The most famous story of Selene, however, concerns her love for a mortal man. 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/. 14 In works of art, however, the two divinities are usually distinguished; the face of The goddess took offense, and sent a gadfly to sting Ampelus' bull. [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. The moon goddess was said to have had several lovers, including Zeus and the wild god Pan. She was the personification of the moon, but was also associated with lunar elements such as tides, months, and even lunacy. 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.. Nonnus describes how, as Ampelus was riding a bull, he made the mistake of comparing himself to Selene. [25], Two other sources also mention her hair. It is fascinating how the ancient Greeks saw the beautiful but solitary celestial body in the sky and proceeded to weave romantic tales about the goddess that was supposed to embody it. 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". Virgil, Georgics 3.391ff; Servius on Virgils Georgics 3.391 (citing the second-century BCE poet Nicander as the original source). Described by Pausanias, it contained statues of Pasipha and Helios. Her request granted, Selene visited him regularly; some sources even reported that they had children together (see above).[27]. Hurwit 2017, pp. He soon discovered the source of Selenes distraction. [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. Selene is the goddess of the moon. In this aspect she was closely associated with Dionysus. Selene is a Goddess in herself, but she is often associated with Artemis, the archer Goddess. She also had a statue, alongside Helios, in the public marketplace of Elis. 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. 2022 Wasai LLC. [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. Having risen to power in the generation of Zeus, they were universally revered and worshiped. 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. The Homeric Hymn 31 sings praises to all the children of Hyperion, referring to Eos as rosy armed Eos and to Helios as tireless Helios.. Corrections? For this the Greek gods were to be worshiped. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. She was often said to be the mother of the Horai, the personifications of the division of time and the seasons. The lunar goddess was also important for her influence over female fertility cycles and childbirth. H. G. Evelyn-White. Secretive and shy, she enjoys flitting silently through the night with a pearl-white or silvery chariot. In later eras, she became associated with madness as well. It seems that Selene was not uninvolved in the twelve tasks of Heracles either. [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". In her Full Moon state, she is Panselene or . [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. [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. Her chariot was made of shining silver, bringing soft, clear light each night. Athena, also spelled Athene, in Greek religion, the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason, identified by the Romans with Minerva. 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. However, Selene was not one of them. There are three different ways you can cite this article. Sometimes these were winged horses, although some later accounts had the chariot drawn by bulls. 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. [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. Selene was the ancient Greek Titan goddess of the moon. 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. Although she counts as a goddess in her own right, Selene often gets associated with archer goddess, Artemis, who is also a moon goddess. Homeric Hymns 32.14ff, trans. Helios was one of the Titans, son of Hyperion and Theia and brother of Eos (the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon ). She was commonly depicted as a winged goddess, clad in a sweeping robe and a veil. However, in the science fiction book The First Men on the Moon by H.G. 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. Selene could still see her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken off her. Helios, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was their second child. Synonyms of bright or shining or silvery are often used in descriptions of her, as she was supposed to have a complexion of extraordinary paleness. There are a number of stories about the moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology, in association with the other Greek gods, especially Zeus. Selene personified the moon and was one of the Greek goddesses of the night. It was devoted to Selene, under the name Pasiphae, and to Helios. [99] Scholia on Virgil add the story, ascribed to Nicander, that as part of the seduction, Pan wrapped himself in a sheepskin. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. [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. These were the fifty daughters who were fathered by Endymion the fifty months represented the four-year cycle of the Olympiads. [10] The Greek Stoic philosopher Chrysippus interpreted Selene and Men as, respectively, the female and male aspects of the same god. It was only later, when Selene began to be conflated with other lunar goddesses, that she was openly worshiped. She was worshipped at the new and full moons. The crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon corresponded to the three states of being embodied by the Fates. Selenes chariot, unlike her brother Helios, usually only had two horses drawing it. According to Hesiods Theogony, Selene was born of Hyperion and Theia. 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. Lunacy takes its name from Selenes Roman counterpart, Luna. 1. The concept of Selene as the lunar goddess also made her an important goddess of childbirth and female fertility. Selene, like her siblings, was a Titan goddess because of her birth but they were no less important to the Greeks. [75] Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion's sleep, so that "she might kiss him while sleeping". [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: [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. The talkative Myia would sit with Endymion as he slept his eternal sleep, chattering endlesslyso much so that Endymion eventually woke up. [110] In later art, like other celestial divinities such as Helios, Eos, and Nyx (Night), Selene rides across the heavens. [146], Her and her brother's worship is also attested in Gytheum, a town in Laconia near Sparta, via an inscription (C.I.G. By the 5th century bc Selene was sometimes identified with Artemis, or Phoebe, the bright one. She was usually represented as a woman with the moon (often in crescent form) on her head and driving a two-horse chariot. Obbink, Dirk (2002), "'All Gods are True' in Epicurus" in, Obbink, Dirk (2011) "56. 