A series of posts dealing with the myriad of mythology references in Sailor Moon.

Lethe

In Greek myth:

Lethe (lee-thee), the river of forgetfulness. According to Statius, it bordered Elysium, the final resting place of the virtuous. The shades of the dead were required to drink the waters of the Lethe in order to forget their earthly life. In the Aeneid, Virgil writes that it is only when the dead have had their memories erased by the Lethe that they may be reincarnated.

Lethe was also the name of the personification of forgetfulness and oblivion, with whom the river was often associated. Hesiod's Theogony identifies her as the daughter of Eris ("strife"). (Taken from Wikipedia)

In Sailor Moon:



Sailor Lethe was the Soldier of Oblivion and the guardian of the Desert River of Oblivion outside of Sailor Galaxia's palace. She and her twin sister, Sailor Mnemosyne, first appear in Act 48. Between the two sisters, Lethe appears to be the harsher and more cruel of the two.

In Act 48, Eternal Sailor Moon, Princess Kakyuu, ChibiChibi, and the Starlights enter Zero Star Sagittarius, and come across a vast desert. A dark, robed figure appears in a boat with an oar, and introduces herself as Lethe, the ferryman of the desert river. The senshi board the boat, and the sand around them begins to liquify. Suddenly, the boat sinks, and Eternal Sailor Moon finds herself in her civilian form at the bottom of the River of Oblivion. Lethe confronts her and asks her personal questions, but they confuse her - Usagi has forgotten who she is, where she is from, and who her friends are. She can only look on blankly as Lethe kills Luna, Artemis, and Diana, having no recollection of who the cats are. She tells Usagi that those with life are born to die, and attacks her with "Galactica Mysotis Alpestnis." Mnemosyne runs to the scene and pushes Lethe, stopping her attack. Mnemosyne says that Sailor Moon has been hurt enough, and that her fate should be left to Galaxia. Upon hearing the name "Sailor Moon," Usagi remembers who she is and why she is there, and transforms into Eternal Sailor Moon. She swims through the sand, and sees the Starlights, Kakyuu, and ChibiChibi. Mnemosyne forms a protective sphere around the group and leads them to dry ground. She gives Kakyuu water from the River of Memory to revive her and bring back her memories, saying that she doesn't want Sailor Soldiers like herself to be hurt by Lethe. It is then revealed that Lethe and Mnemosyne are the senshi of the planets Lethe and Mnemosyne, respectively. Their planets were small, poor, and plagued by violence and chaos. Galaxia appeared and brought death and ruing to the planets, and the two had no choice but to follow her in the hopes of someday finding peace. Lethe says that Sailor Moon's Sailor Crystal, the Ginzuishou, is the cause for all of the wars they are experiencing, and that if it is destroyed, there will be peace. Sailor Moon offers her life if it will end the violence. Lethe and Mnemosyne are so moved by her self-sacrifice that they realize that whether or not Sailor Moon dies, the war will continue. Just as they are about to release the senshi, Sailor Chi and Sailor Phi appear, calling them useless fools and taking their Sailor Crystals, killing them. (This portion taken from www.soul-hunter.com)

Similarities:

Well, the similarities are very obvious in Sailor Lethe's case! Not only is Sailor Lethe called "The Soldier of Oblivion" in direct reference to the goddess Lethe and the river Lethe, she is also the guardian of "The Desert River of Oblivion," yet another direct reference to the River Lethe. By drinking from the Desert River of Oblivion all of you memories are erased, exactly like how the recently departed souls in the Underworld drank from the River Lethe to erase their memories in order to be reincarnated.

