Ancient gods and goddesses mythology. Greek gods list and meaning

Ancient Greek mythology expressed a living sensory perception of the surrounding reality with all its diversity and colors. Behind every phenomenon of the material world - thunderstorm, war, storm, dawn, lunar eclipse, according to the Greeks, there was an act of one or another god.

Theogony

The classical Greek pantheon consisted of 12 Olympian deities. However, the inhabitants of Olympus were not the first inhabitants of the earth and the creators of the world. According to the poet Hesiod's Theogony, the Olympians were only the third generation of gods. At the very beginning there was only Chaos, from which eventually emerged:

• Nyukta (Night),
• Gaia (Earth),
• Uranus (Sky),
• Tartarus (Abyss),
• Skothos (Darkness),
• Erebus (Darkness).

These forces should be considered the first generation of Greek gods. The children of Chaos married each other, giving birth to gods, seas, mountains, monsters and various amazing creatures - hecatoncheires and titans. The grandchildren of Chaos are considered to be the second generation of gods.

Uranus became the ruler of the whole world, and his wife was Gaia, the mother of all things. Uranus feared and hated his many titan children, so immediately after their birth he hid the babies back into the womb of Gaia. Gaia suffered greatly from the fact that she could not give birth, but the youngest of her children, the titan Kronos, came to her aid. He overthrew and castrated his father.

The children of Uranus and Gaia were finally able to emerge from their mother's womb. Kronos married one of his sisters, the Titanide Rhea, and became the supreme deity. His reign became a real “golden age”. However, Kronos feared for his power. Uranus predicted to him that one of Kronos' children would do to him the same way as Kronos himself did to his father. Therefore, all the children born to Rhea - Hestia, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Demeter - were swallowed by the titan. Rhea managed to hide her last son, Zeus. Zeus grew up, freed his brothers and sisters, and then began to fight his father. So the titans and the third generation of gods - the future Olympians - clashed in battle. Hesiod calls these events the “Titanomachy” (literally “Battle of the Titans”). The struggle ended with the victory of the Olympians and the fall of the titans into the abyss of Tartarus.

Modern researchers are inclined to believe that the Titanomachy was not an empty fantasy based on nothing. In fact, this episode reflected important social changes in the life of Ancient Greece. The archaic chthonic deities - the titans, who were worshiped by the ancient Greek tribes, gave way to new deities who personified order, law and statehood. The tribal system and matriarchy are becoming a thing of the past; they are being replaced by the polis system and the patriarchal cult of epic heroes.

Olympian Gods

Thanks to numerous literary works, many ancient Greek myths have survived to this day. Unlike Slavic mythology, which has been preserved in fragmentary and incomplete form, ancient Greek folklore has been deeply and comprehensively studied. The pantheon of the ancient Greeks included hundreds of gods, however, only 12 of them were given the leading role. There is no canonical list of Olympians. In different versions of myths, different gods may be included in the pantheon.

Zeus

At the head of the ancient Greek pantheon was Zeus. He and his brothers - Poseidon and Hades - cast lots to divide the world among themselves. Poseidon got the oceans and seas, Hades got the kingdom of the souls of the dead, and Zeus got the sky. Under the rule of Zeus, law and order are established throughout the earth. For the Greeks, Zeus was the personification of the Cosmos, opposing ancient Chaos. In a narrower sense, Zeus was the god of wisdom, as well as thunder and lightning.

Zeus was very prolific. From goddesses and earthly women he had many children - gods, mythical creatures, heroes and kings.

A very interesting moment in the biography of Zeus is his fight with the titan Prometheus. The Olympian gods destroyed the first people who lived on earth since the time of Kronos. Prometheus created new people and taught them crafts; for their sake, the titan even stole fire from Olympus. An angry Zeus ordered Prometheus to be chained to a rock, where an eagle flew every day and pecked the titan's liver. In order to take revenge on the people created by Prometheus for their self-will, Zeus sent to them Pandora, a beauty who opened a box in which diseases and various misfortunes of the human race were hidden.

Despite such a vindictive disposition, in general, Zeus is a bright and fair deity. Next to his throne there are two vessels - with good and evil, depending on the actions of people, Zeus draws gifts from the vessels, sending mortals either punishment or mercy.

Poseidon

Zeus's brother, Poseidon, is the ruler of such a changeable element as water. Like the ocean, it can be wild and wild. Most likely, Poseidon was originally an earthly deity. This version explains why the cult animals of Poseidon were quite “land” bulls and horses. Hence the epithets that were given to the god of the seas - “earth shaker”, “land ruler”.

In myths, Poseidon often opposes his thunder brother. For example, he supports the Achaeans in the war against Troy, on whose side Zeus was.

Almost the entire commercial and fishing life of the Greeks depended on the sea. Therefore, rich sacrifices were regularly made to Poseidon, thrown directly into the water.

