Royal stars
The Royal Stars, also known as the Royal Stars of Persia, are Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares, and Fomalhaut, four prominent stars that played a significant role in ancient astronomy and astrology. These stars were regarded as the celestial guardians of the sky during the time of the Persian Empire (550 BCE–330 BCE) and were considered markers of the four cardinal directions.[1]
The idea of these stars as "guardians" can be traced back to Babylonian astronomy, which significantly influenced Persian cosmology. The Persians further incorporated these stars into their Zoroastrian worldview, assigning them roles as watchers of the sky and associating them with seasonal transitions and divine entities.
Babylonian and Assyrian Origins
[edit]The concept of the Four Royal Stars predates the Persian Empire and originates in ancient Babylonian and Assyrian astronomy. By 747 BCE, the Babylonian King Nabonassar implemented a calendar system based on the motions of the moon relative to these four stars.[2]
The Babylonians used two primary cycles for this system: an **eight-year cycle** and a **nineteen-year cycle**, the latter becoming the standard lunisolar calendar.[3] By 700 BCE, the Assyrians had mapped the **ecliptic cycle** and identified these stars as key markers of the zodiacal constellations. This knowledge allowed them to distinguish fixed stars from wandering planets and further refine the study of celestial phenomena.
The four stars were tied to specific constellations: - Aldebaran in Tarus - Regulus in Leo - Antares in Scorpius - Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus
Persian Cosmology and Zoroastrian Integration
[edit]With the rise of the Persian Empire, these stars became deeply embedded in Zoroastrian cosmology. In Persian tradition, the stars were associated with seasonal transitions and were considered **"watchers"** of the cardinal directions:[4][5]
- Aldebaran (Tascheter): Watcher of the East, associated with the vernal equinox.[6]
- Regulus (Venant): Watcher of the North, associated with the summer solstice.[7]
- Antares (Satevis): Watcher of the West, associated with the autumnal equinox.[8]
- Fomalhaut (Haftorang): Watcher of the South, associated with the winter solstice.[9]
The Bundahishn, a Zoroastrian text of cosmogony and cosmology, describes these stars in connection with divine entities and cosmic order.[10] Each star was linked to a specific Zoroastrian deity or spirit: - **Tishtrya (Aldebaran)**: The deity of rain and fertility, celebrated in the Tir Yasht, where Tishtrya battles drought-bringing demons.[11][12] - **Vanant (Regulus)**: The guardian of the west and a warrior spirit against evil forces, as detailed in Zoroastrian texts.[13] - **Satevis (Antares): A celestial entity associated with balance and the autumnal harvest, mentioned in the Bundahishn.[14] - **Haftorang (Fomalhaut)**: Symbolizing cosmic order and often linked to **Ursa Major** as "Seven Thrones," representing stability and guidance.[15][16]
Names of the Four Royal Stars
[edit]The following table illustrates the evolution of the names of the Four Royal Stars in different stages of Persian history:
| Star Name | Ancient Persian (Old Persian Cuneiform) | [[Middle Iranian|Middle Persian (Pahlavi Script) | Modern Persian (Persian Script) | Associated Deity and Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Aldebaran (Tascheter)** | 𐎫𐎴𐎠𐎰𐎹𐎶𐎡𐎹 | 𐭲𐭱𐭲𐭥𐭩𐭱 | تشتر (*Tishtar*) | **Tishtrya**, deity of rain and fertility, associated with the vernal equinox and the "Watcher of the East." |
| **Regulus (Venant)** | 𐎺𐎴𐎠𐎴𐎫 | 𐭥𐭭𐭥𐭭𐭲 | ونند (*Vanand*) | **Vanant**, guardian of the North, associated with the summer solstice and combating demonic forces. |
| **Antares (Satevis)** | 𐎿𐎫𐎥𐎡𐎿 | 𐭮𐭲𐭥𐭩𐭮 | ستویس (*Satevis*) | **Satevis**, celestial entity associated with the autumnal equinox and the "Watcher of the West." |
| **Fomalhaut (Haftorang)** | 𐎰𐎹𐎳𐎠𐎴𐎥𐎴 | 𐭧𐭥𐭲 𐭠𐭥𐭫𐭭𐭪 | هفت اورنگ (*Haftorang*) | **Haftorang**, symbolizing cosmic order, often linked to the winter solstice and the "Watcher of the South." |
Uses
[edit]The Royal Stars were used for:
1. Navigation: As fixed markers for the four cardinal directions. 2. Calendar Systems: Tracking lunar and solar cycles for agricultural and religious purposes. 3. Astrology: Interpreting celestial alignments to predict major events. Regulus, in particular, was associated with kingship and power, symbolizing strength and divine favor.[17]
Criticism
[edit]Modern scholars, such as George A. Davis Jr., have questioned the connection between the "Four Royal Stars" and ancient Persian cosmology. While the stars were significant in Persian astronomy, Davis noted discrepancies between the Zoroastrian naming scheme and the modern identification of the Royal Stars.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ Davis, George A. Jr. (April 1945). "The so-called Royal Stars of Persia". Popular Astronomy. LIII (4): 149. Bibcode:1945PA.....53..149D.
- ^ Olmstead, A. T. (1948). *History of the Persian Empire.* Chicago: Phoenix Books.
- ^ Bobrick, Benson (2006). *The Fated Sky.* New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.
- ^ Pingree, David. "The Astronomical Sciences in Ancient Persia." Journal of the History of Astronomy, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1973.
- ^ Boyce, Mary. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.* Routledge, 2001.
- ^ Pingree, David. "The Astronomical Sciences in Ancient Persia." Journal of the History of Astronomy, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1973.
- ^ Starrfield, Sumner. "The Four Royal Stars: Guardians of the Persian Sky." *Sky & Telescope*, 2017.
- ^ Campion, Nicholas. *The Dawn of Astrology: A Cultural History of Western Astrology.* Continuum, 2008.
- ^ Boyce, Mary. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.* Routledge, 2001.
- ^ Boyce, Mary. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.* Routledge, 2001.
- ^ Boyce, Mary. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.* Routledge, 2001.
- ^ Panaino, Antonio. "The Cosmology of Zoroastrianism." In *Encyclopaedia Iranica*, Brill, 2002.
- ^ Boyce, Mary. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.* Routledge, 2001.
- ^ Starrfield, Sumner. "The Four Royal Stars: Guardians of the Persian Sky." *Sky & Telescope*, 2017.
- ^ Boyce, Mary. *Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.* Routledge, 2001.
- ^ Pingree, David. "The Astronomical Sciences in Ancient Persia." Journal of the History of Astronomy, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1973.
- ^ Bobrick, Benson (2006). *The Fated Sky.* New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.
- ^ Davis, George A. Jr. (April 1945). "The so-called Royal Stars of Persia". Popular Astronomy. LIII (4): 149. Bibcode:1945PA.....53..149D.
Further reading
[edit]- Barentine, J. C. (2015). The Lost Constellations: A History of Obsolete, Extinct, Or Forgotten Star Lore. Germany: Springer International Publishing. ISBN 978-3-319-22795-5.
- Crowhurst, D. (2021). Stellas Daemonum: The Orders of the Daemons. Red Wheel/Weiser. ISBN 978-1-57863-691-4.
- Olcott, W. T. (2004) [1911]. Star Lore: Myths, Legends, and Facts. Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0-486-43581-7.
