Capricorn
Capricorn is the tenth sign of the tropical zodiac, spanning December 22 to January 19, beginning at the December solstice. It is an Earth sign, Cardinal in modality, traditionally ruled by the planet Saturn.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-19
Historical fact
In Babylonian astronomy, the sky sector now known as Capricorn was called SUHUR.MASH.HA, the Goat-Fish — a hybrid creature with a goat's forequarters and a fish's tail. This is a genuinely ancient Mesopotamian image, associated with the god Enki (also called Ea), deity of wisdom and fresh water, and predates any Greek involvement. The Greeks reattributed the figure to Pan (or Aegipan), who, fleeing the monster Typhon, is said to have dove into a river and transformed his lower half into a fish tail while his upper half remained a goat. Ptolemy systematized Capricorn as the tenth sign in the sequence in the Tetrabiblos, around 150 CE.
Interpretation — Western Astrology (Tropical)
In modern Western astrology, Capricorn is read as the sign of discipline and long-term building: Cardinal energy (which kicks off a new cycle, here that of Northern Hemisphere winter) combined with the element Earth (practicality, materiality) under the rulership of Saturn, the planet associated with structure, limits and responsibility. Commonly associated traits: ambition, long-term planning, a strong sense of duty, and perseverance in the face of obstacles. The shadow side commonly includes rigidity, a tendency toward pessimism, and difficulty relaxing or opening up emotionally.
Interpretation — Vedic Astrology (Sidereal)
In the Vedic system (Jyotish), the corresponding sign is Makara, also ruled by Saturn (Shani) and likewise the tenth of the twelve rashis. Because it uses the sidereal zodiac, which accounts for the precession of the equinoxes, Makara's date window is currently shifted relative to tropical Capricorn — today falling roughly from mid-January to mid-February, varying by the ayanamsa (calculation method) used. Classical texts such as the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra describe Makara natives as hardworking, disciplined and persistent, with a strong sense of duty and the patience to pursue long-term goals — a characterization broadly convergent with the Western reading, despite the two systems developing independently.
This section presents one tradition's interpretation, not a verifiable fact.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Capricorn depicted as a goat with a fish tail?
- The sea-goat image already existed in Babylonian astronomy, under the name SUHUR.MASH.HA, linked to the god Enki. The Greeks later reinterpreted the figure as Pan, who was said to have partly transformed into a fish while fleeing the monster Typhon by diving into a river.
- When does Capricorn season begin?
- Capricorn begins on December 22, coinciding with the December solstice (the astronomical start of Northern Hemisphere winter), and runs through January 19.
- Are Capricorn and Makara (Vedic) the same sign?
- They correspond to the same position in the sequence (tenth sign, ruled by Saturn), but occupy different date windows, because the Vedic zodiac is sidereal (aligned to the constellations) while the Western zodiac is tropical (aligned to the seasons) — the gap today is roughly 24 degrees.
Sources
- Nicholas Campion. A History of Western Astrology (2009).
- Claudius Ptolemy. Tetrabiblos (c. 150).
- Maharishi Parashara (trans. R. Santhanam). Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (1984).
- David Pingree. From Astral Omens to Astrology: From Babylon to Bīkāner (1997).