Mythology+of+Planets

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== =Topic: The Mythology of the planets, how they were named, and why.= =//__Ancient Greece: how the planets were discovered.__//=

A long time ago, in a land called Greece, astronomers were looking up at the sky when they noticed stars that were much brighter than the others.The Greek astronomers watched curiously, and over time, they noticed that these bright stars were moving across the sky, but not in patterns like the other stars. The Greeks called these bright stars planets, which in their language meant 'wanderers.'

Later in history, a powerful empire called Rome took over Greece. The Romans admired and envied the Greeks creativity, their intelligence, and their belief in the powerful gods called the Olympians. The Romans took these gods and made them their own-stronger, more disciplined, more upheld, and different names. The Olympian gods, now called Roman gods, had a huge impact on Rome. Temples were built, sacrifices were offered, and the gods were worshipped. Take a moment here to acknowledge that Rome was a huge and powerful army that took over most of the known world. When they did, they spread their newfound religon everywhere. These gods had such a huge impact on the rest of the world that when the astromoners named the planets, they named them after the most influential things on the planet: the Roman gods.

Eventually, the Roman Army fell, people stopped believing in the Roman gods, and life went on. However, the planets kept the names that were given to them long ago were kept, and the tradition of naming the planets after the gods continued when [|William Herschel] in 1781 discovered Uranus, named after the first Sky God; Ouranus in Greece, and Uranus in Rome. =__//**The Names of the Planets and their Mythology**//__=

The names of planets and their moons are controlled by a group called the International Astronomical Unio n (IAU), which was founded in 1919. When Pluto was discovered in 1930, the IAU knew that since astronomy is an ancient science, and most of the planets were named after the gods, the new planet, like the rest of them, should be named after Greek/Roman mythology figures. In ancient history, the planets were not just randomly named for Roman gods with no information on the planets. The planets were studied and named for specific reasons. For example, Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, was named after a Roman god who was the messenger. Mercury had to be very quick to send messages in time. The planet Mercury was probably named after that certain god because Mercury also has the quickest orbit around the sun, being the fastest planet. Therefore, when IAU named Pluto, it was also for a certain reason relating to Greek/Roman mythology.

The planet Mercury, is named for the god of messaging and thievery. Mercury has the quickest orbit around the sun, being the fastest planet, which makes sense. The god Mercury had to be fast so he could deliver messages. Also, Mercury is the closest to the sun. In ancient Greek/Roman Mythology, Mercury stole some of Helios's (the sun god) sacred cattle. Mercury killed the cows and used their intestines to string an empty turtle shell. Mercury began to play the intsrument, making beautiful sounds. When Helios found Mercury, he was so enchanted by the pretty music he forgot to be angry about Mercury killing his cows. Mercury gave the instrument to Helios, and in the myths, the two became close friends. Subsequently, naming the planet closest to the sun Mercury, makes sense.

The planet Venus is named for the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Venus (Aphrodite in Greek mythology) was born from the foam of the sea, and the blood of Ouranos. In some pictures, Venus the planet is a blue like Ouranos, and green like the sea.

The planet Jupiter was named for the god that was the Lord of the Sky, and Lord of the Olympians. Jupiter was famous for his lightning bolts, ferocious thunderstorms, and stormy temper. Jupiter the planet is famous for something called a Great Red Spot. The Great Red Spot is a great high pressure storm, like a hurricane on Earth, but it is enormous;three Earths would fit inside it. The Great Red Spot is also filled with massive lightning bolts. Although the ancients who named this planet couldn't have known about this ferocious storm filled with lightning bolts, they somehow gave the perfect name to Jupiter.

The planet Mars was named for the Roman god of War. Ares, the Greek god of War, was viscious, bloody, and chaotic. In ancient myths, if there was a war, Ares would most likely be fighting in it, not caring whose side he was on, just wanting to spill blood. Mars, the Roman god, was much more practiced and serious. He fought for a reason and although he loved war, he wasn't as chaotic as Ares. Mars was one of the most important gods to the Romans, because of war. The Romans even wore red uniforms to represent the bloody Mars. The planet probably got this name due to its red color.

The planet Saturn was named for the Roman god of Time. He is the father of Jupiter and the biggest Titan, being the king. The myth involving Saturn was that he swallowed his own children(who were the Olympian Gods) because he was afraid they would over power him. Saturn's wife, Opis (Rhea), didn't want Saturn to swallow all of her children, so she hid Jupiter, the youngest away, and gave Saturn a rock inside a bundle. Jupiter was raised on an island away from Saturn's tyranny, and when the time had come, he made Saturn throw up all of his brothers and sisters and fought Saturn and his siblings. Saturn was over thrown by Jupiter andJupiter made himself a bigger and better king. Saturn was probably named because it is the second biggest planet, right after Jupiter, just as the Titan Saturn was the second biggest king, next to Jupiter, who killed him.

The planet Uranus was named for the ancient Roman god of the Sky, before Jupiter. He was Gaea's consort, and with her, he fathered twelve sons and six daughters. Uranus locked away the eldest of these-the giant Cyclops and Hecatoncheires-inside the belly of Earth. Gaea suffered immense pain and persuaded her Titan sons to rebel. These were led by Saturn, who used a sickle to murder Uranus and cause his blood to fall into the sea, causing the birth of Venus. Uranus the planet is a beautiful blue like the sky, as Uranis was the deity of the Heavens.

