Ancient Greek gods and goddesses. So that the ray of inspiration in the soul does not go out. Zeus and his reign

During Antiquity, mythology had a huge impact on people, closely fitting into everyday life and religious customs. The main religion of this period is pagan polytheism, which was based on a large pantheon of gods. The gods of ancient Greece had a special meaning and each performed its role. AT different regions there was a cult of one or another god, which was largely determined by the peculiarity of life and way of life. This article provides a list and description of the gods.

The gods were humanized, endowing them with anthropomorphic demeanor. Ancient Greek mythology had a clear hierarchy - the titans, titanides and the younger generation of gods stood out, which gave rise to the Olympians. The Olympic gods are the supreme celestials who lived on Mount Olympus. It was they who provided greatest influence on the ancient Greeks.

The ancient Greek gods of the first generation - ancient entities that gave rise to everything living and inanimate, are considered the creators of the world. They entered into a relationship, thanks to which other gods were born, who also belong to the first generation, as well as the titans. The progenitors of all the ancient Greek gods were Skotos (Mist) and Chaos. It was these two entities that gave rise to the entire primary pantheon. Ancient Greece.

The primary pantheon of the gods of ancient Greece:

• Nyukta (Nikta);
• Erebus (Darkness);
• Eros (Love);
• Gaia (Earth);
• Tartarus (Abyss);
• Uranus (Sky).

Virtually no description of each of these deities has been preserved, since subsequently the Olympians became key to the mythology of Ancient Greece.

The gods, unlike humans, were allowed to enter into family ties, so the children were often the fruits of incest.

The deities of the second generation are the titans, thanks to whom the Olympian gods were born. These are 6 sisters and 6 brothers who actively married among themselves and fought for power. The most revered titans are Kronos and Rhea.

Olympian Gods of Greece

These are the children and descendants of the children of Kronos and his wife Rhea. The titan Kronos was originally considered the god of agriculture, and later of time. He had a stern disposition and a thirst for power, for which he was overthrown, castrated and sent to Tartarus. His reign was replaced by the Olympian gods, led by Zeus. The life and relationships of the Olympians are described in detail in ancient Greek legends and myths, they were worshiped, respected and brought gifts. There are 12 main gods.

Zeus

The younger son of Rhea and Kronos, is considered the father and patron of people and gods, personified good and evil. He opposed his father, overthrowing him in Tartarus. After that, power on earth was divided between him and his brothers - Poseidon and Hades. He is the patron of lightning and thunder. Its attributes were a shield and an ax, later an eagle began to be depicted next to it. Zeus was loved, but they were also afraid of his punishment, so they brought valuable gifts.

People represented Zeus as a strong and robust middle-aged man. He had noble features, thick hair and a beard. In the myths, Zeus was portrayed as a character in love stories that deceived earthly women, as a result of which he gave rise to many demigods.

Hades

The eldest son of Kronos and Rhea, after the overthrow of the reign of the titans, became the god of the underworld of the dead. He was personified by people as a man over 40 years old, who moved on a golden chariot drawn by golden horses. He is credited with a terrible environment, for example, Cerberus - a dog with three heads. It was believed that he owns the untold riches of the underworld, so they feared and respected him, sometimes more than Zeus. Married to Persephone, whom he kidnapped, thereby causing the wrath of Zeus and the inconsolable grief of Demeter.

Among people, they were afraid to pronounce his name aloud, replacing it with various epithets. One of the few gods whose cult was practically not widespread. During rituals, cattle with black skins, most often bulls, were sacrificed to him.

Poseidon

The middle son of Kronos and Rhea, after defeating the titans, took possession of the water element. According to myths, he lives in a majestic palace in the underwater depths, along with his wife Amphitrite and his son Triton. Moves across the sea in a chariot drawn by seahorses. Wields a trident with great power. His blows led to the formation of springs and underwater springs. In ancient drawings, he is depicted as a powerful man with blue eyes, like the color of the sea.

The Greeks believed that he had a heavy temper and a quick temper, which was opposed to the calmness of Zeus. The cult of Poseidon was widespread in many coastal cities of ancient Greece, where rich gifts were brought to him, including girls.

Hera

One of the most revered goddesses of Ancient Greece. She was the patroness of marriage and matrimony. She had a tough temper, jealousy and big love to power. She is the wife and sister of her brother Zeus.

In the myths, Hera is depicted as a power-hungry woman who sends disasters and curses on the many mistresses of Zeus and their children, which leads to grins and funny antics from her husband. Every year she bathes in the Kanaf spring, after which she again becomes a virgin.

