Zodiac Sign: Capricornus

Original Solutions

Allthough the Capricornus is often mistaken for Zeus’ foster mother, the mythical goat Amaltheia, it’s in fact an homage to the wildlife god Pan. The nature god’s role was crucial in defeating one of Zeus’ most feared opponents: the monster Typhon. It had been close though, and Pan had to jump into a river to escape. He had planned to change into a fish, but he only got halfway… And that’s how he appears at the night sky. True to Pan’s character, capricorns are independent, free-spirited and strong-willed, facing challenges with fearless determination. They are ambitious trailblazers, for whom the destination is far more exciting than the journey. As they live with one eye on the clock, with so many things to accomplish in their lifetime, they may come across as somewhat judgmental. They are bluntly honest and expect the same from their friends. In the end, they will always come up with a unique point of view and the most original of solutions. Back to January overview.

 

Birthstone: Garnet

Immense Energy

The birthstone for January is garnet. This precious stone was extremely popular in ancient times. The Egyptians associated the stone with their war goddess Sekhmet. For the Greeks, it was connected to supreme goddess Hera. The colour and shape recall the little seeds of a pomegranate, litterally “seed-apple”. As apple of love, this was Hera’s favourite fruit. In the old days, garnets were a popular gift between separated lovers, as they were also associated with Persephone, queen of the underworld, who could only stay with her husband Hades for half the year. Young and insecure as she was, Persephone wore garnets to enhance her self-confidence. Its immense energy transformed her negative thoughts into positive ones, and boosted her vitality, as well as her faith in her feminine attractiveness. Today, garnets are still considered powerful gems, both fysically (in stabilising blood pressure) and mentally, as protectors from bad influences. So let’s face it, we all need garnets in our lives! Back to January overview.

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January 01: New Year's Day

Janus, God of New Beginnings

When the Romans built their empire, they took over most of the Greek gods without much creativity. But they did come up with one god themselves. (Though some believe him to be a compressed version of the divine twins Apollo and Artemis.) He was the first to be invoked on every ceremony. His name was Janus, and he was depicted with two faces, looking simultaneously at beginnings and endings, openings and closings, present and past, inside and out, birth and death, war and peace. As god of new beginnings, the first month of the year was named after him, and it was custom to trade good wishes and little gifts on the first day. He had a monument in Rome, of which the doors were left open when the empire was at war. Which was the case most of the time. In the fourth century AD, christianity was imposed as the new religion, and Janus temple doors closed for good. Or so they thought. Two centuries later, someone opened them again, during the Gothic wars. We all know they haven’t been closed since. But we keep on hoping that this might be the year.​ Back to January overview.

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January 02: Science Fiction Day

Loukianos/Lucian, Inventor of Science Fiction

The Greek tragedy writer Aeschulos invented the concept of the “deus ex machina” (literally: “god from a machine”). It involved a god suddenly appearing on stage, with the help of a mechanical device, to solve all problems and conclude the drama. The best known version of the concept is the Disney adaptation of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”. Wasn’t it Wolfgang Goethe who composed the original poem in the 18th century? No, it was not. In fact, it was the hellenised Syrian novelist Lucianus, in the 2nd century AD. The same Lucianus who also invented the science fiction genre, in his novel “A True Story”. He describes a trip to the moon, alien encounters and intergalactic battles, two millennia before Jules Verne or Isaac Asimov. What he didn’t invent, were robots. Not because they don’t appear in the novel, but because they were called automatons (“self moving things”). The term “robot” is Czech for “forced labour” and has nothing to do with Greek or Roman antiquity. For once. Back to January overview.

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January 03: New Year

The Calendar

In Roman times, on the “kalendae”, the first day of the month, all festivities and activities would be announced. The first “calendar” in the modern sense, was introduced by the city’s mythical founder Romulus. He divided the year in ten months, starting with one for his favourite, war god Mars. The second month referred to Mars’ partner Venus, Aphrodite in Greek, hence “April”. The spring goddess Maia lent her name to the month of May, and June of course brings in supreme goddess Juno. Romulus’ inspiration dried up after this, so much later, the two following months were attributed to the emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus. Nobody bothered to name the seventh, eigth, ninth and tenth month: September, October, November, December. Romulus’ successors however struggled with his ten month system, and added two more, to put before all others. One in honour of Janus, god of new beginnings, and one for Februus, god of reflection and purification. From then on, Mars only came in third, and the tenth month is in fact the twelfth.​ Back to January overview.