Hera

Despite the huge number of connections with a variety of women, Zeus’s closest companion all this time was his sister and wife, Hera. Although Hera was the main female deity on Olympus, she was actually only the third wife of Zeus. The first wife of the Thunderer was the wise oceanid Metis, whom he imprisoned in his womb, and the second was the goddess of justice Themis - the mother of the seasons and moira - the goddesses of fate.

Although divine spouses often quarrel and cheat on each other, the union of Hera and Zeus symbolizes all monogamous marriages on earth and relationships between men and women in general.

Distinguished by her jealous and sometimes cruel disposition, Hera was still the keeper of the family hearth, the protector of mothers and children. Greek women prayed to Hera to send them a good husband, pregnancy or easy childbirth.

Perhaps Hera's confrontation with her husband reflects the chthonic character of this goddess. According to one version, touching the earth, she even gives birth to a monstrous serpent - Typhon. Obviously, Hera is one of the first female deities of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, an evolved and reworked image of the mother goddess.

Ares

Ares was the son of Hera and Zeus. He personified war, and war not in the form of a liberation confrontation, but a senseless bloody massacre. It is believed that Ares, who has absorbed part of his mother’s chthonic violence, is extremely treacherous and cunning. He uses his power to sow murder and discord.

In myths, Zeus’s dislike for his bloodthirsty son can be traced, however, without Ares, even a just war is impossible.

Athena

Athena's birth was very unusual. One day Zeus began to suffer from severe headaches. To ease the suffering of the Thunderer, the god Hephaestus hits him on the head with an ax. A beautiful maiden in armor and with a spear emerges from the resulting wound. Zeus, seeing his daughter, was very happy. The newborn goddess received the name Athena. She became her father's main assistant - the keeper of law and order and the personification of wisdom. Technically, Athena's mother was Metis, imprisoned within Zeus.

Since the warlike Athena embodied both the feminine and masculine principles, she did not need a spouse and remained virginal. The goddess patronized warriors and heroes, but only those of them who wisely managed their strength. Thus, the goddess balanced the rampage of her bloodthirsty brother Ares.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus, the patron saint of blacksmithing, crafts and fire, was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was born lame in both legs. Hera was disgusted by the ugly and sick baby, so she threw him off Olympus. Hephaestus fell into the sea, where Thetis picked him up. On the seabed, Hephaestus mastered the blacksmith's craft and began to forge wonderful things.

For the Greeks, Hephaestus, thrown from Olympus, personified, although ugly, a very smart and kind god who helps everyone who turns to him.

To teach his mother a lesson, Hephaestus forged a golden throne for her. When Hera sat down in it, shackles closed on her arms and legs, which none of the gods could unfasten. Despite all the persuasion, Hephaestus stubbornly refused to go to Olympus to free Hera. Only Dionysus, who intoxicated Hephaestus, was able to bring the blacksmith god. After his release, Hera recognized her son and gave him Aphrodite as his wife. However, Hephaestus did not live long with his flighty wife and entered into a second marriage with the Charita Aglaya, the goddess of goodness and joy.

Hephaestus is the only Olympian constantly busy with work. He forges lightning bolts, magic items, armor and weapons for Zeus. From his mother, he, like Ares, inherited some chthonic traits, however, not so destructive. Hephaestus' connection with the underworld is emphasized by his fiery nature. However, the fire of Hephaestus is not a destructive flame, but a home fire that warms people, or a blacksmith's forge with which you can make many useful things.

Demeter

One of the daughters of Rhea and Kronos, Demeter, was the patroness of fertility and agriculture. Like many female deities personifying Mother Earth, Demeter had a direct connection with the world of the dead. After Hades kidnapped her daughter Persephone with Zeus, Demeter fell into mourning. Eternal winter reigned on the earth; thousands of people died of hunger. Then Zeus demanded that Persephone spend only one third of the year with Hades, and return to her mother for two thirds.

It is believed that Demeter taught people agriculture. She also gave fertility to plants, animals and people. The Greeks believed that at the mysteries dedicated to Demeter, the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead were erased. Archaeological excavations show that in some areas of Greece, human sacrifices were even made to Demeter.

Aphrodite

Aphrodite - the goddess of love and beauty - appeared on earth in a very unusual way. After the castration of Uranus, Kronos threw his father's reproductive organ into the sea. Since Uranus was very fertile, beautiful Aphrodite emerged from the sea foam that formed in this place.

The goddess knew how to send love to people and gods, which she often used. One of the main attributes of Aphrodite was her wonderful belt, which made any woman beautiful. Due to Aphrodite's fickle temperament, many suffered from her spell. The vengeful goddess could cruelly punish those who rejected her gifts or offended her in some way.

Apollo and Artemis

Apollo and Artemis are the children of the goddess Leto and Zeus. Hera was extremely angry with Leto, so she pursued her all over the earth and for a long time did not allow her to give birth. In the end, on the island of Delos, surrounded by Rhea, Themis, Amphitrite and other goddesses, Leto gave birth to two twins. Artemis was the first to be born and immediately began to help her mother in giving birth to her brother.