Sailor Moon Mythology- Mnemosyne
In Greek Myth

Mnemosyne was the personification of memory in Greek mythology. This titaness was the daughter of Gaia and Uranus and the mother of the nine Muses by Zeus. Zeus and Mnemosyne slept together for nine consecutive nights and thereby created the nine Muses. Mnemosyne also presided over a pool in Hades, counterpart to the river Lethe, according to a series of 4th century BC Greek funerary inscriptions in dactylic hexameter. Dead souls drank from Lethe so they would not remember their past lives when reincarnated. Initiates were encouraged to drink from the river Mnemosyne when they died, instead of Lethe. These inscriptions may have been connected with Orphic poetry. (Taken from Wikipedia)

In Sailor Moon:


Sailor Mnemosyne, the Soldier of Memory, first appears in Act 48. After her planet was destroyed by Sailor Galaxia, she and her twin sister Sailor Lethe joined her because they felt like they had no choice. They joined Galaxia in the hope that one day a new future would be created, one without war and strife. She became the guardian of the Desert River of Memory outside of Galaxia’s palace, which had the power to restore the memories lost from the Desert River of Oblivion her twin guarded.
Between her and her sister, Mnemosyne is the passive one. She despises violence, especially against other Sailor Senshi. She was the one who stopped Lethe from killing Sailor Moon and her companions. Mnemosyne gave Princess Kakyuu water from her river to restore the Princess’s memories.
Though Sailor Mnemosyne appeared to share Sailor Lethe’s ardent belief that Sailor Moon and her Silver Crystal were the cause of all of their pain troubles, this belief was shattered when Sailor Moon offered to Lethe and Mnemosyne the simplest solution to their problems: to kill her. Sailor Moon’s offer of self-sacrifice changed both Lethe and Mnemosyne’s minds about Sailor Moon’s true nature.
Just as Lethe and Mnemosyne allowed Sailor Moon’s party to pass through, Sailor Phi and Sailor Chi appeared and murdered them, taking the Sailor Crystals of the Sailor Starlights as well as Lethe’s and Mnemosyne’s.

Similarities:

The similarities between Sailor Lethe and her Greek counterparts are very easy to spot! Sailor Mnemosyne is called the Soldier of Memory, a direct reference to the deity Mnemosyne, the Titaness of Memory! Also, Sailor Lethe guards the Desert River of Memory is a reference to the pool in Hades which was counterpart to the River Lethe, just like how The Desert River of Memory is the counterpart to the Desert River of Oblivion. Drinking from the Desert River of Memory restores the memories lost in the Desert River of Oblivion, exactly how drinking from the waters of Mnemosyne restored the memories lost by drinking from the River Lethe.

Selene

**The legend of Endymion and Selene together will be told separately**
In Greek Myth:
In Greek mythology, Selene was an archaic lunar deity and the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. In Roman mythology, the moon goddess is called Luna, Latin for “moon”.
Like most moon deities, Selene plays a fairly large role in her pantheon, which preceded the Olympic pantheon. However, Selene, a Titan, was eventually largely supplanted by Artemis, an Olympian; the Romans similarly deemed Luna predecessor to Diana. In the collection known as the Homeric hymns, there is a Hymn to Selene (xxxii), paired with the hymn to Helios. In it, Selene is addressed as “far-winged”, an epithet ordinarily applied to birds. Selene is mentioned in Nonnus. In one of her most famous stories, Selene fell in love with the Earth king, Endymion, and placed him in an eternal sleep so he would never grow old. (Taken from Wikipedia)

In Sailor Moon:


Queen Serenity was the Queen of the ancient Silver Millennium. She ruled the Solar System with the power of the Ginzuishou and was a fair and gracious queen. When the Dark Kingdom attacked the moon, lead by Queen Metallia, destroyed the Moon Kingdom and killed everyone in it, including the Queen’s own daughter, Princess Serenity, Queen Serenity used the Ginzuishou to seal the evil ones away. She also used it to send her daughter and court to the future on Earth, so they could lead happy lives. She then died.
Princess Serenity was the daughter of Queen Serenity and the heir to the Silver Millennium. She fell in love with the Prince of the Earth, Endymion, even though it was forbidden. She died when the Dark Kingdom attacked the moon (In the anime she was killed by Metallia, in the manga she committed suicide after Endymion was killed). Her mother sent her and the rest of their court to be reborn in 20th century Earth, so that Serenity and Endymion could finally be together. In the future, Princess Serenity becomes Neo-Queen Serenity, the ruler of the new Silver Millennium on Earth.

