Origins of the Days of the Week

DAY of the Week Name Origin (Roman/Greek) Attribute Name Origin (Norse) Attribute
Sunday Sun's-day Helios: god of the sun prior to replacement by Apollo in late Greek and Roman mythology; Apollo: twin of Artemis; god of music, prophesy, poetry, healing, archery Sun's-day no known equivalent
Monday Moon's-day Selene: goddess of the moon prior to replacement by Artemis in late Greek and Roman mythology; Diana (Artemis):7: twin of Apollo; goddess of the hunt and the moon. Moon's-day no known equivalent
Tuesday Mars'-day Mars (Ares): god of war, battle rage and initiation; son of Zeus/Hera Tiw's-day Tiw (Tyr): god of battle and victory
Wednesday Mercury's-day Mercury (Hermes): god of commerce; Messenger of the gods; Trickster god; son of Zeus/Maia Woden's-day Woden/Wotan (Odin): Father and ruler of the gods and mortals; god of war, learning, poetry and the dead
Thursday Jupiter's (Jove's)-day Jupiter/Jove (Zeus): son of Kronos/Rhea; Supreme god, Lord of Heaven (Olympus) and mortals Thor's-day Thor: god of thunder and sky, and good crops; son of Odin and Frigg
Friday Venus's-day Venus (Aphrodite): goddess of sexual desire, love, beauty and procreation Frigg's (Friia's)-day Frigg (Friia): wife of Odin; great mother of the gods; goddess of married love
Saturday Saturn's-day Saturn (Kronos): god of fertility, agriculture, time; ruler of the Titans; father of first generation of Greek gods Saturn's-day no known equivalent