Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2015
Myths, Symbols and Legends of Solar System Bodies by Rachel Alexander
There are several books out there that deal with the mythological background of the names for celestial objects starting with all the books on various constellation myths and ending pretty much with books like this - that explains the legendary heroes in Greco-Roman mythology after whom objects in the Solar System have been named.
In addition to the ancient Greek myths, this book has quite a bit more to offer, as it also dips into Celtic and Scandinavian mythology, as there are objects that aren't named after characters you might find in a work by Homer, some other interesting stories from all across the world can be found as well.
The book is interesting in its extent and the way it looks at the symbols - for example the representation of the Sun in different cultures, but also in the extent it goes to in looking at the names given to surface features on various planets and on the Moon - if you've ever wondered after whom or what craters or volcanoes are named on Venus or Mars, this book gives a good overview.
Labels: book review