| Selene, the moon goddess, is known for her countless love affairs.
Perhaps the most famous of her loves was the shepard Endymion. Some
of Selene's other affairs include he involvement with Zeus with whom she
had three daughters, and Pan who gave her a herd of white oxen. It has
been rumoured that the Nemean lion, which fell to the earth from the moon
was the result of an affair of Zeus and Selene.
Selene resembles a young woman with an alabaster white face. She travels through her realms on a marvelous silver chariot drawn by two incredible steeds. She is often shown riding a horse or a bull. Selene is said to wear robes, carry a torch, and wear a half moon on her head. While Selene is not one of the twelve great gods on Olympus, she is however, the moon goddess. After her brother Helios completes his journey across the sky, she begins hers. Before Selene's journey across the night sky she bathes in the sea. Selene's parents are The Titan Hyperion, the sun god, and Theia, the sister of Helios are Selen's parents. Others say that she is the daughter of the Titan Pallas, Helios, or Zeus. Helius, who is the sun god along with his father Helios, is the brother of Selene. Eos, the dawn, who is known for her numerous love affairs is the sister of Selene. The love affair that brought Selene the most fame was the seduction of Endymion. She fell in love with the him, and seduced him while he lay sleeping in a cave. The union between Selene and Endymion resulted in the birth of fifty daughters, one of which was Naxos. Selene was so very much in love with Endymion that she requested Zeus to allow him to decide his own fate. Zeus granted Selene's request, and Endymion chose never to grow old and to sleep eternally. Endymion's eternal sleep however, keep him and Selene from birthing his daughters. Endymion was visited by Selene every night and kissed by her rays of light. Selene is a favorite of many poets, especially love poets. A moonlit night brings the feeling of romance. It is said that Selene's moon rays fall upon sleeping mortals, as her kisses fell upon her love, Endymion. |