Tenoh Haruka – Astrology & Mythology
Taken from http://209.132.4.118/sm/tenoh/myth.html
Please note: Even though Takeuchi Naoko used mostly Roman names of mythological characters when she was find names & for her own characters, I will use the Greek names at this page instead .I do this because - as any student of mythology knows - the Romans gods & characters are almost all facsimiles of the orginal Greek mythology characters. Also all the mythology connected to the sailor senshi is Greek, not Roman, so it makes sense to use the Greek names. Therefore, if you if you are used to the Roman names because you 've been watching lots of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon or something, here's a Greek-to-Roman mythology name conversion chart to help you understand this page better:
Haruka & Her Sunsign
Haruka is an Aquarius (Aquarius –the Water-Bearer – eleventh sign of the zodiac), & fits the description of the stereotypical Aquarius quite well: mentally quick, bright, not of the norm, distant cool, revolutionary, independent, unsettling, forward-thinking, stubborn, opinionated, charismatic (Aquarians have what is called a “distant glamour”). Aquarius is an air sign, which fits with Haruka’s family name of “Tenoh” (“sky ruler”). Also, the name “Haruka” means “distant”, which fits the Aquarian quality of distance as well as the distant nature of the skies/heavens. The ruling planet of Aquarius is Uranus (before the planet Uranus was discovered, Saturn was considered the ruling planet of Aquarius), hence Haruka’s designation as Sailor Uranus.
Hauka’s Mythology
Ouranos is the Greek god of the sky, which makes for another connection to the name of “Tenoh”. Also, “Ouranos” is the Greek word for “sky” or heaven, and Ouranos was really a “concept god” or “abstract god” in that he wasn’t really a god with a personality, but rather a god who just personified the sky itself.Keeping that in mind, Ouranos (the sky) was both son and husband to Gaea (the earth) – back in that time heaven and earth (Ouranos and Gaea) were locked in a close embrace. Through their union, was born the Cyclopes, the giants, and the titans: the titans fathered the more well-known Greek gods (the Olympian gods) such as Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hades, et ce tera At any rate, Cronus, the youngest Titan born to Gaea and Ouranos, was jealous of Ouranos’ love for Gaea, and he castrated Ouranos with a scythe. o_O;;; He then flung Ouranos’ bleeding genitals into the sea and Ouranos fled, prophesying that one of Cronus’ sons would depose him just as he had deposed Ouranos.
Ever since that time, heaven and earth have not been locked in embrace but have rather been far apart, separated by Cronus’ action.As for the bleeding genitals, they turned to foam on the sea, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love was born from this “special” sea foam. O_o This myth is significant in that the castration of Ouranos has always linked him to androgyneity, one of Haruka’s trademark qualities. Also, Ouranos has always been linked to homosexual love – mainly male homosexual love – because of the fact that Aphrodite being born from Ouranos’ genitals was basically a metaphor for love being born from pure masculinity. The Ouranos Aphrodite myth is one mythological connection to Haruka’s homosexuality, as is the myth about the constellation Aquarius, which is written below
Mythology behind the Constellation Aquarius
Zeus fell in love with Ganymede, youngest son of king Tros of Troy and the most gorgeous youth that ever existed; this was Zeus’ only affair with another male. Some say Zeus turned into a giant eagle and abducted Ganymede from Troy while others say that Zeus just sent a great eagle to fetch the youth for him. But whatever the case was, Zeus made Ganymede his lover and cupbearer to the Olympian gods. King Tros was upset over the abduction of his son, but was placated by a gift from Zeus of two immortal horses; these horses would later belong to Achilles.
As Zeus’ wife, Hera, Queen of the gods was naturally upset at Ganymede being the cupbearer, as he had deposed Hera and Zeus’ daughter Hebe, the goddess of youth. To avoid Hera’s wrath, Zeus turned Ganymede into the constellation Aquarius – the water bearer.
As Ganymede (whose Roman name means “Catamitus” gives us the word “catamite” the myth behind him the constellation Aquarius is the Greek archetype of homosexual love, this myth makes clear the connection of homosexuality to Aquarius to Haruka. This doesn’t mean that all Aquarians are gay… :P …it just means that it makes sense for Takeuchi Naoko to have made Haruka an Aquarius.
