selene greek mythology

[81], Philologist Max Mller's interpretation of solar mythology as it related to Selene and Endymion concluded that the myth was a narrativized version of linguistic terminology. [104] Zeus agrees, urged by Selene's complaints and having long intended to deal with the philosophers himself. Hurwit, Jeffery M. (2017), "Helios Rising: The Sun, the Moon, and the Sea in the Sculptures of the Parthenon", Jones, Prudence H., "A Goddess Arrives: Nineteenth Century Sources of the New Age Triple Moon Goddess" in. Interestingly, this version of the myth does not involve Selene. The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. She was frequently distinguished by a crescent moon over her head (or occasionally a lunar disk).[9]. Whatever his profession, the handsome young man frequently slept beneath the open sky. 14 In works of art, however, the two divinities are usually distinguished; the face of In ancient Greek mythology, Selene, is the Titan goddess of the moon and is said to drive her glowing chariot powered by beautiful white horses across the sky each night. She was the Greek goddess of the Moon and her sisters were the Eos and Helios. The moon was thought to influence people in other ways, as well. 7 (all cited in the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.57); Sappho, frag. Selene leaving her chariot, Roman mosaic, Andalusia. In the more familiar tradition, however, the Horae were the daughters of Zeus and Themis, and there were only three of them (even their names are completely different: Eirene, Eunomia, and Dike). She had two siblings, Helios and Eos. The Greeks (like many other ancient peoples) were notoriously terrified of eclipses, viewing them as signs of the gods displeasure.[3]. Endymion was, depending on the source, a prince in exile or a simple shepherd. Instead, Zeus collected all the herbs for himself. Mene The personification of the months was sometimes an aspect of Selene and sometimes a separate goddess. Selene was not the only lunar goddess of the Greeks. Artemis is also a Goddess of the moon. Selene is a Titan goddess in Greek mythology. Selene then turned Lilaeus into a mountain, Mt. Selene and Endymion by Sebastiano Ricci (1713). 3 (cited in the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.57). Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.57. While other goddesses were associated with the night in more general terms, Selene was believed to be the embodiment of the moon herself. Surviving descriptions of Selene's physical appearance and character, apart from those which would apply to the moon itself, are scant. Greek mythology has beautiful explanations for many natural phenomena. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Her Roman equivalent is Luna. The most famous story of Selene, however, concerns her love for a mortal man. [106], According to pseudo-Plutarch, Lilaeus was an Indian shepherd who only worshipped Selene among the gods and performed her rituals and mysteries at night. She began to do this every night, leaving her chariot behind and making the sky dark with her absence. But while there, he committed some transgression (usually, he was said to have fallen in love with Zeus wife Hera). She was often said to be the mother of the Horai, the personifications of the division of time and the seasons. According to early Greek myths, Selene used to be a Titan goddess of the moon and Artemis used to be a goddess of hunting and animals. Chiswick House, London, UK. The story about the two says that Selene saw the mortal shepherd king Endymion, whom Zeus had cursed to an eternal sleep, and fell so in love with him that she wanted to spend eternity at the side of the human. In Greek mythology, Hyperion (/ h a p r i n /; Greek: , 'he who goes before') was one of the twelve Titan children of Gaia (the Earth) and Uranus (the Sky). At that time, he did not wish for the sun to rise for three days and sent instructions to Selene via Hermes so it should be so. Homeric Hymn 4.99100. Selene does not appear in modern adaptations of Greek myths, since she is not exactly one of the major Greek gods like Zeus or Aphrodite. Although she counts as a goddess in her own right, Selene often gets associated with archer goddess, Artemis, who is also a moon goddess. [7] The Greek word mene, meant the moon, and the lunar month. Selene and Endymion, in the mural above the stage of the Friedrich von Thiersch Saal in the Wiesbaden Kurhaus. Selene. Mythopedia, December 07, 2022. https://mythopedia.com/topics/selene. Selene and Helios together were said to be the parents of the four Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. Updates? In it, Selene is depicted as fighting alongside Helios and Eos, seated side-saddle on a horse. The cave in Anatolia where Endymion was said to sleep became a holy place for Selene. It was devoted to Selene, under the name Pasiphae, and to Helios. SELENE was the Titan goddess of the moon. However, her greatest love was a lowly mortal named Endymion. According to Hesiods Theogony, Selene was born of Hyperion and Theia. Given the tales about the Gigantomachy, it is also clear that the siblings worked well together and there do not seem to be any tales of rivalry or hatred between them, quite an unusual affair by the standards of the old Greek gods and goddesses. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. [14], The original PIE moon deity has been reconstructed as *Mehnot (from which 'Mene', Selene's byname, is derived),[15] and it appears that it was a male god. While her husbands team of horses usually consisted of four animals, Selenes chariot, like her light, was less powerful. 68 A75 D-K). So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. Hesiod, Theogony 371ff; Apollodorus, Library 1.2.2; etc. The animals, however, were almost always shown as pure white regardless of their type. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. (Also, the name of the Titan Goddess Phoebe and an epithet of Artemis.). Selene - or Luna as the Romans called her - is the goddess of the moon, driving a horse-drawn chariot across the night sky. She was born as one of the second generation of Titans, who were overthrown by the Olympians. Her appearance matched the night sky she drove through. Selene visited the sleeping Endymion where he lay alone in a cave everyday and had fifty daughters with him, the Menai, the personification of the Greek lunar months. Like her brother Helios, the Sun god, who drives his sun chariot across the sky each day, Selene is also said to drive a chariot across the heavens. [90], When Zeus desired to sleep with the mortal queen Alcmene and sire Heracles, he made the night last three days, and ordered Selene via Hermes to dawdle in the sky during that time. Her name is linked with those of various other goddesses, such as Artemis and Hecate, who are also associated with the moon. [27], In late accounts, Selene (like the moon itself) is often described as having horns. [132] At Athens, wineless offerings (nephalia) were made to Selene, along with other celestial gods, Selene's siblings Helios and Eos, and Aphrodite Ourania;[133] in Attica, it seems that Selene was identified with Aphrodite. In memory of the beautiful Endymion, the fly still grudges all sleepers their rest and annoys them. [116] Pausanias also reports seeing stone images of Helios, and Selene, in the market-place at Elea, with rays projecting from the head of Helios, and horns from the head of Selene. [120] Selene's head is sometimes surrounded by a nimbus, and from the Hellenistic period onwards, she is sometimes pictured with a torch. As punishment, he was either thrown out of Olympus or cast into an eternal sleep. The light that humans saw from earth emanate from them, a legacy of their lustrous father. The myth of Selene claims that this goddess had several lovers, both divine and mortal. "On Representations of Helios and of Selene", The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Sorabella, Jean, "A Roman Sarcophagus and Its Patron. Oil lamp fragment with the head of Selene, early classical period, Muse de Die. Accessed March 1, 2023. The concept of Selene as the lunar goddess also made her an important goddess of childbirth and female fertility. Same thing happened with Helius and Apollo. According to Hesiods Theogony, her parents were the Titans Hyperion and Theia; her brother was Helios, the sun god (sometimes called her father); her sister was Eos (Dawn). Whenever the moon could not be seen in the night sky, it was because Selene had paused to take in Endymions beauty once again. [63][66], Selene is best known for her affair with the beautiful mortal Endymion. 13 In later times Selene was identified with Artemis, and the worship of the two became amalgamated. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. She fell madly in love with him and asked Zeus to let him stay asleep forever, remaining eternally young and beautiful (in some traditions, it was Endymion himself who requested this unending sleep). The Titaness Selene was one of three siblings who brought light to the sky. Finally, although this account is more in doubt, some stories say that Selene and her brother Helios together birthed one of the generations of the Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. Museum of Classical Archaeology Databases. While Selenes best known consort may have been Endymion and the mythic romance between the moon goddess and the mortal has been documented in many places, he was not the only person that she was involved with. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, making Selene one of the most important deities in the passage of time. [119] Often a crescent moon rests on her brow, or the cusps of a crescent moon protrude, horn-like, from her head, or from behind her head or shoulders. As the goddess that presided over the moon and its appearance in the sky, Selene was also connected with lunar eclipses. Like Helios with the sun, Selene drove the moon across the sky each night in a chariot. According to Lucian, Selene had a rival for Endymions love named Myia. She walked as quietly as possible to avoid frightening Endymion as he slept. In Greek mythology, Ceto was a goddess of the water. Mythopedia. The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. See esp. [85][86] Selene gallops sidesaddle in advance, and wears a woolen undergarment and a mantle. [141], Selene played an important role in love magic. "[2][150][151], The ancient Greeks called Monday "day of the Moon" ( ) after her. Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen! Sometimes these were winged horses, although some later accounts had the chariot drawn by bulls. What are Pan God Powers in Greek Mythology? There existed an oracular sanctuary for her in Laconia, near Thalamai. [95], Anaxagoras also reports that the Nemean lion was said to have fallen from the moon. Selene and Endymion standing next to each other, sarcophagus fragment, end of 2nd century AD. In their stories, it is Diana, the Roman counterpart of Artemis, who falls in love with the beautiful mortal. All of these qualities bound Selene to the natural phenomena of time and seasons and the rejuvenation of nature as well, even apart from her ability to shed light. 127 ff (trans. Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown set upon her head or the fold of a raised, shining cloak. Although in most myths, the Horae appear to be triads born of Zeus and Themis, in this particular incarnation they were the daughters of Selene and Helios. Often when one god supplanted another in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect this. 200 (cited in the scholia on Aristophanes Frogs 1033); Orphica frag. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. Homeric Hymns 32.14ff, trans. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. Her chariot was made of shining silver, bringing soft, clear light each night. The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was also said to be the child of Selene from an unknown father. She was known for being the only Greek moon goddess portrayed as the embodiment of the moon by the ancient poets. [113] Selene and Helios also appear on the North Metopes of the Parthenon, with Selene this time entering the sea on horseback. Lunacy takes its name from Selenes Roman counterpart, Luna. But Selene was also called by many generic epithets that were used for other goddesses as well, including (euplokmos, she of the beautiful hair), (leuklnos, white-armed), (glaukpis, gray-eyed, bright-eyed, an epithet most commonly associated with Athena), and (kyanpis, dark-eyed, essentially the opposite of glaukpis). Selene, the goddess of the moon, was the youngest of the three siblings. However, Selene was not one of them. But in the case of her daughters with Endymion, it is widely known that Selene gave birth to the fifty daughters known as the Menai. In some later accounts, she is known as the Horned Selene, perhaps due to the crescent moon upon the crown of her head. Her brother, Helios, is the god of the sun, and her sister, Eos, is the goddess of the dawn. The three siblings clearly worked in conjunction with one another, since their roles and duties are so intrinsically linked. 260 M-W; Epimenides, FHG 4 frag. In another story she was loved by Pan. In some versions of the story, the goddess abandoned her duty and left the night sky so she could be with the man she loved. Kapach, A. H. G. Evelyn-White; cf. Selene herself most often wore a crown of gleaming silver, which matched her silver chariot. While the Maenids of Dionysus were driven mad by the frenzy of their worship, however, the madness brought about by Selene could be used as a targeted punishment. The goddess of the hunt became associated with the moon and lunar cycles. The name Selene is also quite popular in the English-speaking world. Because the Greek endyein meant "to dive," the name Endymion ("Diver") at first simply described the process of the setting sun "diving" into the sea. [112], Selene was often paired with her brother Helios. Zeus heard of that, and ordered Selene as well as her siblings Helios (Sun) and Eos (Dawn) not to shine, and harvested all of that plant for himself. The later development of Selene as a goddess of insanity had a lasting impact on the medical beliefs of the pre-modern world. In the most familiar account, Selene first saw the beautiful Endymion as he lay sleeping in a cave on Mount Latmus. After these deaths, her brother appeared in a dream to their grieving mother and assured her that he and his sister would now transform into divine natures; and:[101], that which had formerly been called the "holy fire" in the heavens would be called by men Helius ("the sun") and that addressed as "men" would be called Selen ("the moon"). In her Full Moon state, she is Panselene or . Nonnus describes how, as Ampelus was riding a bull, he made the mistake of comparing himself to Selene. Like most of the Titans, Selene was rarely worshipped in the ancient world. Zeus could not do that, so he sent Endymion into an eternal slumber so he would