Why is our galaxy called the Milky Way?

[annataymond]

I’m sorry but the fact that someone of any kind of authority looked up at the sky and said “yup, that there is breast milk of the gods”

[cj-seejay-cj-seejay]

Milky Road sounds like a Mario Kart level.

[PicassosCat]

They literally named our galaxy "Big Mommy Milkers"

Never change humanity. Never change.

[lisalavash]

Milky road
take me home
to the place...

[GippyHappy]

“This is our planet, we call it dirt. It’s in the milk Galaxy.”

[trjberg]

In swedish it's called "Vintergatan", that is "Winter street".

[RLelling]

Milky circle would've been really embarrassing once the aliens showed up and we'd have to tell them what we call it. The aliens would be like "Ay lmao these guys think it's a circle. It do be looking a little bit milky tho we'll give them that."

[Kapow]

So you're telling me saying "the Milky Way Galaxy" is the same as saying "the Galaxy Galaxy" or "the Milky Way Milky Way"

[emeraldvalkyrja]

Yup, in Greek mythology, the story goes that Heracles was suckling on Heras boob to hard, and when she pulled him off, the milk sprayed across to sky and formed the Milky Way.

Interestingly, in a Chinese myth, the Milky Way was created by the Queen Mother of Heaven when she tore a rip through the sky with her hair-comb to keep a celestial spirit apart from her mortal lover and their two kids.

There are sooo many instances where our modern society has small influences and callbacks to ancient myths, intentionally or otherwise.

[bellsy]

His "I don't want Milky Road" has the same energy as a toddler pushing his plate away and dissapointedly saying "it's spicy".

[nastasiacr]

I'm Greek and I just now realized that "galaxy" (or galaxias/γαλαξίας) is directly related to milk (gala/γάλα)... And I'm even more surprised about the "milky way", that never made sense to me and now it does.

It's so obvious, yet I had no idea. The whole thing is so fascinating.

[roisinhart]

As a breastfeeding mom I can confirm that all of that was one hundred percent accurate.

[nathanl]

So you're telling me that one of the most powerful villains in marvel comics was named after a milk sugar.

[Tinybeequeen]

I love etymology deep dives, one of my favorite pastimes

[ber]

"It's a milk"

"that was probably created when Hercules.."

Wait wait

[ewatsupofficial]

The true question is…. Would you have a rocky way?

[philipramirez]

I just love Hank's delivery on some of these shorts. Like he can barely believe this is true either

[jakosloth]

Also fun fact: Some Greek philosophers when they looked up into the night sky and saw the stars, they described the night sky as a dark painting sprayed with milk droplets. This also helped with the naming of the "Milky Way" galaxy.

[Rockmaster]

Fun fact: in german the Milky Way is called Milschstraße, which translates exactly to Milky Road.

Another fun fact:
The Milky Way chocolate bar is also called Milky Way in german speaking Countries. I was like 25 until I made the connection in my head that it is named after our galaxy.

[cydude]

The fact that the marvel character Galactus is also inherently named after milk is amazing.