selene greek mythology

[141], Selene played an important role in love magic. Although Endymion slept for eternity, many sources said Selene continued to see him. In the most familiar account, Selene first saw the beautiful Endymion as he lay sleeping in a cave on Mount Latmus. But while there, he committed some transgression (usually, he was said to have fallen in love with Zeus wife Hera). [121], In later second and third century AD Roman funerary art, the love of Selene for Endymion and his eternal sleep was a popular subject for artists. Secretive and shy, she enjoys flitting silently through the night with a pearl-white or silvery chariot. On the other hand, her eyes and hair were believed to have been as dark as the night. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death. They put Hyperion to the sword, and drowned Helios in the river Eridanus. The great English Romantic poet John Keats wrote a poem about the mortal, entitled Endymion, with some of the most famous opening lines in the English language. Hecate and her followers, for example, asked Selene for her cooperation in their magic. Selene is a Titan goddess in Greek mythology. She was often said to be the mother of the Horai, the personifications of the division of time and the seasons. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. 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. 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. 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. It is unclear how much of a choice Endymion himself may have had in the matter, although there are versions of the myth which say that Endymion had fallen in love with the beautiful moon goddess as well and asked Zeus to keep him in a state of eternal sleep so that he could be with her forever. She announced the coming of her younger brother. Selene is the goddess of the moon. [103], In Lucian's Icaromenippus, Selene complains to the titular Menippus of all the outrageous claims philosophers are making about her, such as wondering why she is ever waxing or gibbous, whether she is populated or not, and stating that she is getting her stolen light from the Sun, causing strife and ill feelings between her and her brother. Artemis has been commonly associated with Selene. Selene, goddess of the moon, truly represented the moon itself to the Greeks. 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). This is a relatively late text. If you have read Greek mythology and the famous epics of ancient Greece, you may be quite familiar with her brother Helios. [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. At night he drove below the edge of the world in the west, circling below Gaia to reappear on the eastern horizon by morning. ", Sorrenti, Stefania, "Les reprsentations figures de Jupiter Dolichnien Rome," in, Thomas, Edmund. Interestingly, this version of the myth does not involve Selene. 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. Accessed March 1, 2023. Magical Goddess of the Silvery Moon. [112], Selene was often paired with her brother Helios. [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. 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). This was called a casting down of the moon, or in the case of a solar eclipse, of the sun. Selene could still see her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken off her. [78] In his dialogue between Aphrodite and Eros, Lucian also has Aphrodite admonish her son Eros for bringing Selene "down from the sky". Selene is reputed to have had romantic relationships with her cousin Zeus as well and they had at least three daughters together, if not more children. [23] She was, however, the subject of one of the thirty-three Homeric Hymns, which gives the following description: And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged[24] Moon. Because Basileia's other brothers envied these offspring, and feared that Hyperion would try to seize power for himself, they conspired against him. Selene was said to have several consorts but the man that the goddess of the moon was most linked with was the mortal Endymion. Selene appeared each night over the water, shining all the more because she emerged from bathing in the sea. The moon goddess and Artemis were occasionally shown as companions. Accessed on 27 Feb. 2023. In the Homeric Hymn to Selene, she bears the beautiful Pandeic to Zeus, while Alcman says they are the parents of Herse, the dew. The eternally sleeping Endymion was proverbial,[71] but exactly how this eternal sleep came about and what role, if any, Selene may have had in it is unclear. The first depictions of Selenes moon chariot goes back to the early 5th century BCE. Obbink, Dirk (2002), "'All Gods are True' in Epicurus" in, Obbink, Dirk (2011) "56. Not only was she the goddess of the moon, but she was considered a personification of the moon itself and that was how she was portrayed by many of the old poets and writers. Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 10.336ff; cf. As punishment, he was either thrown out of Olympus or cast into an eternal sleep. Though Selene, as the moon, was undeniably important to the ancient Greeks, there are very few descriptions of her in literature. "Not I alone then stray to the Latmian cave, nor do I alone burn with love for fair Endymion; oft times with thoughts of love have I been driven away by thy crafty spells, in order that in the darkness of night thou mightest work thy sorcery at ease, even the deeds dear to thee. Seeking vengeance, she instigated a war between her other children, the Giants, and the Olympian gods. Nonnus, Dionysiaca 12.1ff (who names Helios as the father of the Horae but does not name the mother). What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Selene visited the sleeping Endymion where he lay alone in a cave everyday and had fifty daughters with him, the Menai, the personification of the Greek lunar months. Seneca, Madness of Hercules 83; Hyginus, Fabulae 30; Aelian, On Animals 12.7 (citing Epimenides); etc. Thus, Selene falling for Endymion was supposed to represent moonrise every night. Privacy. Though Hesiod made the Nemean Lion the child of Echidna, other authors wrote that Selene gave birth to it or brought it up at Heras request. Though Selene had many consorts, the most famous of them was Endymion, a handsome young mortal. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. What are Hades Powers that are Really Scary? She was worshipped at the new and full moons. [17] It seems however that unlike the Dawn (Eos) and the Sun (Helios), the Moon had very little importance in PIE mythology. 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. Epimenides, in the theogony that was ascribed to him, also calls her lovely haired, perhaps due to the Homeric Hymns themselves. The name of the moon goddess is surrounded by accounts of the consorts she had and their children. This eventually led to the identification of Selene with Artemis, also associated with fertility and the moon in various ways. [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. Selene, (Greek: "Moon") Latin Luna, in Greek and Roman religion, the personification of the moon as a goddess. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Apollo: The God of Music, Poetry, and Light, Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. Hurwit 2017, pp. Antique pottery, busts, and a lunar disk from the Hellenistic period have been found with depictions of Selene on them. In many paintings and sculptures, Selene is traditionally depicted with the crescent moon in her vicinity. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [98], According to Virgil, Selene also had a tryst with the god Pan, who seduced her with a "snowy bribe of wool". 7 (all cited in the scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes Argonautica 4.57); Sappho, frag. But unlike other night goddesseslike Nyx, Hecate, and sometimes even ArtemisSelene represented the moon itself. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. 1392). Though Selene was ultimately able to fight the creature off, the scars from their battle remained forever carved on the face of the moon. Goddess Selene is often portrayed in art and in myths generally, riding a chariot across the sky. Way). This, of course, is not the first celestial body to be named after the goddess since Selene is the proper Greek name for the moon itself. [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. [8], Selene began appearing in the visual arts around the early fifth century BCE. Selene personified the moon and was one of the Greek goddesses of the night. Chiswick House, London, UK. She was depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds. In other words, Selene was the moon (similar to the Roman Luna or even the Norse Mni). The counterpart to her brother, she traveled by night. The most famous story of Selene, however, concerns her love for a mortal man. 573 Bernab. From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. However, hers might not be a name that is quite as well-known. Selene, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, was the personification of the moon. Together, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination. "[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. Indeed, it reflects the fascinating way the Greeks observed the . The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, making Selene one of the most important deities in the passage of time. Zeus put Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess could see him forever as a beautiful young man. 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. 68 A75 D-K). 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. She was descended . Selene was not the only goddess the Greeks associated with the moon. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. The goddess had pale skin that seemed to shine with its own inner light and long black hair that matched the dark sky around her. 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. [84] Selene's participation in the battle is evidenced by her inclusion in the Gigantomachy frieze of the Pergamon Altar, fighting against Giants next to her siblings Helios and Eos and her mother Theia in the southern frieze. There existed an oracular sanctuary for her in Laconia, near Thalamai. In it, Selene is depicted as fighting alongside Helios and Eos, seated side-saddle on a horse. [91], Selene also played a small role in the first of Heracles' twelve labours; whereas for Hesiod, the Nemean Lion was born to Orthrus and the Chimera (or perhaps Echidna) and raised by Hera,[92] other accounts have Selene involved in some way in its birth or rearing. [115] There are indications of a similar framing by Selene and Helios of the birth of Pandora on the base of the Athena Parthenos. 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.. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. [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". Selene and Endymion by Sebastiano Ricci (1713). Each day she drives her two-horse chariot, heralding the breaking of the new day and her brother's arrival. As the embodiment of the moon, Selene and the movement of her chariot across the night sky was important for the Greeks to measure time. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. [56] While the sun chariot has four horses, Selene's usually has two,[57] described as "snow-white" by Ovid. 116, no. 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. All Rights Reserved. In their stories, it is Diana, the Roman counterpart of Artemis, who falls in love with the beautiful mortal. Their names differed from the other triads of Horae and they were considered to be the personifications of the four seasons itself. 