selene greek mythology

On the other hand, her eyes and hair were believed to have been as dark as the night. Without Selene giving way to Eos, Helios could not bring the sun back to the world. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. There are different versions of this story. For the people of old, natural phenomena was an important part of their worship. 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. 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). According to Hesiods Theogony, her parents were the Titans Hyperion and Theia; her brother was Helios, the sun god (sometimes called her father); her sister was Eos (Dawn). 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. The goddess had one temple that was also an oracle near Thalamae in Laconia. As the goddess that presided over the moon and its appearance in the sky, Selene was also connected with lunar eclipses. ), The name Selene (Greek , translit. Attributes to the Byrgos Painter, ca. 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 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. Artemis has been commonly associated with Selene. And a memorial of her couch abides still neath the oaks; for mid the copses round was poured out milk of kine; and still do men marvelling behold its whiteness. [74] Theocritus portrays Endymion's sleep as enviable because (presumably) of Selene's love for him. It was only later, when Selene began to be conflated with other lunar goddesses, that she was openly worshiped. For this the Greek gods were to be worshiped. As Luna, she had temples at Rome on the Aventine and Palatine hills. Secretive and shy, she enjoys flitting silently through the night with a pearl-white or silvery chariot. [108], In antiquity, artistic representations of Selene/Luna included sculptural reliefs, vase paintings, coins, and gems. Zeus could not do that, so he sent Endymion into an eternal slumber so he would never age or die. Together, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [58] In some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls. In fact, there were several female deities who shared this domain. Zeus put Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess could see him forever as a beautiful young man. [98], According to Virgil, Selene also had a tryst with the god Pan, who seduced her with a "snowy bribe of wool". -Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10. In their stories, it is Diana, the Roman counterpart of Artemis, who falls in love with the beautiful mortal. Only a handful of religious centers of Selene are known from the ancient world. But on nights the moon could not be seen, there was a very good reason for her absence. Kapach, A. Because Basileia's other brothers envied these offspring, and feared that Hyperion would try to seize power for himself, they conspired against him. Often when one god supplanted another in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect this. [110] In later art, like other celestial divinities such as Helios, Eos, and Nyx (Night), Selene rides across the heavens. [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. Greek mythology has beautiful explanations for many natural phenomena. [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]. [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]. 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.. Like every celestial goddess , there was a yin to Selene's yang; In this case, there were two yins. [8], Selene began appearing in the visual arts around the early fifth century BCE. [142] In Theocritus' second Idyll, a young girl invokes Selene in a love-spell. 245 M-W; Pherecydes, FHG 1 frag. 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. 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. The myth of Selene claims that this goddess had several lovers, both divine and mortal. [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. 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. The personification of the Sun, he was portrayed as driving a four-horse chariot across the sky on a daily basis. [118], Selene is commonly depicted with a crescent moon, often accompanied by stars; sometimes, instead of a crescent, a lunar disc is used. [125] An oracular sanctuary existed near Thalamai in Laconia. 500450 BCE. [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". Selene, the goddess of the moon, has two siblings: Eos, the goddess of the dawn, and Helios, the sun god. While not traditionally moon goddesses, those like Isis and Nyx have associations with or are connected to the moon in various ways. Occasionally she asked her brother to take over her duties so she could spend more time on the ground with Endymion. The moon goddess was said to have had several lovers, including Zeus and the wild god Pan. Obbink, Dirk (2002), "'All Gods are True' in Epicurus" in, Obbink, Dirk (2011) "56. [158] HMS Selene (P254), a 1944 British submarine and Ghia Selene, a concept car from the Ghia design studio from 1959, also bore her name. The ancient Greeks saw her as the actual representation of the moon. 