Ancient mythology gods. Greek gods list and meaning

Ancient Greece, before the arrival of the Greeks, was inhabited by Pelasgian peoples. They never assimilated further with the Greeks, having gone into oblivion. Thanks to them, according to Herodotus, the ancient Hellenes had a religion with the gods of ancient Greece in its modern sense.

Characteristic features of the religion of ancient Greece.

With the emergence of the first statehood of Hellas, approximately 3000 BC, religion began to play an increasingly important role in the life of the ancient Greeks. The main gods were the titans, who personified the elements of nature.

The supreme god of the titans, Kronos, in the struggle for power, killed his father. He feared the same fate and therefore devoured his sons. One of them was saved by Rhea, the wife of Kronos. His name was Zeus. When Zeus grew up, he forced his father to return the swallowed sons from his womb and, joining forces with other gods, began the fight against the titans.

Elder Gods

In these numerous battles, according to the myths of Ancient Greece, the gods, led by Zeus, won. After the victory, they divided power and went to live on the sacred Mount Olympus.

• Zeus began to rule the sky, lightning and thunder. He became the head of the pantheon of the twelve elder gods. All other gods obeyed him and considered him the most just. The ancient Greeks erected a statue of Zeus, it was located on the island of Poseidon and reached 15 meters.

Rice. 1. Statue of Zeus on the island of Poseidon.

• Ruled the seas and oceans Poseidon . He was married to the goddess Amphitrite, from whom the son Triton was born. In anger, this god was terrible: he could cause a flood, or break the seaport with waves. Where Poseidon stepped on the ground, spring water began to beat. This god was revered by all sea travelers and sailors.
• Hades did not want to rule the earthly world and went to Tartarus, where he began to rule the kingdom of the dead. On a chain at the entrance to the underworld sat his faithful three-headed dog Cerberus, who did not let the living into Tartarus. Hades stole his beloved niece Persephone from Zeus and forced her to marry him. The ancient Greeks sacrificed a black bull to Hades. Usually it was placed in front of the crevices or the entrance to the cave, which personified the entrance to the realm of the dead.
• The main female goddess among the Greeks was considered Hera . The last wife of Zeus was the patroness of marriage and severely punished for the betrayal of married people. The ancient Greeks worshiped her and asked for the birth of strong and healthy children.
• He was the god of sunlight and the crown of male beauty. In addition to spiritual purity, this god was endowed with the ability of a healer. Later, the ancient Greeks revered him as the patron of the arts, including music.

Rice. 2. Apollo.

The religion of ancient Greece did not carry symbols of immortality, the gods, like people, had quite human features: they fell in love, suffered, were capable of mercy or betrayal. In the view of the ancient Greeks, the gods conquered the world from the elements, made this world a better place and became its patrons and protectors.

• The god of all borders separating one from the other, and roads was Hermes . He had a sharp mind, resourcefulness, because he was the patron of trade, knew several languages ​​and stood out for his brilliant manners. In addition to merchants, shepherds and travelers revered this god.
• Hephaestus - the god of fire - patronized blacksmithing, while he himself was considered an unsurpassed blacksmith. He was lame on both legs, because, according to legend, he was thrown down by Zeus for helping Hera get out of the shackles.
• Ares - the god of unjust wars. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. Zeus secretly hated him for his wild and unbridled temper. Ares loved wild fun and could start a conflict for no reason. He was married to Aphrodite.

All Olympian gods and goddesses led a joyful life, indulging in intrigues and passions. Each of the gods was powerful in its own way, so strife very often ended in compromise.

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junior gods

The elder gods had children, this generation was more numerous than the previous one, some of them:

• Dionysus - God of fertility and winemaking. He patronized the cultivation of grapes and dancing. According to the legends of ancient Greece, Hera hated Dionysus and drove him crazy. Wherever Dionysus appeared, he was accompanied by rampant drunkenness, unreasonable fun and even murder.
• Helios - Sun God. This god performed the same functions as Apollo, was a solar deity, and at the same time the eyes of Zeus: he knew what and where was happening in the mortal world of people. In Greece, many statues were erected in honor of Helios, one of them is called the Colossus of Rhodes and belonged to the seven Wonders of the World. The statue reached 33 meters and stood on the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea.