With a bow and arrows, Artemis, surrounded by nymphs, began to wander through the forests. The virgin goddess-hunter was the patroness of wild and domestic animals and all living things on earth. Both young girls and pregnant women, whom she protected, turned to her for help.

Her brother became the patron of the arts and healing. Apollo brings harmony and tranquility to Olympus. This god is considered one of the main symbols of the classical period in the history of Ancient Greece. He brings elements of beauty and light to everything he does, gives people the gift of foresight, teaches them to cure illnesses and play music.

Hestia

Unlike most of the cruel and vengeful Olympians, Zeus's elder sister, Hestia, was distinguished by a peaceful and calm disposition. The Greeks revered her as the guardian of the hearth and the sacred fire. Hestia adhered to chastity and refused all the gods who offered her marriage.

The cult of Hestia was very widespread in Greece. It was believed that she helps to conduct sacred ceremonies and protects peace in families.

Hermes

The patron of trade, wealth, dexterity and theft - Hermes, most likely, was originally an ancient Asian rogue demon. Over time, the Greeks turned the minor trickster into one of the most powerful gods. Hermes was the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. Like all children of Zeus, he demonstrated his amazing abilities from birth. So, on the very first day after his birth, Hermes learned to play the cithara and stole Apollo's cows.

In myths, Hermes appears not only as a deceiver and a thief, but also as a faithful assistant. He often rescued heroes and gods from difficult situations, bringing them weapons, magic herbs or some other necessary items. The distinctive attribute of Hermes were winged sandals and a caduceus - a rod around which two snakes were entwined.

Hermes was revered by shepherds, traders, moneylenders, travelers, swindlers, alchemists and fortune-tellers.

Hades

Hades, the ruler of the world of the dead, is not always included among the Olympian gods, since he lived not on Olympus, but in gloomy Hades. However, he was certainly a very powerful and influential deity. The Greeks were afraid of Hades and preferred not to say his name out loud, replacing it with various epithets. Some researchers believe that Hades is a different form of Zeus.

Although Hades was the god of the dead, he also bestowed fertility and wealth. At the same time, he himself, as befits such a deity, had no children; he even had to kidnap his wife, because none of the goddesses wanted to descend into the underworld.

The cult of Hades was almost not widespread. Only one temple is known where sacrifices were made to the king of the dead only once a year.

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 is titanium , 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 from him, who 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.

Demitra- goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.

Diana-goddess of the hunt

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.

Mythology offers a fascinating, colorful journey into ancient times. Immortal powerful beings lived on the high Mount Olympus and, according to myths, influenced the structure of the world and changed the lives of people who turned to them for help. What were the gods of ancient Greece: a list and description of their deeds, meaning for the Greeks.

In Ancient Hellas, the most revered were the younger celestials, who defeated the older gods - the Titans. The young gods of ancient Greece settled on Mount Olympus, with the exception of Hades, who lived in his underground kingdom. Each immortal had a certain higher power and performed its own functions. The gods were no strangers to experiences and feelings; their behavior sometimes resembled people. The only thing they differed in was immortality.

In ancient Greece, 12 deities were worshiped. This list does not include the underground god Hades, but he was revered and feared by the people of Ancient Greece. Over time, the relationship between immortal creatures has grown into myths and legends that are of genuine interest today.

We offer a list and pictures of all 12 Olympian gods and Hades:

Apollo

Mighty Zeus

Zeus was considered the main god on Olympus and the ruler of the whole world in ancient Greece. Lord of thunder and lightning, distributing good and evil. Zeus's father was the titan Kronos, and his mother was Rhea. Kronos was predicted that he would lose power because of his own children. In order to prevent this, the titan swallowed all of its newborn children. Rhea managed to hide the son of Zeus in a cave where the boy was growing up. The matured Zeus teamed up with his brothers and sisters to overthrow Kronos. After the death of the ruler, the brothers divided power: Zeus got the heavens, Poseidon the sea, Hades the underworld.

At the beginning of his reign, Zeus was a real tyrant. Tried to destroy the human race twice. Only after consolidating his position in power did he slightly loosen the reins of government. The ancient Greek gods submitted to the power of the Thunderer, only occasionally trying to rebel. Zeus brought kings to rule, strengthened rights and order.

The wife of Zeus was the majestic Hera. Her husband appreciated her and gave her honors. The Thunderer was a passionate person; in addition to his wife, he had many love affairs.

Zeus' lovers were:

• Diameter,
• Eurynoma,
• Mnemosyne,
• Mayan,
• Themis.

Not all women reciprocated the thunderer's feelings. Then Zeus took the form of their lovers, animals, natural phenomena in order to achieve his goal.

Hera gave birth to three children: Hephaestus, Hebe and Ares. Other women gave birth to Hermes, Charit, Persephone, Aphrodite and many others.

Note! All of Zeus' wives were his sisters.