In Greece, the cult of Hera was widespread, she was the protector of women, she was worshiped and brought gifts to help during childbirth. One of the first deities to whom a sanctuary was built.

Demeter

Second daughter of Kronos and Rhea, sister of Hera. The goddess of fertility and the patroness of agriculture, therefore, was highly respected by the Greeks. There were large cults on the territory of the country, it was believed that it was impossible to get a harvest without bringing a gift to Demeter. It was she who taught people how to cultivate the land. She appeared as a young woman of beautiful appearance with curls the color of ripe wheat. The most famous myth is about the abduction of her daughter by Hades.

Descendants and children of Zeus

In the mythology of ancient Greece great importance have born sons Zeus. These are gods of the second order, each of which was the patron of one or another activity of people. According to the legends, they often came into contact with the inhabitants of the earth, where they weaved intrigues and built relationships. Key ones:

Apollo

The people called him "radiant" or "shining". He presented himself as a golden-haired young man, endowed with an extraterrestrial beauty of appearance. He was a patron of the arts, a patron of new settlements and a healer. Widely revered by the Greeks, large cults and sanctuaries have been found at Delos and Delphi. He is the patron and mentor of music.

Ares (Arey)

The god of a bloody and tough war, which is why he was often opposed to Athena. The Greeks represented him as a mighty warrior with a sword in his hand. In later sources, he is depicted next to a griffin and two companions - Eris and Enyo, who sowed discord and anger among people. In myths, he is described as the lover of Aphrodite, in whose relationship many deities and demigods were born.

Artemis

The patroness of hunting and female chastity. It was believed that bringing gifts to Artemis would bring happiness in marriage and facilitate childbirth. Often depicted next to a deer and a bear. The most famous temple was in Ephesus, later she was the patroness of the Amazons.

Athena (Pallas)

Highly revered goddess in Ancient Greece. She was the patroness of organized warfare, wisdom and strategy. Later it became a symbol of knowledge and crafts. She was portrayed by the ancient Greeks as a tall and well-coordinated woman, with a spear in her hand. Temples to Athena were erected everywhere, the cult of veneration was widespread.

Aphrodite

The ancient Greek goddess of beauty and love, later considered the patron of fertility and life. It had a huge influence on the entire pantheon, both people and gods were in its power (except for Athens, Artemis and Hestia). She was the wife of Hephaestus, but she is credited with love affairs with Ares and Dionysus. Depicted with flowers of roses, myrtle or poppy, apple. Her retinue included doves, sparrows and dolphins, and Eros and numerous nymphs were her companions. The largest cult was located in the city of Paphos, located on the territory of modern Cyprus.

Hermes

Extremely controversial god of the ancient Greek pantheon. He patronized trade, eloquence and dexterity. He was depicted with a winged rod, around which two snakes were entwined. According to the legends, he was able to reconcile them, wake up and put people to sleep. Hermes is often depicted wearing sandals and a wide-brimmed hat, as well as with a lamb on his shoulder. Often, not only helped the inhabitants of the earth, but also weaved intrigues, bringing citizens together.

Hephaestus

The blacksmith god, who is the patron of blacksmithing and construction. It was he who made the attributes of most of the gods, and also made lightning for Zeus. According to legend, Hera gave birth to him without the participation of her husband, from her thigh in revenge for the birth of Athena. Often depicted as a broad-shouldered and ugly man, lame in both legs. He was the legal husband of Aphrodite.

Dionysus

The youngest Olympian god, widely loved by the ancient Greeks. He is the patron of winemaking, vegetation, fun and madness. His mother is an earthly woman, Semele, who was killed by Hera. Zeus personally carried the child from 6 months, giving birth to him from the thigh. According to myths, this son of Zeus invented wine and beer. Dionysus was revered not only by the Greeks, but also by the Arabs. Often depicted with a staff tipped with hops and a bunch of grapes in his hand. The main retinue is satyrs.

The ancient Greek pantheon is represented by several dozen major gods, deities, mythical creatures, monsters and demigods. The legends and myths of Antiquity have many interpretations, since different sources were used in the description. The ancient Greeks loved and respected all the gods, they were worshiped, brought gifts and turned for blessing and cursing. Ancient Greek mythology was expounded in detail by Homer, who described all major events and the appearance of the gods.

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

In Ancient Hellas, the most revered were the younger celestials, who defeated the older gods - the titans. The young gods of ancient Greece settled on Mount Olympus, with the exception of Hades, who lived in his underworld. Each immortal had a certain supreme power and performed his functions. The gods were not alien to experiences, feelings, with their behavior they sometimes resembled people. The only thing that differed was immortality.

