The Moonites are the sapient inhabitants of the Moon as described in True History by Lucian of Samosata (c. 2nd century CE). They are one of the earliest depictions of extraterrestrial life in literature and are portrayed as advanced beings engaged in a war with the Sun-dwellers over the colonization of Venus.
Biology[]
The Moonites are humanoid beings that resemble Homo sapiens, but with several notable differences. They possess bulging heads, which are covered by helmets made from “beans,” and have unusually large eyes. Their armor is fantastical in appearance, yet their weaponry is strangely similar to the Greek weapons of the period.
Many Moonites appear to be immortal unless killed in combat, and some lack conventional bodily functions altogether. Rather than excreting waste in the usual manner, they instead sweat out liquids that are collected and reused.
This extraordinary biological diversity may be the result of extreme natural evolution or deliberate artificial design. However, the text treats these unusual traits as perfectly normal among the lunar beings.
Culture and Society[]
The Moonites have a complex civilization with clear political and military hierarchies. Their society includes:
- A ruling king of the Moon, who commands armies and negotiates peace treaties.
- An organized military force that rides giant birds and engages in aerial combat.
- Advanced infrastructure, including giant spiders used to spin glass for spacecraft sails.
They are embroiled in an imperial war with the Sun-dwellers, battling over territorial rights to Venus, which both sides view as prime for colonization. The war includes sieges, blockades, battles in the sky, and the destruction of entire fleets.
Despite the absurdity of some of their customs and anatomy, the Moon-dwellers are portrayed as rational and highly intelligent beings with political institutions and scientific advancement.
Technology[]
The Moon-dwellers exhibit highly advanced technology and bioengineering:
- Solar-powered ships with sails spun by giant lunar spiders.
- Interplanetary travel, primarily through atmospheric lift or wind currents.
- Weaponry and tactics suited for aerial and space-based warfare.
Their war effort is sophisticated, involving diplomacy, strategy, and logistics on a planetary scale.
History[]
In True History, the narrator and his crew are carried by a whirlwind to the Moon, where they are caught in the middle of a war between the Moon-dwellers and the Sun-dwellers. The conflict centers on control of Venus.
After participating in the war and witnessing its absurd and epic scope, the narrator observes the signing of a peace treaty and the resolution of the conflict. He is eventually allowed to return to Earth.
Appearances[]
- True History by Lucian of Samosata (c. 160 CE) – First and only appearance.
Trivia[]
- The Moonites are among the earliest extraterrestrial civilizations ever described in literature.
- Lucian’s depiction of them includes what may be the first recorded space battle.
- Though the story is satirical, it contains many elements found in modern science fiction, including alien life, space travel, and interplanetary war.
- This could possibly be the earliest version of what we would now call "grey aliens". Having bulgy heads