Endymion

Endymion is a figure in Greek mythology, a youth famed for his beauty. In various accounts he is described as a shepherd or prince of Elis, and his parentage varies by source. He is best known for receiving an eternal sleep or perpetual youth at the request of Selene, the Moon goddess, allowing him to remain unaged while the world changes around him. In some versions, Selene's intervention is linked to a romantic union with the goddess or to a pledge of protection for Endymion's people.

Endymion has influenced Western literature. John Keats wrote Endymion, a four-book Romantic epic first published in 1818, which presents an idealized vision of the hero and his quest for beauty and spiritual awakening. The poem is noted for its lush diction and ambitious scope and is frequently discussed in studies of Romantic poetry.

In botany, Endymion is a genus of flowering plants in the Primulaceae family. The genus comprises several perennial herbs native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. They are valued in horticulture for their attractive whorled leaves and nodding or upright flowers, often arranged in whorls of purple, pink, or white.

In astronomy, Endymion is the name given to a lunar impact crater. The crater's name honors the mythological figure Endymion, following the convention of naming lunar features after mythic figures. It is one of several features on the Moon's surface bearing classical names.

Other uses include the title of novels by Dan Simmons, specifically Endymion (1996) and The Rise of Endymion (1997), which are part of the Hyperion Cantos. The name is also used for ships, fictional characters, and in botanical and astronomical nomenclature.