Voldemort and Capricorn

Tom Marvolo Riddle was born on December 31 [1927?]. This makes him a Capricorn. There are many interesting facts that may be drawn from this, and some may be indicators of things to happen in Deathly Hallows. First, about the sign:


Zodiac Symbol: Goat
Birth Dates (Tropical): December 22 - January 20
Birth Dates (Sidereal): January 15 - February 14
Birth Dates (Solar): January 19 - February 15
Constellation: Capricornus
Zodiac Element: Earth
Zodiac Quality: Cardinal
Body Part: Knees and Skeleton (skin)
Domicile: Saturn
Detriment: Moon
Exaltation: Mars
Fall: Jupiter
Birthstone: Garnet
Colours: Dark Green and brown
Numbers: Three and Seven
Day: Saturday
Gemstones: Onyx, Quartz, Beryl, Garnet, Obsidian
Metal: Gold, SilverThe sign of Capricorn is the goat. Is this possibly a reference to Aberforth Dumbledore and his inappropriate charm on the goat? That Aberforth is working for Voldemort? Or perhaps it's a reference to Bezoars?

Capricorn is the 10th sign of the Zodiac. Those born under the sign are said to be responsible, patient, ambitious, and shrewd. They can also be prone to rigidity, materialism, and coldness. Voldemort has most of these qualities.

The sign, geographically speaking, is associated with Mexico, India, Albania, and Bulgaria. India possibly being where Nagini was acquired, there is the mythological reference to Nagas. Albania being the place Voldemort has twice fled to, why did he do that? Bulgaria being the place from which Krum came from, does this mean we can't trust Viktor if he appears in Deathly Hallows?

The element of Capricorn is earth, while it's colors are dark green {Slytherin} and brown.

Its metals are gold/silver---the Horcruxes, except the snake and diary---appear to be made out of precious metals---gold/silver. How might that help to identify a Horcrux?

Capricorn lives in Saturn. In Indian astrology, Saturn is called Sani. It represents career and longevity. Saturn is also the bringer of hardship and bad luck.

Mars, the bringer of war. Capricorn exalts in Mars. In Indian astrology, Mars is called Mangala and represents energy, confidence and ego.

The Moon is Capricorn's detriment. Could Remus Lupin, as a spy who's infiltrated the werewolves, play a part in that? And Luna, who's assisted Harry by publishing his story in her father's magazine, The Quibbler---and by accompanying Harry and the others to work against Voldemort and his Death Eaters in the DoM?

One of Capricorn's gemstones is obsidian, which brings to mind Marvolo Gaunt's black-stoned gold ring, with the Peverell crest on it. A former Horcrux.

Numbers are 3 & 7. Three has a proverb: "omne trinum perfectum" {all threes are perfect}. 3 is also the number of Horcruxes---well two real Horcruxes destroyed, and one fake collected, that have been seen so far. Seven has been associated with the concept of "eternity" since the sixth-century, when Pope Gregory I favored it. Voldemort, of course, sought to have his soul in seven pieces---so that he could never die.

In GoF, Trelawney seeminly gets Harry and Voldemort's birth signs confused, when trying to read Harry.
"I was saying, my dear, that you were clearly born under the baleful influence of Saturn," said Trelawney, a faint note of resentment in her voice at the fact that he had obviously not been hanging on her words.
"Born under---what, sorry?" said Harry.
"Saturn, dear, the planet Saturn!" said Professor Trelawney, sounding definitely irritated that he wasn't riveted by this news. "I was saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the moment of your birth....Your dark hair...your mean stature...tragic losses so young in life...I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?"
"No," said Harry, "I was born in July."In short, JK has apparently thoroughly researched this sign. What, if anything, could be significant about it?

To be capricious ;), here's a song I used to listen to. What comparisons can be drawn from it?

