Al-Rumḥ

Authors: Khalid Al-Ajaji, Susanne M Hoffmann, Roland Laffitte

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Arabian constellation al-Simak with Lances and Armes (CC BY Roland Laffitte 2025).

Al-Rumḥ (الرُّمْح) is an asterism in the Arabian constellation al-Simākān in Bootes.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Headword (Arabic): الرُّمْح

Transliteration: al-Rumḥ

IPA: ar.rumħ

Adams (2018), pp. xx-xx.

Khalid AlAjaji

Star chart of the Arabian asterism al-Rumh (الرُّمْح) as defined by al-Ṣūfī in the area of Boötis constellation. (CC BY Khalid AlAjaji 2026).

Al-Rumḥ (The Spear)

In classical Arabic astronomy, al-Rumḥ (الرمح, "the lance" or "the spear") refers to an asterism associated with the star Arcturus (α Boötis). Historical interpretations of its composition and nomenclature vary between the philological Anwāʾ tradition and the astronomical tradition.

Overview and Etymology

The presence of this asterism is the defining factor in the naming of Arcturus as al-Simāk al-Rāmiḥ (السماك الرامح, "The Uplifted One Armed with a Spear"). This designation serves to distinguish it from the star Spica (α Virginis), known as al-Simāk al-A‘zal (السماك الأعزل, "The Unarmed Uplifted One"), so named because it lacks an associated weaponized asterism.

The term Simāk (from the root s-m-k, "to elevate") refers to the high meridian altitude these stars reach in the northern sky.

Historical Traditions

The Anwāʾ Tradition: Rāyat al-Simāk

Philologists and Anwāʾ authors, such as Ibn Qutaybah and al-Marzūqī, identified the "weapon" of the Lancer primarily as a single star, which they termed Rāyat al-Simāk ("The Banner of the Simāk").

Ibn Qutaybah accounts for the naming of the "Lancer" by identifying a small star situated near Arcturus:

"It was named 'The Lancer' because of a small star positioned near it called Rāyat al-Simāk (The Banner of the Simāk). Thus, it became 'The Lancer' by virtue of [the banner], while the other became 'The Unarmed' (al-A‘zal) because there is nothing before it."

Al-Marzūqī provides a more specific spatial orientation, placing this star in relation to the constellation Corona Borealis al-Fakkah:

"When al-Fakkah reaches the meridian, or nears it... you will see al-Simāk al-Rāmiḥ (Arcturus) positioned before it. You will also see Rāyat al-Simāk [ε Boötis] behind it, situated between [Arcturus] and al-Fakkah. This is a star set apart from it, joined by another nearby star that resembles a streamer (‘adhabah) on a lance. For this reason, it is called 'The Lancer' (al-Rāmiḥ) and 'The Possessor of the Weapon' (Dhū al-Silāḥ), while the other Simāk is called 'The Unarmed' (al-A‘zal)."

Al-Ṣūfī’s Synthesis: Al-Rumḥ and Al-Silāḥ (The Weapon)

In his astronomical book Kitāb al-Kawākib, |al-Ṣūfī provides a more detailed celestial map, describing al-Rumḥ as a complex configuration of stars marking the head and the foot of the lance. He distinguishes the "Lancer" (Arcturus) from its armament (al-Silāḥ):

Star chart of the Arabian asterism al-Rumh (الرُّمْح) as defined by al-Ṣūfī in the area of Boötis constellation including the figure as described by al-Ṣūfī. (CC BY Khalid AlAjaji 2026).

"As for the single [star] outside the figure [of Boötes], it is the bright red one located between its thighs... it is this which is called al-Simāk al-Rāmiḥ [α Boo]. The Arabs... called it Rāmiḥ (The Lancer) because they likened the sixteenth star on its thigh [ε Boo] and the twentieth star on its left leg [η Boo] to a lance (rumḥ) belonging to it. They likened the two close stars on the waist—the seventeenth and eighteenth [σ and ρ Boo]—to a streamer (‘adhabah) for the end of the lance where the sixteenth star is located; and they likened the twenty-first and twenty-second stars [τ and υ Boo] to a streamer for the end where the twentieth star is located."

Al-Ṣūfī also identifies a broader group of faint stars not described by Ptolemy:

"The stars surrounding the Simāk among these stars [ζ, ο, ξ, and π Boo] are called by the Arabs al-Silāḥ (The Weapon). Sometimes the twentieth star on the left leg [η Boo] is specifically called al-Rumḥ (The Lance) on its own, while the two stars with it are called al-Silāḥ."

Summary of Star Identifications

Classical Arabic Name	Modern Designation	Role in the Asterism
Al-Simāk al-Rāmiḥ	α Boötis (Arcturus)	The Lancer
Rāyat al-Simāk	ε Boötis (Izar)	The Banner / Head of the Spear
Al-Rumḥ (per al-Ṣūfī)	ε and η Boötis (Muphrid)	The shaft and points of the Spear
‘Adhabah	σ, ρ and τ, υ Boötis	The streamers or pennants
Al-Silāḥ	ζ, ο, ξ, and π Boötis	The "Weapon" or equipment

Roland Lafitte

Laffitte (2012, 2025) treats Al-Rumh as an alternative name for Muphrid (η Boo) in the constellation al-Simākān, The Two Supporters, one armed, one disarmed:

• Rumh. Ar. الرمح al-Rumḥ, ‘the Spear’, al-Ṣūfī > Lat. Alromh, Yehūda b. Mošè, Lancea, Apian. Later, al-Rumḥ, al-Qazwīnī, not transcribed by Ideler, who gives Rumḥ al-Rāmiḥ according to al-Tīzīnī > ‘Rumh el-râmih’. Hence Ruma c/ Buttmann, ‘Al-Rumḥ’ p/ Allen, Nit. 02. Rumh al Ramih, Wiki/en

Adjacent Star Names of al-Simākān
Name (orig.)	Name	translation	identification (RL)	author	note
	al-Rumḥ	la Lance	η Boo	Ṣūfī
	Mirzam al-Simāk	the Predecessor of Simak		Marzūqī
	Mufrad al-Rāmiḥ	The Isolated One of Alramech		Tīzīnī
	Rāyat al-Simāk	the Standard of Simak	ε Boo	Qutayba
	Tābiᶜ al-Simāk	the Follower of Simak		Ṣūfī
	al-ᶜAḍaba	the Belt	ρσ Boo	Ṣūfī
	al-Silāḥ	the Arms	τυ Boo	Ṣūfī