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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Philosophy/Religion/Spirituality
- Published: 05/22/2024
Mona Moon God or Goddess
Born 1960, F, from San Antonio Texas, United StatesMona, Moon God or Goddess
My Sister-In-Law is named Moana or Ramona. This true story deals with the fact that Ancient Germans and other cultures called the Moon Mona. It was a Man's name but I prefer to think of it as a feminine name.
Mona, pronounced MO:.NA, means moon and indeed is the root of our modern English word Moon. The origins of the word Moon and in turn Mona came from the Germanic word Meno. This can inform our understanding of Mona by letting us more clearly see the importance of the Moon for time keeping and the measurement of time. The Moon was the original measurement of the Month as the Ancient Calendars are typically soli-lunar, effectively having solar years and lunar months. Monday comes from the Old English word for Manandaeg, from Germanic Manini dag equivalent Mona +‎ daeg. Corresponding to Old Frisian Mondendia , Monadei Old Dutch Manendag.
Roman
Luna is the Roman Goddess of the Moon. Now you may be wondering What about Juno? What about Diana? Luna was not originally a part of a composite Goddess.
Greek
Selene was the Greek Goddess of the Moon. You man be wondering what about Artemis and that is because Artemis is considered a Lunar Goddess but not originally the Goddess of the Moon Proper. Instead Selene is the Goddess of the Moon Proper, the heavenly body of the Moon itself. There are multiply lunar and solar Gods and Goddesses. Selene is the best choice because of her close association with the Moon Proper.
Phrygian
Ancient Greek "Phrygian" as a term to describe a Vast Ethno cultural complex located mainly in the central areas of
Anatolia. Men is the name of the God of the Moon. Men’s name is related the the term for Month in that language as well. The Phrygian’s were and Indo-European people, now modern day Turkey.
Norse
The closest correlating to Mona in Mani, the Norse Moon and God. Mani is seen as the Brother of Sunna. Mona is most likely an Anglo-Saxon God/Goddess, but a God about whom little has been written, or at least little has survived. We can look at other Indo-European Gods and Goddesses to see what can be learned about how other cultures Viewed their Moon Gods. How they worshipped them and others.
From Indo-European religious studies we gather the generally speaking the Moon and Sun were thought of as Brother and Sister. They were generally thought of as Children of Dyeusphter, a term for the Sky Father God.
It is often pointed out that unlike many other prominently remembered Indo-European peoples the Germanic people had a masculine Moon and a Feminine Sun. There is no explanation as to why these peoples differed from other surrounding cultures. For the Germanic Peoples it was perfectly normal to have a Moon God, the few who did come into contact with other religious groups wouldn’t have questioned any of it too deeply. And additionally prevalence of Female Moon Gods were worshiped by several religious groups.
The first thing that resonates is the Sun-Quadriga, and Moon-Biga differences that is found in the origin of words such as Isidore of Seville, a Hispano-Roman scholar, theologian, and archbishop of Seville. The Moon was thought to be pulled by Oxen, rather than Horses. The Sun in it’s journey across the sky is slightly faster than the Moon. In 2017 it became apparent when the Sun over took the Moon and the Moon eclipsed it before coming out the other side. The Ancients would have been more in tune with this, not needing to see an eclipse to know the Sun moved faster.
Another reason, besides its relative slowness, is the horned nature of the Moon. As far as iconography, the Bull seems to be a common one for Lunar Gods. Perhaps the Crescent Moon looked like Bull horns to Ancient Peoples. Across several cultures some kind of link existed between Oxen and the Moon. The crescent Moon resembles horns and has been Cross-Culturally associated with Cows, Bulls and Oxen, The Moon was thought to be pulled by them or seen as wearing horns, the Bull image a presence in many religions.
The link to agriculture should not be overlooked and one of the important aspects of any Lunar God/Goddess went hand in hand with their role as a keeper of time and the months. Modern Man times our planting most often by the Moon’s rhythms.
Mona was thought to be the child of Dyeus, whose closest in Anglo-Saxon belief would be Tiw. They would have been worshiped as Mona as the Son/Daughter of Tiw, and Eorthe and the brother of Sunne and Eostre.
I don't know if my Sister-In-Law knows the origins of her name. But I am a little envious that her name is linked to Gods, Goddesses and such cool origins.
I myself have loved the Moon since I was a little girl peering up into the Sky. If I was born a decade or two later who knows, I may have become an Astronaut?
Mona Moon God or Goddess(Shirley Smothers)
Mona, Moon God or Goddess
My Sister-In-Law is named Moana or Ramona. This true story deals with the fact that Ancient Germans and other cultures called the Moon Mona. It was a Man's name but I prefer to think of it as a feminine name.
