Names of false gods

[rabbiyitz]

The only time it is prohibited to mention the name of an idol is when the name is referring to the idol itself, but here the name is referring to the planet and is not meant in an idolatrous way or as giving recognition to the idol. The Talmud mentions the names of the planets, and I was always under the impression that these were names for the actual planets, and not that the planets were idols. One example is Mars which is called Maadim in the Talmud. I always understood Mars to be a Latinization of Maadim, and Saturn a Latinization of Shabtai.