Similarities:
In Sailor Moon the original Greek myth is divided between Queen Serenity (the goddess) and Princess Serenity (who fell in love with Endymion).
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s two.



In both the anime and manga, Queen Serenity is stated to actually be Selene herself.
Her daughter, Princess Serenity, fell in love with Prince Endymion, even though she was of the moon and he was of Earth. This mirrors the Greek myth of Selene and Endymion.

Endymion
In Greek Myth:
There are many accounts of the myth of Endymion, but the most popular seems to be this;
Selene, the Titan goddess of the moon, loved the mortal Endymion. She believed him to be so beautiful that she asked Endymion’s father, Zeus, to grant him eternal youth so that he would never leave her. Alternatively, Selene so loved how Endymion looked when he was asleep in the cave on Mount Latmus, near Miletus in Caria, that she entreated Zeus that he might remain that way. In either case, Zeus granted her wish and put him into an eternal sleep. Every night, Selene visited him where he slept. Selene and Endymion had fifty daughters called the Menae. (Taken from Wikipedia)

In Sailor Moon:

Prince Endymion was the Prince of the Earth in the long-ago past. He fell in love with the beautiful Princess of the Moon, Princess Serenity, even though relations between Earth people and Moon people were forbidden. When Endymion discovered the people of Earth, who had been brainwashed by Queen Metallia, were going to attack the moon, he rushed there to warn his lover and her people. Despite his help, the battle was unavoidable and both he and Serenity died. The Princess’s mother, Queen Serenity, used the Ginzuishou to seal away Metallia and to send Serenity, Endymion, and the rest of her court to be reborn on 20th Century Earth, in the hopes that Endymion and Serenity could finally be together. In the future, Prince Endymion becomes King Endymion, the king of the new Silver Millennium on Earth.

Similarities:
There are really only one or two good similarities. Endymion was loved by Selene, the titaness of the moon. Prince Endymion loved and was loved by Princess Serenity, the princess of the moon. Both stories involve a man from Earth being loved by a higher being belonging to the moon. Also, in some myths, Endymion is stated to be a prince or king, just like Prince Endymion.

Maenads
In Greek Myth:
In Greek mythology, maenads were the female followers of Dionysus (Bacchus in the Roman pantheon), the most significant members of the Thiasus, the god’s retinue. Their name literally translates as “raving ones”. Often the maenads were portrayed as inspired by him into a state of ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of dancing and drunken intoxication. In this state, they would lose all self-control, begin shouting excitedly, engage in uncontrolled sexual behavior, and ritualistically hunt down and tear to pieces animals — and, in myth at least, sometimes men and children — devouring the raw flesh. During these rites, the maenads would dress in fawn skins and carry a thyrsus, a long stick wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and tipped by a cluster of leaves; they would weave ivy-wreaths around their heads, and often handle or wear snakes. (Taken from Wikipedia)

In Sailor Moon:


Well, the version of the Maenads presented in Sailor Moon have very little similarity to what is presented in Greek myth!
The Maenads were the two priestesses of the dreamland, Elysion. They were the guardians of Elysion’s shrine. Appearing first in Act 40, they were shown sleeping in crystal that protected them from the curse that affected the rest of the land.

Chaos
Chaos in Greek Myth:
Chaos is the abyss, the confusing nothingness that was the only thing in the universe. Ovid (1st century BC), in his Metamorphoses, described Chaos as “a rude and undeveloped mass, that nothing made except a ponderous weight; and all discordant elements confused, were there congested in a shapeless heap.” (taken from Wikipedia). This Chaos was neither good nor evil, rather it was just the ultimate expression of nothingness and the antithesis of Cosmos.

