The goddess of the moon in Greek mythology is primarily Selene, a Titan goddess who personifies the moon itself, though the Olympian Artemis also became closely associated with the moon, especially in later traditions. Selene is the actual moon deity, driving her chariot across the night sky, while Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the wilderness, was given lunar attributes over time, particularly as a goddess of maidens and the night.
Who Is Selene? The Titan Goddess of the Moon
Selene is one of the twelve Titans, the elder gods who ruled before the Olympians. According to 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 is logical: the sun, the moon, and the dawn are all celestial bodies that appear in the sky. In Homeric Hymn 32, Selene is described as “broad-winged” and “bright,” and she is said to be the mother of Pandia (a minor goddess of the full moon) by Zeus.
Selene’s most famous myth involves her love for the mortal shepherd Endymion. According to later poets, Selene asked Zeus to grant Endymion eternal sleep so that he would remain forever young and beautiful, and she would visit him every night as he slept in a cave on Mount Latmus in Caria (modern Turkey). This story appears in the Library of Apollodorus and in the works of the Roman poet Ovid, though Ovid’s version differs slightly. The myth explains the moon’s nightly journey across the sky as Selene’s lover’s visit.
Selene’s Appearance and Chariot
In Greek art and literature, Selene is depicted as a beautiful woman with a pale, luminous face, often wearing a crescent-moon crown or holding a torch. She drives a two-horse chariot across the sky, just as her brother Helios drives his sun chariot. The horses are sometimes described as white or silver, and the chariot itself is made of silver. In some vase paintings, Selene is shown riding a horse or a mule, or even a bull, but the chariot is the most common image. The crescent moon is her symbol, and she is often shown with stars around her head.
Artemis: The Olympian Moon Goddess
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto and the twin sister of Apollo. In early Greek religion, Artemis was primarily a goddess of the hunt, wild animals, childbirth, and maidens. However, as Apollo became associated with the sun (in the classical period, Helios was sometimes conflated with Apollo), Artemis naturally took on lunar attributes. By the 5th century BCE, the tragedian Euripides in Iphigenia in Tauris calls Artemis “mistress of the moon,” and later writers such as the poet Callimachus (3rd century BCE) explicitly link her to the moon. In Roman mythology, Artemis was identified with Diana, who was also a moon goddess.
Unlike Selene, Artemis is a virgin goddess, and her lunar aspect is tied to her role as a protector of young women and the cycles of female life. The moon’s phases were associated with menstruation and childbirth, so Artemis’s connection to the moon reinforced her role as a goddess of women. In some cults, especially in the Greek city of Ephesus, Artemis was worshipped as a many-breasted fertility goddess, but this was a local variation.
Other Lunar Deities in Greek Mythology
Besides Selene and Artemis, there are a few other figures with lunar connections. Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and the crossroads, is sometimes associated with the moon, especially in her role as a goddess of the night. In later Orphic hymns, Hecate is described as “moon-goddess,” and she is often depicted with a torch. However, Hecate is more commonly a goddess of the underworld and magic than of the moon itself.
Pandia is a minor goddess of the full moon, the daughter of Selene and Zeus. She is mentioned in the Homeric Hymn to Selene and in a few other sources, but she has no myths of her own. Mene is another name for Selene, and it is sometimes used as a separate goddess in later texts, but it is essentially the same deity.
Selene vs. Artemis: How to Tell Them Apart
For a reader trying to understand the difference, the key is that Selene is the personification of the moon, while Artemis is a complex Olympian goddess who adopted lunar traits. Here are the main distinctions:
- Origin: Selene is a Titan, born before the Olympians; Artemis is an Olympian, daughter of Zeus.
- Role: Selene drives the moon chariot and is the moon itself; Artemis is the huntress and protector of maidens.
- Family: Selene’s siblings are Helios (sun) and Eos (dawn); Artemis’s twin is Apollo (who is often associated with the sun).
- Myths: Selene’s main myth is with Endymion; Artemis’s myths involve the hunt, Actaeon, and the Trojan War.
- Depiction: Selene is always shown with a crescent or full moon; Artemis is shown with a bow and arrows, often with a crescent moon on her forehead.
In practice, many ancient Greeks would have worshipped Artemis for lunar matters, while Selene was more of a cosmic personification. The two were sometimes conflated, but they were never the same goddess in origin.
Common Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that Artemis is the “goddess of the moon” in the same way that Selene is. This is not accurate for the earliest Greek religion. In Homer and Hesiod, the moon is always Selene; Artemis is never called the moon. It was only in later periods, especially under Roman influence, that Artemis-Diana became a moon goddess. Another misconception is that Apollo is the god of the sun in early Greek myth—he is not; Helios is the sun god. Apollo was associated with the sun later, just as Artemis was with the moon. So the pairing of Apollo and Artemis as sun and moon is a later development, not an original one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Greek goddess of the moon?
The Greek goddess of the moon is Selene, a Titan who personifies the moon and drives a chariot across the sky. Artemis is also associated with the moon, but she is primarily the goddess of the hunt and became a moon goddess in later traditions.
Is Artemis the same as Selene?
No, they are distinct goddesses. Selene is the moon itself, a Titan, while Artemis is an Olympian goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and childbirth. They were sometimes conflated, but they have different origins and myths.
What is the myth of Selene and Endymion?
Selene fell in love with the mortal Endymion, a shepherd or king. She asked Zeus to grant him eternal sleep so he would never age, and she visited him every night. The myth explains the moon’s nightly journey as Selene’s visit to her lover.
Why is Artemis associated with the moon?
Artemis became associated with the moon because of her twin brother Apollo’s association with the sun. As Apollo took on solar attributes, Artemis took on lunar ones. Also, Artemis’s role as a goddess of maidens and childbirth linked her to the moon’s cycles.
Who are Selene’s parents and siblings?
Selene’s parents are the Titans Hyperion and Theia. Her siblings are Helios (the Sun) and Eos (the Dawn). This family reflects the celestial nature of the sun, moon, and dawn.
Did the Greeks worship the moon as a god or goddess?
The Greeks worshipped Selene as a goddess, but she was a relatively minor deity compared to the Olympians. She had few temples and no major cult, but she was honored in hymns and rituals, especially during lunar festivals.
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