The highest gods of Greece. Gods of Ancient Greece - list

The mythology of Ancient Greece was of great importance for humanity and, first of all, for the development of culture. Ancient peoples were characterized by polytheism, that is, polytheism. The Greek gods were similar to ordinary people, since they did not have immortality and had vices. They lived on the highest Mount Olympus, where ordinary people could not get. In mythology there are many gods who had their own purpose and significance for humans.

Important gods of Greek mythology

The most important thing on Mount Olympus was Zeus, who was considered the almighty father of the gods. He was the patron of wind, thunder, lightning and other natural phenomena. He had a scepter, thanks to which he could cause storms and also calm them. Other important deities:

1. Greek Helios could see everything that was happening in the Universe, so he was often called all-seeing. The Greeks turned to him to find out important information. Helios was depicted as a young guy with a ball in one hand and a cornucopia in the other. One of the ancient seven wonders of the world is the Colossus of Rhodes, which is a statue of Helios. Every morning, the sun god rode into the sky in his chariot drawn by four winged horses and gave people light.
2. Greek god Apollo was the patron of many areas: medicine, archery, creativity, but most often he was called the god of light. His constant attributes are: lyre, larv and plectrum. As for animals, swans, wolves and dolphins were considered sacred to Apollo. This god was depicted as a young guy who always had a bow in his hands, since he was an excellent shooter, and a lyre. Various holidays and festivals were held in honor of this god.
3. God of dreams in Greek mythology - Morpheus. He had the ability to penetrate people's dreams, and in the form of any person. Thanks to his powers, the God of Sleep thoroughly copied his voice, habits and other qualities. Morpheus was imagined as a slender young man who had wings on his temples. There are a small number of images of this god in the form of an old man with a poppy in his hands. It was this flower that was a constant attribute of Morpheus, since it had soporific properties. The emblem of this god was the twin gates to the world of dreams. One half was made of ivory and it opened the entrance to false dreams, and the other half, made of horns, was responsible for true dreams.
4. God of healing in Greek mythology - Asclepius. In many images he is represented as an old man with a large beard. His attribute is a staff that entwines a snake, symbolizing the eternal rebirth of life. The image of a staff is still considered a symbol of medicine to this day. He knew all the medicinal properties of plants, discovered antidotes for bites, and also developed surgery. In honor of Asclepius, many temples were created, which certainly had a hospital.
5. Greek god of fire - Hephaestus. He was considered the patron of blacksmithing. He made various products that were used by other gods of Olympus. Hephaestus was born a sick and lame child. That is why his mother Hera threw him from Olympus. Hephaestus's products were not only durable, but also beautiful and as believable as possible. The god of fire was depicted as an ugly, but broad-shouldered man.
6. Greek was the ruler of the underworld. People did not consider him evil and portrayed him as a powerful older man. He had a big beard. In general, he was very similar to his brother Zeus. This god had several attributes. The main thing was the helmet, which gave invisibility. In his hands, Hades held a two-pronged pitchfork or a scepter with the heads of three dogs. Wild tulips were considered a symbol of the god of the underworld. The Greeks sacrificed black bulls to Hades.

Ancient Greek mythology and religion Initial
deities Titans of Olympia
gods gods
water element Chthonic
deities Earth

List of gods of Ancient Greece. 12 Main Gods of Ancient Greece

The life of the ancient Greek gods on Mount Olympus seemed to people to be pure fun and a daily celebration. The myths and legends of those times represent a storehouse of philosophical and cultural knowledge. Having looked at the list of 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 out of it Chaos arose. From their union came Erebus (darkness), Nyx (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 somehow connected with them.

Gaia is one of the first deities on earth, appearing along with the sky, sea and air. She is the great mother of everything on earth: the heavenly gods were born from her union with her son Uranus (sky), the sea gods from Pontos (sea), the giants from Tartaros (hell), and mortal beings were created from her flesh. She was depicted as an obese 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 by one Gaia, he 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 of Uranus and Gaia: Oceanus, Cous, Hyperion, Crius, Thea, Rhea, Themis, Iapetus, Mnemosyne, Tethys, Kronos, Cyclopes, Brontes, Steropes.

Uranus did not feel much love for his children, or rather, he hated them. And after 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 and was the reservoir of all fresh water. Oceanus's 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 (Koi/Keos) - Phoebe's brother and husband. Their union gave birth to Leto and Asteria. Depicted as a celestial axis. It was around her that the clouds revolved and Helios and Selene walked across the sky. The couple were thrown by Zeus into Tartarus.

