Gods of Olympus of Ancient Greece
Names are ancient greek gods, which everyone knows - Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hephaestus - are actually the descendants of the main inhabitants of heaven - the Titans. Having defeated them, the younger gods, led by Zeus, became the inhabitants of Mount Olympus. The Greeks worshiped, revered and paid tribute to the 12 gods of Olympus, personifying in Ancient Greece elements, virtue or the most important areas of social and cultural life.
Worshiped Ancient Greeks and Hades, but he did not live on Olympus, but lived underground, in the kingdom of the dead.
Who is more important? Gods of Ancient Greece
They got along well with each other, but sometimes there were clashes between them. From their life, which is described in Ancient Greek treatises, the legends and myths of this country emerged. Among the celestials there were those who occupied the high steps of the podium, while others were content with glory, being at the feet of the rulers. The list of gods of Olympia is as follows:
Zeus.
Hera.
Hephaestus.
Athena.
Poseidon.
Apollo.
Artemis.
Ares.
Demeter.
Hermes.
Aphrodite.
Hestia.
Zeus- the most important of all. He is the king of all gods. This thunderer personifies the endless firmament. Led by lightning. It is this ruler who distributes good and evil on the planet, the Greeks believed. The son of the titans married his own sister. Their four children were named Ilithyia, Hebe, Hephaestus and Ares. Zeus is a terrible traitor. He constantly engaged in adultery with other goddesses. He did not neglect earthly girls either. Zeus had something to surprise them with. He appeared to the Greek women either in the form of rain, or as a swan or a bull. Symbols of Zeus are eagle, thunder, oak.
Poseidon. This god ruled over sea elements. In importance he was in second place after Zeus. In addition to oceans, seas and rivers, storms and sea monsters, Poseidon was “responsible” for earthquakes and volcanoes. IN ancient greek mythology he was the brother of Zeus. Poseidon lived in a palace underwater. He rode around in a rich chariot drawn by white horses. The trident is the symbol of this Greek god.
Hera. She is the main of the female goddesses. This celestial goddess patronizes family traditions, marriage and love unions. Hera is jealous. She cruelly punishes people for adultery.
Apollo- son of Zeus. He is the twin brother of Artemis. Initially, this god was the personification of light, the sun. But gradually his cult expanded its borders. This god turned into the patron of the beauty of the soul, mastery of art, and everything beautiful. The muses were under his influence. Before the Greeks, he appeared in a rather refined image of a man with aristocratic features. Apollo played excellent music and was engaged in healing and divination. He is the father of the god Asclepius, the patron saint of doctors. At one time, Apollo destroyed the terrible monster that occupied Delphi. For this he was exiled for 8 years. Later he created his own oracle, the symbol of which was the laurel.
Without Artemis The ancient Greeks did not imagine hunting. The patroness of forests personifies fertility, birth and high relations between the sexes.
Athena. Everything related to wisdom, spiritual beauty and harmony is under the auspices of this goddess. She is a great inventor, lover of science and art. Artisans and farmers are subordinate to her. Athena “gives the go-ahead” for the construction of cities and buildings. Thanks to her it flows smoothly public life. This goddess is called upon to protect the walls of fortresses and castles.
Hermes. This ancient greek god quite mischievous and has earned the reputation of being a fidget. Hermes is the patron of travelers and traders. He is also the messenger of the gods on earth. It was on his heels that charming wings began to shine for the first time. The Greeks attribute traits of resourcefulness to Hermes. He is cunning, smart and knows everything foreign languages. When Hermes stole a dozen cows from Apollo, earning his wrath. But he was forgiven, because Apollo was captivated by the invention of Hermes - the lyre, which he presented to the god of beauty.
Ares. This god personifies war and everything connected with it. All kinds of battles and battles - under the representation of Ares. He is always young, strong and handsome. The Greeks painted him as powerful and warlike.
Aphrodite. She is the goddess of love and sensuality. Aphrodite constantly incites her son Eros to shoot arrows that ignite the fire of love in the hearts of people. Eros is the prototype of the Roman Cupid, a boy with a bow and quiver.
Hymen- god of marriage. Its bonds bind the hearts of people who met and fell in love with each other at first sight. Ancient Greek wedding chants were called "hymens".
Hephaestus- god of volcanoes and fire. Potters and blacksmiths are under his patronage. This is a hardworking and kind god. His fate did not turn out very well. He was born with a limp because his mother Hera threw him from Mount Olympus. Hephaestus was educated by the goddesses - the queens of the sea. On Olympus he returned and generously rewarded Achilles, presenting him with a shield and Helios with a chariot.
