The constellation of Capricornus, the Sea-Goat // E. Slawik/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Zamani

Click below for some facts about this constellation, the named stars, and an annotated image!

August 11 2022 | Full Moon in Capricornus

Capricorn

In the post, you'll learn about the rich history and symbolism of the sea goat, Capricorn. Many parts of the sea goat's history remain a mystery, so I have tried gathering as much information as possible!

Reading mythology and folklore is my hobby, everything I share and write on the internet are my observations!

The sea goat is an ancient constellation traced back to Babylonian and Sumerian people and has been described as the sea goat we know today in astrology. Capricorn marked the beginning of the winter season. The goat climbing motion derives from the constellations following the sun's journey to the north, when the first day of winter arrived, marked by floods and rains, thus the fish tail.

Enki, the great Sumerian god of higher wisdom, creation, trickery and, amongst many qualities, flowing fresh waters, has been depicted in stone art with birds, alongside fishes and goats, which have been merged by later interpretations to the Capricorn sea goat, describing the god Enki's qualities as one.

The name origin might have to do with the fishing season for the goatfish.

Kudurru's we're one of the monument stones Babylonians used to set boundaries to property lands and temple properties, also known as boundary stones. They had gods and powerful symbols above the written text, like Enki and the sea goat, so that the engraved rules in stone were protected by magic. The sea goat was frequently engraved, signifying it's importance and connection to the Capricorn constellation.

The constellation name was found in a Babylonian star catalogue mul.APIN, named suxurmāšu (the goat (suxur)-fish). It has description of many other constellations and planets, mapping out the Babylonian star map, used for astronomy and astrology at the time.

The constellations were studied also by, not only their derivatives, Sumerians, Mesopotamians and Babylonians, but also the ancient Egyptians, Turks, Arabs, Romans and Greeks. The interpretations can vary, it's not confirmed how much did their separate interpretations influence one another. None the less, they all believed that the celestial bodies could impact life on earth.

In ancient astrology, the Arab's interpretation of the Capricorn was associated with lands where rivers are flowing through mountains. Geographically: Ethiopian Highlands, Makran, The Indus river, Sindh, Oman, Bahrain, Jind, Hejaz (historical region of the western part of Saudi Arabia), Ahvaz...

The goat's dual nature was described as powerful, as it was able to defeat many dangerous beasts on it's journey, but it would also travel swiftly through water canals and rivers. The mighty goat's climb was traced from the depths of ancient cisterns and would reach to the top of the highest mountains. The climb on it's own is dual.

In Greece, αἰγόκερως (Capricornus) is their historical interpretation of the constellation. There are several tales of the Capricornus. The most known one is the Aigipan myth.

Pan's are half goat half human godly beings, the Pan's name in this story is Αιγιπαν (Aigipan). When the giant storm monster Τυφωευς (Typhôeus, Typhon) attacked heaven and the gods, all gods fled and hid themselves in animal forms to deceive the giant. Aigipan turned into a goat fish. Aigipan helped other flee from Typhon to Egypt and became Zeus's aid. Zeus defeated the monster and, as a reward, Zeus placed Aigipan amongst the stars as a Capricornus constellation. (This is what somewhat happened, transcripts can be confusing)

The god Pan is a Pan. Aigipan and other Panes are not the god Pan. Although, some historians think of Aigipan and Pan being the same. The myth could be also a Hellenised version of the Egyptian story of Horus and Seth. A lot of elements in the story can be connected to ancient Egyptian and Roman beliefs also.

But, there isn't only one sea goat creature in Greek mythology. Αμαλθεια (Amalthea) was a goat nurse that took care of Zeus when he was an infant, but she could have been also a nymph. She was also placed among the stars, as the Capra constellation.

There is little known more about the myth of the Capricorn, many of it resides in ancient Greek-Roman, Arabic, Egypt and Mesopotamian tales.

There is more though. For example, briefly, in Jewish mythology, a sailor meets a sea goat that is on it's way to offer himself, as all creatures must, to the Leviathan, a multiheaded giant primordial sea serpent-monster.

It's interesting to see a symbol be shared through folklore, cultures and time across the world. More tales soon!