Crius (Krios) is an ice titan capable of freezing all living things. He shared the fate of his brothers and sisters, thrown into Tartarus.

Iapetus (Iapetus/Iapetus) - the most eloquent, commanded the titans when attacking 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 (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 not one of them would lay claim to the throne of the ruler. He was married to his sister Rhea. She managed to save one child and hide him from Kronos. Overthrown by his only saved 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.

Zeus especially boasted about this, 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 man that the well-known hero of myths, Hercules, was born.

Third generation

These gods lived on Mount Olympus. They got their title from its name. There are 12 gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which is known to almost everyone. They all 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 axe), Zeus' lightning (double-pronged pitchfork with jagged edges) and an eagle. Distributed good and evil. Was in an alliance with several women:

• Metis - the first wife, the goddess of wisdom, was swallowed by her husband;
• Themis - goddess of justice, 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, sister of Zeus and his lover. She is the goddess of fertility and patronizes farmers. Demeter's attribute is a wreath of ears.

Hestia is the sister of Demeter, Zeus, Hades, Hera and Poseidon. Patron of sacrificial fire and family hearth. She took a vow of chastity. The main attribute was a torch.

Hades is the ruler of the underworld of the dead. Consort of Persephone (goddess of fertility and queen of the kingdom of the dead). The attributes of Hades were a bident or a rod. Depicted with the underground monster Cerberus - a three-headed dog who stood guard at the entrance to Tartarus.

Hera is the sister and at the same time the 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. All the main gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which she headed, obeyed her (sometimes reluctantly).

Other Olympians

Even if 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 coped well with his duties.

Ares is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of battles, war and masculinity. He was a lover and then the husband of the goddess Aphrodite. Ares' companions were Eris (goddess of discord) and Enyo (goddess of furious war). The main attributes were: helmet, sword, dogs, burning torch and shield.

Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto, was the twin brother of Artemis. God of light, leader of the muses, god of healing and predictor of the future. Apollo was very loving, he had many mistresses and lovers. The attributes were: a laurel wreath, a chariot, a bow and arrows and a golden lyre.

Hermes is the son of Zeus and the galaxy of 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 guide of the dead to the kingdom of Hades. He taught people writing, trade and bookkeeping. Attributes: winged sandals that allow him to fly, invisibility helmet, caduceus (a rod decorated with two intertwined snakes).

Hephaestus is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of blacksmithing and fire. He was limping on both legs. Hephaestus's wives are Aphrodite and Aglaia. The attributes of the god were: blacksmith's bellows, tongs, chariot and pilos.

Dionysus is the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele. God of vineyards and winemaking, inspiration and ecstasy. Patron of the theater. He was married to Ariadne. Attributes of God: a cup of wine, a wreath of vines and a chariot.

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto, twin sister of Apollo. The young goddess is a hunter. Born first, she helped her mother give birth to Apollo. Chaste. Attributes of Artemis: a doe, a quiver of arrows and a 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 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 would like to say something separately about the next goddess. She is not only a symbol of female beauty to this day. Moreover, the history of its origin is hidden in mystery.

There is a lot of controversy and speculation about the birth of Aphrodite. First version: the goddess was born from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed foam. Second version: Aphrodite arose from a sea shell. 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 Olympian 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 decided on open hostility, knowing the power of their enemy.

Even among the great divine creatures there was no permanent peace. But everything was decided by intrigues, secret conspiracies and betrayals. It's very similar to the human world. And this is understandable, because humanity was created precisely by the gods, so they are all similar to us.

Gods who do not live on top of Olympus

Not all deities had the chance to reach such heights and climb Mount Olympus to rule the world there, feasting and having fun. Many other gods either could not earn such a high honor, or were modest and content with ordinary lives. If, of course, you can call the existence of a deity that way. In addition to the Olympian gods, there were other gods of Ancient Greece, a list of their names is here:

• Hymen is the god of marriage (the son of Apollo and the muse Calliope).
• Nike is the goddess of victory (daughter of Styx and the Titan Pallant).
• Iris is the goddess of the rainbow (daughter of the sea god Thaumant and the oceanid Electra).
• Ata is the goddess of darkness (daughter of Zeus).
• Apata is the mistress of lies (heir to the goddess of night darkness Nyukta).
• Morpheus is the god of dreams (son of the lord of dreams Hypnos).
• Phobos is the god of fear (descendant of Aphrodite and Ares).
• Deimos - Lord of Terror (son of Ares and Aphrodite).
• Ora - goddesses of the seasons (daughters of Zeus and Themis).
• Aeolus is the demigod of the winds (heir to Poseidon and Arna).
• Hecate is the mistress of darkness and all monsters (the result of the union of the titan Persian and Asteria).
• Thanatos - god of death (son of Erebus and Nyukta).
• Erinyes - goddess of revenge (daughter of Erebus and Nyukta).
• Pontus is the ruler of the inland sea (heir to Ether and Gaia).
• Moiras are goddesses of fate (daughters 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 intertwining 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 huge world was not invented in one day. Myths and legends have been written for decades, with each retelling acquiring new details and never-before-seen characters. More and more new gods of Ancient Greece appeared, the list of whose names grew from one storyteller to another.

The main goal of these stories was to teach future generations the wisdom of their elders, to tell in an understandable language about good and evil, about honor and cowardice, about loyalty and lies. Well, besides, such a huge pantheon made it possible to explain almost any natural phenomenon that had not yet been scientifically substantiated.

Hades- God is the ruler of the kingdom of the dead.

Antey- hero of myths, giant, son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave its son strength, thanks to which no one could control him.

Apollo- god of sunlight. The Greeks depicted him as a beautiful young man.

Ares- god of treacherous war, son of Zeus and Hera

Asclepius- god of healing arts, son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis

Boreas- god of the north wind, son of the Titanides Astraeus (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), brother of Zephyr and Note. He was depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity.

Bacchus- one of the names of Dionysus.

Helios (Helium)- god of the Sun, brother of Selene (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 polysemantic Greek gods. Patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence.

Hephaestus- son of Zeus and Hera, god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron 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 an obese 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- supreme god, king of gods and people.

Marshmallow- god of the west wind.

Iacchus- god of fertility.

Kronos- Titan, youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus...

Mom- son of the goddess of Night, god of slander.

Morpheus- one of the sons of Hypnos, god of dreams.

Nereus- 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- forest god, son of Hermes and Dryope, goat-footed 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 him, he owned not the souls of the dead, but the riches of the underworld.

Plutos- son of Demeter, god who gives wealth to people.

Pont- one of the senior 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, who rules over the sea elements. Poseidon was also subject to the bowels of the earth,
he commanded storms and earthquakes.

Proteus- sea deity, son of Poseidon, patron of seals. He had the gift of reincarnation and prophecy.

Satires- goat-footed creatures, demons of fertility.

Thanatos- personification of death, twin brother of Hypnos.

Titans- generation of Greek gods, ancestors of the Olympians.

Typhon- 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- 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 the most ancient gods of the Greek religion - Nyx and Erebus - emerged.

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.

Eurus (Eur)- god of the southeast wind.

Aeolus- lord of the winds.

Erebus- personification of the darkness of the underworld, son of Chaos and brother of Night.

Eros (Eros)- god of love, son of Aphrodite and Ares. In the most ancient myths - a self-emerging force that contributed to the ordering of the world. He was 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 moiras, cutting the thread of fate and ending human life.

Athena (Pallada, Parthenos)- daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full military armor. One of the most revered Greek goddesses, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge.

Aphrodite (Kytharea, 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- goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, patroness of sorcerers.

Gemera- goddess of daylight, personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.

Hera- the supreme Olympian 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, foremother of all gods and people.

Demeter- goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.

Ilithiya- patron goddess of women in labor.

Iris- winged goddess, assistant of Hera, messenger of the gods.

Calliope- muse of epic poetry and science.

Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing troubles and death to people.

Clio- one of the nine muses, the muse of history.

Clotho ("spinner")- one of the moiras that spin the thread of human life.

Lachesis- one of the three Moira sisters, who determine the fate of every person even before birth.

Summer- Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.

Mayan- a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven Pleiades - the daughters of Atlas, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born to her.

Melpomene- muse of tragedy.

Metis- 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- goddess of fate, daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Muses- patron goddess of the arts and sciences.

Naiads- nymphs-guardians of waters.

Nemesis- daughter of Nikta, a goddess who personified fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.

