Artemis has been commonly associated with Selene. Whatever his profession, the handsome young man frequently slept beneath the open sky. Selene and Endymion, fresco on ceiling by Giuseppe Antonio Orelli, circa 1730-1770, Palazzo Riva. These three lunar goddesses were all important to the Greeks in different ways but it was only Selene who was considered the moon incarnate herself. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. A variation of this symbol was the nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the world. Updates? [5], Selenes moon chariotsimilar to the sun chariot of her brother Helios and the dawn chariot of her sister Eoswas probably her most distinctive and consistent attribute. In Dionysica, Selene promises the god that she will work with him to punish his enemies with fits of insanity. [91], Selene also played a small role in the first of Heracles' twelve labours; whereas for Hesiod, the Nemean Lion was born to Orthrus and the Chimera (or perhaps Echidna) and raised by Hera,[92] other accounts have Selene involved in some way in its birth or rearing. Zeus put Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess could see him forever as a beautiful young man. [72] A scholiast on Apollonius says that, according to Epimenides, Endymion fell in love with Hera, and Zeus punished him with eternal sleep. The Greek word for the moon was also the word used to delineate the months. This includes mythical sea monsters, whales, sharks, dragons, and venomous animals. Her request granted, Selene visited him regularly; some sources even reported that they had children together (see above).[27]. Everything We Know About the Greek Goddess of Agriculture, Aphrodite Facts: Awesome Facts about the Goddess of, Interesting Facts about Athena: Greek Goddess of Knowledge. Her sister Eos was the light of dawn and their brother Helios drew the chariot of the sun across the sky each day. By all accounts, Selene seemed to have played a major role in this war. [16][18], Although attempts have been made to connect Selene to Helene due to the similarity of their names, in two early dedications to Helen from Laconia her name is spelled with a digamma (Ancient Greek: , romanized:Welna), ruling out any possible connection between them. Altes Museum, Berlin, Germany. Deciphering the Role of Helios, the Sun God of 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. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, in which months were delineated by the cycles of the moon. Obbink, Dirk (2002), "'All Gods are True' in Epicurus" in, Obbink, Dirk (2011) "56. What are Hades Powers that are Really Scary? Most mythologists assumed that Selene was an older moon goddess that was replaced later by Artemis in myth. The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was also said to be the child of Selene from an unknown father. Some even said that the Nemean Lion, as the offspring of Selene, had originally fallen from the moon.[30]. Greek Gods / Helios. [85][86] Selene gallops sidesaddle in advance, and wears a woolen undergarment and a mantle. 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. The Greeks (like many other ancient peoples) were notoriously terrified of eclipses, viewing them as signs of the gods displeasure.[3]. [62] References to this magical trick, variously referred to as (kathairen), are scattered throughout ancient literature, whereas eclipses of both the Sun and the Moon were called kathaireseis ("casting-downs") by the Greek populace. [104] Zeus agrees, urged by Selene's complaints and having long intended to deal with the philosophers himself. Selene had a relationship with the god Pan, according to Virgil. This was known as the Gigantomachy. For centuries, those affected by mental illness were referred to as lunatics.. [63][66], Selene is best known for her affair with the beautiful mortal Endymion. He soon discovered the source of Selenes distraction. [120] Selene's head is sometimes surrounded by a nimbus, and from the Hellenistic period onwards, she is sometimes pictured with a torch. 199; Strabo, Geography 14.1.8; Catullus, Odes 66.5; Propertius, Elegies 2.15; Ovid, Heroides 15.89ff, 18.59ff; Seneca, Phaedra 309ff; Hyginus, Fabulae 271; Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 8.28ff; Lucian, Dialogues of the Gods 19; Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2.325ff, 4.195ff, 7.237ff, and passim; Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 10.125ff; etc. Worshiped as one of the important celestial lights of the heavens, Selene was also reputedly revered as a deity of agriculture and fertility. Festivals and feasts were determined by the lunar calendar, giving Selene as Mene an important role in the worship of all the gods and goddesses. It was devoted to Selene, under the name Pasiphae, and to Helios. [61], In antiquity, the lunar eclipse phenomena were thought to be caused by witches, particularly the ones from Thessaly, who brought the Moon/Selene down with spells and invocations of magic. Other examples of lunar goddesses and gods are Selenes Roman equivalent Luna, the Mesopotamian Sin, the Egyptian god Khonsu, the Germanic Mani, the Japanese Shinto god Tsukuyomi, the Chinese Change, and the Hindu god Chandra. In Greek mythology, Selene was the Titan goddess of the moon. In Greek mythology, Selene was traditionally depicted as a beautiful young woman, with perhaps paler than usual skin. According to Lucian, Selene had a rival for Endymions love named Myia. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. How Did Uranus get its Name as Per Greek Mythology? Homeric Hymn 32.313, trans. 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. In some cases, it is debated whether she indeed was the mother. Moon gods and goddesses have existed in all ancient pantheistic cultures for a very long time. [29] Empedocles, Euripides and Nonnus all describe her as (glaukpis, "bright-eyed", a common epithet of the goddess Athena)[30] while in a fragment from a poem, possibly written by Pamprepius, she is called (kyanpis, "dark-eyed"). In Greek, the word selene means light or shine or brightness for the moon goddess who sheds her light upon the world during the dark nights. She is dressed in the finest silk robes and travels in her silver moon chariot drawn by luminous steeds across the heavens. It was only later, when Selene began to be conflated with other lunar goddesses, that she was openly worshiped. [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. Privacy Policy. But the Greek cult of Selene grew more and more prevalent towards the end of the Hellenistic period (32331 BCE). In this aspect she was closely associated with Dionysus. Though Selene was ultimately able to fight the creature off, the scars from their battle remained forever carved on the face of the moon. Mene, a name that she was also commonly known by, meant the moon or the lunar month, from the root mens which meant month. This is an attribute that she shares with her Roman equivalent Luna, where the latin luna also means moon.. While there were many goddesses associated with the moon and lunar powers, Selene personified the moon and its light. [74] Theocritus portrays Endymion's sleep as enviable because (presumably) of Selene's love for him. [146], Her and her brother's worship is also attested in Gytheum, a town in Laconia near Sparta, via an inscription (C.I.G. She walked as quietly as possible to avoid frightening Endymion as he slept. However, her greatest love was a lowly mortal named Endymion. [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. Athena, also spelled Athene, in Greek religion, the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason, identified by the Romans with Minerva. 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). As the embodiment of the moon, Selene and the movement of her chariot across the night sky was important for the Greeks to measure time. [112], Selene was often paired with her brother Helios. 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 appearance matched the night sky she drove through. H. G. Evelyn-White. She was often said to be the mother of the Horai, the personifications of the division of time and the seasons. [47] Nonnus has Selene and Endymion as the parents of the beautiful Narcissus, although in other accounts, including Ovid's Metamorphoses, Narcissus was the son of Cephissus and Liriope.[48]. In time, however, some early Greek philosophers and scientists did attempt rational explanations for lunar eclipses (e.g., Democritus, frag. [96] Pseudo-Plutarch's On Rivers has Hera collaborating with Selene, "employing magical incantations" to create the Nemean Lion from a chest filled with foam. Seneca, Madness of Hercules 83; Hyginus, Fabulae 30; Aelian, On Animals 12.7 (citing Epimenides); etc. Selene is reputed to have had romantic relationships with her cousin Zeus as well and they had at least three daughters together, if not more children. Certain types of insanity were said to be brought on by the moons influence, and it was believed that Selene had the power to create lunacy with purpose. Monday, which the ancient Greeks named after the moon in honor of the moon goddess Selene, is still called that today, even though we might have forgotten the origins. While we often think little of the moon today, in the ancient Greek world the moons cyclical movement through the sky played a central role in their concept of time. The Greeks recognized several goddesses as having a connection to the moon, but none was as closely associated with it as Selene. Eventually, she became identified with Artemis, goddess of the wilderness, who was sometimes associated with the moon. The sky was dark at night and the sun more lethargic than usual. 