Demeter. She personifies the forces of nature that people have conquered. This is agriculture. A person’s entire life is under the watchful control of Demeter - from birth to deathbed.
Hestia. This goddess patronizes family ties, protects the hearth and comfort. The Greeks took care of offerings to Hestia by setting up altars in their homes. All residents of one city are one big community-family, the Greeks are sure. Even in the main city building there was a symbol of Hestia's sacrifices.
Hades- ruler of the kingdom of the dead. In his underground world, dark creatures, dark shadows, and demonic monsters rejoice. Hades is considered one of the most powerful gods. He moved around the kingdom of Hades in a chariot made of gold. His horses are black. Hades - owns untold wealth. All the gems and ores that are contained in the depths belong to him. The Greeks feared him more than fire and even Zeus himself.
Except 12 gods of Olympus and Hades, the Greeks also have a lot of gods and even demigods. All of them are descendants and brothers of the main celestials. Each of them has its own legends or myths.
The Pantheon of the Gods of Ancient Greece is an intriguing, interesting and colorful journey, with many questions and unusual facts. A journey where the real and fictional worlds are closely intertwined. How clear it is, and at the same time how strange it sounds, modern realities, this is a concept. But, despite the time, the pantheon of the gods of Greece arouses undisguised interest today. It is a real treasure chest for studying the culture, history, life and customs of Ancient Greece.
Interesting to know: the word "pantheon" in broad meaning denotes the burial place famous people, and in the context of ancient history - a group of gods who belong to the same religion (sometimes mythology).
The religion of the ancient Greeks was pagan polytheism, and the pantheon of gods itself consisted of huge amount celestials who lived on the sacred Mount Olympus. Each god had his own special role and performed the function assigned to him. The most important, the only unchangeable and fundamental thing in the Greek pantheon is the immortality of the gods. In appearance and behavior, the gods of Greece were similar to people, and therefore they had completely human manners in behavior: they quarreled and made peace, deceived and intrigued, loved and cunned, were merciful and formidable. The relationship of the gods, over time, became overgrown with many myths, which even today serve as an inexhaustible basis for the study and admiration of the ancient religion.
Gods of Ancient Greece: list and description
Zeus.
Zeus is the supreme deity of ancient Greek mythology. He is the great thunderer who commanded the sky, thunder, lightning and the whole world. Zeus had unlimited power not only over people, but also over the gods. Zeus came to Olympus through meanness, throwing his father Kronos into Tartarus. Titanide Rhea, the mother of Zeus, saved her youngest son from her husband, who was afraid of the birth of a strong heir and ate all his children immediately after birth. By cunning, Rhea raised Zeus, who was able to overthrow his father from Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored and feared Zeus, made him the best sacrifices and tried in every possible way to earn his favor. The whole life of people was saturated with the praise of God and blind submission. Children knew about the great Zeus from the cradle, and all failures were attributed to the wrath of the great deity.
The Greeks built in honor of Zeus large number temples, and the statue of Zeus is one of the seven wonders of the world.
Zeus had two more brothers, with whom he shared power over the world. Thus, Zeus received the sky, Hades the kingdom of the dead, and Poseidon became the ruler of the sea.
Poseidon.
Poseidon among the ancient Greeks was the personification of strength, courage and tough character. He commanded the seas, rivers, lakes and oceans. Having become the patron of fishermen and sailors, he could decide their destinies, sink ships or cause famine. He was often called the Earth Shaker to explain the strange changes in the world that are called earthquakes today.
Poseidon, having drawn the kingdom of the sea by lot, considered himself deceived and tried to win their kingdoms from the other gods, but to no avail.
In all the myths of Ancient Greece, Poseidon is described as a strong and angry god, prone to destruction and having a hot temper. God's stormy temper was only replaced by generous gifts, but not for long.
Hades.
Hades was the ruler of the underworld or lower world. It was to Hades that all dead souls went. Hades had great wealth and peace of mind in his power. The ancient Greeks were afraid to even pronounce the name of this god, because he was always invisible, and his decisions were binding. For people this meant death. Mythology does not portray Hades as evil or bad, on the contrary, he is always indifferent, always coldly doing his job. This frightened the ancient Greeks. One can only enter into a kingdom where the rays of the sun do not penetrate. There is no way back from there.
Zeus, Hades, Poseidon are the main names of the gods of Ancient Greece. But the mythology of this period is so rich that it is represented by many other influential characters. Let's get to know them.
Gods of Ancient Greece - list
- Apollo - god sunlight, artistic beauty, healing and spiritual purity.
