Goddesses of ancient Greece
Artemis- Goddess of hunting and nature. Atropos- one of the three moira, cutting the thread of fate and cutting off human life. Athena (Pallas, Parthenos)- the daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full combat weapons. One of the most revered Greek goddesses, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge. Aphrodite (Kythera, Urania)- Goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of the sea foam) Hebe- daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts. Hecate- the goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, the patroness of sorcerers. Hemera- the goddess of daylight, the personification of the day, born of Nikto and Erebus. Often identified with Eos. Hera- the supreme Olympic goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage. Hestia- Goddess of the hearth and fire. Gaia- mother earth, mother of all gods and people. Demeter- Goddess of fertility and agriculture. Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees. Ilithyia- patron goddess of childbirth. Irida- winged goddess, assistant to Hera, messenger of the gods. calliope- the muse of epic poetry and science. Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing misfortune and death to people. Clio- one of the nine muses, the muse of history. Clotho ("spinner")- one of the moira, spinning the thread of human life. Lachesis- one of the three moira sisters, who determines the fate of each person even before birth. Summer- Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis. Mayan- a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven pleiades - the daughters of Atlanta, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born to her. Melpomene- muse of tragedy. Metis- the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him. Mnemosyne- mother of nine muses, goddess of memory. moira- the goddess of fate, the daughter of Zeus and Themis. Muses- patron goddess of the arts and sciences. naiads- nymphs-guardians of waters. Nemesis- the daughter of Nikta, the goddess, personifying fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins. Nereids- fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanides of Dorida, sea deities. Nika- the personification of victory. Often she was depicted with a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece. nymphs- the lowest deities in the hierarchy of the Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature. Nikta- one of the first Greek deities, the goddess is the personification of the primordial Night. Orestiades- mountain nymphs. Ory- the goddess of the seasons, tranquility and order, the daughter of Zeus and Themis. Peyto- the goddess of persuasion, the companion of Aphrodite, often identified with her patroness. Persephone- daughter of Demeter and Zeus, goddess of fertility. The wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death. polyhymnia- the muse of serious hymn poetry. Tethys- the daughter of Gaia and Uranus, the wife of the Ocean and the mother of the Nereids and Oceanids. Rhea- the mother of the Olympian gods. Sirens- female demons, half-woman half-birds, capable of changing the weather at sea. Waist- muse of comedy. Terpsichore- Muse of dance art. Tisiphone- one of the Erinyes. quiet- the goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, companion of Persephone. She was depicted as a winged woman standing on a wheel and holding a cornucopia and ship's steering wheel in her hands. Urania- one of the nine muses, the patroness of astronomy. Themis- Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moira. Charites- the goddess of female beauty, the embodiment of a kind, joyful and eternally young beginning of life. Eumenides- another hypostasis of the Erinyes, revered as goddesses of benevolence, preventing misfortunes. Eris- daughter of Nikta, sister of Ares, goddess of discord. Erinyes- goddesses of vengeance, creatures of the underworld, who punished injustice and crimes. Erato- Muse of lyrical and erotic poetry. Eos- Goddess of the dawn, sister of Helios and Selena. The Greeks called it "pink-fingered". Euterpe- the muse of lyrical chanting. Depicted with a double flute in her hand.The religion of Ancient Greece refers to pagan polytheism. The gods played important roles in the structure of the world, each performing its own function. The immortal deities were like people and behaved quite humanly: they were sad and happy, quarreled and reconciled, betrayed and sacrificed their interests, were cunning and were sincere, loved and hated, forgave and avenged, punished and pardoned.
The behavior, as well as the commands of the gods and goddesses, the ancient Greeks explained natural phenomena, the origin of man, moral principles, and social relations. Mythology reflected the ideas of the Greeks about the world around them. Myths originated in different parts of Hellas and eventually merged into an ordered system of beliefs.
Ancient Greek gods and goddesses
The main gods and goddesses belonging to the younger generation were considered. The older generation, which embodied the forces of the universe and the elements of nature, lost its dominance over the world, unable to resist the onslaught of the younger ones. having won, the young gods chose Mount Olympus as their home. The ancient Greeks singled out 12 main Olympic gods from all the deities. So, the gods of Ancient Greece, the list and description:
Zeus - God of Ancient Greece- in mythology it is called the father of the gods, Zeus the Thunderer, the lord of lightning and clouds. It is he who has the mighty power to create life, to resist chaos, to establish order and a fair trial on earth. Legends tell about the deity as a noble and kind being. The Lord of Lightning gave birth to the goddesses Or and Muses. Or govern the time and seasons of the year. Music brings inspiration and joy to people.
