Capricorn (Southern Hemisphere)
In the Southern Hemisphere, Capricorn is the tenth month of Our Zodiacal Hellenistic Mystery Calendar. In ancient Greece, this month was named according to the chart below.
| Athens | Delphi | Delos | Rhodes | Sparta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hekatombaion | Apellaios | Hekatombaion | Panamos | Hekatombeus |
Tenth comes the final Energizing month, representative of Movement in the Divine World under the rule of Hermes. The Year, the Universe, and the Soul, having achieved Freedom and risen to the Divine Mind, is now guided by Hermes across the threshold to Movement in the Divine World.
Herakles' Tenth Labor is to obtain the Cattle belonging to the Giant Geryon. The Giant himself is a stand-in for greed and possessive materialism, and the Cattle represent his material wealth. Geryon hoards his wealth in isolation at the edge of the world, suggesting that the Soul's learned materialism only serves to isolate it from its true purpose. One must learn not to hoard possessions in excess and isolation, but to curate only those material attachments which best serve one's ascent.
Festivals in Capricorn
| Day | City | Name | Deities Honored | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Delphi | Apellai | Apollo, Dionysus | Celebrates the beginning of the Delphic new year, acceptance of youth to adulthood | Date uncertain - Pytho prefers 1st but concedes that Athens never celebrates on the 1st, and offers 7th as possibility. 7th chosen here for Orphic symbolism. |
| 7 | Delphi | Daphnephoria | Apollo | "Laurel-bearing", the Daphnephoros reenacts the triumphant return of Apollo from Tempe | Related to Septerion, held once every eight years - see Pytho |
| 12 | Athens | Kronia | Kronos | An old festival already in the classical era; slaves were given the day off | |
| 15-16 | Athens | Synoikia | Athena, Zeus Phratrios, Theseus, Eirene | Commemorates the unification of Attica by Theseus | |
| 23-End | Athens | Lesser Panathenaia | Athena | Parties and games open to all of Athens | Every fourth year, this is skipped in favor of the Greater Panathenaia |
| 23-End | Athens | Greater Panathenaia | Athena | Parties and games at Athens open to all of Greece | Only held every four years, in place of Lesser Panathenaia; coincides roughly with modern Summer Olympics |