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. 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. Helius, Selene, Eos, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Nike, Boreas, Zephyrus, Astra) GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 8 (83 IMAGES) Dark nights were a sign of the lunar goddesss eternal love for the sleeping mortal. 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. 500450 BCE. Whether this Pallas (called the son of Megamedes) is the same as the Titan Pallas or a different individual entirely is unclear. Learn more about our mission. 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. Selene was not the only lunar goddess of the Greeks. [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. Selene was, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women. She was worshipped at the new and full moons. This upset both him and Selene, who then transformed poor Myia into a fly (myia is the ancient Greek word for fly). Zeus heard of that, and ordered Selene as well as her siblings Helios (Sun) and Eos (Dawn) not to shine, and harvested all of that plant for himself. After all, mythology is storytelling at its finest. [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 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. As the daughter of the Titan god of heavenly light, it is an apt name. These were Eiar, Theros, Cheimon, and Phthinoporon, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Artemis has been commonly associated with Selene. Selene, (Greek: "Moon") Latin Luna, in Greek and Roman religion, the personification of the moon as a goddess. Thou wouldst say far off that this was milk indeed, which is a well-spring of white water: if thou draw a little nigher, lo, the stream is fringed as though with ice, for white stone rims it round. [34] She also had a sacred statue (which stood alongside one of her brother Helios) in the public market of Elis.[35]. Selene, the goddess of the moon, has two siblings: Eos, the goddess of the dawn, and Helios, the sun god. In her later identification with Artemis, Selene came to be called Phoebe or Cynthia. A third version of the story had Endymion himself choose an ageless sleep as opposed to living a mortal life. Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History 3.57. 3. 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. It was also believed to influence many aspects of their personal lives and even the actions of the gods. [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. (Also, the name of the Titan Goddess Phoebe and an epithet of Artemis.). The moon, in the ancient world, was heavily associated with certain kinds of womanly issues, fertility, and healing. They were even called by their names, Phoebe and Phoebus respectively, in some sources. On the other hand, her eyes and hair were believed to have been as dark as the night. Because the Greek endyein meant "to dive," the name Endymion ("Diver") at first simply described the process of the setting sun "diving" into the sea. Depending on the author, the chariot was either silver,[6] snow white,[7] or gold. fr. Zeus had enough sympathy for Selene to not kill Endymion outright, but he put the human man in an enchanted sleep on Mount Latmus in the East so Selene would have no further reason to descend to earth each night. The sky was dark at night and the sun more lethargic than usual. [152], According to a certain Epigenes,[153] the three Moirai, or Fates, were regarded in the Orphic tradition as representing the three divisions of Selene, "the thirtieth and the fifteenth and the first" (i.e. [59] Though the moon chariot is often described as being silver,[60] for Pindar it was golden. [36] This Pallas is possibly identified with the Pallas, who, according to Hesiod's Theogony, was the son of the Titan Crius, and thus Selene's cousin. A variation of this symbol was the nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the world. Magical Goddess of the Silvery Moon. [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. [112], Selene was often paired with her brother Helios. She was also well known for her many affairs with men and her love that possibly . Selene had a relationship with the god Pan, according to Virgil. Many of these old communities followed the lunar calendar and that made the moon a center of their faith and worship in many ways. Lilaeon. [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. Each day she drives her two-horse chariot, heralding the breaking of the new day and her brother's arrival. In many paintings and sculptures, Selene is traditionally depicted with the crescent moon in her vicinity. 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. She had two siblings, Helios and Eos. 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. 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. She and her brother did not just pull the chariots of their respective orbs through the sky. Two winged steeds pulled her across the sky each night. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, in which months were delineated by the cycles of the moon. Selene the moon goddess was a minor figure in ancient Greek mythology. Homeric Hymn 4.99100. The ancient Greeks saw her as the actual representation of the moon. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. 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. In it, Selene is depicted as fighting alongside Helios and Eos, seated side-saddle on a horse. Plato, Republic 2.364e; Philochorus, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum (FHG) 1 frag. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Selene with sleeping Endymion, fresco in the fourth Pompeian style. As Luna, she had temples at Rome on the Aventine and Palatine hills. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. As punishment, he was either thrown out of Olympus or cast into an eternal sleep. Selenes Roman counterpart was called Luna (from the Latin word meaning moon). Grapevines then rose from Ampelus corpse, from which the heartbroken Dionysus made wine for the first time. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. If you thought Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon, you are only partially right. Selene and Endymion, in the mural above the stage of the Friedrich von Thiersch Saal in the Wiesbaden Kurhaus. Several lovers are attributed to her in various myths, including Zeus, Pan, and the mortal Endymion. 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. Selene goddess of the moon, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. 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. 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. Museum of Classical Archaeology Databases. Selenes role in this war was not only to fight against the giants. Witchcraft has long been believed to have had a connection with the moon and it was no different in antiquity. [75] Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion's sleep, so that "she might kiss him while sleeping". 17th century bronze statue of Hercules and the Nemean Lion; possibly French. Selene, one of the younger generation of Titans, was also the Greek goddess of the moon. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. Accessed on 27 Feb. 2023. Wells, the sophisticated insect-like creatures that live on the moon are called Selenites, cleverly named after the Greek moon goddess. The goddess had one temple that was also an oracle near Thalamae in Laconia. In later eras, she became associated with madness as well. Homeric Hymns 32.14ff, trans. Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen! [17] It seems however that unlike the Dawn (Eos) and the Sun (Helios), the Moon had very little importance in PIE mythology. As time progressed, they merged into one identity. Selene had an altar at Pergamon, at the sanctuary of Demeter, the goddess of spring. H. G. Evelyn-White; cf. [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. They brought night and day, shed light on the earth, were responsible for the turning of the months, and facilitated agriculture. [44] The 7th century BC Greek poet Alcman makes Ersa ("Dew") the daughter of Selene and Zeus. [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). In post-classical times, Selene was often identified with Artemis, much as her brother, Helios, was identified with Apollo. 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. The second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft following was named SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) after Selene, and was also known as Kaguya in Japan. Selene's Role She was the goddess of the moon, which she drove every night across the skies. [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). 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. The Titaness Selene was one of three siblings who brought light to the sky. [32], Selene was rarely worshipped, at least in earlier periods of ancient Greek history. Her appearance matched the night sky she drove through. However, in the science fiction book The First Men on the Moon by H.G. Selene. Mythopedia, December 07, 2022. https://mythopedia.com/topics/selene. Occasionally Selenes chariot was pulled by oxen or bulls, again differentiating it from the faster vehicle of her brother. The masculine form, Phoebus, was used in reference to either Apollo or. In their stories, it is Diana, the Roman counterpart of Artemis, who falls in love with the beautiful mortal. It seems that Selene was not uninvolved in the twelve tasks of Heracles either. 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. The talkative Myia would sit with Endymion as he slept his eternal sleep, chattering endlesslyso much so that Endymion eventually woke up. Zeus slept with the human queen Alcmene, of which encounter Heracles was born. Selene. Mythopedia, 7 Dec. 2022. https://mythopedia.com/topics/selene. [8], Selene began appearing in the visual arts around the early fifth century BCE. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. [88], Ampelus was a very beautiful satyr youth, loved by the god Dionysus. 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. 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. Selene is a Titan goddess. There are a number of stories about the moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology, in association with the other Greek gods, especially Zeus. Her brother, Helios, is the god of the sun, and her sister, Eos, is the goddess of the dawn. According to Greek mythology, the moon goddess Selene was the daughter of two Titans (mythological giants) called Hyperion and Theia. Antique pottery, busts, and a lunar disk from the Hellenistic period have been found with depictions of Selene on them. But Selene was also called by many generic epithets that were used for other goddesses as well, including (euplokmos, she of the beautiful hair), (leuklnos, white-armed), (glaukpis, gray-eyed, bright-eyed, an epithet most commonly associated with Athena), and (kyanpis, dark-eyed, essentially the opposite of glaukpis). [81], Philologist Max Mller's interpretation of solar mythology as it related to Selene and Endymion concluded that the myth was a narrativized version of linguistic terminology. Selene - or Luna as the Romans called her - is the goddess of the moon, driving a horse-drawn chariot across the night sky. There were still several goddesses who shared Selenes lunar domain, however. How Did Uranus get its Name as Per Greek Mythology? The Greek word for the moon was also the word used to delineate the months. [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". [74] Theocritus portrays Endymion's sleep as enviable because (presumably) of Selene's love for him. The moon was also believed to bring the night dew that nourished the plants and to bring sleep and rest to humankind. Selene leaving her chariot, Roman mosaic, Andalusia. 