Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/332

236 The morning-glory is the emblematic flower, and the significant stone is the ruby.

Only two Emperors in all history were ruled by Leo. They were Marcus Aurelius and Claudius Gothicus. In a recent article in the Century Magazine, entitled "A Discovery concerning Marcus Aurelius," the author bases his alleged discovery of the tomb of this Emperor partly on the fact that on the cover of the sarcophagus there appears the figure of "a lion all alone, a sort of heraldic-appearing lion reclining with paws crossed... the lion of the sign of the zodiac." This the author claims was the best evidence that the person buried in the sarcophagus was born under the sign Leo, and from further facts he comes to the conclusion that this tomb was that of the noted Emperor.

The constellation Leo bears little resemblance to the outline of the king of beasts, and some authorities think that the name was originally applied only to the principal star in the constellation, the first magnitude star "Regulus," meaning the "little King" or "Prince." This has also been called "the Star Royal," and the cuneiform inscriptions of the Euphratean Valley refer to it as "the star of the King." The Arabs knew it as "the Kingly Star," and it was one of the four celebrated Royal Stars before alluded to.

Apparently its position and not its lustre has made Regulus famous, for almost all the first magnitude stars exceed it in brilliance.

Regulus has been a famous star in all ages. The ancient belief was that it ruled the affairs of heaven, and with astrologers it was always a fortunate star. According to the best authority, Regulus was not named from the illustrious Roman Consul of that name, as has sometimes been supposed, but was named by Copernicus from the diminutive of the earlier "Rex."

The impression of greatness and power connected with Regulus was universal. This was doubtless due to the