History of the star: Capella, "small goat" or the "Little She-goat", is a white star in Auriga marking the goat that the Charioteer is carrying on his left shoulder.

There are many ancient stories relating to Capella, the 6th largest star in the sky.

A previous name of this star was Amalthea, which referred to the goat that suckled the baby Zeus (Jove/Jupiter). Amalthea was mother of the Haedi (the two stars depicted as kid goats - Zeta, Hoedus 1 and Eta Auriga, Hoedus 11), which she put aside to accommodate her foster-child, and with her sister Melissa, she fed the infant god with goat's milk and honey on Mount Ida and this star is appropriately positioned in the Milky Way; and for which Manilius wrote: The Nursing Goat's repaid with Heaven. 

From this came the occasional Jovis Nutrix.

Others said that the star represented the Goat's horn broken off in play by the infant Zeus and transferred to the heavens as Cornu-copia, the "Horn of Plenty", a title recalled by the modern Lithuanian "Food-bearer".

The words Keren-happuch, the "Paint-horn", or the "Horn of Antimony", of the Book of Job xlii, 14, — the Cornus tibii of the Vulgate are all said to be connected.

"Capella's course admiring landsmen trace, but sailors hate her inauspicious face".

This star, along with the Haedi, were known for their stormy character throughout classical days and this was called the "rainy Goat-star". The word "goat" was analogous to a "Storm Wind".

Pliny and Manilius treated it as a constellation by itself, also calling it Capra, Caper, Hircus, and by other hircine titles. Our word is the diminutive of Capra, sometimes turned into Crepa, but this star was more definitely given as Olenia, Olenie, Capra Olenie, and the Olenium Astrum of Ovid's Heroides. In the present day it is Cabrilla with the Spaniards, and Chevre with the French. The Arabic had various names; Ayyuk, Alhajoc, Alhajoth, Alathod, Alkatod, Alatudo, Atud, Alcahela. Al 'Anz, "Goat". The early Arabs called it Al Rakib, the Driver. The Tyrians called it 'Iyutha.

Capella's place on the Egyptian Denderah zodiac is occupied by a mummied cat in the outstretched hand of a male figure crowned with feathers; while, always an important star in the temple worship of the great Egyptian god Ptah, the Opener (of the year), it is supposed to have borne the name of that divinity and probably was observed at its setting 1700 BCE from his temple, the noted edifice at Karnak near Thebes, the No Amon of the books of the prophets Jeremiah and Nahum. A sanctuary of Ptah at Memphis also was oriented to it about 5200 BCE. There is believed to be at least five temples oriented to its setting. It served, too, the same purpose for worship in Greece, where it may have been the orientation point of a temple at Eleusis to the goddess Diana Propyla. In India it also was sacred as Brahma Ridaya, the "Heart of Brahma". It was the Akkadian Dil-gan I-ku, the "Messenger of Light", and Dil-gan Babill, the "Patron star of Babylon". One Akkadian cuneiform inscription, supposed to refer to Capella, is rendered by Jensen Askar, the "Tempest God"; and the Tablet of the Thirty Stars bears the synonymous Ma-a-tu; all this well accounting for its subsequent character in classical times.

The ancient Peruvians identifying this star with Colca, the Shepherd's Star as was the title in Mediterranean countries and with English poets.

In astrology Capella portended civic and military honors and wealth. 

[Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889].

The astrological influences of the constellation: According to Ptolemy the bright stars are like Mars and Mercury. The constellation is said to give self-confidence, interest in social and educational problems. Happiness, but danger of great vicissitudes (changes of circumstances effecting one's life). The native is fond of country life and may be a teacher or have the upbringing of young people. By the Kabalists Auriga is associated with the Hebrew letter Samech and the 15^th Tarot Trump "The Devil". (Robson*).

Auriga is one of the most fortunate constellations in the sky, but may still portend earthquakes if situated unfortunately as regard a solar eclipse. This constellation culminating in a chart presages honors, especially in the field of military and political endeavors. A modern astrologer might add sports whenever ancients mentioned military honors. (Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990).