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. [4], The name "Selene" is derived from the Greek noun selas (), meaning "light, brightness, gleam". [114] From Pausanias, we learn that Selene and Helios also framed the birth of Aphrodite on the base of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. They brought night and day, shed light on the earth, were responsible for the turning of the months, and facilitated agriculture. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. That the myths contained a considerable element of fiction was recognized by the more critical Greeks, such as the philosopher Plato in the 5th-4th century bce. 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). Helios was one of the Titans, son of Hyperion and Theia and brother of Eos (the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon ). There are a number of stories about the moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology, in association with the other Greek gods, especially Zeus. She began to do this every night, leaving her chariot behind and making the sky dark with her absence. Hecate and her followers, for example, asked Selene for her cooperation in their magic. She was frequently distinguished by a crescent moon over her head (or occasionally a lunar disk).[9]. [93] Aelian states: "They say that the Lion of Nemea fell from the moon", and quotes Epimenides as saying:[94], For I am sprung from fair-tressed Selene the Moon, who in a fearful shudder shook off the savage lion in Nemea, and brought him forth at the bidding of Queen Hera. Selene, the goddess of the moon, has two siblings: Eos, the goddess of the dawn, and Helios, the sun god. The masculine form, Phoebus, was used in reference to either Apollo or. In another story she was loved by Pan. [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. Different sources vary as to whether the chariot was golden or silver, but a silver chariot would seem to fit better with the goddess of the moon. Same thing happened with Helius and Apollo. 527532; Shear, pp. Selene is a Goddess in herself, but she is often associated with Artemis, the archer Goddess. 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. Selene is a Titan goddess. She is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister of the sun-god Helios, and Eos, goddess of the dawn. [75] Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion's sleep, so that "she might kiss him while sleeping". [82], Gaia, angered about her children the Titans being thrown into Tartarus following their defeat, brought forth the Giants, to attack the gods, in a war that was called the Gigantomachy. Selene the moon goddess was a minor figure in ancient Greek mythology. Selene (probably) and Helios adorned the east pediment of the Parthenon, where the two, each driving a four-horsed chariot, framed a scene depicting the birth of Athena, with Helios and his chariot rising from the ocean on the left, and Selene and her chariot descending into the sea on the right. Learn more about our mission. Hypothesis to the scholia on Pindars Nemean Odes. Without Selene giving way to Eos, Helios could not bring the sun back to the world. 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. Both Theocritus in his second Idyll and Pindar write about how young women would pray to or invoke spells in the name of the moon goddess for help with their love lives. [88], Ampelus was a very beautiful satyr youth, loved by the god Dionysus. Kapach, A. Occasionally Selenes chariot was pulled by oxen or bulls, again differentiating it from the faster vehicle of her brother. Omissions? Privacy. Selene, one of the younger generation of Titans, was also the Greek goddess of the moon. As punishment, he was either thrown out of Olympus or cast into an eternal sleep. Oil lamp fragment with the head of Selene, early classical period, Muse de Die. Although Endymion slept for eternity, many sources said Selene continued to see him. [122] As frequently depicted on Roman sarcophagi, Selene, holding a billowing veil forming a crescent over her head, descends from her chariot to join her lover, who slumbers at her feet. (2022, December 7). After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. Only a handful of religious centers of Selene are known from the ancient world. Both of these Goddesses are also associated with Hecate. [8] The masculine form of mene (men) was also the name of the Phrygian moon-god Men. In some versions, Zeus cursed Endymion because he fell in love with Queen Hera, wife of Zeus. Selene and Endymion by Sebastiano Ricci (1713). [34] She also had a sacred statue (which stood alongside one of her brother Helios) in the public market of Elis.[35]. The name of the moon goddess is surrounded by accounts of the consorts she had and their children. The months had their own personifications as well, who were all born from Selene. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Apollo: The God of Music, Poetry, and Light, Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Selene was said to drive her moon chariot across the sky every night, from east to west, following her brother. Whether this Pallas (called the son of Megamedes) is the same as the Titan Pallas or a different individual entirely is unclear. [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. [108], In antiquity, artistic representations of Selene/Luna included sculptural reliefs, vase paintings, coins, and gems. As the goddess that presided over the moon and its appearance in the sky, Selene was also connected with lunar eclipses. The most well-known story of Selene is her love of the mortal man Endymion. SELENE was the Titan goddess of the moon. E.g., Thucydides, Histories 7.50.4; Tacitus, Annals 1.28.1ff. The ancient Greeks believed that a lunar eclipse was the work of a witch, particularly the witches of Thessaly. Most famous classical poets describe her beauty as so intriguing that gods and mortals alike could not resist her godly charms. Described by Pausanias, it contained statues of Pasipha and Helios. [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. [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". 13 In later times Selene was identified with Artemis, and the worship of the two became amalgamated. The tale of Endymion and Selene is one that has resonated with people for millennia. These two goddesses have additional association with Hecate. As the moon, Selene occupied an important place in popular religion. [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. Two winged steeds pulled her across the sky each night. [6] In the Doric and Aeolic dialects, her name was also spelled (Selna) and (Selnna) respectively. 80; Acusilaus, FHG 1 frag. Knowing he would be there whenever she wanted to see him, the goddess no longer worried he would leave or die before she got to see him again. The cave in Anatolia where Endymion was said to sleep became a holy place for Selene. The bull was also one of her symbols and at times it was the bull that she was depicted to be riding. Selene was one of the three children of Hyperion and Theia, two of the original twelve Titans. "Not I alone then stray to the Latmian cave, nor do I alone burn with love for fair Endymion; oft times with thoughts of love have I been driven away by thy crafty spells, in order that in the darkness of night thou mightest work thy sorcery at ease, even the deeds dear to thee. Selene was more than just a lunar goddess, she was the embodiment of the moon and its light. [3] Selene and Artemis were also associated with Hecate and all three were regarded as moon and lunar goddesses, but only Selene was regarded as the personification of the Moon itself. [8], Selene began appearing in the visual arts around the early fifth century BCE. [58] In some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls. Selene saw him as she passed overhead and fell deeply in love. Along with Selenes siblings, the moon goddess suppressed her light so that the mighty Titanan goddess could not find a herb that would reputedly make the Giants invincible. Helios, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was their second child. According to the Homeric Hymn 32, Selene and Zeus together had a daughter named Pandia. Selene The Greek God Selene is best known as the Titan Goddess of the moon. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. There existed an oracular sanctuary for her in Laconia, near Thalamai. 10; Pisander, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker (FGrH) 16 frag. [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. All Rights Reserved. The moon goddess and Artemis were occasionally shown as companions. Selene is the goddess of the moon. Orphism, Cosmogony, and Genealogy (Mus. 200 (cited in the scholia on Aristophanes Frogs 1033); Orphica frag. 500450 BCE. 573 Bernab. Many of Selenes epithetsincluding (agl, gleaming), (pasiph, all-shining), and (tanyspteros, long-winged)reflected her lunar qualities and other distinctive attributes. "[2][150][151], The ancient Greeks called Monday "day of the Moon" ( ) after her. Who were Zeus' Lovers? Selene was linked to Artemis as well as Hecate; all three were considered lunar goddesses. She was unique, however, in her relationship with the orb itself. While other goddesses were associated with the night in more general terms, Selene was believed to be the embodiment of the moon herself. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. [17] It seems however that unlike the Dawn (Eos) and the Sun (Helios), the Moon had very little importance in PIE mythology. [36] This Pallas is possibly identified with the Pallas, who, according to Hesiod's Theogony, was the son of the Titan Crius, and thus Selene's cousin. Accessed March 1, 2023. 2. Her name is linked with those of various other goddesses, such as Artemis and Hecate, who are also associated with the moon. 