Hera was the wife of the Thunderer. The Greeks considered her the absurd goddess of the atmosphere. Hera is the guardian of the house, the patroness of wives who are faithful to their husbands. With her daughter Ilithia, Hera relieved the pains of childbirth. Zeus was famous for his passion. After a three-hundred-year marriage, the lord of lightning began to visit ordinary women who gave birth to heroes from him - demigods. Zeus appeared to his chosen ones in different guises. Before the beautiful Europe, the father of the gods stood like a bull with golden horns. Zeus visited Danae as a golden rain.
Poseidon
Sea god - lord of the oceans and seas, patron saint of sailors and fishermen. The Greeks considered Poseidon a just god, all punishments of which were sent to people deservedly. Preparing for the voyage, the sailors offered prayers not to Zeus, but to the lord of the seas. Before going out to sea, incense was offered on altars to please the sea deity.
The Greeks believed that Poseidon could be seen during a strong storm on the high seas. His magnificent golden chariot emerged from the sea foam, drawn by swift horses. The lord of the ocean received dashing horses as a gift from his brother Hades. The wife of Poseidon is the goddess of the noisy sea, Amphrita. The trident - a symbol of power, gave the deity absolute power over the depths of the sea. Poseidon was distinguished by a gentle character, sought to avoid quarrels. His loyalty to Zeus was not questioned - unlike Hades, the ruler of the seas did not dispute the primacy of the thunderer.
Hades
Lord of the underworld. Hades and his wife Persephone ruled over the kingdom of the dead. The inhabitants of Hellas feared Hades more than Zeus himself. It is impossible to get into the underworld - and even more so, to return - without the will of a gloomy deity. Hades traveled the surface of the earth in a chariot drawn by horses. The eyes of the horses blazed with hellish fire. People in fear prayed that the gloomy god would not take them to their abode. A favorite of Hades, the three-headed dog Cerberus guarded the entrance to the realm of the dead.
According to the legends, when the gods shared power and Hades got dominion over the kingdom of the dead, the celestial was dissatisfied. He considered himself humiliated and held a grudge against Zeus. Hades never openly opposed the power of the Thunderer, but constantly tried to harm the father of the gods as much as possible.
Hades kidnapped the beautiful Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of fertility Demeter, by force making her his wife and ruler of the underworld. Zeus had no power over the realm of the dead, so he refused Demeter's request to return her daughter to Olympus. The distressed goddess of fertility stopped caring about the earth, drought came, then famine came. The lord of thunder and lightning had to conclude an agreement with Hades, according to which Persephone would spend two-thirds of the year in heaven, and a third of the year in the underworld.
Pallas Athena and Ares
Athena is probably the most beloved goddess of the ancient Greeks. The daughter of Zeus, born from his head, she embodied the three virtues:
- wisdom;
- calm;
- insight.
Goddess of victorious energy, Athena was portrayed as a powerful warrior with a spear and shield. She was also the deity of clear skies, having the power to disperse dark clouds with her weapons. The daughter of Zeus traveled with Nike, the goddess of victory. Athena was called upon as the protector of cities and fortresses. It was she who sent down just state laws to Ancient Hellas.
Ares - deity of stormy skies, the eternal rival of Athena. The son of Hera and Zeus, he was revered as the god of war. A warrior full of rage, with a sword or a spear - this is how Ares was depicted by the imagination of the ancient Greeks. The god of war enjoyed the noise of battle and bloodshed. Unlike Athena, who fought judiciously and honestly, Ares preferred fierce fights. The god of war approved the tribunal - a special trial of particularly cruel murderers. The hill where the courts took place is named after the warlike deity Areopagus.
Hephaestus
God of blacksmithing and fire. According to legend, Hephaestus was cruel to people, frightened and destroyed them with volcanic eruptions. People lived without fire on the surface of the earth, suffering and dying in the eternal cold. Hephaestus, like Zeus, did not want to help mortals and give them fire. Prometheus - a titan, the last of the older generation of gods, was the assistant of Zeus and lived on Olympus. Filled with compassion, he brought fire to the earth. For stealing fire, the Thunderer doomed the titan to eternal torment.
Prometheus managed to escape punishment. With visionary abilities, the titan knew that Zeus in the future was threatened with death at the hands of his own son. Thanks to the hint of Prometheus, the lord of lightning did not unite in marriage with the one who would give birth to a parricide son, and strengthened his dominion forever. For the secret of maintaining power, Zeus gave the titan freedom.