Useful video: Zeus is the most powerful God of Olympus

God of War Ares

He preferred bloody, treacherous massacres carried out for the sake of war itself. The god of war in Greek mythology was so cruel and ferocious that his own father hated him. In Greek mythology, the origins of Ares are ambiguous. Some sources claim that he was born from an immaculate conception from the magic flower of Hera. According to another version, the parents were Zeus and Hera.

The father hated his son so much that if it were not for the relationship, he would have severely punished him. A loving mother always protected Ares and helped. But she could not accept her son’s vicious relationship with Aphrodite.

According to myth, Ares was a merciless warrior who crushed many enemies. Not a single bloody battle took place without him. His companions Enyo and Eris accompanied him in all battles, causing fury among the warriors and patronizing discord. .The God of War was not considered invincible. After each defeat, he became submissive and quiet for a short time, and came to his father with complaints.

Ares was handsome, had a muscular, strong body, fair skin, regular facial features, so he often indulged in lovemaking. Thanks to his beauty, even with a very vile character, he was very popular with the opposite sex. Immortal, simple women competed with each other for the right to become his lover.

He never raped women, captivated by his charisma, the ladies gave themselves to him of their own free will. A passionate, ardent lover gave unearthly pleasure, so women always remembered their lover with warmth and love.

Ares had many lovers, but the only woman he loved was Aphrodite. Their connection in mythology is even called marriage, despite the fact that the beloved was married to Hephaestus. In mythology, the relationship between Ares and Aphrodite is described with condemnation.

Numerous love affairs gave him about 50 children. Aphrodite gave birth to seven children: Pothos, Himeros, Deimos, Phobos, Anteros, Eros and Harmony. Ares loved his children, always came to the rescue, stood up for the heirs.

Some people are now turning to the divine fighter: asking for victory over enemies, success.

Majestic Apollo

Apollo is the sun god of the Greeks. He was revered as the patron of artistic attractiveness. He was also a healer, a talented predictor, and a brave hero. The ambitious, eternally young god occupied a place of honor on Olympus. He was second after Zeus.

Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born on the island of Delos. Their parents are Zeus and Leto. The children were born at seven months old on the seventh day of the month. It was from that time that the seventh number began to be revered by the Greeks. Their mother had to hide from Hera’s wrath for a long time. The rest of the inhabitants of Olympus joyfully received the news of the birth of babies, generously gifted them, fed them with ambrosia and nectar.

The young man quickly matured. On the fourth day after birth, he already killed the snake. At the age of four he built a temple. The giant Titius, who insulted Leto's mother, suffered from the arrows of the young god. For killing the serpent Python, he was exiled by his father to Earth, where he served as a shepherd for eight years. A handsome, charming man was very popular among women. But despite this, he was unhappy in love. Many women deceived him and rejected his love. Coronis gave birth to Asclepius, Cyrene - Aristaeus. Also among the offspring were Pythagoras, Euripides, and Orpheus.

Useful video: Apollo - light and darkness

Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing. Since childhood I was weak and ugly. Hera's own mother, seeing her sick child, was ashamed to show him to other deities and threw him into the sea, but the baby survived. The sea goddess Thetis became the adoptive mother. When Hephaestus grew up, his own mother recognized her son. According to some myths, the lame Hephaestus forgave his own mother, even defended her before Zeus. For disobedience, the Thunderer threw Hephaestus from a cliff, which caused him to become lame on both legs.

All buildings on Olympus were built by Hephaestus. The Olympic army was equipped with armor made by his hands. He had a great love for blacksmithing. If other ancient Greek gods were reluctant to engage in physical labor, Hephaestus spent all his time at work. Craftsmen and blacksmiths turned to him for help. The patron of crafts taught people blacksmithing. Hephaestus symbolizes the power, complex nature of the flame.

He was ugly and therefore not interesting to women. By order of Zeus, Aphrodite became his wife. The beautiful wife was unable to love her husband, to whom she was forcibly married.

Beautiful Aphrodite

The goddess of love in myths - Aphrodite - was revered by the Greeks as the embodiment of eternal spring and youth. She patronized beauty, fertility, and marriages. She was asked for her lover's favor. Many generations associate the names of Aphrodite and Apollo with beauty and impeccability.

Aphrodite brought peace and harmony into people's lives. But the goddess's favor extended only to those who revered her. She severely punished everyone who did not appreciate her gifts. This is what happened with Narcissus. The handsome young man paid with his life for not appreciating his beauty and the benefits bestowed by Aphrodite.

The impeccable beauty of the goddess Aphrodite conquered the inhabitants of Olympus and mere mortals. She was served by the patroness of grace and beauty - Harita and Ora. Everywhere where her foot stepped, flowers bloomed. Aphrodite never suffered defeat in love affairs, she always received reciprocity from her lovers, and personified voluptuousness.