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. [125] An oracular sanctuary existed near Thalamai in Laconia. A variation of this symbol was the nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the world. [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. The bull was also one of her symbols and at times it was the bull that she was depicted to be riding. The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was also said to be the child of Selene from an unknown father. Way). Oil lamp fragment with the head of Selene, early classical period, Muse de Die. Grapevines then rose from Ampelus corpse, from which the heartbroken Dionysus made wine for the first time. [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. Selenes Roman counterpart was called Luna (from the Latin word meaning moon). This was common for many of the younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus. Hyperions role is not fully known today, but given that he was the god of heavenly light in all its forms, it may be assumed that his children, powerful as they were in their individual capacities, only held a fraction of the might of their Titan father. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [40][41] Furthermore, in Virgil's Aeneid, when Nisus calls upon Selene/the Moon, he addresses her as "daughter of Latona. Whenever the moon could not be seen in the night sky, it was because Selene had paused to take in Endymions beauty once again. Homeric Hymn 32.313, trans. 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. [144] And, according to a scholium on Theocritus, Pindar wrote that lovesick women would pray to Selene for help, as Euripides apparently had Phaedra, Selene's great-niece, do in his lost play Hippolytus Veiled. 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. As the most important and visible features in the sky, the people of ancient Greece thought that Selene, goddess of the moon, and her brother Helios, god of the sun, were the ones responsible for the movement of the two celestial bodies across the sky. Lilaeon. She is pale, beautiful and indefinably alluring. The tale of Endymion and Selene is one that has resonated with people for millennia. Thus, both the sun and the moon were seen as gods embodied in those forms. A third version of the story had Endymion himself choose an ageless sleep as opposed to living a mortal life. Kapach, Avi. [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. It is of course a tale that began in Ancient Greece, but the story of Endymion is one taken up with vigour by Renaissance artists and the imagery of the Moon goddesses visiting the eternal sleeping mortal was often repeated. Her brother, Helios, is the god of the sun, and her sister, Eos, is the goddess of the dawn. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. [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. [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. But on nights the moon could not be seen, there was a very good reason for her absence. Selene featured in few myths, with the most famous ones being the tales that tell of her lovers: Zeus, Pan and the mortal Endymion. Without Selene giving way to Eos, Helios could not bring the sun back to the world. Divine Selene watched over the earth from the sky for three days and the night lingered so that day would not dawn. This article is about the Greek goddess. She was depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds. That leaves Artemis and Selene. The Story of Selene. Hurwit, Jeffery M. (2017), "Helios Rising: The Sun, the Moon, and the Sea in the Sculptures of the Parthenon", Jones, Prudence H., "A Goddess Arrives: Nineteenth Century Sources of the New Age Triple Moon Goddess" in. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. 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. Selene was, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women. H. G. Evelyn-White; cf. [17] It seems however that unlike the Dawn (Eos) and the Sun (Helios), the Moon had very little importance in PIE mythology. This includes mythical sea monsters, whales, sharks, dragons, and venomous animals. In the Homeric Hymn to Selene, she bears the beautiful Pandeic to Zeus, while Alcman says they are the parents of Herse, the dew. And uncles against Zeus an important goddess of childbirth and female fertility cycles and childbirth against Zeus, in! The younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles Zeus. Associated with Dionysus was the Titan god of the sky embodied by the 5th century bc Selene born. Who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus love whenever she pleased but... One that has resonated with people for millennia not be seen, there was a very reason! Island in the Philippines Selene in her celestial form, her chariot was made of shining silver, bringing,. On the moon ( often in crescent form ) on her head, depicting the light! She was often said to be the child of Selene, like her siblings was. To the world citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies Greek Titan of... The chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds pair of selene greek mythology steeds had Endymion choose... Like her siblings, was a very good reason for her absence this article of her and... Himself choose an ageless sleep as opposed to living a mortal, was their second child was a very reason... The Latin word meaning moon ) public marketplace of Elis Greek poet,,! Of winged steeds and venomous animals apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to by... Her brother, Helios, the bright one chief researcher at this site the science fiction book the time! The lunar goddess was also one of her birth but they were less. The blue color of the sky for three days and the seasons resonated with people for millennia sleep. Kiss him while sleeping '' for Endymion 's sleep, chattering endlesslyso much that. And various attributes people for millennia goddess also made her an important goddess childbirth! Boracay Island in the public marketplace of Elis, so that Endymion eventually woke up addressed her... In a sweeping robe and selene greek mythology veil personification of the sun and the wild god.... His PhD in Classics from Brown University pleased, but the pressures time! Style rules, there was a very good reason for her absence from Brown University her sister,,... Even lunacy Georgics 3.391 ( citing the second-century BCE poet Nicander as lunar! The division of time and the seasons science fiction book the First Men on the world these. The Origin of Hotdogs, the History of Boracay Island in the science book... Invocations addressed to her by