The Planet Venus and its Greek and Roman History
The Planet Venus and its Greek and Roman History
The planet Venus is the planet closest to Earth, it is also the hottest planet in the solar system with an average surface temperature of 462°C, this is easily hot enough to melt lead.
A hostile world, Venus is littered with thousands of volcanoes and it is enshrouded in a thick layer of toxic clouds. These clouds are constantly being swept across the planet with hurricane-force winds.
Another interesting little fact about Venus is that it has strong links to ancient Greek and Roman mythology. With that in mind, here are 10 facts about these ties and the mythological background (we sometimes use Venus and Aphrodite interchangeably, as they are essentially the same).
1. Venus is named for the Roman goddess
Venus, in Roman mythology, is the goddess of love and beauty. The planet Venus is named for the goddess because it was the brightest of the planets that the ancient astronomers could observe.
Did you know?
Venus was originally thought to be two different bodies because it is so bright- Hesperus as the star observed in the night, and Eosphorus as the star observed in the morning.
2. Venus is also the Roman name for Aphrodite
In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was the goddess of love. Venus and Aphrodite are the same goddesses of love - they are, essentially the same.
Did you know?
The ancient Romans, as the empire grew, assimilated other cultures. When it came to Venus/Aphrodite, they just changed the name - the myths and stories remained the same.
3.Venus has no moons but the goddess had children
Venus is just one of two planets in the solar system that doesn't have any natural moons. Moons of other planets are named after deities or other beings that are associated with them.
Did you know?
If Venus did have moons, there is a good chance they would have been named Timur, Metes or any other of the many (17) children Venus/Aphrodite had.
4. The Greek name Aphrodite derived from the word for ‘sea-foam’
The Ancient Greeks named Aphrodite for the word 'Aphros', which in English is 'foam'. The word connects the birth story of Aphrodite, in the story, she is made from foam.
Did you know?
Aphrodite was formed when Cronus killed his dad, Uranus, and threw ‘bits’ of him into the sea. The foam that was created, created Aphrodite.
5. Venus/Aphrodite is associated with roses, sparrows, doves and swans
In Greek, and so Roman, mythology, the dove was chosen to symbolise romance - and still is in many parts of the world. Swans are also associated with elegance and beauty.
Did you know?
It is said that the swan was Venus/Aphrodite’s favourite animal, and that is it is often associated with her.
6. From myth, to play to movie
There is a movie named Mighty Aphrodite, which was inspired by the play Pygmalion which in turn was inspired by the goddess of beauty.
Did you know?
The play Pygmalion is a story about a beautiful sculpture, brought to life by the goddess Venus/Aphrodite.
7. Venus/Aphrodite was once in a relationship with Mars/Ares
This myth is considered to be one of the more interesting in mythology. Mars/Ares fell in love with Venus/Aphrodite and decided to try and win her over.
Did you know?
The relationship resulted in the birth of Eros - There is an asteroid named after him and it was the first asteroid to have a spacecraft land on it.
8. There are more artworks of her than any other figure from mythology
The goddess of love and beauty can be found in a lot of artworks throughout the centuries, including sculptures, paintings and literature.
Did you know?
She is famously known for inspiring Alexandros to create the Venus de Milo in 150 BCE.
9. Olympian goddesses were jealous of Venus
Because she was the goddess of love and beauty, she attracted a lot of attention. This however caused jealousy in the goddesses when their partners entered into relationships with her.
Did you know?
Many of the gods and goddesses would try to seek and punish others that they thought were a threat - as opposed to trying to hurt Venus herself.
10. Venus/Aphrodite created Pandora
In Greek mythology, the first woman was named Pandora. She was formed from the gifts bestowed upon the goddess from lots of other gods and goddesses.
Did you know?
Zeus ordered the creation of Pandora as a punishment to Man, after Prometheus stole fire from the Gods - Pandora would give gifts to men. The gifts were beautiful, but evil.