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January 04: New Year

Weekday Etymology

Let’s talk everyday-gods in English, German, Dutch and French. Monday is devoted to the moon goddess: “Montag”, “maandag”, and in French “lundi”. Tuesday brings in German god Tyr: “dinsdag”, “Dienstag”. Except in French, as “mardi” refers to war god Mars. The third day is an odd one. Though German god Wodan sounds in “Wednesday” and “woensdag”, the Germans themselves stay neutral with “Mittwoch”, “middle of the week”. And the French stick with messenger god Mercury: “mercredi”. Thursday brings in Thor: “Donnerstag”, “donderdag”. But the French stay loyal to Jupiter: “jeudi”. On Friday, we add a woman: German goddess Freyja: “Freitag”, “vrijdag”. Again, the French prefer a Roman goddess, Venus: “vendredi”. “Samstag” and “samedi” refer to resting days, like in the Hebrew “sabbath”. While “zaterdag” and “Saturday” are devoted to Roman god Saturn. And two thousand years of Christianism only show in the French for Sunday: “dimanche” or “dies dominicus”, “the day of God”. While the rest of us just crave a sunny day.​ Back to January overview.

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January 05: Epiphany

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

It’s a very old dilemma: would you tell your best friend if their lover was a cheater? The sun god Helios did, informing Hephaistos about the affair between his wife Aphrodite and war god Ares. Aphrodite’s revenge was swift: she cursed Helios to fall in love with a little mortal, Leukothoé. It all went out of hand when Leukothoés father didn’t agree, and punished his daughter by burying her alive. A devastated Helios turned her into a frankincense tree, according to Ovid “so that she would still breathe air, after a fashion…”  And when we think of frankincense, of course myrrh and gold come to mind, especially this time of year. Most of the gold would be found in the river Paktolos, since golddigger Midas used it to wash his curse away. And as far as the myrrh is concerned, this would have originated from the princess Myrrha, who tricked her own father into an affair. When he found out, he chased her away, the gods created a myrrh tree out of her, and as such, she gave birth to the most beautiful boy ever, Adonis. And yes, to the Greeks, all of this made perfect sense. Back to January overview.

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January 06: Epiphany

The Judges of the Underworld

The wise men in Greek myths were king Aiakos of Aigina, Minos of Crete and Rhandamanthus of Boiotia. All three were sons of Zeus, and he made them judges of the underworld. A worthy soul would be sent to Elysium, a wicked one to the Tartaros, but most ended up in the Asphodel Fields, as bloodless shadows of their former selves. Aiakos, “holder of the keys”, would judge the Europeans. He was born from the nymph Aigina on her desert island. To give his son something to rule over, Zeus had changed the ants there in people, with Achilles as a proud descendant of these “ant-people” or “myrmidons”. Rhandamanthus, known as “lord of Elysium”, judged the Asian souls. He was a son of Europa, like Minos, who only came in when the others were undecided. Which is just as well, because he had been a cruel king, sacrificing children to his Minotaur-monster. Zeus appointed all three of them to assist Hades, king of the underworld, because he was often distracted. Understandably, with a young bride like Persephone.​ Back to January overview.

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January 07: Wedding Month

Carrying the Bride

For the ancient Greeks, january was wedding month. They called it “gamelion”, for “gamos”, meaning “marriage”. (Hence “monogamy”, “bigamy” and “polygamy”.) It was Hera’s month, as she was the patroness of marriage. As a social and economic agreement, a wedding should above all serve the state’s interest. Love had very little to do with it, producing children all the more. Preferable, girls were married out to an older familymember, an uncle was perfect. This way, at least the dowry would stay in the family. When there were more suitors, they would sometimes compete in sports and poetry. But ultimately, it was the father who gave his daughter away, in a very litteral sense of the word. She would then enter her husband’s household, and could only hope the goddess of the hearth, Hestia, would like her. As a precaution, the groom would carry her over the threshold, as that was Hestia’s sacred object. Stepping on it, wouldn’t be a good start, would it? Not in ancient Greece, and not today. Back to January overview.

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January 08: Wedding Month

Hymn and Hymen, Curious Etymology

The god Hymenaios, was one of the Erotes, winged gods of love, that were part of Aphrodite’s retinue. As wedding god, he was supposed to attend every marriage, and the ritual wasn’t complete without calling out his name and singing his special songs, or “hymns”. In anatomy, his name is associated with intimacy and the transition from young maiden to woman. As a son of Apollo, Hymenaios was a dapper boy, but since he couldn’t prove his divine descent, he wasn’t deemed god enough for the girl he was in love with. So, he started stalking her, and since we’re talking Greek myths, that worked out well for him. Disguised as a woman, he had joined one of these “women-only” processions, when they were captured by pirates. Since it’s a Greek myth, the women were only too relieved to discover a man amongst them, let him take the lead and helped him organise their escape. And since it’s a greek myth, as a reward, he then got the lady of his heart as a bride. And they lived happily ever after, no questions asked. Back to January overview.