Capricorn by Motorhead:
A thousand nights, I've spent alone,
Solitaire, to the bone,
But I don't mind, I'm my own best friend,
From the beginning, to the end,
My life, my heart, black night, my star,
Capricorn

December's child, the only one,
What I do, is what I've done,
I realize, I get so cold,
When I was young I was already old,

My life, my heart, black night, my star,
Capricorn

I always knew, the only way,
Is never live, beyond today,
They proved me right, they proved me wrong,
But they can never last this long,

My life, my heart, black night, dark star,
Capricorn

What a letdown! I thought this thread was going to compare Voldemort as a villain with Capricorn in Cornelia Funke's Inkheart. Pooh.

There isn`t much similarity between Funke`s Capricorn and Voldemort, I think.
But some things that kingwidgit mentioned are very interesrting and fit with little things in the books.
First Voldemort makes war on Muggles, muggleborn wizards and all the other people that doesn`t share his pilosophie. Mars is the Roman god of war and Mars is also associated with Capricorn.
Second Slytherins colors contain the colors of Capricorn.
And last, but not least the numbers. Tom Riddle was an excellent student and Ron compaired his own brother Percy once with Tom Riddle. Percy achieved 12 O.W.L.s which means, that he has taken all subjects at Hogwarts. Hermione on the other hand often speaks about her favourite subjects Arithmancy. this envolved Numbers and their meaning. I think Tom Riddle took the same subject and we will see something important about Arithmancy in the last book. Maybe he choose 7 soul parts not only because it`s a magical number, but also because it is part of his sign.

Interesting... also both him and Snape share the same birthday, Jan 1st, so they are both Capricorns... how this will play out in book 7, I don't know... I just found it kind of interesting that they both have the same birthday.

Capricorn falls between December and January. On the Roman calendar, that falls under the domain of the god Janus.

Voldemort was born on December 31st - New Year's Eve.

The name of the month "January," comes from the "Janus" who is the god of thresholds, beginnings, war, and who has two faces. In Book One, Voldemort definitely becomes a "Janus" when he shares a body with Quirrell. Of course, that is the "beginning" of the series, and the first time Harry fights him. In GoF, the last chapter is called "The Beginning" when Voldemort returns.

http://www.detstar.com/files/features/mythology/janus_two-faced_romangod.jpg

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/janus.html

Janus is the Roman god of gates and doors (ianua), beginnings and endings, and hence represented with a double-faced head, each looking in opposite directions. He was worshipped at the beginning of the harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings, especially the beginnings of important events in a person's life. Janus also represents the transition between primitive life and civilization, between the countryside and the city, peace and war, and the growing-up of young people.

Janus was represented with two faces, originally one face was bearded while the other was not (probably a symbol of the sun and the moon). Later both faces were bearded. In his right hand he holds a key. The double-faced head appears on many Roman coins, and around the 2nd century BCE even with four faces.

Snape is also born under Capricorn, of course, and in his case, you can see the "two-faced" symbolism as a spy. He is also associated with doorways, when coming through the dungeon door and slamming it, or meeting Harry at the main entrance, or in HBP when he meets Harry at the gate because Tonks can't open it - but he can. That's the symbolism of Janus.

Interesting... also both him and Snape share the same birthday, Jan 1st, so they are both Capricorns... how this will play out in book 7, I don't know... I just found it kind of interesting that they both have the same birthday.

They don`t share the same birthday, but the same sign. Voldemort is prbably born on New Years Eve, but there is the possibility that he is born at New Years Day as well, because we only know he was born in that night. Snape`s birthday is January 9th.

They don`t share the same birthday, but the same sign. Voldemort is prbably born on New Years Eve, but there is the possibility that he is born at New Years Day as well, because we only know he was born in that night. Snape`s birthday is January 9th.
Oops, sorry about that...I didn't know that he (Snape) was born on the 9th... thanks for the info :).

Oops, sorry about that...I didn't know that he (Snape) was born on the 9th... thanks for the info :).

No problem. It isn`t an information we got from the books, its from the birthday list at Jo`s site. But your right, Snape is also a Capricorn, but I don`t know what this means for the last book.

Capricorn is the 10th sign of the Zodiac. Those born under the sign are said to be responsible, patient, ambitious, and shrewd. They can also be prone to rigidity, materialism, and coldness. Voldemort has most of these qualities.


