Endymion was a handsome shepherd, hunter or king in ancient Greek mythology, who lived in the region of Elis. He was the son of Zeus, and had legendary beauty. Selene, the Titan goddess of the moon, fell in love with him, and asked Zeus to give him eternal youth. Zeus accepted her prayer and he made Endymion fall into an eternal sleep. Selene and Endymion had fifty daughters. According to another source, he was considered to have married Asterodia or Chromia, and had a number of sons and a daughter. He told his sons that they should run a race and the winner would get the throne; Epeius won and became the ruler of the region; one of his brothers, Aetolus, remained at home, while Paeon angry that he had lost went into self-exile.
See Also: Zeus, Selene
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