Most people don't realize the influence mythology had on Romance culture, which in turn affected the naming of the streets of New Orleans (and the metro area). For a challenge, pick an area of the city and try to find as many of these streets!
Disclaimer: this post is still in the works.
Everyone knows about the streets in New Orleans named after the Muses, but there are so many more that also have to do with mythology. Below is a compilation of them; let me know if I have missed any of them!
Aglae St. (now Dixon St.)
Aglae comes from the French variant (Aglaé) of the Greek Aglaia, who was one of the three Charities, as well as the goddess of beauty, splendor, and glory. For more information on Aglaia, click here.
Apollo St. (now Carondelet St.)
Apollo was one of the main Olympians. He is the god of many things, including art, music, truth, and poetry; he is the leader of the nine Muses. For more on Apollo, click here.
Aurora Ave.
Aurora is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Eos, the personification of dawn. She was the sister of the sun god Helios and the moon goddess Selene. Astounded by Aurora? Click here.
Avalon St.
Avalon was the legendary British isle in Arthurian tales where Excalibur was forged; it was also the place where Arthur recovered from his wounds after the Battle of Camlann. In Geoffrey Monmouth's Vita Merlini, it was described as an "island of apples," potentially combining the idea of a Celtic elysium and the Christian garden of Eden. For more info, click here.
Bacchus St. (now Baronne St.)
He is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Dionysus, the god of agriculture and wine; he is also associated with celebration. Needless to say, this would be an important symbol for the party city of New Orleans. Are you a fan of this bibulous god? Click here for more information!
E. Ithaca St. (now Poitevant St.)
Ithaca is an actual island in the Ionian Sea in Greece, however, it is the setting for one of the most important Greek myths: the Odyssey. Homer's Odyssey is an inspiration for many romance works of literature, so it is inevitable that the name Ithaca would make its way into the New Orleans culture somehow. Interested in Ithaca? Click here!
Celeste St.
While it isn't a direct correlation, Celeste is the French variant of the name Selene. Selene was the Titan goddess of the moon. Her siblings were Eos and Helios. For more information on Selene, click here.
Clio St.
For more info, click here.
Comus St.
Curious about Comus? Click here.
Calliope St.
Can't contain your excitement for Calliope? Click here.
Dryades St.
Don't want to stop reading about Dryades? Find more out at this website.
Elysian Fields Ave.
Ecstatic about Elysian Fields? Explore more information here.
Egania St.
Elba St.
El Dorado St.
Erato St. (was Melodia Ct.)
Euphrosine St.
Euterpe St.
Focis St.
Felicia St.
Helena St.
Helois St.
Helvia St.
Hercules St. (now Rampart St.)
Hesiod St.
Hevia St.
Homer St.
Horace St.
Hyacinth St.
Iona St.
Julia St.
Juno St. (out of duration)
Leda St.
Leonidas St. (now Lombard St.)
Melodia Ct. (now Erato St.)
Melpomene Pl. (was Bellechasse St. and now Religious St.)
Melpomene Ave. (was Edward St.)
Mithra St. (was Laurel St.)
Mithra can be attributed to the Zoroastrian Angel/God of Covenant, Light, and Oath. It also relates to Mithraism, a religion centered around the god Mithras practiced in the Roman Empire between the 1st and 4th century CE; it was inspired by the Persian worship of the god Mithra. The Romans regarded these Mythraic mysteries as having Zoroastrian and Person roots, but the continuity between the Persian and Greco-Roman beliefs is debatable. For more information, click here.
Momus St.
Momos (Momus), son of Nyx, was the god or spirit of criticism and mockery, among other things. He was expelled by Zeus from Mount Olympus for jeering the gods. According to Momos, Aphrodite wsa the only being that was blameless. For more, click here.
Narcisse St.
Nayades St. (now St. Charles Ave.)
Numa St.
Numa, or Numa Pompilius, was the legendary second King of Rome; he was elected by the Senate after Romulus, the legendary first King of Rome, died. His name represents the authority of law. For more information, click here.
Odin St.
Odin, also known as Woden and Wotan, is the leader of the Aesir tribe of Norse Gods who resides in the realm of Asgard, one of the nine worlds on the Tree of Life, known as Yggdrasil. Odin was in charge of choosing half of the warriors who had fallen in battle bravely to spend their afterlife in Valhalla, a hall filled with dead heroes drinking and fighting whilst preparing for the end, Ragnarok. His name translates to "Master of Ecstasy," so perhaps, this street might have had some historical founding in nightlife. For more info, click here.
Oleander St. (was Fourteenth St.)
In Greek mythology, the Oleander flower represents romance. Leander swam wooed a young maiden and swam across a river every night to see her. One night he drowned, and the maiden found him washed upon the shores as she was crying "Oh, Leander. Oh, Leander." He had the flower in his hands, and the maiden kept it to remind her of their love; the flower continued to grow magically. For more info, click here.
Olympia St.
Orion Ave.
In Greek myth, Orion was a legendary hunter; he was the lover of Artemis, and his death has two stories. However, both involve him being turned into a constellation with the help of Artemis. Click here for more info.
Orpheus Ct.
Click here here for more info.
Paris Ave.
Phosphor Ave.
Polymnia St.
Prytania St.
Prytania was the title given to Hekate as the Invicible Queen of the Dead. Hekate was...
Romulus St. (was Carolyn St. and also N. Gayoso St.)
Solis St. (now S. Robertson St.)
Terpsichore St. (now Eve St.)
Thalia St. (was Estelle St.)
Venus St.
Urania St.