It Runs In Our Veins Part II

Statue of Selene at the Capitoline Museums (photo credit)

Selene is the Greek goddess of the moon. It is said that she was a radiant goddess and she wore a golden crown. She rode a horse-drawn silver chariot. She wore a robe and a half-moon over her head. She was famous for her many love affairs but the most popular was her love story with the shepherd, Endymion. The story tells that the goddess fell in love with the mortal, but for fear of his mortality, she asked Zeus to grant him eternal life that they may be together forever. Now Zeus, the king of all Greek gods, was a genius. He could not make Endymion immortal but he can make him sleep for all eternity thereby preserving his youth and life. And since Selene did not want the love of her life to grow old and die, she agreed to his arrangement even if in exchange she will hear him snore for all eternity. Then she went on to have 50 daughters with him. How she managed that with a sleeping guy, I haven't the faintest idea. Maybe the Greek deities practiced in vitro fertilization. Who knows? Truth be told I think Zeus gave her very good deal. She could have her way with him and he would not be able to object. She could go through life the way she wanted to and he would not be able to say a word. She could make all the horrible decisions and he would not be able to question her. How ideal is that? A lover who played dead. Did I mention that Zeus is a genius?