RSS Feeds

Science Blogs

Generous sponsorship of Windows to the Universe is provided by the Hewlett Foundation, the American Geological Institute, the American Geophysical Union, the National Science Foundation, NASA, NCAR, and the CISM and CMMAP projects.

Myths about Moon

Many cultures around the world have interesting myths about the Moon, reflecting its prominence in the night sky and its impact on our lives. Visit the links below for interesting glimpses into the beliefs of early civilizations. Do you see any similarities between these myths?

The Full Moon in January is called the Wolf Moon. It is named after the hungry packs of wolves that howled at night. The Algonquian tribes of Native Americans had <a href="/earth/moon/full_moon_names.html">many different names</a> for the Full Moon through the year, reflecting their connection with nature and the <a href="/the_universe/uts/seasons1.html">seasons</a>, hunting, fishing, and farming.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Windows to the Universe</em></small></p>

In ancient times, Chinese people believed that there were twelve Moons as there were twelve months in one year. It was believed that the Moons were made of water. The name "mother of moons" is associated with that of <a href="/mythology/moon_china.html">Heng-o</a>. This image shows the detail of an eighteen-century embroidered emperor's robe including a white hare, which was believed to have lived in the moon.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.</em></small></p>

<a href="/mythology/anningan_moon.html">Anningan</a> is the name of the <a href="/earth/moons_and_rings.html">Moon</a> god of some of the Inuit people that live in Greenland. Anningan chases his sister, <a href="/mythology/malina_sun.html">Malina</a>, the <a href="/sun/sun.html">Sun</a> goddess, across the sky, but forgets to eat, so he gets much thinner. This is symbolic of the phases of the moon, particularly the crescent.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Planet Art</em></small></p>

<a href="/mythology/Ix_Chel_moon.html">Ix Chel</a>, the "Lady Rainbow," was the old Moon goddess in Maya mythology. Ix Chel was depicted as an old woman wearing a skirt with crossed bones, and she had a serpent in her hand. She also had a kinder side and was worshiped as the protector of weavers and women in childbirth.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Windows to the Universe</em></small></p>

<a href="/mythology/coyolxauhqui_moon.html">Coyolxauhqui</a> was the <a href="/earth/moons_and_rings.html">Moon</a> goddess according the Aztec mythology. The image above reproduces "The Coyolxauhqui Stone," a giant monolith found at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of the Museo del Templo Mayor, Mexico.</em></small></p>

News Flash!
Please take our short survey and let us know what you think of our new website design!
The American Geophysical Union has become a Founding Partner of the Windows to the Universe Project!
Free 2009 Earth Science Kits on Climate Change available for Windows to the Universe Educator Members - Join today!
Up to five free telescopes available to Windows to the Universe Educator Members - Join today!

Explore Myths about Moon

African: Mawu

Mawu is the supreme god of the Fon people of Abomey (Republic of Benin). Mawu , the Moon, brings ...Read more

Algonquian (Native American): Full Moon Names

Sometimes, in the fall, you may hear people call a Full Moon the "Harvest Moon". That's because ...Read more

Aztec: Coyolxauhqui

Coyolxauhqui was the Moon goddess according the Aztec mythology. Her name means "Golden Bells." ...Read more

Hindu: Soma

According to Hinduism, every part of the cosmos is seen as an action of a god. Time is the ...Read more

Roman: Diana

Diana was an ancient Italian goddess of woodland. In Capua and in Aricia, a locality near Rome, ...Read more

Greek: Artemis

Artemis was the twin sister of the god Apollo. Her father and mother were Zeus and Latona. ...Read more

Maori: Rona

Rona was the daughter of the sea god Tangaroa. She was the Tide Controller. One night she ...Read more

Inuit: Anningan

Anningan is the name of the Moon god of some of the Inuit people that live in Greenland. The ...Read more

Japanese: Tsuki-Yomi

Tsuki-Yomi was the Moon god according the oldest Japanese religion, Shinto, which means "the ...Read more

Maya: Ix_Chel

Ix Chel, the "Lady Rainbow," was the old Moon goddess in Mayan mythology. The Maya people lived ...Read more

More about Myths about Moon

Did you know?

Did you know that the Maya believed that the Earth was flat, and that there was a jaguar called a bacab in each corner that supported the sky?

Did you know that the Inuit sea spirit, Sedna, stubbornly refused to marry anyone?

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Seismogenic

xSeismogenic : Capable of producing earthquakes

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

East Africa's Lake Tanganyika is Warming More Than Ever Before

Geologists think that the waters of Lake Tanganyika, a long lake located in East Africa, has experienced a huge amount of warming in the last 100 years. Currently, the surface water of this lake is the...Read more

Shop Windows to the Universe

Check out our online store - minerals, fossils, books, activities, jewelry, and household items!

The source of this material is Windows to the Universe, at http://windows2universe.org/ from the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA). The Website was developed in part with the support of UCAR and NCAR, where it resided from 2000 - 2010. © 2010 National Earth Science Teachers Association. Windows to the Universe® is a registered trademark of NESTA. All Rights Reserved. See our copyright and licenses page for information about how you can use our materials.Site policies and disclaimer.