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January 09: Wedding Month

The Seven Wives of Zeus/Jupiter

Some adaptations picture Zeus and Hera as a harmonious couple, which they weren’t. Hera was Zeus’ seventh choice, and he even unalived one of his wives, the first: Metis, titan goddess of wisdom. To absorb her knowledge, he tricked her into changing into a fly and swallowed her. It left him with a splitting headache, and he needed Hephaistos’ help, to free daughter Athena from his head. Another titan-aunt, Themis, a justice goddess, took Metis’ place, and among their children were the Horai- and Moirai-triplets (the “seasons” and the “fates”). Another titan was to follow, Mnemosyne, goddess of memory, with the nine muses as their offspring. With the ocean nymph Eurynome, he fathered the Charites, or “graces”. Next, he chose his sister Demeter, and daughter Persephone became queen of the underworld. He left her for his niece Leto, mother of Artemis and Apollo. Finally, he settled for his eldest sister, Hera, but didn’t stay faithful to her either. And he didn’t even like Ares, god of war and their only son together. Back to January overview.

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January 10: Wedding Month

Hera/Juno, Queen of Heaven

It must have been the wedding to top all weddings. The venue was the garden of the Hesperid-nymphs, where earth goddess Gaia had planted a tree with golden apples as a wedding gift. (Does resemble another garden from another book, but let’s not dwell on that.) All gods, nymphs, satyrs and demigodss were invited to witness the sacred union between Zeus and Hera. The bride looked ravishing and wore the unique crown that Zeus ordered for her, as a token of her new status. But one can’t help wondering if she smiled. She was forced into this marriage after all. Zeus had failed to win her heart the traditional way, so had taken the form of a little cuckoo, pretending to shiver with cold. Hera had held the poor creature to her breast for warmth. Zeus had then shamelessly taken advantage of her, and overcome with shame, she had agreed to marry him. So maybe she didn’t smile. But in spite of everything, she must have been pleased with her freshly gained position as queen of heaven. And she would do whatever it took to hold on to it. Whatever it took... Back to January overview.

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January 11: Wedding Month

Zeus/Jupiter Wants Hera/Juno Back

Every family has its struggles, but the relationship of Zeus and Hera was a particularly stormy one. Zeus never quite grabbed the concept of monogamy, putting Hera through all stages of fury, yelling, crying, and taking revenge – on the mistresses and their offspring. She even orchestrated a revolt once, but nothing made him change his ways. And one morning, she had had enough, left Olympos and vanished into thin air. Now, Zeus hated losing face. And besides, he had gotten kind of used to being someone she loved. So he planned a scheme to get her back. With the help of a friend in Plataia, he dressed a statue as a bride, had a portrait made and spread the news he was going to remarry – again. A furious Hera immediately showed up, but oddly enough, when she discovered it had been a trick, she felt… flattered. And to Zeus’ satisfaction, she showed it generously. And they lived happily ever after? Well, they lived ever after, let’s keep it at that. Back to January overview.

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January 12: Wedding Month

The Three Wives of Herakles/Hercules

Contrary to what the movie wants us to believe, supreme goddess Hera hated the hero Herakles. She went out of her way to make his life miserable, as he was the son of Zeus and the mortal princess Alkmene. Herakles was raised far away from the Olympos, but when he met Megara, the woman of his dreams, and founded a family, Hera got track of him. She struck him with madness, and in a daze of insanity, he slaughtered not only Megara, but also his children. His “twelve labours” are a penitence for this atrocious act. He later would remarry, to the princess Deianeira, but could never commit like he did to Megara. Still, it was Herakles who rescued her when she was assaulted by a wild centaur. In his dying moment, the beast tricked Deianeira into spilling some drops of his blood on a coat, telling her it would make Herakles love her forevermore. But the blood was poisonous, and it lead to Herakles’ quite horrific death. After which he ascended to the Olympos after all, and got Hebe, goddess of youth, as yet another wife. Back to January overview.

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January 14: World Logic Day

Paradoxes

When the Athenian hero Theseus left on his mission to kill the Cretan Minotaur, he promised his father, king Aegeus, he would raise white sails on his ship if he survived. But he didn’t (accidentally or not), and when his father saw his black-sailed ship entering the harbour, he jumped from a cliff, giving his name to the Aegean sea. Theseus took over the kingdom, and his ship became an exhibition piece. But over time, it needed multiple repairs, and this raised a question: how much material could be replaced before it would stop being “Theseus’ ship”? It was one of those theoretial issues the ancient Greeks called “paradoxes”, meaning “contrary to accepted opinion”, and philosophers discussed them endlessly. Herakleitos stated that a man never steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same water, nor the same man. And Zeno famously declared that Achilles never could have overtaken a tortoise, since he had to reach its starting point first, in endless repetition. Most famous paradox of all? Eubulides: “What I’m saying now, is a lie.” Back to January overview.