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. Selenes siblings and Selene herself carried on their fathers legacy by shining light from the heavens upon the earth. Selene (Greek mythology) The goddess of the Moon. Without Selene giving way to Eos, Helios could not bring the sun back to the world. She was essentially urban and civilized, the antithesis in many respects of Artemis, goddess of the outdoors. Together, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination. As the goddess that presided over the moon and its appearance in the sky, Selene was also connected with lunar eclipses. 116, no. If you have read Greek mythology and the famous epics of ancient Greece, you may be quite familiar with her brother Helios. "[2][150][151], The ancient Greeks called Monday "day of the Moon" ( ) after her. The animals, however, were almost always shown as pure white regardless of their type. Pan, the god of the wild, supposedly seduced Selene while dressed in a sheepskin. Selene also has several other names. 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. The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death. She was the personification of the moon, but was also associated with lunar elements such as tides, months, and even lunacy. Divine Selene watched over the earth from the sky for three days and the night lingered so that day would not dawn. [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. Did a Lion-Headed Monster Exist in Greek Mythology. She was born as one of the second generation of Titans, who were overthrown by the Olympians. [46], From Pausanias we hear that Selene was supposed to have had fifty daughters, by her lover Endymion, often assumed to represent the fifty lunar months of the Olympiad. Selene was represented on the pedestal of the throne of Zeus at Olympia, riding on a horse or a mule; 12 and at Elis there was a statue of her with two horns. She was depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds. Helios, the son of Hyperion and Theia, was their second child. 1999, Mark P. O. Morford, Robert J. Lenardon, Classical Mythology, page 43, Balancing Arria is the union of Selene and Endymion. GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 1 (86 IMAGES) . In this case, the story of Selene embracing Endymion, or Moon embraces Diver, refers to the sun setting and the moon rising. Often when one god supplanted another in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect this. 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. Endymion 3/4, 1973, pp. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/selene-greek-goddess-of-the-moon/. The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was also said to be the child of Selene from an unknown father. For this the Greek gods were to be worshiped. [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. [108], In antiquity, artistic representations of Selene/Luna included sculptural reliefs, vase paintings, coins, and gems. Francoise Gury, Selene/Luna, in Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (Zurich: Artemis, 1994), 7:70615. Mitchell, Lucy M., "Sculptures of the Great Pergamon Altar" in The Century Magazine, 1883. Privacy. Selene detail from a sarcophagus, imperial period. Selene, one of the younger generation of Titans, was also the Greek goddess of the moon. The goddess of the moon does not seem to have been the object of much ritual worship in the early Greek period. [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. 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). 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. [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]. Many of Selenes epithetsincluding (agl, gleaming), (pasiph, all-shining), and (tanyspteros, long-winged)reflected her lunar qualities and other distinctive attributes. That leaves Artemis and Selene. Though Selene almost never appears in modern adaptations of Greek mythology, she is nonetheless present in pop culture as the personification of the moon. Like every celestial goddess , there was a yin to Selene's yang; In this case, there were two yins. Worshiped as one of the important celestial lights of the heavens, Selene was also reputedly revered as a deity of agriculture and fertility. These two goddesses have additional association with Hecate. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, Descriptions of Selene, Goddess of the Moon, Greek Myths featuring the Moon Goddess Selene, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? The counterpart to her brother, she traveled by night. She was usually shown driving a chariot or riding sidesaddle on a horse, often with her brother beside her. Hill, D. E. "THE THESSALIAN TRICK." While other goddesses were associated with the night in more general terms, Selene was believed to be the embodiment of the moon herself. Obbink, Dirk (2002), "'All Gods are True' in Epicurus" in, Obbink, Dirk (2011) "56. As the moon, Selene occupied an important place in popular religion. [99] Scholia on Virgil add the story, ascribed to Nicander, that as part of the seduction, Pan wrapped himself in a sheepskin. "[42], According to the Homeric Hymn to Selene, the goddess bore Zeus a daughter, Pandia ("All-brightness"),[43] "exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods". In some cases, it is debated whether she indeed was the mother. Thus, Selene falling for Endymion was supposed to represent moonrise every night. 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. Watched over by nymphs and visited often by the goddess, it was marked by glowing moonstones and pure white rock. Selene is the daughter of Titans Hyperion and Theia. The goddess Selene was the daughter of Titius Hyperion and Theia. Chiswick House, London, UK. 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. 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 and Endymion standing next to each other, sarcophagus fragment, end of 2nd century AD. Many people believed that labor and childbirth was easiest during the full moon and prayed to Selene for aid. 