Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/333

237 fact that it was the brightest star in the principal zodiacal sign.

"Cor Leonis," or "the Heart of the Lion," was another name for this star, and Al-Biruni called it "the Heart of the Royal Lion."

The importance of Regulus in ancient times is well attested by the great variety of names assigned it, titles for the most part signifying power and might. In Babylon it was "Sharru," the King, in India, "Magha," the Mighty, in Sogdiana "Magh," the Great, in Persia, "Miyan," the Centre, among the Turanians "Masu," the Hero, and in Akkadia it was associated with the fifth antediluvian King of the celestial sphere. In Arabia it was known as "Kingly," in Greece, the equivalent of Rex, the King Star.

On a Ninevite tablet there is this reference to Regulus: "If the star of the great lion is gloomy, the heart of the people will not rejoice."

Regulus is one of the so-called "Lunar Stars," and is consequently much used in navigation. On the 20th of August Regulus almost marks the position of the sun. It has a spectrum of the Sirian type, and is approaching the earth it is said at the rate of 5.5 miles a second. Some authorities claim that this great sun sends out a thousand times, as much light as our sun, and is 160 light years distant from us.

Mrs. Martin, who has endowed the first magnitude stars with an individuality that will ever enhance their beauty, and endear them to all star lovers, regards Regulus as the most neighbourly of stars, as it is visible for eight months in the year. The following reference to Regulus is quoted from Serviss's Round the Year with the Stars: "When the 'Royal Star' crosses high on the meridian in the vernal evenings, the imagination is thrown back almost the whole course of the history of the Aryan race, and the rays of Regulus bring again the dreams of Babylon and Nineveh, of Greece and Rome, of India, and of the star- watching deserts