selene greek mythology22 Apr selene greek mythology

10; Pisander, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker (FGrH) 16 frag. Surviving descriptions of Selene's physical appearance and character, apart from those which would apply to the moon itself, are scant. [79] While Quintus Smyrnaeus wrote that, while Endymion slept in his cave beside his cattle: and slid from heaven to earth; for passionate love, drew down the immortal stainless Queen of Night. The months had their own personifications as well, who were all born from Selene. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . 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. Many of Selenes epithetsincluding (agl, gleaming), (pasiph, all-shining), and (tanyspteros, long-winged)reflected her lunar qualities and other distinctive attributes. 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. The bull panicked, threw Ampelus and gored him to death. 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. Greek mythology has beautiful explanations for many natural phenomena. Sometimes this develops in later worship as they are identified with other deities or gods. Euripides, Phoenician Women 17576; Nonnus, Dionysiaca 44.191. Chiswick House, London, UK. Occasionally Selenes chariot was pulled by oxen or bulls, again differentiating it from the faster vehicle of her brother. [75] Cicero seems to make Selene responsible for Endymion's sleep, so that "she might kiss him while sleeping". 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. She was worshipped at the new and full moons. Selene goddess of the moon, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Antikensammlung Berlin. Magical Goddess of the Silvery Moon. He may have been a pioneer in the field of astronomy and some sources even claimed he was a mortal son of Zeus. Selene and Helios together were said to be the parents of the four Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. 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. In Dionysica, Selene promises the god that she will work with him to punish his enemies with fits of insanity. The moon goddess was said to have had several lovers, including Zeus and the wild god Pan. So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men. [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. [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. 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 was often said to be the mother of the Horai, the personifications of the division of time and the seasons. Seneca, Madness of Hercules 83; Hyginus, Fabulae 30; Aelian, On Animals 12.7 (citing Epimenides); etc. The Moirai In some traditions the Fates were seen as three aspects of the lunar goddess. While other goddesses were associated with the night in more general terms, Selene was believed to be the embodiment of the moon herself. Thus, Selene falling for Endymion was supposed to represent moonrise every night. Selene with sleeping Endymion, fresco in the fourth Pompeian style. Zeus put Endymion into an eternal sleep so the goddess could see him forever as a beautiful young man. Selene the moon goddess was a minor figure in ancient Greek mythology. [72] A scholiast on Apollonius says that, according to Epimenides, Endymion fell in love with Hera, and Zeus punished him with eternal sleep. According to early Greek myths, Selene used to be a Titan goddess of the moon and Artemis used to be a goddess of hunting and animals. Kapach, Avi. 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. Lilaeon. 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. Wells, the sophisticated insect-like creatures that live on the moon are called Selenites, cleverly named after the Greek moon goddess. 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. [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. [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. Hyginus, preface to Fabulae. [147] In the city of Epidaurus, in Argolis, Selene had an altar dedicated to her. The light that humans saw from earth emanate from them, a legacy of their lustrous father. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. (Similarly, Selenes brother Helios came to be identified with Artemis brother Apollo. The three siblings clearly worked in conjunction with one another, since their roles and duties are so intrinsically linked. Did a Lion-Headed Monster Exist in Greek Mythology. It seems that Selene was not uninvolved in the twelve tasks of Heracles either. Greek Gods / Helios. [146], Her and her brother's worship is also attested in Gytheum, a town in Laconia near Sparta, via an inscription (C.I.G. 80; Acusilaus, FHG 1 frag. 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". Selene was the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. Oil lamp fragment with the head of Selene, early classical period, Muse de Die. The first depictions of Selenes moon chariot goes back to the early 5th century BCE. The moon was also believed to bring the night dew that nourished the plants and to bring sleep and rest to humankind. [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. 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. According to the Homeric Hymn 32, Selene and Zeus together had a daughter named Pandia. Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 10.336ff; cf. 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. Most of the important Greek gods and goddesses had temple sites of their own. Virgil, Georgics 3.391ff; Servius on Virgils Georgics 3.391 (citing the second-century BCE poet Nicander as the original source). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. Names of the Goddess. the crescent moon, full moon, and dark moon, as delinted by the divisions of the calendar month).[154]. -Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 10. The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, making Selene one of the most important deities in the passage of time. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. [55] The geographer Pausanias, reports seeing a relief of Selene driving a single horse, as it seemed to him, or as some said, a mule, on the pedestal of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia (c. 435 BC). 500450 BCE. "From the panteon of the gods to the Pantheon of Rome" in, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 02:32. 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. Another myth describes how Selene held her own against the monster Typhoeus when he attacked the gods. 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). Certain types of insanity were said to be brought on by the moons influence, and it was believed that Selene had the power to create lunacy with purpose. Selene, (Greek: "Moon") Latin Luna, in Greek and Roman religion, the personification of the moon as a goddess. Modern audiences do not often think about Selenes cyclical nature, however. Athena, also spelled Athene, in Greek religion, the city protectress, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason, identified by the Romans with Minerva. Described by Pausanias, it contained statues of Pasipha and Helios. 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. Selene detail from a sarcophagus, imperial period. As time progressed, they merged into one identity. [86] Additionally, on a rein guide for a chariot a goddess thought to be Selene with a crescent and veil over her head is depicted, who stands with Helios on a gate tower and tries to repel the attacks of snake-legged Giants. The myth of Selene, the moon goddess, is no exception. Selene was more than just a lunar goddess, she was the embodiment of the moon and its light. Moon gods and goddesses have existed in all ancient pantheistic cultures for a very long time. She is pale, beautiful and indefinably alluring. 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. This upset both him and Selene, who then transformed poor Myia into a fly (myia is the ancient Greek word for fly). The Greeks followed a lunar calendar, in which months were delineated by the cycles of the moon. Occasionally she asked her brother to take over her duties so she could spend more time on the ground with Endymion. From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. The Greeks (like many other ancient peoples) were notoriously terrified of eclipses, viewing them as signs of the gods displeasure.[3]. This might have had a role in the later identification of Selene with Hecate, who was, after all, the goddess of witchcraft and spells. [58] In some later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls. Does the sculpted girl speak to women too?" 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. [67] The late 7th-century early 6th-century BC poet Sappho apparently mentioned Selene and Endymion. As Luna, she had temples at Rome on the Aventine and Palatine hills. [31] Mesomedes of Crete calls her (glauk, "silvery grey"). 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. 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. [113] Selene and Helios also appear on the North Metopes of the Parthenon, with Selene this time entering the sea on horseback. Selene. Hymn 32, To Selene, describes with great beauty the moon, Selene in her celestial form, her chariot and various attributes. By all accounts, Selene seemed to have played a major role in this war. Seeking vengeance, she instigated a war between her other children, the Giants, and the Olympian gods. Helius, Selene, Eos, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Nike, Boreas, Zephyrus, Astra) GREEK VASE PAINTINGS GALLERY 8 (83 IMAGES) In antiquity, Selene would also often be depicted either riding upon a bull, or upon a silvery chariot drawn by two winged horses. The moon, in the ancient world, was heavily associated with certain kinds of womanly issues, fertility, and healing. This was common for many of the younger generation Titans who did not fight alongside their fathers and aunts and uncles against Zeus. Women 17576 ; Nonnus, Dionysiaca 44.191 later accounts the chariot was drawn by oxen or bulls, differentiating... City of Epidaurus, in the twelve tasks of Heracles either as a with. Login ) a woman with the night in more general terms, Selene falling Endymion! 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