Well the moon is getting pretty populated now, not just a face up there in the shadows and dry seas. Plutarch would have found this interesting. The Roman historian wrote an entire essay on the "Man in the Moon" and the possible topographical features (mountains, oceans) that might create that impression for those of us on earth. He quotes these words from the poet Agesinax:
- "All roundabout environed
- With fire she is illumined:
- And in the middes there doth appeere,
- Like to some boy, a visage cleere;
- Whose eies to us doe seem in view,
- Of colour grayish more than blew:
- The browes and forehead tender seeme,
- The cheeks all reddish one would deeme."
Here are a couple of guides to finding the old man with the sticks, the rabbits, the face, and the woman Chang'e. The moon with the green figure is the elixir-making rabbit. These images, more stories, and other details can be found at Wikipedia, "The Man in the Moon."
If you discover something else, let me know. The moon is after all, a mirror.