Nereids- fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanids Doris, sea deities.

Nika- personification of victory. She was often depicted wearing a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece.

Nymphs- lower deities in the hierarchy of 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- goddess of the seasons, peace and order, daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Peyto- goddess of persuasion, 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- daughter of Gaia and Uranus, wife of Ocean and mother of the Nereids and Oceanids.

Rhea- mother of the Olympian gods.

Sirens- female demons, half-woman, half-bird, capable of changing the weather at sea.

Waist- the muse of comedy.

Terpsichore- muse of dance art.

Tisiphone- one of the Erinyes.

Quiet- 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 a ship's rudder in her hands.

Urania- one of the nine muses, patroness of astronomy.

Themis- Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moira.

Charites- 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, who prevented misfortunes.

Eris- daughter of Nyx, 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 Selene. The Greeks called it “rose-fingered.”

Euterpe- muse of lyrical chant. Depicted with a double flute in her hand.

And finally, a test to find out what kind of God you are

tests.ukr.net

Which Greek god are you?

In a world where there are so many deceivers, you are a true treasure. You may not be very attractive in appearance, but your kind heart attracts any woman to you. You have true maturity, which all women so want to see and so rarely find in men. Intelligence and charm make you the man many ladies would like to marry. As for bed, here too you shine with many talents. Your passion is a true volcano, just waiting in the wings to erupt. The woman with you is a violin in the hands of a master. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise your partner may go crazy with happiness! One night with you is enough to say - you are the god of sex.

Goddesses of ancient Greece

In ancient times, according to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, 12 Olympian gods lived on Olympus, 6 men and 6 women. The genealogies of all the Olympian gods, demigods and heroes of Greek myths began with them.
These Olympian gods made a strange journey from even more ancient times into the future. The Greek gods turned into Roman gods to remain gods... but with different names. The gods of ancient Greece and Rome, having different names, perform the same functions and come from the same more ancient gods.

Greece, sea, foot of Olympus. Olympus, a beautiful mountain visible from afar. This is the home of the Olympian gods, shrouded in clouds. If you climb the mountain, to its very peak, you will find there only enough space for a few people.

The Greek goddesses are the bearers of eternal feminine qualities and today these goddesses live among us as normal women. The question of our choice is what we want to choose for ourselves. What kind of goddess or god do we want to look like and how will we accept this image of our destiny.

The idea of ​​​​representing the ancient Greek and Roman goddesses passed through love and stretches a laurel branch from the valley of the Pene River where the legend of Daphne was born.

Nymph Daphne was the most beautiful daughter of Peneus - the god of Rivers and the goddess of the Earth - Gaia. The god of love, Eros, struck the heart of the sun god Apollo with one shot of his arrow, and he fell madly in love with Daphne.

Eros either forgot to shoot his second arrow into Daphne’s heart, or regretted it, and as a result, Daphne rejected the advances of Apollo, who was in love with her, and ran as far as possible from the persistent suitor, who didn’t want to know anything about Daphne’s feelings for him, but only and thought about how to take possession of the object of my love.

But it was impossible for Daphne to escape from the all-seeing Sun God and, desperate to hide from Apollo, she asked her mother to turn her into a laurel bush growing on the banks of the Pene River and thus forever escape from the annoying love of the Sun God Apollo. Having found her in the form of a bush, the loving Apollo wove a laurel wreath, put it on his head as a sign of eternal love and vowed to make the laurel an evergreen tree. Among the ancient Greeks, the laurel wreath became a prize given to winners in the Olympic Games.

The legend is very beautiful and tragic... Is this a punishment for unrequited love?

Artemis(in Ancient Rome - the goddess Diana) daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto (Latona, in another version - Demeter), sister of Apollo. When Leto became pregnant, she hid on the island of Delos. The wife of Zeus, Hera, who was also the goddess of marriage, having learned about this blasphemy, sent the Delphic Python in pursuit of her. Zeus saved his daughter and, under a palm tree on the island of Delos, Leto gave birth to Artemis and Apollo.

Artemis loved her brother Apollo very much and often came to the top of Parnassus, where he lived, to rest and listen to him play the golden cithara and the songs of the muses. At dawn, having slept, she again rushed into the forests to hunt.

The ancient Roman goddess Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the patroness of wild animals and the Moon. Diana is depicted as a hunter with a bow, the arrows of which never miss the target, surrounded by deer and dogs. Artemis's kingdom is wilderness.

