The Second Decan of Capricorn

This is the second ten-degree segment of Capricorn, the cardinal earth sign, spanning 10 to 20 degrees. Its ruler in the Chaldean order of faces is Mars, which is exalted in Capricorn, so the face ruler here falls in a sign of its dignity. Historically the decan is the most ancient layer of the tradition: the thirty-six were Egyptian stars, recorded on coffin lids as a star-clock, and were fitted into the twelve zodiac signs only after Babylonian astrology reached Egypt.

The Golden Dawn of 1888 assigned the thirty-six minor arcana to the decans; this segment bears the Three of Coins, titled Works or Material Works, its Mars-in-Capricorn planet taken from the face ruler, exalted Mars in the industrious earth sign matching the card's image of skilled construction and craft. The tarot mapping is a modern overlay laid over the far older decan scheme rather than part of the inherited astronomy.