How many ancient Greek gods? Ancient Greek mythology

Greece is unthinkable without mythology. When we talk about this state, the name Olympus, the sacred mountain where Zeus and other supreme deities reigned, naturally comes to mind. Almighty Gods of Ancient Greece- they are immortal, capricious, endowed with the advantages and disadvantages of people. They sin, they love, they take revenge like mere mortals, but at the same time they are formidable, cruel, and sometimes generous.

Legends and myths of Olympus: list and description of 12 gods

Legends about the Olympian gods passed from generation to generation and had a huge impact on world culture. Stories from ancient Greek mythology were present in literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, and music. They “exerted” influence on almost all spheres of human life, as they reflected people’s ideas about the structure of the world.

The information that has reached our times about the legends and tales of Ancient Greece came from the works of Homer, Ovid, Nonnus, and Euripides. Thus, by the “Olympic” period of the development of society, all myths were associated with Mount Olympus, where 12 deities headed by Zeus sat (although their number does not always coincide).

According to ancient Greek myths, before the “central” Gods ascended to Olympus, Chaos existed on Earth, which gave birth to Eternal Darkness and Dark Night. From them came the Eternal Light and the bright Day. So, night began to give way to day, and day to night, forever and ever.

The mighty Goddess Gaia (Earth), also emerging from Chaos, gave birth to Sky (Uranus), Mountains and Sea. And then Uranus took Gaia as his wife. From this union six Titans and six Daughters were born. From their connection with each other, rivers, winds, stars, rains, and the Moon appeared in the world.

In addition, Gaia gave birth to three Cyclops giants and three giants, each of whom had 50 heads and 100 arms. Uranus saw these monsters and hated them, since they had a violent character and powerful strength. Uranus imprisoned them in the bowels of the Earth, but she secretly rescued them and persuaded them to rebel against their father. Only one, the youngest of the brothers named Kronos, managed to take power from Uranus.

Then the goddess Night gave birth to death, discord, deception, nightmares, destruction and revenge. Kronos began to rule in a world where struggle, horror and misfortune reigned. This is how Night punished the cunning Kronos.

Most of all, he was afraid that his children could do away with him at any moment, just like he did with his father. And then he called his wife Rhea to him and ordered her to bring the children that were born. The merciless Kronos swallowed all of them - Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon. But there was also a sixth child - Zeus. Instead, Rhea gave her husband a stone wrapped in cloth, as if it were a baby in swaddling clothes. And secretly from her ruthless husband, she went to the island of Crete, where she gave birth to a baby in a dark cave.

Zeus

Kronos, the king of the Titans, learned about the forgery and began to look for his son throughout the Earth. The boy was protected by curetes - according to one version, these creatures were born from the tears of little Zeus. They made an incredible noise when he cried, because with his loud voice he could attract the attention of a cruel parent.

Zeus grew up, went to war against his father, overthrew him from the throne and imprisoned him in Tartarus - an abyss from which one cannot escape. But first he made him vomit up all the swallowed children, made his brothers and sisters Gods and reigned over the world, sitting on Olympus.

Zeus is the supreme God, patron of Sky, Thunder and Lightning. Artists depict him as a strong and powerful man in years, with rich hair and a gray beard. He sits on a throne and holds a shield and a labrys (double-sided axe) in his hands. The wife of the Thunderer was Hera.

Zeus is often presented as punitive and cruel, but he “arranged” the lives of people, gave them fate, law, conscience and goodness, and in contrast to them - evil and shamelessness. He is the defender of the offended and humiliated, the patron of kings, the formidable guardian of traditions, order in the world and family.

Hera

Wife of Zeus, chief of the Goddesses of Olympus. She patronizes family ties, preserves family relationships, and helps women during childbirth.

Hera is also the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. When she was still a girl, Zeus fell in love with her, and so that she would pay attention to him, he turned into a cuckoo, and Hera caught her. However, in her family life she experienced painful jealousy of her husband, who satisfied his sexual hunger with both goddesses and earthly women. She constantly sent disasters and misfortunes to her husband's mistresses.

Hera is the beauty of beauties. Every year she bathed in magical springs to become a virgin again. The Goddess was depicted as a stately and noble lady, with a diadem or crown on her head, with a cuckoo or peacock, sometimes with the head of a horse.

