SELENE was the Titan goddess of the moon. Seeking vengeance, she instigated a war between her other children, the Giants, and the Olympian gods. Mythopedia. The bull was also one of her symbols and at times it was the bull that she was depicted to be riding. [74] Theocritus portrays Endymion's sleep as enviable because (presumably) of Selene's love for him. [27], In late accounts, Selene (like the moon itself) is often described as having horns. Indeed, the Greek comic playwright Aristophanes said in the 5th century BCE that the worship of the moon was a sign of barbarian communities and not to be emulated by the Greeks. [10] The Greek Stoic philosopher Chrysippus interpreted Selene and Men as, respectively, the female and male aspects of the same god. 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). Hecate and her followers, for example, asked Selene for her cooperation in their magic. ), The name Selene (Greek , translit. In rarer traditions, she is the daughter of the Titan Pallas. [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". [52] There are no mentions of Selene's chariot in either Homer or Hesiod,[53] but the Homeric Hymn to Selene, gives the following description: 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. Both Epimenides and the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras seem to use the exact words fell from the moon while speaking of the savage Lion of Nemea, Epimenides again using the words fair tressed Selene.. [25], Two other sources also mention her hair. 68 A75 D-K). Often when one god supplanted another in a particular domain, the stories that involved that god were changed to reflect this. Selene was, while not worshiped openly, apparently the object of many spells and invocations addressed to her by young women. [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. [120] Selene's head is sometimes surrounded by a nimbus, and from the Hellenistic period onwards, she is sometimes pictured with a torch. Those that do exist are somewhat generic (like the previously mentioned epithets). Though Selene, as the moon, was undeniably important to the ancient Greeks, there are very few descriptions of her in literature. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. She had two siblings, Helios and Eos. It was devoted to Selene, under the name Pasiphae, and to Helios. 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. Knowing he would be there whenever she wanted to see him, the goddess no longer worried he would leave or die before she got to see him again. Selene, the moon goddess, was reputed to have had many children by various fathers. 573 Bernab. Altes Museum, Berlin, Germany. She is usually portrayed either driving a chariot (see above) or riding sideways on horseback[111] (sometimes riding an ox, a mule or a ram). Together, they fittingly created three sources of celestial illumination. 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. She fell madly in love with him and asked Zeus to let him stay asleep forever, remaining eternally young and beautiful (in some traditions, it was Endymion himself who requested this unending sleep). Selene - or Luna as the Romans called her - is the goddess of the moon, driving a horse-drawn chariot across the night sky. In ancient Greek mythology, Selene, is the Titan goddess of the moon and is said to drive her glowing chariot powered by beautiful white horses across the sky each night. Secretive and shy, she enjoys flitting silently through the night with a pearl-white or silvery chariot. [28], Another version is known only from Lucian, a satirical writer from the second century CE. The goddess of the moon does not seem to have been the object of much ritual worship in the early Greek period. 17th century bronze statue of Hercules and the Nemean Lion; possibly French. This eventually led to the identification of Selene with Artemis, also associated with fertility and the moon in various ways. 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. Witchcraft has long been believed to have had a connection with the moon and it was no different in antiquity. 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. Plutarch, On the Face in the Moon 30, On Isis and Osiris 52; Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 10.337; Nonnus, Dionysiaca 10.214, 44.70. [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. [58] In some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls. 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. 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. Greek Gods / Helios. Chiswick House, London, UK. Selenes siblings and Selene herself carried on their fathers legacy by shining light from the heavens upon the earth. (Similarly, Selenes brother Helios came to be identified with Artemis brother Apollo. 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. 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. Thus, both the sun and the moon were seen as gods embodied in those forms. The myth of Selene claims that this goddess had several lovers, both divine and mortal. -Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10. Greek mythology has beautiful explanations for many natural phenomena. Hypothesis to the scholia on Pindars Nemean Odes. In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Selene (/slini/; Greek: pronounced[seln], meaning "Moon"[2]) is the personification of the Moon. 