In ancient Greece, 12 deities were revered. This list does not include the god of the dungeon, Hades, but the inhabitants of ancient Greece revered and feared him. Over time, the relationship of immortal creatures overgrown with myths and legends that are of genuine interest at the present time.

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

Apollo

Mighty Zeus

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

At the beginning of his reign, Zeus was a real tyrant. Twice he tried to destroy the human race. Only after strengthening in power did he slightly loosen the bridle of government. The ancient Greek gods obeyed the power of the thunderer, only occasionally tried to rebel. Zeus led the kings to rule, strengthened the rights, orders.

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

Zeus' lovers were:

• dimetra,
• Eurynome,
• Mnemosyne,
• Mayan,
• Themis.

Not all women reciprocated the Thunderer. Then Zeus took the form of their beloved, animals, natural phenomena, in order to achieve his goal.

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

Note! All the wives of Zeus were his sisters.

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God of War Ares

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

The father hated his son so much that if it were not for kinship, he severely punished him. loving mother always defended Ares, helped. But she could not accept the vicious connection of her son with Aphrodite.

According to the myth, Ares was a merciless warrior who crushed many enemies. Not a single bloody battle could do without him. Companions Enyo and Eris accompanied him in all battles, causing fury among the soldiers, and patronized discord. The god of war was not considered invincible. After each defeat, he became briefly submissive, quiet, and came with complaints to his father.

Ares was good-looking, had a muscular, strong body, fair skin, regular features, and therefore often indulged in love pleasures. Due to his beauty, even with a very vile character, he was very popular with the opposite sex. Immortals, simple women competed among themselves for the right to become his beloved.

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

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

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

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

Majestic Apollo

Apollo is the Greek god of the sun. Revered as a patron of artistic appeal. He was also a healer, a talented soothsayer, a brave hero. The ambitious, eternally young god occupied a place of honor on Olympus. He was second only to Zeus.

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

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

Useful video: Apollo - Light and Darkness

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

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

He was ugly himself, so he was not interesting for women. By order of Zeus, Aphrodite became his wife. beautiful wife could not love her husband, whom she was forcibly married to.

Beautiful Aphrodite

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

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

The impeccable beauty of the goddess Aphrodite conquered the inhabitants of Olympus and mere mortals. She was served by the patronesses of grace and beauty - Harita and Ora. Wherever she trod, flowers blossomed. Aphrodite never suffered defeat in love affairs, always received reciprocity from her beloved, personified voluptuousness.

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

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

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Conclusion

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

Each of the peoples of the Ancient World had their own deities, powerful and not very powerful. Many of them had unusual abilities and were the owners of miraculous artifacts that gave them additional strength, knowledge and, ultimately, power.

Amaterasu ("Great Goddess Who Illuminates the Heavens")

Country: Japan
Essence: Goddess of the Sun, ruler of the heavenly fields

Amaterasu is the eldest of the three children of the progenitor god Izanaki. She was born from the drops of water with which he washed his left eye. She took possession of the upper heavenly world, while her younger brothers got the night and the watery kingdom.

Amaterasu taught people how to cultivate rice and weave. The imperial house of Japan traces its lineage from her. She is considered the great-grandmother of the first Emperor Jimmu. The rice ear, mirror, sword and carved beads given to her became sacred symbols imperial power. By tradition, one of the emperor's daughters becomes the high priestess of Amaterasu.

Yu-Di ("Jade Sovereign")

Country: China
Essence: Supreme Lord, Emperor of the Universe

Yu-Di was born at the moment of the creation of the Earth and the Sky. He is subject to both the Heavenly, and the Ground, and the Underworld. All other deities and spirits are subordinate to him.
Yu-Di is absolutely impassive. He sits on a throne in a robe embroidered with dragons with a jade tablet in his hands. Yu Di has the exact address: the god lives in a palace on Mount Yujingshan, which resembles the court of Chinese emperors. Under it, heavenly councils function, which are responsible for various natural phenomena. They perform all sorts of actions, to which the lord of heaven himself does not condescend.

Quetzalcoatl ("Feathered Serpent")

The country: Central America
Essence: Creator of the world, lord of the elements, creator and teacher of people

Quetzalcoatl not only created the world and people, but also taught them the most important skills: from agriculture to astronomical observations. Despite his high status, Quetzalcoatl sometimes acted in a very peculiar way. For example, in order to get maize grains for people, he entered the anthill, turning himself into an ant, and stole them.

