BEHIND THE NAME: Planets & Roman Mythology
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Nurul Syuhada Aris (UM Internship Student 2020)
All of the planets including Pluto (dwarf planet) in our Solar System, except for Earth, were named after Roman gods and goddesses. The planets that the ancient Romans could see in the sky without using a telescope which are Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury, were given their names thousands of years ago. When telescopes were invented, the other planets in our solar system were discovered, and still the tradition of naming the planets after Roman gods and goddesses were used.
1. Mercury
Mercury is the god of commerce, travel and thievery in Roman mythology. The planet probably received this name because it moves so quickly around the Sun and relatively across the sky.
2. Venus
Venus is the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The planet was named Venus since it makes a beautiful sight in the sky symbolizing the beauty of the goddess itself , with only the Sun and the Moon being brighter.
3. Mars
Mars is the Roman god of War. Planet Mars has a brilliant red color that symbolizes fire and blood which also why it is called as The Red Planet. Ancient philosophers believed this planet to be the cause of dissension, strife, quarrels and battles.
4. Jupiter
Jupiter was the King of the Gods in Roman mythology (counterpart of the Greek god Zeus), making the name a good choice for what is by far the biggest planet in our solar system.
5. Saturn
The most distant planet that visible to naked eye, Saturn was named for the Roman god of agriculture. The planet’s sluggish movements probably reminded ancient sky-watchers of the slow gait of plowing oxen or grazing cattle. This intriguing painting shows Saturn resting quietly with a wheat cutter in hand, as well as the astrological sign symbolizing patience and self-discipline.
6. Uranus
Former Roman God of the Sky, retired. Replaced by his grandson, Jupiter.
7. Neptune
Neptune is the god of freshwater and the sea in Roman religion. He is the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. In the Greek-influenced tradition, Neptune is the brother of Jupiter and Pluto; the brothers preside over the realms of Heaven, the earthly world, and the Underworld.
8. Pluto
Pluto is the Roman Lord of the Underworld (counterpart of the Greek god Hades). Perhaps the planet received this name because it’s so far from the Sun that it is in perpetual darkness.
The tradition of naming sky objects after ancient mythology also involving other mythology as you can see the name of most moons in our Solar System such as Calisto, Ganymede (moons of Jupiter) and Phobos, Deimos (moons of Mars) are taken from Greek mythology. Space exploration related to planet Jupiter which NASA has sent Juno spacecraft as a space probe orbiting the planet Jupiter are named after the Roman goddess of marriage (Juno) and interestingly she is the wife of Jupiter! Beautiful star patterns on our sky which created the constellation also mostly named after the Greek mythology.
References & Credits:
1. https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question48.html
2. https://rome.mrdonn.org/romangods/planets.html
 Pictures credits to:
1. http://www.artworkoriginals.com/
2. Youtube: Roman Mythology-Story of Neptune
