Moon gods and goddesses include Selene and Artemis in Greek mythology, Sin in Mesopotamian religion, Khonsu and Thoth in Egypt, Chandra in Hindu tradition, and Máni in Norse mythology. Other traditions name figures such as Tsukuyomi, Mama Quilla, Coyolxauhqui, and Changxi. Their roles vary: some personify the Moon, while others are deities associated with lunar cycles, time, or related religious traditions.
The figures below come from distinct cultures and sources, and their stories are not interchangeable. In some traditions the Moon is a goddess, in others a god, and in some both genders or multiple figures are connected with it. The surviving accounts also differ in how much they say about each deity.
Greek moon deities
Greek myth distinguishes Selene, the personification of the Moon, from other goddesses who acquired lunar associations. Ancient accounts also connect Selene with the divine family of Helios, the Sun, and Eos, the dawn.
- Selene — The Moon personified as a goddess, she is the daughter of Hyperion and Theia in Hesiod’s Theogony.
- Artemis — Primarily a goddess of the hunt and wild places, she is also associated with the Moon in some Greek traditions.
- Hecate — A goddess associated with magic and the Moon, she has a significant role in Hesiod’s account of the gods.
- Pandia — A daughter of Selene and Zeus in the Homeric Hymn to Selene, she is a lesser-known Greek lunar goddess.
These names do not represent identical forms of a single deity. Selene is directly identified with the Moon, while Artemis and Hecate have broader identities and overlapping associations. The Homeric Hymn to Selene specifically names Pandia as the daughter of Selene and Zeus.
Mesopotamian and Levantine deities
In Mesopotamian religion, the Moon was represented by the god Sin, also known in ancient contexts by the name Nanna. Lunar deities in the Levant included figures worshipped in different cities and periods; their identities and prominence varied across those traditions.
- Sin — A major Mesopotamian lunar god, he is associated with Ningal and with deities including Shamash and Inanna in Mesopotamian tradition.
- Yarikh — A Canaanite moon god associated with the goddess Nikkal.
- Aglibol — A Syrian lunar deity whose name is associated with the Moon in regional religious traditions.
- Tanit — A goddess of Phoenician and Punic religion who is also identified with lunar associations.
Yarikh and Nikkal appear together in ancient West Semitic tradition. Sin’s family relationships are described differently in surviving accounts, so his role as a lunar deity is more consistent than any single genealogy.
Egyptian moon gods
Egyptian religion included more than one deity with lunar associations. The gods listed here had other religious roles as well, and lunar identity did not necessarily define their entire character.
- Khonsu — An Egyptian moon god, associated in Theban tradition with the gods Amun and Mut.
- Thoth — A god associated with the Moon, as well as with writing, knowledge, and the measurement of time.
- Iah — An Egyptian lunar god whose name is also used for the Moon.
The existence of several lunar deities reflects the variety of Egyptian religious traditions, rather than a single, uniform account of the Moon. Thoth’s connection with time and reckoning complements, but does not replace, his wider role as a god of knowledge and writing.
Asian and Pacific traditions
Asian traditions describe lunar deities in different ways, from a god who personifies the Moon to figures embedded in creation stories. The names and stories belong to distinct religious and literary settings.
- Chandra — A Hindu lunar god, also associated in Indian tradition with the name Soma.
- Tsukuyomi — A Japanese moon god who appears in the Kojiki among the deities connected with the creation of the world.
- Changxi — A lunar goddess in Chinese mythology.
- Hina — A Polynesian goddess associated with the Moon, though accounts of Hina vary among island traditions.
In the Kojiki, Tsukuyomi is one of the deities born during Izanagi’s purification after his return from the land of the dead. Chandra’s identification with the Moon is prominent in Hindu traditions, while the name Hina refers to figures whose stories differ across Polynesia.
Norse and other European traditions
Norse mythology personifies the Moon as a male figure. Roman religion, by contrast, names Luna as a goddess. Other European traditions preserve local lunar figures, although the surviving accounts may be brief.
- Máni — The personification of the Moon in Norse mythology and the brother of Sól, the Sun.
- Luna — The Roman goddess who personifies the Moon.
- Ilargi — A lunar figure in Basque mythology.
In Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, Máni and Sól are connected with the courses of the Moon and Sun. The Roman name Luna is also the Latin word for the Moon, while Ilargi belongs to a separate Basque tradition.
American and other traditions
Across the Americas, lunar figures appear in the religions and mythologies of distinct peoples. Their roles should be understood within those traditions, rather than treated as versions of the same story.
- Mama Quilla — An Inca moon goddess associated with the Sun god Inti.
- Coyolxauhqui — A Mexica goddess associated with the Moon.
- Metztli — A Mexica lunar deity of uncertain gender, sometimes identified with Tecciztecatl, who becomes the Moon in the Fifth Sun story.
- Chía — A lunar goddess in Muisca religion.
- Komorkis — A lunar goddess in Blackfoot tradition.
- Ay Dede — A personification of the Moon known as Father Moon in Turkic mythology.
These names come from religious traditions with different histories and forms of transmission. Some are described in brief summaries, while others have more extensive surviving accounts; a shared association with the Moon does not imply shared attributes or origin stories.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Greek goddess of the Moon?
Selene is the Greek goddess who personifies the Moon. Artemis and Hecate also have lunar associations, though both have other important roles.
Are all moon deities goddesses?
No. Many traditions have lunar goddesses, but others have male moon deities, including Sin, Chandra, Tsukuyomi, and Máni.
Are moon gods and goddesses the same in every mythology?
No. Each figure belongs to a particular religious tradition, and lunar deities differ in gender, stories, relationships, and other domains.
Sources
- Hesiod, Theogony.
- Homeric Hymn to Selene.
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda (Gylfaginning).
- Kojiki.
- Wikidata (CC0) records for the figures named above.
How pages are sourced and corrected: Sources and editorial policy.