Mona, pronounced MO:.NA, means moon and indeed is the root of our modern English word Moon. The origins of the word Moon and in turn Mona came from the Germanic word Meno. This can inform our understanding of Mona by letting us more clearly see the importance of the Moon for time keeping and the measurement of time. The Moon was the original measurement of the Month as the Ancient Calendars are typically soli-lunar, effectively having solar years and lunar months. Monday comes from the Old English word for Manandaeg, from Germanic Manini dag equivalent Mona +‎ daeg. Corresponding to Old Frisian Mondendia , Monadei Old Dutch Manendag.
Roman
Luna is the Roman Goddess of the Moon. Now you may be wondering What about Juno? What about Diana? Luna was not originally a part of a composite Goddess.
Greek
Selene was the Greek Goddess of the Moon. You man be wondering what about Artemis and that is because Artemis is considered a Lunar Goddess but not originally the Goddess of the Moon Proper. Instead Selene is the Goddess of the Moon Proper, the heavenly body of the Moon itself. There are multiply lunar and solar Gods and Goddesses. Selene is the best choice because of her close association with the Moon Proper.
Phrygian
Ancient Greek "Phrygian" as a term to describe a Vast Ethno cultural complex located mainly in the central areas of
Anatolia. Men is the name of the God of the Moon. Men’s name is related the the term for Month in that language as well. The Phrygian’s were and Indo-European people, now modern day Turkey.
Norse
The closest correlating to Mona in Mani, the Norse Moon and God. Mani is seen as the Brother of Sunna. Mona is most likely an Anglo-Saxon God/Goddess, but a God about whom little has been written, or at least little has survived. We can look at other Indo-European Gods and Goddesses to see what can be learned about how other cultures Viewed their Moon Gods. How they worshipped them and others.
From Indo-European religious studies we gather the generally speaking the Moon and Sun were thought of as Brother and Sister. They were generally thought of as Children of Dyeusphter, a term for the Sky Father God.
It is often pointed out that unlike many other prominently remembered Indo-European peoples the Germanic people had a masculine Moon and a Feminine Sun. There is no explanation as to why these peoples differed from other surrounding cultures. For the Germanic Peoples it was perfectly normal to have a Moon God, the few who did come into contact with other religious groups wouldn’t have questioned any of it too deeply. And additionally prevalence of Female Moon Gods were worshiped by several religious groups.
The first thing that resonates is the Sun-Quadriga, and Moon-Biga differences that is found in the origin of words such as Isidore of Seville, a Hispano-Roman scholar, theologian, and archbishop of Seville. The Moon was thought to be pulled by Oxen, rather than Horses. The Sun in it’s journey across the sky is slightly faster than the Moon. In 2017 it became apparent when the Sun over took the Moon and the Moon eclipsed it before coming out the other side. The Ancients would have been more in tune with this, not needing to see an eclipse to know the Sun moved faster.
Another reason, besides its relative slowness, is the horned nature of the Moon. As far as iconography, the Bull seems to be a common one for Lunar Gods. Perhaps the Crescent Moon looked like Bull horns to Ancient Peoples. Across several cultures some kind of link existed between Oxen and the Moon. The crescent Moon resembles horns and has been Cross-Culturally associated with Cows, Bulls and Oxen, The Moon was thought to be pulled by them or seen as wearing horns, the Bull image a presence in many religions.
The link to agriculture should not be overlooked and one of the important aspects of any Lunar God/Goddess went hand in hand with their role as a keeper of time and the months. Modern Man times our planting most often by the Moon’s rhythms.
Mona was thought to be the child of Dyeus, whose closest in Anglo-Saxon belief would be Tiw. They would have been worshiped as Mona as the Son/Daughter of Tiw, and Eorthe and the brother of Sunne and Eostre.
I don't know if my Sister-In-Law knows the origins of her name. But I am a little envious that her name is linked to Gods, Goddesses and such cool origins.
I myself have loved the Moon since I was a little girl peering up into the Sky. If I was born a decade or two later who knows, I may have become an Astronaut?
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Cheryl Ryan
06/28/2024This is very educative. My first time learning about the Norse moon god too.
Thank you for sharing!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
06/28/2024Thank you Cheryl. I loved researching this. Thank you again.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
06/28/2024Thank you Joel. When I found out that one of the Gods name is Mona, my Sister-In-Laws name I was thrilled. Thank you again.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
CPlatt
06/28/2024Fascinating, Shirley. I love things like this. Congrats on star of the day! Cheers, Chris.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
06/28/2024Thank you CPlatt. I love all things about the Moon. Finding out that some people called it Mona just made me want to research it more. Thank you again.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
JD
06/27/2024Interesting read about the MOON god/goddess. Thanks Shirley. Happy short story star of the day.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
06/28/2024Thank you JD. I have loved the Moon since I was a little girl. Thank you for all your support. Thanks!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
05/23/2024Thank you Ben. I recently found out that the name Mona means Moon. I shared this with my Sister-In-Law. Then I did my own research.
COMMENTS (5)