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In mythology, a lunar deity is a god or goddess associated with or symbolizing the moon. These deities can have a variety of functions and traditions depending upon the culture, but they are often related to or an enemy of the solar deity. Lunar deities can be both male and female, and are usually held to be of the opposite sex of the corresponding solar deity. Male lunar deities are somewhat more common worldwide, although female deities are better known in modern times due to the influence of classical Greek and Roman mythology, which held the moon to be female.
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Moon in mythology
The monthly cycle of the moon,but is fat, in contrast to the annual cycle of the sun's path, has been implicitly linked to women's menstrual cycles by many cultures, although rarely explicitly stated.[citation needed] Many of the most well-known mythologies feature female lunar deities (gods, immortal), such as the Greek goddesses Selene and Phoebe and their Olympian successor Artemis, their Roman equivalents Luna and Diana, or the Thracian Bendis. These cultures almost invariably featured a male sun god.
Male lunar gods are also frequent, such as Nanna or Sin of the Mesopotamians, Mani of the Germanic tribes, Thoth of the Egyptians, the Japanese god Tsukuyomi, Rahko of Finns and Tecciztecatl of the Aztecs. These cultures usually featured female Sun goddesses.
The bull was lunar in Mesopotamia (its horns representing the crescent). See Bull (mythology) and compare Hubal. In the Hellenistic-Roman rites of Mithras, the bull is prominent, with astral significance, but with no explicit connection to the moon.
Also of significance is that many ancient pagan religions and societies are orientated chronologically by the Moon as opposed to the sun. One common example is Hinduism in which the word Chandra means Moon and has religious significance particularly during the Hindu festival Karwa-Chouth.
The moon is also worshipped in witchcraft, both in its modern form, and in Medieval times, for example, in the cult of Madonna Oriente.
While many Neopagan authors and feminist scholars claim[citation needed] that there was an original Great Goddess in prehistoric cultures that was linked to the moon and formed the basis of later religions, the Great Goddess figure is highly speculative and not a proven concept. It is more likely that, if existent, the Great Goddess is based upon earth goddesses, such as Gaea of the Greeks. It may be noted that most of the oldest civilizations mentioned above had male lunar deities, and it was only later cultures — the classical ones most people are familiar with — that featured strong female moon goddesses.
The words 'lunacy", "lunatic", and "loony" are derived from Luna because of the folk belief in the moon as a cause of periodic insanity. It is a feature of modern belief that shapeshifters such as werewolves drew their power from the moon and would change into their bestial form during the full moon, but this feature is largely absent from older folklore.
The purported influence of the moon in human affairs remains a feature of astrology.
The moon also features prominently in art and literature.
List of lunar deities
Ancient Near East
- Hilal (Arabian mythology)
- Hubal (Arabian mythology)
- Illat (Arabian mythology)
- Ta'lab (Arabian mythology)
- Wadd (Arabian mythology)
- Jarih (Canaanite mythology)
- Nikkal (Canaanite mythology)
- Napir (Elamite mythology)
- Kaskuh (Hittite mythology)
- Kusuh (Hurrian mythology)
- Sin (Mesopotamian mythology)
- Aglibol (Palmarene mythology)
- Mah (Persian mythology)
- Men (Phrygian mythology)
- Terah (Semitic mythology)
- Nanna (Sumerian mythology)
- Selardi (Urartian mythology)
Eurasian
- Ilazki (Basque mythology)
- Ceridwen (Celtic mythology)
- Góntia (Celtic mythology)
- Lair báln (Celtic mythology)
- Losna (Etruscan mythology)
- Artemis (Greek mythology)
- Hecate (Greek mythology)
- Phoebe (Greek mythology)
- Selene (Greek mythology)
- Rhea (Greek mythology)
- Meness (Latvian mythology)
- Ataegina (Lusitanian mythology)
- Mani (Norse mythology)
- Diana (Roman mythology)
- Luna (Roman mythology)
- Myesyats (Slavic mythology)
- The Zorya (Slavic mythology)
- Bendis (Thracian mythology)
East Asia
- Chup Kamui (Ainu mythology)
- Chang'e or Heng O (Chinese mythology)
- Marishi-Ten (Japanese mythology)
- Tsukuyomi (Japanese mythology)
South and Southeast Asia
- Anumati (Hindu mythology)
- Chandra or Indu (Hindu mythology)
- Soma (Hindu mythology)
- Dewi Shri (Indonesian mythology)
- Silewe Nazarate (Indonesian mythology)
- Mayari (Philippine mythology)
Pacific
- Kidili (Mandjindja mythology)
- Papare (Orokolo mythology)
- Avatea (Polynesian mythology)
- Fati (Polynesian mythology)
- Ina (Polynesian mythology)
- Hina-Kega (Polynesian mythology)
- Hina-Uri (Polynesian mythology)
- Lona (Polynesian mythology)
- Mahina (Polynesian mythology)
- Marama (Polynesian mythology)
- Sina (Polynesian mythology)
- Ul (Polynesian mythology)
Africa
- Gleti (Dahomean mythology)
- Chons (Egyptian mythology)
- Thoth (Egyptian mythology)
- Arebati (Pygmy mythology)
- Kalfu (Vodun)
Americas
- Coyolxauhqui (Aztec mythology)
- Metztli (Aztec mythology)
- Tecciztecatl (Aztec mythology)
- Menily (Cahuilla mythology)
- Chia (Chibcha mythology)
- Chie (Chibcha mythology)
- Coniraya (Incan mythology)
- Ka-Ata-Killa (Incan mythology)
- Mama Quilla (Incan mythology)
- Alignak (Inuit mythology)
- Igaluk (Inuit mythology)
- Tarquiup Inua (Inuit mythology)
- Ahau-Kin (Maya mythology)
- Ixbalanque (Maya mythology)
- Ixchel (Maya mythology)
- Maya moon goddess
- Yoołgai asdząąn (Navaho mythology)
- Pah (Pawnee mythology)
- Ari (Tupinamba mythology)
See also
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