I agree. When I first found out that Voldemort was a capricorn, it didn't shock me. Capricorns are very goal-driven people who may forsake every other aspect of their lifes to obtain success. This comes through in Voldemort. Voldemort had forsaken the ability to love, to have a "normal" life because the only thing he was ever worried about was obtaining his goal of superiority amoung wizards and of course, immorality.
Capricorns also seem to supress emotions and see weakness as the worst thing in the world. Look at how Voldemort reacts when he finds out he's a wizard, he thinks his mother couldn't have been magicial because she died. Voldemort sees death as the ultimate weakness because it stops all possible earthy success.
We have seen Voldemort get upset, but for the most part, he does seem calculating and able to formulate a plan and wait it out, instead of rushing to action with his emotions on his sleeve.
I love astrology.

Oh my, Voldemort destroyed the reputations of all of us Capricorns :lol: When I found out he was born on December the 31st it seemed a very well-chosen day; it's the same day as Harry's, only half a year later, it's mid-winter and Capricorn. I think most of what's commonly told about Capricorns applies quite well to him, only exaggeratedly for the potentially bad traits. It's interesting the element is earth; to me it means he's forever tied to materiality because he chose so, he can't transcend, he can't understand 'things worse than death'. Saturn and Mars fit perfectly. Saturday is still in many cultures the last day of the week, the seventh day, and the German word for it comes from the Hebrew 'shabbat' (Sabbath).
Trelawney mixing up the signs seems very significant. I had forgotten that part :agree:

hmmm...capricorn is related to earth and green - like a forest

Could this mean that his liar is in a forest - possibly underground, maybe even a Horcrux is hidden in the forbidden forest. It would tie in with Hufflepuff as well. So maybe the Cup is hidden underground or in a forest.

That also make me wonder if Riddle was ever considered for Hufflepuff...but obvioulsy he'd scoff at that

What do you make of the fact that JKR finished Deathly Hallows during the sign of Capricorn? :)

She signed a statue at the Balmoral Hotel on Jan. 11, 2007:

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=181062007

"JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (652) on 11th Jan 2007," she wrote.

JK signed a bust of "Hermes"......an escort for the dead to help them find their way to the afterlife (the Underworld in the Greek myths). In many Greek myths, Hermes was depicted as the only god besides Hades and Persephone who could enter and leave the Underworld without hindrance.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and one of the Pleiades, Maia.
Merope is one of the Pleiades.
Hermes was the father of Pan (http://www.thaliatook.com/pix/pan.jpg), who has a goatlike appearance.
Pan is a moon of Saturn.
Capricorn lives in Saturn.

The sign of Capricorn is the goat. Is this possibly a reference to Aberforth Dumbledore and his inappropriate charm on the goat? That Aberforth is working for Voldemort? Or perhaps it's a reference to Bezoars?


I wouldn't think that Aberforth was working for Voldemort. If anything, "inappropriate" charms on a goat would seem to indicate that he was very much against Voldemort.

Bulgaria being the place from which Krum came from, does this mean we can't trust Viktor if he appears in Deathly Hallows?

While we might first associate Bulgaria with Krum, I think we could also relate it to Karkaroff. I don't believe we're ever specifically told that Karkaroff is from Bulgaria, but we could infer this, due to his relations with Krum who we are fairly certain is from Bulgaria. And, of course, Karkaroff has a much more direct connection with Voldemort.

Oh, and also, in a different series, the Inkheart trilogy I believe, the Dark Lord is named Capricorn, which probably also relates to this.

Silver ink pot mentioned Janus.I hope I'm not spoiling this thread by asking,where did I see that name?Was the name Janus in St. MUngo's?It just seems so familiar.

Yup, the Janus Thickey ward, IIRC. ;)

Edit: I checked it out on HPL:

Thickey, Janus
In 1973, Thickey left a note on the bedside table for his wife, claiming that he had been killed by a Lethifold. Janus was shortly thereafter discovered five miles away, living with the landlady of the Green Dragon. (FB) A ward for patients with spell damage (Gilderoy Lockhart and the Longbottoms reside there) in St. Mungo's is now named after Janus, which suggests that he might have come out of this incident a little worse for the wear (OP23).
"Janus" was the two-faced deity after whom the month of January was named.

