Greek Names for the Planets: A Celestial Lexicon

Discover the ancient Greek names for the planets, a glimpse into their rich mythology and celestial observations. Delve into the meanings behind these names, uncovering the stories and significance they hold within the tapestry of Greek cosmology. From the fiery god of war to the goddess of love, each planet was given a name that reflected its perceived nature and influence in the cosmos. Explore the rich history and meaning behind these celestial appellations, and gain a deeper understanding of the ancient Greek perspective on the planets.
1. **Hermes:** Messenger of the gods, swift, cunning, protector of travelers, merchants, and thieves.
2. **Aphrodite:** Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and desire.
3. **Ares:** God of war, bloodshed, violence, and courage.
4. **Zeus:** King of the gods, ruler of the sky, lightning, thunder, and justice.
5. **Hera:** Queen of the gods, goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth.
6. **Kronos:** Titan god of time, harvest, and destruction.
7. **Uranus:** Primordial god of the sky, father of the Titans.
8. **Gaia:** Primordial goddess of the Earth, mother of the Titans.
9. **Poseidon:** God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses.
10. **Demeter:** Goddess of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest.
11. **Apollo:** God of music, poetry, light, truth, prophecy, healing, and plague.
12. **Artemis:** Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, childbirth, and the moon.
13. **Athena:** Goddess of wisdom, warfare, crafts, and justice.
14. **Hephaestus:** God of fire, metalworking, and craftsmanship.
15. **Dionysus:** God of wine, revelry, theatre, and ecstasy.
16. **Eros:** God of love, desire, and beauty.
17. **Helios:** Titan god of the sun.
18. **Selene:** Titan goddess of the moon.
19. **Eos:** Titan goddess of the dawn.
20. **Hypnos:** God of sleep and dreams.
21. **Thanatos:** God of death.
22. **Nemesis:** Goddess of retribution and divine vengeance.
23. **Tyche:** Goddess of fortune and luck.
24. **Nike:** Goddess of victory.
25. **Iris:** Messenger goddess of the rainbow.
26. **Pan:** God of the wild, shepherds, flocks, and rustic music.
27. **Hecate:** Goddess of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, and crossroads.
28. **Eileithyia:** Goddess of childbirth and midwifery.
29. **Asclepius:** God of medicine and healing.
30. **Persephone:** Queen of the Underworld, goddess of spring and vegetation.
31. **Hades:** God of the Underworld, wealth, and the dead.
32. **Triton:** Sea god, son of Poseidon.
33. **Amphitrite:** Sea goddess, wife of Poseidon.
34. **Atlas:** Titan who holds up the sky.
35. **Prometheus:** Titan who gave fire to humans.
36. **Epimetheus:** Titan who accepted Pandora's box.
37. **Pandora:** First woman, created by Hephaestus.
38. **Typhon:** Monsterous giant, son of Gaia and Tartarus.
39. **Cerberus:** Three-headed dog guarding the gates of Hades.
40. **Charon:** Ferryman who transports the dead across the River Styx.
41. **Styx:** River of the Underworld.
42. **Lethe:** River of forgetfulness.
43. **Mnemosyne:** Titan goddess of memory.
44. **Moirai:** Three goddesses of fate.
45. **Nyx:** Goddess of night.
46. **Erebus:** God of darkness.
47. **Chaos:** Primordial being representing nothingness.
48. **Aether:** Primordial being representing upper air.
49. **Astraea:** Goddess of justice and innocence.
50. **Hestia:** Goddess of the hearth, home, and family.