Fish Tales

Mercury

(Hermès, Hermès Trismegistus, Quicksilver)

Mercury

The planet closest to the sun
Mercury's orbit around the sun is 88 days
No Moons
First seen with a telescope by Galileo in the 17th century
The first recorded sighting of Mercury as early as the 5th century BC

Mercury Element

Liquid metal

Dense Silvery White

Toxic

Aristotle mentioned mercury in his writings as hydro-argyos

Mercury Myth

The Roman name Mercury

The Greek name Hermès

Known as the Messenger of the gods

Mercury was one of the most popular gods and was widely known for intelligence, speed, trickery, and his staff (caduceus), golden sandals and winged helmet

Short story

Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia

On his first day of infancy, it is said that Mercury used a tortoise shell to make the first lyre. On the second day he robbed Apollo of his cattle and upon returning them to Apollo, Mercury was given his wand known as the caduceus. The caduceus was said to put people to sleep, wake people, bring them to a peaceful death or bring the dead to life.

One of the most well known stories is in Ovid’s Metamorphoses

In this story the god Zeus falls in love with lo, a priestess of his wife Hera. When Hera discovers the affair Zeus transforms lo into a white cow to protect her from the wrath of his wife. When Hera learns of this she demands the cow as a present and puts it under the protection of Argus, the giant with 100 eyes. Zeus sends his clever messenger Mercury to kill Argus and return the cow. Mercury finds Argus guarding the cow and begins to play his flute and tell stories of the gods. Argus closes each eye and eventually falls to sleep. Mercury then beheads Argus and frees the cow. After Hera found her loyal guard she removed his eyes and placed them on the tail of a peacock.

Venus

(Aphrodite, Inanna, Isis, Frigg, Sita)

Venus

The 2nd planet of the solar system
Discovered as early as 2500 BC
First planet visited by spacecraft in 1962
Approximately same size as earth
Hottest surface of any planet 850 degrees
No moons
The Venus day lasts 117 earth days
67.5 million miles from the sun
225 days to orbit the sun
96% carbon dioxide, small traces of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide
Atmosphere clouds of sulfuric acid
Color white and yellow
Rises in the evening and morning
Known for its bright reflection
Rules pleasures and beauty
Rules Taurus and Libra

Venus Myth

Known as the goddess of love and desire. Born as an adult from the foam of Uranus upon the Azore sea, she floated to shore upon a shell.

Short Story

Venus was betrothed to the god Vulcan who was the god of fire and metalworking. She was known for her beauty and poise and found delight in celebrations she threw and the friendships and happiness they allowed. Vulcan was aged and unsightly and could not appease the boredom of the fair Venus. As she caught a glimpse of the handsome Mars descending to Mount Olympus his fiery eyes consumed her thoughts. She was filled with a desire for Mars and soon captured his attention. It was then that they started a love affair. When Vulcan discovered the betrayal he forged a bronze net so intricately designed that it became invisible. Venus and Mars met for a passionate encounter and they laid upon the net. They were captured by the vengeful Vulcan who had invited all the other gods to witness this act of deceit. Shame befell on the unfaithful Venus and the great warrior Mars as they were ridiculed by the other gods, but to this day the love and desire of Venus and Mars is unmatched.

Mars

(Ares, Mavors, Mavorte)

Mars

The fourth planet from the sun
Mars orbit around the sun takes 687 days
Two moons Phobos and Deimos
One of the brightest stars in the night sky, Mars has a reddish hue. Since the 20th century, Mars
Has been explored by unmanned spacecraft and rovers with at least 11 active probes currently orbiting or on Mars surface.

Myth

Roman Name Mars

Greek Name Ares

Known as the god of war

Mars elements

Iron

Steel

Brimstone

Arsenic

Hot/Burning

Sharp

Violent

Short Story

The Fiery Birth of Mars

In the heavens of ancient Greece, Hera was enraged. Zeus had fathered Athena without her, and she was determined to birth a child of her own—without his involvement. She sought Gaia, the Earth Mother, who gifted her a mysterious flower. After touching it, Hera conceived and bore a child: Ares, god of war.

From the moment of his birth, Ares radiated a fiery temperament. His cries echoed like thunder, and his first steps left trails of ash. Zeus, although distant, recognized the potential in his son and gave him a seat on Mount Olympus.

But Ares was no diplomat like his father. He thrived in chaos, finding joy in battle and conflict. As he grew, he became both feared and revered—a god who embodied the bloodlust of war. Yet, even the other Olympians kept their distance, wary of his untamed spirit.

In his heart, Ares felt isolated, his fiery nature misunderstood. He sought solace on the battlefield, where he felt alive, even as others cursed his name. Ares wasn’t just a god of destruction—he was the fire that revealed humanity’s true nature, for better or worse.