Quetzalcoatl was depicted both as a serpent covered with feathers (the body symbolized the Earth, and feathers - vegetation), and as a bearded man in a mask.
According to one legend, Quetzalcoatl voluntarily went into overseas exile on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Because of this, the Aztecs initially mistook the leader of the conquistadors, Cortes, for the returned Quetzalcoatl.

Baal (Balu, Vaal, "Lord")

Country: Middle East
Essence: Thunderer, god of rain and elements. In some myths - the creator of the world

Baal, as a rule, was depicted either in the form of a bull, or a warrior jumping on a cloud with a lightning spear. During the festivities in his honor, mass orgies took place, often accompanied by self-mutilation. It is believed that human sacrifices were made to Baal in some areas. From his name came the name of the biblical demon Beelzebub (Ball-Zebula, "Lord of the Flies").

Ishtar (Astarte, Inanna, "Lady of Heaven")

Country: Middle East
Essence: Goddess of fertility, sex and war

Ishtar, sister of the Sun and daughter of the Moon, was associated with the planet Venus. The legend of her journey to the underworld was associated with the myth of annually dying and resurrecting nature. Often she acted as an intercessor of people before the gods. At the same time, Ishtar was responsible for various feuds. The Sumerians even called the wars "the dances of Inanna." As a goddess of war, she was often depicted as riding a lion, and probably became the prototype of the Babylonian harlot sitting on a beast.
The passion of the loving Ishtar was fatal for both the gods and mortals. For her many lovers, everything usually ended in big trouble or even death. The worship of Ishtar included temple prostitution and was accompanied by mass orgies.

Ashur ("Father of the Gods")

Country: Assyria
Essence: God of War
Ashur - chief god Assyrians, god of war and hunting. His weapon was a bow and arrows. As a rule, Ashur was depicted with bulls. Another of his symbols is the solar disk above the tree of life. Over time, when the Assyrians expanded their possessions, he began to be considered the spouse of Ishtar. The Assyrian king himself was the high priest of Ashur, and his name often became part of the royal name, as, for example, the famous Ashurbanipal, and the capital of Assyria was called Ashur.

Marduk ("Son of the Clear Sky")

Country: Mesopotamia
Essence: Patron of Babylon, god of wisdom, lord and judge of the gods
Marduk defeated the embodiment of chaos Tiamat, driving the "evil wind" into her mouth, and took possession of the book of fate that belonged to her. After that, he cut the body of Tiamat and created Heaven and Earth from them, and then created the entire modern, ordered world. Other gods, seeing the power of Marduk, recognized his supremacy.
The symbol of Marduk is the dragon Mushkhush, a mixture of a scorpion, a snake, an eagle and a lion. With parts of the body and the insides of Marduk were identified various plants and animals. The main temple of Marduk - a huge ziggurat (step pyramid) became, probably, the basis of the legend of the Tower of Babel.

Yahweh (Jehovah, "He Who Is")

Country: Middle East
Essence: The only tribal god of the Jews

The main function of Yahweh was to help the chosen people. He gave laws to the Jews and strictly enforced them. In clashes with enemies, Yahweh provided assistance to the chosen people, sometimes the most direct. In one of the battles, for example, he threw huge stones at the enemies, in another case, he canceled the law of nature by stopping the sun.
Unlike most other gods ancient world, Yahweh is extremely jealous, and forbids the worship of any deity other than himself. Severe punishment awaits the disobedient. The word "Yahweh" is a substitute for the secret name of God, which is forbidden to be spoken aloud. It was impossible to create his images. In Christianity, Yahweh is sometimes identified with God the Father.

Ahura Mazda (Ormuzd, "God the Wise")

Country: Persia
Essence: Creator of the World and all the good that is in it

Ahura Mazda created the laws by which the world exists. He endowed people with free will, and they can choose the path of good (then Ahura Mazda will favor them in every possible way) or the path of evil (serving the eternal enemy of Ahura Mazda Angra Mainyu). Ahura Mazda's helpers are the good beings of Ahura created by him. He stays in their environment in the fabulous Garodman, the house of chants.
The image of Ahura Mazda is the Sun. He is older than the whole world, but at the same time, forever young. He knows both the past and the future. In the end he will get final victory over evil, and the world will be perfect.

Angra Mainyu (Ahriman, "Evil Spirit")

Country: Persia
Essence: The embodiment of evil among the ancient Persians
Angra Mainyu is the source of everything bad that happens in the world. He spoiled the perfect world created by Ahura Mazda, introducing lies and destruction into it. He sends diseases, crop failures, natural disasters, spawns predatory beasts, poisonous plants and animals. Under the authority of Angra Mainyu are the devas, evil spirits fulfilling his evil will. After Angra Mainyu and his henchmen are defeated, an era of eternal bliss must come.

