The Name of the Planets and Mythology

With the exception of Earth, all of the planets in our solar system have names from Greek or Roman mythology. This tradition was continued when Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered in more modern times.

Mercury also called Hermes, was the god of commerce, travel and thievery in Roman mythology. The planet received this name because it moves so quickly across the sky.

Venus  or Aphrodite was the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The planet is probably  named so because  it is a brilliant  and  beautiful sight in the sky, only outshone by the Moon and the Sun.

Earth, Gaia, is the only planet whose English name does not derive from Greek/Roman mythology. The name derives from Old English and Germanic. There are many other names for our planet in other languages.

Jupiter, Zeus was the King of the Gods in mythology, making the name  aptly for what is by far the largest planet in our solar system.

Mars  or Ares was the god of War. The planet probably got this name due to its red  coloring.

Saturn, Cronus, was the Roman god of agriculture.

Uranus 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, one can understand the name .

Pluto, Hades, was the Roman god of the underworld in Roman mythology. The planet  possibly received this name because it's so far from the Sun that it is in perpetual darkness.

The moons have been known for a long time , and so the names were assigned from mythological characters. For example, the moons of Jupiter were named for those who had roles in the life of Zeus, the Greek mythology counterpart of the Roman God Jupiter.