Selene (Moon)
godSelene was the Titaness who drove the silver chariot of the moon across the night sky — she loved the mortal Endymion and visited him each night as he slept eternally.
The Myth
Selene drove her moon chariot drawn by two white horses (or oxen) across the sky each night. She fell in love with the beautiful shepherd Endymion and asked Zeus to grant him eternal sleep so he would never age. She bore him fifty daughters — one for each lunar month of an Olympiad. Like Helios, she was gradually absorbed into the identity of an Olympian (Artemis), but retained independent worship. She was also seduced by Pan, who lured her with a white fleece.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The element selenium (Se) is named after Selene — discovered alongside tellurium (named for the Earth), pairing Moon and Earth on the periodic table.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Artemis
godTwin sister of Apollo and goddess of the hunt. Artemis roamed the wild forests with her band of...
Endymion
heroEndymion was a beautiful shepherd whom the moon goddess Selene loved so deeply that she asked Zeus...
Helios
godThe Titan who drove the sun chariot across the sky each day, providing light to the world. Helios...
Hyperion
titanTitan of light and father of the sun, moon, and dawn. Hyperion was one of the original twelve...
Olympia
placeOlympia was the sanctuary in the Peloponnese where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four...
Pan
godThe goat-legged god of wilderness, shepherds, and rustic music. Pan's sudden appearance caused...
Selene
godThe Titaness who personified the moon, driving her silver chariot across the night sky. She fell in...
Theia
titanTheia was the Titaness of sight and shining light — mother of the Sun, Moon, and Dawn.
Zeus
godSupreme ruler of the Olympian gods and lord of the sky. Zeus overthrew his father Kronos and...