Brahma ("Priest")

Country: India
Essence: God is the creator of the world
Brahma was born from a lotus flower and then created this world. After 100 years of Brahma, 311,040,000,000,000 Earth years, he will die, and after the same period of time, a new Brahma will spontaneously arise and create a new world.
Brahma has four faces and four arms, which symbolizes the cardinal directions. His indispensable attributes are a book, a rosary, a vessel with water from the sacred Ganges, a crown and a lotus flower, symbols of knowledge and power. Brahma lives on the top of the sacred mountain Meru, moves on a white swan. The description of the operation of the Brahma weapon Brahmastra is reminiscent of the description of a nuclear weapon.

Vishnu ("All-inclusive")

Country: India
Essence: God is the guardian of the world

The main functions of Vishnu are the maintenance of the existing world and opposition to evil. Vishnu manifests in the world and acts through his incarnations, avatars, the most famous of which are Krishna and Rama. Vishnu has blue skin and wears yellow clothes. He has four arms in which he holds a lotus flower, mace, conch and Sudarshana (a spinning fiery disc, his weapon). Vishnu reclines on the giant many-headed serpent Shesha, which swims in the world Causal Ocean.

Shiva ("The Merciful")

Country: India
Essence: God is the destroyer
The main task of Shiva is the destruction of the world at the end of each world cycle in order to make room for a new creation. This happens during the dance of Shiva - Tandava (therefore, Shiva is sometimes called the dancing god). However, he also has more peaceful functions - a healer and deliverer from death.
Shiva sits in a lotus position on a tiger skin. There are snake bracelets around his neck and wrists. Shiva has a third eye on his forehead (it appeared when Shiva's wife, Parvati, jokingly covered his eyes with her palms). Sometimes Shiva is depicted as a lingam (an erect penis). But sometimes he is also depicted as a hermaphrodite, symbolizing the unity of male and feminine. By folk beliefs Shiva smokes marijuana, so some believers consider this activity a way of knowing him.

Ra (Amon, "The Sun")

Country: Egypt
Essence: God of the Sun
Ra, the main god of Ancient Egypt, was born from the primary ocean of his own free will, and then created the world, including the gods. He is the personification of the Sun, and daily, with a numerous retinue, passes through the sky in a magical boat, thanks to which life in Egypt becomes possible. At night, the boat of Ra sails along the underground Nile through the afterlife. The Eye of Ra (sometimes considered an independent deity) had the ability to pacify and subdue enemies. The Egyptian pharaohs were descended from Ra, and called themselves his sons.

Osiris (Usir, "The Mighty One")

Country: Egypt
Essence: God of rebirth, lord and judge of the underworld.

Osiris taught people about agriculture. His attributes are associated with plants: the crown and boat are made of papyrus, in his hands are bundles of reeds, and the throne is twined with greenery. Osiris was killed and cut to pieces by his brother, the evil god Seth, but was resurrected with the help of his wife and sister Isis. However, having conceived the son of Horus, Osiris did not remain in the world of the living, but became the lord and judge of the kingdom of the dead. Because of this, he was often depicted as a swaddled mummy with free hands, in which he holds a scepter and a flail. AT Ancient Egypt the tomb of Osiris enjoyed great reverence.

Isis ("Throne")

Country: Egypt
Essence: Goddess intercessor.
Isis is the embodiment of femininity and motherhood. With pleas for help, all segments of the population turned to her, but, first of all, the oppressed. She especially patronized children. And sometimes she also acted as a defender of the dead before the afterlife court.
Isis was able to magically resurrect her husband and brother Osiris and give birth to his son Horus. The floods of the Nile in folk mythology were considered the tears of Isis, which she sheds about Osiris, who remained in the world of the dead. The Egyptian pharaohs were called children of Isis; sometimes she was even depicted as a mother feeding the pharaoh with milk from her breast.
The image of the "veil of Isis" is known, meaning the concealment of the secrets of nature. This image has long attracted mystics. No wonder the famous book by Blavatsky is called Isis Unveiled.

Odin (Wotan, "The Seer")

Country: Northern Europe
Essence: God of war and victory
Odin is the main god of the ancient Germans and Scandinavians. He travels on the eight-legged horse Sleipnir or on the ship Skidbladnir, the size of which can be arbitrarily changed. Odin's spear, Gugnir, always flies to the target and hits on the spot. He is accompanied by wise ravens and predatory wolves. One lives in Valhalla with a retinue of the best fallen warriors and warlike Valkyrie maidens.
In order to gain wisdom, Odin sacrificed one eye, and for the sake of comprehending the meaning of the runes, he hung for nine days on sacred tree Yggdrasil nailed to him with his own spear. The future of Odin is predetermined: despite his power, on the day of Ragnarok (the battle preceding the end of the world), he will be killed by the giant wolf Fefnir.