Capricorn falls between December and January. On the Roman calendar, that falls under the domain of the god Janus.

Voldemort was born on December 31st - New Year's Eve.

The name of the month "January," comes from the "Janus" who is the god of thresholds, beginnings, war, and who has two faces. In Book One, Voldemort definitely becomes a "Janus" when he shares a body with Quirrell. Of course, that is the "beginning" of the series, and the first time Harry fights him. In GoF, the last chapter is called "The Beginning" when Voldemort returns.

http://www.detstar.com/files/features/mythology/janus_two-faced_romangod.jpg

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/janus.html

Janus is the Roman god of gates and doors (ianua), beginnings and endings, and hence represented with a double-faced head, each looking in opposite directions. He was worshipped at the beginning of the harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings, especially the beginnings of important events in a person's life. Janus also represents the transition between primitive life and civilization, between the countryside and the city, peace and war, and the growing-up of young people.

Janus was represented with two faces, originally one face was bearded while the other was not (probably a symbol of the sun and the moon). Later both faces were bearded. In his right hand he holds a key. The double-faced head appears on many Roman coins, and around the 2nd century BCE even with four faces.

Snape is also born under Capricorn, of course, and in his case, you can see the "two-faced" symbolism as a spy. He is also associated with doorways, when coming through the dungeon door and slamming it, or meeting Harry at the main entrance, or in HBP when he meets Harry at the gate because Tonks can't open it - but he can. That's the symbolism of Janus.

In Angels and Demons by Dan brown I beleive Janus was the name the murderer went by. Aslo, in response to capricorn being the 10th Zodiac symbol, cern's logo had 2 cylinders and 5 stars or something like that(i havn'e read it in a while) people madea big deal of that because 10 was an evil number (again i apologize I probably got this wrong) if you know what it really was please post.:p

thanks

I don't know if it has been mentioned before (I skimmed through the thread), but Saturn is also associated with patricide - another connection with Voldemort. He is also associated with Father Time, the Grim Reaper, and Satan (the Christian one).

Really?! The grim reaper?! That makes total sense!

Well, now I am feeling decidedly creepy about being a Capricorn. Thank you all:p

It makes sense that Voldemort is a Capricorn, who are probably the most determined to get what they want.

I'm a Cap! lol Don't worry though. I'm not going to do a Voldie. But it explains some parts of why he is who he is.

This is only directed at Voldie people. Not all Caps. Don't bite my head off lol.

...this doesn't seem to fit quite right either. :cool: Though if he was raised by at least his loving mother perhaps he would have been different.

What tree is Voldemort? (http://www.paradiseawaits.com/Tree.html#apple)

"Apple Tree, The Love
Of slight build, lots of charm, appeal and attraction, pleasant aura,
flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love and
be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific
talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination"

Apple Tree, The Love
Of slight build, lots of charm, appeal and attraction, pleasant aura,
flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love and
be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific
talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination

Well he was of slight build wasn't he? Charming, which gave him appeal and attraction, althought he was scheming he gave off a pleasant aura to those he wanted to charm for personal gain, the same with being flirtatious (Hepzibah), quite adventurous I'd say and he had significant scientific (magical) talent.

What a letdown! I thought this thread was going to compare Voldemort as a villain with Capricorn in Cornelia Funke's Inkheart. Pooh.

:lol: don't be dissapointed I thought so too.

It really does seem that JKR may have thought through these start signs and such but maybe not as indepth as you have. Until I read you discription I would have had no idea about this. It has really opened my eyes to see how Voldemort is related to all around him.

How interesting... I am a capricorn myself, but I don't think I posses too many of these traits... Perhaps that's because I was born on the cusp of capricorn and aquarius??

Anywho... I think that the matter of zodiac for each character was carefully calculated and taken into consideration by JKR. I wonder... was there any mention of saturn in any of the astrology classes in the books?? Perhaps that would provide an example of it's influence.

