The Endless Sleep-Inducing Love: Selene and Endymion

Once upon a time, in the lands near Lake Bafa in Muğla, Turkey, there was a young shepherd named Endymion. He spent his days tending to his flock and playing his flute, filling the surrounding hills with the sweet melody of his music.

One night, as Endymion played his flute, he looked up at the moon and saw the beautiful goddess Selene riding her silver chariot across the sky. He had heard tales of her beauty and grace, but seeing her in person was more than he could have ever imagined.

As Selene rode her chariot, she caught a glimpse of Endymion. She was taken aback by his handsomeness and his sweet music. She decided to descend to Earth to speak with him.

"Good evening, young shepherd," Selene greeted Endymion as she approached him. "Your music is enchanting, and your beauty rivals that of the gods."

Endymion was surprised by Selene's presence and felt a sudden warmth in his heart. "Thank you, kind lady," he replied, "I am but a humble shepherd. What brings the goddess of the moon to my humble abode?"

"I have come to see you, Endymion," Selene said with a smile. "I have watched you from afar and have fallen in love with your sweet music and your kind heart."

Endymion was taken aback by Selene's confession. He had never thought that a goddess would ever take an interest in a mortal like himself.

"Selene, I am flattered by your attention," Endymion said, "but I am only a mere mortal. How can I ever hope to win the heart of a goddess?"

"Endymion, my love for you is endless," Selene replied. "I will grant you a gift that no other mortal has ever received. I will grant you eternal youth and the gift of eternal sleep. Every night, when the moon is at its fullest, you will fall into a deep sleep, and I will come to you in your dreams. Together, we will live in an endless world of love and happiness."

Endymion was stunned by Selene's offer. The thought of being with Selene forever was tempting, but he was also afraid of the unknown.

"Selene, your offer is generous, but I am afraid," Endymion said. "What if I am never able to wake up? What if my life on Earth is wasted in a perpetual dream?"

"Do not worry, my love," Selene reassured him. "Your sleep will be peaceful, and you will be able to wake up whenever you desire. And when you do wake up, you will still have your youth and your beauty, and we will be together again under the light of the moon."

Endymion pondered Selene's offer for a moment and realized that he could not resist her love. "I accept your offer, Selene," he said. "I will take the gift of eternal sleep so that I may be with you forever."

And so, Endymion fell into a deep sleep, and Selene visited him every night in his dreams. They shared an endless world of love and happiness under the light of the moon. And even though Endymion slept, his eternal love for Selene lived on, and their story became a legend that would be passed down for generations to come.

Selene couldn't help but watch Endymion from afar every night as he played his flute by the shores of Bafa Lake, enchanting the sheep with his music. She admired his beauty and talent, and soon found herself falling in love with him.

One night, she decided to descend from the sky and reveal her true identity to Endymion. At first, he was terrified by the sight of the goddess, but her gentle demeanor and kind words soon put him at ease. They talked for hours, sharing stories and dreams under the moonlight.

From that night on, Selene would visit Endymion every night, spending hours with him and falling deeper in love with each passing moment. Endymion couldn't believe his luck, as he had never imagined that he would capture the heart of a goddess.

However, their love was not meant to be. The other gods became jealous of their love and feared the power of their union. They decided to intervene, and cast a spell on Endymion that would put him in an eternal sleep. Selene was devastated to find Endymion in his endless slumber, and begged the gods to release him from his curse.

The gods granted her wish, but on one condition: Endymion would remain in a deep sleep forever, but would never age or die. Selene agreed, knowing that she couldn't bear to lose him completely. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, and he closed his eyes, sinking into his endless slumber.

From that day on, Selene would visit Endymion every night, spending hours by his side, admiring his peaceful face, and remembering the love they shared. Their love became a legend, known throughout the land, and the people of Anatolia would tell their story for centuries to come.

As for Selene, she continued to drive her silver chariot across the sky, shining a pale light on the world below, but her heart belonged to Endymion, the love of her life, who slept an endless sleep, dreaming of their love. And they both lived forever in the memory of those who knew their story, a testament to the power and endurance of true love.