80; Acusilaus, FHG 1 frag. The most important of Selenes symbols was her moon chariot. [7] The Greek word mene, meant the moon, and the lunar month. She was depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds. [147] In the city of Epidaurus, in Argolis, Selene had an altar dedicated to her. 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 had a relationship with the god Pan, according to Virgil. 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. 245 M-W; Pherecydes, FHG 1 frag. The name of the moon goddess is surrounded by accounts of the consorts she had and their children. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . Pandia Usually said to be the daughter of Selene and Zeus, Pandia was also sometimes given as another name for Selene herself. The talkative Myia would sit with Endymion as he slept his eternal sleep, chattering endlesslyso much so that Endymion eventually woke up. 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. Magical Goddess of the Silvery Moon. The moon was also believed to bring the night dew that nourished the plants and to bring sleep and rest to humankind. In post-classical times, Selene was often identified with Artemis, much as her brother, Helios, was identified with Apollo. 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]. There existed an oracular sanctuary for her in Laconia, near Thalamai. That haunted cave [on Mount Latmos] of fair-haired Nymphai (Nymphs) where, as Endymion slept beside his kine, divine Selene watched him from on high, and slid from heaven to earth; for passionate love drew down the immortal stainless queen of night. [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. In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene ( / slini /; Greek: pronounced [seln], meaning "Moon" [2]) is the personification of the Moon. 10; Pisander, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker (FGrH) 16 frag. In later eras, she became associated with madness as well. 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 brother, Helios, is the god of the sun, and her sister, Eos, is the goddess of the dawn. Zeus put Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess could see him forever as a beautiful young man. A third version of the story had Endymion himself choose an ageless sleep as opposed to living a mortal life. 14 In works of art, however, the two divinities are usually distinguished; the face of The three siblings clearly worked in conjunction with one another, since their roles and duties are so intrinsically linked. Did a Lion-Headed Monster Exist in Greek Mythology. They put Hyperion to the sword, and drowned Helios in the river Eridanus. Their names differed from the other triads of Horae and they were considered to be the personifications of the four seasons itself. For other uses, see, Detail of Selene from a Roman sarcophagus, A winged Selene seems to be unique to this. [149][150] In addition, a type of flat, round moon-shaped cake was called 'selene' ("moon") and was offered "to the goddess. [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. The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. 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. Well, go on, and steel thy heart, wise though thou be, to take up thy burden of pain, fraught with many sighs."[70]. When Selene spied him sleeping in a cave, she immediately fell in love and asked Zeus to extend his sleep for all eternity. One of the names given for Selene, and occasionally for an independent personification, was Mene. 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. [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. 127 ff (trans. 2. Selene, goddess of the moon, truly represented the moon itself to the Greeks. 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. 2022 Wasai LLC. [8], Selene began appearing in the visual arts around the early fifth century BCE. 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. Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown set upon her head or the fold of a raised, shining cloak. [77] The Greek satirist Lucian's dialogue between Selene and the love goddess Aphrodite has the two goddesses commiserate about their love affairs with Endymion and Adonis, and suggests that Selene has fallen in love with Endymion while watching him sleep each night. GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 1 (86 IMAGES) . Selene featured in few myths, with the most famous ones being the tales that tell of her lovers: Zeus, Pan and the mortal Endymion. 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. 68 A75 D-K). The name Selene is probably derived from the Greek selas, meaning "light".She was also called Mene, which means "month" referring to the lunar month which was calculated from the new moon to the dark moon and Phoebe, meaning "bright". They included: The lunar goddesses sometimes worked together. [31] Mesomedes of Crete calls her (glauk, "silvery grey"). 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. Each day she drives her two-horse chariot, heralding the breaking of the new day and her brother's arrival. Helios, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was their second child. Selene goddess of the moon, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin. 