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Gods of Mount Olympus in ancient Greece. Gods Worshiped in Ancient Greece

The greatest and most powerful of the Greek gods, thunderer, son of Rhea (Earth) and Kronos (Time). Kronos mercilessly devoured all his children, fearing that they would rise up against him. Rhea saved Zeus, her sixth child, by letting Kronos swallow a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes instead of a baby. The matured Zeus forced his father to return the children he had swallowed and, together with them, entered into a struggle with Kronos and the Titans for power over the world.

Apollo

The god of sunlight, the son of Zeus and Leto (Latona), was born on the island of Delos. The island was called luminous because of the golden flowers that covered it. According to legend, jealous Hera forbade her husband's beloved to set foot on solid ground. Summer, pursued by the dragon Python, sent by Hera, wandered the world. At the request of Zeus, Poseidon raised Delos (then called Asteria), stolen by Scylla and hidden in the waves, to the surface. Leto took refuge on a floating island, here she was able to safely give birth to twins - the golden-haired Apollo and his sister Artemis.

After that, huge pillars, rising from the depths of the sea, stopped the island, and it firmly took its place in the Aegean Sea. The palm tree under which Leto gave birth to her divine children became sacred. Apollo's arrows always hit the target. Apollo travels a lot, but always returns to his native island of Delos (modern Delos). Near Delphi, he killed the dragon - the monster of Python, who pursued his mother. In honor of this victory, the Delphic Temple, the main center of veneration for Apollo, was built.

The Delphic oracles had a huge impact on the course of Greek history. Apollo, who had the gift of foresight, endowed people with this property. He was also considered the god of harmony, spiritual activity and the arts, especially music and singing. He was often depicted with a lyre in his hands, received from Hermes. On Parnassus, he dances with nine muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Apollo was also revered as a deity guarding crops and herds, he was known as a god - the averter of troubles and the god of healing. The sacred tree of Apollo was laurel.

Artemis

The beautiful young virgin Artemis, daughter of Zeus and Leto (Latona), twin sister of Apollo, was born on the island of Delos. Artemis was born first and immediately began to help her mother, taking Apollo in her arms. With a bow and quiver, with a spear in her hands, the huntress Artemis, accompanied by nymphs, spends time in the forests.

Artemis is the goddess of fertility, she takes care of everything that grows on earth. She patronizes domestic animals and wild animals. It was believed that she blesses the birth, wedding and marriage. However, this goddess had a decisive character, and woe was to the one who angered her. So, she sent a terrible boar to Calydon because the king Oinei, having gathered a rich harvest, sent gifts to all the gods except her. The goddess severely punished the hunter Actaeon, who accidentally spied on her ablution: she turned the young man into a deer, and he was torn to pieces by the dogs with which he and his friends hunted.

Hermes, the son of Zeus and the mountain nymph Maya, was born in a mountain cave. Only three hours old he killed a tortoise and fashioned a lyre from its shell. After that, he stole a herd of cows from Apollo. Zeus ordered them returned, but when Apollo drove the hidden flock out of the cave, Hermes played his lyre. The marvelous sounds made by this musical instrument captivated Apollo, and in exchange for the lyre, he gave Hermes his cows. Hermes from infancy was distinguished by extraordinary cunning and dexterity, so that he was even considered the patron of swindle. Hermes is the messenger of the gods, the patron of travelers. He is the mediator between gods and people. Hermes was honored by a traveler, and an orator, and a merchant, and even a thief. The messenger of the gods Hermes was depicted wearing golden winged sandals, with a staff in his hand.

Dionysus

God of vegetation, viticulture, winemaking and fun. Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele, daughter of the Theban king. On the advice of the jealous Hera, Semele asked Zeus to appear to her in all his glory. Zeus did just that, but the lightning of the thunderer incinerated Semele, and he barely managed to snatch the premature Dionysus from the flames that was born to her. Zeus sewed the baby into his thigh, and in due time opened the seams, and Dionysus was born. He went through many trials before he achieved fame. Dionysus gave people strength and joy. He went all over the world, from country to country, and he was constantly accompanied by a crowd of dancing and singing maenads and satyrs.

Pan is the son of Hermes and the nymph Dryopa. He was born with goat legs, horns and a long beard. Pan did not want to live on Olympus, but went to the mountains. There, among the forests, he tends his flocks and plays the sonorous flute. Pan is the god of the forest, fields, the god of shepherds, guarding the flocks. He is an indispensable companion of the god of wine Dionysus.

Prometheus

For the fact that he taught people to build houses and make fire, Zeus ordered the titan Prometheus to be chained to the top of the Caucasus with strong chains. Every day a huge eagle flew to him and pecked out the unfortunate liver. At the place of his torment, Prometheus met with Io, the daughter of the river god Ipach. Jealous Hera turned her into a cow guarded by stout-eyed Argus. Prometheus predicted to Io that she would give birth to Epaphus.