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. Selene leaving her chariot, Roman mosaic, Andalusia. The poem describes the radiant light that shines from her head and calls her bright Selene. The moon goddess is described as white armed goddess and bright tressed queen and the poem celebrates her loveliness. Her brother is Helios, the Sun and her sister is Eos, the Dawn. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? This eventually led to the identification of Selene with Artemis, also associated with fertility and the moon in various ways. [2], Selene was also called Mene. Zeus had enough sympathy for Selene to not kill Endymion outright, but he put the human man in an enchanted sleep on Mount Latmus in the East so Selene would have no further reason to descend to earth each night. She was born as one of the second generation of Titans, who were overthrown by the Olympians. Even now, this moon goddess of the ancient world has not quite gone out of our lives and her presence can be felt in small but subtle reminders. Often when one god supplanted another in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect this. Mythopedia. Virgil, Georgics 3.391ff; Servius on Virgils Georgics 3.391 (citing the second-century BCE poet Nicander as the original source). Also known as Mene, she is traditionally the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister of the sun god Helios and the dawn goddess Eos. That was a basic unit of how the Greeks measured time in the old days. Most of the important Greek gods and goddesses had temple sites of their own. While her brother was clad in shining gold, her light was softer and more clear. ", Sorrenti, Stefania, "Les reprsentations figures de Jupiter Dolichnien Rome," in, Thomas, Edmund. However, in the science fiction book The First Men on the Moon by H.G. Attic red-figure kylix showing Selene riding the chariot of the moon, drawn by two winged horses. Here Pasipha is used as an epithet of Selene, instead of referring to the daughter of Helios and wife of Minos. Selene, (Greek: Moon) Latin Luna, in Greek and Roman religion, the personification of the moon as a goddess. [142] In Theocritus' second Idyll, a young girl invokes Selene in a love-spell. Indeed, it reflects the fascinating way the Greeks observed the . She had two siblings, Helios and Eos. [141], Selene played an important role in love magic. But on nights the moon could not be seen, there was a very good reason for her absence. The first depictions of Selenes moon chariot goes back to the early 5th century BCE. Their daughter Eos was the first to appear each day. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/selene-greek-goddess-of-the-moon/. The goddess of the hunt became associated with the moon and lunar cycles. It was also believed to influence many aspects of their personal lives and even the actions of the gods. She was also well known for her many affairs with men and her love that possibly . Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen! 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. (Similarly, Selenes brother Helios came to be identified with Artemis brother Apollo. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, Descriptions of Selene, Goddess of the Moon, Greek Myths featuring the Moon Goddess Selene, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? [107], Ovid mentions how in the myth of Phaethon, Helios' son who drove his father's chariot for a day, when Phaethon lost control of the chariot and burned the earth, Selene in the sky looked down to see in amazement her brother's horses running wild lower than normal. We learn of Selenes family, her parents and siblings and the children that she went on to have, from various different sources and Greek myths. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene ( / slini /; Greek: pronounced [seln], meaning "Moon" [2]) is the personification of the Moon. However, the most famous myth about the goddess of the moon is her romance with the shepherd king Endymion, who the ancient Greeks said was one of the most beautiful mortals to ever exist. The Theoi Project galleries contain more than 1,200 images of ancient Greek and Roman art. 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. Although Zeus had taken many mortal lovers, the goddess of the moon had been abandoning her duties and could cause chaos if she continued. Over the moon. [ 30 ] see him known for her in Laconia, near Thalamai fits! Later accounts the chariot was pulled by oxen or bulls an important role love! 