Rice. 3. Colossus of Rhodes.

• Irida performed small and large orders of the gods. She carried messages to people and news about the gods of Olympus. The ancient Greeks also revered her as the goddess of the rainbow.
• Themis - Goddess of justice, defender of the unjustly accused. Helped Zeus unleash the Trojan War. The Greeks depicted this goddess blindfolded, which meant her impartiality. The cornucopia in the hands of Themis meant a measure of retribution to those who appeared before her fair trial.

According to the religion of ancient Greece, you can recreate a picture of the life of the ancient Greeks.
The following table provides a brief list and description of the gods of Ancient Greece:

The veneration of the god Dionysus, which came from the north of the Balkans, developed separately from the rest of polytheism. Over time, this worship became monotheistic (monotheism is one god). It is generally accepted by historians that the worship of Dionysus was the first harbinger of the formation of the Christian religion.

What have we learned?

The religion of Ancient Greece, which is studied in grade 5, unlike other religions, endowed the gods with human features, which brought them closer to people and allowed contemporaries to better know the life of the ancient Greeks. In addition, although the Greeks believed in an afterlife, this did not serve as the basis for worshiping the gods for them.

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Rhea, christened by Kron, bore him light children, - the Virgin - Hestia, Demeter and the golden-shod Hera, the glorious might of Hades, who lives under the earth, And the providence - Zeus, the father of both immortals and mortals, whose thunders tremble the wide earth. Hesiod "Theogony"

Greek literature originated from mythology. Myth- this is the idea of ​​​​an ancient person about the world around him. Myths were created at a very early stage in the development of society in various areas of Greece. Later, all these myths merged into a single system.

With the help of myths, the ancient Greeks tried to explain all natural phenomena, presenting them in the form of living beings. At first, experiencing a strong fear of the elements, people portrayed the gods in a terrible animal form (Chimera, Gorgon Medusa, Sphinx, Lernean Hydra).

Later, however, the gods become anthropomorphic, that is, they have a human appearance and they have a variety of human qualities (jealousy, generosity, envy, generosity). The main difference between the gods and people was their immortality, but with all their greatness, the gods communicated with mere mortals and even often entered into love relationships with them in order to give birth to a whole tribe of heroes on earth.

There are 2 types of ancient Greek mythology:

1. cosmogonic (cosmogony - the origin of the world) - ends with the birth of Kronos
2. theogonic (theogony - the origin of gods and deities)

The mythology of Ancient Greece went through 3 main stages in its development:

1. pre-Olympic- this is basically a cosmogonic mythology. This stage begins with the idea of ​​the ancient Greeks that everything came from Chaos, and ends with the murder of Kron and the division of the world between the gods.
2. Olympic(early classic) - Zeus becomes the supreme deity and with a retinue of 12 gods settles on Olympus.
3. late heroism- heroes are born from the gods and mortals, who help the gods in establishing order and in the destruction of monsters.

On the basis of mythology, poems were created, tragedies were written, and lyricists dedicated their odes and hymns to the gods.

There were two main groups of gods in Ancient Greece:

1. titans - gods of the second generation (six brothers - Oceanus, Kei, Crius, Gipperion, Iapetus, Kronos and six sisters - Thetis, Phoebe, Mnemosyne, Teia, Themis, Rhea)
2. olympic gods - Olympians - gods of the third generation. The Olympians included the children of Kronos and Rhea - Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus, as well as their descendants - Hephaestus, Hermes, Persephone, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Athena, Apollo and Artemis. The supreme god was Zeus, who deprived the power of his father Kronos (the god of time).

The Greek pantheon of the Olympian gods traditionally included 12 gods, but the composition of the pantheon was not very stable and sometimes consisted of 14-15 gods. Usually they were: Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hestia, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Dionysus, Hades. The Olympic gods lived on the sacred Mount Olympus ( Olympos) in Olympia, off the coast of the Aegean Sea.