Poseidon

God of the water element, son of Kronos and Rhea, brother of Zeus, patron of fishermen and horse breeders. In character and appearance, Poseidon was similar to his brother the Thunderer. In painting and sculpture he was depicted as a powerful man with strong arms and legs, and a powerful torso.

His face is never calm, but angry and menacing. Poseidon's constant attribute is the trident. By waving it, the ruler of the seas could cause a storm or, conversely, force the water element to calm down in an instant. Poseidon moves across the sea in a chariot with white horses. His wife is Amphitrite.

Hades

The god of the underworld Hades was the eldest son of Kronos and Rhea. At the same time, he was revered as the patron of the harvest, because everything that grows comes from the depths of the earth. Hades was called “hospitable” because he “waited” and “welcomed” every mortal in his kingdom. Hades was one of the 3 main gods, along with the brothers Zeus and Poseidon, who defeated the Titans.

The god of the underworld was rarely depicted. If there was an image, then he looked like this: a gloomy man of mature age in dark clothes, powerful, on a golden throne, with the three-headed dog Cerberus at his feet, guarding the entrance to the kingdom of the dead. Next to Hades was depicted his beautiful wife, the daughter of Demeter and the queen of the dead Persephone, whom he once kidnapped from a flowering meadow. Hades held a bident in his hands (sometimes it was a rod or a cornucopia).

Demeter

The beginning of Spring was associated with her, the goddess of prosperity and fertility. Demeter's parents are Zeus and Rhea. Demeter has a beautiful appearance and thick light curls. She was mainly revered as the guardian of life and the goddess of agriculture. She was depicted with a basket full of fruits, a cornucopia and a poppy.

The most famous legend is about Demeter and her daughter Persephone, who was kidnapped by Hades. The mother left Olympus and wandered the Earth in search of her missing daughter. Demeter grieved greatly for Persephone, even the crops stopped sprouting. Famine set in, people began to die. The gods wondered why people stopped making sacrifices to them, and complained about this to Zeus. Then he sent for Demeter to Earth so that she could be found and returned to Olympus. But she did not want to return to the Gods. Then Zeus ordered Hades to present his daughter to Demeter.

Hades could not disobey his formidable brother, but he came up with a trick so that Persephone would return back to him by adding pomegranate seeds to her. Demeter, seeing her daughter, rejoiced. Zeus ordered Persephone to spend a third of the year with her mother, and the rest of the time with her husband. Mourning for the Mother ended forever, and she decorated her head with a cornflower blue wreath. In honor of the joyful event, the Goddess taught people to sow grain and cultivate wheat. In painting, Demeter was depicted as a girl with a wreath of ears of grain or as a grieving mother.

Apollo

The most beautiful god of Olympus, Apollo, was the son of Zeus and the Titanide Leto. He was incredibly revered in Greece, because he was the patron of art, muses and healing. He is an excellent marksman and a virtuoso musician, which is why he was depicted with a bow and a lyre.

Apollo is young, beautiful and strong: at the Olympic Games he won a fist fight against Ares himself (the God of War). He had no wife, and more than 70 children. Mythology attributes him with numerous relationships with goddesses, mortal women and even young men.

Athena

There was also the goddess of war on Olympus - Athena. She personified faith in victory, wisdom and the power of military strategy. Athena patronized the arts, crafts, science and knowledge.

Thanks to her unusual appearance, the goddess of war is easy to distinguish in paintings and sculptures. Her clothes are a linen dress, armor, and a helmet. In her hands there must be a spear, and next to her is a chariot. Athena has a strong-willed face, clear eyes, gray expressive eyes, and long brown hair. Her appearance expresses calm and determination.

It is not entirely clear who Athena’s parents are. According to one version, he was Zeus, who gave birth to her single-handedly.

Hermes

Even the gods of Olympus were no strangers to deceit and deceit. One very handsome, judging by ancient images, a god named Hermes was known as a famous cheat and thief. He was born to the Maya galaxy from Zeus. Being just a baby, Hermes committed his first theft - he stole 50 cows from Apollo. After a good “bashing” from dad, the kid pointed out where he hid the cattle. True, subsequently Zeus more than once turned to the clever child to carry out his orders. One day he asked Hermes to steal a cow from Hera: Io, the beloved of the Thunderer, turned into her.

