Selene is the Greek Goddess of the moon, and is seen as the personification of the moon, rather than just a deity associated with the moon.
There are several accounts of her parentage. The most commonly accepted is that she was the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, and sister to Helios and Eos. However, she has also been described as the daughter of Pallas (the son of the Titan Crius), or the daughter of Leto (the mother of Apollo and Artemis), or the daughter of Leto and Zeus.
It is said that she had a child with Zeus, a daughter named Pandia, and that she was also the mother of the Greek poet Musaeus after a liaison with the seer Eumolpus. She was also seduced by the God Pan. However, her greatest love story is that of her and Endymion.
Endymion had been fated to sleep eternally in a cave, although how his condition came about is often contested. In one account, he fell in love with Hera so Zeus cursed him with endless sleep. In another, Selene is said to be responsible for his sleep. Whichever account, Selene fell in love with Endymion in his cave on Mount Latmus, and she would watch him every night. Despite Endymion's state, it is said that they had fifty daughters together, said to represent the fifty lunar months of the Olympiad. In a related tale, a young woman called Muia also fell in love with Endymion, and would talk at him whilst he slept. Not only would this wake Endymion up in a state of frustration, but it also angered Selene who then turned Muia into a fly.
There are several accounts of her parentage. The most commonly accepted is that she was the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, and sister to Helios and Eos. However, she has also been described as the daughter of Pallas (the son of the Titan Crius), or the daughter of Leto (the mother of Apollo and Artemis), or the daughter of Leto and Zeus.
It is said that she had a child with Zeus, a daughter named Pandia, and that she was also the mother of the Greek poet Musaeus after a liaison with the seer Eumolpus. She was also seduced by the God Pan. However, her greatest love story is that of her and Endymion.
Endymion had been fated to sleep eternally in a cave, although how his condition came about is often contested. In one account, he fell in love with Hera so Zeus cursed him with endless sleep. In another, Selene is said to be responsible for his sleep. Whichever account, Selene fell in love with Endymion in his cave on Mount Latmus, and she would watch him every night. Despite Endymion's state, it is said that they had fifty daughters together, said to represent the fifty lunar months of the Olympiad. In a related tale, a young woman called Muia also fell in love with Endymion, and would talk at him whilst he slept. Not only would this wake Endymion up in a state of frustration, but it also angered Selene who then turned Muia into a fly.
There are a few other tales in which Selene plays a part. During the Gigantomachy (a war against the Giants), Gaia set out to find a specific herb which was said to have made them unbeatable. Upon hearing this, Zeus ordered Selene, Helios, and Eos not to shine to blind Gaia, so he could collect the herb for himself. She also fought with the monster Typhon, and aided Heracles in his trials at the behest of Zeus.
Selene's name means 'light', or 'brightness'. In the same way as her brother, the son God Helios, would pull the sun across the sky in a chariot, she too would pull the moon across the sky in her chariot of winged horses each night. She is often depicted wearing a crown boasting a crescent moon and holding a torch.
Despite her status, she was not widely worshipped in Ancient Greece, and was often paired with other deities (such as Artemis) rather than worshipped as a deity in her own right.
As well as being seen as the Goddess of the moon, she was also associated with childbirth, as it was believed that labour would be easier for a woman during the full moon. She was also associated with love magic.
Selene was one of the first deities I ever worked with, and despite me not really working much with the Greek pantheon, to me she is still my go-to moon Goddess. She is associated with the colours silver and white, the day Monday (which is often associated with the moon), as well as the bull and the horse.
Selene's name means 'light', or 'brightness'. In the same way as her brother, the son God Helios, would pull the sun across the sky in a chariot, she too would pull the moon across the sky in her chariot of winged horses each night. She is often depicted wearing a crown boasting a crescent moon and holding a torch.
Despite her status, she was not widely worshipped in Ancient Greece, and was often paired with other deities (such as Artemis) rather than worshipped as a deity in her own right.
As well as being seen as the Goddess of the moon, she was also associated with childbirth, as it was believed that labour would be easier for a woman during the full moon. She was also associated with love magic.
Selene was one of the first deities I ever worked with, and despite me not really working much with the Greek pantheon, to me she is still my go-to moon Goddess. She is associated with the colours silver and white, the day Monday (which is often associated with the moon), as well as the bull and the horse.