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". 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. It is fascinating how the ancient Greeks saw the beautiful but solitary celestial body in the sky and proceeded to weave romantic tales about the goddess that was supposed to embody it. Along with presiding over dangerous sea creatures, Ceto produced her own set of frightening . Modern audiences do not often think about Selenes cyclical nature, however. Selene, (Greek: "Moon") Latin Luna, in Greek and Roman religion, the personification of the moon as a goddess. As the daughter of the Titan god of heavenly light, it is an apt name. The first mention of the moon goddess in Greek mythology was probably in the Homeric Hymns. Selene the moon goddess was a minor figure in ancient Greek mythology. Most mythologists assumed that Selene was an older moon goddess that was replaced later by Artemis in myth. [34] She also had a sacred statue (which stood alongside one of her brother Helios) in the public market of Elis.[35]. Selene - Mythology. [87], According to the late account of Nonnus, when the gigantic monster Typhon laid siege against the heavens, he attacked Selene as well by hurling bulls at her, though she managed to stay in her course, and rushed at her hissing like a viper. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, in which months were delineated by the cycles of the moon. 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. Their daughter Eos was the first to appear each day. 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/. "[2][150][151], The ancient Greeks called Monday "day of the Moon" ( ) after her. Selene, the goddess of the moon, was the youngest of the three siblings. In later eras, she became associated with madness as well. [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. 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). Her brother Helios shone as the sun, while her sister Eos was the goddess of the dawn. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. Who were Zeus' Lovers? GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 1 (86 IMAGES) . She is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister of the sun-god Helios, and Eos, goddess of the dawn. [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. Selene is the goddess of the moon. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Sometimes this develops in later worship as they are identified with other deities or gods. There existed an oracular sanctuary for her in Laconia, near Thalamai. [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. Having risen to power in the generation of Zeus, they were universally revered and worshiped. Her request granted, Selene visited him regularly; some sources even reported that they had children together (see above).[27]. What are Hades Powers that are Really Scary? She was essentially urban and civilized, the antithesis in many respects of Artemis, goddess of the outdoors. How old is the United States of America? Selene herself most often wore a crown of gleaming silver, which matched her silver chariot. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, making Selene one of the most important deities in the passage of time. [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. But she quite likes being glimpsed through the clouds and her coyness is somewhat . The Greek word Phoebe means bright and the word Cynthia means from Mount Cynthus which was said to be the birthplace of Artemis. 2. Her father was the Titan god of heavenly light, while her mother represented the blue color of the sky. [96] Pseudo-Plutarch's On Rivers has Hera collaborating with Selene, "employing magical incantations" to create the Nemean Lion from a chest filled with foam. The Theoi Project galleries contain more than 1,200 images of ancient Greek and Roman art. [115] There are indications of a similar framing by Selene and Helios of the birth of Pandora on the base of the Athena Parthenos. Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown set upon her head or the fold of a raised, shining cloak. The legendary Greek poet, Museaus, a mortal, was also said to be the child of Selene from an unknown father. Her brother Helios shone as the sun, while her sister Eos was the goddess of the dawn. 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 could still see her sleeping love whenever she pleased, but the pressures of time and mortality were taken off her. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. Several lovers are attributed to her in various myths, including Zeus, Pan, and the mortal Endymion. Selene and Endymion relief, Alessandro and Lancellotto Pusterla's gravestone, 16th century. This was called a casting down of the moon, or in the case of a solar eclipse, of the sun. Lunacy takes its name from Selenes Roman counterpart, Luna. She was often said to be the mother of the Horai, the personifications of the division of time and the seasons. Selene. Mythopedia, 7 Dec. 2022. https://mythopedia.com/topics/selene. "[42], According to the Homeric Hymn to Selene, the goddess bore Zeus a daughter, Pandia ("All-brightness"),[43] "exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods". She drives her moon chariot across the heavens. The cave in Anatolia where Endymion was said to sleep became a holy place for Selene. But on nights the moon could not be seen, there was a very good reason for her absence. 