Changes: Selene

Revision as of 05:34, 26 May 2019

Selene was the former Titaness of the Moon, Night, and Radiance. She was essentially the moon personified as a divine being (like Helios for the sun). Her Roman counterpart was Luna.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Selene was born as one of the twin children of two Titans, Hyperion and Theia. As the Titaness of the Moon, she drove her silver moon chariot across the sky at night, while her twin brother, Helios, drove his sun chariot at day.

During the Titanomachy, Selene remained neutral to retain her position no matter the outcome. For this reason, she was among the few Titans not to be banished to Tartarus.^[1]

When the monster Typhon rose to destroy Mount Olympus and the gods, Selene rode her moon chariot into battle against the storm giant, but her attempts were ultimately unsuccessful. In fact, the Greeks believed the scars and craters seen on the moon to this day were her leftover wounds in her battle against Typhon.^[2]

The Titan's Curse

Apollo explained that due to the neglect of the Romans, Helios and Selene were forced to give up their roles, and pass them on to him and his twin sister, Artemis. They subsequently faded, leaving Artemis and Apollo to officially and completely take their roles as the Moon and Sun respectively.

Typhon, whom Selene battled with her moon chariot

Personality

In Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, Selene was described to be not as "flashy" as her brother was, and most kept to herself as she drove her moon chariot across the sky at night,^[3] which implies that she had a demure personality.

However, given how she choose to remain neutral during the Titanomachy, it is reasonable and logical to deduce that she was also either intelligent enough to keep herself out of trouble, or at least passionately dedicated to her duties as the Titaness of the Moon.

Last but not least, Selene was brave and courageous - even after Typhon defeated Zeus and forced the other gods to go into hiding, she tried to fight against the storm giant, though she was ultimately no match for him.

Abilities

Selene possessed the standard powers of a Titan. She is equal to Helios and possibly equal to Apollo and Artemis.

Prowess in Battle: Selene bravely fought against Typhon, though - like the other gods - she was ultimately defeated.
Photokinesis: As the Titaness of the Moon, she had complete control and divine authority over moonlight.
Umbrakinesis: As the Goddess of Night, Selene had divine authority and absolute control over shadows and darkness though to a lesser degree then Hades. Examples of powers she could access through these provinces are:
- Darkness Generation: Selene could shoot solid bolts of darkness and surround enemies in pitch-black clouds of dark space.
- Dark Shield Construction: Selene could solidify shadows into virtually impenetrable shields.
- Darkness Healing: Selene is able to heal minor injuries sustained by herself and others using darkness.
- Shadow Camouflage: Selene could use shadows to cover herself in darkness to become invisible.
- Shadow Mimicry: Selene is able to morph into (living) darkness or shadow.
- Shadow Travel: Selene is able to travel anywhere she desired at incredible speeds through shadows.
- Night Vision: She is able to see clearly in even total darkness.
- Night Empowerment: Selene becomes stronger at night or in dark places.
Madness: As the Goddess of Lunacy, Selene is able to induce it.
- Induced Madness: She can induce madness.

Trivia

Selene is also seen as a goddess of the night, radiance, childbirth, and insanity.
According to some sources, Selene and Endymion were the parents of the famed Narcissus, the very handsome youth who spurned the affections of those who were attracted to him and was cursed to fall in love with his reflection.
The chemical element selenium is named after her.
The term "lunacy" was named after her Roman incarnation Luna, since it was thought that a full moon rendered people insane.
Selene, a species of fish, is named after her.
In modern times, Selene is the root of "selenology", the study of the geology of the moon.
The meaning of her name is uncertain but some believe that means "brightness."
The dog, hen, bull, and rooster were her sacred animals.
The name of her Roman form, Luna, literally means "moon" in Latin.
The famous Cleopatra VII named her only daughter after Selene: Cleopatra Selene.
Selene has a lot in common with Artemis. The only major differences are that Artemis is a goddess and Selene was a Titaness and that Artemis is a virgin goddess while Selene was not. According to Greek Mythology Selene was the mother of three daughters by Zeus: Pandeia, Herse, and Nemea. To Endymion, Selene bore fifty daughters called the Menae symbolizing the fifty lunar months in an Olympiad.
In the story of Ambrogio: Greek mythology's First Vampire Selene was a mortal maiden and sister to the Oracle of Delphi in love with the Italian traveler Ambrogio who would go on to bear many curses and blessings from Apollo and Hades and finally Artemis, in the end her death raised allowed her to become the goddess of moonlight and mother to all vampires.
She is possibly the only immortal who has control over both light (Photokinesis) and darkness (Umbrakinesis) as the Titaness of both the Moon and the Night.

Gallery

References

↑ Percy Jackson's Greek Gods: The Olympians Bash Some Heads
↑ Percy Jackson's Greek Gods: Zeus Kills Everyone
↑ Percy Jackson's Greek Gods: The Golden Age of Cannibalism

[1] Percy Jackson's Greek Gods: The Olympians Bash Some Heads

[2] Percy Jackson's Greek Gods: Zeus Kills Everyone

[3] Percy Jackson's Greek Gods: The Golden Age of Cannibalism

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 ==Trivia==
-*Selene is also seen as a goddess of the night, radiance, childbirth and insanity.
+*Selene is also seen as a goddess of the night, radiance, childbirth, and insanity.
 *According to some sources, Selene and Endymion were the parents of the famed [[Narcissus]], the very handsome youth who spurned the affections of those who were attracted to him and was cursed to fall in love with his reflection.
 *The chemical element selenium is named after her.
@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 *The name of her Roman form, Luna, literally means "moon" in [[Latin]].
 *The famous Cleopatra VII named her only daughter after Selene: Cleopatra Selene.
-*Selene has a lot in common with Artemis. The only major differences are that Artemis is a goddess and Selene was a Titaness and that Artemis is a [[Virgin Goddesses|virgin goddess]] while Selene was not. According to Greek Mythology Selene was the mother of three daughters by Zeus; Pandeia, Herse, and Nemea. To Endymion, Selene bore fifty daughters called the Menae symbolizing the fifty lunar months in an Olympiad.
+*Selene has a lot in common with Artemis. The only major differences are that Artemis is a goddess and Selene was a Titaness and that Artemis is a [[Virgin Goddesses|virgin goddess]] while Selene was not. According to Greek Mythology Selene was the mother of three daughters by Zeus: Pandeia, Herse, and Nemea. To Endymion, Selene bore fifty daughters called the Menae symbolizing the fifty lunar months in an Olympiad.
 *In the story of Ambrogio: Greek mythology's First Vampire Selene was a mortal maiden and sister to the Oracle of Delphi in love with the Italian traveler Ambrogio who would go on to bear many curses and blessings from Apollo and Hades and finally Artemis, in the end her death raised allowed her to become the goddess of moonlight and mother to all vampires.
 *She is possibly the only [[immortal]] who has control over both light ([[Photokinesis]]) and darkness ([[Umbrakinesis]]) as the Titaness of both the Moon and the Night.