SELENE SEEKING ENDYMION

Long ago the Greeks fared badly in armed conflict with the Persians at Marathon, until the Arcadian god Pan came to their aid. It was said his rasping voice served as volunteered artillery, its noise at the height of battle was so great it threw the Persians in to Panic fear. A shrine to his cult was erected on the Acropolis, where torch races and Pan-pipe contests in his honour took place yearly.

Thus venerated, Pan's conceit greatly increased. Before long the inveterate lover, who was jealous of Selene's passion for the attractive looking Endymion, mad amorous advances to the beautiful goddess - to no avail. Selene, for all her tender-heartedness, could hardly be enticed by the misshapen half-man, half-goat, deity though he was. Pan's dignity was much crumpled by her refusal. The more so because the handsome young Endymion was mere mortal; that he might be invested with longevity by marrying a goddess was a most unwelcome thought.

The dynasts of ancient Olympia were plura personalities. Phoebe the Moon goddess was no exception to the fule and in fact Selene, who was one of her attributes, rides the skies by night casting her bright silver sheen over the noctunal hours, following in the wake of Helios' golden path. One day it came to the ears of Helios that Selene was in love with a mortal, piqued Pan, who remided him - should she rashly marry such a one the very lights of Olympia would be dimmed. So off went Helios to speak to Zeus of his concern for their posterity; for should the lights of Olympia falter, the Titans would soon regain the lofty throne.

Now Zeus knew only too well of the love affair, also Selene was not unmindful of the tales told by her sisters of similar hopeless loves which must end disatrously. However she persisted in the face of familic adversity. Finally Zeus, who by now was out of patience, summonded Selene to his throne-room where she was impenitent as ever. In a fit of rage the King of gods accused her of jeopardising the dynasty - "Very well, my fair and rebellious light-bearer", he shouted, "Endymion will indeed have eternal life … to be spent in eternal sleep - seek him you may, but never will he be found by the shedding of your silver light".

Selene went sadly away to shed silver tears in lieu of light. That night she pledged undying love to Endymion, and as she turned to continue on her course the sound of a lyre could be heard above the melancholy song of an owl. Looking back she blew a kiss to her fond lover, who alas was no longer there - the mantle of sleep had been drawn over him and he was being borne by the Fates into the realm of a stygian sleep where only the echoes of Pan's pipes can be heard.

Selene's pledge is still in being; shepherds watch by night for the glowing lamp that is but rarely seen in the hollows of aged trees, or by dew ponds and sometimes nearby the ruins of trysting bowers and bridges where the memories of lover's pledges were made long ago. And when they see that light they know it is Selene seeking Endymion.
- DANIEL