What is the etymology of Uranus in Greek mythology?
Most linguists trace the name Uranus to a Proto-Greek form called Worsanós. The basic Indo-European root is wérs-, meaning to rain or moisten, which makes Ouranos the rain-maker or lord of rain.
Most linguists trace the name Uranus to a Proto-Greek form called Worsanós. The basic Indo-European root is wérs-, meaning to rain or moisten, which makes Ouranos the rain-maker or lord of rain.
Uranus mated with Gaia to produce eighteen children including twelve Titans like Oceanus Coeus Crius Hyperion Iapetus Theia Rhea Themis Mnemosyne Phoebe Tethys and Cronus. Three Cyclopes named Brontes Steropes Arges also emerged alongside three Hecatoncheires called Cottus Briareus Gyges.
Cronus castrated his father using an adamantine sickle fashioned by Gaia when Uranus came to lie with her. He cast the severed testicles into the sea where white foam grew into Aphrodite while blood spilled onto Earth gave rise to Giants Erinyes Furies and Meliae ash-tree nymphs.
In Roman mythology Uranus counterpart was Caelus Sky who Cicero states as offspring of Aether Dies Day. Translation Latin name remains Caelus throughout Roman literature and Hyginus adds Terra Earth Mare Sea as children of same pair.
Discovery sixth planet occurred in 1781 using telescope and William Herschel named it Georgium Sidus Georgian Star after George III monarch. Name Uranus became accepted mid-19th century suggested Johann Bode following logical addition existing planets names pattern.