Translated from ancient Greek, the word pantheon means "all gods". Greeks

divided the deities into three groups:

• Pantheon (great Olympian gods)
• Inferior deities
• monsters

Heroes occupied a special place in Greek mythology. The most famous of them:

v Odysseus

Supreme gods of Olympus

Minor Greek gods

In addition to Olympus, in Greece there was a sacred mountain Parnassus, where muses - 9 sisters, Greek deities who personified poetic and musical inspiration, patrons of the arts and sciences.

Greek Muses

Inferior deities in Greek mythology, these are satyrs, nymphs and ororas.

satires - (Greek satyroi) - these are forest deities (the same as in Russia goblin), demons fertility, retinue of Dionysus. They were depicted as goat-legged, hairy, with horse tails and small horns. Satyrs are indifferent to people, mischievous and cheerful, they were interested in hunting, wine, pursued forest nymphs. Their other hobby is music, but they only played wind instruments that make sharp, piercing sounds - flutes and pipes. In mythology, they personified a rough, base beginning in nature and man, therefore they were represented with ugly faces - with blunt, wide noses, swollen nostrils, tousled hair.

nymphs - (the name means "source", among the Romans - "bride") the personification of living elemental forces, noticed in the murmur of a stream, in the growth of trees, in the wild charms of mountains and forests, spirits of the earth's surface, manifestations of natural forces acting in addition to man in the solitude of grottoes , valleys, forests, away from cultural centers. They were portrayed as beautiful young girls with wonderful hair, with a dress of wreaths and flowers, sometimes in a dancing pose, with bare legs and arms, with loose hair. They are engaged in yarn, weaving, sing songs, dance in the meadows to the flute of Pan, hunt with Artemis, participate in the noisy orgies of Dionysus, and are constantly fighting with annoying satyrs. In the view of the ancient Greeks, the world of nymphs was very extensive.

The azure pond was full of flying nymphs,
Dryads animated the garden,
And the bright water spring was sparkling from the urn
Laughing naiads.

F. Schiller

Nymphs of the mountains oreads,

nymphs of forests and trees - dryads,

spring nymphs - naiads,

nymphs of the oceans oceanides,

nymphs of the sea nerids,

nymphs of the valleys sing,

meadow nymphs - limeades.

Ora - the goddess of the seasons, they were in charge of order in nature. Guardians of Olympus, now opening, then closing its cloudy gates. They are called gatekeepers of heaven. Harness the horses of Helios.

In many mythologies, there are numerous monsters. In ancient Greek mythology, there were also many of them: Chimera, Sphinx, Lernean Hydra, Echidna and many others.

In the same vestibule, the shadows of monsters crowd around:

Scylla biform here and herds of centaurs live,

Here Briares the hundred-handed lives, and the dragon from Lerna

The swamp hisses, and the Chimera intimidates enemies with fire,

Harpies fly in a flock around the three-bodied giants ...

Virgil, "Aeneid"

Harpies - these are evil abductors of children and human souls, suddenly flying in and just as suddenly disappearing like the wind, terrifying people. Their number ranges from two to five; depicted as wild, half-female, half-birds of a disgusting appearance with wings and paws of a vulture, with long sharp claws, but with the head and chest of a woman.

Gorgon Medusa - a monster with a woman's face and snakes instead of hair, whose gaze turned a person to stone. According to legend, she was a beautiful girl with beautiful hair. Poseidon, seeing Medusa and falling in love, seduced her in the temple of Athena, for which the goddess of wisdom in anger turned the hair of the Gorgon Medusa into snakes. The Gorgon Medusa was defeated by Perseus, and her head was placed on the auspices of Athena.

Minotaur - a monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull. He was born from the unnatural love of Pasiphae (wife of King Minos) and a bull. Minos hid the monster in the labyrinth of Knossos. Every eight years, 7 boys and 7 girls descended into the labyrinth, intended for the Minotaur as victims. Theseus defeated the Minotaur, and with the help of Ariadne, who gave him a ball of thread, got out of the labyrinth.

