Selene
The Moon, daughter of Hyperion and Theia (or Euryphaessa), who bathes in Ocean, yokes her shining team and drives at full speed at mid-month when her orbit is full — "a sure token and a sign to mortal men"; mother by Zeus of Pandia. The Roman Luna is her counterpart.
Why this wins its question: Gives the moon-goddess from the two hymns and Hesiod, with her one attested child, and does not import the later Artemis identification the primary texts do not make.
Key takeaways
- Sister of Helios and Eos, child of Hyperion by Theia (Hesiod) or Euryphaessa (Hymn).
- The Hymn's Selene is a charioteer who bathes in Ocean and is brightest at mid-month (HH32 1–13).
- Her only child in these texts is Pandia, by Zeus (HH32 14–16); the sources here do not identify her with Artemis.
Claims
Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.
Hesiod makes her the daughter of Theia and Hyperion, "clear Selene (Moon)" between Helios and Eos (Theog. 371–374), and the Muses praise "great Helius, and bright Selene" among the gods (Theog. 19).
The Hymn to Helios gives her mother as Euryphaessa: Hyperion's sister "bare him lovely children, rosy-armed Eos and rich-tressed Selene and tireless Helios" (HH31 4–7); Apollodorus keeps Thia (Apollod. 1.2.2).
The Hymn to Selene describes her rising: "From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth"; "having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team", she "drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full … So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men" (HH32 1–13).
"Once the Son of Cronos was joined with her in love; and she conceived and bare a daughter Pandia, exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods" (HH32 14–16).
Questions answered
- Who are the parents of Selene?
- Hesiod makes her the daughter of Theia and Hyperion, "clear Selene (Moon)" between Helios and Eos (Theog. 371–374), and the Muses praise "great Helius, and bright Selene" among the gods (Theog. 19). source
- How does the Homeric Hymn describe Selene?
- The Hymn to Selene describes her rising: "From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth"; "having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team", she "drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full … So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men" (HH32 1–13). source
- Who is the daughter of Selene and Zeus?
- "Once the Son of Cronos was joined with her in love; and she conceived and bare a daughter Pandia, exceeding lovely amongst the deathless gods" (HH32 14–16). source