Luna is the Roman goddess of the moon, often depicted driving a chariot across the night sky. She was one of several Roman deities associated with the moon, but her name and cult were central to Roman religious life.
Origins and Greek Equivalence
Luna’s worship in Rome was ancient, but her mythology was heavily influenced by Greek Selene. As Rome expanded and absorbed Greek culture, Luna and Selene became nearly interchangeable in art and literature. In Roman poetry, Luna is often described with the same attributes as Selene: a silver chariot drawn by two horses (or sometimes oxen), a crescent diadem on her head, and a torch in her hand. The Roman author Varro (1st century BCE) identified Luna with Diana, but this was a later syncretism; originally, Luna was a distinct deity with her own temple on the Aventine Hill, dedicated in the 6th or 5th century BCE.
Role and Attributes
Luna personified the moon itself, and her primary role was to drive the moon across the sky each night. She was also associated with the passage of time, as the lunar cycle marked the months in the Roman calendar. In Roman art, she is often shown as a beautiful woman with a crescent moon on her forehead, holding a torch or a whip, riding a chariot. Her Greek counterpart Selene was said to be the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister of Helios (the Sun) and Eos (the Dawn). Roman writers adopted this genealogy, so Luna was similarly considered the sister of Sol (the Sun) and Aurora (the Dawn).
Worship and Temples
Luna had at least two temples in Rome. The most famous was on the Aventine Hill, near the temple of Diana. According to tradition, it was built by Servius Tullius, the sixth king of Rome (traditionally reigned 578–535 BCE). Another temple stood on the Palatine Hill, possibly associated with the cult of Sol Invictus later. The Aventine temple was important because it was one of the few temples in Rome that faced east, aligning with the moonrise. Luna’s festivals were not as prominent as those of other gods, but she was honored on the Ides (the 15th of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th of other months), which were sacred to her because the full moon often fell on those days.
Luna in Roman Art and Literature
In Roman literature, Luna appears in the works of poets like Virgil, Ovid, and Horace. In Virgil’s Aeneid, Luna is invoked as a goddess who aids travelers. Ovid, in his Fasti (a poem about the Roman calendar), describes Luna as the goddess who presides over the night and is often called upon for love spells. Roman coins frequently depicted Luna, especially during the Republic and Empire, as a symbol of the divine nature of the state. For example, coins minted under the emperor Augustus often showed Luna with a crescent, linking the emperor to the celestial order.
Comparison with Diana and Hecate
Luna was often conflated with Diana, who was originally a goddess of the hunt and the wilderness, but later also became a moon goddess. The identification was so strong that in some Roman inscriptions, the two are treated as one: “Diana Luna.” However, they remained distinct in cult: Diana had her own major temple on the Aventine, and her worship was more widespread. Luna was also sometimes associated with Hecate, a Greek goddess of magic and the underworld, who was also a moon goddess. In Roman magic, Luna was invoked for spells involving love and divination, but she was not as feared as Hecate.
Legacy and Modern Influence
The name “Luna” has survived into modern times as a poetic term for the moon and in words like “lunar” and “lunatic” (from the belief that the moon caused madness). In astronomy, the Moon is called “Luna” in Latin, and many lunar features are named after Roman mythological figures. The Roman goddess Luna also appears in modern popular culture, such as in the Harry Potter series (Luna Lovegood) and in the name of the Roman goddess in the game Smite. Her imagery of a chariot and crescent moon continues to be a symbol of the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Luna and Diana?
Luna was the personification of the moon itself, while Diana was a goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, and childbirth. Over time, Diana absorbed some lunar attributes, and they were sometimes worshipped together, but they were originally separate deities with different origins and cults.
Who were Luna’s parents?
In Roman mythology, Luna was often said to be the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, following the Greek myth of Selene. This made her the sister of Sol (the Sun) and Aurora (the Dawn). However, some Roman sources did not specify her parentage, as she was an ancient native deity.
Did Luna have any children?
In Greek mythology, Selene had several children, including the Horae (the Seasons) and the Nemean Lion. Roman sources adopted these stories, so Luna was sometimes said to be the mother of the Horae and the Nemean Lion, though the lion was more often associated with Hera.
How was Luna worshipped?
Luna was worshipped at her temples on the Aventine and Palatine hills. Her festivals were held on the Ides of each month, which were sacred to her. She was also honored in household worship, as the moon was important for agriculture and timekeeping. Roman women especially prayed to Luna for protection during childbirth, as the moon was linked to fertility.
Is Luna the same as the Greek goddess Selene?
Yes, Luna is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Selene. The Romans identified their native moon goddess with Selene and adopted many of her myths and attributes. In art and literature, they are essentially the same figure, though Luna had her own distinct Roman cult.
Why is the moon called “lunar” in English?
The English word “lunar” comes from the Latin lunaris, which is derived from Luna, the Roman goddess of the moon. So the term directly references the goddess, just as “solar” comes from Sol, the Roman sun god.
Related
- Selene in Greek Mythology: Goddess of the Moon
- Helios in Greek Mythology: Sun God Role and Myths
- Hathor in Egyptian Mythology: Roles & Symbols
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