Moon gods and goddesses have existed in all ancient pantheistic cultures for a very long time. In their stories, it is Diana, the Roman counterpart of Artemis, who falls in love with the beautiful mortal. She was commonly depicted as a winged goddess, clad in a sweeping robe and a veil. [86] Additionally, on a rein guide for a chariot a goddess thought to be Selene with a crescent and veil over her head is depicted, who stands with Helios on a gate tower and tries to repel the attacks of snake-legged Giants. She also had a statue, alongside Helios, in the public marketplace of Elis. In antiquity, Selene would also often be depicted either riding upon a bull, or upon a silvery chariot drawn by two winged horses. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death She was essentially urban and civilized, the antithesis in many respects of Artemis, goddess of the outdoors. Hecate and her followers, for example, asked Selene for her cooperation in their magic. [23] She was, however, the subject of one of the thirty-three Homeric Hymns, which gives the following description: And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged[24] Moon. The goddess Selene was the daughter of Titius Hyperion and Theia. The most enduring story of Selene concerns the love she felt for an ordinary human man. Kapach, Avi. 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. Multiple sources say that she had a hand in the creation of the Nemean Lion, whether that was only Selene working on her own or in conjunction with Hera. The Story of Selene. 3. While most of the Homeric Hymns were written in the seventh or sixth century BCE, the Homeric Hymn to Selene was probably composed no earlier than the fourth century BCE. 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. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. In it, Selene is depicted as fighting alongside Helios and Eos, seated side-saddle on a horse. The first mention of the moon goddess in Greek mythology was probably in the Homeric Hymns. The name Selene is also quite popular in the English-speaking world. There were some witches who people thought could make the moon or the sun disappear from the sky at a specified time, although it is more likely that such people, if they did exist, simply had the ability to predict when an eclipse was going to happen. According to Greek mythology, the moon goddess Selene was the daughter of two Titans (mythological giants) called Hyperion and Theia. [118], Selene is commonly depicted with a crescent moon, often accompanied by stars; sometimes, instead of a crescent, a lunar disc is used. 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/. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. [2], Selene was also called Mene. She announced the coming of her younger brother. 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.. [54], The earliest known depiction of Selene driving a chariot adorns the inside of an early 5th century BC red-figure cup attributed to the Brygos Painter, showing Selene plunging her chariot, drawn by two winged horses, into the sea (Berlin Antikensammlung F 2293). Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? The most important of Selenes symbols was her moon chariot. The Greek word Phoebe means bright and the word Cynthia means from Mount Cynthus which was said to be the birthplace of Artemis. Well, go on, and steel thy heart, wise though thou be, to take up thy burden of pain, fraught with many sighs."[70]. The Greeks recognized several goddesses as having a connection to the moon, but none was as closely associated with it as Selene. Same thing happened with Helius and Apollo. [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. They were even called by their names, Phoebe and Phoebus respectively, in some sources. Selene fought back the giant, locking horns with Typhon; afterwards, she carried many scars on her orb, reminiscent of their battle. Witchcraft has long been believed to have had a connection with the moon and it was no different in antiquity. Rheinisches Museum Fr Philologie, vol. [134], Selene was sometimes associated with childbirth, for it was believed that during the full moon women had the easiest labours; this helped in her identification with the goddess Artemis,[138] as well as other goddesses connected to women's labours. The pair could also have been the parents of the beautiful and vain Narcissus, for whom the Narcissus flower is named, according to Nonnus, the Greek epic poet of the Roman era. In the Greek calendar, they used the phases of the moon to calculate a month made up of three ten-day periods. [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. A third version of the story had Endymion himself choose an ageless sleep as opposed to living a mortal life. 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.. As time progressed, they merged into one identity. See esp. Her presence is felt in something as simple as the names of the days of the week. -Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10. Selene, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, was the personification of the moon. Selene was a Titan goddess in Greek mythology, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. [95], Anaxagoras also reports that the Nemean lion was said to have fallen from the moon. Magical Goddess of the Silvery Moon. In some versions, Zeus cursed Endymion because he fell in love with Queen Hera, wife of Zeus. By all accounts, Selene seemed to have played a major role in this war. Selene with sleeping Endymion, fresco in the fourth Pompeian style. Homeric Hymns 32.14ff, trans. These were the fifty daughters who were fathered by Endymion the fifty months represented the four-year cycle of the Olympiads. [97] Hyginus says that Selene had "nourished" the lion in a "two-mouthed cave". Selene, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, was the personification of the moon. [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. In the center of the main panel Selene descends from her chariot, whose horses are held by a nymph, to join Endymion, who lies to the right. 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. Selene was said to drive her moon chariot across the sky every night, from east to west, following her brother. "[139] Roman philosopher Cicero connected Selene's Roman counterpart Luna's name to childbirth goddess Lucina's, both deriving from "light" (thus bringing the unborn child into the light). Selene was one of the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses, and her story is one of the most captivating in Greek mythology. Selene leaving her chariot, Roman mosaic, Andalusia. This is a relatively late text. 