Where did Ancient Roman Gods and Goddesses get their names?

Ancient Rome - Gods and Goddesses

Where Did They Get Their Names?

Mercury

The closest planet to the Sun, Mercury moves quickly around it, therefore he is known for trade.

Venus

The second planet of our solar system. A possible reason for its name, comes about because of the beauty and brightness of the planet, Venus. This relates to the goddess Venus because she was the god of love and beauty.

Mars

The 4th planet, Mars was famously the Roman god of war, it is fitting, since the planet gets its reddish appearance from the iron oxide in the dust on it.

Jupiter

The largest planet in the solar system is the 5th planet known today as Jupiter. The size of the planet ensured that a powerful Roman god would have. The Romans named the planet after their king of gods, Jupiter, who was also the god of the sky and of thunder because it is the largest object in the sky, meaning therefore the most powerful.

Saturn

Saturn is the 6th planet in the solar system. The Romans knew of seven bright objects in the sky: the Sun, the Moon, and five brightest planets. They named them after their most important gods. Saturn was named after the Roman god of agriculture. According to myth, Saturn introduced agriculture to his people by teaching them how to farm the land.

Uransus

Uranus is the 7th planet is the solar system. Uranus is the only planet is our solar system that is named after a Greek god rather than a Roman god.

Neptune

Neptune is the 8th planet in the solar system. It had not yet been set in stone that the name of the planet would be that of a Roman god, and briefly the idea of it being called Le Verrier was put forward. Eventually though mythological names were put forward, including Janus, the two headed Roman god, and Oceanus, the god of the earth encircling river. Neptune was chosen for the planet because of its blue color.

Pluto

Located in the Kuiper Belt, Pluto was famously discovered in 1930, and was named after the Roman god of the Underworld, because of being very cold and the farthest from the Sun.

Multiple Choice

What Roman god got their name because their planet moves quickly around the sun, therefore they are known for trade?

• Mars

• Saturn

• Mercury

• Neptune

Multiple Choice

What Roman god got their name because of the beauty and brightness of the planet?

• Saturn

• Neptune

• Venus

• Jupiter

Multiple Choice

What Roman god got their name because their planet gets its reddish appearance from the iron oxide in the dust on it? HINT: This represent war.

• Jupiter

• Pluto

• Saturn

• Mars

Multiple Choice

What Roman god got their name because their planet named the planet is the largest object in the sky, meaning therefore the most powerful?

• Saturn

• Jupiter

• Mars

• Pluto

Multiple Choice

What Roman god got their name because they introduced agriculture to his people by teaching them how to farm the land?

• Venus

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Mars

Multiple Choice

What god is the only planet that our solar system is named after a Greek god rather than a Roman God?

• Uranus

• Neptune

• Mars

• Pluto

Multiple Choice

What Roman god went through many names, then eventually was chosen for the planet because of its blue color?

• Saturn

• Neptune

• Mars

• Pluto

Multiple Choice

What Roman god was named after the planet because of being very cold and the farthest from the Sun?

• Mars

• Venus

• Neptune

• Pluto

Poll

How do you feel about Ancient Roman Gods and Goddesses?

• Great!

• So-So.

• Confused?