The representation of CAPRICORNUS, The Sea-Goat or Goat-Fish, as a
creature with the head and body of a goat and the tail of a fish,
may well have originated from Assyro-Babylonian depictions of their
god of wisdon Oannes, who was half-man, half-fish.
In Greek mythology, this constellation is associated with the time
the Olympian gods sought refuge in Egypt. Unfortunately,
following their epic battle with the Titans, peace did not last
for long, as the monster Typhon, son of the Titan Tartarus and
Earth, sought revenge. Typhon was a fearsome fire-breathing
creature, taller than mountains and with arms which possessed
dragons' heads in place of fingers. The Olympian gods sought
to escape by adopting various disguises: Zeus, a ram - Hera, a
white cow, Bacchus (another version of the myth suggests Pan) a
goat. As Typhon approached, Bacchus/Pan threw himself into the
Nile but, in a panic, only succeeded in changing part of his body,
ending up with a goat's body and the tail of a fish. Meanwhile,
Zeus had been dismembered by Typhon, but was saved when Bacchus/Pan
let out an ear-splitting yell, distracting the monster long enough
for an agile Hermes to collect the supreme god's limbs and carefully
restore him. In gratitude, Zeus transferred Bacchus/Pan to
the heavens.
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