In Hellas there was a holiday of running. Participants competed with lit torches in their hands. Athena, Hephaestus and Prometheus were symbols of the celebration that gave rise to the Olympic Games.
Hermes
The deities of Olympus were characterized not only by noble impulses, lies and deceit often guided their actions. God Hermes is a rogue and a thief, the patron of trade and banking, magic, alchemy, astrology. Born by Zeus from the Mayan galaxy. His mission was to convey the will of the gods to people through dreams. From the name of Hermes came the name of the science of hermeneutics - the art and theory of interpretation of texts, including ancient ones.
Hermes invented writing, was young, handsome, energetic. Antique images depict him as a handsome young man in a winged hat and sandals. According to legend, Aphrodite rejected the advances of the god of commerce. Gremes is not married, although he has many children, as well as many lovers.
The first theft of Hermes - 50 cows of Apollo, he committed it at a very young age. Zeus gave the kid a good "bashing" and he returned the stolen. In the future, the Thunderer more than once turned to the resourceful offspring to solve thorny problems. For example, at the request of Zeus, Hermes stole a cow from Hera, into which the beloved of the lightning lord turned.
Apollo and Artemis
Apollo is the Greek god of the sun. As the son of Zeus, Apollo spent the winter in the lands of the Hyperboreans. In Greece, the god returned in the spring, bringing the awakening of nature, immersed in hibernation. Apollo patronized the arts, and was also the deity of music and singing. After all, together with the spring, the desire to create returned to people. Apollo was credited with the ability to heal. As the sun casts out darkness, so the celestial cast out ailments. The sun god was depicted as an extremely handsome young man with a harp in his hands.
Artemis is the goddess of the hunt and the moon, the patroness of animals. The Greeks believed that Artemis made night walks with naiads - the patroness of the waters - and shed dew on the grass. At a certain period in history, Artemis was considered a cruel goddess who destroys sailors. Human sacrifices were made to the deity to gain favor.
At one time, girls worshiped Artemis as the organizer of a strong marriage. Artemis of Ephesus was considered the goddess of fertility. Sculptures and pictures of Artemis depicted a woman with a large number of nipples on her chest to emphasize the generosity of the goddess.
Soon the god of the sun Helios and the goddess of the moon Selene appeared in the legends. Apollo remained the deity of music and art, Artemis - goddess of the hunt.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite the Beautiful was worshiped as the patroness of lovers. The Phoenician goddess Aphrodite combined two principles:
- femininity, when the goddess enjoyed the love of the young man Adonis and the singing of birds, the sounds of nature;
- militancy, when the goddess was portrayed as a cruel warrior who obliged her followers to take a vow of chastity, and was also a zealous guardian of fidelity in marriage.
The ancient Greeks managed to harmoniously combine femininity and militancy, creating a perfect image of female beauty. The embodiment of the ideal was Aphrodite, carrying pure, immaculate love. The goddess was depicted as a beautiful naked woman emerging from the foam of the sea. Aphrodite is the most revered muse of poets, sculptors, artists of that time.
The son of the beautiful goddess Eros (Eros) was her faithful messenger and assistant. The main task of the god of love was to connect the life lines of lovers. According to legend, Eros looked like a plump baby with wings.
Demeter
Demeter is the patron goddess of farmers and winemakers. Mother Earth, as they called her. Demeter was the embodiment of nature, which gives people fruits and cereals, absorbing sunlight and rains. They portrayed the goddess of fertility with blond, wheaten hair. Demeter gave people the science of arable farming and crops grown by hard work. The daughter of the goddess of winemaking Persephone, becoming the queen of the underworld, connected the world of the living with the kingdom of the dead.
Together with Demeter, Dionysus was revered - the deity of winemaking. Dionysus was portrayed as a cheerful young man. Usually his body was entwined with a vine, and in his hands the god held a jug filled with wine. Dionysus taught people to take care of vines, to sing exuberant songs, which later formed the basis of ancient Greek drama.
Hestia
Goddess of family well-being, unity and peace. The altar of Hestia stood in every house near the family hearth. The inhabitants of Hellas perceived urban communities as large families, therefore, in the pritanei (administrative buildings in Greek cities), the sanctuaries of Hestia were always present. They were a symbol of civil unity and peace. There was a sign that if you take coals from the altar of the pritanei on a long journey, then the goddess will provide her protection on the way. The goddess also protected strangers and the afflicted.
