The Roman version of Aphrodite. Under the Romans she had her own day. It’s only a quirk of fate that we don’t look forward to Venusday every week. Picture the scene: the Ancient Roman Forum of Greek Gods Up For Grabs. Two purple-robed Godpickers sift through the files...

Priest 1: Wow! Who is this cutie?
Priest 2: Aphrodite.
Priest 1: What kinda name is that for a classy lady like this? And so sexy with it! She’s going to be a biggy. A sex symbol for all time. Why don’t we call her Marilinus Monroeum?
Priest 2: Nah. She’s bigger than a star — in all the right places. She belongs in the Planet Suite. What planets we got left?
Priest 1: Well, that old slob Ares is now the good guy Mars... Hermes got redelivered as Mercury.. We made Zeus into Jupiter — he forgave Cronus and give him the new identity of Saturnus... Hmm, all we got left is this steamy planet called Venus.
Priest 2: Venus! That’s it! It’s got that sexy sound — it rolls off da tongue. Get the scribes to work! ‘New Sensational Venus — Voluptuous and Desirable.’ Boy, have we got something here! She’s gonna run for ever and ever.

And that’s how the Greek Goddess of Love became the first and only female planet.

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Article last revised on September 09, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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