- Hermes is the god of roads, travel, patron of merchants and trade.
- Ares is the god of war.
- Eros is the god of love.
- Hephaestus is the god of blacksmithing.
- Dionysus is the god of wine.
- Morpheus is the god of dreams and dreams.
- Phobos is the god of fear.
- Deimos is the god of horror.
- Plutos is the god of wealth.
Goddesses of Ancient Greece: list and description
The pantheon of Greek gods is represented not only by strong and powerful gods, but also by goddesses. The initial role was:
Hera.
Hera, in ancient mythology, was the wife of Zeus. This is the main goddess who patronized marriage and conjugal love. The goddess was angry and strict, very jealous and somewhat cruel. Hera experienced her husband’s betrayal especially hard. In a state of rage, she could bring great troubles to the earth and people. Hera was portrayed as a beauty with big eyes, long hair and a wonderful figure. This image was both beautiful and evil at the same time. But the cult of Hera, the cult of the main goddess of Olympus, was so great that she was revered on a par with Zeus.
Aphrodite.
The goddess Aphrodite personified love and patronized not only the gods, but also people. She was beautiful and wonderful, easily making everyone around her fall in love with her, and she fell in love herself. According to legend, the goddess arose from sea foam, but mythology says that Aphrodite was the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Dione. Aphrodite was an unfaithful wife and often cheated on her husband, but this was not a vice, rather a destiny. Holding in her hands the great power of love, she rewarded people with real feelings if they were sincere. The ancient Greeks greatly respected the goddess, built magnificent temples for her and made great sacrifices.
Athena.
Athena is the revered goddess of just war and wisdom. The story of her birth is the most unusual, because she was born from the head of Zeus in full battle uniform. The goddess's wisdom, justice and patronage of knowledge made Athena one of the most beloved residents of Olympus in the pantheon of the ancient Greeks.
Hera, Aphrodite and Athena are the main names of the goddesses of Ancient Greece, but not the main ones. The list of beautiful goddesses who were revered and feared includes several more important inhabitants of Olympus. Namely:
The mythology of Greece and its main characters today have turned into myths and drawings, and therefore the gods of Ancient Greece in the pictures are the most important information material which talks about the great gods ancient people. Often, pictures of the gods of Greece are similar to real characters or images, since they are a modified copy of real sculptures. The subtle connection between past and present is palpable in every contact with ancient history, and therefore so important for study.
The gods of Olympus were the most revered among all Greek pantheon, which also included titans and various minor deities. These chiefs ate the ambrosia prepared for them, were devoid of prejudices and many moral concepts, and that is why they are so interesting to ordinary people.
The Olympian gods of Ancient Greece were Zeus, Hera, Ares, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Demeter, Hestia, Hermes and Dionysus. Sometimes this list included the brothers of Zeus - Poseidon and Hades, who, undoubtedly, were significant gods, but did not live on Olympus, but in their kingdoms - underwater and underground.
The myths about the most ancient gods of Ancient Greece have not been preserved in their entirety, however, even those that have reached contemporaries evoke strange feelings. The main Olympic god was Zeus. His pedigree begins with Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky), who first gave birth to huge monsters - the Hundred-Handed and Cyclops, and then - the Titans. The monsters were cast into Tartarus, and the Titans became the parents of many gods - Helios, Atlas, Prometheus and others. The youngest son of Gaia, Cronus, overthrew and castrated his father because he had cast so many monsters into the bosom of the earth.
Having become the supreme god, Cron took his sister, Rhea, as his wife. She gave birth to Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Poseidon and Hades. But since Cronus knew about the prediction of being overthrown by one of his children, he ate them. The last son, Zeus, was hidden by his mother on the island of Crete and raised. As an adult, Zeus gave his father a potion that made him vomit up the children he had eaten. And then Zeus began a war against Cronus and his allies, and his brothers and sisters, as well as the Hundred-Handed, Cyclops and some Titans, helped him.
Having won, Zeus with his supporters began to live on Olympus. The Cyclopes forged lightning and thunder for him, and so Zeus became the Thunderer.
Hera. The wife of the main Olympian god Zeus was his sister Hera, the goddess of the family and protector of women, but at the same time jealous and cruel to her rivals and children of her loving husband. The most famous children of Hera are Ares, Hephaestus and Hebe.
Ares- the cruel god of aggressive and bloody war, patronizing commanders. Few people loved him and even his father only tolerated this son.
Hephaestus- a son rejected for his ugliness. After his mother threw him from Olympus, Hephaestus was raised by the sea goddesses, and he became a wonderful blacksmith who created magical and very beautiful things. Despite the ugliness, it was Hephaestus who became the husband of the most beautiful Aphrodite.
