sign in sign up
<<
Home , Asia (Oceanid), Calypso (nymphs), Castor and Pollux, Dione (mythology), Dione (Titaness), Earth goddess

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS — MYTHOLOGY ENRICHMENT Mythology of 4 What we call mythology was a living truth for other peoples in other . Images of beauty, innocence, courage, and honor handed down from antiquity attract us; images of depravity, cruelty, violence, and evil in the same tales repel. The ancients, just like ourselves, wished to perceive “divine order” in the chaotic world of nature and humanity. It was often the poets who spun the narratives that explained the creation of the Universe and the place of humans in it. These narratives provided answers to the deep questions posed in days long past.

The ancient Roman culture was a powerful civi- lization; thus, European culture accepted Ro- man names for the visible and many of the . As telescopes improved what could be

seen in the sky, European astronomers contin- Saturn about to devour one of his children, from a woodcut ued to choose names from . published in Germany in 1599. Modern astronomy followed the European tra- dition of selecting Roman names for new celes- TOPICS tial objects. Today, names are selected and ap- Collect sky and of many cultures proved by a group of astronomers (the Working through libraries, museums, observatories, the Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of Internet, and by speaking with persons from vari- the International Astronomical Union). Two ous cultures. Share the star stories and have stu- exceptions are: comets, which take the names dents discuss the similarities and differences. For of their discoverers; and asteroids, which are example, both ancient Arabs and Native Ameri- named by their discoverers with the approval of cans imagined the constellation of the Big Dipper the Working Group. as part of a large bear. Have students consider: if western culture had used names for the stars and Almost all human cultures have their own planets of, say, Hindu or Australian spirits, names for, and stories about, the , the would astronomical research change? Would we , the planets, and the stars. For example, in the 20th century view the Universe differently? the ancient Egyptians named the we call It’s clear that despite diverse visions and interpre- Saturn after their of light, , who often tations, the composition of the Saturn system, appeared in the form of a hawk. Many of the indeed the and beyond, remains de- star names that astronomers use today are an- pendent on physical laws. The real Universe is cient Arabic names. accessible to scientific observation and explora- tion, no matter what names we use.

