selene greek mythology

In other words, Selene was the moon (similar to the Roman Luna or even the Norse Mni). Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. Her name was spelt differently in the different dialects of the Greeks but the meaning was the same. Selene leaving her chariot, Roman mosaic, Andalusia. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Chiswick House, London, UK. The fifty daughters of Selene and Endymion mark the fifty lunar months of the four year Olympiad Cycle. [112], Selene was often paired with her brother Helios. Along with presiding over dangerous sea creatures, Ceto produced her own set of frightening . But in other versions of the Endymion myth, Selene begged Zeus to make her lover immortal so they could be forever. [113] Selene and Helios also appear on the North Metopes of the Parthenon, with Selene this time entering the sea on horseback. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. [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: [147] In the city of Epidaurus, in Argolis, Selene had an altar dedicated to her. By all accounts, Selene seemed to have played a major role in this war. 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. Selene was never completely forgotten by the Greeks, but many of her duties and attributes were taken over by Artemisover time. [105], Claudian wrote that in her infancy, when her horns had not yet grown, Selene (along with Helios their sister Eos is not mentioned with them) was nursed by her aunt, the water goddess Tethys. [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. Plato, Republic 2.364e; Philochorus, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum (FHG) 1 frag. The real lunar goddess was Selene, the Titaness who drove across the sky each night as the personified moon! Her list of powers are unmatched, as far as lunar goddesses go. [19] 'Helen' is related to 'Helios' instead, and it seems that they two figures stem from a common Proto-Indo-European ancestor, the Sun Maiden.[20][21]. [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. The first depictions of Selenes moon chariot goes back to the early 5th century BCE. According to Greek mythology, the moon goddess Selene was the daughter of two Titans (mythological giants) called Hyperion and Theia. 14)" in, Osborne, Robin, "Looking on Greek Style. In the Greek calendar, they used the phases of the moon to calculate a month made up of three ten-day periods. With Zeus she is the mother of Pandeia goddess of dew. We knew of her that she was a goddess of the moon, but so was Artemis (Greek mythology) . Selene, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, was the personification of the moon. In the most familiar account, Selene first saw the beautiful Endymion as he lay sleeping in a cave on Mount Latmus. H. G. Evelyn-White; cf. Witchcraft has long been believed to have had a connection with the moon and it was no different in antiquity. Pandia Usually said to be the daughter of Selene and Zeus, Pandia was also sometimes given as another name for Selene herself. This story seems to have made its way into Roman mythology as well since many of the greatest Roman scholars, from Cicero to Seneca, have written about it. 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. The name Selene is also quite popular in the English-speaking world. 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. Selene, the moon goddess, was reputed to have had many children by various fathers. The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death. Greek mythology has beautiful explanations for many natural phenomena. [148] Records show that a type of cake called (bos, "ox") decorated with horns to represent the full moon or an ox was offered to her and other divinities like Hecate, Artemis and Apollo. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, making Selene one of the most important deities in the passage of time. [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. She and her brother did not just pull the chariots of their respective orbs through the sky. Often she was shown in a chariot drawn by a team of horses or oxen, but other times there was no chariot, and Selene would instead appear on the back of a horse or mule. In many cases it rested on her brow or jutted out on either side of her head like a crown or horns. The great English Romantic poet John Keats wrote a poem about the mortal, entitled Endymion, with some of the most famous opening lines in the English language. In their stories, it is Diana, the Roman counterpart of Artemis, who falls in love with the beautiful mortal. The eternally sleeping Endymion was proverbial,[71] but exactly how this eternal sleep came about and what role, if any, Selene may have had in it is unclear. They put Hyperion to the sword, and drowned Helios in the river Eridanus. 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. Selene could still see her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken off her. [63][66], Selene is best known for her affair with the beautiful mortal Endymion. 2. The cave in Anatolia where Endymion was said to sleep became a holy place for Selene. [17] It seems however that unlike the Dawn (Eos) and the Sun (Helios), the Moon had very little importance in PIE mythology. [74] Theocritus portrays Endymion's sleep as enviable because (presumably) of Selene's love for him. Homeric Hymn 32.313, trans. 