They then named one day after the Moon and another after…
““They then named one day after the Moon and another after the Sun, giving them a seven-day week. Seven was regarded as a perfect number; and the Sumerian week is of course our week, its days still named in the Sumerian fashion, though with Roman or Old English words. Saturn becomes Saturday, Sol (‘the sun’ in Latin) becomes Sunday. Luna, the moon, becomes lundi in French, or our Monday (Moon-day). Mars is mardi, though in English, thanks to a Norse god, Tuesday. Similarly, Wednesday is Wodin’s day, but Wodin was the god associated with the planet Mercury. Jupiter is jeudi; or in English, Thursday, Thor being the northern god associated with Jupiter. Venus is vendredi, or Friday. The Sumerians also developed a counting system based on the number sixty, which is divisible by eleven other numbers and so particularly handy for Bronze Age accountancy. From this we get our 60-second minutes, 60-minute hours, 360-day years and 360-degree circles.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Explains how ancient cultures named days after celestial bodies and gods, creating the seven‑day week we use today.
In simple terms: Ancient naming of days after the and gods gave us our modern week.
Key Takeaway
Understand cultural roots of modern calendars.
Themes
history
culture
astronomy
language
timekeeping
mythology
Mood
informative
reflective
neutral
Type
educational
historical
When to use this quote
- education
- cultural studies
- day‑to‑day planning
Key Concepts
etymology
calendar systems
ancient societies
Questions to Reflect On
- How do different cultures name days?
- What impact does this history have on modern life?
A Different Perspective
The focus on Western naming overlooks non‑Western calendars.