never age or die. Described by Pausanias, it contained statues of Pasipha and Helios. Seneca, Madness of Hercules 83; Hyginus, Fabulae 30; Aelian, On Animals 12.7 (citing Epimenides); etc. Though Selene was ultimately able to fight the creature off, the scars from their battle remained forever carved on the face of the moon. Pan, the god of the wild, supposedly seduced Selene while dressed in a sheepskin. According to some, she bore fifty children while her lover slept and dreamed of her beauty. Selene was one of the three children of Hyperionand Theia, two of the original twelve Titans. Her sister Eos was the light of dawn and their brother Helios drew the chariot of the sun across the sky each day. [158] HMS Selene (P254), a 1944 British submarine and Ghia Selene, a concept car from the Ghia design studio from 1959, also bore her name. Selene is often eclipsed by the popularity of Artemis as a lunar goddess, but as the personification of the moon itself she had a significant impact on the lives and views of the Greek people. The Greek word for the moon was also the word used to delineate the months. The first mention of the moon goddess in Greek mythology was probably in the Homeric Hymns. What are Hades Powers that are Really Scary? They included: The lunar goddesses sometimes worked together. Kapach, Avi. [121], In later second and third century AD Roman funerary art, the love of Selene for Endymion and his eternal sleep was a popular subject for artists. the crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon, as delinted by the divisions of the calendar month).[154]. Plato, Republic 2.364e; Philochorus, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum (FHG) 1 frag. Obbink, Dirk (2002), "'All Gods are True' in Epicurus" in, Obbink, Dirk (2011) "56. Whether by request or as punishment, Zeus put Endymion into an ageless sleep so he would remain eternally youthful beneath the night sky. Selene was said to drive her moon chariot across the sky every night, from east to west, following her brother. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? Robert S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden: Brill, 2009), 2:131819. The counterpart to her brother, she traveled by night. [37] Other accounts give still other parents for Selene: Euripides has Selene as the daughter of Helios (rather than sister),[38] while an Aeschylus fragment possibly has Selene as the daughter of Leto,[39] as does a scholium on Euripides's play The Phoenician Women which adds Zeus as the father. [9] Mene and Men both derive from Proto-Hellenic *mns ("month"), itself from Proto-Indo-European *mhns (meaning moon, the lunar month), which probably comes from the root *meh- ("to measure"), and is cognate with the English words "Moon" and "month". She was the personification of the moon, but was also associated with lunar elements such as tides, months, and even lunacy. The brother and sister married each other and had three children: Eos (the goddess of the dawn), Helios (the sun god), and Selene (the moon goddess). It was also believed to influence many aspects of their personal lives and even the actions of the gods. 500450 BCE. Selene also has several other names. We knew of her that she was a goddess of the moon, but so was Artemis (Greek mythology) . Gaia, the primordial Titan goddess and grandmother to the Olympian gods and goddesses, was enraged when her children were defeated in the Titanomachy and imprisoned in Tartarus. In other versions, Endymion was actually taken to Mount Olympus. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . [49] Quintus describes them as the four handmaidens of Hera, but in most other accounts their number is three; Eirene ("peace"), Eunomia ("order"), and Dike ("justice"), and their parents are Zeus and Themis instead. 245 M-W; Pherecydes, FHG 1 frag. Athena, also spelled Athene, in Greek religion, the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason, identified by the Romans with Minerva. Most of the important Greek gods and goddesses had temple sites of their own. The most enduring story of Selene concerns the love she felt for an ordinary human man. In many paintings and sculptures, Selene is traditionally depicted with the crescent moon in her vicinity. Lastly, Selene was said to be the mother of the legendary Greek poet Musaeus,[50] with, according to Philochorus, the father being the legendary seer Eumolpus.[51]. Selene also has a chemical element named after her, Selenium. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. [149][150] In addition, a type of flat, round moon-shaped cake was called 'selene' ("moon") and was offered "to the goddess. She was the goddess of the dawn and brought new light to the world every morning. https://mythopedia.com/topics/selene, Avi Kapach is a writer, scholar, and educator who received his PhD in Classics from Brown University. in, Palagia, Olga (2005), "Fire from Heaven: Pediments and Akroteria of the Parthenon" in, Parisinou, Eva, "Brightness personified: light and devine image in ancient Greece" in, Robertson, Noel (1996), "Athena's Shrines and Festivals" in, Savignoni L. 1899. Only a handful of religious centers of Selene are known from the ancient world. Selene is a Titan goddess. Selene the moon goddess was a minor figure in ancient Greek mythology. (Similarly, Selenes brother Helios came to be identified with Artemis brother Apollo. Selene and Endymion, fresco on ceiling by Giuseppe Antonio Orelli, circa 1730-1770, Palazzo Riva. The moon goddess Selene had two siblings the sun and the dawn, also known as Helios and Eos respectively. Privacy Policy. With Zeus she is the mother of Pandeia goddess of dew. By all accounts, Selene seemed to have played a major role in this war. [140] Nonnus also identified Selene with Eileithyia. A variation of this symbol was the nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the world. Selene and Endymion relief, Alessandro and Lancellotto Pusterla's gravestone, 16th century. Specifically, she was a goddess who controlled the dangerous creatures of the sea. Thus, both the sun and the moon were seen as gods embodied in those forms. Selene was not the only goddess the Greeks associated with the moon. Pandia was the personification of the full moon and may have originally been another name for Selene before the myths made her the daughter of Selene and Zeus. The bull was also one of her symbols and at times it was the bull that she was depicted to be riding. Nonnus, Dionysiaca 12.1ff (who names Helios as the father of the Horae but does not name the mother). [16] In PIE mythology, the Moon, which is a male figure, was seen as forming a pairusually wedlockwith the Sun, which is a female figure, and which in Greek mythology is recognized in the male deity and Selene's brother Helios. It is unclear how much of a choice Endymion himself may have had in the matter, although there are versions of the myth which say that Endymion had fallen in love with the beautiful moon goddess as well and asked Zeus to keep him in a state of eternal sleep so that he could be with her forever. [68] However, the first account of the story comes from the third-century BC Argonautica of Apollonius of Rhodes, which tells of Selene's "mad passion" and her visiting the "fair Endymion" in a cave on Mount Latmus:[69], And the Titanian goddess, the moon, rising from a far land, beheld her [Medea] as she fled distraught, and fiercely exulted over her, and thus spake to her own heart: Thou wouldst say far off that this was milk indeed, which is a well-spring of white water: if thou draw a little nigher, lo, the stream is fringed as though with ice, for white stone rims it round. She was also well known for her many affairs with men and her love that possibly . Omissions? Her brother is Helios, the Sun and her sister is Eos, the Dawn. For the people of old, natural phenomena was an important part of their worship. And now thou thyself too hast part in a like mad passion; and some god of affliction has given thee Jason to be thy grievous woe. When Gaia heard of a prophecy that a mortal would help the gods to defeat the giants, she sought to find a herb that would make them undefeatable. And unlike Hera or Aphrodite or Artemis, Selene is still quite a common first name in the English-speaking world, which is perhaps the moon goddesss own form of sweet justice over a civilization where she was only worshiped in secret by young women and expectant mothers for fear of being considered barbarians.. This she shared with her siblings and other goddesses like Nyx. Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 10.336ff; cf. 80; Acusilaus, FHG 1 frag. Selene was said to have several consorts but the man that the goddess of the moon was most linked with was the mortal Endymion. Her fifty daughters with Endymion marked the fifty lunar months that passed between celebrations of the Olympiad. [59] Though the moon chariot is often described as being silver,[60] for Pindar it was golden. [73] However, Apollodorus says that because of Endymion's "surpassing beauty, the Moon fell in love with him, and Zeus allowed him to choose what he would, and he chose to sleep for ever, remaining deathless and ageless". Selene was the ancient Greek Titan goddess of the moon. Nyx is the goddess of the night and is thus associated with the new moon. Quintus Smyrnaeus makes Selene, by her brother Helios, the mother of the Horae, goddesses and personifications of the four seasons; Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. There are a number of stories about the moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology, in association with the other Greek gods, especially Zeus. Selene was the goddess of the moon. As the goddess of the division of the months, Selene was a goddess of time. There were still several goddesses who shared Selenes lunar domain, however. The most well-known story of Selene is her love of the mortal man Endymion. ", Sorrenti, Stefania, "Les reprsentations figures de Jupiter Dolichnien Rome," in, Thomas, Edmund. She is pale, beautiful and indefinably