Moon Myths

For thousands of years the Moon has been seen as a place of myth and legend, of good and evil. The Sumerians who lived 4,500 years ago thought that the souls of the dead went to the Moon and descended to the underworld for judgement during the new moon phase-when the Moon's face was completely in shadow and seemed to disappear into the darkness. Later cultures such as the ancient Greeks and Romans, worshiped the Moon as the goddess of birth and fertility, and the protector of animals. Medieval superstitions claimed that the Moon's light caused "lunacy" or madness. Even today, people often blame "loony" behavior on the Full Moon, but scientific studies have shown that there is no link.