Cerberus (Cerberus) - this is a three-headed dog with a snake tail and snake heads on its back, guarding the exit from the kingdom of Hades, not allowing the dead to return to the kingdom of the living. He was defeated by Hercules during one of the labors.

Scylla and Charybdis - These are sea monsters located at the distance of an arrow flight from each other. Charybdis is a sea whirlpool that absorbs and spews water three times a day. Scylla ("barking") - a monster in the form of a woman, whose lower body was turned into 6 dog heads. When the ship passed the rock where Scylla lived, the monster, opening all its mouths, abducted 6 people from the ship at once. The narrow strait between Scylla and Charybdis was a mortal danger to all who sailed through it.

Also in ancient Greece, there were other mythical characters.

Pegasus - a winged horse, a favorite of the muses. Flying at the speed of the wind. To ride a Pegasus meant to receive poetic inspiration. He was born at the origins of the Ocean, therefore he was named Pegasus (from the Greek "stormy current"). According to one version, he jumped out of the body of the Gorgon Medusa after Perseus cut off her head. Pegasus delivered thunder and lightning to Zeus on Olympus from Hephaestus, who made them.

From the foam of the sea, from the azure wave,

Faster than an arrow and more beautiful than a string,

An amazing fairytale horse is flying

And easily catches heavenly fire!

He likes to splash in colored clouds,

And often walks in magic verses.

So that the ray of inspiration in the soul does not go out,

I saddle you, snow-white Pegasus!

Unicorn - a mythical creature symbolizing chastity. Usually depicted as a horse with one horn coming out of his forehead. The Greeks believed that the unicorn belonged to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. Subsequently, in medieval legends, there was a version that only a virgin could tame him. Having caught a unicorn, it can only be held by a golden bridle.

centaurs - wild mortal creatures with the head and torso of a man on the body of a horse, inhabitants of mountains and forest thickets, accompany Dionysus and are distinguished by their violent temper and intemperance. Presumably, centaurs were originally the embodiment of mountain rivers and turbulent streams. In heroic myths, centaurs are the educators of heroes. For example, Achilles and Jason were raised by the centaur Chiron.

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 primitive 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 the 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. Lame 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 huntress. 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).
• Hecate 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.

The ancient tablets of the Aegean culture give us the first information about who the Greek gods and goddesses were. The mythology of Ancient Greece has become for the famous authors of Hellas. It provides us with rich material for artistic fantasy even today. Like the powerful Olympian male rulers, the female divine incarnations have a strong character and a remarkable mind. Let's talk about each separately in more detail.

Artemis

Not all Greek goddesses can boast such a harmonious interweaving of fragility and grace with a decisive and tough character, like Artemis. She was born on the island of Delos from the marriage of the powerful Zeus and the goddess Leto. The twin brother of Artemis was the radiant Apollo. The girl became famous as the goddess of hunting and the patroness of everything that grows in forests and fields. The brave girl did not part with her bow and arrows, as well as with a sharp spear. She had no equal in hunting: neither a fast deer, nor a shy doe, nor an angry boar could hide from the dexterous goddess. When there was a hunt, the forest was filled with laughter and cheerful cries of the eternal companions of Artemis - river nymphs.

Tired, the goddess went to the sacred Delphi to her brother and, to the magnificent sounds of his harp, danced with the muses, and then rested in the cool grottoes overgrown with greenery. Artemis was a virgin and sacredly kept her chastity. But nevertheless, like many Greek goddesses, she blessed marriage and childbearing. Symbols - doe, cypress, bear. In Roman mythology, Diana corresponded to Artemis.

