Venus is the legendary Roman Goddess of Love and Beauty. She is identified with the Greek Goddess Aphrodite and inherits her characteristics of beauty, femininity and sexuality. In the grounds of her temple were groves in which worshippers could make love.

Venus is the only planet to be named after a Goddess and most of her planetary features are also named after Goddesses. These include the Norse Goddess Sif, wife of Thor the mighty God of Thunder.

Sif symbolised fidelity in marriage. She bore two sons Magni and Modi whose names respectively mean 'strength' and 'anger' - characteristics that they inherited from their father.

When Loki cut off Sif's long blonde hair, Thor caught him and squeezed him until he begged for mercy. To gain his freedom, Loki convinced dwarves to spin hair from gold that would flow from Sif's head.