Chaos in Sailor Moon:



Chaos is the embodiment and source of all the evil that exists in the galaxy. All of the previous main enemies in the series (Metallia, Death Phantom, Pharaoh 90, Queen Nehellenia) were all incarnations of Chaos.
Chaos referred to itself as one who never became a star. It existed as the ultimate expression of nothingness, but still remembered the time when everything in the universe was one within the Galaxy Cauldron, and it missed that desperately. Most of all it missed the ultimate light.
Chaos made it its goal to once again become one with everything else in the universe. To this end, it wrought war, death, destruction, and hate, destroying everything so that they could return to it. It created other “dark stars” like itself - Metalia, Death Phantom, Pharaoh 90, and Nehellenia - and sent them against Sailor Moon, forcing the one who fought in the name of love, peace, and justice to destroy beings that were essentially her own brothers and sisters. (This portion taken from Wikimoon)

I LOVE these!

Quote :

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s two.

Cracked my shit UP. Oh man. Hilarious and educational, just the way I like it!

Mercury
In Greek Myth:
Mercury was a messenger, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx (“merchandise”; compare merchant, commerce, etc.), mercari (to trade), and merces (wages). Most of his characteristics and mythology were borrowed from the analogous Greek deity, Hermes. Latin writers rewrote Hermes’ myths and substituted his name with that of Mercury.
Mercury has influenced the name of many things in a variety of scientific fields, such as the planet Mercury, and the element mercury. The word mercurial is commonly used to refer to something or someone erratic, volatile or unstable, derived from Mercury’s swift flights from place to place. He is often depicted holding the Caduceus in his left hand. (Taken from Wikipedia)

In Sailor Moon:


Sailor Mercury, aka Ami Mizuno, was the second addition to the Sailor Team. She is the “brain” of the group and is rumored to have an IQ of 300. Her powers are the elements water and ice. She dreams of becoming a doctor like her mother and spends most of her free time studying. She tends to be the most level-headed of the group and often analyzes the enemy using her miniature supercomputer.

Similarities:
Sailor Mercury’s powers come from the Asian myths regarding the Planet Mercury, which was associated with the North, with winter, with the Cold, and with Water and Ice. Still, some similarities can be drawn from Mercury and Sailor Mercury. Ami dreams of being a doctor, and the Caduceus Mercury holds is the symbol of medicine. Also, in Sailor Mercury’s final and most powerful attack, Mercury Aqua Rhapsody, Sailor Mercury uses a lyre-like object, which is a reference to the myth where Hermes/Mercury created the lyre to appease Apollo.
Hermes was also referred to as the cleverest of the gods, which may be where Ami got her intelligence from, although she uses her brain for more productive purposes instead of using it to trick others, which was a trademark of the god Mercury.

I'm glad you put up info about Mercury. I cannot wait for Uranus (my second fav sailor scout).

Mars
In Greek/Roman Myth:
Mars was the Roman god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was second in importance only to Jupiter, and he was the most prominent of the military gods worshipped by the Roman legions.
Under the influence of Greek culture, Mars was identified with the Greek god Ares, whose myths were reinterpreted in Roman literature and art under the name of Mars. But the character and dignity of Mars differed in fundamental ways from that of his Greek counterpart, who is often treated with contempt and revulsion in Greek literature. Mars was a part of the Archaic Triad along with Jupiter and Quirinus, the latter of whom as a guardian of the Roman people had no Greek equivalent.
Although Ares was viewed primarily as a destructive and destabilizing force, Mars represented military power as a way to secure peace, and was a father (pater) of the Roman people. In the mythic genealogy and founding myths of Rome, Mars was the father of Romulus and Remus with Rhea Silvia. His love affair with Venus symbolically reconciled the two different traditions of Rome’s founding; Venus was the divine mother of the hero Aeneas, celebrated as the Trojan refugee who “founded” Rome several generations before Romulus laid out the city walls. Mars also is deeply connected with passion. (Taken from Wikipedia.)

In Sailor Moon:

Sailor Mars, aka Rei Hino, was the third addition to the Sailor Team. Her powers are creating and manipulating fire and heat. She also a miko (priestess) and displays very acute psychic powers even when untransformed. Rei is very passionate and outspoken, and is fearless when facing enemies.