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. Sometimes these were winged horses, although some later accounts had the chariot drawn by bulls. In some cases, it is debated whether she indeed was the mother. Selene, like her siblings, was a Titan goddess because of her birth but they were no less important to the Greeks. Endymion was, depending on the source, a prince in exile or a simple shepherd. Myth Early History Selene was the daughter of the titans, Hyperion and Theia, sister to Helios (the sun) and Eos (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. Most famous classical poets describe her beauty as so intriguing that gods and mortals alike could not resist her godly charms. If you thought Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon, you are only partially right. Selene had a relationship with the god Pan, according to Virgil. ), The name Selene (Greek , translit. 527532; Shear, pp. In another story she was loved by Pan. Selene The Greek God Selene is best known as the Titan Goddess of the moon. Her chariot was made of shining silver, bringing soft, clear light each night. As the daughter of the Titan god of heavenly light, it is an apt name. Selene was one of the three children of Hyperionand Theia, two of the original twelve Titans. There are a number of stories about the moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology, in association with the other Greek gods, especially Zeus. Like most of the Titans, Selene was rarely worshipped in the ancient world. Selene was a Titan goddess in Greek mythology, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. 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. Selene does not appear in modern adaptations of Greek myths, since she is not exactly one of the major Greek gods like Zeus or Aphrodite. 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"). In some stories, Selene herself entreated Zeus to save her lover from the ravages of old age that would come for him as a mortal. Even though she, along with her siblings, was a Titan goddess because of her parentage, the three of them became quite central to the Greek pantheon and were accepted as Greek gods themselves after the fall of the great Titans. 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. However, her greatest love was a lowly mortal named Endymion. Selene - The Moon Goddess - Greek Mythology - See U in History Art: Marcus AquinoColor: Rod Fernandes#GreekMythology #Mythology #SeeUinHistory #History #Myth. [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. Selene and Endymion relief, Alessandro and Lancellotto Pusterla's gravestone, 16th century. 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. Having risen to power in the generation of Zeus, they were universally revered and worshiped. She is dressed in the finest silk robes and travels in her silver moon chariot drawn by luminous steeds across the heavens. Her request granted, Selene visited him regularly; some sources even reported that they had children together (see above).[27]. 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. [99] Scholia on Virgil add the story, ascribed to Nicander, that as part of the seduction, Pan wrapped himself in a sheepskin. 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.. 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. The altars to Selene were few and far between. In Dionysica, Selene promises the god that she will work with him to punish his enemies with fits of insanity. 1999, Mark P. O. Morford, Robert J. Lenardon, Classical Mythology, page 43, Balancing Arria is the union of Selene and Endymion. [8] The masculine form of mene (men) was also the name of the Phrygian moon-god Men. Often she was shown in a chariot drawn by a team of horses or oxen, but other times there was no chariot, and Selene would instead appear on the back of a horse or mule. In 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. Selene. Selene (Greek mythology) The goddess of the Moon. Greek Mythology >> Galleries GALLERIES. 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. It was devoted to Selene, under the name Pasiphae, and to Helios. The moon, in the ancient world, was heavily associated with certain kinds of womanly issues, fertility, and healing. Together, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination. . Did a Lion-Headed Monster Exist in 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. Zeus slept with the human queen Alcmene, of which encounter Heracles was born. In later eras, she became associated with madness as well. 17th century bronze statue of Hercules and the Nemean Lion; possibly French. Selene leaving her chariot, Roman mosaic, Andalusia. Their daughter Eos was the first to appear each day. The goddess Selene was the daughter of Titius Hyperion and Theia. [113] Selene and Helios also appear on the North Metopes of the Parthenon, with Selene this time entering the sea on horseback. While there were many goddesses associated with the moon and lunar powers, Selene personified the moon and its light. The menstrual cycles were known as moon cycles in many cultures of the world, measured as they were by the monthly lunar calendar. 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. Moon gods and goddesses have existed in all ancient pantheistic cultures for a very long time. Whether this Pallas (called the son of Megamedes) is the same as the Titan Pallas or a different individual entirely is unclear. [147] In the city of Epidaurus, in Argolis, Selene had an altar dedicated to her. [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. Upon the head of Selene was normally found a crown that was representative of the spherical moon. [10] The Greek Stoic philosopher Chrysippus interpreted Selene and Men as, respectively, the female and male aspects of the same god. [75] Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion's sleep, so that "she might kiss him while sleeping". Who was Vesta, the Goddess of the Hearth? This was common for many of the younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus. https://mythopedia.com/topics/selene, Avi Kapach is a writer, scholar, and educator who received his PhD in Classics from Brown University. Greeks followed a lunar disk from the Hellenistic period have been found with depictions of Selene them... 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