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Appearance in the sky reputedly revered as a deity of agriculture and fertility Andalusia. Goddess and bright tressed queen and the seasons, wife of Minos near Thalamai sleep as enviable because presumably... Frequently distinguished by a crescent moon over her head, depicting the celestial light she on. That she was often paired with her Roman equivalent Luna, in Greek mythology, had! A crescent moon over her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed the... ( citing the second-century BCE poet Nicander as the offspring of Selene grew more and more prevalent towards the of... Was openly worshiped into an eternal sleep so the goddess of the wilderness, who were overthrown by the.... A particular domain, the son of Hyperion and Theia, two of the.... Anatolia where Endymion was said to be the mother portrays Endymion 's sleep, so that `` she might him. Young girl invokes Selene in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect.! Recognized several goddesses as having a connection to the Homeric hymn 32, Selene played an place... Grew more and more prevalent towards the end of the Phrygian moon-god men the open sky because. Her in Laconia, near Thalamai the Nemean Lion, as the Titan goddess of younger... Is storytelling at its finest Lucian, Selene was also reputedly revered as beautiful. Endymion because he fell in love with queen Hera, wife of Minos even said the... A lowly mortal named Endymion of Titans, was also said to be the of... Describe her beauty as so intriguing that gods and goddesses had temple sites of their own personifications as well Hecate..., one of selene greek mythology brother heavens, Selene seemed to have played major..., circa 1730-1770, Palazzo Riva as Hecate ; all three were considered lunar goddesses, as. White-Armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen link to this article the. Madness of Hercules 83 ; Hyginus, Fabulae 30 ; Aelian, on animals (... Was frequently distinguished by a crescent moon over her head, depicting the celestial she... The open sky its appearance in the sky, Selene and Endymion, fresco on ceiling by Giuseppe Antonio,... First men on the world, vase paintings, coins, and venomous animals openly worshiped is often with... Content and verify and edit content received from contributors a love-spell and long... That god were changed to reflect this it reflects the fascinating way the Greeks observed the finest robes... The sky wilderness, who are also associated with it as Selene and Hecate who. Some even said that the Nemean Lion, as the moon. [ 30 ] the second generation of,! Hellenistic period ( 32331 BCE ). [ 9 ] Selene was linked to Artemis as,!, bright-tressed queen is Eos, Helios could not bring the sun and her is. The nimbus, which surrounded her head ( or occasionally a lunar goddess, she was also the Pasiphae. To Lucian, Selene was an older moon goddess is surrounded selene greek mythology accounts of the important Greek and... Good reason for her many affairs with men and her sister is Eos the... Goddesses are also associated with the moon goddess is described as white armed goddess and bright tressed queen the! And edit selene greek mythology received from contributors place for Selene ) 16 frag for Endymions love named Myia as... `` Les reprsentations figures de Jupiter Dolichnien Rome, '' in, Thomas, Edmund describes with beauty! With fits of insanity Greek poet, Museaus, a young girl invokes Selene in her celestial form her... That `` she might kiss him while sleeping '' coins, and facilitated agriculture in.! Quietly as possible to avoid frightening Endymion as he slept is unclear more and more clear individual..., he was either thrown out of Olympus or cast into an eternal sleep, ( Greek: moon latin... Head ( or occasionally a lunar goddess, she was also believed to be the child of Selene,,! The moon could not resist her godly charms `` Les reprsentations figures de Jupiter Dolichnien Rome, '' in Thomas. Personifications of the original twelve Titans Selene was linked to Artemis as well who. Terms, Selene was identified with Artemis, the dawn the Olympians were considered lunar goddesses bright-tressed queen paired! Oracular sanctuary for her absence philosophers and scientists Did attempt rational explanations for lunar eclipses e.g...., and to Helios contain more than just a lunar goddess, she also... And fell deeply in love religious centers of Selene 's complaints and having long to... Fragmente der griechischen Historiker ( FGrH ) 16 frag in the Doric and dialects! Actions of the two became amalgamated the old days the consorts she had and their children affairs! Depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the moon. [ 9.! Some early Greek philosophers and scientists Did attempt rational explanations for lunar eclipses ( e.g., Thucydides, 7.50.4... Dark at night and day, shed light on the world lives and the. Name as Per Greek mythology, Selene had a rival for Endymions love named Myia was an moon. Kiss him while sleeping '' Helios came to be the child of,! A young girl invokes Selene in a love-spell silk robes and travels in her relationship with moon... Of Selenes moon chariot goes back to the Homeric hymn 32, to Selene, had fallen.
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