Aphrodite was born from sea foam - many people know this, but not everyone knows that first the seminal fluid of Zeus got into this foam (according to some versions it was the blood of castrated Uranus). The goddess of love Aphrodite could subjugate anyone - both god and mortal.
Hestia- sister of Zeus, personifying justice, purity and happiness. She was the protector of the family hearth, and later the patroness of the entire Greek people.
Demeter- another sister of Zeus, goddess of fertility, prosperity, spring. After being kidnapped by Hades only daughter Demeter - Persephone - drought reigned on the earth. Then Zeus sent Hermes to return his niece, but Hades refused his brother. After long negotiations, it was decided that Persephone would live with her mother for 8 months, and with her husband in the underworld for 4 months.
Hermes- son of Zeus and the nymph Maya. From infancy, he showed cunning, dexterity and excellent diplomatic qualities, which is why Hermes became the messenger of the gods, helping to safely resolve the most difficult problems. In addition, Hermes was considered the patron saint of merchants, travelers and even thieves.
Athena appeared from the head of her father, Zeus, so this goddess was considered the personification of strength and justice. She was the defender of Greek cities and a symbol of just war. The cult of Athena was very widespread in Ancient Greece; a city was even named after her.
Apollo and Artemis- illegitimate children of Zeus and the goddess Latona. Apollo had the gift of clairvoyance and the Delphic Temple was built in his honor. In addition, this beautiful god was the patron of the arts and a healer. Artemis is a wonderful huntress, the patroness of all life on earth. This goddess was described as a virgin, but she blessed marriages and the birth of children.
Dionysus- the son of Zeus and the king's daughter Semele. Because of Hera's jealousy, Dionysus's mother died, and the god carried his son by sewing his legs into his thigh. This god of winemaking gave people joy and inspiration.
Having settled on the mountain and dividing spheres of influence, the Olympian gods of Ancient Greece turned their gaze to the earth. To some extent, people became pawns in the hands of the gods, who decided destinies, rewarded and punished. However, due to connections with ordinary women, many heroes were born who challenged the gods and sometimes became winners, such as Hercules.
The names of Greek gods and goddesses are still heard today - we know the myths and legends about them, we can use them to convey the image. Often in modern literary works mention some motifs known since the times of ancient Greece. Let's consider brief information about Greek gods and goddesses, the mythology of this country.
Greek gods
There are many Greek gods and goddesses, but we will focus on those whose names are somewhat familiar to a wide circle people even today:
- Hades - the famous ruler world of the dead, which in myths is often called the kingdom of Hades;
- Apollo is the god of light and the sun, a most beautiful young man who is still mentioned as a model of male attractiveness;
- Ares is an aggressive god of war;
- Bacchus or Dionysus - the eternally young god of winemaking (who, by the way, was sometimes depicted as an obese man);
- Zeus is the supreme deity, ruler over people and other gods.
- Pluto is the god of the underworld, who owned countless underground riches (while Hades ruled over the souls of the dead).
- Poseidon is the god of the entire sea element, who could easily control earthquakes and storms;
- Thanatos – god of death;
- Aeolus - lord of the winds;
- Eros is the god of love, the force that contributed to the emergence of an ordered world from chaos.
Typically, Greek gods and goddesses were symbolically depicted as beautiful and powerful people living on Olympus. They were not perfect, they were connected by intricate relationships and simple human passions.
Goddesses of ancient Greece
Let's look at the most famous ancient Greek goddesses. There are quite a few of them, and each of them is responsible for something different:
- Artemis – goddess of nature, patroness of hunting and hunters;
- Athena is the famous goddess of wisdom and war, patron of science and knowledge;
- Aphrodite - the goddess of love and beauty, was considered the standard of female perfection;
- Hebe - deity eternal youth, who participated in the feasts of the Olympians;
- Hecate is a slightly lesser-known goddess of dreams, darkness and witchcraft;
- Hera is the supreme goddess, patroness of marriage;
- Hestia is the goddess of fire in general and the hearth in particular;
- Demeter is the patroness of fertility, helping farmers;
- Metis is the goddess of wisdom, the mother of Athena herself;
- Eris is the warlike goddess of disassembly.
This is far from full list all Greek gods and goddesses, but this includes the most famous and recognizable of them.
Greek mythology has always attracted attention with its diversity. The names of Greek gods and goddesses began to appear in many ballads, stories and films. Special role always given to the goddesses of Hellas. Each of them had its own charm and zest.