Diana of the ancient Romans is also the chaste goddess of femininity, fertility, hunting, the moon and the night. She is depicted accompanied by wild animals with a bow and quiver of arrows, wandering with mountain nymphs through forests and mountains. Diana guards young single women and is the Virgin of purity. Diana in late Roman antiquity was considered the personification of the night and the moon, just as her brother Apollo was identified with the day and the sun.

Diana among the Romans had triple power - on earth, underground and in heaven, and therefore she was given the epithet "goddess of three roads." Her images were often placed at crossroads of major roads. Diana was also known as the patroness of prisoners, plebeians and slaves. Later she began to be considered the patroness of the Latin Union.

Athena(in Ancient Rome - Minerva) was the goddess of wisdom, just war and crafts. Athena is the protector of cities, patroness of the arts, sciences, creativity, crafts and agriculture. She is a stronghold of well-being. Athena is the patroness of the Greek city of Athens, named after her. Athena is the patroness of many heroes. She was often depicted in armor, as she was also known as an excellent strategist.

Being the goddess of war, Athena did not enjoy battles; she preferred to establish the law and resolve disputes peacefully. She was famous for her kindness. The only exception happened in the Trojan War, when, enraged that the apple of discord was not rightfully given to her, Athena, together with Hera, poured out all her rage in battle.

Athena was the daughter of Zeus and the Titanide Metis. Zeus was predicted a terrible future - his future son from Metis was supposed to overthrow him from the throne and then Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife. With the help of the god Hephaestus, he brought the already adult Athena, who was in full battle garb, out of his head. Since then, Athena has been, as it were, a part of Zeus himself, she fulfills his will and carries out the plans of Zeus.

Athena is the desires of Zeus, fulfilled by her in reality. Athena's attributes are the owl, the snake and the aegis. Athena's one touch on a person is enough to give him wisdom and knowledge and make him a wonderful and successful hero. According to mythology, the goddess Athena patronized only ambitious people, making their endeavors successful. Reading the Iliad, we see that Athena patronizes her heroes.

Minerva is the ancient Roman goddess of wisdom, arts and crafts. She is the beloved daughter of Jupiter. According to Roman legend, Minerva was also born without a mother, emerging fully armed from Jupiter, sparkling with her beauty, after Vulcan split his head and removed Minerva from there.

Hestia(in Ancient Rome - Vesta) is the goddess of the hearth and sacrificial fire in Ancient Greece, which burns in its temples and houses. She is the eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Her sisters are Hera, Demeter and Aida, and her brothers are Poseidon and Zeus. Hestia founded the city of Knossos.

Poseidon and Apollo intended to marry her, but she decided to live with her brother Zeus as a virgin. The image of Hestia “owning the Pythian laurel” was in the Athenian Prytaneum, and the altar of Hestia was located in the grove of Zeus Gomoria.

A sacrifice was made to her before the start of any sacred ceremony, no matter whether it was private or public. Thanks to this, the saying “start with Hestia” was preserved in Greece, which served as a synonym for a successful and correct start to a business. As a reward for this, she was given high honors. In the cities, an altar was dedicated to her, on which fire was always maintained, and new colonists took fire from this altar with them to their new homeland.

In ancient Rome, Vesta was the daughter of Saturn and the goddess Rhea. Vesta was also the goddess of the hearth and purity of family life. The Romans maintained a sacred fire in her temple. This fire was a symbol of the prosperity of the Roman state. The Vestal priestesses watched over him, since his disappearance was the worst omen. From this sacred fire the fire was lit in new Roman settlements and colonies.

Temple of Vesta on the Palatine Hill of Rome

Vesta's frame was located in Rome on the slope of the Palatine Hill, in a grove opposite the forum. An eternal fire burned in her temple, supported by the priestesses of the goddess - the Vestals. They could be ten-year-old girls who completely devoted their lives to serving Vesta. They were forbidden to marry, and if a Vestal Virgin became pregnant, she was buried alive in the ground.

In June, the Vestalia was celebrated in Rome - a holiday in honor of Vesta. During this holiday, barefoot Roman women made sacrifices to Vesta in her temple. On this day, it was forbidden to use donkeys for any work, since it was the braying of a donkey that once saved Vesta from the dishonor of Priapus, awakening her from sleep. Her sculptures are very rare and depict Vesta as a girl with a veil thrown over her head.

