Endymion The Eternal Youth in Greek Mythology

### Endymion: The Eternal Youth in Greek Mythology Endymion, a celebrated figure in Greek mythology, is renowned for his eternal youth and his tragic love affair with the moon goddess Selene. His story intertwines themes of timeless beauty, divine love, and the human desire for immortality. Endymion was a handsome shepherd or, in some versions of the myth, a king of Elis. His beauty was so striking that it caught the eye of Selene, the goddess of the moon. Enchanted by his radiant appearance, Selene fell deeply in love with him. However, the circumstances of their love story are tinged with both romance and melancholy. According to the myth, Selene visited Endymion nightly as he slept, for he was granted eternal sleep by Zeus or another deity, ensuring that his youth and beauty would never fade. This eternal slumber allowed Selene to adore him without the constraints of time or the fear of aging. Endymion’s unending sleep was both a gift and a curse, symbolizing the intersection of mortal