219 Saturn Educator Guide • Cassini Program website — http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/educatorguide • EG-1999-12-008-JPL Background for Enrichment 4 ENRICHMENT interpretations of “modern” scholars have been 4 Naming Distant Worlds influenced by the surviving works of the ancient The ancient religions, which lost their grip on poets (most notably and ) and ac- humans even before the Classical Age was over, curacy has been limited by translations of ancient continued to be useful in providing a reservoir of languages into English. Many of the mythology appellations for the objects seen in the sky. The books available today base their conclusions on planets visible to the naked eye received the translations of stories that, despite their popular- names of the principal gods of the Roman - ity, were never historically correct. Some of the theon. The custom of giving the names of the ancient myths were filled with more violent and gods and heroes of antiquity to newly observed racy themes than can be found in modern movies celestial objects originated in the 17th century and soap operas, encouraging traditional classic with the discovery of the four large of Ju- scholars to “modify” the stories into more socially piter, which were named after companions of the acceptable forms. god . Five moons of Saturn were also dis- covered in the 17th century, but they didn’t re- Current research provides no evidence that the ceive their mythological names immediately. Roman god Saturn was a harvest god, as popu- Christiaan Huygens simply called the satellite he larly represented. In fact, few stories about Saturn had found Saturni luna (“Saturn’s moon”), and survive. The scythe carried by Saturn was not Jean-Dominique Cassini named the four moons necessarily a farm implement. Scythes were also he discovered Lodicea sidera (“stars of Louis used as weapons, particularly for the beheading XIV”). The satellites also received numerical des- of and . Kronos may have become ignations, 1 through 5. The naming convention identified with Saturn because the and for Saturn’s moons had to wait until 1847, when Romans held similar festivals, usually at harvest the astronomer Sir John Herschel, the son of , to honor their respective gods. The Kronia William Herschel (discoverer of moons 6 and 7), and celebrations were alike in several proposed that the numerical designations be sup- ways. The modern celebration of Christmas may planted with the names of Saturn’s “brothers and have originated with the Saturnalia holiday, when sisters, the and Titanesses.” evergreen trees were decorated with ornaments and candies, gifts were exchanged among friends In Search of the Real Saturn and family, and it was customary to forgive debts Saturn (also known as Saturnus) has been repre- and make donations to charities. sented as a Roman god of harvest and described as a strong old man with a long gray beard who The Greek god Kronos had a violent family his- wields a scythe. In reality, there is extensive con- tory. (the ) gave birth to Ouranos (the troversy regarding the origins of Saturn and his Sky). With Ouranos, Gaia then produced 12 im- Greek counterpart, Kronos (in , ), mortal children (the Titans). Kronos was her who has frequently been represented as Father youngest child and described as “devious and de- Time. It is important to understand that the vising, the most terrible of her children.” Gaia gods and mythological creatures of ancient was not happy with Ouranos, so she convinced and were not always well-defined Kronos to attack and castrate his own father personalities. They were composites of multiple (who was also his half-brother!) with a stone- myths and local traditions that varied from place bladed sickle she provided. Ouranos could no to place and changed over time. In addition, the longer father children and was vanquished. 220 Saturn Educator Guide • Cassini Program website — http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/educatorguide • EG-1999-12-008-JPL Kronos became supreme ruler of the world and Many Names for Saturn ENRICHMENT married his sister . However, both his Here are some names for Saturn in various lan- 4 mother and father had foretold that Kronos guages, with pronunciations transliterated into would be dethroned by his own child. To pre- English. vent the prophecy from coming true, each time Rhea gave birth to one of his children, Kronos Albanian Shtundi would swallow the baby whole. Grief-stricken Arabic Zuhal (“one that withdraws”) and enraged by the loss of her children, Rhea or ath-Thãqib escaped to a cave in , where she gave birth to her son . Rhea returned to Kronos with Basque Saturnu a baby-sized stone wrapped in a blanket that Chinese T’u-hsing (“earth-star”) Kronos mistook for his son and swallowed. (Mandarin) Cyrillic Byamba or Sancir When Zeus, raised in secret by , was Egyptian Heru-ka-pet (“star of the West full-grown, he conspired to drug the food eaten which traverseth heaven”; Horus) by his father, Kronos. When Kronos became ill, French Saturne he regurgitated the stone and then all the chil- dren he had swallowed (miraculously, as im- Gaelic Satarn mortals, still alive). With his rescued sisters and German Saturn brothers, Zeus waged a long and bloody war Greek Phaínõn (“luminous”) against his father and all the other Titans. Zeus Hebrew Shabtha’i or Kiwan won the war and imprisoned his father and the Hungarian Szaturnusz Titans in (a great fortress of iron with gates of unbreakable stone, located in a dismal Japanese Dosei (“earth, soil”) pit at the edge of Earth). Zeus and his siblings Korean T’osong (“earth, soil”) then ruled the world from . Latin Lucidus, Sãturnus, stella solis, or Sãturni So where did the image of Saturn as old Father Mongolian Bimba (Tibetan-derived), or Time come from? The Greeks and Romans Sanicar (Sanskrit-derived) both named the stars and planets after their Persian Zahl gods and all sorts of mythological creatures. A bright “star” that appeared to move slowly Russian Satúrn across the field of other stars was named Kronos Sanskrit Sani (“slow-moving”), Sauri by the Greeks. Its progression across the sky be- (“” or “son of the Sun”), came associated with the inevitable passing of plus 26 other names! time and the seasons. Perhaps people confused Spanish Saturno and combined Kronos with some lesser known Sumerian Lu-bat-sag-ush (“ [planet]– . Whatever the reason, the modern image steady” or “omen–slow-moving”) of Saturn as old Father Time is as valid as any Tibetan Snenpa ancient . It is the very nature of myths and stories to change and become whatever people Turkish Zuhal imagine them to be. Vietnamese Tho-tinh (“earth, soil”) Welsh Sadwrn