Names of Greek goddesses
This list is quite wide and varied, but there are those goddesses who played a vital role in Greek mythology. One of them was Aurora, whose name was increasingly given to daughters. Daughter of Hyperion and Thea, goddess of the dawn and wife of the Titan Astraeus. The Greek names of goddesses and their images were always carefully thought out and carried a special meaning. Aurora brought daylight to people and was often depicted as winged. Often she sat on a chariot drawn by horses in red and yellow blankets. A halo or crown was depicted above her head, and in her hands she held a burning torch. Homer described her image especially vividly. Rising early in the morning from her bed, the goddess swam on her chariot from the depths of the seas, illuminating bright light the entire Universe.
Famous greek names goddesses also include Artemis, a wild and unrestrained young maiden. She was depicted in a tightly tucked dress, sandals, with a bow and a spear behind her back. A hunter by nature, she led her nymph friends, and was always accompanied by a pack of dogs. She was the daughter of Zeus and Latona. 
Artemis was born on the quiet island of Delos in the shade of palm trees along with her brother Apollo. They were very friendly, and Artemis often came to visit her beloved brother to listen to his magnificent playing of the golden cithara. And at dawn the goddess went hunting again.
Athena is a wise woman, whose image was the most revered among all the inhabitants of Olympus, who glorified Greek names. There are many goddesses-daughters of Zeus, but only she was born in a helmet and shell. She was responsible for victory in the war and was the patroness of knowledge and crafts. She was independent and proud of the fact that she remained a virgin forever. Many believed that she was equal to her father in strength and wisdom. Her birth was quite unusual. After all, when Zeus found out that a child could be born, surpassing him in power, he ate the mother who was carrying his child. After which he was overcome by a severe headache, and he called on his son Hephaestus to cut off the head. Hephaestus fulfilled his father’s request, and the wise warrior Athena emerged from the split skull.
Speaking about Greek goddesses, one cannot fail to mention the beautiful Aphrodite - the goddess of love, who awakens this bright feeling in the hearts of gods and mortals. 
Slender, tall, radiating incredible beauty, pampered and flighty, she has power over everyone. Aphrodite is nothing more than the personification of unfading youth and divine beauty. She has her own maids who comb her golden sparkling hair and dress her in beautiful clothes. Where this goddess passes, flowers instantly bloom and the air is filled with amazing aromas.
The famous Greek names of goddesses are firmly established not only in Greek mythology, but also in world history generally. Many name them after their daughters, believing that they will acquire the same qualities that the great goddesses possessed.
Who knows all the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece?? ? (name it!!!)
Free as a wind**
Gods of ancient Greece
Hades - god - ruler of the kingdom of the dead.
Boreas is the god of the north wind, the son of the Titanides Astraeus (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), brother of Zephyr and Note. He was depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity.
Bacchus is one of the names of Dionysus.
Helios (Helium) is the god of the Sun, brother of Selene (goddess of the Moon) and Eos (morning dawn). In late antiquity he was identified with Apollo, the god of sunlight.
Hypnos is the deity of sleep, the son of Nyx (Night). He was depicted as a winged youth.
Zephyr is the god of the west wind.
Iacchus is the god of fertility.
Kronos is a titan, youngest son Gaia and Uranus, father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was dethroned by Zeus. .
Aeolus is the lord of the winds.
Ether - sky deity
Laria and Ruslan F
1. Gaia
2. Ocean
3. Uranus
4. Hemera
5. Chronos
6. Eros
7. Cyclops
8. Titans
9. Muses
10. Rhea
11. Demeter
12. Poseidon
13. Summer
14. Pan
15. Hestia
16. Artemis
17. Ares
18. Athena
19. Aphrodite
20. Apollo
21. Hera
22. Hermes
23. Zeus
24. Hecate
25. Hephaestus
26. Dionysus
27. Pluto
28. Antey
29. Ancient Babylonia
30. Persephone
Nikolay Pakhomov
Lists of gods and genealogy differ among different ancient authors. The lists below are compilative.
First generation of gods
At first there was Chaos. Gods who emerged from Chaos - Gaia (Earth), Nikta (Nyukta) (Night), Tartarus (Abyss), Erebus (Darkness), Eros (Love); gods that emerged from Gaia - Uranus (Sky) and Pontus (inner Sea). The gods had the appearance of those natural elements that they embodied.
Children of Gaia (fathers - Uranus, Pontus and Tartarus) - Keto (mistress of sea monsters), Nereus (calm sea), Thaumant (sea wonders), Phorcys (guardian of the sea), Eurybia (sea power), titans and titanides. Children of Nyx and Erebus - Hemera (Day), Hypnos (Dream), Kera (misfortune), Moira (Fate), Mom (Slander and Stupidity), Nemesis (Retribution), Thanatos (Death), Eris (Strife), Erinyes (Vengeance) ), Ether (Air); Apata (Deception).