I think that the matter of zodiac for each character was carefully calculated and taken into consideration by JKR. I wonder... was there any mention of saturn in any of the astrology classes in the books?? Perhaps that would provide an example of it's influence.There is a mention of Saturn in the books. In one of the Divination classes, Trelawney says that Harry must have been born under the influence of Saturn because of ....., and Harry corrects her to say he was born in the summer. And then we have the "Mars is bright tonight" said by a centaur. In fact, the Centaurs use the planets for their predictions.

Capricorn is the 10th sign of the Zodiac. Those born under the sign are said to be responsible, patient, ambitious, and shrewd. They can also be prone to rigidity, materialism, and coldness.These characteristics fit Voldemort very well indeed - except that he is not very responsible. It's interesting that these characteristics also fit Snape, who was born on January 9 if my memory serves me. In fact, they fit the majority of Slytherin house to varying degrees. But of course, Voldemort these characteristics in Voldemort are twisted so that there's no good stemming from them.

Many of the other attributes of Capricorn, such as being associated with Mars, are evident in the series. As was pointed out, Mars is the god of war, and thus when it's bright, this is used as a foreshadowing to the gathering and increasing of Voldemort's strength. The significance of the number seven is also evident as the number of horcruxes Voldemort had.In one of the Divination classes, Trelawney says that Harry must have been born under the influence of Saturn because of ....., and Harry corrects her to say he was born in the summer.I wonder if that was Trelawney unconsciously seeing through Harry to the horcrux that resided within him.

^ Perhaps it is also because of Harry's hatred of Voldemort?

(BTW, whoever made this thread is AWESOME. I love Astrology! Sorry, astrology freak speaking)

Kingwidget, these are very interesting thoughts and discoveries. Things that I probably would have never seen. Perhaps JKR made Voldemort a Capricon on purpose, giving him these features.

I absolutely love this thread, kingwidgit. You offer some incredible insights related to Voldemort, his astrological sign and the overall relationship to the mythology and symbolism surrounding Saturn.

I'm not entirely sure whether Rowling used astrological information in designing her characters, although that's certainly a possibility - but she may have just as easily selected their birthdays based on their personalities afterward. Most of the characters for whom we know birthdays seem to match their astrological signs pretty well, in particular Hermione (Virgo), Fred&George (Aries), Harry&Ginny (Leo), Arthur Weasley (Aquarius), and Dobby (Cancer).

I am curious, though, as to whether anyone knows if J.K. Rowling has ever given us Dumbledore's birthday? If not, what astrological sign would one believe him to have been born under? Perhaps Cancer, to be the polar opposite of Voldemort?

On a side note, perhaps not entirely related, this is a fabulous link: Harry Potter Astrology (http://www.spenecial.com/birdsofafeather/astrology.htm) - It looks at how a person's astrological sign & the house they're sorted into would interact.

Here's Voldemort/Snape, Slytherin/Capricorn:

The traits emphasized here will be ambition, determination, discipline, and pragmatism. You can't make that castle in the sky if you don't build a solid foundation under it, and Capricorns excel at building foundations. (Actually, they excel at planning the foundations and directing others to do the grunt labour. It's not that they're afraid to get their hands dirty, but large work usually requires delegation and a staff, and Capricorns are managers more often than not.) While not flamboyant or showy about it, Capricorns still tend to be obsessive overachievers, a common trait in House Slytherin. Too, wizards born under the sign of Capricorn are good at being discreet, secretive, and diplomatic; whereas the Libra's diplomacy is based on charm and a desire for harmony, the Capricorn's diplomacy is based on the knowledge that being on good terms with people is extremely useful in getting one's way or finding out sensitive information. These also are traits commonly associated with House Slytherin. They might not be sexy traits, but they're very handy.

What a letdown! I thought this thread was going to compare Voldemort as a villain with Capricorn in Cornelia Funke's Inkheart. Pooh.

I thought the exact same thing!

I'm a Cappy.... you guys make us sound as if we are workaholics who are all ambitious to the point of being evil.... we're not all like that man! Give us a break:grumble:... yeah you'll get a few bad apples in every barrel.... the Cappy's bad apple just happens to be more worm than apple.... so, FYI, Cap's aren't all evil or mean. Just most of us.:lol:

:yuhup: