The practice of naming planets comes from the work of the Babylonians. The concept passes into the Greek, and from there, Romans begin the practice of naming planets. Adaptation of celestial names evolves from one civilization to another.
Only five planets are known up to 1781, with discovery of Uranus. It's quickly followed in 1795 by Neptune. Planetary charts until then include the celestial bodies sun and moon, planets Mercury, Mars, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter. They can all be seen with the naked eye.
The symbolism of planets finds its way into the metal-oriented discipline of alchemy. Commonly in alchemy texts iron is called "Mars" or copper "Venus".
The familiar cosmic rings are conceived by Aristotle, further developed and promoted by Ptolemy. The outer sphere has its own intellect, or nous. Authorities laud the work of Ptolemy as it's the only geo-centric theory of the time to make sense.
With widespread use of astrology, natural science, medicine and alchemy the planetary names and symbols becomes standardized. Diodorus Siculus, first century BCE Greek historian, records the early Babylonian study of the five planets.
Babylonians: The First Astronomers
Babylonians call these planets "Interpreters" and by individual names such as Cronus (Saturn), Helius (Sun), Ares (Mars), Aphrodite (Venus), Hermes (Mercury), and Zeus (Jupiter). The Greeks modify the Babylonian tradition by substituting their own gods, and the Romans follow.
The roots of planet names go back to the Babylonians, among the first to systematically study the night sky. Between 1800 - 500 BCE, Babylonian astronomers chart celestial phenomena and identify five visible planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
These planets and the celestial bodies sun and moon rule over the destiny of humankind. Astrology is used in ancient engineering, as the stars must be consulted before a new building is erected. Early astronomers record observations on clay tablets.
Diodorus Siculus, the Greek historian of first century BCE, provides a historical link regarding the Babylonian astral tradition. In his works, he notes studies conducted by Babylonians, who are proficient in observational astronomy and ascribe divine influence to the celestial bodies.
The Greek Transmission
As the Greeks encounter Babylonian knowledge during conquest and trade, they absorb and transformed this wisdom. Greek philosophers and astronomers like Ptolemy adapt Babylonian records to harmonize their findings with the Hellenic cosmic understanding.
The Greek pantheon, rich with deities embodying various aspects of life, is the creative soil for the interpretation of planets as divine beings. Planets were renamed in honor of Greek gods.
Planet Venus is identified with Aphrodite, the goddess of love; while Mars is associated with Ares, god of war. This personification helps explain the planets' movements in a manner aligned with their cultural narratives.
Roman Adoption and Cultural Synthesis
With the rise of the Roman Empire, Greek culture and traditions heavily influence Roman society. The Romans adopted Greek names of the planets, further integrating these celestial bodies into their own mythological and religious framework.
Unlike Sun and Moon, which can be directly associated with deities like Apollo/Sol and Diana/Luna in Roman beliefs, the five planets are generally viewed as celestial bodies. For instance, famed Roman architect Vitruvius describes the movement of the planet Venus.
He describes in mechanical terms its transit through the Zodiac signs, and completion of its orbit in a specified number of days. Roman names parallel Greek counterparts, preserving the divine associations tied to each planet. Vetruvius is the inspiration of da Vinci's Vetruvian Man.
Greek Ares becomes Mars, and Aphrodite transforms into Venus. The decision to maintain the planetary names tied to deities illustrates how the Romans define their identity.
In later antiquity, a shift occurs towards henotheism and pantheism in pagan philosophy, and more direct identification of planets with gods in intellectual circles. Fourth century author Firmicus Maternus invokes Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury as celestial beings.
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