The primary god of the moon in Greek mythology is Selene, a Titan goddess who drives her chariot across the night sky. However, the Greeks also associated the moon with Artemis (goddess of the hunt and wilderness) and, in later mystic traditions, with Hecate; the male figure Endymion is her beloved, not a moon deity himself.
Who Is Selene? The Titan Goddess of the Moon
Selene is one of the twelve Titans, the elder generation of gods who ruled before the Olympians. In Hesiod’s Theogony (c. 700 BCE), she is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, making her the sister of Helios (the Sun) and Eos (the Dawn). This family grouping reflects a natural order: dawn, sun, and moon are siblings who take turns across the sky. Selene is usually described as a beautiful woman with a pale, shining face, often depicted with a crescent moon on her forehead or holding a torch. She drives a silver chariot pulled by two white horses (or sometimes oxen or mules, depending on the source), crossing the heavens each night. Unlike the Olympian gods, Selene rarely appears in myths as a central figure; her role is more cosmic and symbolic, representing the physical moon itself.
Selene and Endymion: The Most Famous Myth
The most well-known story involving Selene is her love for the mortal shepherd (or king) Endymion. According to later Greek and Roman sources, Selene saw Endymion sleeping in a cave on Mount Latmus in Caria (modern Turkey) and fell deeply in love with him. She asked Zeus to grant him eternal youth and immortality, but the request came with a catch: Endymion would remain in an eternal sleep, never waking. Some versions say Zeus put him into the sleep himself; others say Endymion chose it. Selene visited him every night, and together they had fifty daughters, the Menae, who represented the fifty lunar months of the Greek calendar. This myth explains the moon’s nightly journey and its association with sleep, dreams, and longing. It also highlights a recurring Greek theme: the gods’ love for mortals often ends in tragedy or a strange compromise.
Artemis: The Olympian Moon Goddess
By the Classical period (5th century BCE), the Greeks increasingly identified the moon with Artemis, the virgin goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and childbirth. This identification was not original but grew over time, likely because both were associated with the night and with women’s cycles. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo, who was linked to the sun. In this pairing, Apollo became the sun god and Artemis the moon goddess, though neither was exclusively so. Artemis’s lunar aspect is most visible in her role as a protector of young women and a goddess of childbirth—the moon’s phases were thought to influence menstruation and labor. However, Artemis was not a “moon goddess” in the same way Selene was; she was a multifaceted deity whose lunar side was one of many. Ancient writers like Aeschylus and Euripides sometimes conflated the two, but they remained distinct figures in cult and myth.
Hecate: The Dark Moon and Witchcraft
A third goddess associated with the moon is Hecate, who ruled over magic, crossroads, and the night. Hecate was a Titaness who sided with Zeus during the Titanomachy and was therefore honored by the Olympians. In later Greek and Roman mystery religions, she became a lunar goddess of the “dark moon”—the phase when the moon is invisible. Hecate is often depicted with three faces or three bodies, representing the three phases of the moon (waxing, full, and waning) or the three crossroads. She was closely linked to the underworld and to ghosts, and her worship involved offerings left at crossroads. Unlike Selene, who was gentle and romantic, Hecate was fearsome and associated with witchcraft and the restless dead. Her lunar connection was more mystical and chthonic (underworldly) than Selene’s celestial one.
Other Lunar Figures and Personifications
Beyond the three main goddesses, Greek mythology had a few other lunar figures. Phaethusa and Lampetia were daughters of Helios and Neaera, but they were not moon goddesses. The Menae (the fifty daughters of Selene and Endymion) personified the lunar months, but they were minor spirits, not major deities. In Orphic hymns (late antiquity), the moon was sometimes called Mene, a name that simply means “moon” and is often used interchangeably with Selene. There was no male moon god in mainstream Greek mythology, unlike in other cultures (e.g., the Roman Luna, the Egyptian Khonsu, or the Mesopotamian Sin). The Greeks consistently personified the moon as female, which is notable given that many neighboring cultures had male moon gods. This gender difference likely reflects the Greek association of the moon with women’s cycles and with the goddess Artemis.
How the Moon Was Worshipped in Ancient Greece
Selene did not have a major cult or temple of her own in most of Greece. Her worship was largely absorbed into that of Artemis and Hecate. However, there were some exceptions: at Elis, in the Peloponnese, Selene was honored alongside Helios in a joint cult, and at Rome, the goddess Luna had a temple on the Aventine Hill. In everyday Greek religion, the moon was more often addressed in prayers and hymns than through formal temple rituals. Farmers and sailors would observe the moon’s phases for planting and navigation, and the new moon was a time for purification and offerings. The Greeks also practiced lunar magic, especially in love spells, where the moon’s waxing and waning were used to attract or repel a lover. Hecate’s role as a moon goddess was particularly important in this context, as she was invoked in spells and curses.
Selene vs. Artemis vs. Hecate: How to Tell Them Apart
If you are reading a myth or a piece of art, here is a quick guide to which moon deity is being referenced:
- Selene: A Titaness, depicted with a crescent moon, driving a chariot, often in a romantic context (e.g., with Endymion). She represents the physical moon and its nightly journey.
- Artemis: An Olympian, depicted with a bow and arrows, often with a deer or hunting dogs. Her lunar side is secondary; she is primarily a goddess of the hunt and wilderness.
- Hecate: A Titaness, depicted with three faces or torches, often at a crossroads. She represents the dark moon, magic, and the underworld.
In practice, ancient writers often blended these figures. For example, the Roman poet Ovid in his Metamorphoses uses the name “Phoebe” for the moon, which is another name for Artemis. The key is to look at the context: if the story involves a lover, it is Selene; if it involves hunting or childbirth, it is Artemis; if it involves witchcraft or ghosts, it is Hecate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a male Greek god of the moon?
No, there is no prominent male moon god in Greek mythology. The moon is always personified as female, unlike in many other ancient cultures. The closest male figure is Endymion, but he is a mortal beloved of Selene, not a god.
Why is Artemis called a moon goddess if she is a huntress?
Artemis’s association with the moon developed over time, likely because of her connection to women’s cycles and the night. By the Classical period, she was often identified with Selene, especially in poetry and art, but she was never exclusively a moon goddess.
What is the difference between Selene and Luna?
Selene is the Greek Titan goddess of the moon; Luna is her Roman equivalent. The Romans adopted many Greek myths and simply renamed the gods. Luna was also a distinct Roman goddess, but she was largely identical to Selene in character and stories.
Did the Greeks believe the moon was a goddess or just a celestial body?
For most Greeks, the moon was both a physical object and a divine being. They did not separate the two. The moon’s phases were seen as the goddess’s changing appearance, and its movements were her chariot ride across the sky.
What are the Menae?
The Menae are the fifty daughters of Selene and Endymion, representing the fifty lunar months of the Greek calendar. They are minor goddesses, sometimes associated with the months or with the moon’s phases, but they rarely appear in myths.
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