Hermes is very inventive: he invented writing, patronizes trade and banking, astrology, alchemy and magic. He conveys “important” messages to people from the gods through dreams. Hermes is young and efficient. He showed signs of attention to Aphrodite, but she rejected him. Hermes has many children, as well as lovers, but no wife. In fine art and sculpture he was depicted wearing a hat with wings and winged sandals.

Hephaestus

It's not easy with this god. There are several versions of his birth, one of which says that Hera, the wife of Zeus, gave birth to him from her thigh. And she became pregnant herself, not from her husband. So she wanted to take revenge on him for the birth of Athena. However, the baby was born frail, weak and lame. Then Hera, in despair, threw the boy into the depths of the sea, where the sea goddess Thetis sheltered him.

Since childhood, Hephaestus loved to forge: his metal products had no equal either on Earth or on Olympus. Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing. The most famous legend is about him and about Prometheus, whom the best blacksmith in the world had to chain to a rock by order of Zeus. Hephaestus' wives were Aglaia and Aphrodite.

Aphrodite

As you know, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility was born from sea foam near the island of Cythera, but was transported by the winds to the shores of the island of Cyprus. One legend says that Aphrodite was conceived by Zeus and Dione, another and more popular that she was born from the seed of castrated Uranus.

Aphrodite is the patroness of family ties and childbirth. She was obliged to create love and severely punished those who rejected her. The all-powerful Hera could not forgive Aphrodite for her incomparable beauty and made the ugly Hephaestus become her husband. However, the goddess cheated on her spouse more than once. The most sensational story about Aphrodite was her love for the earthly hunter Adonis.

Aphrodite is a “popular” mythological character in the works of ancient sculptors and artists. She is almost never alone in them, for her beauty captivated not only people and gods, but birds and animals. Her companions are nymphs, Eros, harites, dolphins and oras. Sometimes she was portrayed as a naked modesty, sometimes as a flirtatious girl, sometimes as a passionate woman.

Ares

The god of war, Ares, is distinguished by treachery and deceit. If he fought, it was for the sake of war, rather than for justice and honor. Hera and Zeus are considered his parents, although according to one version, Hera gave birth to him without the participation of her husband, but with the help of the power of a magic flower.

Zeus did not have paternal feelings for Ares and even hated him. On sacred Olympus, he had difficulty “pushing through” his authority. Ares took part in the Trojan War, but fair Athena defeated him.

In art he was depicted as a young and strong man. Ares was accompanied by dogs and a kite, and in his hands he held a spear and a torch with fire. Ares's wife is Aphrodite.

Artemis

12th place belongs to the goddess of hunting Artemis. She was the protector of virgins, and she herself was innocent, but she patronized those who were married and helped women during childbirth. Artemis was also considered the goddess of fertility and everything that grows on Earth.

Artemis was born from the relationship of Zeus with the Titanide Leto. Oceanids and nymphs served her. Despite the fact that she was the patroness of childbirth, Artemis herself was unmarried and childless. Artists and sculptors depicted her as a young woman, dressed in a chiton convenient for hunting, with a spear in her hand, with a bow and quiver on her back. When Artemis appeared naked on Houdon’s canvas, a real scandal broke out. It was the end of the 18th century.

According to some sources, the list of 12 gods of Olympus was somewhat different: it included Hestia (goddess of the hearth), Dionysus (god of winemaking and fun), Persephone (goddess of Spring, she is also the queen of the Kingdom of the Dead).

Especially for Liliya-Travel.RU - Anna Lazareva

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 understandable it is, and at the same time how strange this concept sounds in modern realities. 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 a broad sense refers to the burial place of 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 a huge number of 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 a large number of temples in honor of Zeus, 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 bring on 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 is the god of 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 beautiful 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 that tells about the great gods of the 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 to study.

