ἀνκ Ἄρης, meaning "similar to" or "a rival of Mars," doubtless in reference to its reddish hue. The ancient Hindus called the star "the ruddy."
The Arabs knew it as "the Scorpion's Heart," and even now it is often called "Cor Scorpii," the heart of the Scorpion.
Refulgent vibrates; faint the other parts,
And ill-defined by stars of meaner note.
Antares was one of the four "Royal Stars" of Persia, 3000 b.c. Chinese documents of great antiquity refer to Antares as "the Fire Star" or "Great Fire." It was also known as "the red or unlucky star." In central Asia it was known as "the Grave Digger of Caravans," because as long as the caravans observed its rising with Orion in the morning, robbers and death followed the stations.
Some of the ancient temples of Egypt were oriented to Antares, edifices that were built thousands of years before the Christian era, and Greek temples at Athens, Corinth, Delphi, and Ægina contain architectural features of a like nature, showing clearly that the star Antares played an important part in the temple worship.
On the Euphrates Antares was known as "the Lord of the Seed," "the Lusty King," "the Vermilion Star," and "the Day-Heaven-Bird." This latter title seems to confirm the idea that this constellation was originally intended to represent an eagle.
Jensen claims that Antares is the "Lance Star" referred to in the 38th chapter of the book of Job.
Mrs. Martin thus refers to the rising of this ruddy-hued sun: "Before one has really seen the star he becomes conscious of a ruddy glow low in the south-east that at once fastens the attention. It is the face of Antares whose red light shining through the heavy atmosphere is so diffused that it gives a rosy effect to the sky for a considerable