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. While there were many goddesses associated with the moon and lunar powers, Selene personified the moon and its light. 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]. Together, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination. There existed an oracular sanctuary for her in Laconia, near Thalamai. According to Lucian, Selene had a rival for Endymions love named Myia. Selene, the goddess of the moon, was the youngest of the three siblings. [140] Nonnus also identified Selene with Eileithyia. [113] Selene and Helios also appear on the North Metopes of the Parthenon, with Selene this time entering the sea on horseback. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) SELENE was the Titan goddess of the moon. [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. 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. 260 M-W; Epimenides, FHG 4 frag. Eventually, she became identified with Artemis, goddess of the wilderness, who was sometimes associated with the moon. It was only later, when Selene began to be conflated with other lunar goddesses, that she was openly worshiped. In Greek mythology, Selene was traditionally depicted as a beautiful young woman, with perhaps paler than usual skin. "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. [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. 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. [8], Selene began appearing in the visual arts around the early fifth century BCE. She walked as quietly as possible to avoid frightening Endymion as he slept. (2022, December 7). the crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon, as delinted by the divisions of the calendar month).[154]. Surviving descriptions of Selene's physical appearance and character, apart from those which would apply to the moon itself, are scant. Together, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination. Her list of powers are unmatched, as far as lunar goddesses go. Selene was the goddess of the moon. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, in which months were delineated by the cycles of the moon. She was worshipped at the new and full moons. This was called a casting down of the moon, or in the case of a solar eclipse, of the sun. [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. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. . Her brother is Helios, the Sun and her sister is Eos, the Dawn. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Helius, Selene, Eos, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Nike, Boreas, Zephyrus, Astra) GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 8 (83 IMAGES) Zeus put Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess could see him forever as a beautiful young man. Selene then turned Lilaeus into a mountain, Mt. Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown set upon her head or the fold of a raised, shining cloak. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. A womans fertility was said to be influenced by the cycles of the moon, a belief that gave English the word menses, and under Selenes influence women were said to have an easier time in childbirth than they did during the day. Omissions? Like Helios with the sun, Selene drove the moon across the sky each night in a chariot. [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". 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. Robert S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden: Brill, 2009), 2:131819. Selene - or Luna as the Romans called her - is the goddess of the moon, driving a horse-drawn chariot across the night sky. In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene ( / slini /; Greek: pronounced [seln], meaning "Moon" [2]) is the personification of the Moon. She was descended . Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 4.54ff; Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.1.4; Apollodorus, Library 1.7.5; cf. 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. The moon was thought to influence people in other ways, as well. 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. 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. Sometimes these were winged horses, although some later accounts had the chariot drawn by bulls. 127 ff (trans. Did a Lion-Headed Monster Exist in Greek Mythology. Homeric Hymn 32.313, trans. The name of the moon goddess is surrounded by accounts of the consorts she had and their children. Attributes to the Byrgos Painter, ca. [84] Selene's participation in the battle is evidenced by her inclusion in the Gigantomachy frieze of the Pergamon Altar, fighting against Giants next to her siblings Helios and Eos and her mother Theia in the southern frieze. In this aspect she was closely associated with Dionysus. 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. How Did Uranus get its Name as Per Greek Mythology? [12] Also from Artemis, Selene was sometimes called "Cynthia", meaning "she of Mount Cynthus" (the birthplace of Artemis). Selene's Role She was the goddess of the moon, which she drove every night across the skies. In another story she was loved by Pan. Myth Early History Selene was the daughter of the titans, Hyperion and Theia, sister to Helios (the sun) and Eos (dawn). [89] One day, in Nonnus' account, Ampelus rode on a bull, and proceeded to compare himself to Selene, saying that he was her equal, having horns and riding bulls just like her. Selene was, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women. Ceto - Goddess of the Water. Most famous classical poets describe her beauty as so intriguing that gods and mortals alike could not resist her godly charms. She and her brother did not just pull the chariots of their respective orbs through the sky. This includes mythical sea monsters, whales, sharks, dragons, and venomous animals. There are three different ways you can cite this article. Both of these Goddesses are also associated with Hecate. [104] Zeus agrees, urged by Selene's complaints and having long intended to deal with the philosophers himself. Selene could still see her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken off her. In the Homeric Hymn to Selene, she bears the beautiful Pandeic to Zeus, while Alcman says they are the parents of Herse, the dew. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, making Selene one of the most important deities in the passage of time. [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. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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