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. Selene, (Greek: "Moon") Latin Luna, in Greek and Roman religion, the personification of the moon as a goddess. 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. Lunacy takes its name from Selenes Roman counterpart, Luna. Although Zeus had taken many mortal lovers, the goddess of the moon had been abandoning her duties and could cause chaos if she continued. In Greek mythology, Ceto was a goddess of the water. In some later accounts, she is known as the Horned Selene, perhaps due to the crescent moon upon the crown of her head. He was the god of the sun, who drove across the sky each day in a golden chariot drawn by a team of golden horses. 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. Although Endymion slept for eternity, many sources said Selene continued to see him. However, in the science fiction book The First Men on the Moon by H.G. The other gods, angered, sent him two lions to tear him apart. 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 goddess of the hunt became associated with the moon and lunar cycles. Their daughter Eos was the first to appear each day. [120] Selene's head is sometimes surrounded by a nimbus, and from the Hellenistic period onwards, she is sometimes pictured with a torch. "[42], According to the Homeric Hymn to Selene, the goddess bore Zeus a daughter, Pandia ("All-brightness"),[43] "exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods". Selene, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, was the personification of the moon. The fifty daughters of Selene and Endymion mark the fifty lunar months of the four year Olympiad Cycle. 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. [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. In memory of the beautiful Endymion, the fly still grudges all sleepers their rest and annoys them. the crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon, as delinted by the divisions of the calendar month).[154]. Hecate and her followers, for example, asked Selene for her cooperation in their magic. Selene. 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.. Helios was married to Perse, but he had quite a few extramarital affairs, and a number of children . [142] In Theocritus' second Idyll, a young girl invokes Selene in a love-spell. This was common for many of the younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus. [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. She was worshipped at the new and full moons. [74] Theocritus portrays Endymion's sleep as enviable because (presumably) of Selene's love for him. It was also believed to influence many aspects of their personal lives and even the actions of the gods. [127] Selene (along with Helios, Nyx and others) received an altar at the sanctuary of Demeter at Pergamon, possibly in connection with the Orphic mysteries. She was commonly depicted as a winged goddess, clad in a sweeping robe and a veil. Selene (Greek mythology) The goddess of the Moon. How old is the United States of America? Indeed, the Greek comic playwright Aristophanes said in the 5th century BCE that the worship of the moon was a sign of barbarian communities and not to be emulated by the Greeks. Seneca, Madness of Hercules 83; Hyginus, Fabulae 30; Aelian, On Animals 12.7 (citing Epimenides); etc. 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 the Homeric Hymn to Selene, she bears the beautiful Pandeic to Zeus, while Alcman says they are the parents of Herse, the dew. In it, Selene is depicted as fighting alongside Helios and Eos, seated side-saddle on a horse. This was known as the Gigantomachy. Every evening, Selene ushered in nightfall and then drove her chariot through the night before giving way to dawn. 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. [12] Also from Artemis, Selene was sometimes called "Cynthia", meaning "she of Mount Cynthus" (the birthplace of Artemis). [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. Many people believed that labor and childbirth was easiest during the full moon and prayed to Selene for aid. Hill, D. E. "THE THESSALIAN TRICK." [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. Kapach, A. [115] There are indications of a similar framing by Selene and Helios of the birth of Pandora on the base of the Athena Parthenos. [75] Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion's sleep, so that "she might kiss him while sleeping". The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. 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). Rheinisches Museum Fr Philologie, vol. 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). [118], Selene is commonly depicted with a crescent moon, often accompanied by stars; sometimes, instead of a crescent, a lunar disc is used. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. There were still several goddesses who shared Selenes lunar domain, however. ", Sorrenti, Stefania, "Les reprsentations figures de Jupiter Dolichnien Rome," in, Thomas, Edmund. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. Zeus could not do that, so he sent Endymion into an eternal slumber so he would never age or die. But while there, he committed some transgression (usually, he was said to have fallen in love with Zeus wife Hera). Her brother is Helios, the Sun and her sister is Eos, the Dawn. For this the Greek gods were to be worshiped. Selene was linked to Artemis as well as Hecate; all three were considered lunar goddesses. Selene could still see her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken off her. Both Epimenides and the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras seem to use the exact words fell from the moon while speaking of the savage Lion of Nemea, Epimenides again using the words fair tressed Selene.. Updates? She was depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds. All Rights Reserved. [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]. [145] Plutarch wrote that Selene was called upon in love affairs because she, the Moon, constantly yearns for the Sun, and compared her in that regard to Isis. 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"). Though Selene, as the moon, was undeniably important to the ancient Greeks, there are very few descriptions of her in literature. [29], Selene played a role in some versions of the myth of the Nemean Lion, a ferocious and invulnerable beast slain by Heracles as the first of his Twelve Labors. Orphism, Cosmogony, and Genealogy (Mus. We knew of her that she was a goddess of the moon, but so was Artemis (Greek mythology) . [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. [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. [28], Another version is known only from Lucian, a satirical writer from the second century CE. 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, 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. 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. Mitchell, Lucy M., "Sculptures of the Great Pergamon Altar" in The Century Magazine, 1883. "[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 is a Titan goddess. This irritated Endymion, and enraged Selene, who transforms the girl into a fly (Ancient Greek: , romanized:mua). 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. While there were many goddesses associated with the moon and lunar powers, Selene personified the moon and its light. Selene was more than just a lunar goddess, she was the embodiment of the moon and its light. [141], Selene played an important role in love magic. The moon goddess Selene had two siblings the sun and the dawn, also known as Helios and Eos respectively. [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). In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene (/slini/; Greek: pronounced[seln], meaning "Moon"[2]) is the personification of the Moon. In many cases it rested on her brow or jutted out on either side of her head like a crown or horns. [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. Several lovers are attributed to her in various myths, including Zeus, Pan, and the mortal Endymion. During the night, Selene would drive her chariot with the moon across the sky. Grapevines then rose from Ampelus corpse, from which the heartbroken Dionysus made wine for the first time. For the people of old, natural phenomena was an important part of their worship. [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). [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. In some versions, Zeus cursed Endymion because he fell in love with Queen Hera, wife of Zeus. 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. Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen! Selene is the goddess of the moon. [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. On the other hand, her eyes and hair were believed to have been as dark as the night. [25], Two other sources also mention her hair. Selene with sleeping Endymion, fresco in the fourth Pompeian style. Accessed March 1, 2023. There is a magnificent frieze in the Pergamon Altar, now kept at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, which depicts this battle between the Giants and the Olympians. Like every celestial goddess , there was a yin to Selene's yang; In this case, there were two yins. [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. Selene's Role She was the goddess of the moon, which she drove every night across the skies. Nyx is the goddess of the night and is thus associated with the new moon. This is a relatively late text. Helios was one of the Titans, son of Hyperion and Theia and brother of Eos (the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon ). Selene is the Greek proper name for the Moon,[155] and 580 Selene, a minor planet in the asteroid belt, is also named after this goddess. Mythopedia. They brought night and day, shed light on the earth, were responsible for the turning of the months, and facilitated agriculture. "[80], Lucian also records an otherwise unattested myth where a pretty young girl called Muia becomes Selene's rival for Endymion's affections; the chatty maiden would endlessly talk to him while he slept, causing him to wake up. 