These virgin goddesses are a symbol of female independence. Unlike other inhabitants of Olympus, they, as a rule, are not intended for permanent family life and love. Emotional attachment cannot distract them from what they consider more important to them. They do not grieve from unrequited love. These goddesses are an expression of women's need for emancipation - to be independent and go towards achieving their goals.

Artemis and Athena represent determination, logical thinking and movement towards achieving a goal. Hestia is the prototype of introversion, her attention is directed to the inner world, she is the spiritual center of the female personality. These three goddesses expand our understanding of the qualities of women such as competence and independence. These qualities are characteristic of women who actively strive to achieve their own goals.

The second group of goddesses is a group of vulnerable goddesses - Hera, Demeter and Persephone.

Hera(in Ancient Rome - Juno) was the goddess of marriage. She was the wife of Zeus, who was the supreme god of Olympus.

Hera is originally an Etruscan deity who later became a Roman goddess, identified with the Greek goddess Hera. Juno was the daughter of Saturn and Rhea, sister of Ceres, Pluto, Vesta, Neptune and Jupiter, who was also her husband. Juno was the Roman goddess of marriage, conjugal love, patroness of married women, helping pregnant wives, patroness of Rome and the Roman state. The Romans were the first (as far as is known from history) to officially introduce monogamy (monogamy). Juno became the patroness of monogamy and was the goddess of protest against polygamy among the Romans.

Traditionally, Juno is depicted wearing a helmet and armor. Together with Jupiter and Minerva, she is part of the Capitoline Triad, in whose honor a temple was erected on Capitol Hill in Rome. In Rome, sacred geese warned the townspeople with their cries about the attack of the Gauls and thereby saved the city.

On March 1, in Ancient Rome, the festival of matronalia was celebrated in her honor. The month of June is named in her honor. Juno consulted with the goddess of wisdom Minerva and the goddess of dark forces Ceres.

Demeter(in Ancient Rome - Ceres) is the goddess of fertility and agriculture. In myths, special attention is paid to the mother of Demeter.

The cult of the goddess who protects all life on earth and protects farmers has its roots in the pre-Indo-European era. In ancient times she bore the name Mother Earth. The “Great Mother,” and later Demeter, gave birth to all living things on Earth and received the dead into herself. Demeter was therefore considered the patroness of sorcerers. It was she who taught humanity agriculture and gave people wheat seeds.

Demeter is the second daughter of Kronos and Rhea and the mother of Persephone, wife of Hades. She is the sister of Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Hades and Poseidon. According to legend, Demeter was devoured by her father Kronos and then taken from his womb. In honor of Hercules, Demeter established the Lesser Mysteries for his purification after his murder of the centaurs.

According to one legend, Demeter was married to the Cretan god of agriculture Iasion. From their union, concluded on a thrice-plowed field, Plutos and Philomel were born. According to Diodorus, Demeter was the mother of Eubouleus.

The ancient Roman goddess Ceres was the daughter of Saturn and Rhea, the sister of Jupiter, the mother of Proserpina, goddess of fruit and agricultural land, lawgiver and patroness of peace and marriage. Her sacred flower was the poppy - a symbol of sleep and death, mourning for her daughter Persephone, who was kidnapped by Pluto and taken to the world of the dead. In Roman mythology, Ceres is also the goddess of fertility. Demeter later became associated with Kybella.

Persephone, daughter of Jupiter and Ceres, wife of Pluto (in Ancient Rome - Proserpina). The ancient Greeks called her "Kora" - girl. Proserpina was the goddess of nature and fertility, but after she was kidnapped by Pluto, she became the queen of the underworld.

The cult of the goddess of the underworld can be traced back to the Mycenaean era. Persephone may have been taken from one of the ancient goddesses who were worshiped by local tribes before the Greek invasion of the Balkan Peninsula. Among the Greeks who conquered these peoples, the cult of Persephone was identified with the cult of the goddess of fertility - Kore. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, or the daughter of Zeus and Styx. She was nursed in a cave by Demeter and the nymphs. Ares and Apollo unsuccessfully wooed her. Cora's flower is the narcissus.

