Venus
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
The Meaning of Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and the brightest planet visible from Earth. It was named by the Romans after Venus, their goddess of love and beauty, identified with the Greek Aphrodite, because of its luminous brilliance in the morning and evening skies. The planet can outshine every star and is often the first celestial object visible after sunset or before sunrise. Ancient observers initially believed the morning and evening appearances were two separate bodies: the Greeks called the morning star Phosphorus (light-bearer) and the evening star Hesperus. The Babylonians, who made detailed astronomical observations, identified both as the same planet and associated it with their goddess Ishtar. Venus has unique orbital characteristics that fascinated ancient astronomers: it traces a perfect pentagram pattern in the sky over an eight-year cycle, and it rotates in the opposite direction to most planets. The planet has been a target for space exploration since the 1960s, and its extreme surface conditions — crushing atmospheric pressure, sulphuric acid clouds, and temperatures hot enough to melt lead — contrast starkly with the beauty suggested by its name.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
Venus traces a near-perfect five-pointed star pattern in the sky over eight years, a fact known to ancient Babylonian astronomers who tracked it for centuries
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
Aphrodite
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
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
Uranus
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
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
Saturn
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
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
Jupiter
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
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
Neptune
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
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
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
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
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
Callisto
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
A moon of Jupiter named after Callisto, the nymph companion of Artemis who was transformed into a bear and placed among the stars as the constellation Ursa Major
Ganymede
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
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
Europa
💭 conceptAstronomy and mythology
A moon of Jupiter named after Europa, the Phoenician princess abducted by Zeus in the form of a white bull, now one of the most promising candidates for extraterrestrial life
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