Temples to Hestia were not built because she was worshiped in every home. Fire was considered a clean, cleansing natural phenomenon, so Hestia was perceived as the patroness of chastity. The goddess asked Zeus for permission not to marry, although Poseidon and Apollo sought her favor.
Myths and legends have evolved over decades. With each retelling of the story, new details were acquired, previously unknown characters appeared. The list of gods grew, making it possible to explain natural phenomena, the essence of which ancient people could not understand. Myths conveyed the wisdom of the older generations to the young, explained the state structure, and affirmed the moral principles of society.
The mythology of ancient Greece gave mankind many plots and images that are reflected in the masterpieces of world art. Throughout the centuries, artists, sculptors, poets and architects have drawn inspiration from the legends of Hellas.
Hades - God is the ruler of the realm of the dead.
Antey- the hero of myths, a giant, the son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave her son strength, thanks to which no one could cope with him.
Apollo- the god of sunlight. The Greeks portrayed him as a beautiful young man.
Ares- god of perfidious war, son of Zeus and Hera
Asclepius- the god of medical art, the son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis
Boreas- the god of the north wind, the son of the titanides Astrea (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), brother of Zephyr and Nota. Depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity.
Bacchus One of the names of Dionysus.
Helios (Helium ) - the god of the Sun, brother of Selena (goddess of the moon) and Eos (morning dawn). In late antiquity, he was identified with Apollo, the god of sunlight.
Hermes- the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most ambiguous Greek gods. The patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence.
Hephaestus- the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron saint of artisans.
Hypnos- deity of sleep, son of Nikta (Night). He was depicted as a winged youth.
Dionysus (Bacchus) - the god of viticulture and winemaking, the object of a number of cults and mysteries. He was depicted either as a fat elderly man, or as a young man with a wreath of grape leaves on his head.
Zagreus God of fertility, son of Zeus and Persephone.
Zeus- the supreme god, the king of gods and people.
Zephyr- god of the west wind.
Iacchus- the god of fertility.
Kronos - titan , the youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, the father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus ..
Mom- the son of the goddess of the Night, the god of slander.
Morpheus- one of the sons of Hypnos, the god of dreams.
Nereus- the son of Gaia and Pontus, meek sea god.
Note- the god of the south wind, depicted with a beard and wings.
Ocean - titan , son of Gaia and Uranus, brother and husband of Tethys and father of all the rivers of the world.
Olympians- the supreme gods of the younger generation of Greek gods, led by Zeus, who lived on the top of Mount Olympus.
Pan- the forest god, the son of Hermes and Dryopa, a goat-legged man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock.
Pluto- the god of the underworld, often identified with Hades, but unlike from him, who owned not the souls of the dead, but the riches of the underworld.
Plutus- the son of Demeter, the god who gives people wealth.
Pont- one of the older Greek deities, the offspring of Gaia, the god of the sea, the father of many titans and gods.
Poseidon- one of the Olympian gods, brother of Zeus and Hades, ruling over the sea element. Poseidon was also subject to the bowels of the earth,
he commanded storms and earthquakes.
Proteus- sea deity, son of Poseidon, patron of seals. Possessed the gift of reincarnation and prophecy.
satires- goat-footed creatures, demons of fertility.
Thanatos- the personification of death, the twin brother of Hypnos.
Titans- the generation of the Greek gods, the ancestors of the Olympians.
Typhon- a hundred-headed dragon, born of Gaia or a Hero. During the battle of the Olympians and the Titans, he was defeated by Zeus and imprisoned under the volcano Etna in Sicily.
Triton- the son of Poseidon, one of the sea deities, a man with a fish tail instead of legs, holding a trident and a twisted shell - a horn.
Chaos- an endless empty space from which at the beginning of time arose the most ancient gods of the Greek religion - Nikta and Erebus.
Chthonic gods - deities of the underworld and fertility, relatives of the Olympians. These included Hades, Hecate, Hermes, Gaia, Demeter, Dionysus, and Persephone.
cyclops - giants with one eye in the middle of the forehead, children of Uranus and Gaia.
Evre (Eur) god of the southeast wind.
aeolus- lord of the winds.
Erebus- the personification of the darkness of the underworld, the son of Chaos and the brother of the Night.
Eros (Eros)- god of love, son of Aphrodite and Ares. In ancient myths - a self-arisen force that contributed to the ordering of the world. Depicted as a winged youth (in the Hellenistic era - a boy) with arrows, accompanying his mother.
