Symbolism of the Milky Way

The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. The name "Milky Way" is a translation of the Latin via lactea, from the Greek γαλαξίας κύκλος (galaxías kýklos, "milky circle"). How did the name come from?

For the Ancient Greeks and Romans the Milky Ways was the milk that was squirted out from Hera's breast as she tore the nursing Herakles away, or ithe milk that spilled  from Ops's breast when she hid her child from her husband Saturn.

How did other people imagine the Milky Way?
The Milky Way was the celestial counterpart of the most important rivers, like the Ganges, Nile or the Yang-Ce. Or it was a river in the sky. Because of it's shape it was also associated with serpents,
(The Sumerians called it the Snake River.)

The Milky Way functioned also as a road.
The Sumerians believed that ghosts followed the Milky Way to the Otherworld. The Norse believed it was a path for the dead warriors. For the Christians it symbolizes the pilgrim's path. Inuit and Bushmen both see it as a track of ashes that glows for the traveller to follow.

For the Mongols and Tibetans the Milky Way is the breath of an elephant, which is swimming in the sea that encircles the Earth.