The Curious Symbolism of the Moon in Literature and Art

In this week’s Dispatches from The Secret Library, Dr Oliver Tearle considers the various symbolic meanings of the moon over the centuries

The moon has been a powerful symbol in religion, literature, and art for centuries – indeed, for millennia. But delving into the history of moon-symbolism reveals some surprising things about how poets, philosophers, and religious writers have viewed the moon.

From a symbol imbued with divine power to a feminine object denoting love (and lovesickness), the moon has been one of the most popular poetic symbols for … as long as there has been poetry and literature.

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