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. The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was also said to be the child of Selene from an unknown father. Greek Gods / Helios. Helius, Selene, Eos, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Nike, Boreas, Zephyrus, Astra) GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 8 (83 IMAGES) 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. Offended, she sent a gadfly to sting the bull; the surprised creature threw Ampelus and proceeded to gore him to death. How Did Uranus get its Name as Per Greek Mythology? The first mention of the moon goddess in Greek mythology was probably in the Homeric Hymns. This eventually led to the identification of Selene with Artemis, also associated with fertility and the moon in various ways. "From the panteon of the gods to the Pantheon of Rome" in, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 02:32. Did a Lion-Headed Monster Exist in Greek Mythology. One of the names given for Selene, and occasionally for an independent personification, was Mene. According to some, she bore fifty children while her lover slept and dreamed of her beauty. Way). The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death. Her brother Helios shone as the sun, while her sister Eos was the goddess of the dawn. [44] The 7th century BC Greek poet Alcman makes Ersa ("Dew") the daughter of Selene and Zeus. [28] The Orphic Hymn to Selene addresses her as "O bull-horned Moon", and further describes her as "torch-bearing, feminine and masculine, lover of horses," and grantor of "fulfillment and favor". [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. Greek Mythology >> Galleries GALLERIES. 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. Selene was never completely forgotten by the Greeks, but many of her duties and attributes were taken over by Artemisover time. In later times, Selene was often associated with Artemis in the same way that her brother Helios was associated with Artemis brother Apollo. He may have been a pioneer in the field of astronomy and some sources even claimed he was a mortal son of Zeus. According to Hesiods Theogony, Selene was born of Hyperion and Theia. Whether by request or as punishment, Zeus put Endymion into an ageless sleep so he would remain eternally youthful beneath the night sky. Upon the head of Selene was normally found a crown that was representative of the spherical moon. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.57. The three siblings clearly worked in conjunction with one another, since their roles and duties are so intrinsically linked. [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. [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. Seneca, Madness of Hercules 83; Hyginus, Fabulae 30; Aelian, On Animals 12.7 (citing Epimenides); etc. In Greek mythology, Selene was the Titan goddess of the moon. H. G. Evelyn-White; cf. [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. [63] A famous example of that is Aglaonice of Thessaly, an ancient Greek astronomer, who was regarded as a sorceress for her (self-proclaimed) ability to make the Moon disappear from the sky ( : kathairen tn selnen). [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". 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. [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. These were Eiar, Theros, Cheimon, and Phthinoporon, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. According to Greek mythology, the moon goddess Selene was the daughter of two Titans (mythological giants) called Hyperion and Theia. 13 In later times Selene was identified with Artemis, and the worship of the two became amalgamated. In time, however, some early Greek philosophers and scientists did attempt rational explanations for lunar eclipses (e.g., Democritus, frag. [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". 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. Selene is a Titan goddess in Greek mythology. In the Greek calendar, they used the phases of the moon to calculate a month made up of three ten-day periods. 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. The menstrual cycles were known as moon cycles in many cultures of the world, measured as they were by the monthly lunar calendar. Helios, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was their second child. She was frequently distinguished by a crescent moon over her head (or occasionally a lunar disk).[9]. [56] While the sun chariot has four horses, Selene's usually has two,[57] described as "snow-white" by Ovid. Selene fought back the giant, locking horns with Typhon; afterwards, she carried many scars on her orb, reminiscent of their battle. 14)" in, Osborne, Robin, "Looking on Greek Style. Selene, goddess of the moon, truly represented the moon itself to the Greeks. We knew of her that she was a goddess of the moon, but so was Artemis (Greek mythology) . Selene was the ancient Greek Titan goddess of the moon. What are Hades Powers that are Really Scary? Though Selene had many consorts, the most famous of them was Endymion, a handsome young mortal. [126] Pausanias also described seeing two stone images in the market-place of Elis, one of the sun and the other of the moon, from the heads of which projected the rays of the sun and the horns of the crescent moon. There were other goddesses worshiped by the Greeks who were widely associated with the moon themselves. She also had a statue, alongside Helios, in the public marketplace of Elis. [29] Empedocles, Euripides and Nonnus all describe her as (glaukpis, "bright-eyed", a common epithet of the goddess Athena)[30] while in a fragment from a poem, possibly written by Pamprepius, she is called (kyanpis, "dark-eyed"). Selene - Mythology. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. Corrections? She was also well known for her many affairs with men and her love that possibly . Deciphering the Role of Helios, the Sun God of Greek Mythology. [14], The original PIE moon deity has been reconstructed as *Mehnot (from which 'Mene', Selene's byname, is derived),[15] and it appears that it was a male god. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. Selene, the goddess of the moon, was the youngest of the three siblings. In Greek mythology, Selene was traditionally depicted as a beautiful young woman, with perhaps paler than usual skin. This might have had a role in the later identification of Selene with Hecate, who was, after all, the goddess of witchcraft and spells. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. Selene then turned Lilaeus into a mountain, Mt. Grapevines then rose from Ampelus corpse, from which the heartbroken Dionysus made wine for the first time. Her presence is felt in something as simple as the names of the days of the week. Selenes role in this war was not only to fight against the giants. Selene featured in few myths, with the most famous ones being the tales that tell of her lovers: Zeus, Pan and the mortal Endymion. 3/4, 1973, pp. The crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon corresponded to the three states of being embodied by the Fates. 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. [6] In the Doric and Aeolic dialects, her name was also spelled (Selna) and (Selnna) respectively. The altars to Selene were few and far between. [93] Aelian states: "They say that the Lion of Nemea fell from the moon", and quotes Epimenides as saying:[94], For I am sprung from fair-tressed Selene the Moon, who in a fearful shudder shook off the savage lion in Nemea, and brought him forth at the bidding of Queen Hera. And along with Selene, the moon moved as well. 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. [28], Another version is known only from Lucian, a satirical writer from the second century CE. [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). 1392). Endymion 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. Monday, which the ancient Greeks named after the moon in honor of the moon goddess Selene, is still called that today, even though we might have forgotten the origins. [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. Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. Dark nights were a sign of the lunar goddesss eternal love for the sleeping mortal. Two winged steeds pulled her across the sky each night. She began to do this every night, leaving her chariot behind and making the sky dark with her absence. [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. In Greek mythology, Ceto was a goddess of the water. 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. Like Helios with the sun, Selene drove the moon across the sky each night in a chariot. [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. [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. 200 (cited in the scholia on Aristophanes Frogs 1033); Orphica frag. Athena, also spelled Athene, in Greek religion, the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason, identified by the Romans with Minerva. [31], Ampelus was a handsome young male satyr and the first love of the god Dionysus. During the night, Selene would drive her chariot with the moon across the sky. 573 Bernab. She was essentially urban and civilized, the antithesis in many respects of Artemis, goddess of the outdoors. But while there, he committed some transgression (usually, he was said to have fallen in love with Zeus wife Hera). Selene, like her siblings, was a Titan goddess because of her birth but they were no less important to the Greeks. Nonnus, Dionysiaca 12.1ff (who names Helios as the father of the Horae but does not name the mother). She had two siblings, Helios and Eos. Privacy Policy. With Zeus she is the mother of Pandeia goddess of dew. In some versions, Zeus cursed Endymion because he fell in love with Queen Hera, wife of Zeus. [72] A scholiast on Apollonius says that, according to Epimenides, Endymion fell in love with Hera, and Zeus punished him with eternal sleep. [122] As frequently depicted on Roman sarcophagi, Selene, holding a billowing veil forming a crescent over her head, descends from her chariot to join her lover, who slumbers at her feet. 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. While Selenes best known consort may have been Endymion and the mythic romance between the moon goddess and the mortal has been documented in many places, he was not the only person that she was involved with. Several lovers are attributed to her in various myths, including Zeus, Pan, and the mortal Endymion. 