The planet Neptune was named for the Roman god of the Sea. Although Neptune's calm blue color may make it seem like a tranquil place, the planet's weather is anything but, just like the god Neptun himself. Neptune has a huge cyclone called the Great Dark Spot going at all times around the planet. Winds tear across the planet in this storm at 1200 miles per hour. In Roman times, Neptune was hated because Romans rarely used water travel, and when they did, the weather was horrible and dangerous. Neptune is well named; a calm blue planet that has fury brewing below the surface, just like the sea.

The planet Pluto was named for the the Roman god of Hades, aka the Underworld. After the gods won the Titan War, the three major gods who were the most important in the battle drew lots for who would get the sea, who would get the sky, and who would get the underworld. Pluto got the underworld, Neptune got the sea, and Jupiter got the sky. Since Pluto's realm was far below the others, he was treated as an outcast, and since he dealt with mortal death he was banned from Olympia, left to sulk under the ground. Even the mortals treated Pluto with disdain;according to their belief, afterlife in the underworld was horrible no matter what, so they hated and feared Pluto. The planet probably got this name because it's so far from the sun, it is always cold and black, like the Underworld, and so far away from the other planets, just like Pluto and his brothers.

=**//__The Planets, the Gods, and the other Gods__//**= || **Mercury the Roman god** || **Hermes the** || || **Venus the Goddess** || **Aphrodite the Goddess** || || **Mars the Roman God ** || **Ares the Greek God** || || **Jupiter the Roman God** || **Zeus the Greek God** || || **Saturn the Roman Titan** || **Cronus the Greek Titan** || || Uranus the Roman god || Ouranos the Greek god || || Neptune the Roman god || Poseidon the Greek god || || Pluto the Roman god || Hades the Greek god ||
 * **Mercury**
 * Greek god**
 * **Venus the planet**
 * **Mars the planet**
 * **Jupiter the planet**
 * **Saturn the planet**
 * Uranus the planet
 * Neptune the Planet
 * Pluto the planet

=__//**Visuals**//__= [|Space Exploration Adventure Rubric.doc], [|Space Exploration Adventure Rubric.pdf]

library.thinkquest.org/C0115361/**planets**%20**mythology**.html htmlstarchild.gsfc. nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question48.html []
 * Your Source List:**
 * greek**-**mythology**-**gods**.com/**planets**.
 * Books**:Mythology: __//Greek Gods, Heroe s, and Monsters //__ by Candlewick Press

**Notes** ==== Every single planet in our galaxy is named after one of the ancient Roman Gods, who were really the Greek gods with different names. The Greek gods have affected our civilization so much that its not really a suprise the planets were named after them. However, the similarity to the planets and the Greek gods don't end at the names. The early scholars named our planets without really knowing how true the names were. ====
 * Mercury (Hermes) is the god of commerce, travel and thievery in Roman mythology. The planet probably received this name because it moves so quickly across the sky.
 * Venus (Aphrodite) is the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The planet is aptly named since it makes a beautiful sight in the sky, with only the Sun and the Moon being brighter. Also, Venus (Aphrodite) was born from the foam of the sea, and Venus is a beautiful blue green color.
 * Earth (Gaia) Gaia was the great goddess of the early Greeks. She represented the Earth and was worshipped as the universal mother. The Greeks believed she created the universe and gave birth to the first race of Titans (gods) and the first humans. Greeks believed Earth came in the form of Gaia. From Gaia came the sky god Ouranus and the starry heavens. Mountains, plains, seas, and rivers also came from Gaea. She became the oldest god of early Greeks and supreme goddess of gods and humans. The Romans also believed in this god
 * Jupiter (Zeus) was the Lord of the Sky, and King of the Gods in Roman mythology, making the name a good choice for what is by far the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter also has massive lightning in its Great Red Eye.
 * Mars (Ares) is the Roman god of War. The planet probably got this name due to its red color.
 * Saturn (Cronus) is the Roman god of time. He is the father of Zeus and the biggest Titan, being the king. Cronus was over thrown by Zeus and Zeus made himself a bigger and better king. Saturn was probably named because it is the second biggest, right after Jupiter.
 * Uranus(Ouranous) is the ancient Roman deity of the Heavens, the earliest supreme god.
 * Neptune (Poseidon), was the Roman god of the Sea. Given the beautiful blue color of this planet, the name is an excellent choice!
 * Pluto (Hades) is the Roman god of the underworld in Roman mythology. Perhaps the planet received this name because it's so far from the Sun that it is in perpetual darkness

The official names of planets and their moons are governed by an organization called the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU was established in 1919. Its mission is "to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation". Its individual members are professional [|astronomers] from all over the World. The IAU is the internationally recognized authority for assigning names to celestial bodies and any surface features on them. The IAU recognizes that astronomy is an old science and many of its names come from long-standing traditions and/or are founded in history. For many of the names of the objects in the [|solar system], this is especially so. Most of the objects in our solar system received names long ago based on Greek or Roman [|mythology]. The IAU has therefore adopted this tradition in its rules for naming certain types of objects in the solar system.