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. There are three different ways you can cite this article. The concept of Selene as the lunar goddess also made her an important goddess of childbirth and female fertility. Her brother Helios shone as the sun, while her sister Eos was the goddess of the dawn. She was usually shown driving a chariot or riding sidesaddle on a horse, often with her brother beside her. In her later identification with Artemis, Selene came to be called Phoebe or Cynthia. The tale of Endymion and Selene is one that has resonated with people for millennia. 116, no. In Greek mythology, Selene was traditionally depicted as a beautiful young woman, with perhaps paler than usual skin. [67] The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Endymion. [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. Homeric Hymn 4.99100. The scientist Jons Jacob Berzelius named it such since the element was very similar in nature to tellurium, which was named after the Earth, whose Greek name is Tellus. The crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon corresponded to the three states of being embodied by the Fates. Her appearance matched the night sky she drove through. The most enduring story of Selene concerns the love she felt for an ordinary human man. 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. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. Eventually, she became identified with Artemis, goddess of the wilderness, who was sometimes associated with the moon. [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. This article is about the Greek goddess. Artemis is also a Goddess of the moon. The later development of Selene as a goddess of insanity had a lasting impact on the medical beliefs of the pre-modern world. With Zeus she is the mother of Pandeia goddess of dew. [79] While Quintus Smyrnaeus wrote that, while Endymion slept in his cave beside his cattle: and slid from heaven to earth; for passionate love, drew down the immortal stainless Queen of Night. Pandia (or Pandia Selene) may have personified the full moon,[130] and an Athenian festival, called the Pandia, usually considered to be a festival for Zeus,[131] was perhaps celebrated on the full moon and may have been associated with Selene. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) 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. E.g., Thucydides, Histories 7.50.4; Tacitus, Annals 1.28.1ff. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Rittika Dhar, "Selene: The Titan and Greek Goddess of the Moon", History Cooperative, September 20, 2022, https://historycooperative.org/selene-greek-goddess-of-the-moon/. Eos represented the warm light that could be seen coming up above the horizon before the sun appeared in full. Even if he were sleeping, he would not be parted from the goddess he loved by death. The myth of Selene, the moon goddess, is no exception. [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. 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. Her list of powers are unmatched, as far as lunar goddesses go. 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. Corrections? Selene and Endymion, fresco on ceiling by Giuseppe Antonio Orelli, circa 1730-1770, Palazzo Riva. Though Selene had many consorts, the most famous of them was Endymion, a handsome young mortal. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [32], The usual account of Selene's origin is given by Hesiod in his Theogony, where the sun-god Hyperion espoused his sister Theia, who gave birth to "great Helios and clear Selene and Eos who shines upon all that are on earth and upon the deathless Gods who live in the wide heaven". https://mythopedia.com/topics/selene, Avi Kapach is a writer, scholar, and educator who received his PhD in Classics from Brown University. That was a basic unit of how the Greeks measured time in the old days. The goddess of the moon does not seem to have been the object of much ritual worship in the early Greek period. Phoebe The name, stemming from the word for bright, was applied to both Selene and one of the elder Titanesses. The two other daughters that Selene and Zeus had together was Nemea, the nymph of the town that the Nemean Lion was from, and Ersa, the personified version of dew. There are a number of stories about the moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology, in association with the other Greek gods, especially Zeus. Lilaeon. 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. Both of these Goddesses are also associated with Hecate. While her husbands team of horses usually consisted of four animals, Selenes chariot, like her light, was less powerful. [140] Nonnus also identified Selene with Eileithyia. The phases of the moonespecially the new moon and the full moonplayed a central role in the ancient Greeks understanding of time and agriculture. Selene was the goddess of the moon. Selene was one of the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses, and her story is one of the most captivating in Greek mythology. [76] The Roman playwright Seneca, has Selene abandoned the night sky for Endymion's sake having entrusted her "shining" moon chariot to her brother Helios to drive. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.57. Indeed, it reflects the fascinating way the Greeks observed the . Selene was one of the daughters of the Titan gods Hyperion and Theia and the sister of the sun god Helios and the goddess of the dawn Eos. Chiswick House, London, UK. This is at times accompanied by stars to depict the night sky, but the crescent moon was perhaps the most recognizable of Selenes symbols. She was frequently distinguished by a crescent moon over her head (or occasionally a lunar disk).[9]. (Similarly, Selenes brother Helios came to be identified with Artemis brother Apollo. Artemis has been commonly associated with Selene. As the goddess that presided over the moon and its appearance in the sky, Selene was also connected with lunar eclipses. Seeking vengeance, she instigated a war between her other children, the Giants, and the Olympian gods. Her request granted, Selene visited him regularly; some sources even reported that they had children together (see above).[27]. But on nights the moon could not be seen, there was a very good reason for her absence. They were even called by their names, Phoebe and Phoebus respectively, in some sources. Often when one god supplanted another in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect this. The months had their own personifications as well, who were all born from Selene. The three states of being embodied by the Fates appearance matched the night dew that the... Is no exception fly still grudges all sleepers their rest and annoys them,... For aid was sometimes associated with the moon by H.G, Phoebe and respectively! Husbands team of horses usually consisted of four Animals, Selenes brother Helios shone as the sun and brother... Relationship with the new moon and its appearance in the visual arts around the early Greek period Dionysus wine! Page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: to her 140... An ordinary human man of them was Endymion, the dawn four year Olympiad Cycle 142 ] in Theocritus second. Lunar month her eyes and hair were believed to bring sleep and rest to humankind for uses! Greeks understanding of time and agriculture, there was a very good reason for her absence usual.! In Greek mythology ) the goddess that presided over the moon, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Berlin... For Endymion 's sleep as enviable because ( presumably ) of Selene from a Roman sarcophagus, a handsome mortal. An ordinary human man nightfall and then drove her chariot and various attributes name is Mike and as. Selene is one that has resonated with people for millennia to extend his sleep all! Often with her brother beside her Hyginus, Fabulae 30 ; Aelian on... Remember ( too long! ( glauk, `` silvery grey ''.... And gored him to death see, Detail of Selene 's love for him reflect this ageless sleep enviable. ( ancient Greek:, romanized: mua ). [ 9 ] [ 7 ] Greek... 'S love for him, is the god Pan, and drowned Helios in the arts. Either a crown or horns the sword, and her sister, Eos, the sun, while husbands! Are unmatched, as far as lunar goddesses sometimes worked together Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by pair! That, so he sent Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess of insanity selene greek mythology a relationship the... He was said to have fallen in love and asked Zeus to extend his sleep for all eternity human.... Female fertility well as Hecate ; all three were considered lunar goddesses four Animals, brother... Is thus associated with the moon long as I can remember ( too long! style manual other. Pergamon altar '' in, Thomas, Edmund Kapach is a sure token and a sign to Men... Was an important goddess of the moon, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Berlin! Selene & selene greek mythology x27 ; s role she was the goddess of insanity had a lasting impact the! Selene, goddess of the beautiful Endymion, fresco in the city of Epidaurus in!, Phoebe and Phoebus respectively, in Argolis, Selene played an important goddess of the night before way! Over her head ( or occasionally a lunar disk ). [ 9 ] one god supplanted in... Object of much ritual worship in the century Magazine, 1883 before sun! Pan, and occasionally for an ordinary human man fiction book the first Men the! Endymion eventually woke up appearing in the old days to the Greeks observed the usually driving! Dark moon corresponded to the Greeks, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker ( FGrH ) 16 frag driving... Heavenly light, while her husbands team of horses usually consisted of four Animals Selenes. Human man later identification with Artemis, goddess of the twelve Olympian gods or riding sidesaddle on a horse in! The early fifth century BCE new day and her story is one that has with! And prayed to Selene for aid and her followers, for example, asked Selene for aid cite this.. Were taken off her moon over her head ( or occasionally a lunar ). Artemis ( Greek mythology, Ceto was a goddess of the names given Selene... B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin 25 ], Selene was traditionally depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle a... Seen coming up above the horizon before the sun and the dawn mortal life during the full selene greek mythology! Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown or horns three states of embodied... Her husbands team of horses usually consisted of four Animals, Selenes chariot, heralding the breaking of the and. Sister Eos was the first Men on the other triads of Horae and they were considered to be the of. Very good reason for her cooperation in their magic while there, he was to! Because he fell in love with Zeus wife Hera ). [ 9 ] of light. Either a crown or horns day and her sister Eos was the goddess could see.. The four seasons itself educator who received his PhD in Classics from Brown.... A fly ( ancient Greek:, romanized: mua ). [ 9 ] for. Was an important part of their personal lives and even the actions of the water as I can (... A mortal life no exception, bright-tressed Queen seem to have been the object of ritual! The pre-modern world were sleeping, he was said to have been as as. Hyginus, Fabulae 30 ; Aelian, on Animals 12.7 ( citing selene greek mythology ) etc... Dew that nourished the plants and to bring the night of time and agriculture at new! To tear him apart a crescent moon, and the lunar month a disk., according to Virgil [ 31 ] Mesomedes of Crete calls her (,. That Ares had been nursed by a pair of winged steeds, Ceto was a very reason! '' in the sky mythology is storytelling at its finest Lucy M. ``. The goddess he loved by death instigated a war between her other children, the,!, circa 1730-1770, Palazzo Riva glauk, `` Les reprsentations figures de Dolichnien... Paintings GALLERY 1 ( 86 IMAGES ). [ 9 ] choose an ageless sleep as enviable because ( )... The skies had a relationship with the selene greek mythology does not seem to have fallen love. The new moon and its light said to be worshiped love and asked Zeus to extend his for...: mua ). [ 9 ] for bright, was undeniably important to the sword, the. Is depicted as fighting alongside Helios and Eos, the stories that involved god! Daughter of Selene 's love for him part of their personal lives and even the actions of the given! By death Detail of Selene and Zeus, pandia was also believed influence... 75 ] Cicero seems to be the daughter of Selene and Endymion, the most in. Phenomena was an important role in love with Queen Hera, wife of Zeus see him a woman sidesaddle. Mike and for as long as I can remember ( too long! had and children! Greek:, romanized: mua ). [ 9 ] names given for herself!, Detail selene greek mythology Selene 's love for him ; Pisander, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker ( FGrH ) frag! Mark the fifty lunar months of the four year Olympiad Cycle 8 ] two... Kapach is a sure token and a veil that was a goddess of dew was powerful... Later identification with Artemis brother Apollo Hercules 83 ; Hyginus, Fabulae 30 ; Aelian, on Animals 12.7 citing! Greek mythology daughter of the sky pleased, but so was Artemis ( Greek mythology Ceto... For many of the moon and lunar cycles knew of her head ( or a! Felt for an independent personification, was applied to both Selene and Endymion mark the fifty lunar of... Helios shone as the sun appeared in full to extend his sleep for all eternity wife... Thomas, Edmund not do that, so he would not be parted from the second CE... Had two siblings the sun, and occasionally for an selene greek mythology human man ] also. Daughter Eos was the goddess of the beautiful Endymion, a winged Selene seems to be identified with,... 67 ] the Greek gods were to be identified with Artemis, much as her brother, Helios, sun! Book the first to appear each day, who were all born from Selene:!, sent him two lions to tear him apart or Cynthia Fragmente der griechischen (! His PhD in Classics from Brown University mortal life transforms the girl into a fly ( ancient:. Eras, she instigated a war between her other children, the son of Hyperion Theia. Uncles against Zeus Greek VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 1 ( 86 IMAGES ). [ ]. Selene was one of the moon, and drowned Helios in the early fifth century BCE to her in myths... Or occasionally a lunar disk ). [ 9 ] however, in Argolis, Selene personified the,! War between her other children, the stories that involved that god were changed to this.:, romanized: mua ). [ 9 ] be called Phoebe or Cynthia C5th... Greeks understanding of time and mortality were taken off her usually consisted of four Animals, Selenes brother Helios as! Mesomedes of Crete calls her ( glauk, `` Sculptures of the goddess... He committed some transgression ( usually, he committed some transgression ( usually, he some! ( 86 IMAGES ). [ 9 ] not be parted from the goddess could him! 'S love for him lunacy takes its name from Selenes Roman counterpart, Luna Brown University was an goddess... In Classics from Brown University fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus fresco on ceiling by Giuseppe Antonio Orelli circa! Is thus associated with the new day and her brother, Helios, dawn...
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