In ancient times it was not possible to talk about the properties of a crystal without simultaneously discovering the powers of the god or goddess with which it was associated. In the texts of Orpheus (Lithika) there is a lot of information available about how crystals were used by mystics in ancient Greece for protection, healing and cleansing.
The legend tells us that Selenite is associated with the Greek moon goddess Selene. The etymology of both names are connected to the Greek word selas, meaning 'brightness'. Selene is the daughter of the Titans Theia and Hyperion. After her brother, Helios, finishes his journey across the sky, Selene, freshly washes in the waters of Earth and begins her own journey as night falls upon the earth. Her sister, Eos , is goddess of the dawn.
A number of other goddesses were also associated with the moon, however, it is only Selene that was represented by the old Greek poets as the moon incarnate. Other Greek moon goddesses included Eileithyia, Hecate, Artemis and Hera (who sometimes doubled for Selene in the Endymion myth).
Selene is the patron of the feminine because she has the power to ease birth and to inspire love. Thus through its association with the goddess Selene, Selenite was believed to contain feminine energy. Selenite is a variety of Gypsum that may be found in the form of natural colourless clear crystals, needle like crystals or white tabular crystals of rare clarity and brightness that bears a great likeness to the moon.
The crystal bearing clay in the old mineral locality of Stipsi is generally bluish gray in colour although on a surface level it is partially mixed with soil and is a lighter tan in colour. Currently, the clay bank locality is situated on public property where the inhabitants of the area are allowed to throw their garbage..
References
Lithika, Orpheus
Orphic hymn to Selene
Homeric hymn to Selene
Theogony (V.371), Hesiod