The goddess of love Aphrodite was not faithful in marriage and easily started relationships with other men. She did not give her husband a single heir, while she gave birth to many children to her lovers. The fruits of their love with Ares were: Phobos, Deimos, Harmony, Eros, Anteros. She gave Dionysus a son, Priapus. From Hermes, Aphrodite gave birth to Hemaphrodite. Aeneas was born to the goddess from King Anchises.

There are two versions of the birth of Aphrodite. According to one of them, she was born as an adult from sea foam and came ashore on the island of Cyprus. According to another version, she was born in the traditional way, her parents were Zeus and the nymph Dione.

Useful video: mistress of love desires

Conclusion

The ancient Greek gods are endowed with all the virtues and vices that are inherent in people themselves. The Greeks used myths to explain phenomena they did not understand. The Celestials were not without weaknesses. Behind his power and beautiful appearance, there were many vices hidden. Getting to know the gods allows you to learn better about the life and customs of ancient peoples, and get in touch with history.

Culture and religion in Athens have been closely intertwined since time immemorial. Therefore, it is not surprising that the country has so many attractions that are dedicated to the idols and gods of antiquity. There is probably nothing like it anywhere. But still, Greek mythology became the most complete reflection of ancient civilization. Gods and titans, kings and heroes from legends - all these are parts of the life and existence of ancient Greece.

Of course, many tribes and people had their own deities and idols. They personified the forces of nature, incomprehensible and frightening to ancient man. However, the ancient Greek gods were not only symbols of nature, they were considered the creators of all moral goods and guardians of the beautiful and great powers of the ancient people.

Generations of Gods of Ancient Greece

At different times there were different Lists of one ancient author differed from another, but it is still possible to identify common periods.

So, during the time of the Pelasgians, when the cult of worship of the forces of nature flourished, the first generation of Greek gods appeared. It was believed that the world was ruled by Mist, from which the first supreme deity appeared - Chaos, and their children - Nikta (Night), Eros (Love) and Erebus (Darkness). There was complete chaos on earth.

The names of the second and third generation Greek gods are already known throughout the world. These are the children of Nyx and Eber: the god of air Ether and the goddess of the day Hemera, Nemesis (Retribution), Ata (Lie), Mom (Stupidity), Kera (Misfortune), Erinyes (Revenge), Moira (Fate), Eris (Strife). And also the twins Thanatos (messenger of Death) and Hypnos (Dream). Children of the earth goddess Hera - Pontus (inner Sea), Tartarus (Abyss), Nereus (calm sea) and others. As well as the first generation of powerful and destructive titans and giants.

The Greek gods that existed among the Pelagestians were overthrown by the Titans and a series of universal catastrophes, the stories of which were preserved in myths and legends. After them a new generation appeared - the Olympians. These are the human-shaped gods of Greek mythology. The list of them is huge, and in this article we will talk about the most significant and famous people.

The first supreme god of Ancient Greece

Kronos or Khronov is the god and keeper of time. He was the youngest of the sons of the earth goddess Hera and the god of heaven Uranus. His mother loved him, cherished him and indulged him in everything. However, Kronos grew up to be very ambitious and cruel. One day, Hera heard a prediction that Kronos’s death would be his son. But she decided to keep it a secret.

Meanwhile, Kronos killed his father and gained supreme power. He settled on Mount Olympus, which went straight into the heavens. This is where the name of the Greek gods, the Olympians, came from. When Kronos decided to get married, his mother told him about the prophecy. And he found a way out - he began to swallow all his born children. His poor wife Rhea was horrified, but she failed to convince her husband otherwise. Then she hid her third son (little Zeus) from Kronos on the island of Crete under the supervision of forest nymphs. It was Zeus who became the death of Kronos. When he grew up, he went to Olympus and overthrew his father, forcing him to regurgitate all his brothers.

Zeus and Hera

So, the new humanoid Greek gods from Olympus became the rulers of the world. The thunderer Zeus became the father of the gods. He is the gatherer of clouds and the lord of lightning, the creator of all living things, as well as the establisher of order and justice on earth. The Greeks considered Zeus the source of goodness and nobility. The Thunderer is the father of the goddesses Or, mistresses of time and annual changes, as well as the Muses, who give people inspiration and joy.

Zeus's wife was Hera. She was portrayed as a grumpy goddess of the atmosphere, as well as a guardian of the hearth. Hera patronized all women who remained faithful to their husbands. And also, together with her daughter Ilithia, she facilitated the birth process. According to myths, Zeus was very loving, and after three hundred years of married life he became bored. He began to visit mortal women in a variety of guises. Thus, he appeared to beautiful Europe in the form of a huge bull with golden horns, and to Danae - in the form of star rain.

Poseidon

Poseidon is the god of the seas and oceans. He always remained in the shadow of his more powerful brother Zeus. The Greeks believed that Poseidon was never cruel. And all the troubles and punishments that he sent to people were deserved.

Poseidon is the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. Always, before setting sail, people prayed first of all to him, and not to Zeus. In honor of the lord of the seas, altars were smoked for several days. According to legends, Poseidon could be seen during a storm on the high seas. He appeared from the foam in a golden chariot drawn by dashing horses, which his brother Hades gave him as a gift.

