moon goddess Archives - Living With The Moon

Moon Gods and Goddesses Part 5 – The Lunar Trinity: Artemis, Selene and Hecate

by Jutta | Oct 28, 2024 | History of the calendar, LWTM Factoids

Note: If you want to read the series from the beginning, follow this link.

This time, we are traveling from Mesopotamia to Ancient Greece to examine the lunar trinity of Artemis, Selene, and Hecate.

Artemis, Selene, and Hecate are all goddesses from Ancient Greek mythology. Each is associated with different aspects of the moon and feminine power. Although they all relate to the moon, their personalities and duties are quite different.

Artemis, Goddess of the hunt and protector of women and children

She was a youthful and fierce goddess. Artemis, the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo, was often portrayed as a fearless, young, and independent woman with a bow and a stag.

She could be dangerous and a fearless defender of women and children, which is ironic, as all her life she remained a chaste maiden. Women in antiquity worshipped this goddess and called upon her for all kinds of women’s troubles, from infertility to unwanted pregnancies, or when children were conceived and born out of wedlock. Artemis never judged and protected them all.

Many temples all over Greece were built in her honor. But her main temple was situated in Ephesus (modern-day Turkey) and was so impressive that it counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The building work started around 550B.C. under the watchful eye of the Cretan architect Chersiphon. The main construction phase (with various interruptions) took over 200 years! But no wonder, as this vast temple was 115 meters long and 55 meters wide (roughly 377 by 180 feet). It had 127 columns, each standing about 18 meters (60 feet) tall.

The temple at Ephesus was a hub for ancient pilgrims, similar to Lourdes today and no doubt good for the local economy. Renowned artists of the time would see it as an honor to add to its glory and worked mostly for free. Only the materials were paid for by wealthy donors, one of them was the fabulously wealthy King Croesus.

Every year, there was a pompous ceremony to thank her for guiding the Greeks to victory over the Persians at Marathon (490 B.C.) The temple’s first incarnation sadly did not last too long as it was burned down in 356 BC by a man named Herostratus, who sought fame for the act of arson.

After being rebuilt, it was more impressive than ever. Its glory lasted until 262 A.D. when the temple was ultimately destroyed by the Goths. Today Ephesus is still a tourist attraction and a hugely important archaeological site. It is a shame that only a single standing column is all that remains of this once glorious temple.

Artemis symbolizes purity, nature, freedom, and feminine strength.

Selene, Goddess of the Full Moon, light and time

Selene is the personification of the moon itself. She is often depicted as a beautiful woman in her prime, driving a chariot across the sky, much like her brother, Helios, who is connected to the sun. Her beauty and luminous presence symbolize the brightness of the moon at night.

The God Pan was besotted with her, but Selene only had eyes for the mortal Endymion, a beautiful young man. But the Gods did not approve and sent Endymion to die. But he was allowed to choose his own death, and he chose eternal sleep to preserve his impeccable beauty. Selene’s love did not die with him, and she regularly visits him and gazes at his beautiful face.

Another version describes that Selene and Endymion had 50 children, counting the full moons between the Olympic Games. Officially started in 776 B.C. and most likely copied from the Minoan Bull Jumping competitions, which also took place every 50 Full Moons, Selene’s Minoan counterpart was called Pasiphae, Queen of Crete and mother of the Minotaur.

In any case, Selene is best known as the goddess of love, romance, and sexuality. Women who lost lovers and yearned to win them back would call upon Selene’s help as they did with anything else connected to love, sex, and fertility. Selene was also called to help sufferers of epilepsy, addiction, and other ‘moon-related’ ailments.

Selene symbolizes Light, Romance, Eternal Love, Infatuation, and Sexuality

Hecate, goddess of witchcraft and magic

Hecate was a powerful, mysterious goddess who ruled over magic, spells, and the boundaries between the worlds. She is often depicted holding torches or keys, symbolizing her role as a guide through darkness and her connection to the underworld. Hecate is closely tied to the darker aspects of the moon and is a protector of witches and those practicing magic. She is also associated with crossroads and transitions, both literal and metaphorical.

Despite the general bad press, Hecate was a healer, and her priestesses were skilled herbalists. This tradition lingered until the Middle Ages when ‘herb women’ were the local healthcare facilitators. The Catholic Church got rid of them and burned many innocent healers at the stake, calling them ‘witches’. The church leader’s main accusation: No woman or person, as there were also a few male healers involved, should have the power to heal; only God can do this.

Hecate symbolizes Sorcery, Magic, Healing, and Wisdom

Why is a trinity so often associated with Gods?

Many religions celebrate the Number 3, seen as a spiritual number representing balance, harmony, and the cycle of life (birth/life/death or past/present/future).

In the Celtic tradition, their triple know (triquetra symbol) is associated with the interplay of earth, water, and sky, as well as the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. The alchemists show 3 as the number of transformation, purification, and enlightenment.

The 3 sides of the moon :

Nowadays we often refer to these 3 goddesses as Maiden- Woman -Crone.

The young, independent maiden Artemis represents the Waxing Moon

The beautiful Selene represents the Full Moon and

The old crone Hecate represents the Waning Moon followed by a short period of no moon – the New Moon.

But this is actually a rather new way of describing them, dating only back to the 1940s when the writer Robert Graves mentioned this theory. The Ancient Greeks did not categorize them in this way. But they did connect all three deities to the moon, and in their world, Artemis rules the earth, Selene the heaven, and Hecate the underworld.

Next time we will visit Isis, the Egyptian goddess of magic, healing, and fertility.

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Moon Gods and Goddesses Part 3 – Ishtar, the goddess of Venus

by Jutta | Jul 26, 2024 | Uncategorized

Note: If you want to read the series from the beginning, follow this link.

In the last two articles, we have been looking at the earliest moon goddesses and matriarchal societies – the start of the series and the moon gods of the Minoans. The latter most likely adopted the Lunisolar Calendar from the Babylonians and are believed to be the creators of the forerunner of the Olympic Games.

What a priestess of Ishtar would
have most probably looked like

In this article, we travel to Mesopotamia, the land of modern-day Iraq, sandwiched between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. There, the earliest cultures started around 6,000 B.C., giving rise to empires of the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians.

The Cult of Ishtar

In Ancient Mesopotamia, patriarchal societies were the norm. Women had certain societal expectations, like raising children and running the household, but they had opportunities and freedoms, and could own property, engage in business transactions, and participate in religious ceremonies. The status and roles of women varied depending on their social class, family background, and regional customs, but overall, they were expected to play a supporting role. The exceptions were priestesses who held particularly significant roles in Babylonian religious practices, serving deities such as the goddess Ishtar, also locally referred to as Inanna. Ishtar was seen as a powerful and assertive goddess and was associated with the planet Venus. After the moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky.

In ancient Mesopotamian mythology, she was worshipped as a deity of love, beauty, sex, desire, fertility, war, combat, and political power. A complex figure and particularly significant in the cities of Uruk, Nineveh, and later Babylon. She embodied both benevolent and destructive qualities and was known for her passionate nature. She therefore had the ability to bring both blessings and calamities upon humanity.

The significance of Ishtar in the pantheon of Mesopotamian gods and goddesses underscores the importance of fertility, love, and warfare in the lives of the ancient Mesopotamians. Her temples could be found in cities all over Mesopotamia, and her worship involved elaborate rituals and ceremonies. Ishtar was more of a woman’s goddess, whereas Sin (also known as Nanna), the God of the Moon, controlled water, time, and fertile land. This is quite at odds with most other ancient civilizations, where the powerful sun was male and the nocturnal moon female. But in ancient Mesopotamia, the male moon god Sin commanded a very separate cult following from Ishtar, the Goddess of love and war.

The pantheon of Mesopotamia

There were plenty of gods and goddesses; here are a few to mention:

Anu: The god of the heavens and the father of the gods. He held a position of supreme authority in the Sumerian pantheon and was believed to reside in the highest heavens from where he exerted control over the celestial realm. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest recorded Sumerian poems, Ishtar persuades her father Anu to give her the Bull of Heaven (a mystical Bull creature, similar to the later Minotaur- see the Minoans for more reference) to attack the hero Gilgamesh. But he and his companion defeat the bull and throw the bull’s leg at Ishtar.

Enlil: The god of wind, air, earth, and storms, Enlil was revered as a powerful deity who enforced divine justice and maintained order in the world. He was often associated with fertility and agricultural abundance.

Enki: The god of water, wisdom, and magic, Enki was a complex figure in Sumerian mythology. He was credited with creating humanity and imparting knowledge and skills to people. Enki was also known for his role as a protector of craftsmen and artisans.

Utu: The god of the sun and justice, Utu was responsible for guiding the sun across the sky and ensuring the proper functioning of the cosmic order. He was also seen as a symbol of truth and righteousness.

Nanna/Sin: The god of the moon, Nanna (also known as Sin) was venerated for his role in regulating the cycles of time and illuminating the night sky. He was associated with fertility, healing, and protection.

Ninhursag: The mother goddess of the earth and the mountains was revered as a nurturing and fertile deity who presided over agriculture, childbirth, and the natural world. She was often depicted as a caring and protective figure.

These are just a few examples, and some celestial areas overlapped. But overall, each deity had specific attributes, powers, and domains of influence, reflecting the diverse aspects of life and nature that were important to the ancient Mesopotamian civilization. The complex and intricate Sumerian pantheon provides valuable insights into the religious beliefs and cultural practices of one of the earliest urban societies in human history.

Ishtar of Nineveh

The Sumerians worshipped this powerful and multifaceted goddess, and so did the Akkadians, who inhabited Ancient Mesopotamia around 2334 – 2154 B.C. Her influence extended across most cultures within the Akkadian Empire, which is modern-day Iraq. There were the Hittites, Elamites, and Babylonians. But Ishtar’s most enduring popularity and significance came from the Assyrians, direct descendants of the Babylonians.

This ancient Mesopotamian civilization was renowned for its military prowess and sophisticated culture, and Ishtar, known as “Ishtar of Nineveh” among the Assyrians, held a significant place in their pantheon of gods and goddesses.

In Assyrian religion, Ishtar was again revered as the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, and political power. She was seen as a powerful and multifaceted deity, embodying both nurturing and fierce qualities. The Assyrians believed that Ishtar played a crucial role in shaping the destinies of individuals and nations, and her favour was sought for matters of love, fertility, and protection in times of war, which was plentiful. Like in Sumerian life, her temples and shrines could be found in most Assyrian cities, where priests and priestesses served the goddess and performed elaborate rituals, ceremonies, and festivals dedicated to her worship. ( Ishtar temple to your right).

The Assyrian population is still alive today, and their language, Aramaic, is one of the oldest surviving languages, influencing Arabic and Hebrew alike. In fact, Jesus would most likely have spoken Aramaic, and the Assyrians were one of the first converts to Christianity.

Ishtar’s temples may have been destroyed, but her mythology and symbolism continue to fascinate scholars and enthusiasts of Ancient Mesopotamian culture.

Next time we stay in Mesopotamia and look at the spiritual landscape of Babylon, the masters of the heavens and the stars.

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Moon Gods and Godesses part 1 – The power of the matriarch

by Jutta | Mar 31, 2024 | Female fertility, LWTM Factoids

Here is a new LWTM series that introduces you to the world of moon gods and goddesses – not strictly biodynamic, but nevertheless fascinating. We will delve into where the legend of some of these goddesses come from, and how people worshipped them…

For the last 2,000 years, the religious and political world has largely been male-dominated. But early men worshipped many goddesses, depicted as independent, intelligent, and fierce women.

The Earth Mother goddess

The ancient societies recognized very early on that the moon and female fertility cycles go hand in hand. It is a well-known fact that women living nearby synchronize their periods and this close link led to a raft of moon goddesses being worshipped. Throughout history, humans have worshipped moon goddesses. They were seen as the guardians of the female fertility cycle. Archeologists uncovered figurines of naked, heavily pregnant women from the Nile Delta, in the Pyrenees, most European countries including the British Isles. The mother gives birth to a child and cares for it. In a time when many newborns or small children died before the age of 6, motherhood and fertility were seen as an essential part of life and to keep the human race alive. The responsibility of men was to hunt and provide food. The women’s task were to bear children and keep them safe. Since the woman was the bearer of life, it stands to reason that women and their gods were held in high esteem. This lifestyle gave women independence and wisdom and in some ways, their knowledge and crafts gave them equal if not superior rights. Most cultures dating back to 9 to 7,000 B.C. followed a matriarchal model.

What is the matriarch?

The term ‘matriarch’ refers to the authority, influence, and strength associated with female leadership. It stems from the Latin word ‘mater’, meaning mother. It is mainly associated with older, experienced women in leadership positions and as central decision-makers. It all goes back to the original female icon – the Earth Mother. She is depicted as the mother, cradling her newborn child and nourishing it with her breast milk. In her honor, people made small female figurines with round features showing a pregnant belly and breasts. Subsequent gods like Demeter came from this ‘Earth Mother image’, responsible for feeding the nations and bringing fertility to the land in the form of plentiful harvests. The concept of a matriarch is more inspired by wisdom and guidance within a community, rather than strength and power. Historically women seek nurturing roles that enjoy empathy, and collaboration. Of course, this is a stereotype and I am sure there were also plenty of scheming and power-hungry women in charge. On the whole, matriarchal cultures and their female leaders are revered for their wisdom, resilience, and ability to unite and guide their communities through challenging times. They often serve as pillars of strength and sources of inspiration for future generations, shaping the values and traditions of their societies. One of the oldest ‘matriarchal cities to be unearthed is Catalhüyük. This ancient Neolithic site located in present-day Turkey, near the town of Konya, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and is considered one of the earliest known human settlements. Çatalhöyük was occupied roughly between 7500 BCE and 5700 BCE, making it one of the oldest known settlements. It predates many other ancient civilizations, including Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. The settlement is characterized by its dense, mud-brick houses built closely together, with rooftops serving as streets. The houses were accessed by ladders through holes in the roofs, suggesting that the community was primarily engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. We know a lot about their culture, as many wall paintings and intricate pottery have survived. Surprisingly, shrines and many figurines depicting goddesses and animals were found, but no male statues. Therefore archeologists suggest that Çatalhöyük may have been a matriarchal society, based on the prominence of female figurines and the absence of male figurines. Archaeological evidence indicates that Çatalhöyük was a relatively egalitarian society, with little evidence of social hierarchy. Houses within the settlement appear to have been of similar size and construction, suggesting a relatively equal distribution of resources in the throws of a hunter-gatherer society settling down to become dominated by an agricultural way of life. Since 2012 Çatalhöyük is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage outstanding universal value and significance to human history.

Next time we look at the Minoan civilization and connections between the bull and the moon.

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