The ancient mythology had a huge impact on world culture, and names of heroes of myths and derivatives from them serve as names of both various astronomical bodies, and products of light industry. The mythology the influence and chemistry bypassed. A part of elements of a periodic system is obliged to the names to ancient deities.
Gods and heroes of Ancient Greece
The heritage of Ancient Greece, perhaps, had the greatest impact on a periodic system – very many elements carry the name of the deities belonging to the culture of Greeks. Gas helium received the name in honor of god of the sun Helios every morning appearing in a firmament on the fiery chariot and to the sunset rushing on it towards the West.
Promethium – one more substance to which the Ancient Greek hero who stole fire at gods of the Olympus and taught people to use it to himself for the good and to preserve it named. Prometheus was severely punished for the offense by the angered Zeus – it was chained to the rock to which the eagle flied every day and pecked a liver of unfortunate.
Urane – the simple element which received the name in honor of the planet of Urane which was in turn called in memory of Ancient Greek god Urana - the first governor of the world according to legends.
The pioneer wanted to support by this act the proposal to call just discovered planet Uranium, but not a Star of George – one more considered option.
The titan is called in honor of titans – characters of Ancient Greek myths, children of the earth (Gays) and the sky (Uranium) which became primogenitors of new generation of gods.
The name to an element was given by one of his pioneers Martin Klaprot. Because to define properties of an element and to give it the related name it appeared it is impossible, it picked up to the find a name from mythology.
Tantal carries the name in honor of the mythical tsar Tantal who for insult of gods of the Olympus was overthrown to the kingdom Aida. In Aida Tantal hungers intolerable and I am eager, standing in water near a fruit tree, but not having an opportunity to satisfy the needs. In honor of the daughter Tantala Nioby the element niobium was called. The Nioba possessed beautiful children and so was proud of them that made angry it gods who for it killed all her sons and daughters, and inconsolable Nioba hardened. The element selenium was called by the name of the goddess Selena. Selena is Helios's sister, but if god of the sun appeared in the sky early in the morning, then Selena personifying the moon came only with arrival of night there.
Mythology of Ancient Rome
In Mendeleyev's table it is possible to meet also the Roman gods. Plutonium – the chemical element called in honor of Pluto – the master of a next world and god of underground riches. Pluto inspired fear in people – he could leave the underground dwelling, choose the victim and drag off it to itself(himself). Neptunium – one of the most ancient Roman gods similar to the Greek Poseidon. The Neptune – god of the seas, rivers and canals, and the holidays devoted to him note in many countries to this day.
European mythology
The European mythology also made a contribution to the periodic table. Vanadis, also known as Freya, leaders of Valkyries and also goddesses of love and fertility, chemical element vanadium is called a name of the Scandinavian goddess. Two elements received the names in honor of the North European spirits. It is the nickel and cobalt called, respectively, in honor of Nikolaus and Kobold.