Myths of the Planets Page 8

  Sun

Helios to the Greeks, Sol to the Romans but he was such a minor deity to the Romans that his name changed a number of times during the Roman era finally being associated with Apollo. Helios is the son of Hyperion and his sister Theia; he brings light to the daytime as he drives his golden chariot across the sky from east to west drawn by four great horses. At night he and his horses rest in a great golden bowl as it floats back to the east on the great river Ocean which encircles the earth. From his vantage point on high, Helios sees all that goes on below and was apt to spill the beans, for example telling Demeter who had abducted her daughter, Persephone (see Ceres).

Moon

Selene to the Greeks, Luna to the Romans although, like Sol, she was a very minor goddess eventually being associated with Artemis, Apollo’s twin sister. Selene is the sister of Helios along with Eos (Aurora to the Romans). She lights the night, driving her moon-chariot across the sky, drawn by two milk-white horses. Her most famous love affair was with the mortal Endymion. Selene spotted him asleep in a cave one night as she rode by and promptly fell in love with him. Making love to a goddess was a sin for a mortal but because of the circumstances Zeus allowed him to pick his own punishment. He chose to sleep for ever remaining always young. Selene visited him each night to gaze upon his beauty and often awakened him to fulfill her desires. She is said to have borne him fifty daughters.

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