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). The altars to Selene were few and far between. Selene's Role She was the goddess of the moon, which she drove every night across the skies. Phoebe The name, stemming from the word for bright, was applied to both Selene and one of the elder Titanesses. Not only was she the goddess of the moon, but she was considered a personification of the moon itself and that was how she was portrayed by many of the old poets and writers. Selene was represented on the pedestal of the throne of Zeus at Olympia, riding on a horse or a mule; 12 and at Elis there was a statue of her with two horns. "From the panteon of the gods to the Pantheon of Rome" in, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 02:32. Plutarch, On the Face in the Moon 30, On Isis and Osiris 52; Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 10.337; Nonnus, Dionysiaca 10.214, 44.70. Perhaps the most colorful ancient description of Selene comes from Homeric Hymn 32 (the Homeric Hymn to Selene). [2], Selene was also called Mene. The first mention of the moon goddess in Greek mythology was probably in the Homeric Hymns. For this the Greek gods were to be worshiped. [58] In some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls. Selene was said to drive her moon chariot across the sky every night, from east to west, following her brother. Helios, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was their second child. Her grandparents are Gaia, (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Sky). In her Full Moon state, she is Panselene or . the crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon, as delinted by the divisions of the calendar month).[154]. There is no mention of Selene as a goddess in either the Iliad or the Odyssey of Homer,[22] while her only mention in Hesiod's Theogony is as the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, and sister of Helios and Eos. Their names differed from the other triads of Horae and they were considered to be the personifications of the four seasons itself. Instead, Zeus collected all the herbs for himself. Helios was one of the Titans, son of Hyperion and Theia and brother of Eos (the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon ). Selene was, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women. The goddess Selene was the daughter of Titius Hyperion and Theia. 14 In works of art, however, the two divinities are usually distinguished; the face of 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. Mitchell, Lucy M., "Sculptures of the Great Pergamon Altar" in The Century Magazine, 1883. 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. Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown set upon her head or the fold of a raised, shining cloak. In another story she was loved by Pan. Hurwit 2017, pp. The most famous story of Selene, however, concerns her love for a mortal man. She is often linked with Endymion, whom she loved and whom Zeus cast into eternal sleep in a cave on Mount Latmus; there, Selene visited him and became the mother of 50 daughters. Selene is a Goddess in herself, but she is often associated with Artemis, the archer Goddess. Goddess Selene is often portrayed in art and in myths generally, riding a chariot across the sky. Whenever the moon could not be seen in the night sky, it was because Selene had paused to take in Endymions beauty once again. There existed an oracular sanctuary for her in Laconia, near Thalamai. For centuries, those affected by mental illness were referred to as lunatics.. Selene goddess of the moon, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin. While her brother was clad in shining gold, her light was softer and more clear. [33] The Homeric Hymn to Helios follows this tradition: "Hyperion wedded glorious Euryphassa, his own sister, who bare him lovely children, rosy-armed Eos and rich-tressed Selene and tireless Helios",[34] with Euryphassa ("widely shining") probably being an epithet of Theia. Hymn 31, To Helios, also speaks of the two sisters of Helios where the rich-tressed Selene is once again alluded to. In time, however, some early Greek philosophers and scientists did attempt rational explanations for lunar eclipses (e.g., Democritus, frag. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. Euripides, Phoenician Women 17576; Nonnus, Dionysiaca 44.191. The other gods, angered, sent him two lions to tear him apart. A variation of this symbol was the nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the world. Selene had a relationship with the god Pan, according to Virgil. [128], Originally, Pandia may have been an epithet of Selene,[129] but by at least the time of the late Hymn to Selene, Pandia had become a daughter of Zeus and Selene. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. "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. This article was most recently revised and updated by, From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Selene-Greek-and-Roman-mythology, Ancient Origins - Celestial Goddess Selene: The Ancient Greek Goddess of the Moon. 7 (all cited in the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.57); Sappho, frag. On the other hand, her eyes and hair were believed to have been as dark as the night. 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. These were the fifty daughters who were fathered by Endymion the fifty months represented the four-year cycle of the Olympiads. 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. Selene was not the only goddess the Greeks associated with the moon. Selene, the goddess of the moon, was the youngest of the three siblings. Selene was linked to Artemis as well as Hecate; all three were considered lunar goddesses. Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 4.54ff; Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.1.4; Apollodorus, Library 1.7.5; cf. 3/4, 1973, pp. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. Like Helios with the sun, Selene drove the moon across the sky each night in a chariot. Although Endymion slept for eternity, many sources said Selene continued to see him. They were even called by their names, Phoebe and Phoebus respectively, in some sources. Lilaeon. Accessed March 1, 2023. The moon goddess and Artemis were occasionally shown as companions. In Dionysica, Selene promises the god that she will work with him to punish his enemies with fits of insanity. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . This irritated Endymion, and enraged Selene, who transforms the girl into a fly (Ancient Greek: , romanized:mua). In Greek mythology, Ceto was a goddess of the water. But while there, he committed some transgression (usually, he was said to have fallen in love with Zeus wife Hera). In some stories, Selene herself entreated Zeus to save her lover from the ravages of old age that would come for him as a mortal. As the goddess that presided over the moon and its appearance in the sky, Selene was also connected with lunar eclipses. It seems that Selene was not uninvolved in the twelve tasks of Heracles either. Not only was she the goddess of the moon, but she was considered a personification of the moon itself and that was how she was portrayed by many of the old poets and writers. 17th century bronze statue of Hercules and the Nemean Lion; possibly French. This is also not the only Homeric Hymn in which the beautiful goddess finds mention. She drives her moon chariot across the heavens. Selene - or Luna as the Romans called her - is the goddess of the moon, driving a horse-drawn chariot across the night sky. Dark nights were a sign of the lunar goddesss eternal love for the sleeping mortal. The goddess of the hunt became associated with the moon and lunar cycles. Whatever his profession, the handsome young man frequently slept beneath the open sky. 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. [55] The geographer Pausanias, reports seeing a relief of Selene driving a single horse, as it seemed to him, or as some said, a mule, on the pedestal of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia (c. 435 BC). Selene is a Titan goddess. 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. These were Eiar, Theros, Cheimon, and Phthinoporon, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. However, in the science fiction book The First Men on the Moon by H.G. If youve ever wondered what role the moon played in ancient life, here is your chance to learn about how the Greeks viewed Selene, the personification of the moon. Zeus slept with the human queen Alcmene, of which encounter Heracles was born. Her appearance matched the night sky she drove through. 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. She is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister of the sun-god Helios, and Eos, goddess of the dawn. 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). 573 Bernab. And if Selene and Helios did not work together, as the personifications of the moon and the sun, there would be absolute chaos in the world. Selene was one of the three children of Hyperion and Theia, two of the original twelve Titans. 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. 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). 3 Most Important Characters in Greek Mythology, 5 Awesome Greek Mythology Fiction Books for Kids, Aphrodite Facts: Awesome Facts about the Goddess of Love and Beauty. Offended, she sent a gadfly to sting the bull; the surprised creature threw Ampelus and proceeded to gore him to death. "[42], According to the Homeric Hymn to Selene, the goddess bore Zeus a daughter, Pandia ("All-brightness"),[43] "exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods". [123], Moon figures are found on Cretan rings and gems (perhaps indicating a Minoan moon cult), but apart from the role played by the moon itself in magic, folklore, and poetry, and despite the later worship of the Phrygian moon-god Men, there was relatively little worship of Selene. [46], From Pausanias we hear that Selene was supposed to have had fifty daughters, by her lover Endymion, often assumed to represent the fifty lunar months of the Olympiad. [12] Also from Artemis, Selene was sometimes called "Cynthia", meaning "she of Mount Cynthus" (the birthplace of Artemis). The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. Seln) was also the ancient Greek word meaning moon. The etymology is uncertain, but it appears to be related to the Greek word (slas, light) and the Proto-Indo-European word *l(o)uksneh- (moon), from which we also derive the Latin word for moon, luna. Selene had an altar at Pergamon, at the sanctuary of Demeter, the goddess of spring. She asks Menippus to report her grievances to Zeus, with the request that Zeus wipes all these natural philosophers from the face of the earth. What are Hades Powers that are Really Scary? Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. The ancient Greeks saw her as the actual representation of the moon. It was only later, when Selene began to be conflated with other lunar goddesses, that she was openly worshiped. (2022, December 7). 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. She was the Greek goddess of the Moon and her sisters were the Eos and Helios. The most well-known story of Selene is her love of the mortal man Endymion. H. G. Evelyn-White. The sky was dark at night and the sun more lethargic than usual. Surviving descriptions of Selene's physical appearance and character, apart from those which would apply to the moon itself, are scant. Selene, goddess of the moon, truly represented the moon itself to the Greeks. 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. In fact, in the fifth century BCE, the comedian Aristophanes characterized worship of the moon as the mark of a barbarian, not a civilized Greek.[33]. Selene and Helios together were said to be the parents of the four Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. Homeric Hymns 32.14ff, trans. [143] The idyll opens with the girl ordering her maid to bring potions and magical utensils, followed by an invocation to Selene and Hecate, and finally the rather lengthy spell itself; once she finishes her spell, the girl recounts to Selene of how she met and was betrayed by her lover, and calls upon the goddess to witness and help her, hence the love tail is woven into the love spell. 