Al-Rumḥ (الرُمْح)

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 ($\alpha$ Boötis). Historical interpretations of its composition and nomenclature vary between the philological Anwāʾ tradition and the later mathematical astronomical tradition.

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