Deity as well as celestial body, L. was considered the subordinate (female) counterpart to Sol, the sun. In Roman etymology, the name derives from the Latin lucēre, ‘to shine’ (Varro, Ling. 5,68; Cic. Nat. D. 2,68), in modern etymology from the feminine form of the corresponding adjective *louqsna (connected to Lucina, cf. losna in Praeneste, CIL I2 549).
Gordon, Richard L. (Ilmmünster) and
Angeli Bertinelli, Maria Gabriella (Genoa),
“Luna”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 02 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e711910>