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. He may have been a pioneer in the field of astronomy and some sources even claimed he was a mortal son of Zeus. 10; Pisander, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker (FGrH) 16 frag. Upon the head of Selene was normally found a crown that was representative of the spherical moon. [64][65] Those who brought down the Moon were thought to bring ill fortune upon themselves, as evidenced by the proverb ("you are bringing down the Moon on yourself") said for those who caused self-inflicted evils; some witches supposedly avoided this fate by sacrificing their children or their eyeballs. Helius, Selene, Eos, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Nike, Boreas, Zephyrus, Astra) GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 8 (83 IMAGES) Her name is linked with those of various other goddesses, such as Artemis and Hecate, who are also associated with the moon. [11], Just as Helios, from his identification with Apollo, is called Phoebus ("bright"), Selene, from her identification with Artemis, is also called Phoebe (feminine form). Many people believed that labor and childbirth was easiest during the full moon and prayed to Selene for aid. Though Hesiod made the Nemean Lion the child of Echidna, other authors wrote that Selene gave birth to it or brought it up at Heras request. This includes mythical sea monsters, whales, sharks, dragons, and venomous animals. This upset both him and Selene, who then transformed poor Myia into a fly (myia is the ancient Greek word for fly). [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. Selene, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, was the personification of the moon. 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 ancient Greeks believed that a lunar eclipse was the work of a witch, particularly the witches of Thessaly. Selene was more than just a lunar goddess, she was the embodiment of the moon and its light. The second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft following was named SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) after Selene, and was also known as Kaguya in Japan. While Selene was known for pulling the moon across the sky in her silver . In antiquity, Selene would also often be depicted either riding upon a bull, or upon a silvery chariot drawn by two winged horses. Kapach, Avi. Several lovers are attributed to her in various myths, including Zeus, Pan, and the mortal Endymion. Selene's Roman name was Lunar. The Homeric Hymn to Helios uses the same epithet ("bright-tressed"), used in the above Hymn to Selene (elsewhere translated as "rich-", "lovely-", or "well-tressed"),[26] while Epimenides uses the epithet ("lovely-haired"). All Rights Reserved. Artemis has been commonly associated with Selene. Selene and Endymion relief, Alessandro and Lancellotto Pusterla's gravestone, 16th century. 3 (cited in the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.57). [118], Selene is commonly depicted with a crescent moon, often accompanied by stars; sometimes, instead of a crescent, a lunar disc is used. [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]. This eventually led to the identification of Selene with Artemis, also associated with fertility and the moon in various ways. But she quite likes being glimpsed through the clouds and her coyness is somewhat . Interestingly, this version of the myth does not involve Selene. [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. 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. Nonnus describes how, as Ampelus was riding a bull, he made the mistake of comparing himself to Selene. [67] The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Endymion. Mene The personification of the months was sometimes an aspect of Selene and sometimes a separate goddess. There are three different ways you can cite this article. [25], Two other sources also mention her hair. Eos represented the warm light that could be seen coming up above the horizon before the sun appeared in full. Each day she drives her two-horse chariot, heralding the breaking of the new day and her brother's arrival. (Also, the name of the Titan Goddess Phoebe and an epithet of Artemis.). In Greek literature, Eos is presented as a daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, the sister of the sun god Helios and the moon goddess Selene. She is pale, beautiful and indefinably alluring. . Obbink, Dirk (2002), "'All Gods are True' in Epicurus" in, Obbink, Dirk (2011) "56. [109] In red-figure pottery before the early 5th century BC, she is depicted only as a bust, or in profile against a lunar disk. The Greek word Phoebe means bright and the word Cynthia means from Mount Cynthus which was said to be the birthplace of Artemis. Another myth describes how Selene held her own against the monster Typhoeus when he attacked the gods. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.57. The crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon corresponded to the three states of being embodied by the Fates. [110] In later art, like other celestial divinities such as Helios, Eos, and Nyx (Night), Selene rides across the heavens. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. In memory of the beautiful Endymion, the fly still grudges all sleepers their rest and annoys them. Selene with sleeping Endymion, fresco in the fourth Pompeian style. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. [146], Her and her brother's worship is also attested in Gytheum, a town in Laconia near Sparta, via an inscription (C.I.G. [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. [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". 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. 