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Myths, Symbols and Legends of Solar System Bodies

  • Book
  • © 2015

Overview

Authors:
  1. Rachel Alexander

    1. Exeter, United Kingdom

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  • Explores the mythology behind the Sun, the planets and named moons of our Solar System
  • Provides great background information for astronomy lectures and star parties
  • Includes myths of many cultures over the course of human history

Part of the book series: The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series (PATRICKMOORE, volume 177)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
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  2. Solar Heroes and Sun Gods

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 1-22

  3. The Sun as a Powerhouse

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 23-39

  4. A Crippled Craftsman, a Divine Messenger, and the Goddess of Love

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 41-54

  5. To the Ends of the Earth

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 55-76

  6. Craters, Dragons, Festivals, Gods and Goddesses of Earth’s Moon

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 77-104

  7. Moon Madness, Superstition, and Other Lunar Associations

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 105-121

  8. Mars, the Next Frontier

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 123-132

  9. Doom and Gloom: Comets, Meteorites, and Asteroids

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 133-139

  10. Jupiter, the King of the Planets

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 141-159

  11. Saturn, a Gaseous Beauty with Many Moons

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 161-186

  12. Uranus and Neptune in the Icy Depths

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 187-204

  13. Pluto, a Dark, Distant Underworld

    • Rachel Alexander
    Pages 205-213

  14. Back Matter

    Pages 215-234
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Keywords

About this book

This book is an amateur astronomer’s guide to the mythology and symbolism associated with the celestial bodies in the Solar System, and even includes some of the legendary tales of people who had or have a connection with these objects. It explores different cultures (for example, the Greco-Roman and the Norse) and different times and how stories were used to explain the worlds they saw above them. You’d be amazed how much of our world today reflects the myths and stories of these cultures!

Most amateur astronomers are familiar with the various Solar System objects, but they will be only peripherally aware of what ancient cultures thought of these other worlds. In fact, the mythology of the planets challenges many twenty-first century concepts and beliefs There are other books available on astromythology, but this one focuses mostly on our own Solar System, as opposed to the constellations and deep sky objects.

Alexander offers a new angle on timeless subjects and is exciting, informative and dramatic, as well as surprisingly relevant to everyday life. Find out for yourself how our modern world is steeped in the bygone worlds of yesteryear.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Exeter, United Kingdom

    Rachel Alexander

About the author

Rachel Alexander grew up in Nottingham, England, surrounded by the mythology of english and history at Hatfield Polytechnic (UK), including ancient Greek history and philosophy, before completing her post-graduate Certificate of Education (the UK qualification for Teaching) at Exeter University. She then went on to teach English in a secondary school, before eventually becoming a Learning Support Tutor at Exeter College. She taught English to Japanese students every year in Exeter and/or Dorset until 2011, and has taught English to Japanese students in Nara, Japan. Following her time in Japan she returned to education and studied Fine Art at Plymouth University. On this course she specialized in Portraiture and researching and compiling information on Symbolism, which led to and has enhanced her interest in Mythology. She has had a long-time interest in amateur astronomy.

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