Athena

Her birth was accompanied by fantastic events. It all started with the fact that the Thunderer Zeus was informed that he would have two children from the goddess of the mind, Metis, one of whom would overthrow the ruler. Zeus did not come up with anything better than how to lull his wife with affectionate speeches and, sleeping, swallow. After some time, the god felt an excruciating headache and ordered his son Hephaestus to cut his head, hoping to get rid of it. Hephaestus swung and cut the head of Zeus - and from there, in a sparkling helmet, with a spear and a shield, the divine Pallas Athena came out. Her war cry shook Olympus. Until now, Greek mythology has not known a goddess so majestic and sincere.

The mighty warrior became the patroness of fair battles, as well as states, sciences, and crafts. Many heroes of Greece won thanks to the advice of Athena. Young girls especially honored her because she taught them the art of needlework. The symbols of Pallas Athena are an olive branch and a wise owl. In Latin mythology, she is called Minerva.

Atropos

One of the three sisters - goddesses of fate. Klotho spins the thread of human life, Lachesis closely watches the course of destinies, and Atropos ruthlessly cuts the threads of human fate when he considers the life of a particular earthling to be over. Her name translates as "inevitable." In ancient Roman mythology, in which Greek goddesses have Latin counterparts, she is called Morta.

Aphrodite

She was the daughter of the god Uranus, patron of heaven. It is well known that Aphrodite was born from the snow-white sea foam near the island of Cythera, and the wind carried her to an island called Cyprus. There, the goddesses of the seasons (ora) surrounded the young girl, crowned her with a wreath of wild flowers, throwing gold-woven robes over her. This gentle and sensual beauty is the Greek goddess of beauty. Where her light foot stepped, flowers instantly bloomed.

Ores brought the goddess to Olympus, where she caused quiet sighs of admiration. The jealous wife of Zeus Hera hastened to arrange the marriage of Aphrodite with the ugliest god of Olympus - Hephaestus. The goddesses of fate (Moira) gave the beauty only one divine ability - to create love around herself. While her lame-legged husband was diligently forging iron, she inspired love with people and gods with pleasure, fell in love herself and patronized all lovers. Therefore, Aphrodite, according to tradition, is also the Greek goddess of love.

An indispensable attribute of Aphrodite was her belt, which endowed the owner with the power to inspire love, seduce and attract. Eros is the son of Aphrodite, to whom she gave her instructions. Symbols of Aphrodite - dolphins, doves, roses. In Rome she was called Venus.

Hebe

She was the daughter of Hera and Zeus, the sister of the bloodthirsty war god Ares. Traditionally considered the goddess of youth. In Rome, her name is Juventa. The adjective "juvenile" is often used today to define everything related to youth and adolescence. On Olympus, Hebe was the chief butler until her place was taken by the son of the Trojan king Ganymede. In sculptures and paintings, the girl is often depicted with a golden goblet filled with nectar. The goddess Hebe personifies the youthful prosperity of countries and states. According to the myths, she was given in marriage to Hercules. They became the parents of Alexiaris and Aniket, who were considered the patrons of youth and sports. The sacred tree of Hebe is the cypress. If a slave entered the temple of this goddess, he was immediately granted freedom.

Hemera

The goddess of the light of the day, in contrast to Hekate, the patroness of cancer and nightmarish visions, as well as sorcerers, the clever Hemera was the eternal companion of the sun god Helios. According to one of the mythical versions, she kidnapped Cephalus and gave birth to Phaeton, who crashed on the sun chariot, unable to control it. In Roman legends, Hemera is equal to Dies.

Gaia

Goddess Gaia is the progenitor of all living things. According to the legends, she was born from Chaos and ordered all the elements. That is why she patronizes the earth, the sky, and the seas, and is considered the mother of the titans. It was Gaia who persuaded her sons to rebel against Uranus, the progenitor of heaven. And then, when they were defeated, she "set" her new giant sons against the Olympic gods. Gaia is the mother of the terrible hundred-headed monster Typhon. She asked him to take revenge on the gods for the death of the giants. Gaia was the heroine of Greek hymns and songs. She is the first soothsayer in Delphi. In Rome, the goddess Tellus corresponds to her.

