The moon has captivated humans since the beginning of time.
Every culture in every corner of the globe has some myth or legend regarding it's origin or the god or goddess's that represents it.
Luna the Roman Goddess of the Moon.
Luna is the Roman goddesses of the moon, and her Greek counterparts we're often formed in a triadic manner hence Luna was associated with two further goddesses, Diana and Hecate. Luna was the goddess in heaven and of the full moon (Greek counterpart being Selene), Diana was the goddess on earth and of the halfmoon (Greek Artemis) and Hecate (or Hekate) was the goddess in the underworld and of the dark moon.
Diana was originally a goddess of fertility and was worshipped by women as the giver of fertility and easy births.
She was also the goddess of nature and of hunting.
Hecate was the underworld goddess of magic and witchcraf, she is often linked with Luna and Diana but is also further association with other goddesses linked to chastity and childbirth such as Prosperina and Juno Lucina, an ancient maternal character. The latter may even have been a more central figure within the triad of moon goddesses with Hecate being a later addition.
The multiple facets of women, femininity and childbirth were believed to be associated with the phases of the moon: the new moon represented the maiden goddess, Diana, always new, virginal, reborn and ready for the hunt whereas the waxing moon increasing in size represented the fertile mother goddess, pregnant with life.
The darkening moon reflected the wise crone or witch, Hecate, with power to heal and transform.and Luna being a literal representation of the moon and sky in all it's beauty.
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HEKATE (Hecate) was the guardian of the crossways and goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. She also represents the Maiden, Mother and Croon with statues often showing three faces.
The Romans believed that the moon controlled many other facets of life including the wind, rain, tides, animal life, mineral growth and earthquakes. Suetonius (Roman historian AD69 - AD122) wrote ‘The moon is a great magnet of vapour and all substances characterised by moisture. When the moon grows so do all fruits, and as it was, so they also shrink’.
Luna was also believed to have the power to mask reality, to pierce illusion, to awaken intuition and to spark visions. This latter arising from association of the night and the moon with dreams.
She was also known as a patron of solutions which came to people in dreams, when the subconscious mind processes information.
🌕Other Moon Goddess's 🌕
Rhiannona A Welsh, Celtic Goddess of the moon, horse's fertility rebirth and forgiveness.
Devana, A Slavic Moon Goddess also associate with nature, forests and hunting. She the equivalent of the Greek goddess Artemis and the Roman goddess Diana.
Selene Titan goddess and personification of the moon. She was depicted as a woman riding sidesaddle on a horse or driving a chariot drawn by a pair of winged horse's
Goddess Myeongwol; Korean goddess of the moon her beauty shins brightest during the full moon.
Chang'e Originally known as Heng'e, is the goddess of the Moon and wife of Yi, the great archer. Renowned by her beauty, Chang'e is also known for her ascending to the moon with her pet Yu Tu, the Moon Rabbit and living in the Moon
These are only a few of the more well known goddess's. But there are So many more. I will do separate posts on some of the other later.
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