Ether- deity of the sky
Goddesses of ancient Greece
Artemis- Goddess of hunting and nature.
Atropos- one of the three moira, cutting the thread of fate and cutting off human life.
Athena (Pallas, Parthenos) - the daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full combat weapons. One of the most revered Greek goddesses, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge.
Aphrodite (Kythera, Urania) - Goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of the sea foam)
Hebe- daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts.
Hecate- the goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, the patroness of sorcerers.
Hemera- the goddess of daylight, the personification of the day, born of Nikto and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.
Hera- the supreme Olympic goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage.
Hestia- Goddess of the hearth and fire.
Gaia- mother earth, mother of all gods and people.
Demitra- Goddess of fertility and agriculture.
Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.
Diana-goddess of the hunt
Ilithyia- patron goddess of childbirth.
Irida- winged goddess, assistant to Hera, messenger of the gods.
calliope- the muse of epic poetry and science.
Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing misfortune and death to people.
Clio- one of the nine muses, the muse of history.
Clotho ("spinner") - one of the moira, spinning the thread of human life.
Lachesis- one of the three moira sisters, who determines the fate of each person even before birth.
Summer- Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
Mayan- a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven pleiades - the daughters of Atlanta, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born to her.
Melpomene- muse of tragedy.
Metis- the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him.
Mnemosyne- mother of nine muses, goddess of memory.
moira- the goddess of fate, the daughter of Zeus and Themis.
Muses- patron goddess of the arts and sciences.
naiads- nymphs-guardians of waters.
Nemesis- the daughter of Nikta, the goddess, personifying fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.
Nereids- fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanides of Dorida, sea deities.
Nika- the personification of victory. Often she was depicted with a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece.
nymphs- the lowest deities in the hierarchy of the Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature.
Nikta- one of the first Greek deities, the goddess - the personification of the primordial Night
Orestiades- mountain nymphs.
Ory- the goddess of the seasons, tranquility and order, the daughter of Zeus and Themis.
Peyto- the goddess of persuasion, the companion of Aphrodite, often identified with her patroness.
Persephone- daughter of Demeter and Zeus, goddess of fertility. The wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death.
polyhymnia- the muse of serious hymn poetry.
Tethys- the daughter of Gaia and Uranus, the wife of the Ocean and the mother of the Nereids and Oceanids.
Rhea- the mother of the Olympian gods.
Sirens- female demons, half-woman half-birds, capable of changing the weather at sea.
Waist- muse of comedy.
Terpsichore- Muse of dance art.
Tisiphone- one of the Erinyes.
quiet- the goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, companion of Persephone. She was depicted as a winged woman standing on a wheel and holding a cornucopia and ship's steering wheel in her hands.
Urania- one of the nine muses, the patroness of astronomy.
Themis- Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moira.
Charites- the goddess of female beauty, the embodiment of a kind, joyful and eternally young beginning of life.
Eumenides- another hypostasis of the Erinyes, revered as goddesses of benevolence, preventing misfortunes.
Eris- daughter of Nikta, sister of Ares, goddess of discord.
Erinyes- goddesses of vengeance, creatures of the underworld, who punished injustice and crimes.
Erato- Muse of lyrical and erotic poetry.
Eos- Goddess of the dawn, sister of Helios and Selena. The Greeks called it "pink-fingered".
Euterpe- the muse of lyrical chanting. Depicted with a double flute in her hand.
Gods of ancient Greece
Hades - god - the lord of the kingdom of the dead.
Antaeus is a hero of myths, a giant, the son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave her son strength, thanks to which no one could cope with him.
Apollo is the god of sunlight. The Greeks portrayed him as a beautiful young man.
Ares is the god of perfidious war, the son of Zeus and Hera.
Asclepius - the god of medical art, the son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis
Boreas is the god of the north wind, the son of the titanides Astrea (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), the brother of Zephyr and Not. Depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity.
Bacchus is one of the names of Dionysus.
Helios (Helium) - the god of the Sun, brother of Selena (goddess of the moon) and Eos (morning dawn). In late antiquity, he was identified with Apollo, the god of sunlight.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most ambiguous Greek gods. The patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence.
Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron saint of artisans.
Hypnos - the deity of sleep, the son of Nikta (Night). He was depicted as a winged youth.
Dionysus (Bacchus) - the god of viticulture and winemaking, the object of a number of cults and mysteries. He was depicted either as a fat elderly man, or as a young man with a wreath of grape leaves on his head.
