Word from Mythology: Aurora

Today's word from mythology is AURORA, a word which come from the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora. You can see this word in the phrase Aurora Borealis, literally "Northern Dawn," referring to the Northern Lights. The Greek name for the goddess of dawn is Eos.

Aurora/Eos is famous for taking mortal men as her lovers. In one legend, Aurora fell in love with Tithonus, a prince of Troy, the son of King Laomedon, and brother to King Priam. Aurora asked Zeus that Tithonus be granted eternal life, but she did not ask for eternal youth, so poor Tithonus grew older and older and older until he eventually turned into a cicada.

Here is a painting of Aurora and Tithonus by Francesco de Mura: