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Selene, daughter of Hyperion and Theia, is the goddess of the moon. Like her brother Helius, the god of the sun, she drives a chariot. Although hers usually has only two hourses, compared to the four that her brother has. Only one famous myth is linked with Selene, and concerns her love for the handsome youth Endymion, who is a shepherd.

On a still night, Selene saw Endymion asleep in a caveon Mt. Latmus (in Caria). Night after night, she lay down beside him as he slept. Selene wanted to be with her beloved forever but because he was a mortal. He was destined to grow old and die. Thus, she begged Zeus to let him grow old.

He granded Endymion perptual sleep with perpetual youth. This may be represented as a punishment (although sometimes Endymion is given some choice) because of Selene's continual absence from her duties in the heavens or it may be the fulfillment of Selene's own wishes for her beloved.