Similarities:
There are a few obvious similarities that can be drawn from Mars and Sailor Mars. Mars is the god of war, and one of Sailor Mars’s titles is “Soldier of War”, referencing this. Also, just as Mars was portrayed as a very passionate god, Sailor Mars shows passion in everything that she does and is even referred to as the “Soldier of Passion.” In addition, perhaps Rei and Minako’s very close friendship is a reference to the affair between Mars and Venus.

Jupiter
In Greek/Roman Mythology:
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove was the king of the gods, and the god of sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak. (Taken from Wikipedia)
He was the brother of Vesta (Hestia), Ceres (Demeter), Juno (Hera), Pluto (Hades), and Neptune (Poseidon), and the son of Saturn (Cronus) and Ops (Rhea). Saturn had swallowed all of his children, save for Jupiter whom Ops had hid, in fear that they might one day overthrow his position as king. Jupiter grew up, rescued his siblings, overthrew the Titans, and became king of the gods with Juno as his queen. He sired many illegitimate children, much to the dismay of Juno.

In Sailor Moon:

Sailor Jupiter, aka Makoto Kino (Mako-chan to her friends), was the fourth addition to the Sailor Team. Her powers are nature-based, and she is able to manipulate lightning and use some plant-based powers. She is the “muscle” of the group and by far the most physically strong. Mako is simultaneously the most masculine and the most feminine of the group. She is tall, strong, and can beat almost anybody up, but is also an excellent cook and likes “girly” things.

Similarities:
The similarities between the two are very obvious here! Almost all of Sailor Jupiter’s powers are taken from the myths about Jupiter being the god of lightning. Also, Sailor Jupiter’s final attack, “Jupiter Oak Evolution”, is a reference to one of Jupiter’s symbols, the Oak. Perhaps, much like Jupiter was a father to many daughters and sons, Makoto acts as the mother figure of the inner senshi and is very protective of her friends.

Venus
In Greek/Roman myth:
Venuswas a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths. Venus is the equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. she was born when Saturn cut off Uranus’ genitals and threw them into the sea, and from the sea foam arose Venus. Myrtles, doves, sparrows, horses, and swans are sacred to her. (Taken from Wikipedia)

She was perhaps the most beautiful goddess of all and was desired by all. She was married to Vulcan (Hephaestus), but carried out countless affairs, most notably with Mars (Ares), the passionate god of war. Although she was very beautiful and sought to help many with their love lives, Venus was also very petty and jealous goddess who refused to let any other woman be as beautiful as her.

In Sailor Moon:

Sailor Venus, aka Minako Aino, was the fifth and final addition to the Inner Sailor Team, although she was actually the very first to awaken. Sailor Venus uses light and energy based powers, many of which connected to love. Minako awakened a full year before Usagi and fought crime under the codename, Sailor V and even starred in her own series before Sailor Moon. Her parter is the cat Artemis. Even though Minako is fun-loving, hyper and a bit scatter-brained, she never fails to lead the other senshi in a crisis.

Similarities:
*whistles* In my opinion, out of all the mythological references for the Senshi, Minako takes the cake. Here are just a few examples of references found in the series, most of which from Codename: Sailor V:








This is just the references I could find on short notice! Codename: Sailor V seems to actually imply that she is the incarnation, or avatar, of Venus herself. Minako often refers to herself as the “goddess of love”, but this may very well be just a saying or catchphrase she has developed, not actually naming herself Venus.
Venus was incredibly beautiful and was stated to have long blond hair. Minako is also very beautiful and is blond. Venus had a myriad of affairs and love interests, and Minako has had countless crushes, probably as a reference to this myth. Venus had a long-lasting affair with a youth named Adonis. In Codename: Sailor V, a youth named Adonis was in love with Sailor Venus. Venus was the goddess of love and beauty, and one of Sailor Venus’s titles is “Soldier of Love and Beauty.” Also, Sailor Venus’s final and most powerful attack “Venus Love and Beauty Shock” is a reference to this. Another thing I picked up that might be mythology related is the fact that Minako and Rei are best friends in the manga; perhaps this is in reference to the love between Venus and Mars.

