The Fundamental Question of Philosophy —“Where did I come from?”—has remained one of humanity’s greatest curiosities, yet it continues to elude definitive answers. Many find religious explanations, such as the idea that “God created everything,” unsatisfactory because they still wonder: How did God create life? And who, in turn, created God?
Panspermia: Life from the Cosmos
In modern astrobiology, the hypothesis of panspermia has gained increasing attention. This scientific theory suggests that the fundamental building blocks of life, or even microorganisms, may have originated in space and were transported to Earth via asteroids, comets, or meteorite impacts, sparking the emergence of life.
The idea of panspermia can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Anaxagoras. He proposed that "seeds of life" (sperma, the Greek word for "seed") are scattered throughout the cosmos and can develop into living organisms when they encounter suitable environments.
Recent scientific discoveries have further strengthened the plausibility of this hypothesis. Organic compounds essential to life on Earth—such as water and amino acids—have been found on meteorites, asteroids, and comets, providing compelling evidence that the ingredients for life may indeed have extraterrestrial origins.
Mythological Naming: A Reflection of Collective Unconscious
Ancient mythology has always been a wellspring of religious and scientific thought. Science, rather than abandoning myth, has continued to draw inspiration from it. Many celestial bodies in our solar system are named after deities from Roman and Greek mythology. For instance, Mercury (Hermes in Greek) represents swiftness; Venus (Aphrodite in Greek) embodies beauty; Mars (Ares in Greek) symbolizes war; and Jupiter (Zeus in Greek) stands for kingship and power.
NASA’s space missions have also followed this tradition, naming numerous projects after mythological figures. Notable examples include the Apollo program, Juno, and the Neptune probe. Also we found a long list of Asteroids that are named after ancient mythology.
To me, this phenomenon reflects the workings of the collective unconscious—an innate drive to reenact myths or reconstruct the story of creation. Even before science can definitively prove that life on Earth originated from cosmic bodies, humanity’s unconscious mind has already assigned mythological identities to newly discovered celestial objects. In essence, our naming conventions mirror our deep-seated instincts and narratives about creation and the universe.
Now, take a look at the fascinating pareidolic connections below. If you believe in reincarnation, it’s not hard to imagine that these asteroids might hold clues to the cosmic cycle of life and death—The eternal souls of humanity, or Gods.
1. Asteroid Arrokoth (The Sky)
The name Arrokoth means "sky." It is one of the most distant and primordial asteroids ever observed, symbolizing humanity's quest to explore the outer reaches of the solar system. When you look at its right-facing silhouette, doesn't it strikingly resemble an ancient clay figurine of a "primordial human"?
2. Asteroid Psyche (The Soul)
The name Psyche means "soul" or "mind," named after the resilient and beautiful figure from Greek mythology who embodies the essence of the soul and love. Look at its pair of large eyes—aren’t they the very windows to the soul, laid bare?
3. Asteroid Dinkinesh (Lucy)
The name Dinkinesh comes from Amharic and means "You are marvelous." It is the local name for Lucy, the famous early human fossil discovered in Ethiopia. Take a close look at its left-facing profile—the two small eyes and toothy mouth bear an uncanny resemblance to an unearthed primate skull. Clearly, Lucy’s name is no mere coincidence.
4. Asteroid Ida (Mount Ida)
The name Ida comes from Mount Ida in Greek mythology, a sacred place linked to the legend of Zeus’s birth. Look closely—doesn't it resemble a mummified human figure?
5. Asteroid Apophis （Apep）
The name Apophis comes from the Greek rendition of Apep, the malevolent deity in ancient Egyptian mythology who embodies chaos, darkness, and destruction. This sinister figure symbolizes disorder and devastation, mirroring the asteroid’s once-feared potential threat to Earth.
6. Jupiter Trojan Asteroids （Trojan Heros）
The Jupiter Trojan asteroid group is traditionally named after characters from Greek mythology associated with the Trojan War. As shown in the images above, Patroclus/Menoetius, Eurybates, Orus, Leucus, and Polymele are all named after heroes of the war. Scientists believe that Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids are likely primordial bodies from the early solar system, making them valuable for studying planetary formation and the evolution of our solar system.
7. Asteroid Juno (Mother of Gods)
The name Juno comes from the Roman goddess Juno, the mother of the gods and a symbol of marriage and feminine power. Its appearance is striking—almost like a vivid ghostly face, with one large left eye and a smaller right eye. After all, life is never perfectly symmetrical at its beginning—imperfection is what allows evolution to unfold.
8. Asteroid Ceres (Goddess of Earth)
This was the first asteroid ever discovered, named after Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, symbolizing fertility and the Earth’s abundance. Interestingly, compared to Juno, the mother of the gods, Ceres—much like Earth itself—appears as an almost perfectly round sphere, the ultimate beginning and end of life.
(The above images are from NASA's official site, with slight enhancements to clarify the pareidolia effect. You can view the original images on NASA's website.)
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