Sailor Mercury
Sailor Mercury is one of the four soldiers sworn to protect Princess Serenity.

	Myth:	Mercury / Hermes
	Pronounced:	MUR-ky-ree / hur'-meez
	Origin:	Roman / Greek
	Character:	Sailor Mercury, Mizuno Ami

Mythology: Mercury was the Roman god of trade & profit and merchants & travelers. Originally he was known as the god of the trade in corn. Mercury's main festival, the Mercuralia, was celebrated on May 15 and on this day the merchants sprinkled their heads and their merchandise with water from his well near the Porta Capena.

Hermes - Mercury was extremely similar to the Greek god, Hermes, who he was later equated with and inherited his attributes. Hermes was god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves, and known for his cunning & shrewdness. He was the messanger of the gods and also a minor patron of poetry.

Connections: In mentioning the mythological Mercury's celebration and the use of water, that could be a small factor in what leads Sailor Mercury's powers to revolve around water and ice attacks. The planet Mercury is known as suisei, or the "Water Star" in Japanese which is also a contributing factor influencing this character. Note that suisei and mizuno share the same first kanji, which means "water".

Submitted by Myrna: Wednesday, or Mercredi, is named after Mercury.

Sailor Mars
Sailor Mars is one of the four soldiers sworn to protect Princess Serenity.

	Myth:	Mars / Ares
	Pronounced:	mahrz / air'-eez
	Origin:	Roman / Greek
	Character:	Sailor Mars, Hino Rei

Mythology: Mars was the son of Juno who had been inpregnated by a flower (whereas the Greek Ares was born to Zeus and Hera-Juno's counterpart). He was married to the minor goddess Nerio whose name means "strength". Mars was known as the god of war and but originally he was associated with agriculture, spring, growth in nature, and fertility, and the protector of cattle. As the Romans evolved into a war-like nation Mars' association with agriculture shifted to that of war. It was believed that his fatherhood of Romulys and Remus by the Vestal Virgun named Rhea Silvia founded the Roman race. Mars is portrayed as a warrior in full battle armor, wearing a crested helmet and bearing a shield. He is accompanied by Fuga and Timor, the personifications of flight and fear.

Ares - Mars is commonly equated with the Greek war god Ares. Ares, however was depiced as tall and handsome, yet vain and cruel. His constant companion was his sister Eris, the goddess of strife. His sons were Deimos (name meaning "fear"), the personification of dread, and Phobos (name meaning "fright"), personification of fear and terror. This god was hungry for battle and would rush in, not caring of the outcome as long as blood was shed.

Connections: Sailor Mars shows her war-like nature many-a-time within Pretty Soldier Sailormoon. Sparks fly as she fights villains and her hot-headedness can lead to a fight with anyone from Usagi to a Dark Kingdom youma. The planet Mars is known as kasei, or the "Fire Star" in Japanese which is also a contributing factor influencing this character. Note that kasei and hino share the same first kanji, which means "fire".

Submitted by Myrna: Tuesday, or Mardi, is named after Mars. It's more apparent in its French counterpart.

Sailor Jupiter
Sailor Jupiter is one of the four soldiers sworn to protect Princess Serenity.

	Myth:	Jupiter / Zeus
	Pronounced:	JOO-pi-tr / zoos
	Origin:	Roman / Greek
	Character:	Sailor Jupiter, Kino Makoto

Mythology: Jupiter was the son of Saturn and brother to Neptune and Juno (who was also his wife). His name has the same origin as that of Zeus, the greek god. Ju- is related to Dyeu-, 'sky, and -piter or pater, 'father'. He was responisble for weather of all kinds, especially lightening and rain and is the supreme god of the Roman pantheon.

Zeus - Jupiter has few myths other than ones borrowed from Zeus. Zeus, however, has many myths surrounding him. He was the supreme ruler of the Greek gods and a weather god, respomsible for rain, hail, snow, and thunder. Thunderbolts were his weapon. Zeus was a giver of portents: his sacred oak tree at Dodona told mortals of the future, and thunderbolts and lightening were also regarded as omens.

Connections: Sailor Jupiter shares the powers of lightening and the weather with her mythological counterparts, Jupiter and Zeus. It is seen in many of her attacks (ie. hurricane blossom, supreme thunder). The planet Jupiter is known as mokusei, or the "Wood Star" in Japanese which is also a contributing factor influencing this character. Note that mokusei and kino share the same first kanji, which means "trees, wood".

Submitted by Myrna: Thursday, or Jeudi, is named after Jupiter.

Sailor Venus
Sailor Venus is one of the four soldiers sworn to protect Princess Serenity.

	Myth:	Venus / Aphrodite
	Pronounced:	VEE-ns / af-roh-dy'-tee
	Origin:	Roman / Greek
	Character:	Sailor Venus, Aino Minako

Mythology: Venus was the Roman goddess of ploughland and gardens, making them neat and tidy. Later she became known as the goddess of Love and Beauty from her association with the Greek Aphrodite. Venus was the daughter of Jupiter, and some of her lovers include Mars and Vulcan, once again, influenced by the affairs of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite - Venus was equated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite and assumed many of her aspects. There are two stories of her birth, the first being her born to Zeus and Dione. The other is based on the derivation of her name, aphros which means "foam". She emmerged fully-grown from the sea at Paphos. This was the result of Chonos cutting off his father Uranus' genitalia and flinging them into the sea. When foam gathered around them they were transformed into a woman and when Aphrodite landed flowers grew in her path. She was married to Hephaestus but was not faithful (she was with the war god Ares) to him as she represented sexual passion rather than the bond of marriage. Aphrodite had many affairs with other gods, some of which were Dionysus, Poseidon, Hermes, Adonis. She also loved mortal men.

Connections: Being the goddess of love and beauty would explain Sailor Venus' "Love and Beauty Shock" attack, wouldn't it? Venus is usually pictured with cresent moons and other moon related things. It would explain where Naoko-sensei got the idea to give her "Crescent Beam" attacks and other moon related items. Her name, however aino does not hold any relation to her planet's Japanese name kinsei , which means "Metal Star".

Submitted by Myrna: Friday, or Vendredi, is named after Venus.