Deity Omission? Lunar Deity

[Weylin Stormcrowe 798]

Anyone else find it a glaring omission in the pantheon that there is no lunar deity?

-Weylin Stormcrowe

[flash_cxxi]

Weylin Stormcrowe 798 wrote:

Anyone else find it a glaring omission in the pantheon that there is no lunar deity?

-Weylin Stormcrowe

Yeah I noticed that as well.

Closest I could come up with was Desna, so in my PbP Character's background, her partents tended to a Moon Glade Sacred to Desna in the Sanos Forest.

[KaeYoss]

Desna could work, because she's about mysteries and stars. Or Lamashtu, because she's about madness (it's not called lunacy, or being moonstruck, without reason).

In fact, the two could fight over the moon.

[Pneumonica]

KaeYoss wrote:

Desna could work, because she's about mysteries and stars. Or Lamashtu, because she's about madness (it's not called lunacy, or being moonstruck, without reason).

In fact, the two could fight over the moon.

Perhaps Desna is the dark part of the moon (new moon being the time of mysteries) and Lamashtu is the lit part of the moon (full moon being the time of madness)?

[Selk]

The moon would most likely be the realm of Pharasma, seeing as she has both Birth and Water in her portfolio, and the moon is has an almost universally feminine aspect. Pharasma also casts a wider shadow, being the goddess who judges all souls. She’s not as culturally specific as Desna, and less ominous than Lamashtu (what group of women in their right minds would want to associate ‘that time of the month’ with the mother of monsters?)

[SirUrza]

Doesn't the moon have life? And if it has life, wouldn't that tend to lead to it having it's own pantheon?

[Pneumonica]

Selk wrote:

(what group of women in their right minds would want to associate ‘that time of the month’ with the mother of monsters?)

Makes perfect sense to me. Many cultures refer to it as the time a woman "births foulness" (note - I am not expressing my own opinion, I am stating that many cultures believe it). The moon is also not universally female. Most notable in this regard is Thoth.

Although your point about the goddess of birth and water is taken, lunar goddesses aren't typically invoked for fertility. The moon is most closely associated with feelings and madness, as well as truth and lies. Nearly every culture maintains these associations, where they don't nearly so consistently associate it with other elements (water, birth, etc.).

[Anry]

Feminine, Water, Transformation, and Change are common symbolism for the moon.

So I would say that Pharasma is the best choice though attaching it too Desna may be good too. Especially with her ascociation with butterflies.

[RJM]

Pneumonica wrote:

Makes perfect sense to me. Many cultures refer to it as the time a woman "births foulness" (note - I am not expressing my own opinion, I am stating that many cultures believe it). The moon is also not universally female. Most notable in this regard is Thoth.

My wife would like to know where you ever heard such a term. ^^;

[Weylin Stormcrowe 798]

Have to agree with the earlier poster about why does it have to be a goddess. The list of lunar gods is rather lengthy as well. Celts, Egyptians, Japanese, and several other cultures listed moon gods among their pantheons. In some cases several male deities were linked to the moon.

I think a lunar god would be a nice counterpoint to Sarenerae the sun goddess.

-Weylin Stormcrowe

[Selk]

Weylin Stormcrowe 798 wrote:

Have to agree with the earlier poster about why does it have to be a goddess. The list of lunar gods is rather lengthy as well. Celts, Egyptians, Japanese, and several other cultures listed moon gods among their pantheons. In some cases several male deities were linked to the moon.

I think a lunar god would be a nice counterpoint to Sarenerae the sun goddess.

-Weylin Stormcrowe

If you prefer this direction I suggest Nethys, god of magic. The moon is easily associated with mysticism and his holy symbol, a black and white mask, fits nicely. The mask is androgynous, but I'm not sure about the god himself (herself?). If Nethys is, then the phases of the moon could switch between masculine and feminine aspects.

Hmm. Now I'm torn between a matronly, 'tides of life' Pharasma and gender-bending Nethys as the best moon god.

[KaeYoss]

Selk wrote:

the moon is has an almost universally feminine aspect.

There's a guy called Onnotangu who wants to talk to you. He seems to be irate about something.

Selk wrote:

(what group of women in their right minds would want to associate ‘that time of the month’ with the mother of monsters?)

Who wouldn't? I can't speak from first-hand experience, but I'd say that few if any women like what's happening once each month. I hear it's not that pleasant. And people like to blame others for unpleasant things. I know I do. Blaming Lamashtu for that makes sense - especially since it goes away as long as the woman is pregnant (Lamashtu loves pregnancy - though I admit she likes the monstrous ones best)