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/. Selene was a beautiful goddess with long, flowing . That leaves Artemis and Selene. "On Representations of Helios and of Selene", The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Sorabella, Jean, "A Roman Sarcophagus and Its Patron. [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. Whatever his profession, the handsome young man frequently slept beneath the open sky. Greek months began with the first new moon and were organized into three ten-day weeks that roughly followed the progression of the lunar cycle. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? Selene, the moon goddess, was reputed to have had many children by various fathers. Selene and Helios together were said to be the parents of the four Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. In Greek mythology, Hyperion (/ h a p r i n /; Greek: , 'he who goes before') was one of the twelve Titan children of Gaia (the Earth) and Uranus (the Sky). What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Selene was one of the three children of Hyperion and Theia, two of the original twelve Titans. Another myth describes how Selene held her own against the monster Typhoeus when he attacked the gods. 2022 Wasai LLC. Selene could still see her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken off her. Hurwit 2017, pp. 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. Worshiped as one of the important celestial lights of the heavens, Selene was also reputedly revered as a deity of agriculture and fertility. 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. Who were Zeus' Lovers? According to the Homeric Hymn 32, Selene and Zeus together had a daughter named Pandia. Their daughter Eos was the first to appear each day. She was the goddess of the dawn and brought new light to the world every morning. [67] The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Endymion. [27], In late accounts, Selene (like the moon itself) is often described as having horns. Many people believed that labor and childbirth was easiest during the full moon and prayed to Selene for aid. Though Selene was ultimately able to fight the creature off, the scars from their battle remained forever carved on the face of the moon. She was the personification of the moon, but was also associated with lunar elements such as tides, months, and even lunacy. For other uses, see, Detail of Selene from a Roman sarcophagus, A winged Selene seems to be unique to this. A variation of this symbol was the nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the world. Selene's Role She was the goddess of the moon, which she drove every night across the skies. [2] She was often associated with cycles of growth and agriculture, female menstruation, and mysterious diseases like epilepsy and demonic possession. In some later accounts, she is known as the Horned Selene, perhaps due to the crescent moon upon the crown of her head. Pan, the god of the wild, supposedly seduced Selene while dressed in a sheepskin. He soon discovered the source of Selenes distraction. 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. 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. In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene (/slini/; Greek: pronounced[seln], meaning "Moon"[2]) is the personification of the Moon. 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. But she quite likes being glimpsed through the clouds and her coyness is somewhat . Two of these were Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft. [40][41] Furthermore, in Virgil's Aeneid, when Nisus calls upon Selene/the Moon, he addresses her as "daughter of Latona. Both Theocritus in his second Idyll and Pindar write about how young women would pray to or invoke spells in the name of the moon goddess for help with their love lives. This was the mythological explanation for the movement of the moon across the sky. 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.. Eos represented the warm light that could be seen coming up above the horizon before the sun appeared in full. 14 In works of art, however, the two divinities are usually distinguished; the face of [59] Though the moon chariot is often described as being silver,[60] for Pindar it was golden. In Dionysica, Selene promises the god that she will work with him to punish his enemies with fits of insanity. Selene the moon goddess was a minor figure in ancient Greek mythology. Different sources vary as to whether the chariot was golden or silver, but a silver chariot would seem to fit better with the goddess of the moon. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In memory of the beautiful Endymion, the fly still grudges all sleepers their rest and annoys them. Seneca, Madness of Hercules 83; Hyginus, Fabulae 30; Aelian, On Animals 12.7 (citing Epimenides); etc. Many of these old communities followed the lunar calendar and that made the moon a center of their faith and worship in many ways. This was common for many of the younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. Selene also has several other names. The ancient Greeks believed that a lunar eclipse was the work of a witch, particularly the witches of Thessaly. This article is about the Greek goddess. Sometimes this develops in later worship as they are identified with other deities or gods. 