Lucifer is Latin for bringer of light, or the morning star, symbolic of the return of light each day. In Greco-Roman myth Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn, is the mother of Lucifer. Personifying the divinity of the Morning Star, Lucifer carries a torch to illuminate the land. He is herald of the sunrise and the hope of new days.
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Names such as Lucien, Lucy and Lucas come from the same root luz or light. Lucifer appears in pre-Christian mythology as a male figure, the star of dawn and deific torch bearer. As time goes by, Lucifer falls victim to the "fallen angel", anti-God or "descending God" myths prevalent in historic cycles of ancient societies.
As herald of light, the morning star or planet Venus is known to ancient astronomers and seafarers, who devise ways to chart its course.
In some cultures the morning Venus and evening Venus (Hesperus) are shown as different stars, creating a divine dyad. Lucifer is associated only with the morning star.
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Later equivalents appear in Prometheus and the Greek Hephaestus, god of fire. Hephaestus is based on a previous Attic Greek god. Zeus casts him down from Mount Olympus for interfering with Zeus's pursuit of pleasure, or because he's lame. Hephaestus is sometimes equated with Vulkan, who lives in a volcanic domain beneath the earth near Sicily.
With the spread of Christianity (c. 47 CE) Lucifer is only one in the parade of deific castaways. At least he gets to keep his testicles. Others are not as lucky. Throwing a demonized god or demi-god down from heaven is a common theme in mythology, symbolizing conquest by the new world order.
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The most famous equivalent of the Lucifer myth is that of Prometheus, who brings fire to the mortals. Other examples include the descent of Attar to the Underworld, when he tries to usurp the throne of Ba'al in Canaanite mythology.
Similarly, the Babylonian myth of Etana uses the fallen angel motif.
"The brilliancy of the morning star, which eclipses all other stars, but is not seen during the night, may easily have given rise to a myth such as was told of Ethana and Zu: he was led by his pride to strive for the highest seat among the star-gods on the northern mountain of the gods [...] but was hurled down by the supreme ruler of the Babylonian Olympus."
The descending god also appears in god cycles of mythology from Proto-Indo-European times. In Hurrian myth he's Kumarbi, a creator deity who bites off the testicles of chief God Anu. Kumarbi then gives birth to Teshub, the Sky and Storm God, through his head, much as Zeus gives birth to Athena.
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Anu ascends to the skies, and Kumarbi to the Underworld. According to an omen the children of Kumarbi will otherthrow him. He tries to bring about the deaths of his children, including Teshub, due to their potential betrayal.
The Hurrian Underworld is also home to the Old Gods, who were banished by Teshub so the younger Gods could take their places. They're ruled by Allani.
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In some native American myths, the trickster/creator god Raven steals the Sun and Moon from the gods and hangs them in the sky. He brings fire to mortals. Originally white, his feathers are blackened by the soot of the torch during his flight. When this happens, Raven loses his supernatural powers.
The morning star, planet Venus, brings illumination to humans and represents enlightenment. The Gods would prefer to leave humans in darkness and ignorance, for they fear losing power.
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As the tales above show, those who help mortals get reprisal, usually a transfer to a lower status. Prometheus has the worst of it as his liver is eaten each day by an eagle, and regrows at night.
Although Lucifer does not specifically bring fire to humans as does trickster/god Prometheus, as the morning star he brings light, hope and promise. The name of planet Venus translates through various languages through the centuries as love, charm, sexuality, and finally, from the Old Indic vánas or desire.
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In Greco-Roman myth, Aphrodite / Venus emerges as an adult woman from sea foam produced by the severed genitals of Caelus / Uranus. Castration of the God is not unusual in mythic themes, often followed by creation of life - ie Teshub, Venus are both created from severed genitalia.
The symbol of Venus is ♀, also the figure for woman. Lucifer is related to 'sins of the flesh', temptation and carnal desire. Apparently this is bad. Eventually his depiction becomes synonymous with evil, his domain a flaming torture chamber of souls screaming for salvation. He's associated with witches, fire, supernatural forces and harmful magic.
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In pagan times one God often has two faces, to represent the contrasting elements such as light and dark, male / female, creator / destroyer or any number of different aspects. Such entities can eventually split or combine with other gods, with some reigning above, and some below, a set of rules and traits applied to each.
With Hesperus, Lucifer represents duality in the morning and evening versions of planet Venus. The star is a herald of coming day, and also the coming night, life and death, following cycles of nature and creation.
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The name Lucy, given to a Christian saint of c. 800 CE, derives from luz or light. The figure of St. Lucy is imposed over a pagan entity, Germany's Lutzelfrau, a herald of the sun said to have a dark and light side. Her feast day is December 13.