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Iconographically the crescent was used in Mesopotamia as the primary symbol of Nanna/Sîn, the ancient Sumerian lunar deity, who was the father of Innana/[[Ishtar]], the goddess of the planet [[Venus]] (symbolized as the eight pointed Star of Ishtar), and Utu/Shamash, the god of the Sun (symbolized as a disc, optionally with eight rays), all three often depicted next to each other. Nanna was later known as Sîn, and was particularly associated with magic and sorcery. | Iconographically the crescent was used in Mesopotamia as the primary symbol of Nanna/Sîn, the ancient Sumerian lunar deity, who was the father of Innana/[[Ishtar]], the goddess of the planet [[Venus]] (symbolized as the eight pointed Star of Ishtar), and Utu/Shamash, the god of the Sun (symbolized as a disc, optionally with eight rays), all three often depicted next to each other. Nanna was later known as Sîn, and was particularly associated with magic and sorcery. | ||
The crescent was further used as an element of lunar deities wearing headgears or crowns in an arrangement reminiscent of horns, as in the case of the ancient Greek Selene or the ancient Egyptian Khonsu. Selene is associated with Artemis and paralleled by the Roman Luna, which both are occasionally depicted driving a chariot, like the Hindu lunar deity Chandra. The different or sharing aspects of deities within pantheons has been observed in many cultures, especially by later or contemporary culture, particularly forming triple deities. | The crescent was further used as an element of lunar deities wearing headgears or crowns in an arrangement reminiscent of horns, as in the case of the ancient Greek Selene or the ancient Egyptian Khonsu. Selene is associated with Artemis and paralleled by the Roman Luna, which both are occasionally depicted driving a chariot, like the [[Hindu]] lunar deity Chandra. The different or sharing aspects of deities within pantheons has been observed in many cultures, especially by later or contemporary culture, particularly forming triple deities. | ||
The Moon in Roman mythology for example has been associated with Juno and Diana, while Luna being identified as their byname and as part of a triplet (''diva triformis'') with Diana and Proserpina, Hecate being identified as their binding manifestation as trimorphos. | The Moon in Roman mythology for example has been associated with Juno and Diana, while Luna being identified as their byname and as part of a triplet (''diva triformis'') with Diana and Proserpina, Hecate being identified as their binding manifestation as trimorphos. | ||
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===Egyptian religion=== | ===Egyptian religion=== | ||
[[File:31-Art.jpg|350px|thumb|The black Set-pig depicting the new moon]] | [[File:31-Art.jpg|350px|thumb|The black Set-pig depicting the new moon]] | ||
An association of time with the Moon can also be found in religion, such as the [[Egyptian | An association of time with the Moon can also be found in religion, such as the [[Egyptian religion|ancient Egyptian]] temporal and lunar deity Khonsu. | ||
The left eye of [[Horus]] was seen by Egyptians as the moon and its phases mimicked the loss and eventual restoration of Horus' eye during his long battles with [[Set]]. There was also a legend stating that Set transformed himself into a black pig and caused further injury to Horus' eye. This has been interpreted as the new moon, during which the sky is dark compared to the full moon, when the sky is illuminated. | The left eye of [[Horus]] was seen by Egyptians as the moon and its phases mimicked the loss and eventual restoration of Horus' eye during his long battles with [[Set]]. There was also a legend stating that Set transformed himself into a black pig and caused further injury to Horus' eye. This has been interpreted as the new moon, during which the sky is dark compared to the full moon, when the sky is illuminated. | ||
On the ceiling of the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, there is a diagram showing the phases of the moon as a stylized eye of Horus. This same ceiling contains a depiction of the [[Egyptian decans|Egyptian decan]] [[Aryt]] as a black Set-pig. | On the ceiling of the Temple of [[Hathor]] at Dendera, there is a diagram showing the phases of the moon as a stylized eye of Horus. This same ceiling contains a depiction of the [[Egyptian decans|Egyptian decan]] [[Aryt]] as a black [[Set]]-pig. | ||
==Eclipses== | ==Eclipses== | ||
Eclipses only occur when the [[Sun]], Earth, and Moon are all in a straight line (termed "syzygy"). Solar eclipses occur at new moon, when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth. In contrast, lunar | Eclipses only occur when the [[Sun]], Earth, and Moon are all in a straight line (termed "syzygy"). Solar eclipses occur at new moon, when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth. In contrast, [[lunar eclipse]]s occur at full moon, when Earth is between the Sun and Moon. The apparent size of the Moon is roughly the same as that of the Sun, with both being viewed at close to one-half a degree wide. | ||
The Sun is much larger than the Moon but it is the vastly greater distance that gives it the same apparent size as the much closer and much smaller Moon from the perspective of Earth. The variations in apparent size, due to the non-circular orbits, are nearly the same as well, though occurring in different cycles. This makes possible both total (with the Moon appearing larger than the Sun) and annular (with the Moon appearing smaller than the Sun) solar eclipses. In a total eclipse, the Moon completely covers the disc of the Sun and the solar corona becomes visible to the naked eye. Because the distance between the Moon and Earth is very slowly increasing over time, the angular diameter of the Moon is decreasing. As it evolves toward becoming a red giant, the size of the Sun, and its apparent diameter in the sky, are slowly increasing. The combination of these two changes means that hundreds of millions of years ago, the Moon would always completely cover the Sun on solar eclipses, and no annular eclipses were possible. Likewise, hundreds of millions of years in the future, the Moon will no longer cover the Sun completely, and total solar eclipses will not occur. | The Sun is much larger than the Moon but it is the vastly greater distance that gives it the same apparent size as the much closer and much smaller Moon from the perspective of Earth. The variations in apparent size, due to the non-circular orbits, are nearly the same as well, though occurring in different cycles. This makes possible both total (with the Moon appearing larger than the Sun) and annular (with the Moon appearing smaller than the Sun) solar eclipses. In a total eclipse, the Moon completely covers the disc of the Sun and the solar corona becomes visible to the naked eye. Because the distance between the Moon and Earth is very slowly increasing over time, the angular diameter of the Moon is decreasing. As it evolves toward becoming a red giant, the size of the Sun, and its apparent diameter in the sky, are slowly increasing. The combination of these two changes means that hundreds of millions of years ago, the Moon would always completely cover the Sun on solar eclipses, and no annular eclipses were possible. Likewise, hundreds of millions of years in the future, the Moon will no longer cover the Sun completely, and total solar eclipses will not occur. | ||