Zagreus is the god of fertility, the son of Zeus and Persephone.
Zeus is the supreme god, the king of gods and people.
Zephyr is the god of the west wind.
Iacchus is the god of fertility.
Kronos is a titan, the youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, the father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus ..
Mom is the son of the goddess of the Night, the god of slander.
Morpheus is one of the sons of Hypnos, the god of dreams.
Nereus is the son of Gaia and Pontus, a meek sea god.
Not - the god of the south wind, was depicted with a beard and wings.
The ocean is a titan, the son of Gaia and Uranus, the brother and husband of Tethys and the father of all the rivers of the world.
The Olympians are the supreme gods of the younger generation of Greek gods, led by Zeus, who lived on the top of Mount Olympus.
Pan is a forest god, the son of Hermes and Dryope, a goat-legged man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock.
Pluto is the god of the underworld, often identified with Hades, but unlike him, he owned not the souls of the dead, but the riches of the underworld.
Plutos is the son of Demeter, the god who gives people wealth.
Pontus is one of the older Greek deities, a product of Gaia, the god of the sea, the father of many titans and gods.
Poseidon is one of the Olympian gods, the brother of Zeus and Hades, who rules over the sea element. Poseidon was also subject to the bowels of the earth,
he commanded storms and earthquakes.
Proteus is a sea deity, the son of Poseidon, the patron saint of seals. Possessed the gift of reincarnation and prophecy.
Satyrs are goat-footed creatures, demons of fertility.
Thanatos is the personification of death, the twin brother of Hypnos.
The Titans are the generation of Greek gods, the ancestors of the Olympians.
Typhon is a hundred-headed dragon born of Gaia or Hera. During the battle of the Olympians and the Titans, he was defeated by Zeus and imprisoned under the volcano Etna in Sicily.
Triton - the son of Poseidon, one of the sea deities, a man with a fish tail instead of legs, holding a trident and a twisted shell - a horn.
Chaos is an endless empty space from which at the beginning of time the ancient gods of the Greek religion arose - Nikta and Erebus.
Chthonic gods - deities of the underworld and fertility, relatives of the Olympians. These included Hades, Hecate, Hermes, Gaia, Demeter, Dionysus, and Persephone.
Cyclopes - giants with one eye in the middle of the forehead, children of Uranus and Gaia.
The life of the ancient Greek gods on Mount Olympus seemed to people a continuous fun and a daily holiday. Myths and legends of those times are a storehouse of philosophical and cultural knowledge. Having considered the list of the gods of Ancient Greece, you can plunge into a completely different world. Mythology surprises with its uniqueness, it is important because it pushed humanity to the development and emergence of many sciences, such as mathematics, astronomy, rhetoric, and logic.
First generation
Initially, there was Mist, and Chaos arose from it. From their union came Erebus (darkness), Nikta (night), Uranus (sky), Eros (love), Gaia (earth) and Tartarus (abyss). All of them played a gigantic role in the formation of the pantheon. All other deities are related to them in one way or another.
Gaia is one of the first deities on earth, which arose along with the sky, sea and air. She is the great mother of everything on earth: heavenly gods were born from her union with her son Uranus (heaven), sea gods from Pontos (sea), giants from Tartaros (hell), and mortal beings were created from her flesh. Depicted as a fat woman, half rising from the ground. We can assume that it was she who came up with all the names of the gods of Ancient Greece, a list of which can be found below.
Uranus is one of the primeval gods of Ancient Greece. He was the original ruler of the universe. He was overthrown by his son Kronos. Born to one Gaia, was also her husband. Some sources call his father Akmon. Uranus was depicted as a bronze dome covering the world.
List of gods of Ancient Greece born by Uranus and Gaia: Oceanus, Kous, Hyperion, Crius, Thea, Rhea, Themis, Iapetus, Mnemosyne, Tethys, Kronos, Cyclopes, Brontes, Steropes.
Uranus did not feel much love for his children, more precisely, he hated them. And after their birth he imprisoned them in Tartarus. But during their rebellion he was defeated and castrated by his son Kronos.
Second generation
The Titans, born of Uranus and Gaia, were the six gods of time. The list of titans of ancient Greece includes:
Ocean - tops the list of gods of Ancient Greece, titanium. It was a large river surrounding the earth, was the reservoir of all fresh water. Oceanus' wife was his sister, the titanide Tethys. Their union gave birth to rivers, streams and thousands of oceanids. They did not take part in the Titanomachy. The ocean was depicted as a horned bull with a fish tail instead of legs.
