It's of the goddess Diana and her human lover, Endymion. I have always been fascinated with the goddess of the moon, probably due to my favorite childhood (and current) tv show, Sailor Moon (based off the manga series). In the show Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) falls in love with Mamoru Chiba (Tuxedo Mask/Prince Endymion). Sailor Moon is also known as the "moon princess" and Tuxedo Mask as the "prince of the Earth".
I didn't realize that the Sailor Moon series contained references to Greek/Roman mythology. After seeing the painting at the Legion of Honor and making the connection to Sailor Moon, it made me want to look into the mythology surrounding Diana and Endymion. According to the version from www.nga.gov, Endymion was a handsome shepherd whom Diana immediately fell in love with after seeing him. Some believe that when there is a new moon, it is because Diana has left the sky to be with her lover Endymion on Earth. This is interesting because in Sailor Moon, the princess of the moon is reborn again on Earth after sacrificing herself for Prince Endymion.
I am very interested in the modern re-telling of myths (especially Greek and Roman mythology) and I think I will continue to look for more modern stories about the goddess of the moon.
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