Hades- God is the ruler of the kingdom of the dead. Antey- hero of myths, giant, son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave its son strength, thanks to which no one could control him. Apollo- god of sunlight. The Greeks depicted him as a beautiful young man. Ares- god of treacherous war, son of Zeus and Hera. Asclepius- god of healing arts, son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis Boreas- god of the north wind, son of the Titanides Astraeus (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), brother of Zephyr and Note. He was depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity. Bacchus- one of the names of Dionysus. Helios (Helium)- god of the Sun, brother of Selene (goddess of the Moon) and Eos (morning dawn). In late antiquity he was identified with Apollo, the god of sunlight. Hermes- the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most polysemantic Greek gods. Patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence. Hephaestus- son of Zeus and Hera, god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron of artisans. Hypnos- deity of sleep, son of Nikta (Night). He was depicted as a winged youth. Dionysus (Bacchus)- the god of viticulture and winemaking, the object of a number of cults and mysteries. He was depicted either as an obese elderly man or as a young man with a wreath of grape leaves on his head. Zagreus- god of fertility, son of Zeus and Persephone. Zeus- supreme god, king of gods and people. Marshmallow- god of the west wind. Iacchus- god of fertility. Kronos- Titan, youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus... Mom- son of the goddess of Night, god of slander. Morpheus- one of the sons of Hypnos, god of dreams. Nereus- son of Gaia and Pontus, meek sea god. Note- the god of the south wind, depicted with a beard and wings. Ocean- Titan, son of Gaia and Uranus, brother and husband of Tethys and father of all the rivers of the world. Olympians- the supreme gods of the younger generation of Greek gods, led by Zeus, who lived on the top of Mount Olympus. Pan- forest god, son of Hermes and Dryope, goat-footed man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock. Pluto- the god of the underworld, often identified with Hades, but unlike him, he owned not the souls of the dead, but the riches of the underworld. Plutos- son of Demeter, god who gives wealth to people. Pont- one of the senior Greek deities, the offspring of Gaia, the god of the sea, the father of many titans and gods. Poseidon- one of the Olympian gods, brother of Zeus and Hades, who rules over the sea elements. Poseidon also had power over the bowels of the earth; he commanded storms and earthquakes. Proteus- sea deity, son of Poseidon, patron of seals. He had the gift of reincarnation and prophecy. Satires- goat-footed creatures, demons of fertility. Thanatos- personification of death, twin brother of Hypnos. Titans- generation of Greek gods, ancestors of the Olympians. Typhon- a hundred-headed dragon born of Gaia or Hera. During the battle of the Olympians and the Titans, he was defeated by Zeus and imprisoned under the volcano Etna in Sicily. Triton- son of Poseidon, one of the sea deities, a man with a fish tail instead of legs, holding a trident and a twisted shell - a horn. Chaos- an endless empty space from which at the beginning of time the most ancient gods of the Greek religion - Nyx and Erebus - emerged. Chthonic gods- deities of the underworld and fertility, relatives of the Olympians. These included Hades, Hecate, Hermes, Gaia, Demeter, Dionysus and Persephone. Cyclops- giants with one eye in the middle of the forehead, children of Uranus and Gaia. Eurus (Eur)- god of the southeast wind. Aeolus- lord of the winds. Erebus- personification of the darkness of the underworld, son of Chaos and brother of Night. Eros (Eros)- god of love, son of Aphrodite and Ares. In the most ancient myths - a self-emerging force that contributed to the ordering of the world. He was depicted as a winged youth (in the Hellenistic era - a boy) with arrows, accompanying his mother. Ether- deity of the sky

