Jupiter
The largest planet in the solar system, named after Jupiter, the Roman king of the gods identified with the Greek Zeus, because of its commanding size and brightness
The Meaning of Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with a mass greater than all other planets combined. It was named after Jupiter, the Roman king of the gods, identified with the Greek Zeus, because of its dominant size and brightness in the night sky. The ancient Greeks called it Phaethon (the shining one) before associating it with Zeus. Jupiter's immense size and gravitational influence mirror the mythological Zeus's supreme authority over the other gods. The planet has at least ninety-five known moons, four of which — Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto — were discovered by Galileo in 1610 and named after lovers of Zeus. Jupiter's Great Red Spot, a storm larger than Earth that has been raging for centuries, evokes the thunderous temperament of its namesake. The planet also serves as a gravitational shield for the inner solar system, deflecting or capturing comets and asteroids that might otherwise strike Earth — a protective role that parallels Zeus's function as guardian of cosmic order. The adjective "jovial" derives from Jove, another name for Jupiter, because astrologers believed those born under the planet's influence would be cheerful.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Saturn
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The sixth planet from the Sun, named after Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time identified with the Greek Titan Kronos, father of Zeus
Uranus
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The seventh planet from the Sun, named after Ouranos, the primordial Greek god of the sky and the earliest supreme deity in the mythological genealogy
Aphrodite
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The planet Venus is named after the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, because it is the brightest and most beautiful object in the night sky after the Moon
Neptune
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The eighth and outermost planet of the solar system, named after Neptune, the Roman god of the sea identified with the Greek Poseidon, because of its blue colour
Ganymede
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The largest moon in the solar system, named after Ganymede, the beautiful Trojan prince abducted by Zeus to serve as cupbearer of the gods on Olympus
Venus
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The second planet from the Sun and the brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon, named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love identified with the Greek Aphrodite
Mars
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The fourth planet from the Sun, named after Mars, the Roman god of war identified with the Greek Ares, because its reddish colour suggested blood and conflict
Mercury
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The smallest and fastest planet in the solar system, named after Mercury, the Roman messenger god identified with the Greek Hermes, because of its rapid orbital speed
Pluto
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
A dwarf planet named after Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld identified with the Greek Hades, chosen because of its extreme distance and darkness at the edge of the solar system
Triton
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The largest moon of Neptune, named after Triton, the merman son of Poseidon, notable for being the only large moon in the solar system that orbits in the opposite direction to its planet
Charon
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
The largest moon of Pluto, named after Charon, the ferryman who transported the souls of the dead across the River Styx to the underworld of Hades
Io
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
A moon of Jupiter named after Io, the priestess of Hera whom Zeus transformed into a white cow, now known as the most volcanically active body in the solar system