Roman Gods and the Names of the Planets
The main gods of Roman religion, their Greek counterparts and how they gave their names to planets, months and everyday English words.
The Roman gods still live on in our sky and our language. This guide connects them with the planets, the months and some English words.
The main gods
| Roman god | Domain | Greek counterpart |
|---|---|---|
| Iuppiter (Jupiter) | king of the gods, sky | Zeus |
| Iūnō (Juno) | queen of the gods, marriage | Hera |
| Neptūnus (Neptune) | the sea | Poseidon |
| Plūtō (Pluto) | the underworld | Hades |
| Mārs (Mars) | war | Ares |
| Venus | love and beauty | Aphrodite |
| Minerva | wisdom and crafts | Athena |
| Apollō (Apollo) | sun, music, prophecy | Apollo |
| Diāna (Diana) | the hunt, the moon | Artemis |
| Mercurius (Mercury) | messenger, trade | Hermes |
| Vulcānus (Vulcan) | fire, the forge | Hephaestus |
| Cerēs (Ceres) | grain, agriculture | Demeter |
| Bacchus | wine | Dionysus |
Roman religion absorbed the Greek pantheon, keeping the older Roman names.
Planets
Most planets carry Roman names:
| Planet | God |
|---|---|
| Mercury | messenger of the gods |
| Venus | goddess of love |
| Mars | god of war |
| Jupiter | king of the gods |
| Saturn | god of agriculture |
Terra was the Roman earth goddess, and gives us words like terrain and territory.
Months and days
- Ianuārius (January): Iānus, god of doorways.
- Mārtius (March): Mārs.
- Iūnius (June): Iūnō.
- diēs Veneris (French vendredi, "Friday"): Venus.
English words from gods
| English | God |
|---|---|
| cereal | Cerēs |
| volcano | Vulcānus |
| mercurial | Mercurius |
| jovial | Iuppiter (Iovis) |
| martial | Mārs |
| fortune | Fortūna, goddess of luck |
Useful Latin words
| Latin | Meaning |
|---|---|
| deus | god |
| dea | goddess |
| templum | temple |
Tips
- Link gods to planets.
- Link gods to English words.
- Use the dictionary to check names.
English Latin Dictionary
Offline English–Latin dictionary for students, classics and word-origin lookups
More about English Latin Dictionary
From Latin to Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese
How everyday Latin turned into the Romance languages, with side-by-side word comparisons that help you spot patterns.
Read article →Great Latin Authors: Vergil, Ovid, Cicero and Caesar
A short tour of the major Roman writers, what each is famous for, and a famous opening line from each to practise reading.
Read article →Latin in Law: Habeas Corpus, Pro Bono and Prima Facie
The Latin terms still used in courts and legal writing, what each means literally, and how understanding the Latin helps you remember them.
Read article →Latin in Medicine and Science: From Anatomy to Prescriptions
How Latin shapes anatomy, medical terms and prescription abbreviations, with examples that show how to decode unfamiliar medical words.
Read article →