The Planets - The Planets - The White Goddess

The Planets

The Planets

The Celestial Bodies Known To The Ancients where Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The Sun and the Moon were also amongst the heavenly bodies, studied by the ancients.

Of the remaining planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, these are fairly recent discoveries, and would have been unknown, being far too distant to be seen unaided.

Pluto was not discovered until 1930, the single moon of Pluto, named Charon, was discovered in 1978. Neptune was discovered in 1846, Triton a moon of Neptune, is the only large moon in the solar system to orbit 'backwards' around its planet. Uranus, was discovered by William Herschel in 1781, Uranus is notable because of the fact that it is tipped on its side. The poles are not on the top and bottom like the Earth's, but instead on its sides. The planet spins from north to south instead of west to east like on Earth.

The Sun

The Sun, the giver of life, plays an important role in the ancient civilisations. Many of the worlds primitive people's regarded the sun as a deity.

The Sun »

The Moon

The closest astral body to the Earth, has had the most profound influences on mankind than any of the other heavenly bodies. The moon provided ancient man with their first calendar.

The Moon »

Mercury

The Ancients and modern astrologers, consider Mercury to be neutral, it is neither masculine nor feminine, positive nor negative.

Mercury »

Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun, the Ancients called Venus the Lesser Benefic, named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty.

Venus »

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the seventh largest. In Roman mythology Mars was the god of war.

Mars »

Saturn

Saturn is perhaps the best known and recognized astronomical object by picture. Chronos, the Greek name for Saturn, is the father of time.

Saturn »

Jupiter

Jupiter is fifth from the Sun and the largest. Jupiter was called the "Greater Benefic" by the Ancients, an extremely positive influence.

Jupiter »