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January 15: Wedding Month

Ariadne, Goddess of Passion

In Greek mythology, wars are quite common, but the one between Crete and Athens was a particularly bloody one. Athens was defeated and had to send fourteen youngsters to Crete every year, as a sacrifice to their minotaur monster, living in the labyrinth under the palace. To put an end to this, the Athenian prince Theseus volunteered to go himself. (Heroism that inspired many tales since…) Theseus had help from the Cretan princess Ariadne, who gave him a ball of red wool, to wind off going into the labyrinth, and retrace all the way back. He slayed the monster and Ariadne left with him, to live happily ever after. Except he left her on a desert island (Naxos) for which treason no author, ancient or modern, has provided a reasonable explanation. Myths vary, but in my favourite, she’s comforted by the wine god Dionysos, and ends up marrying him. As a favour to his son, Zeus promotes her to goddess of passion. No wonder their marriage was a happy one. We have her wedding crown, the constellation “Corona Borealis” as proof. Back to January overview.

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January 16: Wedding Month

Marpessa, the Princess Bride

In ancient times, it was a father’s responsibility to marry his daughter off to a candidate with good prospects. But some didn’t bother and just kept her at home, as did the father of Aetolian princess Marpessa. As she was not only good looking, but also smart and kind, she attracted male attention anyway, and the suitor she liked most, was the hero Idas, son of Poseidon. The couple decided to elope, but they were intercepted by Apollo, always on the lookout for a suitable bride. To his surprise, Marpessa was hesitant to switch partners. He called on his father to intervene, but Zeus wasn’t going to sow friction in the family by choosing his son over his nephew. So he suggested the revolutionary idea to leave it up to the bride-to-be. To soften the blow, Marpessa told Apollo she would feel terrible growing old and ugly next to his eternal radiance. With his pride intact, Apollo generously retreated, and Marpessa and Idas’ marriage was a warm and happy one. Back to January overview.

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January 17: Wedding Month

Oreithya, Swept Away Bride of the North Wind

Boreas, god of the North Wind, had the perfect picture in his head. He would build his happily ever after with the Athenian princess Oreithya. And he really put the effort in. But being the North Wind, subtlety wasn’t his strong point. He blew the nicest phrases in her ear, but she only shivered with cold. He swept her off her feet, and she almost broke her back. He felled a bouquet of trees for her, and she wept for the destruction of the forest. Finally, his patience ran out, he abducted her to a desert mountain peak and overpowered her. Now of course, the Olympian gods, who had ignored the situation so far, had to intervene. Hera shrugged: “It’s in his nature to be harsh, he’s the North Wind after all.” Zeus kept his silence, knowing he too had done some abducting in the past. Hestia felt sorry for the girl, while Hephaistos couldn’t be bothered. Finally, Athena suggested to promote the princess to “goddess of the cold mountain wind”, and arrange for them to marry. So Boreas got his happily ever after. And Oreithya? Not so much. Back to January overview.

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January 18: International Mentoring Day

Athena/Minerva and Telemachos/Telemachus

It took Trojan War-hero Odysseus ten years to come home to his kingdom of Ithaca. All of this time, his wife Penelope held off dozens of suitors, hoping to gain the crown themselves. Their son Telemachos grew up without a father, but with a powerful ally. The goddess of war and wisdom, Athena, always had a soft spot for Odysseus, and extended her affection to the son. In the disguise of Odysseus’ friend Mentor, she advised and supported him. (She didn’t care much for Penelope, though, who should sit straight and keep quiet, as far as she was concerned.) In the guise of Mentor, Athena stood by Telemachos when the suitors mocked him, and she sailed out with him to look for his father. So far so good. Her “mentorship” became questionable though, when Odysseus came back, and she encouraged him to start a full blown war against his own aristocracy. Ironically, Athena then hurried to her own father, supreme god Zeus, to fix things. Zeus slung some thunderbolts, proclaimed peace and that was that. So far for the mentoring. Back to January overview. 