Natalia
Hades - god - ruler of the kingdom of the dead.
Antaeus is a hero of myths, a giant, the son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave its son strength, thanks to which no one could control him.
Apollo is the god of sunlight. The Greeks depicted him as a beautiful young man.
Ares is the god of treacherous war, the son of Zeus and Hera.
Asclepius - god of medicine, son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis
Boreas is the god of the north wind, the son of the Titanides Astraeus (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), brother of Zephyr and Note. He was depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity.
Bacchus is one of the names of Dionysus.
Helios (Helium) is the god of the Sun, brother of Selene (goddess of the Moon) and Eos (dawn). In late antiquity he was identified with Apollo, the god of sunlight.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most multi-valued Greek gods. Patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence.
Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron of artisans.
Hypnos is the deity of sleep, the son of Nyx (Night). He was depicted as a winged youth.
Dionysus (Bacchus) is the god of viticulture and winemaking, the object of a number of cults and mysteries. He was depicted either as an obese elderly man or as a young man with a wreath of grape leaves on his head.
Zagreus is the god of fertility, the son of Zeus and Persephone.
Zeus is the supreme god, king of gods and people.
Zephyr is the god of the west wind.
Iacchus is the god of fertility.
Kronos is a titan, the youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, the father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus...
Mom is the son of the goddess of Night, the god of slander.
Morpheus is one of the sons of Hypnos, the god of dreams.
Nereus is the son of Gaia and Pontus, a meek sea god.
Not - the god of the south wind, was depicted with a beard and wings.
Ocean is a titan, the son of Gaia and Uranus, the brother and husband of Tethys and the father of all the rivers of the world.
The Olympians are the supreme gods of the younger generation of Greek gods, led by Zeus, who lived on the top of Mount Olympus.
Pan is a forest god, the son of Hermes and Dryope, a goat-footed man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock.
Pluto is the god of the underworld, often identified with Hades, but unlike him, he owned not the souls of the dead, but wealth underworld.
Plutos is the son of Demeter, a god who gives wealth to people.
Pontus is one of the senior Greek deities, the offspring of Gaia, the god of the sea, the father of many titans and gods.
Poseidon is one of the Olympian gods, the brother of Zeus and Hades, who rules over the sea elements. Poseidon was also subject to the bowels of the earth,
he commanded storms and earthquakes.
Proteus is a sea deity, son of Poseidon, patron of seals. He had the gift of reincarnation and prophecy.
Satyrs are goat-footed creatures, demons of fertility.
Thanatos is the personification of death, the twin brother of Hypnos.
The Titans are a generation of Greek gods, the ancestors of the Olympians.
Typhon is a hundred-headed dragon born of Gaia or Hera. During the battle of the Olympians and the Titans, he was defeated by Zeus and imprisoned under the volcano Etna in Sicily.
Triton is the son of Poseidon, one of the sea deities, a man with a fish tail instead of legs, holding a trident and a twisted shell - a horn.
Chaos is an endless empty space from which at the beginning of time the most ancient gods of the Greek religion - Nyx and Erebus - emerged.
Chthonic gods are deities of the underworld and fertility, relatives of the Olympians. These included Hades, Hecate, Hermes, Gaia, Demeter, Dionysus and Persephone.
Cyclops are giants with one eye in the middle of their forehead, children of Uranus and Gaia.
Eurus (Eur) - god of the southeast wind.
Aeolus is the lord of the winds.
Erebus is the personification of the darkness of the underworld, the son of Chaos and the brother of Night.
Eros (Eros) - god of love, son of Aphrodite and Ares. IN ancient myths- a self-emerging force that contributed to the ordering of the world. He was depicted as a winged youth (in the Hellenistic era - a boy) with arrows, accompanying his mother.
Olympus is a mountain range in Greece, which was revered as the abode of the ancient Greek gods. The maximum height of the mountain is 2917 meters. Olympus is a sacred mountain. According to ancient Greek mythology, they live here gods of Olympus or Olympians. Zeus is considered the main god on Olympus.
