Selene, often referred to as Mene, embodies the moon’s essence within Greek mythology. Each night, she gracefully traverses the sky in her chariot, drawing the moon along with her. As the offspring of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, Selene shares familial ties with Helios, the Sun, and Eos, the Dawn, establishing her lineage from Uranus and Gaia.
Birth & Lineage
According to Hesiod’s “Theogony,” Selene is the child of Hyperion and Theia, and the sister to Helios and Eos. The text elegantly describes her lineage:
“And Theia, mastered by Hyperion, Bore Helios the great, bright Selene, And Eos, who shines upon all men on earth And on the deathless gods who hold broad heaven.”
(Hesiod, “Theogony,” 371-374)
Selene is also noted to have two daughters with Zeus, named Pandia (honored in Athens during every full moon) and Ersa (or Herse), who represents dew.
Selene, the Lunar Deity
The name Selene translates to “the moon,” and she is often illustrated as an enchanting figure adorned with elongated wings and a golden crown. This crown emits a soft glow amidst the night. Selene travels the heavens in her chariot, typically drawn by a pair of silvery-white horses or, on occasion, by oxen. Her brightness fluctuates, mirroring the cyclical nature of the moon.
Within the Orphic Hymn dedicated to her, Selene is depicted with horns. The Homeric Hymn portrays her as a benevolent and captivating winged goddess, adorned in gold as she traverses the night sky, signifying her presence to humankind:
“Glistening in heaven from her immortal head, a radiance encircles earth and from her shining light great beauty comes. The air unlit before glows with her golden crown and her beams are bright as day.”
(The Homeric Hymns: Hymn to Selene, 32.4-7)
The Moon’s Influence
The ancient world revered the moon as a potent symbol. Its phases correlated with the seasonal calendar of religious festivities and represented life cycles, from birth to death, with time measured in lunar months. Moreover, women in ancient Greece felt a profound connection to the moon, as its cycles closely mirrored their own menstrual rhythms, evoking the image of the full moon akin to a pregnant woman.
Many believed that spirits resided on the moon, while neo-Platonists theorized that purified souls ascended to the moon post-mortem. During the Classical Period, beliefs flourished that witches could bring down the moon; this connection reinforced Selene’s association with witchcraft, especially since mystical herbs were often collected under her watchful gaze.
Artistic Representations
Selene’s presence resonates through ancient art, captured on vases, gems, coins, and reliefs. In many depictions, she appears without wings and crowned with a crescent moon. Frequently, Selene is illustrated alongside her brother Helios, gracing the sky in her horse-drawn chariot while Helios rides his sun chariot.
A notable representation is found in the Greek sculpture by Phidias around 430 BCE located on the Parthenon in Athens. The piece illustrates Helios emerging on the eastern horizon while Selene, with her horses, sinks below the western sky, each reflecting the passage of time. Another remarkable depiction can be seen on the Pergamon Altar amidst the scene of the Gigantomachy, as well as on Attic pottery dating to 430 BCE, showcasing her alongside Helios and Eos.
The Gigantomachy & Typhon
Selene’s celestial role momentarily halted during the Giants’ Revolt (Gigantomachy), as per the commands of Hera and Zeus. Concerned about the Olympians’ need for a mortal ally (Heracles) to defeat the giants, Hera ordered Selene and Helios to withdraw their light so that Zeus could hunt for a special herb of invulnerability.
In Nonnus’ “Dionysiaca,” the terrifying serpent Typhon makes an attempt to assail Selene during the uprising. Despite his ferocity, she stood her ground, battling fiercely against him and defending her celestial position until Zeus ultimately triumphed over the monster.
Love Stories
One of Selene’s most famous tales is her passionate romance with the youthful Endymion. While soaring across western Asia Minor, she discovered Endymion slumbering on a hill by Mount Latmos. Struck by his beauty, she awaited the new moon to visit him, so he could remain undisturbed while she descended to his side.
From this union, Selene bore Endymion 50 daughters. Various accounts suggest she pleaded with Zeus to grant Endymion eternal sleep, allowing her to watch over him peacefully at night while he remained youthful, whereas some legends propose that this slumber was Endymion’s choice or even a punishment from Zeus due to her absence from the sky.
Selene and Pan
In a different tale, Selene encounters Pan, who disguises himself with white fleece over his coarse dark hair. Unaware of his true nature, Selene allowed herself to mount him, sharing a fleeting encounter. This relationship is often linked to the May Eve celebration when the Queen of the May rode upon her lover’s back.
The Theme of Vengeance
The Greek gods were known for their swift tempers. Selene demonstrated this when challenged by the young Ampelos, whom Dionysus favored. After winning numerous competitions, Ampelos boasted that he was superior in bull riding compared to Selene’s prowess in riding her horned moon. In retaliation, Selene sent a gadfly to sting the bull, leading to Ampelos’s untimely demise, after which Dionysus transformed his remains into a climbing plant adorned with fruits.
Selene in Heracles’ Story
Selene played a brief role in the conception of Heracles, where Zeus fell in love with Alcmene. To ensure his visit went unnoticed, he instructed Hypnos to lull humanity into slumber so that Selene could traverse the night sky slowly, thus extending the darkness. Disguising himself as Alcmene’s husband, Zeus managed to father twins—Heracles with himself and Iphicles with her husband.
Additionally, Selene is connected to the creation of the formidable Nemean Lion, whom Heracles encountered in his first labor. This lion, a monstrous beast with impenetrable fur, was either birthed by Selene as a means of punishment for the unfulfilled sacrificial offerings from her subjects or, per Hera’s wish, formed from sea foam carried by Iris to the Nemean mountains.
Worship and Cultural Legacy
In “Description of Greece,” the geographer Pausanias speaks of a stone representation of horned Selene in the agora of Elis, while the work of Pseudo-Plutarch references Mount Apesantus being named after her.
Moon-shaped cakes were traditionally crafted in her honor, and notably, the poet Pindar stated that while men in love prayed to Helios, women sought Selene’s favor. The dedication to Selene and Helios persisted through various inscriptions across ancient Greece, attesting to her revered status.
In modern contexts, the asteroid 580 Selene orbits between Mars and Jupiter, named in her honor. Furthermore, the element selenium was designated after her by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1818.
