Selēné
（
Σελήνη). The Greek goddess of the moon, daughter of the
Titan Hyperion and Theia, sister of Helios and Eos. She was described as a beautiful woman
with long wings and golden diadem, from which she shed a mild light (Homer,
Hymns, xxxii. 7), riding in a car drawn by two white horses or mules or cows.
The horns of the latter symbolized the crescent moon. In later times she was identified with
Artemis (or else with Hecaté and Persephoné), as was Helios with Phoebus
Apollo, and therefore was herself called Phoebé. After this she was also regarded
as a huntress and archer, recognizable by her crescent as the goddess of the moon. She was
worshipped on the days of the new and full moon. She bore to Zeus a daughter, Pandia,
worshipped at Athens with her father at the festival of Pandia (Demosth.
Or. 21.9). On her love for Endymion, see
Endymion. The Romans called her
Luna, and had two temples to her at Rome—one on the Aventine and one on the
Palatine.