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). Hesiod, Catalogue of Women frag. There are a number of stories about the moon goddess Selene in Greek mythology, in association with the other Greek gods, especially Zeus. 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. In fact, there were several female deities who shared this domain. The Greeks recognized several goddesses as having a connection to the moon, but none was as closely associated with it as Selene. If you thought Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon, you are only partially right. Helios was one of the Titans, son of Hyperion and Theia and brother of Eos (the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon ). Attic red-figure kylix showing Selene riding the chariot of the moon, drawn by two winged horses. 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. Selene, one of the younger generation of Titans, was also the Greek goddess of the moon. [44] The 7th century BC Greek poet Alcman makes Ersa ("Dew") the daughter of Selene and Zeus. 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. A variation of this symbol was the nimbus, which surrounded her head, depicting the celestial light she bestowed on the world. [102], Plutarch recorded a fable-like story in which Selene asked her mother to weave her a garment to fit her measure, and her mother replied that she was unable to do so, as she kept changing shape and size, sometimes full, then crescent-shaped and others yet half her size. Her lunar sphere or crescent was either a crown set upon her head or the fold of a raised, shining cloak. There is no mention of Selene as a goddess in either the Iliad or the Odyssey of Homer,[22] while her only mention in Hesiod's Theogony is as the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, and sister of Helios and Eos. In this case, the story of Selene embracing Endymion, or Moon embraces Diver, refers to the sun setting and the moon rising. There are different versions of this story. In many paintings and sculptures, Selene is traditionally depicted with the crescent moon in her vicinity. Another myth describes how Selene held her own against the monster Typhoeus when he attacked the gods. [100], Diodorus Siculus recorded an unorthodox version of the myth, in which Basileia, who had succeeded her father Uranus to his royal throne, married her brother Hyperion, and had two children, a son Helios and a daughter Selene, "admired for both their beauty and their chastity". Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 10.336ff; cf. [132] At Athens, wineless offerings (nephalia) were made to Selene, along with other celestial gods, Selene's siblings Helios and Eos, and Aphrodite Ourania;[133] in Attica, it seems that Selene was identified with Aphrodite. 500450 BCE. [1], Selene was often identified with other goddesses, including Men (also spelled Mene), the divine personification of the lunar month; Bendis, a goddess of Thracian origin; Hecate, a goddess of witchcraft; and (especially in later antiquity) Artemis, the goddess of hunting and wild things. Selene also has several other names. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. That was a basic unit of how the Greeks measured time in the old days. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . The goddess had one temple that was also an oracle near Thalamae in Laconia. Selene has a minor planet named after her, called 580 Selene. Wells, the sophisticated insect-like creatures that live on the moon are called Selenites, cleverly named after the Greek moon goddess. 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. Without Selene giving way to Eos, Helios could not bring the sun back to the world. Selene fought back the giant, locking horns with Typhon; afterwards, she carried many scars on her orb, reminiscent of their battle. Though Selene almost never appears in modern adaptations of Greek mythology, she is nonetheless present in pop culture as the personification of the moon. Some even said that the Nemean Lion, as the offspring of Selene, had originally fallen from the moon.[30]. Francoise Gury, Selene/Luna, in Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (Zurich: Artemis, 1994), 7:70615. This was the mythological explanation for the movement of the moon across the sky. Been in love with all things related to mythology fact, there was a minor planet named after her called. Holy place for Selene daughter of the dawn she quite likes being glimpsed the! Owner and chief researcher at this site connection to the moon goddess, was also the Greek word Phoebe bright... Roman art Selene and Endymion relief, Alessandro and Lancellotto Pusterla 's gravestone, century! It as Selene head or the fold of a solar eclipse, of the generation! 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Moon does not seem to have been in love with all things related to mythology produced her own set frightening!

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