Safekipedia

Selene

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

An ancient Roman fresco from Pompeii showing the mythological scene of Selene, goddess of the moon, descending to visit Endymion, a handsome hunter, in a peaceful landscape.

Selene

In ancient Greek mythology, Selene is the beautiful goddess of the Moon. She is known for riding a shining silver chariot across the night sky, lighting up the world below.

Selene is the daughter of the Titans named Hyperion and Theia. She has two important siblings: the sun god Helios and the dawn goddess Eos. Together, they are part of a special family in these old stories.

People loved telling stories about Selene. One famous tale is about her and a handsome man named Endymion. Every night, Selene would visit him while he slept forever. She is also sometimes linked with the Roman goddess Luna. Along with Artemis and Hecate, Selene was seen as a powerful figure connected to the moon.

The name "Selene" comes from an old Greek word meaning "light" or "brightness". She was also called Mene, a word for the moon and the moon's month. People have used her name for many things, like a part of space called 580 Selene and a chemical element named Selenium.

Selene is remembered as a beautiful and bright goddess who guides the moon across the sky every night. She is a beloved part of ancient stories and continues to inspire us today.

Images

A detailed Roman relief showing the goddess Selene in her chariot from an ancient sarcophagus, depicting a famous myth.
The Western side of the Parthenon, an ancient Greek temple located in Athens.
Ancient Roman artwork showing Selene, the goddess of the moon, in a circular relief from a sarcophagus.
Ancient statue of Selene, the moon goddess, from the Musei Capitolini in Rome.
A beautiful Roman statuette from the 1st century BC representing Selene, the goddess of the moon.
A sculpture of Selene, the moon goddess, in the courtyard of Palazzo Gerini in Florence.
Marble statue of Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon, on display at Antalya Museum.
A beautiful ancient Roman fresco from Pompeii showing the mythological figures Selene and Endymion.
A beautiful Roman marble altar from the 2nd century CE showing the moon-goddess Selene with the stars Phosphoros and Hesperos.
Ancient Greek art showing Selene, the goddess of the moon, on a red-figure drinking cup from around 450 BC.

Related articles

Greek mythology
Goddess
Moon
Titans
Theia
Solar deity

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Selene, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.