Arabic System of Anwaa and Lunar Mansions
In the traditional Arabic astrological system, the moon was seen to move through 28 distinct manazil (singular: manzil) during the normal solar year, each manzil lasting, therefore, for about 13 days. One or more manazil were then group into a nawaa (pluaral anwaa) which were tied to a given weather pattern. In other words, the yearly pattern was divided in the following manner : A year was divided into anwaa, each of which was made up of one more manazil, which were associated with a dominant star or constellation. These stars and constellations were sometimes, but not always, connected in some way to constellations in the Zodiac. Moreover, as the anwaa' repeat on a regular, solar cycle, they can be correlated to fixed points on the Gregorian calendar.
The following table is a breakdown of the anwaa and their position on the Gregorian calendar.
| Manzil | Associated Nawaa | Significant Stars/Constellations | Zodiac Constellations | Begins on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheratan | Al Thuraya | Sheratan in Aries | -- | 17 May |
| Pleione | Al Thuraya | Pleione in the Pleiades | -- | 31 May |
| Albatain | Al Thuraya | Albatain in the Pleiades | -- | 13 June |
| Al Tuwaibe' | Al Tuwaibe' | Aldebaran | -- | 26 June |
| Heka | Al Jawzaa/Gemini | Heka in Orion | Gemini | 9 July |
| Alhena | Al Jawzaa/Gemini | Alhena in Gemini | Gemini | 22 July |
| Murzim | Murzim | Canis Major | -- | 4 August |
| An Nathra | Kulaibain | An Nathra | -- | 17 August |
| Alterf | Suhail | Alterf in Leo | Leo | 30 August |
| Dschuba | Suhail | Dschuba | Scorpio | 12 September |
| Azzubra | Suhail | Example | Example | 25 September |
| Assarfa | Suhail | Example | Example | 8 October |
| Auva | Al Wasm | Auva | Virgo | 21 October |
| Simak | Al Wasm | Spica | -- | 3 November |
| Syrma | Al Wasm | Example | -- | 16 November |
| Az Zubana | Al Wasm | Acuben | Cancer | 29 November |
| Akleel "The Crown" | Murabaania | Corona Borealis | -- | 12 December |
| Qalb al Akraab | Murabaania | Antares | Scorpio | 25 December |
| Shaula | Murabaania | Shaula | Scorpio | 3 January |
| Al Naam | Ash Shabt | Ascella and Nunki | Sagittarius | 16 January |
| Al Baldaah | Ash Shabt | Example | Example | 29 January |
| Saad Al Thabib | The Three Saads | Saad Al Thabih | -- | 11 February |
| Saad Balaa | The Three Saads | Saad Balaa | -- | 26 February |
| Saad Al Saud | The Three Saads | Saadalsud | Aquarius | 11 March |
| Saad Al Akhbia | Hameemain | Sadachbia | -- | 24 March |
| Almuqaddam | Hameemain | Almuqaddam | -- | 6 April |
| Al Muakhar | Al Tharaeen | Pollux | Gemini and Aquarius (in the Arab system) | 19 April |
| Alrescha | Al Tharaeen | Alrescha | Gemini and Aquarius (in the Arab system) | 2 May |
The dates above are approximate; notice that there are 2 days missing from a solar year in the table above.
Read more about this topic: Lunar Mansion
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