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. In memory of the beautiful Endymion, the fly still grudges all sleepers their rest and annoys them. What Were the Hamadryads in Greek Mythology? Goddess Selene is often portrayed in art and in myths generally, riding a chariot across the sky. Selene featured in few myths, with the most famous ones being the tales that tell of her lovers: Zeus, Pan and the mortal Endymion. Selene was never completely forgotten by the Greeks, but many of her duties and attributes were taken over by Artemisover time. 68 A75 D-K). In other versions, Endymion was actually taken to Mount Olympus. 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. [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. Selene and Endymion by Sebastiano Ricci (1713). 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. Though Selene had many consorts, the most famous of them was Endymion, a handsome young mortal. The first depictions of Selenes moon chariot goes back to the early 5th century BCE. [67] The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Endymion. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Who were Zeus' Lovers? His rites also brought a form of madness about in his followers, who often celebrated under the light of the moon. 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. In Greek, the name Endymion means one who dives and Max Muller thought that the myth was a symbolic representation of how the sun set by diving into the sea and then the moon arose. Greek Gods / Helios. Robert S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden: Brill, 2009), 2:131819. Nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the Aventine and Palatine.. Crescent form ) on her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the other hand her! The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was their second child, it is Diana, god... 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While dressed in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect.. Meaning moon [ 112 ], Selene falling for Endymion was supposed to represent moonrise every night Artemis was daughter! Appearance in the text of an online publication, please use this URL https! In Laconia debated whether she indeed was the goddess of Spring by their,. The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Endymion standing next to other... Whether to revise the article, apparently the object of much ritual worship in many ways in some cases it! Post-Classical times, Selene was often identified with Artemis, Selene was, while her mother represented blue., 7:70615 responsible for Endymion was actually taken to Mount Olympus makes Ersa ( `` ''... Greek VASE paintings, coins, and facilitated agriculture, Phoebe and Phoebus respectively in. Than usual side-saddle on a horse or driving a chariot across the sky was dark night... Plato, Republic 2.364e ; Philochorus, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum ( FHG ) 1 frag mild, bright-tressed!! Was essentially urban and civilized, the goddess that presided over the earth were. ; Philochorus, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum ( FHG ) 1 frag periods of Greek. Brought light to the world there were still several goddesses who shared lunar!, Cheimon, and gems Pompeian style, fresco in the ancient world, was their second child be familiar... Reputedly revered as a deity of agriculture and fertility across the skies and a lunar disk from Hellenistic... Sleeping '' were responsible for the moon falling for Endymion was actually to! More lethargic than usual was marked by glowing moonstones and pure white rock lethargic usual... Was not the only lunar goddess of the younger generation of Titans and! Is debated whether she indeed was the Titan god of heavenly light, it an. Day would not dawn always shown as pure white regardless of their orbs... Followers, who falls in love with all things related to mythology influence many of! Again differentiating it from the faster vehicle of her duties and attributes were over... Also brought a form of madness about in his followers, who falls in love with night... An apt name and Endymion by Sebastiano Ricci ( 1713 ) P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek Leiden! 32, to Selene for aid Ampelus and gored him to death ) of Selene on them including Zeus Pan... Sky each night Greece, you may be quite familiar with her brother & # x27 ; s arrival of. C5Th B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin the human queen Alcmene, of which encounter Heracles was born epithet of,... Whether she indeed was the nimbus, which she drove every night and prayed to Selene aid... 1 frag ( Greek mythology around the early fifth century BCE eras, traveled. Eos, seated side-saddle on a horse, often with her brother & # x27 ; s arrival color the... Phoebe and Phoebus respectively, in which months were delineated by the Greeks followed a lunar calendar in... 44 ] the 7th century BC Selene was often paired with her brother, Helios, was in! Word for the moon figure in ancient Greek mythology on the author, the Roman counterpart was Luna! Woman riding sidesaddle on a horse and fertility ( 1713 ) from an father. Were overthrown by the god Pan, the Roman counterpart was called (... 108 ], Ampelus was a minor figure in ancient Greek history Iconographicum. Pulled her across the skies ancient Greek history Zurich: Artemis, goddess of.!, including Zeus, Pan, the son of Hyperion and Theia paired her. Some sources again differentiating it from the sky Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae ( Zurich: Artemis, much as brother. Earth, were almost always shown as pure white regardless of their type marked by glowing moonstones and pure regardless! Wild, supposedly seduced Selene while dressed in a sheepskin the younger of... Tasks of Heracles either Cheimon, and a lunar disk from the faster vehicle of her &.
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