Which God does the moon represent?

A lunar deity is a deity who represents the Moon, or an aspect of it. Lunar deities and Moon worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms. The following is a list of lunar deities:

African[edit]

American[edit]

Aztec mythology[edit]

• Goddess Coyolxauhqui
• Goddess Metztli
• God Tecciztecatl

Cahuilla mythology[edit]

• Goddess Menily[1]

Hopi mythology[edit]

• God Muuya[citation needed]

Incan mythology[edit]

• Goddess Mama Killa
• Goddess Ka-Ata-Killa
• God Coniraya

Inuit mythology[edit]

• God Alignak
• God Igaluk
• God Tarqiup Inua

Lakota mythology[edit]

• Goddess Hanwi[citation needed]

Maya mythology[edit]

• Goddess Awilix; Xbalanque was her mortal (male) incarnation
• Maya moon goddess

Muisca mythology[edit]

• Goddess Huitaca
• Goddess Chía

Nivaclé Mythology[edit]

• Jive'cla

Pawnee mythology[edit]

• God Pah[citation needed]

Tupi Guarani mythology[edit]

• God Abaangui
• Goddess Arasy
• God/Goddess Jaci (gender depends on tribe)

Voodoo[edit]

• God Kalfu

Asian[edit]

Ainu mythology[edit]

• God Kunnechup Kamui

Anatolian[edit]

• God Arma (Luwian religion)
• God Kašku (Hittite mythology)
• God Men (Phrygian mythology)

Chinese mythology[edit]

• Jie Lin, God that carries the Moon across the night sky [2]
• Chang Xi Mother of twelve moons corresponding to the twelve months of the year
• Chang'e Immortal that lives on the Moon
• Tai yin xing jun (太陰星君; Tàiyīn xīng jūn) of Investiture of the Gods in taoism and Chinese folk religion[3][4]
• Tu'er Ye Rabbit god that lives on the Moon
• Wu Gang Immortal that lives on the Moon

Elamite[edit]

• God Napir

Hinduism[edit]

The Hindu moon god Chandra, riding his celestial chariot

• God Agni, invoked as a moon deity in some hymns[5]
• God Chandra or Soma, The moon god

Hurro-Urartian[edit]

• God Kušuḫ (Hurrian mythology)
• Goddess Selardi (Urartian mythology)

Indonesian mythology[edit]

• Goddess Ratih
• Goddess Silewe Nazarate

Japanese mythology[edit]

• God Tsukuyomi

Korean mythology[edit]

• Goddess Myeongwol[6]

Mari mythology[edit]

• God Tõlze

Philippine mythologies[edit]

