From The Alpha and the Omega - Volume III
by Jim A. Cornwell, Copyright © July 20, 2002, all rights reserved "Volume III - The Eighth Month - Star Names for Serpends"
In the Eighth Month of Scorpius

Star Names of Serpens
a Unukalhai, which is in Serpens Caput and named from the Arabic word for "the serpent's neck."

• Arabic 'Unuq al-Hayyah, "Neck of the snake."
• It is also called Unuk' Al Hay, "neck of the snake."
• Arabic Unukalhai, "the serpent's neck," where Unuk, (Heb. 'anak), means encompassing.
  • Encompassing.
    • Hebrew 'anak, an-awk' probably from an unused root meaning to be narrow, according to most a plumb-line, and to others a hook, plumb-line.
      • Hebrew 'anaq, aw-nawk', from Heb. 'anaq, aw-nak', a primary root properly to choke, to collar, adorn with a necklace, fig. to fit out with supplies, compass about as a chain, furnish, liberally, thus a necklace (as if strangling), chain.
      • Hebrew chanak, khaw-nak', a primary root properly to narrow, [compared to Heb. chanaq, khaw-nak', to throttle, or to choke oneself to death (by rope), hang self, strangle], fig. to initiate or discipline, dedicate, train up.
    • Hebrew chuwg, khoog, a circle, to describe a circle, compass.
    • In "The Witness of the Stars," by E.W. Bullinger, page 57 "The brightest star in the Serpent, a (in the neck), is named Unuk, which means encompassing."
  • Arabic Al hay or Unuk Al Hay, represents a reptile.
    • Arabic Al Hay (Arabic) for the reptile.    Probably means, "living thing," as in Heb. Chay.
      • Living.
        • Hebrew chay, khah'ee, from Heb. chayah, khaw-yaw', a primary root to live, thus alive, hence raw (flesh), fresh, strong, life (living thing).
• Other names for Unukalhai: 'Unk al Hayyah, Unuk Elhana, Unuk, Unukalhay, Unk al Ghurhab.

b Serpentis (no name), which marks the serpent's head.

• The b star in Ophiuchus and Serpens is also called Chelbalrai, "the serpent enfolding."
  • In "The Witness of the Stars," by E.W. Bullinger, page 57 "b (in the jaw), named in the Arabic, Cheleb, or Chelbalrai, the serpent enfolding."
  • Rolleston places "Arabic, Cheleb, or Chelbalrai, the serpent enfolding," in Ophiuchus.
• Another source shows this as Chow, meaning "imperial dynasty."

g Serpentis (no name) is also in the head.

d Serpentis (no name) a double star located in the serpent's neck.

h Serpentis (no name) lies in the tail of the snake.

• One source calls it Sabik, a star name in Ophiuchus with an uncertain origin, but could be "the preceding."
  • Also note the Arabic As-Sabiq.
  • Other names for Sabik: Saik.

J or q Alya or Al'ya, which marks the tip of the snake's tail from the Arabic word that may mean, "tail."

• One source says Alya, means "snake," and Arabic Al-Alyah, "the fatty tail of a sheep."
  • Sumerian kungal, gukkal [LU.HÚL]: fat-tailed sheep (kun, 'tail', + gal, 'big'kušu: herd of cattle or sheep.).
• Another source calls this in Hebrew Alyah, the Accursed.
  • Rolleston stated the "Hebrew name is Alyah, the accursed."
• Other names for Alya: Al'ga, Al'yah, Al'yat, Al'ioth.

x (Xi) Wajrik located in the tail.

Other stars not shown here are:
In the Caput:
the head area has i, and k,
the neck area has e, and m.
In the Cauda:
the tail area has z, and n,
to round out the 13 stars of Serpends.

Return to Constellation Names for Serpends.

---

Return to the Table of Contents or the Zodiac of Denderah