Hera

Companion of Zeus, famous for her jealousy and spending a lot of time trying to eliminate and neutralize her rivals. The daughter of the titans Rhea and Kronos, swallowed by her father and rescued from his womb due to the fact that Zeus defeated Kronos. Hera occupies a special place on Olympus, where the Greek goddesses shine in glory, whose names are associated with duties to patronize all spheres of human life. Hera patronizes marriage. Like her royal consort, she could command thunder and lightning. At her word, a downpour could fall on the ground or the sun could shine. Hera's first assistant was the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Irida.

Hestia

She was also the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Hestia - the goddess of the family hearth and sacrificial fire - was not conceited. By right of birth, she occupied one of the twelve main places on Olympus, but she was supplanted by the god of wine, Dionysus. Hestia did not defend her rights, but quietly stepped aside. She did not like wars, or hunting, or love affairs. The most beautiful gods Apollo and Poseidon sought her hand, but she chose to remain unmarried. People honored this goddess and made sacrifices to her before the beginning of each sacred action. In Rome, she was called Vesta.

Demeter

The goddess of good fertility, who experienced a personal tragedy when the underground god Hades fell in love and kidnapped Demeter's daughter Persephone. While the mother was looking for her daughter, life stopped, the leaves withered and flew around, the grass and flowers withered, the fields and vineyards died and became empty. Seeing all this, Zeus ordered Hades to release Persephone to earth. He could not disobey his powerful brother, but asked to spend at least a third of the year with his wife in the underworld. Demeter was delighted at the return of her daughter - gardens immediately bloomed everywhere, fields began to grow. But every time Persephone left the earth, the goddess fell into sadness again - and a fierce winter began. In Roman mythology, Demeter corresponds to the goddess Ceres.

Irida

The Greek goddess of the rainbow, which has already been mentioned. According to the ideas of the ancients, the rainbow was nothing more than a bridge connecting the earth with the sky. Irida was traditionally depicted as a golden-winged girl, and in her hands she held a bowl of rainwater. The main duty of this goddess was to spread the news. She did this with lightning speed. According to legend, she was the wife of the wind god Zephyr. By the name of Irida, the iris flower is called, striking with the play of color shades. Also from her name comes the name of the chemical element iridium, the compounds of which also differ in the variety of color tones.

Nikta

She is the Greek goddess of the night. She was born from Chaos and was the mother of Aether, Hemera and Moira, goddesses of fate. Nikta also gave birth to Charon, the carrier of the souls of the dead to the kingdom of Hades, and the goddess of revenge, Nemesis. In general, Nikta is connected with everything that stands on the verge of life and death and contains the secret of being.

Mnemosyne

Daughter of Gaia and Uranus, goddess of memory. From Zeus, who seduced her, reincarnated as a shepherd, she gave birth to nine muses who were responsible for the birth and types of arts. In her honor, a source was named that gives memory in spite of the spring of oblivion, for which Leta is responsible. It is believed that Mnemosyne has the gift of omniscience.

Themis

Goddess of law and justice. She was born to Uranus and Gaia, was the second wife of Zeus and conveyed his commands to the gods and people. Themis is depicted with a blindfold, with a sword and scales in her hands, personifying an impartial fair trial and retribution for crimes. It symbolizes legal organizations and norms to this day. In Rome, Themis was called Justice. Like other Greek goddesses, she had the gift of bringing order to the world of things and nature.

Eos

Sister of Helios, god of the sun, and Selene, goddess of the moon, Eos is the patroness of the dawn. Every morning she rises from the ocean and flies across the sky in her chariot, causing the sun to wake up and scattering handfuls of diamond dew drops on the ground. Poets call her “beautifully curly, pink-fingered, golden-throned”, in every way emphasizing the magnificence of the goddess. According to the myths, Eos was passionate and amorous. The scarlet color of the morning dawn is sometimes explained by the fact that she is ashamed of a stormy night.

Here are the main goddesses sung by the singers and myth-makers of Ancient Hellas. We talked only about the blessed goddesses who give a creative beginning. There are other characters whose names are associated with destruction and sorrows, but they are a special conversation.

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.