| Selemene | |
|---|---|
| |
| About | |
| Associated With | |
| Heroes | 20px|link=Mirana|class=noprint Mirana Luna Centaur Warrunner Mars |
| Races | Stars |
| Factions | Dark Moon Order Dark Moon Horde |
| Places | Nightsilver Woods Temple of Mene Shrine of Selemene |
| Characters | Lunar Moth |
| Items | Grove Bow Moon Shard |
| Cosmetics | Andalmere the Litigon Mei Nei the Jade Rabbit Axia of Metira |
Selemene is the goddess of the moon. She is worshiped by 20px|link=Mirana|class=noprint Mirana and Luna. The ancient Nightsilver Woods is dedicated to her, and contains her private reserve of glowing lotuses, growing in silvery pools.[1] Selemene is associated with the Lunar Moth, although the precise nature of this relationship is unclear.
Names and forms[]
In other cultures, she is possibly represented by avatars like Mei Nei, a rabbit who replenishes wounded and weary warriors.[2]
Powers[]
Having control over the moon and its energies, Selemene imbues her followers' weapons with lunar energy, smites their enemies with moon beams, and shroud the land in shadow.[3][4] In times of great need, the goddess descends into the world, and obscures the sun with a lunar eclipse to aid her champions in battle.[5] She is also able to bless her followers with similar powers, including animal companions like Andalmere, the Lion of the Moon.[6]
The Dark Moon Order[]
A sect of warriors, the Dark Moon Order, worships and devotes themselves to Selemene's service. Residing in the Nightsilver Woods, they find and initiate new members into the order as Selemene demands. One such initiate was Luna, the Moon Rider. Having found herself at the edge of the forest, Luna was put through a trial, during which an enormous feline beast sparred with her, and led her to a moonlit hill.
Those who refuse to join the Dark Moon are forbidden to return to the Nightsilver Woods.[7]
Holy Sites[]
The Temple of Mene is dedicated to Selemene. Mirana, having abandoned her kingdom to serve Selemene, sometimes prays at the temple, where she receives prophetic visions.[8] On the night of each new moon, the followers of Selemene don sacred garbs, sing rites and burn offerings to the goddess.[9]
A Shrine of Selemene also exists, erected at the spot where a moonshard fell from the sky long ago, when the Nightsilver Woods were still young.[10]
Friends[]
Long ago, the Axia of Metira served as Selemene's mount. The goddess was the only one to ever ride Axia, until Mirana.[11]
Enemies[]
Selemene appears to be responsible for holding back the Dark Moon, a cataclysmic event with terrible consequences for the world. Because of this, her powers are sometimes disrupted and weakened by the Dark Moon Horde, a faction intent on destroying the goddess and bringing the Dark Moon to pass. Their powers are said to be a corruption on Selemene's domain, taking the form of "shades", and is well known to her and her followers.[12]
Mars considers Selemene a rival god, and wishes to kill her.[13]
Trivia[]
- Selemene is likely based on Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon.
- Mene is the old name of Dota 2's Selemene before it was replaced for unknown reasons. Because of this, Mene is not to be confused for a separate being from the Selemene of Dota 2's lore, but rather Mene is Selemene's old name, unlike her version in Dota: Dragon's Blood.[14]
References[]
- ↑ Mirana biography.
- ↑ Mei Nei the Jade Rabbit description.
- ↑ Moonlight Shadow description.
- ↑ Starstorm description.
- ↑ Eclipse description.
- ↑ Andalmere the Litigon description.
- ↑ Luna biography.
- ↑ Mirana description: ▶️ I had a vision of this place in the Temple of Mene, but I had no idea it was a prophecy.
- ↑ Dawn of the Moon description.
- ↑ Moonfall description.
- ↑ Axia of Metira description.
- ↑ Dark Moon lore.
- ↑ Mars response: ▶️ Your mistress is next.
- ↑ Mirana's old bio