The curse of Zeus on Prometheus was removed by Hercules, who killed the eagle. And Prometheus received liberation by revealing to Zeus a great secret: the Thunderer should not marry the sea nymph Thetis, since fate is predetermined that, whoever Thetis' husband is, she will have a son from him who will be more powerful than his father. On the advice of Prometheus, Thetis was given as a wife to Peleus, and she gave birth to Achilles, one of the greatest heroes of Greece.

It causes genuine interest, intrigues and excites. It combines fictional and modern world. Many books have been written about him and many films have been made. The pantheon of the Greek gods is a real storehouse for studying the history, customs and life of Ancient Greece. What function did the celestials perform on the sacred Mount Olympus? What unthinkable power and authority were endowed with? This and much more will be discussed in our new divine article!

The pantheon, or simply a group of gods belonging to the same religion, consisted of a large number of celestials, each of which performed the assigned role and carried out its function. In their appearance and behavior, the gods and goddesses were similar to ordinary people. They experienced the same emotions and feelings, fell in love and quarreled, got angry and had mercy, deceived and spread gossip. But their main difference was immortality! Over time, the history of the relationship between the gods increasingly grew into myths. And this only increased interest and admiration for the ancient religion ...

Representatives of the younger generation of celestials in Ancient Hellas were considered the main gods. Once they took away the right to rule the world from the older generation (titans), who personified the elements of nature and universal forces. Having defeated the titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. We will talk about the 12 main Olympian gods and goddesses, their assistants and companions, who were worshiped by the Greeks!

The king of the gods and the main deity. The representative of the infinite sky, the lord of lightning and thunder. Zeus had unlimited power over both people and gods. The ancient Greeks honored and feared the Thunderer, appeasing him in every possible way with the best donations. Babies learned about Zeus even in the womb, and all misfortunes were attributed to the wrath of the greatest and all-powerful.

Brother of Zeus, ruler of the sea, rivers, lakes and oceans. He personified courage, stormy temper, quick-tempered character and unearthly strength. Being the patron saint of sailors, he could induce hunger, turn over and sink ships and decide the fate of fishermen in open waters. Poseidon is closely associated with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The brother of Poseidon and Zeus, to whom the entire underworld, the kingdom of the dead, obeyed. The only one who did not live on Olympus, but was rightfully considered the Olympic god. All the dead went to Hades. Although people were afraid to even pronounce the name of Hades, in ancient mythology he is represented as a cold, unshakable and indifferent god, whose decision must be unquestioningly carried out. In his dark kingdom with demons and shadows of the dead, where the sun's rays do not penetrate, you can only enter. There is no way back.

Aristocratic and refined, the god of healing, sunlight, spiritual purity and artistic beauty. Having become the patron of creativity, he is considered the head of 9 muses, as well as the father of the god of doctors Asclepius.

The most ancient god of roads and travel, the patron of trade and merchants. This celestial with wings on his heels was associated with a subtle mind, resourcefulness, cunning and an excellent knowledge of foreign languages.

The insidious god of war and fierce battles. The mighty warrior preferred massacres and waged war for the sake of war itself.

The patron saint of blacksmithing, pottery and other crafts associated with fire. Even in the era of ancient times, Hephaestus was associated with volcanic activity, roar and flame.

Wife of Zeus, patroness of marriage and conjugal love. The goddess was distinguished by jealousy, anger, cruelty and excessive severity. In a state of rage, she could bring terrible troubles to people.

The daughter of Zeus, the beautiful goddess of love, who easily fell in love with herself and fell in love herself. In her hands was concentrated a great power of love, pure and sincere, which she bestowed on gods and people.

Goddess of just war, wisdom, patroness of spiritual pursuits, art, agriculture and crafts. Athena Pallas was born from the head of Zeus in full uniform. Thanks to her, state life flows and cities are built. For her knowledge and intelligence among the pantheon of Greek gods, she was the most respected and authoritative celestial.

The patroness of agriculture and the goddess of fertility. She is the guardian of life, who taught a person peasant labor. She fills the barns and restocks. Demeter is the embodiment of the primeval energy of creativity, the great mother that gives birth to all living things.

Artemis

Goddess of forests and hunting, sister of Apollo. The patroness of vegetation and fertility. The virginity of the goddess is closely related to the idea of birth and sexual relations.

In addition to the 12 main Olympic gods among the Greek celestials there were many no less significant and authoritative names.

God of winemaking and all natural forces that make a person happy.

Morpheus. Everyone was in his arms. Greek god of dreams, son of Hypnos, the god of sleep. Morpheus knew how to take any form, accurately copy the voice and appear to people in dreams.

The son of Aphrodite and concurrently the god of love. A cute boy with a quiver and a bow accurately throws arrows at people, which kindle indestructible love in the hearts of gods and people. In Rome, Amur corresponded to him.

Persephone. Daughter of Demeter, kidnapped by Hades, who dragged her to his underworld and made her his wife. She spends part of the year upstairs with her mother, the rest of the time she lives underground. Persephone personified the seed that is sown in the ground and comes to life at the time when it comes to light.