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January 19: Blue Monday

Nikaia, the Nymph Who Fought Back

Young Hymnus was a sheperd boy, and spent most of his time alone. In the depth of winter, loneliness set in, all the more because it would dawn on him – again – that his luck in love wouldn’t change this year either. It was the nymph Nikaia who had stolen his heart, and in springtime and summer, he would observe her – nicely put – when she strolled through the woods, practised her hunting skills or – highlight of the week – bathed in a river. Unfortunately, Nikaia had devoted her life to Artemis, virgin goddess of the hunt, and in winter, she seemed more out of reach than ever. One day, a few weeks after the beginning of the new year, and after another failed attempt to win her over, he reached his breaking point. “Put me out of my misery, then. An arrow through my heart couldn’t be more painful than this continuous rejection…” Nikaia, at her wits’ end by the endless harassment, and thus at breaking point too, took the shot. Scholars are debating ever since if she did or did not deserve the harsh punishment she got for it. Back to January overview.

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January 20: Wedding Month

Xanthippe, Unhappy Wife of Sokrates

“If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” That’s what Sokrates had to say about marriage. But one can’t help wondering if it’s not the other way around. It can’t have been easy for his wife to have to deal with his witty replies. Xanthippe bore full responsibility for the household, because he was too busy “being himself, in a world that was constantly trying to make him someone else.” When she reproached him, he would smile. “Strong minds discuss ideas, weak minds discuss people.” When money became tight, he would shrug: “The secret of happiness is not found in seeking more, but in enjoying less. And when she felt she couldn’t cope: “Beware the barenness of a busy life!” The Oracle had declared him to be the smartest person on earth, and he spent years figuring out why, because “an unexamined life is not worth living”. Ultimately he concluded: “It’s because I know that I know nothing.” Finally, something that Xanthippe could agree with. Back to January overview.

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January 21: International Hugging Day/International Day of Mother Languages

Greek in Anatomy

If you’re Greek, you have reason to be extra proud of your mother language, as it ‘s used all over the world. In “anatomy” for example, which means “to cut up”, because that’s what the ancients did, to identify bodyparts, and name them for something that looked alike. In the “hippocampus” in the head, they saw a seahorse. And the scientific name for tailbone is “coccyx”, because it looks like a cuckoo’s beak. Finger- and toebones are called “phalanges”, because they seemed lined up for battle, like in a “phalanx”, the famous war formation. Mythology also was a source of inspiration. The “iris” in our eyes recalls the goddess of the rainbown while the “talus” bone in our foot relates to a weak spot at the ankle of a bronze giant. When they tried to guess a purpose, they made mistakes, like with “arteriess”, meaning “air holders”. But they also came up with pure poetry. How about the “love charm” or “phyltrum”, the little groove between upper lip and nose? Maybe you didn’t even know it has a name. But you’ll think about it, next time you kiss… Back to January overview.

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January 22: Wedding Month

Oinone, Paris' Starter Wife

When the sheperd boy Paris meets the nymph Oinone, it’s love at first sight. They get married and live happily ever after. The End. Or not. Paris can’t help feeling he’s destined for bigger things. He’s convinced that his good looks, wit, charm and intelligence are wasted on herding sheep. So, when he finds out that in fact he’s not a sheperd boy at all, but the son of the Trojan king Priamos, it doesn’t surprise him one bit. And when he’s chosen by the gods to judge the beauty contest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, he reaches the top of his fame. Aphrodite promises him the ravishing Spartan queen Helena as a bride, and he forgets all about Oinone and their son together. He sails out to Sparta, to seduce of kidnap Helena, whatever works, and in doing so, he starts the Trojan war. Ten years later, he gets fatally wounded, and it’s then that he returns to his first love, begging her to use her healing powers. “Please, Oinone, we were happy once, remember?...” She remembers. And she sends him away to die. The End. Back to January overview.

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January 23: Wedding Month

The Cursed Necklace of Harmonia/Concordia

The wedding of Harmonia and Kadmos was spectacular, not surprisingly, as she was the daughter of Olympian royalty, Aphrodite herself. The bride looked as lovely as her mother and wore the most exquisite jewelry. Her necklace in particular, crafted by her father Hephaistos, out of gold and ivory and every sparkling gemstone in the universe, caused quite a stir. And also quite some gossip, as it was a well known secret that Harmonia was really Ares’daughter. They chuckled: “Isn’t the husband always the last to find out?” In fact, Hephaistos knew. He had always known. He had accepted the girl in his household, but he had carried a grudge. So, he had forged the necklace. It was breathtakingly beautiful. And cursed. It would cause grief to Harmonia, tragedy to Semele, blindness to Oidipous, and ultimately the Theban Wars.  It should have ended up in a temple at Delphi, but it got stolen in Roman times, to cause even more doom and misery. Since then, it’s been lost. Whatever you do, don’t try to find it. Back to January overview.