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4931: Selene and Endymion. Ceiling at Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.
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"From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; and great is the beauty that arises from her shining light." (Homeric Hymn to Selene 2).
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This bright and clear Titanian goddess, who
shines down with soft light and bathes her lovely
body in the waters of the Ocean, is the Moon.
Endymion
Selene, they say, fell in love with the very
handsome King Endymion of Elis, who was allowed to
choose what he would, and he chose to sleep for
ever, remaining deathless and ageless. However some
say that he chose to be always sleepless. Endymion's beauty was
comparable only to that of Adonis, Ganymedes, Hyacinthus 1, Narcissus, Hermaphroditus, Hylas and Chrysippus 2.
Helius and Selene
Because Helius (Sun)
and his sister Selene (Moon) influence the
temperature of the air, both pestilential diseases
and deaths have been imputed to them. And then they
have been associated with Apollo and Artemis, because these
are healers, and standing for what is sound and
safe, may prevent those diseases and deaths. But he
is confused who thinks that things or gods can be
easily classified and understood.
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