Milky Way (Etymology and mythology)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_Way

In western culture the name "Milky Way" is derived from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky. The term is a translation of the Classical Latin via lactea, in turn derived from the Hellenistic Greekγαλαξίας, short for γαλαξίας κύκλος (pr. galaktikos kyklos, "milky circle"). The Ancient Greek γαλαξίας (galaxias), from root γαλακτ-, γάλα (milk) + -ίας (forming adjectives), is also the root of "galaxy", the name for our, and later all such, collections of stars. The Milky Way "milk circle" was just one of 11 circles the Greeks identified in the sky, others being the zodiac, the meridian, the horizon, the equator, the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic circles, and two colurecircles passing through both poles.

There are many creation myths around the world which explain the origin of the Milky Way. In Greek myth, the Milky Way was caused by milk spilt by Hera when suckling Heracles. It is also described as the road to mount Olympus, and the path of ruin made by the chariot of the Sun god Helios.

In Sanskrit and several other Indo-Aryan languages, the Milky Way is called Akash Ganga (आकाशगंगा, Ganges of the heavens); it is held to be sacred in the HinduPuranas (scriptures), and the Ganges and the Milky Way are considered to be terrestrial and celestial analogs. Kshira Sagar (क्षीर, ocean of milk) is an alternative name for the Milky Way in Hindu texts in Sanskrit.

In Hindu mythology the Milky Way was churned by means of a serpent to acquire the nectar of life. Statue at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

                        Churning of the Milky Way at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok.