God of the sun in greece. Ancient greek gods

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

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

Apollo - the god of sunlight. The Greeks portrayed him as a handsome young man.

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

Asclepius - god of medical art, son of Apollo and the nymph Coronida

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

Bacchus - one of the names of Dionysus.

Helios (Helium ) - the god of the Sun, the brother of Selena (the goddess of the moon) and Eos (morning dawn). In late antiquity it was identified with Apollo, the god of sunlight.

Hermes - the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most significant Greek gods. Patron of wanderers, crafts, commerce, thieves. With the gift of eloquence.

Hephaestus - the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron saint of artisans.

Hypnosis - the deity of sleep, the son of Nikty (Nights). He was portrayed as a winged youth.

Dionysus (Bacchus) - the god of viticulture and winemaking, the object of a number of cults and mysteries. It was depicted in the form of a fat old man, then in the form of a young man with a wreath of grape leaves on his head.

Zagray - the god of fertility, the son of Zeus and Persephone.

Zeus - supreme god, king of gods and people.

Marshmallows - god of the west wind.

Iakh - the god of fertility.

Kronos - titanium , the 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 - the son of the goddess of the Night, the god of slander.

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

Nereus - the son of Gaia and Pontus, the meek sea god.

Music - the god of the south wind, depicted with a beard and wings.

Ocean - Titanium , son of Gaia and Uranus, brother and husband of Thephis 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 top of Mount Olympus.

Pan- forest god, son of Hermes and Dryopa, goat-footed man with horns. It was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small cattle.

Pluto - the god of the underworld, often identified with Hades, but in contrast from him, who owned not the souls of the dead, but the riches of the underworld.

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

Pont - One of the oldest Greek deities, the product of Gaia, the god of the sea, the father of many titans and gods.

Poseidon - One of the Olympian gods, the brother of Zeus and Hades, who rules over the sea element. Poseidon was also subject to the bowels of the earth,
he commanded storms and earthquakes.

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

Satire - goat-footed creatures, fertility demons.

Thanatos - the personification of death, the twin brother of Hypnos.

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

Typhon- A hundred-headed dragon born of a Gaia or Hero. During the battle of the Olympians and the Titans, was defeated by Zeus and imprisoned under the volcano Etna in Sicily.

Triton - the son of Poseidon, one of the sea deities, a man with a fish tail instead of legs, holding a trident and a twisted shell in his hands - a horn.

Chaos - the endless empty space from which at the beginning of time the most ancient gods of the Greek religion arose - Nikta and Erebus.

Chthonic Gods - deities of the underworld and fertility, relatives of the Olympians. These included Hades, Hekate, Hermes, Gaia, Demeter, Dionysus and Persephone.

Cyclops - giants with one eye in the middle of the forehead, children of Uranus and Gaia.

Evr (Heb) - the god of the southeast wind.

Eol - lord of the winds.

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

Eros (Eros) - God of love, son of Aphrodite and Ares. In ancient myths - a self-arising force that contributed to the ordering of the world. Depicted as a winged youth (in the Hellenistic era - a boy) with arrows accompanying his mother.

Ether - sky deity

Goddess of ancient greece

Artemis - the goddess of hunting and nature.

Atropos - one of the three moirs, cutting the thread of fate and breaking off human life.

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

Aphrodite (Cyphera, Urania) - the 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 sea foam)

Hebe - the daughter of Zeus and Hera, the goddess of youth. Sister Ares and Ilithia. Served the Olympian gods at feasts.

Hecate - the goddess of darkness, night visions and enchantment, the patroness of sorcerers.

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

Hera - Supreme Olympic goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage.

Hestia - the goddess of the hearth and fire.

Gaia - mother earth, mother of all gods and people.

Demitra - The goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Dryads - lower deities, nymphs that lived in trees.

Diana —Goddess of the hunt

Ilithia - the patron goddess of women in childbirth.

Irida - winged goddess, helper of Hera, messenger of the gods.

Calliope - The muse of epic poetry and science.

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

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

Clotho ("spinning") - one of the moira, spinning thread of human life.

Lachesis - one of the three Moira sisters, determining the fate of each person before birth.

Summer - Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.

Mayan - a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven galaxies - the daughters of Atlanta, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born.

Melpomene - The muse of tragedy.

Methida - the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, conceived from him Athena.

Mnemosyne - mother of nine muses, the goddess of memory.

Moira - the goddess of fate, the daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Muses - The patron goddess of the arts and sciences.

Naiads - the nymphs are the guardians of the waters.

Nemesis - Nikty’s daughter, a goddess personifying fate, and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.

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

Nika - personification of victory. Often she was depicted with a wreath, common in Greece, a symbol of triumph.

Nymphs - lower deities in the hierarchy of Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature.

No one - one of the first Greek deities, the goddess is the personification of the primordial Night

Orestiads - mountain nymphs.

Ora - the goddess of the seasons, calm and order, the daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Peyto - the goddess of persuasion, a companion of Aphrodite, often identified with her patroness.

Persephone - the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, the goddess of fertility. Husband and Queen of the Underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death.

Polygynia - The muse of serious hymn poetry.

Tefida - daughter of Gaia and Uranus, wife of Ocean and mother of Nereids and Oceanids.

Rhea - the mother of the Olympian gods.

Sirens - female demons, half-women, half-birds, capable of changing the weather at sea.

Waist - Muse of comedy.

Terpsichore- Muse of dance art.

Tisiphon - one of the Erinis.

Tiche - the goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, companion of Persephone. She was portrayed as a winged woman standing on a wheel holding a cornucopia and a ship steering wheel

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

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

Harits - the goddess of female beauty, the embodiment of a good, joyful and eternally youthful beginning of life.

Eumenides - another hypostasis of Erinis revered as goddesses of benevolence, preventing misfortunes.

Eris - Nikty's daughter, Ares's sister, goddess of contention.

Erinii - the goddess of vengeance, the offspring of the underworld, punishing injustice and crime.

Erato - The muse of lyrical and erotic poetry.

Eos - the goddess of the morning dawn, the sister of Helios and Selena. The Greeks called it "pink-toed".

Eutherpa - The muse of lyrical chants. Depicted with a double flute in hand.

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

Theogony

The classical Greek pantheon numbered 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 Theogony of the poet Hesiod, the Olympians were only the third generation of gods. At the very beginning there was only Chaos, from which over time came:

Nyukta (Night),
Gaia (Earth),
Uranus (Sky),
Tartarus (Abyss),
Scotos (Darkness),
Erebus (Gloom).

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

The ruler of the whole world was Uranus, and his wife - Gaia - the mother of everything. Uranus was afraid and hated his many titan children, so immediately after their birth he hid the babies back in the womb of Gaia. Gaia suffered greatly from the fact that she could not be born, but the youngest of the children, the titan Kronos, came to her aid. He overthrew and castigated his father.

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

Modern scholars are inclined to believe that titanomachy was not an empty fantasy based on anything. In fact, this episode reflected important social changes in the life of ancient Greece. Archaic chthonic deities - the titans, worshiped by the ancient Greek tribes, gave way to new deities, personifying order, law and statehood. The tribal system and matriarchy went into the past, they are 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, preserved in fragmentary and incomplete form, ancient Greek folklore was deeply and comprehensively studied. The pantheon of the ancient Greeks included hundreds of gods, however, only 12 of them were assigned the leading role. There is no canonical list of Olympians. In different versions of myths, different gods can enter 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 - the kingdom of the souls of the dead, and Zeus - the sky. Under the rule of Zeus, law and order are established throughout the earth. For the Greeks, Zeus was the personification of 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 the 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 struggle with titanium 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. Enraged, Zeus ordered Prometheus to be chained to a rock, where an eagle flew daily, pecking a titanium liver. In order to avenge the people created by Prometheus for their self-will, Zeus sent Pandora to them - a beautiful woman who opened a box in which diseases and various misfortunes of the human race were hidden.

Despite such a vengeful disposition, in general, Zeus is a bright and fair deity. Next to his throne 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 lord of such a changeable element as water. Like the ocean, it is buoy and wild. Most likely, initially Poseidon was an earthly deity. This version explains why the cult animals of Poseidon were completely "land" bull and horse. Hence the epithets endowed with the god of the seas - “shaking the earth”, “farmer”.

In myths, Poseidon often confronts his thunder brother. For example, supports the Achaeans in the war against Troy, on the side of which Zeus was.

Almost the entire trading and fishing life of the Greeks depended on the sea. Therefore, Poseidon regularly made rich sacrifices, throwing them directly into the water.

Hera

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

Although divine spouses often quarrel and betray each other, the union of Hera and Zeus symbolizes all monogamous marriages on earth and the relationship between a man and a woman as a whole.

Characterized by a jealous, and sometimes cruel disposition, Hera was still the guardian of the family hearth, the protector of mothers and children. Greek women prayed to Hera about sending them a good husband, pregnancy, or having an easy birth.

Perhaps the confrontation between Hera and her husband reflects the chthonic nature of this goddess. According to one version, touching the ground, it even gives birth to a monstrous snake - Typhon. Obviously, Hera is one of the first female deities of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, who evolved and revised the image of the mother goddess.

Ares

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

In myths, Zeus dislikes his bloodthirsty son; however, even a just war is impossible without Ares.

Athena

The birth of Athena was very unusual. Once Zeus began to suffer severe headaches. To alleviate the suffering of the thunderer, the god Hephaestus hits him on the head with an ax. A beautiful maiden in armor and a spear emerges from the resulting wound. Zeus, seeing his daughter, was very happy. The newborn goddess was named Athena. She became the main assistant to her father - the guardian of law and order and the personification of wisdom. Formally, Athena's mother was Metis, enclosed inside Zeus.

Since the warlike Athena embodied both the feminine and the masculine, she did not need a spouse and remained virgin. The goddess patronized the soldiers and heroes, but only to those who reasonably controlled their strength. Thus, the goddess balanced the violence of her bloodthirsty brother Ares.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus - the patron of blacksmithing, crafts and fire - was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was born lame on both legs. Hera was disagreeable with an ugly and sick baby, so she threw him from Olympus. Hephaestus fell into the sea, where Thetis picked him up. On the seabed, Hephaestus mastered blacksmithing and began to forge wonderful things.

For the Greeks, Hephaestus, thrown from Olympus, personified an ugly, but very smart and kind god, helping everyone who turns to him.

To teach his mother a lesson, Hephaestus forged a golden throne for her. When Hera sat down in it, fetters that none of the gods could unravel closed on her arms and legs. Despite all the persuasion, Hephaestus stubbornly did not want to go to Olympus to free Hera. Only the Dionysos, intoxicated Hephaestus, was able to bring the blacksmith. After his release, Hera recognized her son and gave him to Aphrodite as his wife. However, Hephaestus did not live long with his windy wife and entered into a second marriage with Harita Aglaya, the goddess of good and joy.

Hephaestus is the only Olympian who is constantly busy with work. He forges lightning for Zeus, magic items, armor and weapons. From his mother, he, like Ares, inherited some chthonic features, however, not so destructive. The connection of Hephaestus with the underworld is emphasized by its fiery nature. However, the fire of Hephaestus is not a destructive flame, but a home hearth that heats people, or a blacksmith hearth, 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 the abduction of Hades with Zeus her daughter - Persephone - Demeter fell into mourning. Eternal winter reigned on the earth, people were dying of hunger in thousands. Then Zeus demanded that Persephone spend with Hades only one-third of the year, and two-thirds - returned to her mother.

It is believed that Demeter trained people in agriculture. She also gave fertility to plants, animals and people. The Greeks believed that the mysteries dedicated to Demeter blur the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead. Archaeological excavations show that in some areas of Greece, Demeter was even sacrificed.

Aphrodite

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

The goddess was able 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 the changeable nature of Aphrodite, many suffered from her charms. The vengeful goddess could cruelly punish those who rejected her gifts or offended her with something.

Apollo and Artemis

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

With a bow and arrow, Artemis, surrounded by nymphs, began to roam the woods. The virgin goddess-hunter was the patroness of wild and domestic animals and all life on earth. Both young girls and pregnant women, whom she defended, turned to her for help.

Her brother also 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 how to treat illnesses and play music.

Hestia

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

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

Hermes

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

In myths, Hermes is not only a deceiver and a thief, but also a faithful helper. He often rescued heroes and gods from difficult situations, bringing them weapons, magic herbs or some other necessary items. Hermes' distinctive attributes were winged sandals and a caduceus - a rod around which two snakes wrapped themselves.

Hermes was revered by shepherds, traders, money-lenders, travelers, scammers, alchemists and fortunetellers.

Hades

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

Although Hades was the god of the dead, he also granted fertility and wealth. Moreover, he himself, as befits such a deity, did not have children, he even had to abduct 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 only once a year sacrifices were made to the king of the dead.

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

Of course, many deities and idols existed among many tribes and people. 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 the guardians of the beautiful and great powers of the ancient people.

Generations of the gods of ancient Greece

At different times, there were various. The list of one ancient author differed from another, but nevertheless general periods can be distinguished.

So, in the time of the Pelasgians, when the cult of worshiping the forces of nature flourished, the first generation of Greek gods appeared. It was believed that in the world the Rules of the Mist, from which the first supreme deity appeared - Chaos, and their children - Nikta (Night), Eros (Love) and Erebus (Gloom). A complete mess reigned on earth.

The names of the Greek gods of the second and third generation are already known throughout the world. These are the children of Nikta and Eber: the air god Ethereum and the goddess of the day Gemer, Nemesis (Retribution), Ata (False), Mom (Stupidity), Kera (Misfortune), Erinia (Revenge), Moira (Fate), Eris (Discord). And also take the twins Thanatos (the messenger of Death) and Hypnos (Dream). Children of the goddess of the land of 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 at the pelagest were overthrown by the titans and a number of universal catastrophes, legends of which are preserved in myths and legends. After them a new generation appeared - the Olympians. These are the human-looking gods of Greek mythology. Their list 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 a god and guardian of time. He was the youngest of the sons of the goddess of the land of Hera and the god of heaven, Uranus. Mother loved him, cherished him and indulged in everything. However, Kronos grew up very ambitious and cruel. Once, 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 to heaven. Hence the name of the Greek gods, the Olympians. When Kronos decided to marry, his mother told him about the prophecy. And he found a way out - he began to swallow all his born children. His poor wife Ray was horrified, but she failed to convince her husband of the opposite. Then she hid her third son (little Zeus) from Kronos on the island of Crete under the supervision of forest nymphs. It was Zeus that became the death of Kronos. When he grew up, he went to Olympus and overthrew his father, while forcing him to burp all his brothers.

Zeus and Hera

So, the rulers of the world became the new humanoid Greek gods from Olympus. Thunder Zeus became the father of the gods. He is a collector of clouds and the ruler of lightning, who creates all life, as well as the installer of order and justice on earth. The Greeks considered Zeus a source of goodness and nobility. The Thunderer is the father of the goddesses Or, the lords of time and year-long changes, as well as the Muses, who give people inspiration and joy.

Zeus's wife was Hera. She was portrayed as the grumpy goddess of the atmosphere, as well as the keeper of the hearth. Hera patronized all the women who were faithful to their husbands. And also, with her daughter Elijah, she facilitated the birth process. According to myths, Zeus was very loving, and after three hundred years of marriage, he got bored. He began to visit mortal women in a variety of guises. So, to beautiful Europe appeared 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 going on a voyage, people prayed first of all to him, and not to Zeus. In honor of the lord of the seas, altars smoked for several days. According to legend, Poseidon could be seen during a storm on the high seas. He came from the foam in a golden chariot drawn by dashing horses, which his brother Hades gave him.

Poseidon's wife was the goddess of the noisy sea of \u200b\u200bAmphitrite. The symbol is the trident, who granted complete power over the depths of the sea. Poseidon had a soft, non-conflict character. He always sought to avoid quarrels and conflicts, and was unconditionally devoted 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, the lord of the kingdom of the dead. He was even more feared than the Thunderer himself. No one could go down to the underworld without the permission of Hades, let alone return. According to Greek mythology, the gods of Olympus shared power among themselves. And Hades, who inherited the underworld, was unhappy. He harbored a grudge against Zeus.

Despite the fact that he never spoke directly and openly, there are many examples in the legends when the god of death tried his best to spoil the life of his crowned brother. So, once Hades abducted the beautiful daughter of Zeus and the fertility goddess Demeter Persephone. He forcibly made her his queen. Zeus was not in control of the kingdom of the dead, and chose not to mess with his embittered brother, because he refused to upset Demeter in a request to save his daughter. And only when the goddess of fertility in the mountain forgot about her duties, and drought and famine began on earth, Zeus decided to talk with Hades. They concluded a contract according to which Persephone will 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 portrayed as a grim man seated on a throne. On earth, he traveled 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. Aida's favorite was the three-headed dog Cerberus, who tirelessly guarded the entrance to the world of the dead.

Athena Pallas

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

In ancient Greece, Athena was considered the defender of fortresses and cities. She gave people fair and correct government. The goddess personified wisdom, tranquility and an astute mind.

Hephaestus and Prometheus

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

Everything changed Prometheus. He was the last of the titans who managed to survive. He lived on Olympus and was the right hand of Zeus. Prometheus could not watch how people suffer, and, having stolen the sacred fire from the temple, he brought it to the earth. For which he was punished by a thunderer and doomed to eternal torment. But the titan was able to agree 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 the gods did not marry the one who could give birth to his killer son, and thereby secured his power forever.

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 far reaches of Hyperboreans in winter, and returns to Hellas in the spring and again pours life into a wilted nature. Apollo was also the god of music and singing, since, along 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 a gift from Apollo.

Due to his regenerative ability, he was also considered the god of healing. According to legend, Apollo cast out all blackness from the patient with his sunbeams. The ancient Greeks portrayed God as a fair-haired young man with a harp in his hands.

Artemis

Apollo's sister Artemis was the goddess of the moon and hunting. It was believed that at night she wandered through the forests along with her companions in mallows and irrigated the land with dew. She was also called the patroness of animals. At the same time, many legends are associated with Artemis, where she brutally drowned sailors. To propitiate her, people were sacrificed.

At one time, the Greeks called Artemis the patroness of brides. 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 procreation. The Greeks depicted a goddess with many nipples on her chest, which symbolized her generosity, as the nurse of people.

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

Ares

Initially, Ares was considered the god of a stormy sky. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. But from the ancient Greek poets, he received the status of the god of war. He was always portrayed as a fierce warrior armed with a sword or spear. Ares loved the noise of battle and bloodshed. Therefore, he always feuded with Athena, the goddess of the clear sky. She was for the judiciousness and honest conduct of the battle, he - violent skirmishes and countless bloodshed.

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

Aphrodite and Eros

The beautiful Aphrodite was the patroness of all lovers. She is a favorite muse for all poets, sculptors and artists of that time. The goddess was portrayed as a beautiful woman emerging naked from the sea foam. The soul of Aphrodite was always full of pure and immaculate love. In the time of the Phoenicians, Aphrodite contained two principles - Asher and Astarte. She was Asher when she enjoyed the singing of nature and the love of the youth of Adonis. And Astarta - when she was revered as the "goddess of heights" - a stern warrior who imposed a vow of chastity on her novices and guarded marital morality. The ancient Greeks combined these two principles in their goddess and created the 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 fate of all lovers. He was portrayed as a little chubby boy with wings.

Demeter and Dionysus

Greek gods, patrons of agriculture and winemaking. Demeter personified nature, which under sunlight and torrential rains ripens and bears fruit. She was portrayed as a “blond” goddess, giving people a crop, deserved by labor and sweat. It is to Demeter that people owe the science of farming and sowing. The goddess was also called the "mother earth." 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 winemaking. As well as brotherhood and joy. Dionysus gives people inspiration and fun. He taught people how to process the vine, as well as wild and violent songs, which then served as the basis for the ancient Greek drama. God was portrayed as a young, cheerful young man, a vine covered the body, and in his hands was a jug of wine. Wine and vine are the main symbols of Dionysus.

The life of the ancient Greek gods on Mount Olympus seemed to people continuous fun and daily celebration. Myths and legends of those times are a storehouse of philosophical and cultural knowledge. Having considered the list of gods of Ancient Greece, you can plunge into a completely different world. Mythology is surprising in its uniqueness, it is important in that it pushed humanity to the development and emergence of many sciences, such as mathematics, astronomy, rhetoric, logic.

First generation

Originally there was a haze, but chaos arose from it. From their union came Erebus (gloom), Nikta (night), Uranus (sky), Eros (love), Gaia (earth) and Tartarus (abyss). All of them played a gigantic role in the formation of the pantheon. All other deities are somehow connected with them.

Gaia is one of the first deities on earth that arose on a par with heaven, sea and air. She is the great mother of everything on earth: the heavenly gods were born from her union with her son Uranus (heaven), the sea gods from Pontos (sea), the giants from Tartaros (hell), and mortal creatures were created from her flesh. Depicted as a fat woman half rising from the ground. We can assume that she 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 only Gay, also was her husband. Some sources call his father Akmon. Uranus was depicted as a bronze dome covering the world.

The list of the gods of Ancient Greece born of Uranus and Gaia: Ocean, Cousus, Hyperion, Crius, Thea, Rhea, Themis, Iapetus, Mnemosyne, Tethys, Kronos, Cyclops, Brontez, Sterop.

Uranus did not have a special 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, titan. It was a large river surrounding the earth, was the reservoir of all fresh water. Ocean's wife was his sister, the titanide Tefida. Their union spawned rivers, streams, and thousands of oceans. They did not take part in titanomachia. The ocean was depicted as a horned bull with a fish tail instead of legs.

Kay (Coy / Keos) is the brother and husband of Phoebe. Their union gave rise to Summer and Asteria. Depicted as a celestial axis. It was around her that the clouds revolved and walked across the sky Helios and Selena. Spouses were thrown by Zeus into Tartarus.

Kriy (Krios) - ice titanium, 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 participate in titanomachia. The wife was the titinide Thea (thrown into Tartarus with her brothers and sisters).

Kronos (Chronos / Kronus) is the interim 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 claim the throne of the sovereign. He was married to his sister Ray. She managed to save one child and hide him from Kronos. Overthrown by his only rescued heir Zeus and sent to Tartarus.

Closer to people

The next generation is the most famous. They are the main gods of ancient Greece. The list of their exploits, adventures and legends with their participation is very impressive.

They not only became closer to people, descending from heaven and coming out of chaos to the top of the mountain. The gods of the third generation have become more and more willing to contact people.

Zeus especially boasted of this, who was very partial to earthly women. And the presence of the divine wife of Hera did not bother him at all. It was from his union with man that the hero of myths, Hercules, was known to everyone.

Third generation

These gods lived on Mount Olympus. From her name they got their title. There are 12 gods of Ancient Greece, a list of which is known to almost everyone. All of them performed their functions and were endowed with unique talents.

But more often they talk about fourteen gods, the first six of whom were children of Kronos and Rhea:

Zeus - the main god of Olympus, the ruler of the sky, personified power and strength. God of lightning, thunder and creator of people. The main attributes of this god were: Aegis (shield), Labrys (double-sided ax), lightning of Zeus (two-pointed pitchfork with notches) and an eagle. Distributed good and evil. Was in alliance with several women:

Metis - the first wife, the goddess of wisdom, was swallowed by her husband;
Themis - the goddess of justice, the second wife of Zeus;
Hera - the last wife, the goddess of marriage, was the sister of Zeus.

Poseidon is the god of rivers, floods, seas, droughts, horses and earthquakes. His attributes were: a trident, a dolphin and a chariot with white-maned horses. Wife - Amphitrite.

Demeter is the mother of Persephone, the sister of Zeus and his lover. He is the goddess of fertility and patronizes the farmers. Attribute Demeter - a wreath of ears of corn.

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

Hades is the ruler of the underworld of the dead. The wife of Persephone (the goddess of fertility and the queen of the kingdom of the dead). Attributes of Hades were a two-prong or a rod. He was portrayed with an 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 jewelry is a symbol that it is the main one on Olympus. She obeyed (sometimes reluctantly) all the main gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which she headed.

The rest of the Olympians

Let these gods not have such powerful parents, almost all of them were born from Zeus. Each of them was talented in his own way. And perfectly coped with his duties.

Ares is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of battles, war and masculinity. He was a lover, then the spouse of the goddess Aphrodite. Ares's companions were Eris (the goddess of contention) and Enio (the goddess of violent warfare). 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 muses, god-healer and predictor of the future. Apollo was very loving, he had many lovers and lovers. Attributes were: a laurel wreath, a chariot, a bow with arrows and a golden lyre.

Hermes is the son of Zeus and the Pleiades of Maya or Persephone. God of trade, eloquence, agility, rationality, livestock and roads. Patron of athletes, merchants, artisans, shepherds, travelers, ambassadors and thieves. He is the personal messenger of Zeus and the escort of the dead to the kingdom of Hades. He trained people in writing, commerce and bookkeeping. Attributes: winged sandals allowing him to fly, an invisible helmet, a caduceus (a rod decorated with two intertwined snakes).

Hephaestus is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of blacksmithing and fire. Lame on both legs. Wives of Hephaestus - Aphrodite and Aglaya. The attributes of God were: blacksmith furs, ticks, a chariot and pilos.

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

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto, the twin sister of Apollo. The young goddess is a hunter. Having been born first, she helped her mother give birth to Apollo. Chaste. Attributes of Artemis: doe, quiver with arrows and chariot.

Demeter is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. The mother of Persephone (the wife of Hades), the sister of Zeus and his lover. Goddess of agriculture and fertility. Attribute of Demeter is a wreath of ears of corn.

Athena, the daughter of Zeus, completes our list of the gods of Ancient Greece. She was born out of his head after he swallowed her mother Themis. Goddess of war, wisdom and crafts. Patroness of the Greek city of Athens. Her attributes were: a shield with the image of the Gorgon jellyfish, an owl, a snake and a spear.

Born in the foam?

I want to say about the next goddess separately. She is not only to this day a symbol of female beauty. Everything else, the history of its origin is hidden by secret.

There is much debate and speculation about the birth of Aphrodite. First version: the goddess was born from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, who fell into the sea and formed foam. Second version: Aphrodite arose from a sea shell. The third hypothesis: she is the daughter of Dione and Zeus.

This goddess was in charge of beauty and love. Spouses: Ares and Hephaestus. Attributes: chariot, apple, rose, mirror and dove.

How they lived on the great Olympus

All the Olympic gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which you see above, had the right to live and spend all their free time from miracles on the great mountain. The relationship between them was not always rosy, but few of them decided on open hostility, knowing the power of their opponent.

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

Gods not living on top of Olympus

Not all deities had the opportunity 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 high honor, or were humble and contented with ordinary life. Unless, of course, you can call it the existence of a deity. In addition to the Olympic gods, there were other gods of ancient Greece, a list of their names here:

Hymen - the god of marriage (son of Apollo and the muse of Calliope).
Nika is the goddess of victory (daughter of Styx and Titan Pallant).
Irida is the goddess of the rainbow (daughter of the sea god Tavmant and the ocean of Electra).
Ata is the goddess of mental confusion (daughter of Zeus).
Apata is the mistress of lies (the heiress of the goddess of night darkness Nyukta).
Morpheus - the god of dreams (son of the lord of dreams Hypnos).
Phobos is the god of fear (a descendant of Aphrodite and Ares).
Deimos is the lord of horror (the son of Ares and Aphrodite).
Ory - the goddess of the seasons (daughters of Zeus and Themis).
Aeolus is the demigod of the winds (heir to Poseidon and Arna).
Hecate - the mistress of darkness and all monsters (the result of the union of the titans of Persia and Asteria).
Thanatos is the god of death (son of Erebus and Nyukta).
Erinii - the goddess of revenge (daughters of Erebus and Nyukta).
Pontus is the ruler of the inland sea (heir to Ether and Gaia).
Moira - goddess 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 actors. If you want to read more stories about each, we are sure that the ancient storytellers came up with a lot of interweaving of their destinies and the details of the divine life, in which you will gradually get acquainted with more and more new characters.

The Importance of Greek Mythology

There were also muses, nymphs, satires, 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 overgrown with other details and characters not seen before. More and more new gods of Ancient Greece appeared, the list of names of which grew from one narrator to another.

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

Adonis is a deity of a dying and resurrecting nature, borrowed from Phenicia in the 5th century. BC e. At the request of Zeus, Adonis was to spend a third of the year with Afrodiga, a third of the year with Persephone.

Hades is one of the main Greek gods, the lord of the kingdom of the dead and the entire underworld. Brother of Zeus, Poseidon and Demeter.

Amphitrite is a sea goddess, the wife of Poseidon, the mistress of the seas.

Apollo (Phoebus) - one of the main Greek gods, son of Zeus, brother of Artemis. The deity of the sun, sunlight, enlightenment, the patron of art, personified by 9 muses, agriculture, the guardian of herds, roads, travelers, sailors, god-warrior, god-healer and divine god. The most important centers of the Apollo cult in Greece were Delphi with the famous oracle, the island of Delos and Didim near Miletus.

Ares (or Ares) - the god of war, military art, the son of Zeus and Hera. One of the main Olympic deities.

Artemis - one of the main goddesses, was part of a family of 12 Olympic deities, the patroness of forests, forest vegetation, animals, natural fertility, including procreation, the daughter of Zeus, the twin sister of Apollo.

Asclepius is the god of healing and medical art, the son of Apollo.

Athena - one of the main goddesses of the Greek pantheon, was a member of the family of 12 Olympic gods, the patroness of wisdom, sciences, craft art, a victorious war and peaceful prosperity, the main goddess of Athens and Attica. Born in an unusual way: Athena emerged from the head of Zeus.

Aphrodite - one of the main goddesses of Greece, was a member of the family of 12 Olympic deities, the daughter of Zeus; according to another version, the goddess of beauty, sensual love, female fertility and love charm was born from sea foam.

Hebe is the goddess of youth, the daughter of Zeus and Hera. On Olympus, she brought ragweed and nectar to the gods.

Hecate - one of the goddesses of the underworld, the lord of shadows in the underworld, the goddess of ghosts and nightmares, magic and spells. Like Artemis, she was considered the mistress of animals. The daughter of Zeus.

Hekatomba - the main sacrifice at the temples in the amount of one hundred animals or more.

Helios is one of the main Greek gods, especially in the Hellenistic era. God of the sun, often identified with Apollo. The son of titanium Hyperion.

Hera is one of the main Greek goddesses, a member of the family of 12 Olympic gods, the sister and wife of Zeus, the mother of Hebe, Hephaestus and Ares, the queen on Olympus. As the female hypostasis of Zeus - the lord of lightning and thunder, clouds and storms, another function of Hera is the patroness of marriage and conjugal love, the guardian of family foundations, the assistant to pregnant women and parents.

Hercules - the Greek hero, awarded immortality and ranked among the host of Olympic gods for his exploits. 12 main exploits of Hercules are known: 1) strangled the Nemean lion, 2) killed the Lernean hydra, 3) caught the Erymanthian boar, which devastated Arcadia, 4) captured the swift-footed Kerinoe fallow deer, 5) killed the Stiffalia monster birds with copper beaks, claws ) obtained the belt of Hippolyta, the cruel queen of warlike Amazons, 7) cleared the stables of Tsar Avgius, 8) pacified the Cretan bull, spewing flames, 9) defeated King Diomedes, who threw strangers to tear to pieces by his cannibal mares, 10) kidnapped cows of the three-headed giant, 11 ) got the golden apples of the Hesperides, which Atlas brought him - a giant that supports the vault of heaven. When Atlas went for apples, Hercules held the vault for him, 12) caught and brought into the sunlight the formidable guardian of the underworld - the dog Kerber. In addition, Hercules defeated the giant Antei, tearing him from his mother earth, giving him strength, and strangled him in his arms. As a baby, he strangled a snake in the cradle, took part in the campaign of the Argonauts, in the Calydonian hunt, etc.

Hermes (Ermius) - a member of the Olympic family, one of the main Greek gods, was the messenger and messenger of the gods, fulfilling their will, but at the same time performed numerous functions, was the patron of heralds, gymnastic competitions of youth, trade and wealth associated with it, cunning, dexterity, deception and theft, travel, roads and intersections. The son of Zeus and Maya. He accompanied the souls of the dead to the kingdom of Hades.

Hestia is a member of the Olympic family, the goddess of the hearth, the sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades.

Hephaestus is a member of the Olympic family, the patron of fire and blacksmithing, the son of Zeus and Hera, the husband of Aphrodite.

Gaia is one of the oldest and most important goddesses of the Greek pantheon, the personification of the earth, the progenitor of the gods, titans, giants, all people.

The giants - the sons of Gaia (earth) and Uranus (heaven) - the divine giants, the first generation of gods, which was replaced by a new generation of Olympic gods led by Zeus. According to myth, the giants were exterminated by the Olympic gods in a fierce battle.

Hymen - the god of marriage and marriage, son of Apollo.

Demeter - a member of the Olympic family, one of the main Greek goddesses, the deity of agriculture and earthly fertility, germinating grain; She was also revered as the patroness and organizer of the economy of a separate family, the sister of Zeus.

Demons - a special group of minor divine beings - spirits with obscure functions, they did not have any image, were the personification of all obscure, wonderful and fatal in nature and life of an individual person.

Dike - the deity of truth, the personification of justice, the daughter of Zeus.

Dionysus is one of the most ancient and most popular gods of Ancient Greece, the personification of the dying and resurrecting nature, the patron of vegetation, the productive forces of nature, viticulture and winemaking, folk festivals, poetic inspiration and theatrical art. The son of Zeus.

Zeus is the supreme god and king of the gods of the Olympic family. The deity of heaven, heavenly space, the lord and master of everything that happens in nature, the life of gods and people, the future and destiny of fate are open to him. As the sky god Zeus commands thunder and lightning, collects and disperses the clouds. Zeus is the father of most members of the Olympic family of gods. One of the main centers of his cult was the town of Olympia in Elis, where the Olympic Games were held in his honor.

Ilithia is the goddess of childbearing, the daughter of Zeus and Hera.

Iris is the goddess of the rainbow. Since a rainbow connects heaven and earth, Irida was considered an intermediary between gods and people, transmitting the will of the gods.

Kabir - minor deities who did not have any image, the patrons of land fertility, underground fire, saved from sea storms.

Kekrop is an ancient Attic deity of the earth, the son of Gaia, one of the patrons of Attica and Athens. His cult is closely connected with the cult of Athens.

Kron (Kronos) - one of the oldest Greek deities, the son of Uranus and Gaia, one of the titans of the first generation of Greek gods. The father of Zeus, was overthrown by Zeus in Tartarus.

Latona (Summer) is the divine mother of Apollo and Artemis. Her cult did not have independent significance; she was venerated along with her popular children.

Moira - goddess of human destiny, daughter of Zeus. Depicted in the form of old women spinning the thread of human life. Three moires are known: Clotho begins to spin the thread, Lachezis leads the thread of human life, and Atropa cuts the thread.

Morpheus is the deity of dreams, the son of the god of sleep Hypnos.

Muses - the goddess of poetry, art and science, companions of Apollo, lived on Mount Helicon and Parnassus. There were nine muses: Clio is the muse of history, Euterpa is the muse of lyrics, Melia is the muse of comedy, Melpomene is the muse of tragedy, Terpsichore is the muse of dancing and choral singing, Erato is the muse of erotic poetry, Polygymnia is the muse of solemn chants and pantomime, Urania is the muse of astronomy Calliope is the eldest muse, patroness of epic poetry.

Naiads are deities, the patroness of waters, springs, streams and rivers, the forces of nature favorable to people, animals and plants.

Nemesis is the goddess of just and inevitable retribution, punishing for violating the established order of things, punishing both for excessive happiness and for too much pride.

Nereus - an ancient sea deity, father Nereid, the personification of the calm sea. Both the changing sea and Nereus could take various images, had the gift of reincarnation.

Nereids - nymphs of the sea, daughter of Nereus. They help sailors in danger.

Nika is the daughter of Zeus, the personification of victory both in a military battle and in a sports competition.

Nymphs are semi-divine beings (since they were considered mortal), the personification of various forces and natural phenomena. There were nymphs of sea waters (oceanwinds, Nereids), river waters and springs (naiads), mountains (oreads), valleys (napey), meadows (lemonades), trees (dryads), there were nymphs of separate places (Dodons, nisas), islands ( Calypso, Pickaxe). They were considered the patrons of poets, carefree, happy pastime.

The ocean is one of the oldest Greek sea deities, the son of Uranus and Gaia. He lived in solitude in an underwater palace and did not appear in the meetings of the gods. In classical time, its functions are transferred to Poseidon.

Olympus is the sacred mountain of the Greeks in Northern Thessaly, the permanent residence of the twelve main deities: Zeus, Poseidon and Hades (gods, lords of heaven, sea and the underworld), their wives and children: Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Athens, Aphrodite, Apollo , Artemis, Hephaestus and Ares. Here also live the messengers of their will Hermes and Irida, as well as those serving the gods "Femvda and Heba.

Omphal is a sacred stone (usually a meteorite). The most famous omphalus, stored in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, was considered the center of the world.

The oracle is a place of communication between gods and people, where you can learn the will of a deity. The most famous oracle was the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, where divination of the deity was transmitted through the priestess of the Pythia, in Dodon the will of Zeus was manifested in the rustling leaves of the sacred oak, on Delos - the leaves of the holy laurel. The transmitted will of the gods was interpreted by a special priestly collegium.

Ory - goddesses who knew the change of seasons, order in nature, guardians of order and law in society, companions of Aphrodite. The most famous are three Ora: Eunoya (legitimacy), Dick (justice), Eiren (world).

Palladium - an image of an armed deity, as a rule, the oldest wooden statue, considered the guardian of the city. Such palladiums were Apollo, Aphrodite, but most often Athena, from whose nickname “Pallas” this name also occurred.

Pan is the Arcadian god of forests and groves, the son of Hermes, one of the moons of Dionysus. Patron of shepherds, hunters, beekeepers and fishers. Pan possessed the gift of instilling uncontrolled, so-called "panic" fear on people.

Panacea - the goddess-healer, daughter of Asclepius.

Pegasus is a magical winged horse, delivering thunder and lightning by order of Zeus. In the Hellenistic era it became a symbol of poetic inspiration.

Persephone - the daughter of Demeter, wife of Aida, one of the main goddesses of the Greek pantheon, the mistress of the underworld, the personification of the growth of cereals and earthly fertility. Persephone symbolizes the annual dying and awakening of vegetation, the burial and revival of grain sown in the ground.

Plutos is the god of wealth as one of the manifestations of agricultural labor and peaceful life.

Pomp - a solemn procession of a religious nature associated with the delivery of gifts to the temple of the main deity of the polis, for example, during the celebration of the Panathenas in honor of Athena, the Eleusinian mysteries in honor of Demeter and others.

Poseidon is one of the main Olympic gods, the brother of Zeus, the deity of sea moisture, the lord of numerous sea deities and, at the same time, the patron of horse breeding.

Prometheus is one of the titans, that is, the gods of the first generation from Gaia and Uranus, the patron of people and civilized life; He gave fire to people and introduced it to use, taught people reading, writing, navigation, science and crafts. He provoked the wrath of Zeus, who chained him to a rock in the Caucasus, where an eagle arriving daily pecked his liver.

Proteus - a marine deity subordinate to Poseidon, had the ability to take on any appearance.

Radamant is one of the three judges of the underworld, the son of Zeus.

Rhea is the mother goddess, the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the wife of Kronos, the mother of Zeus and other Olympic crown gods.

Sabazius - originally a Phrygian deity, then merged with Dionysus.

Satyrs - minor forest deities personifying fertility, were in the retinue of Dionysus. Depicted in the form of half-humans, half-gantry.

Selena - the goddess of the moon, the wife of Helios, was often identified with Artemis.

Sarapis is one of the most important gods of Hellenistic Egypt and the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean, a syncretic deity uniting the functions of the ancient Egyptian gods Osiris, Isis, Apis, and the Greek gods Apollo, Hades, Asclepius.

Silenus - the demon, the son of Hermes, the educator of Dionysus, was portrayed in the image of a fat, like wine fur, constantly drunk, funny, bald old man.

Sirens are half-women half-women. With their magical voice, they lured sailors to the rocks, and then devoured them.

Sphinx - a monster portrayed in the form of a winged lion with the head of a woman. The monster lived near Thebes and killed the buttons who could not solve his riddles.

The Titans are the gods of the first generation, the children of Uranus and Gaia, often they are identified with giants. The giant titans were defeated by the next generation of Olympic gods and cast down into Tartarus, in other myths they moved to the blessed islands.

Typhon is an evil deity portrayed as a monster with a hundred snake heads spewing flame, the son of Gaia and Tartarus, born after the Olympians defeated the Titans.

Tiche is the goddess of fate and chance; her cult was especially popular in the Hellenistic era.

Triton is a minor sea deity, the son of Poseidon.

Uranus - the original supreme deity, the personification of the primary male principle, was considered the god of Heaven, who combined with the primary female principle, the goddess Gaia (earth). From this marriage titans, giants, and other deities were born.

Phaeton is the lowest solar deity, the son of Helios.

Phoenix is \u200b\u200ba mythical character, portrayed as a bird (an eagle with golden feathers), which, having reached old age (at 500, 1461, 7006 years), burned itself and was reborn from the ashes of a young and renewed one.

Themis is the goddess of law, rule of law, established order and predictions. Depicted with a cornucopia, scales in his hands and a blindfold.

Chaos is the primary uncertainty that existed before the creation of the world. The first creatures of Chaos were the deities Gaia, Tartarus, Eros (love), Erebus (darkness), Night.

Kharitas are deities of fertility, beauty, joy, the personification of blooming femininity, the daughter of Zeus.

Charon is the deity of the underworld, the carrier of the souls of the dead across the river of the underworld Acheront.

Chimera - a monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, the tail of a dragon.

Elysia (Champs Elysees) - fields of the blessed, part of the underworld, where the chosen ones of the gods live. According to the ancient Greeks, in Elysia they fall not so much for a righteous life as by the grace of the gods.

Eris is the goddess of discord, sister and companion of the war god Ares, daughter of the Night, mother of disasters, quarrels and famines.

Erinnia is the three goddess of vengeance living in Hades (Tisiphon, Allecto and Meger). They punish for oath-crimes, violation of the customs of hospitality, murder. A man pursued by the Erinnias is losing his mind.

Eros - one of the primary Greek gods, the offspring of Chaos, personified the elemental connecting principle in nature, later the deity of love, the son of Aphrodite and Ares.

The ether is a deity personifying the upper radiant layer of air, where the king of the gods Zeus usually stayed.