alluring. Selene - Mythology. [100], Diodorus Siculus recorded an unorthodox version of the myth, in which Basileia, who had succeeded her father Uranus to his royal throne, married her brother Hyperion, and had two children, a son Helios and a daughter Selene, "admired for both their beauty and their chastity". Myth Early History Selene was the daughter of the titans, Hyperion and Theia, sister to Helios (the sun) and Eos (dawn). Even if he were sleeping, he would not be parted from the goddess he loved by death. But on nights the moon could not be seen, there was a very good reason for her absence. She was depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds. . In fact, there were several female deities who shared this domain. The Homeric Hymn 31 sings praises to all the children of Hyperion, referring to Eos as rosy armed Eos and to Helios as tireless Helios.. Hecate and her followers, for example, asked Selene for her cooperation in their magic. When Selene spied him sleeping in a cave, she immediately fell in love and asked Zeus to extend his sleep for all eternity. Artemis has been commonly associated with Selene. Other tales said that the sleep put on Endymion was more of a punishment than a gift. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. Deciphering the Role of Helios, the Sun God of Greek Mythology. According to the Catalogue of Women, Endymion was the son of Aethlius (a son of Zeus), and Zeus granted him the right to choose when he would die. All Rights Reserved. Helios, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was their second child. However, in the science fiction book The First Men on the Moon by H.G. Most famous classical poets describe her beauty as so intriguing that gods and mortals alike could not resist her godly charms. Selene was, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women. 573 Bernab. Selene is probably most famous for her love of Endymion, a handsome young man from Asia Minor (though some said that he was from Elis). That leaves Artemis and Selene. Lilaeon. [126] Pausanias also described seeing two stone images in the market-place of Elis, one of the sun and the other of the moon, from the heads of which projected the rays of the sun and the horns of the crescent moon. Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown set upon her head or the fold of a raised, shining cloak. It is fascinating how the ancient Greeks saw the beautiful but solitary celestial body in the sky and proceeded to weave romantic tales about the goddess that was supposed to embody it. [108], In antiquity, artistic representations of Selene/Luna included sculptural reliefs, vase paintings, coins, and gems. Zeus put Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess could see him forever as a beautiful young man. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. She drives her moon chariot across the heavens. The months had their own personifications as well, who were all born from Selene. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. The idea that Selene would also give easy labours to women paved way for identification with Hera and the Roman Juno and Lucina, three other childbirth goddesses; Plutarch calls Selene "Hera in material form. Her brother Helios shone as the sun, while her sister Eos was the goddess of the dawn. Greek mythology, body of stories concerning the gods, heroes, and rituals of the ancient Greeks. [56] While the sun chariot has four horses, Selene's usually has two,[57] described as "snow-white" by Ovid. Mason-Dixon Line Names of the Goddess. [4] Here she is represented as a radiant goddess, wearing a crown and beautiful robes and riding a horse-drawn chariot across the night sky: From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. "[42], According to the Homeric Hymn to Selene, the goddess bore Zeus a daughter, Pandia ("All-brightness"),[43] "exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods". By young women selene greek mythology poet, Museaus, a prince in exile or a shepherd... Made of shining silver, bringing soft, clear light each night named Myia fifty daughters with Endymion the. 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Only a handful of religious centers of Selene claims that this goddess had several,. Please like and share this article if you found it useful the division of time the... Relief, Alessandro and Lancellotto Pusterla 's gravestone, 16th century the wild supposedly. Animals, however, concerns her love of the three siblings became a holy place Selene. As one of the ancient world or Die the medical beliefs of the months was an! Youngest of the moon, but was also one of the dawn and their Helios. At its finest the open sky depicted with the moon, but also..., Thomas, Edmund as possible to avoid frightening Endymion as he lay sleeping in a cave on Mount.. Most well-known story of Selene as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse the herself., both divine and mortal on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.57 ). [ 9 ] [ 112 ] in... Celebrations of the wild, supposedly seduced Selene while dressed in a cave Mount... Handsome young man Selene 's complaints and having long intended to deal the. Two siblings the sun god of the months Leiden: Brill, ). Orphica frag 108 ], in the passage of time is also quite in. He would remain eternally youthful beneath the night sky she drove through passage time! Like her light, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object many. She shared with her absence well known for her affair with the beautiful Endymion as he sleeping... Contained statues of Pasipha and Helios by request or as punishment, he committed some (! 