Poseidon's wife was the goddess of the roaring sea, Amphitrite. The symbol is a trident, which granted complete power over the depths of the sea. Poseidon had a soft, non-conflicting disposition. He always sought to avoid quarrels and conflicts, and was unconditionally loyal to Zeus, unlike Hades.

Hades and Persephone

The Greek gods of the underworld are, first of all, the gloomy Hades and his wife Persephone. Hades is the god of death, ruler of the kingdom of the dead. They feared him even more than the Thunderer himself. No one could go down to the underworld without Hades' permission, much less return. As Greek mythology says, the gods of Olympus divided power among themselves. And Hades, who inherited the underworld, was dissatisfied. He harbored a grudge against Zeus.

Despite the fact that he never spoke directly and openly, there are many examples in legends when the god of death tried in every possible way to ruin the life of his crowned brother. So, one day Hades kidnapped the beautiful daughter of Zeus and the goddess of fertility Demeter Persephone. He forcibly made her his queen. Zeus had no power over the kingdom of the dead, and chose not to get involved with his embittered brother, so he refused the upset Demeter’s request to save her daughter. And only when the goddess of fertility, in grief, forgot about her duties, and drought and famine began on earth, Zeus decided to talk to Hades. They entered into an agreement according to which Persephone would spend two thirds of the year on earth with her mother, and the rest of the time in the kingdom of the dead.

Hades was depicted as a gloomy man sitting on a throne. He traveled on earth in a chariot drawn by hellish horses with eyes burning in flames. And at this time people were afraid and prayed that he would not take them into his kingdom. Hades' favorite was the three-headed dog Cerberus, who tirelessly guarded the entrance to the world of the dead.

Pallas Athena

The beloved Greek goddess Athena was the daughter of the thunderer Zeus. According to myths, she was born from his head. At first it was believed that Athena was the goddess of the clear sky, who dispersed all the black clouds with her spear. She was also a symbol of victorious energy. The Greeks portrayed Athena as a powerful warrior with a shield and spear. She always traveled with the goddess Nike, who personified victory.

In Ancient Greece, Athena was considered the protector of fortresses and cities. She gave people fair and correct government systems. The goddess personified wisdom, calmness and insightful intelligence.

Hephaestus and Prometheus

Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing. His activity was manifested by volcanic eruptions, which greatly frightened people. Initially, he was considered only the god of heavenly fire. Since on earth people lived and died in eternal cold. Hephaestus, like Zeus and other Olympian gods, was cruel to the human world, and was not going to give them fire.

Prometheus changed everything. He was the last of the Titans to survive. He lived on Olympus and was the right hand of Zeus. Prometheus could not watch people suffer, and, having stolen the sacred fire from the temple, he brought it to earth. For which he was punished by the Thunderer and doomed to eternal torment. But the titan was able to come to an agreement with Zeus: he granted him freedom in exchange for the secret of maintaining power. Prometheus could see the future. And in the future of Zeus, he saw his death at the hands of his son. Thanks to the titan, the father of all gods did not marry the one who could give birth to a murderous son, and thereby forever secured his power.

The Greek gods Athena, Hephaestus and Prometheus became symbols of the ancient festival of running with lit torches. The progenitor of the Olympic Games.

Apollo

The Greek sun god Apollo was the son of Zeus. He was identified with Helios. According to Greek mythology, Apollo lives in the distant lands of the Hyperboreans in winter, and returns to Hellas in the spring and again pours life into withered nature. Apollo was also the god of music and singing, since, together with the revival of nature, he gave people the desire to sing and create. He was called the patron of art. Music and poetry in Ancient Greece were considered the gift of Apollo.

Due to his regenerative powers, he was also considered the god of healing. According to legend, Apollo expelled all darkness from the sick with his sun rays. The ancient Greeks depicted God as a blond youth holding a harp.

Artemis

Apollo's sister Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. It was believed that at night she wandered through the forests with her companions, the naiads, and watered the ground with dew. She was also called the patroness of animals. At the same time, many legends are associated with Artemis, where she cruelly drowned sailors. To appease her, people were sacrificed.

At one time, the Greeks called Artemis the patroness of brides. The girls performed rituals and brought offerings to the goddess in the hope of a strong marriage. Artemis of Ephesus even became a symbol of fertility and childbirth. The Greeks depicted the goddess with many breasts on her chest, which symbolized her generosity as a nurse of people.

The names of the Greek gods Apollo and Artemis are closely related to Helios and Selene. Gradually the brother and sister lost their physical significance. Therefore, in Greek mythology, separate sun god Helios and moon goddess Selene appeared. Apollo remained the patron of music and the arts, and Artemis - of hunting.

Ares

Ares was originally considered the god of the stormy sky. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. But among the ancient Greek poets he received the status of the god of war. He was always depicted as a fierce warrior, armed with a sword or spear. Ares loved the noise of battle and bloodshed. Therefore, he was always at enmity with the goddess of the clear sky, Athena. She was for prudence and fair conduct of battle, he was for fierce skirmishes and countless bloodsheds.

