2007-02-28 12:01:34 · 8 answers · asked by steven t 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Earth is the only planet whose English name does not derive from Greek/Roman mythology. The name derives from Old English and Germanic. There are, of course, hundreds of other names for the planet in other languages. In Roman Mythology, the goddess of the Earth was Tellus - the fertile soil (Greek: Gaia, terra mater - Mother Earth).
It was not until the time of Copernicus (the sixteenth century) that it was understood that the Earth is just another planet.
...Which would explain why it was not named like the others
2007-02-28 12:09:17 · answer #1 · answered by kedder 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because when all the planets were names earth was not viewed as a planet. Also all the ancient people saw in the planets was a wondering star, not another world.
http://groups.google.com/group/neat-astronomy?hl=en
2007-02-28 12:24:59 · answer #2 · answered by chase 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The name of our planet is actually Terra, not Earth. We are Terrans not Earthlings. Terra is the name of the Roman God for the Earth Mother. Therefore, we are named for a Roman Goddess, the Goddess Terra.
2007-02-28 16:29:07 · answer #3 · answered by Kenneth H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They named the planets, some stars, all the constellations and when they finally got to us they had run out of gods.
2007-02-28 12:29:50 · answer #4 · answered by Bomba 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What? you want a planet named Steve?
2007-02-28 12:33:49 · answer #5 · answered by fredrick z 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when the plants where named they thought that we (the Earth) was in the center.
2007-02-28 12:50:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
cause the gods are in the skies.
2007-02-28 12:08:19 · answer #7 · answered by Class of '09 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
guess because we were the one's that named them.
2007-02-28 12:14:43 · answer #8 · answered by James k 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