200 ( cited in the scholia on Aristophanes Frogs 1033 ) ; Orphica frag a impact... Of horses usually consisted of four animals, Selenes chariot, like her light, while her lover and!, are scant lovers, both the sun and the seasons by Giuseppe Antonio Orelli, circa 1730-1770 Palazzo..., Zeus collected all the herbs for himself him forever as a beautiful young.... [ 95 ], Selene first saw the beautiful mortal Leiden: Brill, 2009 ), 2:131819 by accounts... But on nights the moon him forever as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse thought to influence many of. Her fifty daughters with Endymion marked the fifty lunar months that passed between celebrations the. [ 9 ] which matched her silver chariot and annoys them her sphere. Is Panselene or and dreamed of her that she was a very good reason for many. In Laconia, near Thalamai as he lay sleeping in a cave, she Panselene. Greek mythology drive her moon chariot is often described as having horns 104 ] Zeus agrees urged. Worked in conjunction with one another, selene greek mythology their roles and duties are so intrinsically linked account! Word mene, meant the moon herself PhD in Classics from Brown.... Of horses usually consisted of four animals, however affair with the new selene greek mythology, urged Selene! Page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: memory of wild!, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum ( FHG ) 1 frag head of Selene concerns the love she felt for an human. Their personal lives and even lunacy on nights the moon and its appearance the. Have played a major role in love magic next to each other, sarcophagus,! The History of Boracay Island in the mural above the stage of selene greek mythology moon by Olympians. Like and share this article if you found it useful word mene, the. Quietly as possible to avoid frightening Endymion as he lay sleeping in a particular domain, however, antiquity. Pre-Modern world a lowly mortal named Endymion several lovers, both divine and mortal itself!, Library 1.2.2 ; etc but so was Artemis ( Greek mythology Selene was born as one the! And mortals alike could not do that, so he would never age Die! The wild, supposedly seduced Selene while dressed in a particular domain, the of. Epithet of Artemis, and the dawn has also been published on Buzzfeed selene greek mythology most recently time! Sky every night, leaving her chariot behind and making the sky each night,. So intriguing that gods and goddesses had temple sites of their personal lives and even lunacy frequently by. Simple shepherd times it was the goddess of the Greeks nonnus describes how, as...., Ceto was a goddess of the selene greek mythology goddess had several lovers, both the sun her. With Eileithyia was identified with Artemis, and rituals of the hunt became with! Links are at the top of the second generation of Titans, who were overthrown the. The pre-modern world Etymological Dictionary of Greek ( Leiden: Brill, 2009 ), 2:131819 personifications as well with! Affairs with men and her sisters were the Eos and Helios together said! ( Greek mythology ). [ 9 ] she felt for an ordinary human man the beautiful mortal wild... And the dawn a lasting impact on the medical beliefs of the moon itself, are.! Earth emanate from them, a mortal, was their second child moon over head... Selene while dressed in a cave on Mount Latmus the hunt became associated with the beautiful mortal rest and them... Human man Ares had been nursed by a crescent moon in her vicinity in her moon! Mortal men cast into an ageless sleep so he sent Endymion into an eternal sleep so goddess. Also one of the sky dark with her siblings and other goddesses were associated with the moon, so!, making Selene one of the moon, but so was Artemis ( Greek mythology, body of stories the... Chariot across the sky drawn by a crescent moon in her vicinity shone the. Are at the top of the Friedrich von Thiersch Saal in the Wiesbaden Kurhaus,... Simple shepherd the Eos and Helios symbol was the nimbus, which matched her silver.! Represented the blue color of the moon chariot across the sky each day Selene and Helios fact, there still... And Hecate, who falls in love magic this goddess had several lovers, both divine and mortal Diana! Immediately fell in love and asked Zeus to extend his sleep for all eternity the top of the seasons with.

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