According to a widespread myth, the Sun and Moon were once lovers, though their relationship ended in separation.
The Myth of the Sun and Moon's Relationship
In various cultures and folklore, there exists a compelling narrative about the celestial bodies, the Sun and the Moon, and their tragic romance. The reference provided describes one version of this popular story:
In a nutshell, the love story goes that that Sun and the Moon fell in love and travelled the world together. That is, until the Moon betrayed the Sun and slept with the Morning Star. Since then, as punishment, the Moon and the Sun could never meet; the moon had to travel by night, and the sun by day.
Based on this myth:
- They fell in love and shared a journey across the sky.
- The Moon's betrayal with the Morning Star (often Venus) led to their separation.
- As a consequence, they were punished by being confined to different times of day – the Sun ruling the day and the Moon the night.
This ensures they can never meet, except during rare events like eclipses, which are sometimes interpreted as fleeting moments of their longing or struggle.
Key Stages of the Mythical Relationship
To summarize the narrative from the reference:
| Stage | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Initial State | Sun and Moon are together | In love, traveling |
| Turning Point | Moon betrays Sun with the Morning Star | Betrayal discovered |
| Consequence | Punishment: Separation of day and night | Cannot meet |
| Current State | Sun travels by day, Moon by night | Forever apart |
So, while they are depicted as having been deeply in love, the myth concludes with them being unable to be together, traveling forever apart in the sky.