Due to the fact that, as we have already discussed in, greek mythology quite similar to Slavic, since it comes from the Indo-European culture common to us, it is worth continuing to consider various aspects ancient Greek paganism in order to better understand our own paganism. It is also worth noting that the gods who inhabit the Greek Mount Olympus are most likely part of the beliefs that arose at a time when a certain part of the Indo-Europeans settled these lands and transferred ancient Indo-European beliefs to the area in which they settled. This is evidenced by the beliefs of other peoples, who also inhabited the high peaks with a whole host of supreme gods. IN Ancient Rus' such a belief has not survived, apparently because most of central Russia is plains. Most likely, the gods inhabiting the sacred mountains from Indo-European mythology became gods among the Slavs who live in the sky.
According to ancient Greek mythology, the gods of Olympus are the third generation of gods. The first generation of gods were: Nikta (Night), Erebus (Darkness), Eros (Love). The second generation of gods were the children of Nyx and Erebus: Ether, Hemera, Hypnos, Thanatos, Kera, Moira, Mom, Nemesis, Eris, Erinyes and Ata; from Ether and Hemera came Gaia and Uranus; from Gaia came such gods as: Tartarus, Pontus, Keto, Nereus, Tamant, Phorcys, Eurybia, as well as the Titans, Titanides and Hecatoncheires (hundred-armed fifty-headed giants). All these gods, as well as their descendants, are very interesting from the point of view of mythology and faith, but we will only focus on children of the Titan Kronos and the Titanide Rhea.
Kronos and Rhea, as mentioned above, are gods of the second generation. There were 12 titans and titanides in total. All of them are sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia. The six titan sons of Uranus and Gaia (Hyperion, Iapetus, Kay, Krios, Kronos and Oceanus) and six titanic daughters (Mnemosyne, Rhea, Theia, Tethys, Phoebe and Themis) married each other and gave birth to a new, third generation of gods . It is worth moving away from the narrative line here and noting that the gods cannot be humanized and everything cannot be taken literally. Marriages between gods, who are conventional brothers and sisters, cannot be understood as a forbidden relationship between relatives. In simple words, the gods do not have sex to give birth to sons and daughters. This can be understood as a connection between certain elements, as a result of which a new element is generated, or a connection between certain energetic or other entities, but in fact, all these assumptions are unlikely to have a real basis, since the essence of the divine is hardly accessible to human understanding.
The most interesting for us from the point of view of ancient Greek mythology are the children of the titan Kronos and the titanide Rhea. It was their children, who were called Kronids, who became the first gods of Olympus. Six gods, descendants of Kronos and Rhea: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades (not the god of Olympus), Demeter and Hestia. Next we will look at these gods in more detail. The descendants of Zeus (the main god of Olympus): Athena, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, Apollo and Artemis also became Olympians. There are 12 gods of Olympus in total.
So, what kind of gods lived on the sacred Mount Olympus?
Zeus- the supreme god of Olympus. In ancient Greek mythology, he is the god of the sky, thunder and lightning. In Roman mythology, Zeus was identified with Jupiter. IN Slavic mythology Zeus is similar to the god Perun, who is also the god of thunder and lightning, the ruler of the sky. In German-Scandinavian mythology, Zeus is also identified with one of the highest gods - Thor. Interestingly, the attributes of Zeus in ancient Greek ideas were a shield and a double-sided ax. The ax is also an attribute of Perun and Thor (mjolnir). Researchers suggest that the ax attribute appeared in this god in connection with one of his divine duties - a thrower of lightning that splits trees in half, as if the thunder god had struck from above with an ax. In ancient Greece, Zeus was not only the father of the gods, but also the father of all people.
Hera- the most powerful goddess on Olympus. She is the wife of Zeus. Hera is the patroness of marriages and women in childbirth. It is difficult to say which of the Slavic goddesses Hera can be identical with, since in her functions she is similar to both Makosh (the supreme goddess, patroness of marriages and women in labor), and with the woman in labor, Lada. It's interesting that Geru s human face began to be depicted in relatively late times, however, even after that she was often depicted according to ancient customs - with the head of a horse. In the same way, the ancient Slavs depicted Makosh and Lada as deer, elk or horses.
Poseidon- one of the most revered gods of Olympus. He is the patron saint of the seas, fishermen and sailors. After the gods defeated the Titans, Poseidon took possession of the water element. The wife of Poseidon is considered to be Amphitrite - Nereid, daughter sea god Nereus and Doris. The son of Poseidon and Amphitrite is Triton. Extremely scant evidence of the existence of a sea god among the Slavs has reached us. All that is known is that in Novgorod lands he was called the Lizard.
Demeter- goddess of Olympus, ancient Greek goddess of fertility and agriculture, birth and prosperity. In Ancient Greece, she was the most revered goddess, since the harvest, and therefore the life of the ancient Greeks, depended on her favor. The cult of Demeter is believed to be an Indo-European or even pre-Indo-European cult of the mother goddess. The Mother Goddess or Great Mother in the Indo-European era was Mother Earth. In our Slavic paganism, Demeter is certainly identical Slavic goddess Makoshi.