Kay (Koy/Keos) - Phoebe's brother and husband. Their union gave birth to Leto and Asteria. Depicted in the form of a celestial axis. It was around her that the clouds revolved and Helios and Selena walked across the sky. The couple were thrown by Zeus into Tartarus.
Kriy (Krios) - an ice titan that can freeze all living things. He shared the fate of his brothers and sisters, thrown into Tartarus.
Iapetus (Iapetus / Iapetus) - the most eloquent, commanded the titans during the attack on the gods. Also sent by Zeus to Tartarus.
Hyperion - lived on the island of Trinacria. He did not take part in the Titanomachy. The wife was the titinide Thea (she was thrown into Tartarus along with her brothers and sisters).
Kronos (Chronos/Kronus) is the temporary ruler of the world. He was so afraid of losing the power of the supreme god that he devoured his children so that none of them would claim the throne of the ruler. He was married to his sister Rhea. She managed to save one child and hide him from Kronos. Deposed by his only rescued heir, Zeus, and sent to Tartarus.
Closer to people
The next generation is the most famous. They are the main gods of Ancient Greece. The list of their exploits, adventures and legends with their participation is very impressive.
They not only became closer to people, descending from heaven and emerging from chaos to the top of the mountain. The gods of the third generation began to contact people more often and more willingly.
This was especially boasted by Zeus, who was very partial to earthly women. And the presence of the divine wife Hera did not bother him at all. It was from his union with a man that the familiar hero of myths, Hercules, was born.
third generation
These gods lived on Mount Olympus. From its name they got their title. There are 12 gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which is known to almost everyone. All of them performed their functions and were endowed with unique talents.
But more often they talk about fourteen gods, the first six of which were the children of Kronos and Rhea:
Zeus - the main god of Olympus, the ruler of the sky, personified power and strength. God of lightning, thunder and creator of people. The main attributes of this god were: Aegis (shield), Labrys (double-sided ax), Zeus' lightning (two-pointed pitchfork with notches) and an eagle. Distributed good and evil. Was in alliance with several women:
- Metis - the first wife, the goddess of wisdom, was swallowed by her husband;
- Themis - the goddess of justice, the second wife of Zeus;
- Hera - the last wife, the goddess of marriage, was the sister of Zeus.
Poseidon is the god of rivers, floods, seas, drought, horses and earthquakes. His attributes were: a trident, a dolphin and a chariot with white-maned horses. Wife - Amphitrite.
Demeter is the mother of Persephone, the sister of Zeus and his lover. She is the goddess of fertility and patronizes farmers. Demeter's attribute is a wreath of ears of corn.
Hestia is the sister of Demeter, Zeus, Hades, Hera and Poseidon. The patroness of the sacrificial fire and the family hearth. I took a vow of chastity. The main attribute was a torch.
Hades is the ruler of the underworld of the dead. Husband of Persephone (goddess of fertility and queen of the kingdom of the dead). The attributes of Hades were a bident or a wand. Depicted with an underground monster Cerberus - a three-headed dog, who stood guard at the entrance to Tartarus.
Hera is the sister and wife of Zeus. The most powerful and wise goddess of Olympus. She was the patroness of family and marriage. A mandatory attribute of Hera is a diadem. This decoration is a symbol of the fact that she is the main one on Olympus. She obeyed (sometimes reluctantly) all the main gods of ancient Greece, the list of which she headed.
Other Olympians
Although these gods did not have such powerful parents, almost all of them were born from Zeus. Each of them was talented in their own way. And he did his job well.
Ares is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of battles, war and masculinity. He was a lover, then the husband of the goddess Aphrodite. Ares' companions were Eris (goddess of discord) and Enyo (goddess of violent war). The main attributes were: a helmet, a sword, dogs, a burning torch and a shield.
Apollo - the son of Zeus and Leto, was the twin brother of Artemis. The god of light, the leader of the muses, the god of medicine and the predictor of the future. Apollo was very loving, he had many mistresses and lovers. The attributes were: a laurel wreath, a chariot, a bow with arrows and a golden lyre.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and the Pleiades Maya or Persephone. God of trade, eloquence, dexterity, intelligence, animal husbandry and roads. Patron of athletes, merchants, artisans, shepherds, travelers, ambassadors and thieves. He is the personal messenger of Zeus and the escort of the dead to the kingdom of Hades. He taught people writing, trade and accounting. Attributes: winged sandals that allow him to fly, an invisibility helmet, a caduceus (a wand adorned with two intertwined snakes).
