Why is our galaxy called “The Milky Way Galaxy”?

The Milky Way Galaxy is named for its milky appearance. There’s a Greek poem that describes the galaxy as “that shining wheel, men call it Milk.” To the Greeks, the galaxy was called “Galaxias kuklos,” or “Milky Band.” To the Romans, it was “Via Lactea,” or “Road of Milk.” The Greek word for milk is “gala,” and the word galaxy is derived from it. Human cultures have different names for the Milky Way, like “Celestial River” or “Celestial Road or Path.”