Goddesses of ancient Greece

Artemis- goddess of hunting and nature. Atropos- one of the three moiras, cutting the thread of fate and ending human life. Athena (Pallada, Parthenos)- daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full military armor. One of the most revered Greek goddesses, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge. Aphrodite (Kytharea, Urania)- goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of the sea foam) Hebe- daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts. Hecate- goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, patroness of sorcerers. Gemera- goddess of daylight, personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. Often identified with Eos. Hera- the supreme Olympian goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage. Hestia- goddess of the hearth and fire. Gaia- mother earth, foremother of all gods and people. Demeter- goddess of fertility and agriculture. Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees. Ilithia- patron goddess of women in labor. Iris- winged goddess, assistant of Hera, messenger of the gods. Calliope- muse of epic poetry and science. Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing troubles and death to people. Clio- one of the nine muses, the muse of history. Clotho ("spinner")- one of the moiras that spin the thread of human life. Lachesis- one of the three Moira sisters, who determine the fate of every person even before birth. Summer- Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis. Mayan- a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven Pleiades - the daughters of Atlas, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born to her. Melpomene- muse of tragedy. Metis- goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him. Mnemosyne- mother of nine muses, goddess of memory. Moira- goddess of fate, daughter of Zeus and Themis. Muses- patron goddess of the arts and sciences. Naiads- nymphs-guardians of waters. Nemesis- daughter of Nikta, a goddess who personified fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins. Nereids- fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanids Doris, sea deities. Nika- personification of victory. She was often depicted wearing a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece. Nymphs- lower deities in the hierarchy of Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature. Nikta- one of the first Greek deities, the goddess is the personification of the primordial Night. Orestiades- mountain nymphs. Ory- goddess of the seasons, peace and order, daughter of Zeus and Themis. Peyto- goddess of persuasion, companion of Aphrodite, often identified with her patroness. Persephone- daughter of Demeter and Zeus, goddess of fertility. The wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death. Polyhymnia- the muse of serious hymn poetry. Tethys- daughter of Gaia and Uranus, wife of Ocean and mother of the Nereids and Oceanids. Rhea- mother of the Olympian gods. Sirens- female demons, half-woman, half-bird, capable of changing the weather at sea. Waist- the muse of comedy. Terpsichore- muse of dance art. Tisiphone- one of the Erinyes. Quiet- goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, companion of Persephone. She was depicted as a winged woman standing on a wheel and holding a cornucopia and a ship's rudder in her hands. Urania- one of the nine muses, patroness of astronomy. Themis- Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moira. Charites- goddess of female beauty, the embodiment of a kind, joyful and eternally young beginning of life. Eumenides- another hypostasis of the Erinyes, revered as goddesses of benevolence, who prevented misfortunes. Eris- daughter of Nyx, sister of Ares, goddess of discord. Erinyes- goddesses of vengeance, creatures of the underworld, who punished injustice and crimes. Erato- Muse of lyrical and erotic poetry. Eos- goddess of the dawn, sister of Helios and Selene. The Greeks called it “rose-fingered.” Euterpe- muse of lyrical chant. Depicted with a double flute in her hand.

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

The gods were humanized, endowed with anthropomorphic behavior. Ancient Greek mythology had a clear hierarchy - the Titans, Titanides and the younger generation of gods stood out, giving rise to the Olympians. The Olympian gods are the supreme celestial beings who lived on Mount Olympus. They were the ones who had the greatest influence on the ancient Greeks.

The ancient Greek gods of the first generation - ancient entities that gave rise to all living and nonliving things, 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 of Ancient Greece.

The primary pantheon of gods of ancient Greece:

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

Almost no descriptions of each of these deities have survived, since the Olympians later became key to the mythology of Ancient Greece.

Gods, unlike people, were allowed to enter into family relationships, so 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 each other 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 harsh 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 lives and relationships of the Olympians are detailed in ancient Greek legends and myths, and they were worshiped, respected, and given gifts. There are 12 main gods.

Zeus

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

People imagined Zeus as a strong and robust middle-aged man. He had noble features, thick hair and a beard. In myths, Zeus was portrayed as a character in love stories who 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 rule 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 rode a golden chariot drawn by golden horses. He is credited with terrifying surroundings, such as Cerberus, a dog with three heads. They believed that he owned 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 say his name out loud, replacing it with various epithets. One of the few gods whose cult was practically not widespread. During the rituals, black-skinned cattle, most often bulls, were sacrificed to him.

Poseidon

The middle son of Kronos and Rhea, after defeating the Titans, gained possession of the water element. According to myths, he lives in a majestic palace in the underwater depths, along with his wife Amphitrite and son Triton. Moves across the sea in a chariot drawn by seahorses. Wields a trident that has enormous power. Its impacts 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 difficult temper and a hot temper, which contrasted with the calmness of Zeus. The cult of Poseidon was widespread in many coastal cities of Ancient Greece, where they brought him rich gifts, including girls.