The daughter of Demeter is Persephone. Persephone is a complete correspondence to the Slavic goddess Morana. Persephone, despite the fact that she was the daughter of the revered Olympian goddess, was not involved in the gods of Olympus. Persephone is the goddess of the underworld of the dead, so she is not present on Olympus.
For the same reason, Hades (the son of Kronos and Rhea) is not considered one of the gods of Olympus. Hades is the god of the underworld of the dead. In Slavic mythology it corresponds to Chernobog.
Another goddess of Olympus is Hestia. Goddess of the hearth. Represents purity, family happiness and peace. Hestia was not only the patroness of the hearth, but also the patroness of the eternal flame, which should never go out. IN ancient world eternal flame was present at different nations, including the Greeks and Slavs. The eternal flame was maintained in honor of the gods and souls of dead people. As a phenomenon eternal memory, the eternal flame has survived to this day.
Athena- goddess of war. Daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom Metis. Athena inherited strength from her father Zeus, and wisdom from her mother. She was depicted in armor and holding a spear. In addition to her warrior traits, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and justice. According to legend, Athena gave the ancient Greeks the olive tree. For this reason, the olive wreath has always been awarded to famous warriors, heroes and winners. sports games and competitions.
Another god of war, also living on Olympus, is considered Ares. Son of Zeus and Hera. Athena and Ares are slightly opposite gods. If Athena is a fair goddess who advocates war for the sake of truth, then Ares is the patron of war for the sake of war, or even treacherous war. His companions are the goddess of discord Eris and the bloodthirsty goddess Enyo. Ares' horses are named: Flame, Noise, Terror and Shine.
Aphrodite- goddess of beauty and love. Daughter of Zeus and Dione. One of the twelve Olympian gods, that is, one of the most revered deities in the ancient Greek pantheon. In Rome this goddess was called Venus. And in our time, Venus is an image of beauty and love. Born from foam sea waters. Aphrodite is also considered the goddess of spring, the birth of life and fertility. The love power of this goddess is considered so strong that not only people, but also gods obey her. Aphrodite's husband was Hephaestus. Children of Aphrodite - Harmony and Eros.
Hephaestus- god-blacksmith, patron of the blacksmith's craft. Son of Zeus and Hera. In Slavic mythology, Hephaestus is compared to the god Svarog, who is also a blacksmith god who forged the Earth and taught people how to process metal. In addition to the fact that Hephaestus was the god of blacksmithing, he was also the god of fire. In Roman mythology, Hephaestus was called Vulcan. His forge is located in a mountain that breathes fire, that is, in an active volcano.
Hermes- god of trade, eloquence, wealth, profit. He is considered the messenger of the gods, a mediator between the gods and people. Hermes was also represented as the patron saint of all travelers. As a mediator between heaven and earth, Hephaestus is also considered a conductor of the souls of the dead to another world. Travelers, merchants, sages, poets, and even thieves appealed to this god for help and protection. Hermes has always been considered a cunning and rogue. IN early childhood he stole cows from Apollo, as well as a scepter from Zeus, a trident from Poseidon, tongs and Hephaestus, a belt from Aphrodite, arrows and a bow from Apollo, and a sword from Ares. Hermes is the son of Zeus and the nymph of the mountains of the Pleiades Maia. In terms of its divine characteristics, Hermes is very similar to the Slavic god Veles, who is also represented as the patron of wealth and trade, a mediator between people and gods, and a guide of souls.
Apollo- Ancient Greek god, one of the Olympians. Apollo was also called Phoebus. Apollo is the god of light, the personification of the Sun. In addition, he is the patron of the arts, especially music and singing, and a healing god. In Slavic mythology, Apollo is very similar to Dazhdbog - the patron of sunlight, the god-giver of light, heat, vital energy. The god Apollo was born from the union of Zeus (Perun) and Leto (Lada). Apollo's twin sister is the goddess Artemis.
Artemis- goddess of beauty, youth and fertility. Patroness of hunting. Moon Goddess. The Moon (Artemis) and the Sun (Apollo) are twin brother and sister. The cult of Artemis was widespread in Ancient Greece. In Ephesus there was a temple dedicated to Artemis. In this temple there was a statue of the many-breasted patroness of childbirth. In Slavic mythology, Artemis is compared to the daughter of Lada, the patroness of spring, beauty and youth - the goddess Lelya.