Arabic, Arcturus is one of two stars called al-simāk ("the uplifted one"); the other is Spica. Arcturus is specified as السماك الرامح as-simāk ar-rāmiħ "the uplifted one of the lancer". The term Al Simak Al Ramih has appeared in Al Achsasi Al Mouakket catalogue (translated into Latin as Al Simak Lanceator).[28]
This has been variously romanized in the past, leading to obsolete variants such as Aramec and Azimech. For example, the name Alramih is used in Geoffrey Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe (1391). Another Arabic name is Haris-el-sema, from حارس السماءħāris al-samā’ "the keeper of heaven".[29][30][31] or حارس ألشمل ħāris al-shamāl’ "the keeper of north".[32]
In the Hebrew scriptures Arcturus is referred to in Job 38:32.
The name of the star derives from Ancient Greek Αρκτοῦρος (Arktouros) and means "Guardian of the Bear",[22]ultimately from ἄρκτος (arktos), "bear" + οὖρος (ouros), "watcher, guardian".[24] It has been known by this name since at least the time of Hesiod.[7] This is a reference to its being the brightest star in the constellation Boötes (of which it forms the left foot), which is next to the Greater and Lesser Bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
In the Middle Ages, Arcturus was considered a Behenian fixed star[27] and attributed to the stone Jasper and the plantain herb. Cornelius Agrippa listed its kabbalistic sign
under the alternate name Alchameth.
In Chinese astronomy, Arcturus is called Da Jiao (Chinese: 大角; pinyin: Dàjiǎo; literally: "great horn"), because it is the brightest star in the Chinese constellation called Jiao Xiu (Chinese: 角宿; pinyin: Jiǎo Xiǔ; literally: "horn star"). Later it become a part of another constellation Kang Xiu (Chinese: 亢宿; pinyin: Kàng Xiǔ).
In Indian Astrology or Vedic Astrology or Sidereal Astrology, Arcturus is called 'Swati' which is a word meaning "very beneficent" derived from the language Sanskrit. It is the eponymous star of one of the nakshatras (lunar mansions) of Hindu astrology.
Arcturus had several names that described its significance to indigenous Polynesians. In the Society Islands, Arcturus, called Ana-tahua-taata-metua-te-tupu-mavae ("a pillar to stand by"), was one of the ten "pillars of the sky", bright stars that represented the ten heavens of the Tahitian afterlife.[39] In Hawaii, the pattern of Boötes was called Hoku-iwa, meaning "stars of the frigate bird". This constellation marked the path for Hawaiiloa on his return to Hawaii from the South Pacific Ocean.[40]The Hawaiians called Arcturus Hoku-leʻa.[41] It was equated to the Tuamotuanconstellation Te Kiva, meaning "frigate-bird", which could either represent the figure of Boötes or just Arcturus.[42]However, Arcturus may instead be the Tuamotuan star called Turu.[43] The Hawaiian name for Arcturus as a single star was likely Hoku-leʻa, which means "star of gladness", or "clear star".[44] In the Marquesas Islands, Arcturus was probably called Tau-tou and was the star that ruled the month approximating January. The Maori and Moriori called it Tautoru, a variant of the Marquesan name and a name shared with Orion's Belt..
In Japan, Arcturus is called Mugi-boshi(麦星), meaning star of wheat.
Arcturus achieved fame when its light was rumored to be the mechanism used to open the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The star was chosen as it was thought that light from Arcturus had started its journey at about the time of the previous Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The star is 36.7 light-years from Earth, and the light started its journey in 1896.[
The name of the star derives from Ancient Greek Αρκτοῦρος (Arktouros) and means "Guardian of the Bear",[22]ultimately from ἄρκτος (arktos), "bear" + οὖρος (ouros), "watcher, guardian".[24] It has been known by this name since at least the time of Hesiod.[7] This is a reference to its being the brightest star in the constellation Boötes (of which it forms the left foot), which is next to the Greater and Lesser Bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
In the Middle Ages, Arcturus was considered a Behenian fixed star[27] and attributed to the stone Jasper and the plantain herb. Cornelius Agrippa listed its kabbalistic sign
under the alternate name Alchameth.In Chinese astronomy, Arcturus is called Da Jiao (Chinese: 大角; pinyin: Dàjiǎo; literally: "great horn"), because it is the brightest star in the Chinese constellation called Jiao Xiu (Chinese: 角宿; pinyin: Jiǎo Xiǔ; literally: "horn star"). Later it become a part of another constellation Kang Xiu (Chinese: 亢宿; pinyin: Kàng Xiǔ).
In Indian Astrology or Vedic Astrology or Sidereal Astrology, Arcturus is called 'Swati' which is a word meaning "very beneficent" derived from the language Sanskrit. It is the eponymous star of one of the nakshatras (lunar mansions) of Hindu astrology.
Arcturus had several names that described its significance to indigenous Polynesians. In the Society Islands, Arcturus, called Ana-tahua-taata-metua-te-tupu-mavae ("a pillar to stand by"), was one of the ten "pillars of the sky", bright stars that represented the ten heavens of the Tahitian afterlife.[39] In Hawaii, the pattern of Boötes was called Hoku-iwa, meaning "stars of the frigate bird". This constellation marked the path for Hawaiiloa on his return to Hawaii from the South Pacific Ocean.[40]The Hawaiians called Arcturus Hoku-leʻa.[41] It was equated to the Tuamotuanconstellation Te Kiva, meaning "frigate-bird", which could either represent the figure of Boötes or just Arcturus.[42]However, Arcturus may instead be the Tuamotuan star called Turu.[43] The Hawaiian name for Arcturus as a single star was likely Hoku-leʻa, which means "star of gladness", or "clear star".[44] In the Marquesas Islands, Arcturus was probably called Tau-tou and was the star that ruled the month approximating January. The Maori and Moriori called it Tautoru, a variant of the Marquesan name and a name shared with Orion's Belt..
In Japan, Arcturus is called Mugi-boshi(麦星), meaning star of wheat.
Arcturus achieved fame when its light was rumored to be the mechanism used to open the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The star was chosen as it was thought that light from Arcturus had started its journey at about the time of the previous Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The star is 36.7 light-years from Earth, and the light started its journey in 1896.[