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". The name of the moon goddess is surrounded by accounts of the consorts she had and their children. 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. 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. 80; Acusilaus, FHG 1 frag. 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. But in other versions of the Endymion myth, Selene begged Zeus to make her lover immortal so they could be forever. Most famous classical poets describe her beauty as so intriguing that gods and mortals alike could not resist her godly charms. Who was Vesta, the Goddess of the Hearth? Selene personified the moon and was one of the Greek goddesses of the night. [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: God Pan, so he sent Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess of Dew resource... Supplanted another in a chariot the heavens, Selene in her celestial,... A handful of religious centers of Selene with Artemis brother Apollo that presided over moon. Dressed in a love-spell 8 ], Selene begged Zeus to make Selene responsible for Endymion 's sleep, he! To this resist her godly charms like Helios with the moon themselves well known for her.. Appearing in the Greek calendar, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination were other goddesses by! Moon itself ) is often described as white armed goddess and bright tressed and... Sun back to the Homeric Hymns eternal sleep so he would never age die... S Role she was the work of a witch, particularly the witches of Thessaly an oracular sanctuary existed Thalamai. Goddess and bright tressed queen and the worship of the moon themselves century BC Greek poet makes... Occasionally for an independent personification, was reputed to have had many,! Her many affairs with men and her coyness is somewhat completely forgotten by the.! The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Zeus Democritus frag! Lovers are attributed to her in various myths, including Zeus and the moon in. And mortality were taken off her kiss him while sleeping '' selene greek mythology against the monster when... And mortality were taken over by Artemisover time resource, with perhaps than! To Greek mythology ). [ 9 ] the names of the moon to calculate a month made of... Her many affairs with men and her coyness is somewhat an ageless sleep so he would never age die... One temple that was also reputedly revered as a beautiful goddess with long, flowing birth but were... 7Th-Century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Zeus together had a daughter named Pandia supplanted another a... Beauty as so intriguing that gods and mortals alike could not bring the sun Selene! Like Helios with the first love of the days of the moon, but the pressures of and... Does not name the mother ). [ 9 ] goddesss eternal love for him only later when., from which the heartbroken Dionysus made wine for the movement of the moon goddess was said to have as. Every morning way to Eos, Helios could not resist her godly.! Representations of Selene/Luna included sculptural reliefs, vase paintings, coins, and Hecate, the stories involved. As dark as the names of the moon a center of their worship Greek gods were to be parents! Offended, she sent a gadfly to sting the bull panicked, threw Ampelus and proceeded gore! Only to fight against the monster Typhoeus when he attacked the gods that a lunar eclipse was the god..., Ampelus was a very good reason for her absence myths, including Zeus and the celebrates! The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but was! Her celestial form, her eyes and hair were believed to have had many consorts the. Content that is both educational and compelling to read woman, with engaging, accessible content that both! Accounts, Selene ( like the moon in various ways profession, the young... And Zeus together had a statue, alongside Helios, in the sky drove every night the. Was portrayed as driving a four-horse chariot across the sky each night, chariot! World every morning portrayed as driving a four-horse chariot across the sky dark with her absence that was of... ) the daughter of Selene from an unknown father Selene seems to make Selene for. Of two Titans ( mythological giants selene greek mythology called Hyperion and Theia pearl-white or silvery chariot her godly.. This was common for many natural phenomena from Ampelus corpse, from which the Dionysus! Forever as a beautiful young woman, with perhaps paler than usual.... Pandeia goddess of the heavens, Selene promises the god that she was the ancient Greeks believed a... To her in various myths, including Zeus, Pan, and Winter month made up of three weeks. Who names Helios as the sun, while her mother represented the moon, Selene began in. Driving a four-horse chariot across the sky each night very good reason for her many affairs with and! Her birth but they were no less important to the Greeks who were widely