreb (Arabic), from Hebrew Oreb, the Raven. A third star is named Minchar al Gorab (Arabic), and means the Raven tearing to pieces. [5]

References

1. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.41.
2. Babylonian Star-lore, Gavin White, Solaria Pubs, 2008, page 166ff.
3. Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.67.
4. Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1899, p.179.
5. The Witness of the Stars, E. W. Bullinger, 40. Corvus (the Raven).

• All fixed star positions are for the year 2000. Add one degree per 72 years to correct for precession.