221 Saturn Educator Guide • Cassini Program website — http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/educatorguide • EG-1999-12-008-JPL (pro-MEE-thee-uss) was a son of Moons of the Planet Saturn , presented by Hesiod as an immortal ENRICHMENT The first of Saturn’s moons to be discovered — who sided with the mortals and as a prankster by Christiaan Huygens in the mid-17th century 4 who liked to annoy Zeus, his cousin. The ulti- — was named “Titan” by Sir John Herschel 200 mate annoyance was stealing “the far-seen glory years later. The original numerical designations of weariless fire” and giving it to mankind. For for the satellites had become confused and cum- this, Zeus fastened Prometheus to a mountain in bersome, and Herschel’s plan was to name the the Caucasus, and he let loose on him “the moons after the god Saturn’s siblings. Titan is wing-spread eagle, and it was feeding on Saturn’s largest moon, so it seemed appropriate Prometheus’ imperishable liver, which by night to choose a name that recognizes this character- would grow back to size from which the spread- istic. The four moons found by Jean-Dominique winged bird had eaten in the daytime.” Cassini were named Iapetus, Rhea, , and . The inner satellites, discovered by Sir PANDORA (pan-DOR-uh), whose name means John’s father, William Herschel, were named literally “many gifts,” was a work of art who was and . In the 19th century, two transformed into a human by the gods. Her cu- more satellites were found and were named riosity was said to have loosed all manner of ills and . In the 20th century, upon the world when she let evil creatures out of and were discovered; observ- a locked box; however, she is also responsible for ers confused them at first because the two “hope” entering the world (“hope” had been the moons exchange orbits. Additional satellites last “creature” in the locked box). were found in the Voyager images of the 1980s: Pan, , Prometheus, Pandora, , Ca- EPIMETHEUS (epp-ee-MEE-thee-uss), brother lypso, and Helene. To date, Saturn has 18 of Prometheus, was a Titan and one of the three named satellites, but only Iapetus, Rhea, Tethys, original judges of dead souls. Epimetheus mar- Hyperion, and Phoebe are Titans as portrayed ried Pandora. by the ancient poet Hesiod. Thus, John Herschel’s original proposal — to name all of JANUS (JANE-uss) was an exalted Roman god, a Saturn’s moons after the Titans — was fulfilled figure of great antiquity and obscure origin. Al- only in part. Individual satellites are listed be- ways represented as having two faces — one low, in order of increasing distance from Saturn. looking forwards, the other backwards — Janus presided over the past, present, and future, over PAN was a (a creature resembling a man gates, doorways, entrances, and beginnings in with the hind legs and hooves of a goat). He was general, and over war and . At every sacri- the Greek god of nature and the forest. fice, in every , he was the first god in- voked, taking precedence before Jupiter. When ATLAS (AT-less) was a son of Iapetus. After the war was declared, the portals to the sanctuary of defeat of the Titans, Zeus (zoos) ordered Atlas, Janus on the were opened. The “at earth’s uttermost places, near the sweet-sing- portals were again closed on the declaration of ing Hesprides” to uphold the vault of the sky. peace. During the entire history of Rome, this The poet Hesiod refers here to the Pillars of happened on only a handful of occasions. As the , the westernmost end of the world most ancient of kings, Janus is supposed to have known to the ancient Greeks. Atlas was so strong that he supported the weight of the Uni- verse on his shoulders.

222 Saturn Educator Guide • Cassini Program website — http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/educatorguide • EG-1999-12-008-JPL given the exiled Kronos a warm welcome in TELESTO (tel-LESS-toe) was a muse whose “spe- ENRICHMENT Italy, and to have offered Kronos a share of the cialty” has been forgotten ( were minor 4 royal duties. that represented some human activity, such as music or medicine). MIMAS (MY-muss) was a and son of the Titans, those older gods preceding the Olym- (kuh-LIP-soh) was a whose pian gods led by Zeus (whom the Romans name means “I hide.” She lived alone on her called Jupiter). During the war in which Zeus island until she fell in love with the mortal sailor and his kind conquered and vanquished the Ti- and explorer (called Ulysses by the tans, Mimas was killed by the crippled god Romans; his name means “one who suffers”). (heh-FESS-tus), called by Calypso helped Odysseus find his way home the Romans. Hephaestus was a blacksmith and after his long voyage and many dangerous poured molten metal from his forge onto adventures. Mimas, who instantly became petrified into a massive rocky hill. DIONE (die-OH-nee) was an ocean nymph and possibly a daughter of the Titan Atlas. Dione ENCELADUS (en-SELL-uh-duss), like Mimas, was loved by Zeus before he married the was a giant and son of the Titans. His name lit- (HERE-uh). Dione became the mother erally means “battle-cry.” He was human in ap- of Zeus’ daughter, the Olympian goddess pearance, except that he had serpents (large (aff-roe-DIE-tee), called by the snakes) for feet! In the war between the Olym- Romans. Some believe she later became a power- pian gods and the older Titans, the goddess ful who ruled over both land and struck Enceladus with a large rock, sea. knocking him unconscious. She then buried him alive under so much rock that the island of HELENE (huh-LEE-nee) was a powerful Indo– was formed in what is now Italy. European Earth goddess who, with her twin sis- Enceladus struggled to escape, but remained ter (kly-tem-NESS-tra), had been trapped under all the rocks. It was believed that hatched from a large egg. Her brothers, the fa- his violent movements caused earthquakes and mous twins Castor and , had also the hiss of his breath produced the steam and been hatched from a large egg. The Greeks be- periodic eruptions of Mt. Etna, a volcano on lieved Helene to be the of who was Sicily. so beautiful that the started over her.

