Selene
Selene was the Titan moon goddess. Her gentle, silvery light offered clarity and guidance to travelers in the night, a beacon in the darkness. Yet, the moon was also associated with mystery, madness, and the unseen. Selene encompassed both aspects – the illuminating guide and the keeper of secrets veiled in the lunar glow.
Residence: The Sky
Symbols: Moon, torch, crescent and bull
Parents: Hyperion and Theia
Siblings: Eos and Helius
Consort: Endymion
Children: Fifty daughters of Endymion
Roman equivalent: Luna
She rode sidesaddle on a magnificent horse or commanded a chariot drawn by celestial steeds, their wings shimmering with starlight. Her lunar sphere, a perfect crescent or a luminous crown, adorned her head or flowed as a cloak, bathing her in an otherworldly glow. Sometimes, she guided a team of powerful oxen, their horns echoing the crescent moon, a subtle reminder of her connection to the wild and untamed aspects of nature.
Endymion
Selene was captivated by the shepherd prince, Endymion. His beauty was legendary, and the moon goddess fell deeply in love with him. Consumed by her passion, she pleaded with Zeus, the king of gods, to grant Endymion immortality.
However, a cruel twist of fate awaited. Eternal youth came at a price – a state of perpetual slumber. Though heartbroken by Endymion’s sleeping form, Selene remained devoted. Night after night, she descended from the heavens, her chariot casting an ethereal glow over the cave, to be with her beloved in the quiet solitude. Their story became a tragic yet enduring testament to the power of love, even in the face of an impossible situation.
Art
British Museum.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 