Does the myth of the deity whose name astronomers assigned to a celestial body automatically reveal the true nature of its astrological meaning? If so, then do Greco-Roman myths have unique relevance to these planetary forces even though they are seen as universal and cross-cultural, affecting peoples from all societies and traditions? How much could this be just another case of Eurocentric bias? Similarly, does the patriarchal bias in the history of astronomical naming reflect the true nature of the astrological archetypes involved? We shall consider these historical and philosophical questions as we explore the mystery of myth’s complex relationship to astrological principles and to the history of planetary astronomy. (lecture) **no slides or handouts
