The Sky Library · Mansion 28 of 28
Batn al-Hut
Batn al-Hut, also Ar-Risha, the Cord · The Belly of the Fish
Span17°08′34″ Pisces – 0°00′00″ Aries (tropical)
Determinant starsMirach (Beta Andromedae), on the cord that binds the Fishes
The deep belly of the fish, carrying travellers and the year's last cargo home.
The last mansion, the belly of the great Fish, which Agrippa lists simply as Albotham or Alchalcy, Pisces. It closes the round with safe passage and full holds, guarding the traveller through dangerous country and gladdening the married before the wheel turns again at Alnath.
The Spirit of the Mansion
the square of Jupiter, 34 in every line
a small fire keeps the sill; on the far side, the pin at the heart of the plate answers a touch
Agrippa and the Picatrix transmit different names for the mansion spirits; both are given.
What the number square means
The grid is a kamea, one of the planetary magic squares from Agrippa's second book; every planet has one, from Saturn's three by three to the Moon's nine by nine. In a true square every row, every column, and both diagonals add to the same number, and Jupiter's adds to 34 in every line. Count any line and see. Practitioners engraved these on talismans as the planet's signature written in number, and the gilded cell marks this mansion's own number.
Elections in this mansion
- increase of harvests and merchandise
- the safety of travellers through dangerous places
- the joy of married couples
Contraries
Strengthens prisons and causes loss of treasures.