• Kabigat (Bontok mythology): the goddess of the moon who cut off the head of Chal-chal's son; her action is the origin of headhunting[7]
• Bulan (Ifugao mythology): the moon deity of the night in charge of nighttime[8]
• Moon Deity (Ibaloi mythology): the deity who teased Kabunian for not yet having a spouse[9]
• Delan (Bugkalot mythology): deity of the moon, worshiped with the sun and stars; congenial with Elag; during quarrels, Elag sometimes covers Delan's face, causing the different phases of the moon; giver of light and growth[10]
• Bulan (Ilocano mythology): the moon god of peace who comforted the grieving Abra[11]
• Bulan (Pangasinense mythology): the merry and mischievous moon god, whose dim palace was the source of the perpetual light which became the stars; guides the ways of thieves[12]
• Wife of Mangetchay (Kapampangan mythology): wife of Mangetchay who gave birth to their daughter whose beauty sparked the great war; lives in the Moon[13]
• Mayari (Kapampangan mythology): the moon goddess who battled her brother, Apolaqui[14]
• Apûng Malyari (Kapampangan mythology): moon god who lives in Mount Pinatubo and ruler of the eight rivers[15]
• Mayari (Tagalog mythology): goddess of the moon;[16] sometimes identified as having one eye;[17] ruler of the world during nighttime and daughter of Bathala[18]
• Dalagang nasa Buwan (Tagalog mythology): the maiden of the moon[19]
• Dalagang Binubukot (Tagalog mythology): the cloistered maiden in the moon[20]
• Unnamed Moon God (Tagalog mythology): the night watchman who tattled on Rajo's theft, leading to an eclipse[21]
• Bulan-hari (Tagalog mythology): one of the deities sent by Bathala to aid the people of Pinak; can command rain to fall; married to Bitu-in[22]
• Bulan (Bicolano mythology): son of Dagat and Paros; joined Daga's rebellion and died; his body became the Moon;[23] in another myth, he was alive and from his cut arm, the earth was established, and from his tears, the rivers and seas were established[24]
• Haliya (Bicolano mythology): the goddess of the moon,[25] often depicted with a golden mask on her face
• Libulan (Bisaya mythology): the copper-bodied son of Lidagat and Lihangin; killed by Kaptan's rage during the great revolt; his body became the moon[26]
• Bulan (Bisaya mythology): the moon deity who gives light to sinners and guides them in the night[27]
• Launsina (Capiznon mythology): the goddess of the Sun, Moon, stars, and seas, and the most beloved because people seek forgiveness from her[28]
• Diwata na Magbabaya (Bukidnon mythology): simply referred as Magbabaya; the good supreme deity and supreme planner who looks like a man; created the Earth and the first eight elements, namely bronze, gold, coins, rock, clouds, rain, iron, and water; using the elements, he also created the sea, sky, Moon, and stars; also known as the pure god who wills all things; one of three deities living in the realm called Banting[29]
• Bulon La Mogoaw (T'boli mythology): one of the two supreme deities; married to Kadaw La Sambad; lives in the seventh layer of the universe[30]
• Moon Deity (Maranao mythology): divine being depicted in an anthropomorphic form as a beautiful young woman; angels serve as her charioteers[31]

Vietnamese mythology[edit]

• Goddess Thần Mặt Trăng, the embodiment of the moon, the daughter of Ông Trời
• Goddess Hằng Nga, goddess who lives on the moon

Semitic mythology[edit]

• God Aglibol (Palmarene mythology)
• God Almaqah (Sabaean mythology)
• God Baal-hamon (Punic religion)
• God Saggar (Eblaite religion)
• God Sin (Mesopotamian mythology)
• God Ta'lab (Arabian mythology)
• God Wadd (Minaean mythology)
• God Yarikh (Amorite and Ugaritic mythology)

Turkic mythology[edit]

• God Ay Ata

European[edit]

Oceanic[edit]

Malagasy mythology[edit]

• God Andriambahomanana

Polynesian mythology[edit]

• God Avatea
• God Fati
• Goddess Hina
• Goddess Mahina
• God Marama

Australian Aboriginal mythology[edit]

• God Bahloo

Mandjindja mythology[edit]

• God Kidili

Yolŋu mythology[edit]

• God Ngalindi

See also[edit]

• Allah as a lunar deity
• Astrotheology
• List of solar deities
• Man in the Moon
• Moon idol
• Moon rabbit
• Nature worship
• Solar deity

References[edit]

