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Selene - Greek Goddess Selene

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The Moon-goddess Selene accompanied by the Dioscuri.

The Moon-goddess Selene accompanied by the Dioscuri.

Public Domain. Courtesy Marie-Lan Nguyen/Wikimedia Commons.
Definition: Selene was the Greek moon goddess, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia (according to Hesiod), and the sister of Helios and Eos. Later, she was identified with Artemis and called Phoebe. As Phoebe she was a huntress and archer. Selene was worshiped on the days of full and new moons.

She is described in the Homeric Hymn to Semele as mating with Zeus, through which union she produced Pandeia. She was in love with Endymion, according to Sappho and later sources. With him she had 50 daughters representing the months between the Olympic games. Every night, Selene visited and embraced Endymion, who slept as a result of the gift to him of eternal life and youth through eternal sleep.

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Also Known As: Phoebe

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