The patroness of the hearth, family and sacrificial fire.

Pan. Greek god of forests, patron of shepherds and flocks. Presented with goat legs, horns and a beard with a flute in his hands.

Goddess of victory and constant companion of Zeus. The divine symbol of success and a happy outcome is always depicted in a pose of rapid movement or with wings. Nika takes part in all musical competitions, military enterprises and religious celebrations.

And that is not all Greek names gods:

Asclepius - greek god healing.
Proteus is the son of Poseidon, a sea deity. He had the gift to predict the future and change appearance.
Triton - the son of Poseidon, brought news from the depths of the sea, blowing into the shell. Depicted as a mixture of horse, fish and man.
Eirene - the goddess of peace, stands at the Olympian throne of Zeus.
Dike is the patroness of truth, a goddess who does not tolerate deceit.
Tyukhe is the goddess of good luck and a successful event.
Plutos is the ancient Greek god of wealth.
Enyo is the goddess of furious war, causing rage in the fighters, bringing confusion into the battle.
Phobos and Deimos are the sons and companions of Ares, the god of war.

Probably, almost everyone had their first acquaintance with Greece thanks to ancient myths, in which gods, heroes and mere mortals act, who dared to measure their strength with the celestials. More precisely, with the inhabitants of Olympus - the highest mountain range in the country. Therefore, today, returning to where we should have started, Grekoblog will tell you where Mount Olympus is located, how to get to it, and why it is interesting in addition to the mythological component.

A rare traveler does not know that Mount Olympus is known as the "home" of 12 gods, led by Zeus. 2 more supreme god(Hades and Poseidon) lived in the underground and sea waters, respectively. But Hephaestus, revered by the Greeks, despite the fact that, according to legend, it was he who built all the palaces and other buildings on Olympus and forged lightning and aegis for Zeus, he was either on the mountain or in the dungeon.

Myths and reality

According to the logic of the ancient Greeks, the gods could only live at an unattainable height. But, unfortunately, the upper layer of the sky (Empyrean), according to the ideas of the time, which was subsequently adopted by ancient natural philosophy, was filled with fire. That is, it was not suitable for living even such invulnerable creatures as the immortal gods. That is why the Greeks, as a mountain people, placed their pantheon on Olympus, the highest mountain in the region. So Mount Olympus is not a myth, but a real-life massif in the northeast of the country, on the border of Macedonia and Thessaly, just 90 km southwest of modern ones.

Olympus is a real-life massif 90 km southwest of modern Thessaloniki

The origin of the toponym "Olympus" is ambiguous. Many scientists, including the well-known researcher Taho-Godi, consider the word "Olympus" and the Indo-European root ulu in the same context.< uelu (вращать). Иными словами, вершина горы, возможно, когда-то была округлой. Однако у этого корня есть и другое значение – «блестеть». Что ж, эта версия тоже имеет право на существование: зимой в солнечную погоду гора Олимп, а точнее ее убеленные снегами вершины, действительно блестят. И в ясную погоду это видно даже из Салоник, отделенных от горы гладью невероятно красивого залива Термаикос.

"Peaks", by the way, is also not a reservation, since we are talking about a mountain range. “Multi-peak”, “wet from many snows” - the great Homer “awarded” Olympus with such epithets.

In winter, in sunny weather, the snow-whitened peaks of the mountain shine, and in clear weather, this can be seen even from Thessaloniki

Another question is how he could see all this, being blind, but, nevertheless, Olympus actually has several peaks, including:

Mitikas ("nose" in ancient Greek) - the highest peak, 2917 m
Skolio ("small peak") - 2912 m
Stephanie (unofficial, mythological name - Throne of Zeus) - 2905 m
Rock ("ladder") - 2,886 m
Agios Antonios - 2,815 m
Profitias Ilias ("Elijah the Prophet") - 2,803 m

On the northern slopes, between the peaks of Stephanie and the peak of Elijah the Prophet, at an altitude of 2,550 m, there is the Plateau of Muses (Orthopedio Mouzon). From the south - a vast alpine meadow (height 2350 m).

Mount Olympus and its monuments

According to ancient Greek mythology, the passage to the top of Olympus was closed to mere mortals. Moreover, it was guarded by the strict doorkeepers of the Ora, the goddess of the seasons. But nothing and no one prevented people from settling near the mountain range or at its foot. So, in ancient times, near the eastern slope of the mountain, a whole city dedicated to Zeus arose - Dion, the first mention of which dates back to 424 BC. It was from Dion that Alexander the Great set off on his long eastern campaign.

The first mention of Dion dates back to 424 BC.

However, the fact that where Olympus is located, there was a real, and not a mythical city, scientists and travelers learned only in 1806, after the expedition of the English explorer William Martin Lick. Today, Dion is not only the ruins of an ancient policy and an archaeological museum, but also a village where people live again (unlike, for example, from).

Mount Olympus and monuments Orthodox culture. The most famous of them is the monastery of St. Dionysius, built in the 16th century. at an altitude of 820 m. A little to the west, at an altitude of 1020 m, is the monastery of the Holy Trinity, which once owned enormous wealth and was engaged in educational activities. Currently, the monasteries are being actively restored and are active.

The most famous monument of Orthodox culture is active monastery Saint Dionysius

Mount Olympus itself has also become a monument: since 1938, a national park has been located on the territory of the massif, established to protect a unique ecosystem. More than 1,700 plant species have been found on Mount Olympus and in the vicinity, 23 of which are found only here. The fauna is also relatively rich, despite the fact that the lions that lived on the slopes of the mountain in ancient times have long since disappeared. Now on Olympus you can see butterflies, birds, reptiles (mainly lizards and turtles), herbivorous mammals (roe deer, chamois), small and medium predators (martens, wild boars).

Conquest of Olympus

Eagles vigilantly guarded the gates to the heights of Mount Olympus: since 1780, people have unsuccessfully tried to conquer it 25 times. The first to climb Mitikas (before 1919 - Venizelos, in honor of the Prime Minister of Greece) were two Swiss citizens, accompanied by Christos Kakalos, a shepherd guide from the nearby village of Litohoro. This happened on August 2, 1913. Having climbed to the top, the pioneers wrote a note, put it in a bottle and hid it under one of the boulders. The bottle with the message was found 14 years later and sent to the mountaineering museum in Kolonaki.

The town of Litochoro with an archaeological museum, colorful taverns, restaurants, shops and souvenir shops is located at the very foot of the mountain

Subsequently, Christ Kakalos climbed Mount Olympus more than once, including along steep slopes. But today no one will force tourists who come just to look at the legendary sacred mountain to jump, like a chamois, from cliff to cliff or climb the rock to the peaks. Climbers classify climbing mountains like Olympus as 1B (the second of six possible in terms of difficulty).

In other words, such a hike is available to almost everyone, since it does not require special training and additional equipment, except for a trekking stick (an ordinary wooden “staff” will do), strong boots and 2-3 liters of water. With the exception of the conquest of Mitikis, during which elementary mountaineering training still does not hurt.

How to get there

But before talking about climbing, you first need to find out exactly where Mount Olympus is, how to get to it and not go astray.

The procedure is approximately the following if you are coming from Thessaloniki:

Highway E90 to the southwest (toll, €1.20) to the exit onto the E75 highway (also paid)
Highway E75 via Katerini (the capital of the Pieria region) to Litochoro (€2.40

An ordinary mountain asphalt road from Litochoro to Prionia, the starting point of the most popular route, located at an altitude of 1100 m. Please note: the last section of this section is not paved, so if you are going to drive a rented car, it is better to take care of good insurance in advance.

The road from Litochoro to Prionia is an ordinary asphalt serpentine

The most popular route has 2 stages:

From Prionia at 2100 to Spilios Agapitos Shelter (commonly referred to as Shelter A.)
From "Shelter A" to the pass (peak) Skala, from which you can climb Mitikas or Skolio

The whole way to the top from the mark of 1100 m usually takes no more than 5-6 hours. But for inexperienced "climb conquerors", especially with children (climbing is allowed from 8 years old), it makes sense to choose the option with a 2-day hike: 1 day - 1 stage. You should do the same if you did not go to Mount Olympus early in the morning, when the peaks are not yet overcast.

Mount Olympus in Greece awaits guests wishing to see what Zeus and other gods have seen, only from May to September. In winter, only ski slopes are open here.

Excursions from Thessaloniki and Halkidiki

Even if you are far from being a climber, it is still worth a trip to Mount Olympus. Moreover, this trip is considered one of the most interesting in this part of Greece and is very popular during the season.

There are group trips (on a tourist bus) and individual trips (for groups of up to 7 people), which differ in both price and format. In the first case, it is cheap and cheerful, in the second, it is a little more expensive, but much more informative and comfortable. As a rule, the trip takes a whole day, so if you decide to go, you should allocate it separately and book the tour in advance. The content of group tours differs depending on the company organizing the trip. As for the individual, here you can tell more details.

Since 1938, a national park has been located on the territory of the massif

Going to Olympus from Thessaloniki or Chalkidiki, you can use the services of a Russian-speaking guide Maribel. As a rule, the tour takes place by car and includes an ascent to the observation deck at an altitude of 940 meters, a visit to the 16th-century monastery of St. rock temple with a healing spring of St. Paraskeva. Since the trip takes place without significant ascents and transitions on foot, children can also be taken on it.

Grekoblog has tried this excursion, as they say, “on its own skin”, so I can say from personal experience that the trip is worth the time and effort spent. You can write to Maribel to find out the details by e-mail or through the feedback form below this article. And to learn more about the guide herself and her other excursions - in articles and.

Good luck with your trip!

Mail for Maribel

Each material and non-material phenomenon was associated with the actions of one or another celestial inhabitant - behind a thunderstorm, rain, sun, wind, fertility and even death.

Olympus is a mountain in Greece, on which the ancient Greek gods settled. On it are different palaces built by Hephaestus specifically for each of the gods. At the entrance there are golden gates guarded by ory. The gods of Olympus are immortal, but at the same time they are not omnipotent and often resemble people in their actions.

The first gods were Uranus and Gaia. Uranus, fearing that his own children would kill him, threw the babies off the mountain into the abyss. Gaia did not agree with her husband's behavior and hid one of her sons - Kronos, who later took the place of his father.

Kronos suffered the same fate as his father - fearing betrayal, he swallowed his children from Rhea. But the goddess was against it, and not wanting the 6th child to suffer the same fate, she turned to Uranus and Gaia for help. They advised to go to the island of Crete and hide in one of the caves.

Having given birth to Zeus, Rhea handed the boy into her arms mythical creature Curites for education. He protected the child in every possible way - he beat the drums hard, this helped to drown out the crying of the child so that Kronos would not hear him.

Zeus grew up and overthrew Kronos, shedding a lot of blood: in order to assert power, the newly minted ruler cut open his father's stomach, from which Hera, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter and Hades came out. With their help, Zeus managed to defeat the Titans and take the throne.

He establishes laws, regulates the lives of all mortal and immortal beings, helps them, punishes, rewards, teaches new things and is very fair at the same time. He was called the father of other gods and people. Zeus was represented as a fiery energy that was dissolved throughout the world.

He is the patron of the sky, thunder and lightning. With a single stroke of the scepter, he caused storms and hurricanes, but he could also calm the raging forces of nature. The attributes of Zeus are a shield and a double-sided ax, as well as an eagle.

God Hades is the eldest son of the titan Kronos and his sister Rhea. His story was no different from that of his brothers and sisters. After the rescue, Hades also selflessly helped his brothers and sisters take control of power, overthrowing the father of Kronos.

After the distribution, Hades received the underworld, where the souls of dead people became his subjects. His domain is full of darkness and monsters. The living cannot enter here, only the dead.

In the mythology of ancient Greece, the god had double meaning is the name of god underworld and hell itself, where the sinful souls of dead people go. According to legend, the kingdom of Hades was in the west, just beyond the Ocean River.

God has a rather impressive history, they were afraid to say his name out loud. He bestowed a harvest from the bowels of the earth and took the souls of the dead into his possessions. Therefore, mortals so honored him, not wanting a worse existence for themselves after death.

The attribute of Hades is considered to be a helmet that made him invisible and a pomegranate fruit. He is described as a dark, evil, cunning and ruthless god. He had the ability to revive dead people, but did not do this, because he knew that it was impossible to violate the natural laws of life.

The second daughter in the family of Rhea and Kronos. She suffered the same fate as the first brother - fearing to lose the throne, her father ate her. After the liberation, Demeter settled on Olympus. Zeus often visited her, and soon the goddess Persephone was born from him. After that, Zeus lost interest in his sister and became interested in another young beauty.

Demeter is the goddess of fertility, who is considered the helper of all farmers. She is the guardian of life, the life-giving forces of nature. Her attributes are a variety of fruits in her hands, a sickle and a laurel wreath on her head.

Hestia was one of the first heirs born to Rhea and Kronos. By right of birth, she belonged to the Olympians, but could not be on Mount Olympus, so she did not protest when Dionysus, the god of wine and winemaking, took her place. Despite the renunciation, the goddess was revered, and she received the best sacrifices among other gods.

She is the keeper of the hearth and is little known. They say that the presence of the goddess was felt in any house where a fire burned in the oven and warmed everyone around with its warmth.

Hestia's symbol is sacrificial fire. It was this goddess who was given the first and last glass of wine at feasts. Not a single action that required concentration began without a sacrifice in her glory.

According to mythology, she is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Her fate was the same as that of the other 6 brothers and sisters - in infancy, her father swallowed her, fearing that the goddess would be able to overthrow him in the future. Rhea took Hera to the ends of the earth to the gray ocean, where, far from Olympus, in peace and quiet, Thetis raised her.

Hera is the queen of the gods, the patroness of marriage and family, the wife of Zeus. She became a symbol of loyalty and devotion to one man. The rest of the ancient Greek gods did not differ in the same qualities, they were characterized by polygamy.

She was an ideal, but she was a very domineering, vindictive and jealous woman. She constantly struggled with her husband's infidelity. So she punished the titanide Leto, cursing her when she was still pregnant. Only after several months of wandering, she was able to stop in the city of Delos, where she gave birth to a son, Apollo, and a daughter, Artemis.

Hera always wore a robe and diadem. The goddess moved on a silver chariot, which was harnessed by peacocks. The last attribute is the cuckoo scepter, which foreshadowed love for those she blessed.

Poseidon is the son of the first gods - Kronos and Rhea. He was one of the first born children, so the mother could not save the child and Kronos swallowed the newborn baby. But he was saved by his younger brother Zeus, with whom and 4 more brothers and sisters they defeated the Titans and their father.

Over time, the sea element departed Poseidon. Before him, Nereus and Oceanus ruled the sea. But he was able to push them back and take a dominant position. In mythology, they were represented as riding a chariot, the main attribute of which was a trident. With it, Poseidon hit the ground and caused storms, broke rocks, made springs from which fresh or sea water flowed. Once, with such a blow, he opened a valley in Thessaly so that the river would not flood the country.

Poseidon, unlike his brother Zeus, has a difficult character. He is vindictive and furious, often reminiscent of the elements, the embodiment of which he became. For example, Poseidon pursues Odysseus for a long time, who insulted the god by depriving his son of the Cyclops of sight.
The god of the sea personifies invincible strength and power, along with royal majesty.

Aphrodite

The story of the birth of the goddess is connected with Kronos and Gaia. The mother of Kronos advised to take a sickle and cut off the reproductive organs of Uranus (the first of the gods) and throw it into the sea. That is how the beautiful Aphrodite was born.

Counts Greek goddess love, passion and female beauty. She is merciful and kind to her admirers, therefore she often fulfilled the requests of people when they turned in prayer. In her temple, special treatment was given to girls, while men were not allowed to enter.

Also, the goddess is considered the patroness of the sea and travel. It carries so much love in itself that it awakens warm feelings not only among people, but also among the gods.

Aphrodite's attributes are doves, sparrows, and other birds. Often in the images she appeared surrounded by flowers, and in her hand she held a bowl filled with wine.

Ares was the first son of Hera and Zeus. Myths say that he became the fruit of an unusual intercourse - Hera touched a magical plant that helped a woman get pregnant even in the most difficult situations.

From infancy, Ares opposed the giants who wanted to move Mount Olympus and overthrow Zeus. These creatures chained the boy, who was released by Hermes a year later. After that, Priapus was closely engaged in his training, he taught the boy to dance. In the future, the already grown up young man began to be taught military wisdom.

Ares was a wise, cunning and treacherous god who often used his knowledge in wars. In his arsenal - strength, severity, bloodthirstiness and the ability to cause fear in anyone who gets in the way. For his qualities, he did not cause approval from his brothers.

He was a symbol of masculinity and steadfastness, as the god of war should be. His attributes were a spear, a lit torch, dogs, a kite.

Athena was the only daughter of Zeus born without a mother. And it happened like this: Zeus was predicted that he would have a son who would eventually ascend the throne and a daughter who would surpass him in wisdom. Therefore, the Thunderer swallowed his pregnant wife Metis.

Soon his head began to split. Zeus called Hephaestus, who cut his head with an ax, and Athena was born.

Athena became the embodiment of the wisdom and strength of Zeus. She was depicted as a young serious woman, with a warlike look in a peplos. The main attribute was a helmet and a spear, and next to it were the sacred animals of the goddess - an owl and a snake.

The son of Hera and Zeus, who was thrown from Mount Olympus by an angry mother because he was lame. It fell straight into the ocean, but did not crash. There he was raised by the sea goddesses Eurynome and Thetis. It was in the sea that Hephaestus learned blacksmithing.

Subsequently, he forged a golden throne for his mother and sent it to Olympus as a conciliatory gift. As soon as Hera sat on him, the handcuffs immediately worked, from which no one could release her. Then Hephaestus was invited to Olympus, but he refused to release his mother. The gods went to the trick and sent Dionysus (the god of wine), who made Hephaestus drunk. The young god, under the influence of wine, forgot the offense and freed his mother.

After that, he built many dwellings of the gods, some he converted. He stayed on Olympus at the invitation of his parents and married Aphrodite. Everyone turned to Hephaestus, who had his own workshop.

He is the god of fire and blacksmithing. Most often he was depicted as a broad-shouldered man who worked in the workshop from morning to night. His symbols were a hammer, an anvil and an egg-shaped cap, characteristic of artisans. From clothes he wore a short tunic.

The daughter of Zeus and Demeter, who, secretly from her father, grew up in a cave under the supervision of her mother and nymphs. When the girl grew up a little, she was constantly watched by Artemis, Athena and Aphrodite. After entering the marriageable age, Apollo and Ares came to the pretty girl to woo. But she didn't give her heart to any of them. Shortly thereafter, she was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the realm of the dead.

All the gods grieved for the loss of a young and beautiful girl, everyone loved her very much. And even the domineering mother could not find Persephone. After she learned that her daughter was with Hades, she asked for help from her husband Zeus. The god of the underworld released the girl, but before that he asked to eat a few pomegranate seeds. Persephone did not know that any food eaten in the realm of the dead would forever bind her to this place. After eating a few pomegranate seeds, she forever gained a connection with the underworld.

Goddess of fertility and the realm of the dead. Her constant companions were Iache, Calligeneia, Leucippe and Theno. The image of Persephone embodied the deceit and cruelty of the gods towards each other. Her attributes are flowers, a sheaf of ears, and is also sometimes depicted with a pomegranate fruit in her hands.

Apollo and Artemis

Children born from the titanide Leto and the supreme ruler Zeus. In ancient Greece, it was believed that the birth of twins was a harbinger of trouble, so they were killed immediately after birth.

After birth, fate separated the twins. Apollo was raised by the goddess Themis. In his youth, Hephaestus made a gift to him, giving him a bow and arrows. Artemis was raised by 60 Oceanids and 20 Amnian nymphs. She also did not remain without a gift and received 12 dogs from Pan.

Apollo- the god of light, the patron of the arts, the leader of the muses, the seer, the personification of male beauty. One of the most revered gods, whose attributes are considered a lyre and a bow.

Artemis- always beautiful, young goddess of fertility and chastity. The patroness of all life on Earth. Her attributes are a quiver, a golden bow and a torch.

His mother is Maya, the daughter of Atlanta. The boy is half god, half mortal. From childhood, he traded in theft and pranks. Nothing is known about the rest of the growing up of Hermes.

Considered the patron saint of merchants and thieves. He helps Hades, escorting the dead to the world of the dead and the only one who comes back. It also has the ability to come to people in dreams.

The attributes of Hermes are winged sandals to move quickly and a golden scepter, which was brought to him as a gift by Apollo.

Theogony

This is a poem by Geosis, considered one of the first ancient Greek mythological stories about the gods. She tells about the history of the world from the very beginning, telling about the life of the titans, Olympians and other heroes. First, Chaos, Gaia, Tartarus, and Eros arose in the world. From chaos were born Nyukta and Erebus. Uranus was born from Gaia. From the union of Gaia and Uranus, the first Titans subsequently appeared.

Mother of all life and everything that grows on Earth. First, the night starry sky appeared from it, after the mountains and the boundless blue sea. When Uranus became the ruler of the world, Gaia became his wife and gave him 12 children:

Ocean;
Koya;
Kriya;
Hyperion;
Iapetus;
Kronos;
Theia;
Ray;
Mnemosyne;
Phoebe;
Themis;
Tefida.

The goddess loved her children very much, unlike her father, who exiled the most objectionable to the bowels of the earth and said that he never wanted to see them again. The mother suffered greatly because of the expulsion of her children, so she persuaded the titans to deal with Uranus, taking power by force. But only Kronos agreed to this step, who castrated Uranus and took his place.

He was born by mother earth Gaia without a father. He conquered the world and married his mother. Soon they had children - titans, titanides, one-eyed and fifty-headed giants. Uranus did not like his terrible-looking children, trying to get rid of them. But soon Uranus was expected to be punished by the son of Kronos.

He is a representative of the first generation of ancient Greek gods, who was overthrown through a rebellion. But his successor also lost his power through the revenge of children for years of suffering.

This is the abyss, which is located under the kingdom of Hades, where, after the great battle of the Olympians with the Titans, Kronos was cast down along with the rest of the survivors. In this place, all the captives were guarded by the giants of Hekatoncheira, who are the children of Uranus. The Cyclopes were placed there.

Geosid wrote that if the anvil flew from the earth to the abyss, then it would take 9 days for it. Tartarus was inside a triple layer of darkness, copper walls and the gates of Poseidon. It served as a place of detention for all the cast down deities. Also in the monastery was the habitat of Nyukta and Thanatos - the god of death. Even the Olympic gods did not want to be in the abyss, because it inspired wild horror.

In ancient Greek mythology, Nyukta was born from Chaos, is the personification of the night and the patroness of the cosmos. Mother of many beings. For example, from the god Tartarus, she gave birth to death and sleep, from Erebus Charon, who was the carrier of the souls of dead people in afterlife, as well as Nemesis, the goddess of retribution.

She was very kind to people and brought peace. During the battle with the titans, she kept on the side of the Olympic gods. She has no attributes, but is most often depicted with a muffled face and dark robes.

It is the personification of darkness or night. One of the primary gods, the second patron of the cosmos. Was born from chaos, like Nyukta. He acted as an underground darkness through which the souls of the dead passed in other world.

Also, according to legend, death, old age, death, love, disaster, retribution, unbridledness, etc. were born from his union with Nyukta. Judging by other authors besides Geosid, Nyukta also gave birth to violent death and the god of slander.

Another name for darkness. Skotos was rarely mentioned anywhere and was avoided. He was born after marriage between Uranus and Gaia.

Other deities

Other deities mentioned in ancient Greek mythology who did not live on Olympus, but also have great importance. The Greeks treated most of them with great respect, making offerings and asking for help.

She is the daughter of the titans Perse and Asteria. Acted as a conductor between the simple world and the world of magic. During her formation in Ancient Greece, she was revered as the guardian of the hearth, and by the time all her followers disappeared, she became a whore and a witch.

Her attributes were an inverted month in a horizontal position and facing the sky, and in her hands she held a torch and a sword.

The son of Zeus and Semele, who was the daughter of King Cadmus. He has a difficult history - his mother died in childbirth. It happened because of Hera's jealousy. Having learned about another betrayal from Zeus, Hera appears before Semele in the guise of a nurse and inspires her to see Zeus. On the next visit of Zeus, Samela asks to swear to fulfill her every desire. After his consent, she asks him to hug her in the same guise in which he hugs his wife Hera. Since the gods cannot break the oath, Zeus hugs Semele and she burns for an hour from lightning.

God's lightning burned the house and the woman herself, but before her death she managed to give birth to a son. Subsequently, Zeus sewed a premature boy into his thigh to inform, and upon the advent the right time gave to Hermes.

He is the god of wine and winemaking. Its attributes are considered to be a wreath of vines and a bowl of wine.

Son of Hermes and daughter of Dryop. He was born with goat horns, hooves and a long beard. Frightened appearance child, the mother left, but the father took him to Olympus and was able to amuse all the gods with the amusing performances of his heir. Because of this behavior, the gods called him pan.

He lived in magical forests among the nymphs. Arranged noisy round dances that frightened mortals. Most often depicted with a bunch of grapes in his hand.

He is the son of Poseidon and Gaia, a giant by nature. He lived in Libya and was very fond of fighting, so he forced everyone to fight him. While on the ground, his strength grew. This power was given to him by his mother Gaia. But in the end, Hercules was able to curb his power.

Most often, artists in their paintings represented him as a man of medium height, very muscular and in short clothes. Always depicted during battles.

Asclepius

The son of Apollo and Coronis, under whose patronage was the skill of healing, and he himself was a skilled doctor. He learned to cure diseases from Apollo and Chiron. As a result, he reached such a level that he could literally cope with any disease and even resurrected the dead.

Most often depicted with a laurel wreath on his head and in classical robes. In his hand he held a long stick, which was wrapped around a snake, it is she who is the attribute of Asclepius.

Amphitrite

Daughter of Nereus and Dorida. She was the most beautiful sea goddess. Therefore, Poseidon himself chose her as his wife. But she was afraid to marry him, because she was much lower in the hierarchy of the gods.

Therefore, I decided to hide in a deep, remote cave on the very edge of the sea near Atlanta. But Poseidon's dolphin found the girl and brought her to the master. She, like Hera, became co-ruler of the sea kingdom. She sat in a golden palace, where she gave birth to a daughter, Rod and a son, Triton.

The crown and sea deities along with the usual underwater inhabitants act as attributes.

Her attributes are a baby in her arms, a bowl of fruit and a wand. She was portrayed as young beautiful woman in luxurious attire. She was often sacrificed, but they were all bloodless.

The name of this celestial being is on everyone’s lips and to this day, she is the goddess of victory, therefore, in ancient world after a battle won or before battles, everyone turned to her with prayers. After successful battles, everyone arranged feasts in honor of the goddess.

According to legend, she is considered the daughter of Pallas and was brought up with Athena. Most often, she was depicted as a young girl in beautiful clothes, a falcon and a laurel wreath acted as an attribute. Often images with wings.

Belongs to the genus Or, considered the daughter of Zeus and Themis. Goddess of truth and justice. When my father acted as the supreme judge, it was Dike who stood nearby. This action concealed a deep symbolic meaning.

Since there is law in the world, it means that there must be lawlessness. It was under lawlessness that Adikia, who was the sister of Dike, was understood. They were in constant confrontation. Next to the goddess there was always Themis, which complemented her, and together they formed the so-called Justice.

Attributes - scales and a bandage that covered the eyes.

Daughter of the Ocean and Tethys, goddess of chance or good fortune. She lived on Olympus, but was not among the Olympians. She was among the retinue of Zeus and from birth helped Plutos along with the goddess Eirene.

Most often depicted as a slender girl with a blindfold. She was not richly dressed, but she held a huge cornucopia in her hands, from which coins rained down.

The father of Morpheus was the god Hypnos, under whose authority was the ability to give people sound sleep and dreams, and his mother was Parsithea, who owns the gift of relaxation and rest. The abilities were transferred to Morpheus and he became the god of dreams, but was also responsible for creating dreams in people.

Morpheus had wings behind his back. They are needed not only to quickly reach those who needed help, but also to quickly transfer the father.

The attribute of Morpheus was a poppy flower, touching which to an earthly inhabitant, he immediately fell into a dream.

More god names:

Phobos and Deimos - the gods of fear, the sons of Ares and Aphrodite, the sword and shield served as attributes;
Boreas - the personification of the north wind, the son of Astrea and Eos, as attributes were cupids playing snowballs.

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

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

Aphrodite: when Aphrodite emerged from the sea she became synonymous with female beauty in antiquity, was the goddess of love and beauty. Gods and mortals, they were all captivated by the beauty of Aphrodite. During her marriage to Hephaestus, she had an affair with Ares.

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

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