Every day people are faced with everyday things and phenomena and often do not think about their meaning and inner essence. And only children with their unexpected questions sometimes remind adults how much fascinating and informative is hidden in, it would seem, the most ordinary objects and phenomena of the world. For example, few people think why Thursday was called Thursday, but meanwhile, this issue has a very interesting story, rooted in ancient times.
Thursday: the origin of the word in Slavic languages
Why is Thursday called Thursday? You do not need to be a linguist or philologist to guess that this word comes from an ordinal number. Thursday is the fourth day of the week, and its name in Russian very logically reflects the essence of the designated phenomenon.
If you delve into the history and origin of the word, then the ancient Slavs designated the fourth day of the week with the word "four". Over time, the pronunciation of the word simplified: the sound "t" disappeared, and the end of the word acquired a hue of sonority. The fact is that after the sonorous sound “p” it is easier to pronounce the same sonorous sound “g” than the deaf “k”.
Thursday is likewise denoted in other modern Slavic languages: “chatsver” in Belarusian, “four” in Ukrainian, čtvrtek in Czech, “four” in Croatian and Serbian.
In general, it is not surprising why so many different nations called it Thursday. All of them have a common origin, and only after many centuries the ancient Slavs were divided, began to live in different territories and develop independently. However, the similarity in the names of the most common words in the languages of this group confirms that the root of origin of these peoples was one.
The word "Thursday" in modern European languages
So, it became clear why Thursday was called Thursday in Slavic languages. But the linguistic world is diverse, as are the linguistic and cultural consciousness of various peoples. Of particular interest is the European culture, which has a rich history.
What is the name of the day of the week Thursday other nations? In modern languages, descended from Latin, an interesting trend is traced. For example, in French Thursday is jeudi, in Spanish is jueves, in Italian is giovedi. To understand the reasons for this similarity, we turn to Latin, to which their origins go back. In this language, “Thursday” literally means “the day of Jupiter” (Jovis dies), who in ancient times was the most revered god in ancient Rome.
The Germans and English, when designating the fourth day of the week, use the words Donnerstag and Thursday, which go back to the name of Thor - the god of thunder, storm and lightning. By the way, Donner from German translates as thunder. In the Netherlands, Thursday is called Donderdag, in Norway - torsdag, in Sweden - torsdag.
The image of Jupiter in various nations and cultures
So, in the ancient Roman culture, the supreme god of thunder was called Jupiter. In ancient German mythology, Jupiterian qualities - power, power - were attributed to the god Thor.
In ancient Greece, the king of the gods was called Zeus, which symbolized light, justice and honor. The prosperity and well-being of the people depended on its location, since it sent not only thunder and lightning to the earth, but also rains promising the harvest. Zeus granted freedom, victory, triumph, and also patronized travel and education.
It should be noted that Jupiter is a very popular and widespread character. Its correspondences are known in Hinduism, among the peoples of ancient Transcaucasia, as well as in Asian cultures. Despite various names, the image of this deity existed and exists in the minds of people who inhabit the whole world.
Jupiter in the occult sciences
It is no coincidence that the planet Jupiter was known in antiquity. It seems impossible that in those immemorial times, people who did not even have a concept of modern technology, could know the characteristics and qualities of this largest planet in the solar system, located fifth from the Sun. Nevertheless, representatives of ancient civilizations possessed valuable information not only about the physical properties of Jupiter, but also about the influence that it has on the Earth and living beings inhabiting it.
The ancients revered the planet Jupiter for bringing wealth and fortune, prosperity and luck. Jupiter is a planet of generosity, generosity and self-confidence. Thanks to its impact, people open new horizons, strive to develop physically, mentally and spiritually.
Thursday - Jupiter Day
An excursion into history was interesting, but the question remains open, why is Thursday, the same day of Jupiter, according to ancient tradition, the fourth day of the week? The answer is prompted by ancient astrologers who designated the planet Jupiter in their writings, as in the picture below.
Is not it, this sign is very much like the number four? Modern astronomers and astrologers use the same symbol.
In connection with this discovery, perhaps it is worth listening to the recommendations and devoting Thursday to Jupiter's affairs: education, training, helping others and expanding their capabilities.
So, concluding our small study of why Thursday was called Thursday, we came to an unexpected conclusion. The knowledge of previous generations did not disappear, they are contained in the occult sciences, previously carefully hidden from prying eyes. And only recently a lot of the intellectual treasures of the ancient world have become available to the masses, and people were surprised to notice that the knowledge of their ancestors not only does not contradict the latest research, but also significantly complement the picture of the perception of the world of modern man.