Hera

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

In myths, Hera is portrayed as a power-hungry woman who sends disasters and curses on Zeus's many lovers and their children, which leads to grins and funny antics on the part of her husband. She bathes annually in the Kanaf spring, after which she becomes a virgin again.

In Greece, the cult of Hera was widespread, she was the protector of women, they worshiped her 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 patroness of agriculture, therefore enjoyed great respect among the Greeks. There were large cults throughout 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 to cultivate the land. She appeared to be 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, the born sons of Zeus are of great importance. These are gods of the second order, each of whom was the patron of one or another human activity. According to legends, they often came into contact with earthly inhabitants, where they weaved intrigues and built relationships. Key ones:

Apollo

People called him “radiant” or “shining.” He appeared to be a golden-haired young man, endowed with 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 shrines were found at Delos and Delphi. He is the patron and mentor of muses.

Ares (Ares)

The god of bloody and brutal war, which is why he was often opposed to Athena. The Greeks imagined 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 Enio, 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

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

Athena (Pallas)

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

Aphrodite

The ancient Greek goddess of beauty and love, later considered the patron of fertility and life. She had a huge influence on the entire pantheon; she had both people and gods in her 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 her companions were Eros and numerous nymphs. The largest cult was located in the city of Paphos, located on the territory of modern Cyprus.

Hermes

An extremely controversial god of the ancient Greek pantheon. He patronized trade, eloquence and dexterity. He was depicted with a winged staff, around which two snakes were entwined. According to legends, he was able to use it to reconcile, wake up and put people to sleep. Hermes is often depicted wearing sandals and a wide-brimmed hat, as well as carrying a lamb on his shoulder. Often he not only helped earthly inhabitants, 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 legends, Hera gave birth to him without the participation of her husband, from her thigh in revenge for the birth of Athena. He was often depicted as a broad-shouldered and ugly-looking man, lame on both legs. He was the legal husband of Aphrodite.

Dionysus

The youngest Olympian god, widely loved by the ancient Greeks. He is the patron saint of winemaking, vegetation, fun and madness. His mother is the earthly woman Semele, who was killed by Hera. Zeus personally carried the child from the age of 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 with a hop pommel 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 gods, worshiped them, brought gifts and turned to them for blessings and curses. Ancient Greek mythology was described in detail by Homer, who described all the major events and the appearance of the gods.

Ancient Greece before the arrival of the Greeks was inhabited by Pelasgian peoples. They never assimilated further with the Greeks, disappearing into oblivion. Thanks to them, according to Herodotus, the ancient Hellenes arose a religion with the gods of Ancient Greece in its modern understanding.

Characteristic features of the religion of Ancient Greece.

With the emergence of the first statehood of Hellas, approximately 3000 BC, religion began to play an increasingly important role in the life of the ancient Greeks. The main gods were the titans, who personified the elements of nature.

The supreme god of the Titans, Kronos, killed his father in a struggle for power. He feared the same fate and therefore devoured his sons. One of them was saved by Rhea, the wife of Kronos. His name was Zeus. When Zeus grew up, he forced his father to return his swallowed sons from his womb and, joining forces with other gods, began the fight against the Titans.

Elder Gods

In these numerous battles, according to the myths of Ancient Greece, the gods led by Zeus won. After the victory, they divided power and went to live on the sacred Mount Olympus.

Zeus began to rule the sky, lightning and thunder. He became the main one in the pantheon of twelve elder gods. All other gods obeyed him and considered him the most fair. The ancient Greeks erected a statue of Zeus; it was located on the island of Poseidon and reached 15 meters.

Rice. 1. Statue of Zeus on the island of Poseidon.

He began to rule the seas and oceans Poseidon . He was married to the goddess Amphitrite, from whom was born a son, Triton. In anger, this god was terrible: he could cause a flood, or destroy a seaport with waves. Where Poseidon walked on the ground, spring water began to flow. This god was revered by all sea travelers and sailors.
Hades did not want to rule the earthly world and went to Tartarus, where he began to rule the kingdom of the dead. On a chain at the entrance to the underworld sat his faithful three-headed dog Cerberus, who did not allow the living into Tartarus. Hades stole his beloved niece Persephone from Zeus and forced her to marry him. The ancient Greeks sacrificed a black bull to Hades. Usually it was placed in front of crevices or the entrance to a cave, which personified the entrance to the kingdom of the dead.
The main female goddess among the Greeks was considered Hera . The last wife of Zeus was the patroness of marriage and severely punished married people for adultery. The ancient Greeks worshiped her and asked for the birth of strong and healthy children.
He was the god of sunshine and the crown of male beauty. In addition to spiritual purity, this god was endowed with the abilities of a healer. Later, the ancient Greeks revered him as a patron of the arts, including music.