TETHYS (TEE-thiss) was the wife of the power- RHEA (REE-uh) was the most important Earth ful Titan (oh-SEE-uh-nus) who ruled goddess of Minor. She was the wife of the the seas before the Olympian god, Titan Kronos (who the Romans called Saturn!) (poe-SIGH-don), called by the Ro- and the mother of the Olympian gods Zeus mans. Tethys is closely associated with the (called Jupiter by the Romans), Poseidon (called Babylonian goddess Tiamat, and was known as Neptune by the Romans), (HAY-dees; “the lovely Queen of the Sea.” She was the called by the Romans), and the goddesses mother of all sea nymphs and of all the rivers on (deh-MEE-ter), Hera (HERE-uh), and Earth. She was also the mother of Meatus (mee- (HESS-tee-uh). Rhea is closely associated AH-tus), a minor goddess who represented with (SIB-oh-lee) who was also known as practical wisdom.

223 Saturn Educator Guide • Cassini Program website — http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/educatorguide • EG-1999-12-008-JPL the great (Earth). Rhea IAPETUS (eye-APP-eh-tuss) was a Titan, one of ENRICHMENT was compassionate towards mortals and was older gods that ruled before the Olympian gods. often called “the good goddess.” He was the father of the Titan Atlas. Iapetus was 4 also the father of the three Titans who judged TITAN (TIE-ten) is not a single deity, but a ge- the souls of the dead in Hades (the ). neric name for the sons of Ouranos (oo-REH- The three judges were (men-oh-EE- nuss) and Gaia (GAY-uh). Other treatments of shuss), Prometheus, who gave fire to human- the myth of the Titans (in addition to that of kind, and Epimetheus, the husband of Pandora. Hesiod) have survived. In the Orphic version, Iapetus fought Zeus in the war between the Ti- the Titans are the ancestors of the human race. tans and the Olympian gods. He was vanquished The Titans devoured the limbs of Dionysos and imprisoned with the other Titans after they (die-oh-NYE-suss), the son of Zeus by lost that war. (per-SEH-fon-ee). Zeus intended the child to have dominion over the world. En- PHOEBE (FEE-) is another name for the god- raged, Zeus struck the Titans with lightning. dess that the Greeks knew as and the The fire burned them to ashes, and from the Romans called . She was the youthful god- ashes man was formed. dess of Earth’s Moon, forests, wild animals, and hunting. Sworn to chastity and independence, HYPERION (high-PEER-ee-on) was a Titan, she never married and was closely identified with one of the older gods that ruled before Zeus her brother, (God of the Sun, prophecy, and the other gods of Mount Olympus. He music, and poetry). was the father of the Sun, the god (HEE-lee-os); the Moon, the goddess Acknowledgments: Much of this material was provided (suh-LEE-nee); and the Dawn, the goddess by Ladislav Roth of the Cassini Program at the Jet (EE-os). Helios ruled before Apollo, the Olym- Propulsion Laboratory, and Gay Simmons of the Folklore and Mythology Program and Archive at the pian god of the Sun, and Selene ruled before University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Some Artemis (AR-tuh-muss), the Olympian goddess quotes are from Hesiod, , translated by of the Moon. Hyperion’s name literally means Richmond Lattimore, University of Michigan Press, “dweller on high.” 1959.

224 Saturn Educator Guide • Cassini Program website — http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/educatorguide • EG-1999-12-008-JPL