Hephaestus is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of blacksmithing and fire. He limped on both legs. Wives of Hephaestus - Aphrodite and Aglaya. The attributes of the god were: bellows, tongs, a chariot and a pilos.
Dionysus is the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele. God of vineyards and winemaking, inspiration and ecstasy. Theater patron. He was married to Ariadne. Attributes of God: a cup of wine, a vine wreath and a chariot.
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto, the twin sister of Apollo. The young goddess is a hunter. Being the first to be born, she helped her mother give birth to Apollo. Chaste. Attributes of Artemis: doe, quiver with arrows and chariot.
Demeter is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Mother of Persephone (wife of Hades), sister of Zeus and his lover. Goddess of agriculture and fertility. Demeter's attribute is a wreath of ears.
Athena, the daughter of Zeus, completes our list of the gods of Ancient Greece. She was born from his head after he swallowed her mother Themis. Goddess of war, wisdom and craft. Patroness of the Greek city of Athens. Her attributes were: a shield with the image of the Gorgon Medusa, an owl, a snake and a spear.
Born in foam?
I want to talk about the next goddess separately. She is not only to this day a symbol of female beauty. In addition, the history of its origin is hidden in mystery.
There is a lot of controversy and speculation about the birth of Aphrodite. The first version: the goddess was born from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed foam. The second version: Aphrodite originated from a sea shell. The third hypothesis: she is the daughter of Dione and Zeus.
This goddess was in charge of beauty and love. Spouses: Ares and Hephaestus. Attributes: chariot, apple, rose, mirror and dove.
How they lived on the great Olympus
All the Olympic gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which you see above, had the right to live and spend all their free time from miracles on the great mountain. The relationship between them was not always rosy, but few of them dared to open hostility, knowing the power of their opponent.
Even among the great divine beings, there was no permanent peace. But everything was decided by intrigues, secret conspiracies and betrayals. It is very similar to the human world. And this is understandable, because humanity was created by the gods, so they all look like us.
Gods who do not live on Mount Olympus
Not all deities had a chance to reach such heights and climb Mount Olympus to rule the world there, feasting and having fun. Many other gods either failed to deserve such a high honor, or were modest and content with an ordinary life. If, of course, you can call the existence of a deity that way. In addition to the Olympic gods, there were other gods of Ancient Greece, a list of their names is here:
- Hymen is the god of marriage bonds (the son of Apollo and the muse Calliope).
- Nike is the goddess of victory (daughter of Styx and the titan Pallas).
- Irida is the goddess of the rainbow (daughter of the sea god Tawmant and the oceanid Electra).
- Ata is the goddess of obscuration of the mind (daughter of Zeus).
- Apata is the mistress of lies (heiress of the goddess of night darkness Nyukta).
- Morpheus is the god of dreams (the son of the lord of dreams Hypnos).
- Phobos - the god of fear (a descendant of Aphrodite and Ares).
- Deimos - the lord of horror (the son of Ares and Aphrodite).
- Ora - the goddess of the seasons (daughters of Zeus and Themis).
- Eol - the demigod of the winds (the heir of Poseidon and Arna).
- Hekate is the mistress of darkness and all monsters (the result of the union of the titan Perse and Asteria).
- Thanatos is the god of death (son of Erebus and Nyukta).
- Erinyes - goddesses of revenge (daughters of Erebus and Nyukta).
- Pontus is the ruler of the inland sea (heir to Ether and Gaia).
- Moira - the goddess of fate (daughter of Zeus and Themis).
These are not all the gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which can be continued even further. But to get acquainted with the main myths and legends, it is enough to know only these characters. If you want to read more stories about each, we are sure that the ancient storytellers came up with a lot of interweaving of their destinies and details of the divine life, in which you will gradually get to know more and more new heroes.
Meaning of Greek mythology
There were also muses, nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, heroes, cyclops, giants and monsters. This whole vast world was not invented in one day. Myths and legends have been written for decades, with each retelling acquiring other details and characters that have never been seen before. All the new gods of ancient Greece appeared, the list of names of which grew from one storyteller to another.
The main goal of these stories was to teach future generations the wisdom of the elders, to tell in an understandable language about good and evil, about honor and cowardice, about loyalty and lies. And besides, such a huge pantheon made it possible to explain almost any natural phenomenon, the scientific justification of which was not yet available.