Rice. 2. Apollo.

The religion of ancient Greece did not carry symbols of immortality; the gods, like people, had completely human traits: they fell in love, suffered, were capable of mercy or betrayal. In the minds of the ancient Greeks, the gods conquered the world from the natural elements, made this world a better place and became its patrons and protectors.

The god of all borders separating one from another and roads was Hermes . He had a sharp mind and resourcefulness, because he was the patron of trade, knew several languages and stood out with brilliant manners. In addition to merchants, this god was revered by shepherds and travelers.
Hephaestus - the god of fire - patronized the blacksmith's craft, and was himself considered an unsurpassed blacksmith. He was lame on both legs because, according to legend, he was thrown down by Zeus for helping Hera get out of her shackles.
Ares - God of unjust wars. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. Zeus secretly hated him for his wild and unbridled temper. Ares loved wild games and could start a conflict without any reason. He was married to Aphrodite.

All Olympian gods and goddesses led a pleasure lifestyle, indulging in intrigue and passion. Each of the gods was powerful in its own way, so feuds very often ended in compromise.

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Lesser Gods

The elder gods had children, this generation was more numerous than the previous one, some of them:

Dionysus - god of fertility and winemaking. He patronized grape growing and dancing. According to the legends of Ancient Greece, Hera hated Dionysus and drove him crazy. Wherever Dionysus appeared, he was accompanied by unbridled drunkenness, causeless fun and even murder.
Helios - Sun God. This god performed the same functions as Apollo, was a solar deity, and at the same time the eyes of Zeus: he knew what and where was going on in the mortal world of people. In Greece, many statues were erected in honor of Helios, one of them is called the Colossus of Rhodes and was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The statue reached 33 meters and stood on the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea.

Rice. 3. Colossus of Rhodes.

Iris carried out small and large orders of the gods. She carried messages and news about the gods of Olympus to people. The ancient Greeks also revered her as the goddess of the rainbow.
Themis - goddess of justice, protector of the unjustly accused. Helped Zeus start the Trojan War. The Greeks depicted this goddess blindfolded, which meant her impartiality. The cornucopia in the hands of Themis meant the measure of retribution for those who appeared before her fair trial.

According to the religion of Ancient Greece, you can recreate a picture of the life of the ancient Greeks.
The following table provides a short list and description of the gods of Ancient Greece:

*God's name*	*What did he manage?*	*Characteristic*
	Sky, lightning and thunder	He was the first of the gods to instill in people the concepts of honesty, conscience and shame. He had punitive powers.
Poseidon	Seas and oceans	He was depicted with an angry face. He did not tolerate objections, did not tolerate insults.
	Underground Kingdom of the Dead	Often portrayed as generous and hospitable.
	Homely	Jealous and power-hungry Hera cruelly punishes for adultery.
Artemis		He loves animals, although he patronizes hunting.
		Patron of the art of blacksmithing, he made lightning bolts for Zeus himself, because he himself was an unsurpassed master blacksmith.
	Vegetation	He patronized theaters, winemaking and dancing.
	Justice	She was the first prophetess. She convened the gods of Olympus for a council. She was considered the most impartial and fair judge.

The veneration of the god Dionysus, which came from the north of the Balkans, developed separately from the rest of polytheism. Over time, this worship became monotheistic (monotheism - one god). Historians generally believe that the worship of Dionysus was the first harbinger of the formation of the Christian religion.

What have we learned?

The religion of Ancient Greece, which is studied in grade 5, unlike other religions, endowed the gods with human traits, which brought them closer to people and allowed contemporaries to better understand the life of the ancient Greeks. In addition, although the Greeks believed in an afterlife, this did not serve as the basis for them to worship the gods.

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