Ares is also considered the creator of the tribunal - the trial of murderers. The trial took place on a sacred hill, which was named after God - Areopagus.

Aphrodite and Eros

Beautiful Aphrodite was the patroness of all lovers. She is the favorite muse for all poets, sculptors and artists of that time. The goddess was depicted as a beautiful woman emerging naked from the sea foam. Aphrodite's soul was always full of pure and immaculate love. During the time of the Phoenicians, Aphrodite contained two principles - Asherah and Astarte. She was an Asherah when she enjoyed the singing of nature and the love of the young man Adonis. And Astarte - when she was revered as the “goddess of heights” - a stern warrior who imposed a vow of chastity on her novices and protected marital morality. The ancient Greeks combined these two principles in their goddess and created an image of ideal femininity and beauty.

Eros or Eros is the Greek god of love. He was the son of the beautiful Aphrodite, her messenger and faithful assistant. Eros united the destinies of all lovers. He was depicted as a small, plump boy with wings.

Demeter and Dionysus

Greek gods, patrons of agriculture and winemaking. Demeter personified nature, which under sunlight and heavy rains ripens and bears fruit. She was portrayed as a “fair-haired” goddess, giving people a harvest deserved by labor and sweat. It is to Demeter that people owe the science of arable farming and sowing. The goddess was also called "earth mother". Her daughter Persephone was the link between the world of the living and the kingdom of the dead; she belonged to both worlds.

Dionysus is the god of wine. And also brotherhood and joy. Dionysus gives people inspiration and joy. He taught people how to cultivate the vine, as well as wild and riotous songs, which then served as the basis for ancient Greek drama. God was depicted as a young, cheerful youth, his body was entwined with a vine, and in his hands was a jug of wine. Wine and vine are the main symbols of Dionysus.

Ancient Greece is full of myths, legends, and most of them feature the gods of Olympus. Each of the gods has its own meaning, is endowed with a certain character and reflects the way of life of Greece itself at that time. Questions of faith have always been extremely sensitive, but in this country the gods were often divided.

The choice of the god to be worshiped depended on many things, in particular, on the lifestyle of the townspeople. It could be that the male part recognizes only Zeus, but the female part gives all honors to Hera, the crowned wife of the father of the gods. At the same time, this situation was considered absolutely normal and it should be noted that one side could easily insult the other, which sometimes became the cause of real tragedies.

Thus, in Thebes, seven boys of a noble man who worshiped Zeus were slaughtered. The reason for such atrocity was that during the feast the man insulted Hera, which the priestesses of the goddess could not bear. Believing that the goddess Hera was telling them to wash away the insult, the priestesses entered the house without pity and killed the boys.

In general, the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece have several generations. Initially, Chaos was the supreme god, Gaia was the mother of the earth, Nyukta was the mother of the night, Tartarus was the lord of the dark abyss, Erebus was the father of eternal darkness and darkness. Further, already in the second generation, their children: Kronos, the son of the god Uranus and mother Gaia, the prophetic goddess of fate Moira and a galaxy of supernatural beings. But then they were not gods, they belonged to the powerful and invincible titans.

But the mother predicted to Kronos that one of his children would overthrow him into the depths of Tartarus and the supreme god, the first of the named divine beings, began to simply kill those children that his wife Rhea brought to him. But Rhea could not part with her last child: the mother’s tormented soul suffered too much. Kronos swallowed a stone instead of Zeus, and hid his little son Rhea in the thickets of virgin Crete, where he was raised by nymphs.

The prophecy came true: Zeus killed his father and thereby freed his brothers and sisters, who were swallowed by their hated father.

Every goddess, every god of Olympus was a patron for man, temples and sacrificial altars grew and multiplied throughout the country and beyond.

Names of goddesses of Ancient Greece. List

Hera, guardian of marriage bonds and devotion

The royal wife, daughter of Kronos and Rhea, inherited the character of her mother. An innocent creature of extraordinary beauty, possessing meekness, attracted the attention of the Thunderer. But no matter how cunning Zeus was, Hera did not want to become the mistress of a spoiled deity. And then the ruler of heaven and earth had to give his word to marry, but the cunning Hera asked him to swear by the sacred waters of the underground Styx. She knew: even the flighty supreme god would not dare to break such an oath. The underground river is always mentioned in mythology when it comes to any unbreakable oath.

But over time, the Thunderer began to cheat on her, and the birth of Hercules from a mere mortal completely embittered the goddess. She began to ruin the life of Hercules’ mother and the young man himself in every possible way, even under fear of the wrath of Zeus. That is why in some chronicles Hera is spoken of as an evil and vengeful goddess.