Thor ("Thunder")

Country: Northern Europe
Essence: Thunderbolt

Thor is the god of the elements and fertility among the ancient Germans and Scandinavians. This is a god-bogatyr who protects not only people, but also other gods from monsters. Thor was portrayed as a giant with a red beard. His weapon is the magic hammer Mjolnir ("lightning"), which can only be held in iron gauntlets. Thor girds himself with a magical belt that doubles his strength. He rides across the sky in a goat-drawn chariot. Sometimes he eats goats, but then resurrects them with his magic hammer. On the day of Ragnarok, the last battle, Thor will deal with the world serpent Jörmungandr, but he himself will die from his poison.

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

Theogony

The classical Greek pantheon had 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 eventually came:

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

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

Uranus became the ruler of the whole world, and Gaia, the mother of all things, became his wife. Uranus was afraid and hated his numerous children-titans, therefore, immediately after their birth, he hid the babies back into 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 deposed and castrated his father.

The children of Uranus and Gaia were finally able to come out of their mother's womb. Kronos married one of his sisters - the titanide Rhea and became the supreme deity. His reign became a real "golden age". However, Kronos feared for his power. Uranus predicted to him that one of 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 - were swallowed by the titan. last son- Zeus - Rhea managed to hide. Zeus grew up, freed his brothers and sisters, and then began to fight with his father. So the titans and the third generation of gods, the future Olympians, clashed in the battle. Hesiod calls these events "titanomachia" (literally "Battles of the Titans"). The struggle ended with the victory of the Olympians and the fall of the titans into the abyss of Tartarus.

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

Olympian gods

Thanks to numerous literary works, many ancient Greek myths have survived to this day. Unlike Slavic mythology, preserved in a 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 played the leading role. There is no canonical list of Olympians. In different versions of myths, different gods may enter the pantheon.

Zeus

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

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

A very interesting moment in the biography of Zeus is his struggle with the titan Prometheus. The Olympian gods destroyed the first people who lived on earth since the time of Kronos. Prometheus created new people and taught them crafts, for their sake, the titan even stole fire from Olympus. Enraged, Zeus ordered Prometheus to be chained to a rock, where an eagle flew daily, pecking at the liver of a titan. In order to take revenge on the people created by Prometheus for their self-will, Zeus sent Pandora to them - a beauty 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 either punishment or mercy to mortals.

Poseidon

The brother of Zeus - Poseidon - the lord of such a changeable element as water. Like the ocean, it can be wild and wild. Most likely, Poseidon was originally an earthly deity. This version explains why the cult animals of Poseidon were completely "land" bull and horse. Hence the epithets with which the god of the seas was endowed - “shaking the earth”, “land holder”.

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

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

Hera

Despite the huge number of connections with the most different 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 oceanid Metis, whom he imprisoned in his womb, and the second was the goddess of justice Themis - the mother of the seasons and moira - the goddesses of fate.

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

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

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

Ares

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

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

Athena

The birth of Athena was very unusual. One day, Zeus began to suffer severe headaches. To alleviate the suffering of the Thunderer, the god Hephaestus strikes him on the head with an ax. From the resulting wound comes a beautiful maiden in armor and with a spear. Zeus, seeing his daughter, was very happy. The newborn goddess was named Athena. She became the main assistant to her father - the keeper of law and order and the personification of wisdom. Formally, the mother of Athena was Metis, imprisoned 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 warriors and heroes, but only those of them who wisely disposed of their strength. Thus, the goddess balanced the rampage 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 in both legs. Hera was unpleasant to an ugly and sick baby, so she threw him off Olympus. Hephaestus fell into the sea, where Thetis picked him up. On the seabed Hephaestus mastered blacksmithing and began to forge wonderful things.

For the Greeks, Hephaestus, thrown from Olympus, personified, though 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 got into it, the fetters closed on her arms and legs, which none of the gods could unchain. Despite all the persuasion, Hephaestus stubbornly did not want to go to Olympus in order to free Hera. Only Dionysus, who intoxicated Hephaestus, managed to bring the blacksmith god. After her release, Hera recognized her son and gave him Aphrodite as his wife. However, Hephaestus did not live long with a windy wife and entered into a second marriage with Charita Aglaya, the goddess of goodness and joy.

Hephaestus is the only Olympian who is constantly busy with work. He forges lightning bolts for Zeus, magic items, armor and weapons. From his mother, he, like Ares, inherited some chthonic features, however, not so destructive. Connection of Hephaestus with underworld emphasizes its fiery nature. However, the fire of Hephaestus is not a destructive flame, but a hearth that warms people, or a blacksmith's forge, with which many useful things can be made.

Demeter

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

It is believed that Demeter taught people how to farm. She also gave fertility to plants, animals and people. The Greeks believed that the mysteries dedicated to Demeter blurred the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead. Data archaeological sites show that in some areas of Greece Demeter even brought human sacrifices.

Aphrodite

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

The goddess knew how to send love to people and gods, which she often used. One of the main attributes of Aphrodite was her wonderful belt, which made any woman beautiful. Because of the changeable disposition of Aphrodite, many suffered from her charms. The vengeful goddess could severely punish those who rejected her gifts or offended her in some way.

Apollo and Artemis

Apollo and Artemis are the children of the goddess Leto and Zeus. Hera was extremely angry with Summer, so she 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, Leto 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 arrows, Artemis, surrounded by nymphs, began to wander through the forests. The virgin hunter goddess was the patroness of wild and domestic animals and all life on earth. Both young girls and pregnant women, whom she protected, turned to her for help.

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

Hestia

Unlike most of the cruel and vengeful Olympians, older sister Zeus - Hestia - was distinguished by a peaceful and calm disposition. The Greeks revered her as the keeper 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 widespread in Greece. It was believed that she helps to hold sacred ceremonies and preserves peace in families.

Hermes

The patron of trade, wealth, dexterity and theft - Hermes, most likely, was originally an ancient Asia Minor demon-rogue. 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, he demonstrated his amazing abilities from birth. So, on the very first day after his birth, Hermes learned to play the cithara and stole the cows of Apollo.

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

Shepherds, merchants, usurers, travelers, swindlers, alchemists and fortune-tellers revered Hermes.

Hades

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

Although Hades was the god of the dead, he also bestowed fertility and wealth. At the same time, he himself, as befits such a deity, did not have children, he even had to kidnap his wife, because none of the goddesses wanted to descend into the underworld.

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

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

First generation

Initially, there was Mist, and Chaos arose from it. From their union came Erebus (darkness), 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 related to them in one way or another.

Gaia is one of the first deities on earth, which arose along with the sky, sea and air. She is the great mother of everything on earth: heavenly gods were born from her union with her son Uranus (heaven), sea gods from Pontos (sea), giants from Tartaros (hell), and mortal beings were created from her flesh. Depicted as a fat woman, half rising from the ground. We can assume that it was she who came up with all the names of the gods of Ancient Greece, a list of which can be found below.

Uranus is one of the primeval gods of Ancient Greece. He was the original ruler of the universe. He was overthrown by his son Kronos. Born to one Gaia, was also her husband. Some sources call his father Akmon. Uranus was depicted as a bronze dome covering the world.

List of gods of Ancient Greece born by Uranus and Gaia: Oceanus, Kous, Hyperion, Crius, Thea, Rhea, Themis, Iapetus, Mnemosyne, Tethys, Kronos, Cyclopes, Brontes, Steropes.

Uranus did not feel much love for his children, more precisely, he hated them. And after their birth he imprisoned them in Tartarus. But during their rebellion he was defeated and castrated by his son Kronos.

Second generation

The Titans, born of Uranus and Gaia, were the six gods of time. The list of titans of ancient Greece includes:

Ocean - tops the list of gods of Ancient Greece, titanium. Represented big river, surrounding land, was the reservoir of all fresh water. Oceanus' wife was his sister, the titanide Tethys. Their union gave birth to rivers, streams and thousands of oceanids. They did not take part in the Titanomachy. The ocean is depicted as horned bull with a fish tail instead of legs.

Kay (Koy/Keos) - Phoebe's brother and husband. Their union gave birth to Leto and Asteria. Depicted in the form of a celestial axis. It was around her that the clouds revolved and Helios and Selena walked across the sky. The couple were thrown by Zeus into Tartarus.

Kriy (Krios) - an ice titan that can freeze all living things. He shared the fate of his brothers and sisters, thrown into Tartarus.

Iapetus (Iapetus / Iapetus) - the most eloquent, commanded the titans during the attack on the gods. Also sent by Zeus to Tartarus.

Hyperion - lived on the island of Trinacria. He did not take part in the Titanomachy. The wife was the titinide Thea (she was thrown into Tartarus along with her brothers and sisters).