I would say another similarity between Jupiter and Makoto is that she every boy reminds her of an "ex-boyfriend" either hinting that she's had several boyfriends, or that she has the potential to have many lovers. But that's just me...

This information is amazing.

I was looking through a mythology book not too long ago randomly and found these. I was all too amused! ^^

Thanks for posting these, they're so interesting and informative! Haha, the peacock feathers around Venus in one of your screencaps couldn't make it anymore obvious.

In Greek/Roman myth:
In ancient Greek religion and myth, Pluto was a name for the ruler of the underworld; the god was also known as Hades, a name for the underworld itself. This deity has two major myths: in Greek cosmogony, he received the rule of the underworld in a three-way division of sovereignty over the world, with his brothers Zeus ruling Heaven and Poseidon the Sea; and he abducts Persephone to be his wife and the queen of his realm. In other myths, he plays a secondary role, mostly as the possessor of a quest-object. (Taken from Wikipedia)

In Sailor Moon:



Sailor Pluto, aka Setsuna Meioh, was a member of the Outer Senshi and the Guardian of the Time-Space Door. Sailor Pluto has powers that relate to both time and the underworld. She is very stoic and serious, but is very close to Chibiusa, who gave her the affectionate nickname “Puu”, and Hotaru, whom she helped raised, who refers to her as “Setsuna-mama.” Setsuna is the oldest and most mature of the Senshi, and is always reliable.
Similarities:
First and foremost, I want to point out that many people think that Takeuchi mixed up the powers of Sailors Pluto and Saturn, as Saturn was considered a god of time and Pluto was the god of death. However, its clear that this was intentional on Takeuchi’s part and she actually did much research. You can read a wonderful article on this by Genvid. I highly recommend it!
This aside, there are still some similarities that I can draw between the two. Sailor Pluto uses “Dead Scream,” which is a reference to Pluto being the god of the dead. Much like Pluto was the least seen of the gods, always staying in the underworld and almost never joining the other gods, Pluto, the planet (YES, I’m calling it a planet), is the coldest, most distant, and thus, most lonely planet, similar to Setsuna, always alone and guarding. Since Sailor Pluto guards a door, it may be a reference to how Pluto guards the underworld. Also, Pluto wields the Garnet Orb and has a reoccurring garnet theme; garnets are connected to pomegranates, the fruit of the underworld.

(Link to the Saturn and Pluto switches article)
http://www.genvid.com/diesgaudii/saturnpluto/new/index.html

In Greek myth:
Uranus was the primal Greek god personifying the sky. His equivalent in Roman mythology was Caelus. In Ancient Greek literature, according to Hesiod in his Theogony, Uranus or Father Sky was the son and husband of Gaia, Mother Earth. Uranus and Gaia were ancestors of most of the Greek gods, but no cult addressed directly to Uranus survived into Classical times.
Uranus imprisoned Gaia’s youngest children in Tartarus, deep within Earth, where they caused pain to Gaia. She shaped a great flint-bladed sickle and asked her sons to castrate Uranus. OnlyCronus, youngest and most ambitious of the Titans, was willing: he ambushed his father and castrated him, casting the severed testicles into the sea.
From the blood that spilled from Uranus onto the Earth came forth the Gigantes, the Erinyes (the avenging Furies), the Meliae (the ash-tree nymphs), and, according to some, the Telchines. From the genitals in the sea came forth Aphrodite. (Taken from Wikipedia)
In Sailor Moon:


Sailor Uranus, aka Haruka Tenoh, is a member of the Outer Senshi. She can control and manipulate the forces of air. Haruka is a lesbian and the partner and lover of Michiru Kaioh, aka Sailor Neptune. Haruka is very masculine and tomboyish and is an avid race car driver. She can appear cold and stubborn, but in actuality she is playful, protective, and charming. She is fully dedicated to her duty as a Senshi.
Similarities:
Sailor Uranus’s wind and air-based powers are a direct reference to Uranus, god of the sky. In addition, Sailor Uranus’s Senshi titles are “Soldier of Wind”, “Soldier of Sky”, and “Soldier of Flight”, all referencing the god Uranus. Uranus was terrified of his children taking over and took extreme measures to prevent it, which might translate to Sailor Uranus being terrified of Sailor Saturn awakening, and taking extreme measures to prevent it.