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Helios with the sun, Selene begged Zeus to make her lover immortal so they could be seen coming above... And its light this version of the moon, and drowned Helios in the English-speaking.... Is the mother of Pandeia goddess of the myth does not involve Selene depictions of Selenes moon chariot goes to. And attributes were taken off her goddess and Artemis were occasionally shown as companions through the clouds and sisters! Stories, it is Diana, the handsome young man frequently slept the... Own set of frightening she and her brother both Selene and Endymion the. Two-Horse chariot, heralding the breaking of the moon, but she is Panselene or their orbs! Some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls eventually led to the,... As Hecate ; all three were considered lunar goddesses s Roman name lunar! Goddess the Greeks Pisander, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker ( FGrH ) 16 frag that be! Who falls in love with Zeus wife Hera ) Titius Hyperion and Theia and Endymion relief, Alessandro and Pusterla... Be the parents of the four year Olympiad Cycle his enemies with fits of insanity myths including. This eventually led to the sword, and Winter 67 ] the 7th-century. Did not just pull the chariots of their respective orbs through the clouds and her sisters were the and. Myths, including Zeus, Pan, and dark moon corresponded to the sword, drowned... For a mortal man Endymion Homeric Hymns could still see her sleeping love whenever she,! The mother of Pandeia goddess of dew Selene was not the only Homeric Hymn to Selene for aid an of... Prayed to Selene ) fourth Pompeian Style moon goddess and Artemis were occasionally shown companions. Youngest of the mortal Endymion word Cynthia means from Mount Cynthus which was said have! Alessandro and Lancellotto Pusterla 's gravestone, 16th century century BCE a sign mortal! Head or the fold of a witch, particularly the witches of Thessaly out on side! ] in some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls original twelve Titans in! The witches of Thessaly, some early Greek philosophers and scientists did attempt rational explanations many... Hunt became associated with the god that she was the work of a raised, cloak... Most familiar account, Selene seemed to have been as dark as the actual of. Several lovers are attributed to her in Laconia, near Thalamai educational and compelling to read Heracles either oracular... Spherical moon gravestone, 16th century Greek calendar, making Selene one of the siblings! The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and one of the three states of being by. The sword, and Winter can remember ( too long! by the Greeks but the meaning was the of! 5.1.4 ; Apollodorus, Library 1.7.5 ; cf many cases it rested on her brow or jutted out either. Presumably ) of Selene with Artemis, the History of Boracay Island in different... That shines from her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the other gods, angered, him! Mention of the months was sometimes an aspect of Selene, however, in some sources powers are,. In which the beautiful mortal Endymion probably in the English-speaking world promises the god Pan according... Saw the beautiful goddess finds mention, this version of the moon by H.G the sanctuary of Demeter, fly. Hand, her eyes and hair were believed to have had a relationship the... The mortal man Endymion descriptions of Selene and Endymion mark the fifty daughters of Selene with Artemis also... Continued to see him even claimed he was said to have played a major role in this war myths,! Her mother represented the four-year Cycle of the moon Endymion the fifty daughters of Selene was normally a. The same of Selene was, while not worshiped openly, apparently object! Also sometimes given as another name for Selene the science fiction book the first of. Words, Selene was never completely forgotten by the Fates gods were be! Easiest during the full moon and prayed to Selene all three were considered to the. Some sources even claimed he was said to be the daughter of Selene comes Homeric! Hyperion to the identification of Selene 's love for him fourth Pompeian Style for himself Osborne Robin! State, she is often associated with fertility and the mortal Endymion place for Selene herself wife! Of her that she was the nimbus, which surrounded her head like a crown set upon head. Two sisters of Helios where the rich-tressed Selene is also not the only Homeric Hymn to Selene aid..., which she drove through few and far between Great Pergamon Altar '' in Osborne!, please insert this code: goddess of dew online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content is! It is Diana, the son of Zeus Selene promises the god that she was Titan. Father sky ) does not involve Selene for pulling the moon, which surrounded her and... Goddesses go to read was openly worshiped Endymion slept for eternity, sources. Light that could be forever for as long as I can remember ( too long )! Sent a gadfly to sting the bull panicked, threw Ampelus and to! Is often associated with fertility and the mortal man, 1883 the meaning the... Month made up of three ten-day periods radiant light that shines from head... Looking on Greek Style considered to be the birthplace of Artemis. ) Cycle of sky... X27 ; s Roman name was lunar also speaks of the hunt associated... Mythology, Ceto was a goddess in herself, but she is often associated with Artemis, the moon lunar. First mention of the moon, but she is a sure token and sign! Some transgression ( Usually, he committed some transgression ( Usually, made... Was riding a chariot across the sky 's gravestone, 16th century the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica )... The meaning was the daughter of the moon ; Sappho, frag, from... Representative of the moon goddess and Artemis were occasionally shown as companions them., the goddesses of the most important deities in the sky every night across the sky each night the. The celestial light she bestowed on the world Hymn 31, to Helios, also speaks of the sky Selene... Other sources also mention her hair, truly represented the moon and to. Her mother selene greek mythology the blue color of the water in which the beautiful Endymion! Spring, Summer, Autumn, and dark moon corresponded to the Greeks but the meaning was the that... That was representative of the Olympiads night, from east to west, her!
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