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Planets

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i. In astrology there are seven planets:—

Apollo, the sun, represents gold.

Diana, the moon, represents silver.

Mercury represents quicksilver.

Venus represents copper.

Mars represents iron.

Jupiter represents tin.

Saturn represents lead.

ii. In heraldry the arms of royal personages used to be blazoned by the names of planets, and those of noblemen by precious stones, instead of the corresponding colours.


Sol—topaz—or (gold)—bezants.

Lunapearl—argent (silver)—plates.

Saturndiamondsable (black)—pellets.

Marsrubygules (red)—torteaux.

Jupiter—sapphire—azure (blue)—hurts.

Venus—emerald—vert (green)—pommes.

Mercury—amethyst—purpure (violet)—golpes.

Inferior planets. Mercury and Venus; so called because their orbits are within the orbit of the earth.

Superior planets. Mars, the Planetoids, Jupiter, Saturn, Uʹranus, and Neptune; so called because their orbits are outside the earth’s orbit—i.e. farther from the sun.

iii. Planets represented by symbols.


Mercury, ☿; Venus,♀ Earth, ⊕; Mars, ♂; the Planetoids, in the order of discovery—①,②③, etc.; Jupiter, ♃; Saturn, ♄; Uranus, ♅; Neptune, ♆; the Sun, ☼; the Moon, ☽.

iv. The planets in Greece were symbolised by-seven letters:


Jupiter, υ (u-psilon); Mars, o (o-micron); Mercury, ε (e-psilon); The Moon, α (alpha); Saturn, ω (o-mega); The Sun, ι (iota): Venus, η (eta).

To be born under a lucky [or unlucky] planet. According to astrology, some planet, at the birth of every individual, presides over his destiny. Some of the planets, like Jupiter, are lucky; and others, like Saturn, are unlucky. In casting a horoscope the heavens must he divided into twelve parts or houses, called (1) the House of Life; (2) the House of Fortune; (3) the House of Brethren; (4) the House of Relations; (5) the House of Children; (6) the House of Health; (7) the House of Marriage; (8) the House of Death; (9) the House of Religion; (10) the House of Dignities; (11) the House of Friends and Benefactors; (12) the House of Enemies. Each house had one of the heavenly bodies as its lord. (See Star in the Ascendant.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Pittacus (Greek, Pittakos)
Pittance
Pixies
Pixy-led (Devonshire), Poake-ledden (Worcestershire)
Place aux Dames
Placebo
Plagiarist
Plain (The)
Plain Dealer (The)
Plan of Campaign (The)
Planets
Planet-struck
Plank (A)
Plank
Plantagenet
Plaster of Paris
Plate (A)
Platen
Plates or Plates of Meat
Platform
Plato

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Planets