Why is Earth called Earth?

[OldLady]

I love pictures of what life was like.

Queen's lyre.
These people did not mess around. Beautiful artistry and craftsmanship. I guess to see these things, though, you'd have to go to the British Museum, which I'm guessing is in London, not Iraq.

 

[fncceo]

Because 'Pleasure Planet ' was taken.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

The other planets in our solar system are named for the classical gods of ancient Rome or Greece. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus, their ancestors, and then Pluto.

So how did we get stuck with EARTH?

Sounds so common. Does anyone know? What should we be called if we could choose an ancient name?

I'd go with Gaia.

People were well familiar with the Earth long before they knew anything at all about planets. Some time after the discovery of “stars” that wandered around relative to the fixed pattern established by most stars in the sky, came the convention of naming these wanderers*, or “planets” after gods of Roman mythology. It was not until long after that that anyone understood that the Earth itself was an object comparable to the planets.

———
* In fact, the word “planet” is derived from the Greek planētai, meaning “wanderer”.

 

[skye]

I haven't read all this thread but this is what I found


-"The answer is, we don't know. The name "Earth" is derived from both English and German words, 'eor(th)e/ertha' and 'erde', respectively, which mean ground. But, the handle's creator is unknown."

so....no idea

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Let's try to stay on topic, please. Thanks

 

[OldLady]

The other planets in our solar system are named for the classical gods of ancient Rome or Greece. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus, their ancestors, and then Pluto.

So how did we get stuck with EARTH?

Sounds so common. Does anyone know? What should we be called if we could choose an ancient name?

I'd go with Gaia.

People were well familiar with the Earth long before they knew anything at all about planets. Some time after the discovery of “stars” that wandered around relative to the fixed pattern established by most stars in the sky, came the convention of naming these wanderers*, or “planets” after gods of Roman mythology. It was not until long after that that anyone understood that the Earth itself was an object comparable to the planets.

———
* In fact, the word “planet” is derived from the Greek planētai, meaning “wanderer”.

Now THAT is a winner!

 

[Bruce_T_Laney]

The other planets in our solar system are named for the classical gods of ancient Rome or Greece. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus, their ancestors, and then Pluto.

So how did we get stuck with EARTH?

Sounds so common. Does anyone know? What should we be called if we could choose an ancient name?

I'd go with Gaia.

Gaia is a Titan name and if I remember is one of the first Titans...

Religious people prefer to stay away from the name Gaia but yet use other myth name for planets... Go figure...

I just wonder did they ever regret naming Uranus it name?

I looked it up and many sites seem clueless at to how the name of this planet came about...

How about instead of Earth or Gaia we call it Third Rock From the Sun?

 

[Bruce_T_Laney]

Also looking up the name Gaia and remembering the name she is the Greek Titan that is mother Earth...

The issue you might run into is if people read and study Greek mythology and the name Gaea or Gaia they would discover the Titan committed incest in the stories during the creation of the Universe and our Solar System, so some might be offended by that...

I have also remembered the name Terra and it is the Roman equivalent of Gaea or Gaia, so why not Terra?

 

[sparky]

Earth is the only planet that wasn't named after a Greek or Roman god or goddess.'

whadda they run out?

~S~

 

[OldLady]

The other planets in our solar system are named for the classical gods of ancient Rome or Greece. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus, their ancestors, and then Pluto.

So how did we get stuck with EARTH?

Sounds so common. Does anyone know? What should we be called if we could choose an ancient name?

I'd go with Gaia.

Gaia is a Titan name and if I remember is one of the first Titans...

Religious people prefer to stay away from the name Gaia but yet use other myth name for planets... Go figure...

I just wonder did they ever regret naming Uranus it name?

I looked it up and many sites seem clueless at to how the name of this planet came about...

How about instead of Earth or Gaia we call it Third Rock From the Sun?

Too long, Bruce, but a good thought.
Whatever would keep fifth grade boys awake during Science class if we didn't have Uranus?
Gaia is the Mother, First, Eldest. The only planet named for a female diety was Venus, and she was the sex kitten; things don't change much. According to The Golden Bough, the most ancient religion was worship of the Mother. It was a pretty bloody business, too--(no don't go there Bruce)--they systematically killed their king at the height of his strength and power to ensure they would not grow weak. The Mysteries were only open to the women.

The men finally had enough and cooked up their own religion led by a man and put the women in the kitchen. So of course Christianity, being full-on paternalistic, hates Gaia. The Egyptians had it right--they had Osiris and Isis. Both principles need to exist in order for us to function. But being humans, we find it hard to walk beside each other; one is always itching to lead.

 

[miketx]

The earth is called Earth because gildo184756topolon543dergbui was taken

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

In science fiction, humans are referred to as Terrans, from "Terra" for Earth. The sun is "Sol" and the moon is "Luna" as in "solar" and "lunar".

 

[OldLady]

In science fiction, humans are referred to as Terrans, from "Terra" for Earth. The sun is "Sol" and the moon is "Luna" as in "solar" and "lunar".

Maybe that is where "Tara" comes from in my favorite movie, Gone With the Wind.

 

[OldLady]

Also looking up the name Gaia and remembering the name she is the Greek Titan that is mother Earth...

The issue you might run into is if people read and study Greek mythology and the name Gaea or Gaia they would discover the Titan committed incest in the stories during the creation of the Universe and our Solar System, so some might be offended by that...

I have also remembered the name Terra and it is the Roman equivalent of Gaea or Gaia, so why not Terra?

That's simply French for Earth.

 

[miketx]

In science fiction, humans are referred to as Terrans, from "Terra" for Earth. The sun is "Sol" and the moon is "Luna" as in "solar" and "lunar".

Solarions.

 

[OldLady]

In science fiction, humans are referred to as Terrans, from "Terra" for Earth. The sun is "Sol" and the moon is "Luna" as in "solar" and "lunar".

Solarions.

There's a certain ring to that, mike.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

In science fiction, humans are referred to as Terrans, from "Terra" for Earth. The sun is "Sol" and the moon is "Luna" as in "solar" and "lunar".

Solarions.

We are not from the Sun. It's too hot there!

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

In science fiction, humans are referred to as Terrans, from "Terra" for Earth. The sun is "Sol" and the moon is "Luna" as in "solar" and "lunar".

Solarions.

There's a certain ring to that, mike.

Saturn has a ring to it, several in fact! So does Neptune.

 

[Bruce_T_Laney]

Also looking up the name Gaia and remembering the name she is the Greek Titan that is mother Earth...

The issue you might run into is if people read and study Greek mythology and the name Gaea or Gaia they would discover the Titan committed incest in the stories during the creation of the Universe and our Solar System, so some might be offended by that...

I have also remembered the name Terra and it is the Roman equivalent of Gaea or Gaia, so why not Terra?

That's simply French for Earth.

Terra (mythology) - Wikipedia

 

[Dick Foster]

The other planets in our solar system are named for the classical gods of ancient Rome or Greece. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus, their ancestors, and then Pluto.

So how did we get stuck with EARTH?

Sounds so common. Does anyone know? What should we be called if we could choose an ancient name?

I'd go with Gaia.

That's one of those questions that's right up there in the three year old list like why is there air. Yet it proves that there definately is such a thing as a stupid question.