Selene, << sih LEE nee >>, was the principal goddess of the moon in Greek mythology. The Roman goddess Luna resembled her. Helios, the sun, was Selene’s brother. Every day, he drove his fiery chariot across the sky. After his return, Selene drove her own chariot across the sky. The rays from her golden crown lit up the night.
Selene played an important part in ancient magic rituals, but she appears in few myths. The best-known story about Selene tells of her love for Endymion, a handsome mortal. Either Selene or Zeus, the king of the gods, caused Endymion to fall into an eternal sleep.
Most ancient sources say that Selene’s parents were Titans named Hyperion and Theia. Other sources say her parents were Zeus, the king of the gods, and his mistress Leto. Many ancient Greek writers confused Selene with the goddess Artemis. As a result, some myths incorrectly identify Artemis as the goddess of the moon.