Kronos (Chronos/Kronus) is the temporary ruler of the world. He was so afraid of losing power supreme god that devoured his children so that none of them would claim the throne of the ruler. He was married to his sister Rhea. She managed to save one child and hide him from Kronos. Deposed 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 emerging from chaos to the top of the mountain. The gods of the third generation began to contact people more often and more willingly.

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

third generation

These gods lived on Mount Olympus. From its name they got their title. There are 12 gods of Ancient Greece, the 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 which were the children of Kronos and Rhea:

Zeus - the main god of Olympus, the ruler of the sky, personified power and strength. God of lightning, thunder and creator of people. The main attributes of this god were: Aegis (shield), Labrys (double-sided ax), Zeus' lightning (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;
• Gera - last wife, the goddess of marriage, was the sister of Zeus.

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

Demeter is the mother of Persephone, the sister of Zeus and his lover. She is the goddess of fertility and patronizes farmers. Demeter's attribute is 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. I took a vow of chastity. The main attribute was a torch.

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

Hera is the sister and wife of Zeus. The most powerful and wise goddess of Olympus. She was the patroness of family and marriage. Required attribute Hera is a diadem. This decoration is a symbol of the fact that she is the main one on Olympus. She obeyed (sometimes reluctantly) all the main gods of ancient Greece, the list of which she headed.

Other Olympians

Although these gods did not have such powerful parents, almost all of them were born from Zeus. Each of them was talented in their own way. And he did his job well.

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

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

Hermes is the son of Zeus and the Pleiades Maya or Persephone. God of trade, eloquence, dexterity, intelligence, animal husbandry and roads. Patron of athletes, merchants, artisans, shepherds, travelers, ambassadors and thieves. He is the personal messenger of Zeus and the escort of the dead to the kingdom of Hades. He taught people writing, trade and accounting. Attributes: winged sandals that allow him to fly, an invisibility helmet, a caduceus (a wand adorned with two intertwined snakes).

Hephaestus is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of blacksmithing and fire. He limped on both legs. Wives of Hephaestus - Aphrodite and Aglaya. The attributes of the god were: bellows, tongs, a chariot and a pilos.

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

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto, the twin sister of Apollo. The young goddess is a hunter. Being the first to be born, 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. Mother of Persephone (wife of Hades), sister of Zeus and his lover. Goddess of agriculture and fertility. Demeter's attribute is a wreath of ears.

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

Born in foam?

I want to talk about the next goddess separately. She is not only to this day a symbol of female beauty. In addition, the history of its origin is hidden in mystery.

There is a lot of controversy and speculation about the birth of Aphrodite. The first version: the goddess was born from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed foam. The second version: Aphrodite originated 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 dared to open hostility, knowing the power of their opponent.

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

Gods who do not live on Mount Olympus

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

• Hymen is the god of marriage bonds (the son of Apollo and the muse Calliope).
• Nike is the goddess of victory (daughter of Styx and the titan Pallas).
• Irida is the goddess of the rainbow (daughter of the sea god Tawmant and the oceanid Electra).
• Ata is the goddess of obscuration of the mind (daughter of Zeus).
• Apata is the mistress of lies (heiress of the goddess of night darkness Nyukta).
• Morpheus is the god of dreams (the son of the lord of dreams Hypnos).
• Phobos - the god of fear (a descendant of Aphrodite and Ares).
• Deimos - the lord of horror (the son of Ares and Aphrodite).
• Ora - the goddess of the seasons (daughters of Zeus and Themis).
• Eol - the demigod of the winds (the heir of Poseidon and Arna).
• Hekate is the mistress of darkness and all monsters (the result of the union of the titan Perse and Asteria).
• Thanatos is the god of death (son of Erebus and Nyukta).
• Erinyes - goddesses of revenge (daughters of Erebus and Nyukta).
• Pontus - lord inland sea(heir of Ether and Gaia).
• Moira - the goddess of fate (daughter of Zeus and Themis).

These are not all the gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which can be continued even further. But to get acquainted with the main myths and legends, it is enough to know only these characters. If you want to read more stories about each, we are sure that the ancient storytellers came up with a lot of interweaving of their destinies and details of the divine life, in which you will gradually get to know more and more new heroes.

Meaning of Greek mythology

There were also muses, nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, heroes, cyclops, giants and monsters. This whole vast world was not invented in one day. Myths and legends have been written for decades, with each retelling acquiring other details and characters that have never been seen before. All the new gods of ancient Greece appeared, the list of names of which grew from one storyteller to another.

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