1. ^ "Menily, the Cahuilla moon goddess (Menilly, Menil, Man-El)". www.native-languages.org. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
2. ^ 太上洞真五星秘授经
3. ^ Overmyer (1986), p. 51.
4. ^ Fan, Chen 2013. p. 23
5. ^ Dexter, Miriam Robbins. Whence the goddesses: a source book. The Athene Series. New York and London: Teachers College Press, Teachers College, Columbia University. 1990. p. 154. ISBN 0-8077-6234-2.
6. ^ Seo, Dae Seok. "Song of Sun and Moon". Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
7. ^ Jenks, A. (1905). The Bontoc Igorot. Manila: Bureau of Printing.
8. ^ Bimmolog, H., Sallong, L., Montemayor, L. (2005). The Deities of the Animistic Religion of Mayaoyao, Ifugao.
9. ^ Moss, C. R. (1924). Nabaloi Tales. University of California Publications in American Archaeology, 227–353.
10. ^ Wilson, L. L. (1947). Ilongot Life and Legends. Southeast Asia Institute.
11. ^ Alacacin, C. (1952). The Gods and Goddesses. Historical and Cultural Data of Provinces.
12. ^ Eugenio, D. L. (2007). Philippine Folk Literature: An Anthology. University of the Philippines Press.
13. ^ Jose, V. R. (1974). Creation and Flood Myths in Philippine Folk Literature. UP .
14. ^ Fansler, D. S. (1921). 1965 Filipino Popular Tales. Hatboro, Pennsylvania: Folklore Assosciates Inc.
15. ^ Nicdao, A. (1917). Pampangan Folklore. Manila.
16. ^ Calderon, S. G. (1947). Mga alamat ng Pilipinas. Manila : M. Colcol & Co.
17. ^ Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
18. ^ Ramos, M. (1990). Philippine Myths, Legends, and Folktales. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
19. ^ Pardo, F. (1686–1688). Carte [...] sobre la idolatria de los naturales de la provincia de Zambales, y de los del pueblo de Santo Tomas y otros cicunvecinos [...]. Sevilla, Spain: Archivo de la Indias.
20. ^ Pardo, F. (1686–1688). Carte [...] sobre la idolatria de los naturales de la provincia de Zambales, y de los del pueblo de Santo Tomas y otros cicunvecinos [...]. Sevilla, Spain: Archivo de la Indias.
21. ^ Beyer, H. O. (1912–30). H. Otley Beyer Ethnographic Collection. National Library of the Philippines.
22. ^ Eugenio, D. L. (2013). Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press
23. ^ Beyer, H. O. (1923). Ethnography of the Bikol People. vii.
24. ^ Arcilla, A. M. (1923). The Origin of Earth and of Man. Ethnography of the Bikol People, vii.
25. ^ Tiongson, N. G., Barrios, J. (1994). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art: Peoples of the Philippines. Cultural Center of the Philippines.
26. ^ Miller, J. M. (1904). Philippine folklore stories. Boston, Ginn.
27. ^ Buyser, F. (1913). Mga Sugilanong Karaan.
28. ^ Cruz-Lucero, R., Pototanon, R. M. (2018). Capiznon. With contributions by E. Arsenio Manuel. In Our Islands, Our People: The Histories and Cultures of the Filipino Nation, edited by Cruz-Lucero, R.
29. ^ Unabia, C. C. (1986). THe Bukidnon Batbatonon and Pamuhay: A Socio-Literary Study. Quezon City : UP Press.
30. ^ Casal, G. (1978). The T'boli Creation Myth and Religion. T'boli Art: in its Socio-Cultural Context, pp. 122–123
31. ^ Talaguit, C. J. N. (2019). Folk-Islam in Maranao Society. History Department, De La Salle University – Manila.
32. ^ Shen (2018), p. 60
33. ^ Sacks (1995), p. 35
34. ^ Neils (2003), p. 117
35. ^ Pannen, p. 96.
36. ^ Larousse Desk Reference Encyclopedia, The Book People, Haydock, 1995, p. 215.

Bibliography[edit]

• Neils, Jennifer; Oakley, John H. (August 11, 2003). Coming of Age in Ancient Greece: Images of Childhood from the Classical Past. Hanover, New Hampshire, United States: Hood Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0300099591.
• Rees, Alwyn; Rees, Brinley (1961). Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales. High Holborn, London, England: Thames & Hudson. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
• Sacks, David (January 1, 1995). Murray, Oswyn (ed.). A Dictionary of the Ancient Greek World. Oxford, England, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195112061.
• Shen, Ann (April 3, 2018). Legendary Ladies: 50 Goddesses to Empower and Inspire You. San Francisco, United States: Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-1452163413. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
• Harley, Timothy. Moon Lore. London: S. Sonnenschein [etc.], 1885. pp. 77–139.