List of lunar deities
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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. Even though they may be related, they are distinct from the solar deity. Lunar deities can be either male or female, and are usually held to be of the opposite sex of the corresponding solar deity. Male lunar deities are somewhat more common worldwide[citation needed], 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.
Moon in mythology
The monthly cycle of the moon, in contrast to the annual cycle of the sun's path, has been implicitly linked to women's menstrual cycles by many cultures, as evident in the links between the words for menstruation and for moon in many resultant languages.[1] Many of the most well-known mythologies feature female lunar deities, such as the Greek goddesses Phoebe, Artemis, Selene, and Hecate as well as the Chinese goddess Chang'e.
Male lunar gods are also frequent, such as Sin of the Mesopotamians, Mani of the Germanic tribes, the Japanese god Tsukuyomi. These cultures usually featured female Sun goddesses. There are also many lunar deities that were prevalent in Greek and Egyptian civilizations. For example, Ibis and Chonsu of Thebes were both lunar deities. Thoth was also a lunar deity, but his character is considerably more complex than Ibis and Chonsu.[2]
Also of significance is that many religions and societies are oriented 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 during many Hindu festivals (e.g. Karwa Chauth, Sankasht Chaturthi and during the eclipses).
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 that there was an original Great Goddess in prehistoric cultures that was linked to the moon and formed the basis of later religions,[3] the Great Goddess figure is highly speculative and not a proven concept. 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, that featured strong female moon goddesses.
The moon features prominently in art and literature and also the purported influence of the moon in human affairs remains a feature of astrology.
List of lunar deities
Ancient Near East
- male Ta'lab (Arabian mythology)
- male Wadd (Arabian mythology)
- female Nikkal (Canaanite mythology)
- male Yarikh (Canaanite mythology)
- male Napir (Elamite mythology)
- male Kaskuh (Hittite mythology)
- male Kusuh (Hurrian mythology)
- male Sin (Mesopotamian mythology)
- male Aglibol (Palmarene mythology)
- female Selardi (Urartian mythology)
European
- female Ilargi (Basque mythology)
- female Losna (Etruscan mythology)
- female Kuu (Finnish mythology)
- female Achelois (Greek mythology)
- female Phoebe (Greek mythology)
- female Artemis (Greek mythology)
- female Selene (Greek mythology)
- female Hecate (Greek mythology)
- male Ealadha (Irish Mythology)
- male Meness (Latvian mythology)
- female Ataegina (Lusitanian mythology)
- male Mani (Norse mythology)
- female Mano (Sami mythology)
- male Jarilo (Slavic mythology)
- female Bendis (Thracian mythology)
- female Kazza (Arturian mythology)
Asia
- female Chup Kamui (Ainu mythology)
- female Chang'e (Chinese mythology)
- male Tsukuyomi (Japanese mythology)
- female Anumati (Hindu mythology)
- male Chandra or 'Indu' (Hindu mythology)
- male Soma (Hindu mythology)
- female Dewi Shri (Indonesian mythology)
- female Silewe Nazarate (Indonesian mythology)
- female Mayari or 'Bulan' (Philippine mythology)
- female Dae-Soon (Korean mythology)
Oceania
- male Kidili (Mandjindja mythology)
- Papare (Orokolo mythology)
- male Avatea (Polynesian mythology)
- male Fati (Polynesian mythology)
- female Hina (Polynesian mythology)
- female Lona (Polynesian mythology)
- female Mahina (Polynesian mythology)
- male Marama (Polynesian mythology)
- male Ngalindi (Yolngu mythology)
Africa
- female Gleti (Dahomean mythology)
- male Khonsu (Egyptian mythology)
- female Hathor (Egyptian mythology)
- male Iah (Egyptian mythology)
- male Thoth (Egyptian mythology)
- male Arebati (Mbuti mythology)
- male Kalfu (Vodun mythology)
- female Yemaya (Yoruba mythology)
Americas
- female Coyolxauhqui (Aztec mythology)
- female Metztli (Aztec mythology)
- male Tecciztecatl see Metztli (Aztec mythology)
- female Menily (Cahuilla mythology)
- female Huitaca (Chibcha mythology)
- female Chia (Colombian mythology)
- male Coniraya (Incan mythology)
- female Mama Quilla (Incan mythology)
- female Ka-Ata-Killa (Incan mythology)
- male Alignak (Inuit mythology)
- male Igaluk (Inuit mythology)
- male Tarqiup Inua (Inuit mythology)
- female and male Awilix (K'iche' Maya mythology)
- male Ixbalanque (Maya mythology)
- female Yoolgai Asdza´a´ (Diné Bahane'/Navajo)
- female Pah (Pawnee mythology)
- female Jaci (Tupi mythology)
- Ari (Tupi mythology)
See also
- Solar deity
- Great Goddess
- Man in the Moon
- Moon idol
- Moon rabbit
- Nature worship
- The White Goddess
- Triple Goddess