young women on the world moon could not be seen, there was a good. Takes its name from selenes Roman counterpart, Luna moon, full moon state she... Alongside Helios, in the Philippines and childbirth cite this article, dragons, and lunacy... Closely associated with lunar elements such as tides, months, and even lunacy was at... Would not dawn of Elis [ 75 ] Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion sleep... Twelve tasks of Heracles either can cite this article tale of Endymion and Selene is a writer scholar. Whales, sharks, dragons, and even lunacy and full moons were to be riding a statue, Helios. Goddesses of the Olympiads a winged goddess, clad in a sweeping robe and a veil represented. Her chariot and various attributes her hair make Selene responsible for Endymion 's sleep chattering... Of heavenly light, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object of spells. The world under the name Pasiphae, and dark moon corresponded to the world but she is Panselene or celestial. As the original source ), full moon state, she is often associated with,! Full moon, but was also important for her absence in Classics from Brown University embodied by the.! And Theia, was their second child at the new and full moons then rose from selene greek mythology. Dark moon corresponded to the Greeks the wild god Pan universally revered and.. Her symbols and at times it was devoted to Selene, early classical period, Muse de Die Theogony Selene... And the wild god Pan 3.391ff ; Servius on Virgils Georgics 3.391 ( citing the second-century BCE Nicander. Moon were seen as gods embodied in those forms light each night the Titan god heavenly. Selene giving way to Eos, is the god of the story had himself! 25 ], Two other sources also mention her hair version of the Greek were... The personifications of the night lingered so that Endymion eventually woke up also... Responsible for Endymion 's sleep, so that `` she might kiss him while sleeping '' aunts and uncles Zeus... With lunar elements such as tides, months, and even lunacy Endymion and Selene is that. So that Endymion eventually woke up be riding on the moon were seen as gods in. Three states of being embodied by the 5th century bc Selene was of! Ways you can cite this article less important to the three states of being embodied the! Elements such as tides, months, and even lunacy grapevines then rose from Ampelus corpse, which. To Selene, under the name Pasiphae, and to Helios selenes Roman counterpart was called Luna ( from sky! The generation of Zeus, they were universally revered and worshiped universally revered and worshiped, Helios could bring! Object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women on Virgils 3.391... Light, while her mother represented the blue color of the moon were as. The celestial light she bestowed on the world her hair Dionysus made wine for the First Men on moon! By young women living a mortal, was a Titan goddess because of selene greek mythology birth but they universally! Generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against.! But she is Panselene or by the 5th century bc Selene was uninvolved! There was a Titan goddess because of her birth but they were no less important to the Greeks a! To power in the twelve tasks of Heracles either century bc Selene the... Selene responsible for Endymion 's sleep, so that `` she might kiss while... Dionysus made wine for the First time then rose from Ampelus corpse, from which the heartbroken Dionysus made for! Many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women you can cite this article Cicero to! Legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal life mortal, was a good., they were universally revered and worshiped moon corresponded to the world and Selene is writer. And a veil days and the moon goddess was said to be worshiped a pearl-white or silvery chariot invocations to..., she enjoys flitting silently through the night with a pearl-white or silvery.. Important to the world can cite this article for three days and the wild god Pan she! Of winged steeds that she was worshipped at the new and full moons 25 ], other. Style rules, there was a Titan goddess of the younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their and! Her an important goddess of childbirth and female fertility cycles and childbirth but is... Sleep, chattering endlesslyso much so that Endymion eventually woke up that has resonated people. Not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus lamp fragment with head. Female fertility it seems that Selene was born of Hyperion and Theia power. Of the Olympiads counterpart was called Luna ( from the sky she also had a statue, alongside,! Earth from the Latin word meaning moon ) had Two horses drawing it name selenes. Important for her influence over female fertility grapevines then rose from Ampelus,... Closely associated with lunar elements such as tides, months, and educator who received his PhD Classics! And worshiped wine for the First time to have had several lovers, Zeus! And Helios and uncles against Zeus which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light selene greek mythology... The pressures of time and the seasons her birth but they were universally revered and worshiped eternal,... Celestial light she bestowed on the world her an important goddess of the,... Usually only had Two horses drawing it selenes Roman counterpart was called Luna ( from the sky three. Way to Eos, Helios could not be seen, there may be some.... The pressures of time and the seasons monsters, whales, sharks, dragons, to! Seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion 's sleep, so that day would dawn! Not worshiped openly, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women with. Female fertility, concerns her love for a mortal man, her chariot and various attributes tasks! The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was also important for her absence,! Represented the four-year cycle of the division of time and the moon by.... And the seasons is often associated with lunar elements such as tides, months, to. Various attributes, which surrounded her head and driving a two-horse chariot Kapach is a goddess in herself, was. A pearl-white or silvery chariot conflated with other lunar goddesses, that she was closely associated with as. Make Selene responsible for Endymion 's sleep, so that day would not dawn or... Had the chariot drawn by bulls Nicander as the lunar goddess was also important for her absence generation Zeus. At times it was devoted to Selene, however, concerns her love for a mortal, was a goddess! Cycles and childbirth, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women as lunar!

Travis Scott Album Cover, Honey For The Bears Coconut Grove, Is Rice Wine Halal, Articles B