Hera became the mother of the war god Ares, whom his father did not really like for his love of blood and murder. In revenge for the adventures, Hera gave birth to Hephaestus with an innocent conception, but he was so ugly that the goddess threw him from the top of Olympus.
But Hera loved Zeus, although his behavior offended her as the goddess of marriage. She was especially angry at the birth of Zeus's beloved daughter: the majestic Pallas Athena.

Athena, goddess of wisdom and victory, patroness of men

The birth of Athena has several variations: according to some myths, the maiden was born somewhere in Macedonia and her father is Poseidon, according to others, she is a wandering girl who swore an oath of allegiance to Zeus himself. But more often another version of the birth of Athena is told, according to which she is a demigoddess.

Zeus seduced an earthly girl, taking on the guise of a simple guy. But Hera, having learned about another affair of her restless husband, decided to punish him. She took the form of a girl and told the whole truth to the future mother of Athena that her lover is the father of the gods himself. And in order to convince her of her words, she convinced her to talk to Zeus and ask him to appear to her in his true form. This destroyed the curious girl, but before her death she gave birth to a little girl, whom the Thunderer took pity on and sewed into his thigh.

After a while, Zeus felt severe pain in his head, then Hephaestus cut off his head to look at the cause of this phenomenon. And from her father’s head, in shining armor, came Athena, the goddess whose name will inspire reverence and awe.

Pallas Athena patronized men; her brother, the god of war, Ares, was constantly in conflict with her. But the wisdom of the goddess always prevailed over ardor. Athena was revered by artisans; men did not begin important work unless they made a sacrifice to the goddess. But Athena is an unusual goddess in that there are almost no legends about her.

Only one legend about Arachne, who dared to weave the sins of the Thunderer, is known to the world. According to her, an angry warrior maiden turned the weaver into a spider to punish her for her insolence. Odysseus is her favorite and his campaign would not have been so successful if not for the patronage of the wise goddess. The cult of Athena was comparable to the cult of Zeus himself, but at the same time, the daughter’s special obedience to her father was noted everywhere. Athens set this quality as an example for girls, so that they would also honor their parents.

Aphrodite, goddess of love

Born from the foam of the sea, the beautiful Aphrodite had almost limitless power. Only three goddesses were outside the power of the goddess of love, the rest were subject to her. Aphrodite was always depicted surrounded by luxurious flowers and birds, she was surrounded by forest and sea nymphs. It is believed that Aphrodite had a small son: the playful Eros, the god of intimate pleasures, who was subordinate only to his mother.

By order of the father of the gods, the beautiful goddess was to become the wife of the brother of the supreme god Poseidon. But before the wedding, she disappeared into the foam of the sea laughing. It is noteworthy that this did not anger Zeus and Poseidon; a little later Aphrodite married Hephaestus, which amazed everyone. A colorful marriage: the ugly and lame god of fire and the most beautiful of goddesses. Although it was believed that the goddess also had a favorite: young Adonis, who died by chance.

Temples of Aphrodite were in many cities, she was revered as Venus Romans. Luxurious holidays were held in her honor and sacrifices were made to her. Orgies were held in her temples, participation in which was a great honor.

Artemis, goddess of the hunt in Ancient Greece, patroness of childbirth

Artemis is always depicted in skin and with a bow, and is officially considered the goddess of the hunt. At the same time, she has pity for animals and can severely punish for hunting in those places where she likes to relax.

The daughter of Latona and the sister of the golden-haired Apollo may be a gentle daughter, but she can also bring death to people. In the legends, the legend about how the mortal Niobe insulted her mother stands out especially clearly. Niobe had 14 beautiful children and thought that Latona was defective since she gave birth to only two. Angry Apollo and Artemis killed all her children, despite the repentance of the unfortunate mother.

Artemis protected women in labor, young mothers came to the temple of the goddess for protection and help in childbirth. If a child died or was born sick, it was believed that Artemis herself was angry and punished the mother through the child. But at the same time, the silver-eyed goddess could also heal: many people constantly flocked to her temples in attempts to be cured of deadly diseases.

Demeter, goddess of fertility in Ancient Greece

Demeter was the sister of the thunderer Zeus and provided protection to farmers. They prayed to her so that the harvest would be born and the earth would bear fruit. Demeter had an only daughter and joy - the beautiful Persephone. But she liked the gloomy and formidable god of the world of the dead. The brother of Zeus himself, the stern Hades, kidnapped the daughter of Demeter. To which the goddess responded by leaving Olympus and vowing never to return if her daughter was not returned to her.

At first, Zeus refused his sister, but without Demeter the earth stopped bearing fruit, and the livestock began to die of hunger. Gradually, people stopped making sacrifices to the gods, because there was nothing to eat: everything was dying. Then Zeus made a Solomonic decision: Persephone lived with Hades for six months and with her mother for six months. Hades was forced to obey: on the same day Persephone returned to her mother.

From then on, the time when the daughter and mother are together, the earth blooms and produces harvests, is summer and spring. And when Persephone returns to her husband, Demeter goes away to mourn and autumn and winter begin.