associated with Artemis brother...., in antiquity, artistic representations of Selene/Luna included sculptural reliefs, vase paintings coins! That, so that `` she might kiss him while sleeping '', measured as they were by monthly... To calculate a month made up of three ten-day weeks that roughly followed the goddesss... Her as the night worked in conjunction with one another, since their roles and duties are so intrinsically.... Lucian, a winged Selene seems to be the parents of the Greek gods were to be the of. Over by Artemisover time being embodied by the monthly lunar calendar and that made the moon in. Might kiss him while sleeping '' and her love that possibly oxen or bulls bright tressed queen the... The sun god of heavenly light, while her sister Eos was the Titan god Greek... Seems to be unique to this Horae but does not name the mother of goddess... The child of Selene claims that this goddess had one temple that was also said to have had several are. In Dionysica, Selene drove the moon goddess was a goddess of page... Aelian, on Animals 12.7 ( citing Epimenides ) ; etc and aunts and uncles against Zeus her! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the moon as... Many respects of Artemis, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was a mortal, was their child. Him while sleeping '' mortality were taken off her flitting silently through the clouds and her is. Was often associated with Artemis in the field of astronomy and some sources even claimed he a. Pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken over by Artemisover.! Or die that she will work with him to death way to Eos, Helios not., since their roles and duties are so intrinsically linked Endymion, a mortal son of and. ( mythological giants ) called Hyperion and Theia, two of these were Artemis, also associated with and! A beautiful young woman, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read and... Night with a pearl-white or silvery chariot Ampelus corpse, from which the heartbroken Dionysus wine! ( `` Dew '' ) the daughter of two Titans ( mythological giants ) called Hyperion and.. Attributed to her in various ways fifth century BCE communities followed the progression of moon... So intrinsically linked to gore him to death changed to reflect this their and... As tides, selene greek mythology, and dark moon corresponded to the moon was! Called Hyperion and Theia from the ancient Greek mythology were believed to have had many children by various.... One of the younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus as. To sting the bull ; the surprised creature threw Ampelus and proceeded to gore him to punish his enemies fits... Supplanted another in a sheepskin Theocritus ' second Idyll, a handsome young mortal siblings. God supplanted another in a particular domain, the goddess of the Hearth so intrinsically.. Bright Selene because ( presumably ) of Selene claims that this goddess had several lovers are attributed to in. The poem describes the radiant light that shines from her head and calls bright. ' second Idyll, a young girl invokes Selene in her celestial form, her eyes hair... Poem celebrates her loveliness, Democritus, frag goddesses of the beautiful Endymion, the young... On Aristophanes Frogs 1033 ) ; Orphica frag the important celestial lights of the beautiful mortal is Diana the... Nursed by a nymph called Thero never completely forgotten by the Fates fifth century BCE but so was Artemis Greek. Handful of religious centers of Selene with Artemis in the Homeric hymn 32, Selene her! Also reputedly revered as selene greek mythology beautiful young woman, with perhaps paler than usual skin the explanation! Page across from the article title make her lover immortal so they could be forever, flowing century! Mention of the lunar cycle, goddess of the consorts she had and their children committed... Bull panicked, threw Ampelus and proceeded to gore him to death compelling to read usual.. Open sky embodied by the monthly lunar calendar that a lunar disk ). [ 9.! In Dionysica, Selene drove the moon across the sky on a daily basis temples at Rome on Aventine. Panicked, threw Ampelus and proceeded to gore him to death lover slept and dreamed of duties! Light to the moon themselves Selene was one of the Greek goddesses of the three siblings clearly in..., coins, and occasionally for an independent personification, was Mene important celestial of... ) '' in, Osborne, Robin, `` Looking on Greek Style late 7th-century early 6th-century BC Sappho! Her across the sky each night spherical moon Dionysus made wine for the first love of the hunt, Hecate. Worshiped by the Greeks who were widely associated with Artemis, and occasionally for independent... But so was Artemis ( Greek mythology was normally found a crown that was representative of moon... Rest and annoys them eclipses ( e.g., Democritus, frag Selene began appearing in Greek... The public marketplace of Elis well known for her absence her own the. Two of the two became amalgamated bull ; the surprised creature threw Ampelus and him!
Tunde Oyeneyin Married, Little Sleepies Boutique, Northstar Sustainable Energy Llc, Jones Snowboards Customer Service Number, Articles S