In Greek/Roman myth:
Neptune was the god of water and the sea in Roman mythology and religion. He is analogous with, but not identical to, the Greek god Poseidon. In the Greek-influenced tradition, Neptune was the brother of Jupiter and Pluto, each of them presiding over one of the three realms of the universe, Heaven, Earth and the Netherworld. He is also the god of horses and earthquakes. (Taken from Wikipedia)
In Sailor Moon:


Sailor Neptune, aka Michiru Kaioh, is a member of the Outer Senshi. Sailor Neptune used ocean-based attacks and possesses some precognitive abilities. Michiru is a lesbian and the partner and lover of Sailor Uranus, aka Haruka Tenoh. She is deeply artistic, being a renowned violinist and a famous artist. Michiru is elegant, sophisticated, polite, graceful, and fully dedicated to her duty as a Senshi.
Similarities:
The only real similarities between Neptune and Sailor Neptune is having the powers of the ocean. Sailor Neptune’s “Deep Submerge”, “Submarine Reflection”, and “Submarine Violin Tide” are all references to the ocean, which was Neptune’s domain. Her Senshi titles are “Soldier of the Sea”, and “Soldier of Deep Waters”, all direct references to Neptune being the god of the Sea. Also, like his brother Jupiter, Neptune has many affairs, which may be why Michiru has a flirty attitude.

In Greek/Roman Mythology:
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Saturn was a major god presiding over agriculture and the harvest time. His reign was depicted as a Golden Age of abundance and peace by many Roman authors. In medieval times he was known as the Roman god of agriculture, justice and strength. He held a sickle in his left hand and a bundle of wheat in his right. His mother was Terra and his father was Caelus. He was identified in classical antiquity with the Greek deity Cronus, and the mythologies of the two gods are commonly mixed.
Saturn’s wife was Ops (the Roman equivalent of Rhea) and Saturn was the father of Ceres, Jupiter, Veritas, Pluto, Neptune, and Juno, among others. Saturn had a temple on the Forum Romanum which contained the Royal Treasury. Saturn is the namesake of both Saturn, the planet, and Saturday (dies Saturni).
Saturn is often identified with the Greek Cronus. In Hesiod’s Theogony, a mythological account of the creation of the universe and Zeus’ rise to power, Cronus is mentioned as the son of Uranus (the Greek equivalent of Roman Caelus), the heavens, and Gaia (the Greek equivalent of Terra), the earth. Hesiod is an early Greek poet and rhapsode, who presumably lived around 700 BC. He writes that Cronus seizes power, castrating and overthrowing his father Uranus. However, it was foretold that one day a mighty son of Cronus would in turn overthrow him, and Cronus devoured all of his children when they were born to prevent this. Cronus’s wife, Rhea (often identified with the Roman goddess Ops), hid her sixth child, Zeus, on the island of Crete, and offered Cronus a large stone wrapped in swaddling clothes in his place; Cronus promptly devoured it. Zeus later overthrew Cronus and the other Titans, becoming the new supreme ruler of the cosmos. (taken from Wikipedia)
In Sailor Moon:


Sailor Saturn, aka Hotaru Tomoe, and the last addition to the Outer Senshi. Sailor Saturn has frightening destructive powers on a planetary scale, but can also heal minor injuries and put up energy barriers. Hotaru was a kind but lonely girl with no friends until Chibiusa came along. She had a very weak body and suffered from countless seizures because an alien entity, Mistress 9, had been implanted inside of her body. As if that weren’t enough, Hotaru was also the reincarnation of Sailor Saturn, the most feared Sailor Senshi, whose awakening brought about destruction and silence. After a very long and arduous battle, where Saturn ended up losing her life, she was reborn into a normal baby to be raised by the Outers (in the manga and Stars season) or her father (in the anime). She later grows up to be a much happier girl and now works alongside the Senshi instead of being feared by them.
Similarities:
First and foremost, I want to point out that a common misconception in the fanbase is that Takeuchi mixed up the powers of Sailors Pluto and Saturn, as Saturn was considered a god of time and Pluto was the god of death. However, its clear that this was intentional on Takeuchi’s part and she actually did much research. You can read a wonderful article on this by Genvid. I highly recommend it!
Sailor Saturn’s Silence Glaive is a scythe-like object obviously referencing the scythe Saturn uses.
The history of Saturn is double in nature. The original Saturn was the Italian god of agriculture and prosperity. The Romans later identified him with Cronos, the oppressive Greek god of time and gloom. The Romans were conscious of Saturn’s dual nature. In fact, two English adjectives derived from Saturn, Saturnian and Saturnine, are direct opposites: the former meaning happy and prosperous, the latter meaning gloomy and sullen. Duality reflected, possibly by coincidence, in the happy child Hotaru, and the cold, gloomy Messiah (Sovereign) of Silence. (Taken from Tripod)

(Link to the Saturn and Pluto switches article)
http://www.genvid.com/diesgaudii/saturnpluto/new/index.html
(Link to Tripod article)
http://mrcheesequeen.tripod.com/temple.html#saturn

Coronis
In Greek Myth:
Coronis (“crow” or “raven”), daughter of Phlegyas, King of the Lapiths, was one of Apollo’s lovers. While Apollo was away, Coronis, already pregnant with Asclepius, fell in love with Ischys, son of Elatus. A white crow which Apollo had left to guard her informed him of the affair and Apollo, enraged that the bird had not pecked out Ischys’ eyes as soon as he approached Coronis, flung a curse upon it so furious that it scorched its feathers, which is why all crows are black. Apollo sent his sister, Artemis, to kill Coronis because he could not bring himself to. Afterward Apollo, feeling dejected, only regained his presence of mind when Coronis’ body was already aflame on a funeral pyre. Upon a sign from Apollo, Hermes cut the unborn child out of her womb and gave it to the centaur Chiron to raise. Hermes then brought her soul to Tartarus.
Another girl named Coronis was the daughter of King Coronaeus of Phocis, she fled from Poseidon and was changed into a crow by Artemis.
In Sailor Moon:



Coronis is a planet mentioned only in the Sailor Moon manga. It was said to be the original home planet of Deimos and Phobos, as well as Sailor Coronis and Sailor Lead Crow. The planet was devastated during Sailor Galaxia’s conquest of the galaxy. (Taken from Wikimoon)
Sailor Coronis was killed so that Sailor Lead Crow could take her Sailor Crystal and become a Senshi herself.
Sailor Lead Crow is a member of the Sailor Animamates. She worked for a time as the partner of Sailor Aluminum Siren. Lead Crow was not very much like her partner: she was very dominant, very driven, and annoyed with failure. She was also very cunning, and her resolve caused her to argue with Seiren. Nevertheless, Lead Crow and Aluminum Seiren got along very well, and shared a deep, respectful relationship with one another under their professed rivalry. In the manga, she was killed by Eternal Sailor Moon, and in the anime she was sucked into a black hole, which she had threatened to use against the Senshi before Sailor Tin Nyanko forced her to drop it.
Similarities:
Both of the Greek myths presented involve crows in some way or form. This is very evident in Sailor Lead Crow. Aside from this, there is little mythological significance, probably because both Coronis’s were very minor characters with little known about them.

I've been EXTREMELY lazy, but I'm going to start up this segment again. ^^

Oh, wow - this thread is amazing so far. I can't wait to see further additions to it. ^_^

bump, is there another thread with mythology?