She is the wife of the ruler of the underworld Hades (Pluto), who kidnapped her and took her underground. Demeter searched for her daughter all over the world, being in inconsolable grief. The land was barren all this time. To return her daughter, Demeter turned to Zeus for help. Hades had to let Persephone go. But he gave her pomegranate seeds, which arose from drops of the blood of Dionysus. Persephone swallowed pomegranate seeds and found herself doomed to return to the kingdom of the dead.

To calm the inconsolable Demeter, Zeus decided that Persephone would spend only part of the year in the kingdom of Hades, and live the rest of the time on Olympus.

While she was on Olympus, Persephone rose into the sky early in the morning and became the constellation Virgo there so that her awakened mother Demeter could immediately see her. The myth of Persephone has been associated with the change of seasons since ancient times.

These Greco-Roman goddesses personify the traditional role of women - wife, mother and daughter. They express women's needs for family life and affection for the home. These goddesses do not live only for themselves and are therefore vulnerable. They suffer, are abused, are kidnapped, oppressed and humiliated by the male gods.
Their stories serve to help women understand their own emotional reactions, cope with their own suffering and move on with their lives.

Aphrodite (in Ancient Rome - Venus) goddess of love and beauty. She is the most beautiful and sexy goddess. Aphrodite belongs to the third category of goddesses - the alchemical goddess. Aphrodite enters into many relationships with men and has many heirs. She is the embodiment of primitive voluptuousness and erotic attraction. Her love affairs are only by her choice and Aphrodite is never a victim. She allows fleeting sensual relationships, she has no constancy, and she is open to a new life.

Among the ancient Romans, the role of Aphrodite passed to Venus. She is considered the ancestress of the Romans thanks to her son Aeneas. He was the founder of the Julius family, to which Julius Caesar belonged.

Venus was the goddess of spring among the ancient Romans, and later of beauty, love and life. Born from sea foam, Venus became the wife of the god Vulcan and the mother of Cupid (Cupid).

According to one version, the goddess was conceived with the blood (in Greek - afros) of Uranus, castrated by the titan Kronos. The blood of Uranus that fell into the sea formed foam from which the patroness of love and the goddess of fertility, eternal spring and life, Aphrodite, appeared. Aphrodite is surrounded by nymphs, oras and charites. Aphrodite is the goddess of marriage and childbirth. Her roots lie in the sexy and licentious Phoenician fertility goddess Astarte, the Assyrian Ishtar and the Egyptian Isis. Over time, the beautiful Aphrodite was reborn from them, taking her place of honor on Olympus.

Seeing Aphrodite on Olympus, the gods fell in love with her, but Aphrodite chose Hephaestus for herself - the ugliest of all the gods, but also the most skillful. This did not stop her from giving birth to children from other gods (Dionysus, Ares). She gave birth to Eros (or Eros), Anteros - the god of hatred), Harmony, Phobos - the god of fear, Deimos - the god of horror.

Aphrodite was in love with the beautiful Adonis, who was killed by a wild boar while hunting. Scarlet roses appeared from his drops of blood, and beautiful anemones grew from Aphrodite’s tears. Another legend attributes the death of Adonis to the anger of Ares, who was jealous of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite was one of three goddesses who won the argument about who was the most beautiful. She promised the son of the Trojan king Paris the most beautiful of earthly women - the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. Elena. The Trojan War began with the abduction of Helen. Aphrodite's belt contained the desire to possess, love and words of seduction.

The Twelve Gods were the main gods worshiped by the ancient Greeks. According to legend, they lived on the top of Olympus, among them there were 6 men and 6 women.

Hestia: patroness of family happiness, protector of virgins, the only goddess who got along with all the gods. She was the eldest daughter and first child of Kronos and Rhea, therefore she was introduced to the rank of the main great Goddesses.

Aphrodite: When Aphrodite emerged from the sea she became synonymous with female beauty in ancient times, she was the goddess of love and beauty. Gods and mortals alike were all captivated by the beauty of Aphrodite. During her marriage to Hephaestus, she had a love affair with Ares.

Athena: goddess of justice, wisdom, strategy, war. The Parthenon in Athens is the most famous temple dedicated to her. Athena was the beloved daughter of Zeus, born from his head. The symbols of the goddess are owl, aegis, olive, snake.

Artemis: was the goddess of wild nature and hunting, patronized pregnant women and women in labor, especially in rural areas, twin sister of Apollo. Symbols of Artemis are animals and plants, weapons, goat, deer, snake, bay leaf, palm, sword, quiver, spear and others.

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