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

"The Charioteer lifts his team from ocean and wrests his wheels up from the downward slope of the horizon where icy Boreas lashes us with his bitter blasts. He will impart his own enthusiasms and the skills, still retained in heaven, which as driver of a chariot he once took pleasure in on earth (that is, the constellation is identified with Erichthonius). The Charioteer will enable his son to stand in a light chariot and hold in check the four mouths curbed with foam-flecked bits (Erichthonius invented the quadriga, or four-horse chariot), guide their powerful strength, and keep close to the curve round which they wheel. Again, when the bolts have been drawn and the horses have escaped from the starting-pens, he will urge on the spirited steeds and, leaning forward, he will seem to precede them in their swift career; hardly touching the surface of the track with his light wheels, he will outstrip the winds with his coursers' feet. Holding first place in the contest he will drive to the side in a balking course and, his obstruction delaying his rivals, deny them the whole breadth of the circus-track; or if he is placed mid-way in the press, he will now swing to a course on the outside, trusting in the open, now keep close to the pointed turning-post, and will leave the result in doubt to the very last moment. As a trick-rider too he will be able to settle himself now on one, now on a second horse, and plant his feet firmly upon them: flying from horse to horse he will perform tricks on the backs of animals in flight themselves; or mounted on a single horse he will now engage in exercise of arms, now whilst still riding pick up gifts scattered along the length of the circus. He will possess virtuosity in all that is connected with such pursuits. 

Of this constellation, I think, Salmoneus may be held to have been born imitating heaven on earth, he imagined that by setting his  team of four on a bridge of bronze and driving it across he had expressed the crash of the heavens (referring to Phaeton's disastrous attempt to drive the sun-chariot one day) and had brought to earth Jove's very self; however, while counterfeiting thunderbolts he was struck by real ones and, falling after the fires he had flung himself, discovered in death that Jove existed. You may well believe that under this constellation was born Bellerophon, who flew amid the stars and laid a road on heaven (The Milky Way): the sky was the field over which he sped, whilst land and sea lay far beneath his feet, and his path was unmarked by footprints. By examples such as these are you to mark the rising figure of the Charioteer". [Manilius, Astronomica, book 5, p. 305-309].

Manilius referring to Capella:

Capella: Alpha Auriga: "The' Olenian goat (Capella, Olenian either as being on the left arm of the Charioteer, or as the daughter of Oleniss), keeping watch over the Kids which stray ahead, enstarred on the right in the cold north sky for her services as foster-mother of mighty Jove (Jupiter). She gave the Thunderer (Jupiter) sound nourishment, satisfying with her own milk the infant's hungry body and giving him therewith sufficient strength to wield his bolts. Of the Goat are born anxious minds and trembling hearts, which start at every noise and are apt to flutter at the slightest cause. Inborn in them, too, is a longing to explore the unknown, even as goats seek fresh shrubs on mountain slopes and rejoice, as they browse, to move ever further afield".  [Manilus, book 5 of Astronomica] 

Capella has a Mercury-Mars nature. The Mercury properties are more eminent and show in a love of learning, studiousness and interest in research. These properties are accentuated if Capella is connected with Moon, Mercury or the Ascendant. In plain people, these properties make themselves known by persistent, annoying and inquisitive curiosity. According to tradition, this star also makes people somewhat odd, a tendency for such natives to cut capers. This could be counted as another manifestation of a weak Neptunian influence. Connected to beneficial stellar bodies, natives will become popular, receive honors and have success in material enterprises. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

When Rising its natives will be curious about all things and have an impatient eagerness to hear anything new. But care must be taken lest the native be overly anxious and take terror at even trivial bits of new information. When Setting; the curiosity of the native may lead him to reject and insult the underlying mores of the society in which he lives. The result could be ill will of the populace, leading to death or injury from actions of the people, or even (especially if aspected by malefics) death by public execution. (Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990).

If culminating: Military, naval or ecclesiastical connections and preferment, waste dissipation, envy and trouble. If at the same time with Sun, Moon or Jupiter, ample fortune and great honor. (Robson*).

With Sun: Vacillating, changeable, too loquacious, quick speech, misunderstood and criticized, martial honor and wealth. (Robson*).

With Moon: Inquisitive, loquacious, indiscreet speech, sarcastic, quarrelsome, many journeys and voyages, domestic disharmony, danger to sight, liable to accidents. (Robson*).

With Mercury: Disagreeable experiences, legal action over writings and success after much difficulty. (Robson*).

With Venus: Literary and poetical ability, unfavorable for gain. (Robson*).

With Mars: Intellectual, learned, talents wasted on low subjects. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Legal or ecclesiastical connections, slander and criticism, too enthusiastic or zealous, many voyages, trouble with relatives. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Shrewd, tidy fond of luxury, many detrimental habits, makes much money but does not keep it, trouble from opposite sex and domestic disharmony, bad health at end of life and afflicted in arms, legs or eyes necessitating restricted movement. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Eccentric, mentally unbalanced or insane, clever inventor especially in connection with electricity, dependent upon others, little gain, peculiar religions views, unfavorable for domestic affairs; children, if any, weak in intellect. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Prominent psychological writer, high ambitions and moderate success, courageous, rash, studious, connected with inventions to do with methods of transit, many journeys, peculiar hygienic ideas, disharmony with brothers, unfavorable for children, accidents in early life, health collapses in middle age necessitating confinement but mental faculties remain active. (Robson*). 

References

*(Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923) 

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