We offer a list of the most famous ancient Greek gods With short descriptions and links to full articles with illustrations.

  • Hades - god - the lord of the kingdom of the dead, as well as the kingdom itself. One of the older Olympian gods, brother of Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Poseidon and Hestia, son of Kronos and Rhea. Husband of the fertility goddess Persephone
  • - the hero of myths, a giant, the son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave her son strength, thanks to which no one could cope with him. But Hercules defeated Antaeus, tearing him off the Earth and depriving Gaia of help.
  • - God sunlight. The Greeks portrayed him as a beautiful young man. Apollo (other epithets - Phoebus, Musaget) - the son of Zeus and the goddess Leto, brother of Artemis. He had the gift to foresee the future and was considered the patron of all arts. In late antiquity, Apollo was identified with the sun god Helios.
  • - the god of perfidious war, the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks depicted him as a strong young man.
  • - the twin sister of Apollo, the goddess of hunting and nature, it was believed that it facilitates childbirth. Sometimes considered the goddess of the moon and identified with Selene. The center of the cult of Artemis was in the city of Ephesus, where a grandiose temple was erected in her honor - one of the seven wonders of the world.
  • - the god of medical art, the son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis. To the Greeks, he appeared as a bearded man with a staff in his hand. The staff was wrapped around a snake, which later became one of the symbols of the medical profession. Asclepius was killed by Zeus because he tried to raise the dead with his art. In the Roman pantheon, Asclepius corresponds to the god Aesculapius.
  • Atropos("inevitable") - one of the three moira, cutting the thread of fate and cutting off human life.
  • - the daughter of Zeus and Metis, born from his head in full combat weapons. Goddess of just war and wisdom, patroness of knowledge. Athena taught people many crafts, established laws on earth, and bestowed musical instruments on mortals. The center of worship for Athena was in Athens. The Romans identified Athena with the goddess Minerva.
  • (Kyferei, Urania) - the goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of the sea foam, hence her title Anadyomene, “foam-born”). Aphrodite corresponds to the Sumerian Inanna and the Babylonian Ishtar, the Egyptian Isis and the Great Mother of the Gods, and finally, the Roman Venus.
  • - the god of the north wind, the son of the titanides Astrea (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), brother of Zephyr and Nota. Depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity.
  • - in mythology, sometimes called Dionysus by the Greeks, and Liber by the Romans, was originally a Thracian or Phrygian god, whose cult was adopted by the Greeks very early. Bacchus, according to some legends, is considered the son of the daughter of the Theban king, Semele, and Zeus. According to others - the son of Zeus and Demeter or Persephone.
  • (Hebea) - the daughter of Zeus and Hera, the goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts, offering them nectar and ambrosia. In Roman mythology, Hebe corresponds to the goddess Juventa.
  • - the goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, the patroness of sorcerers. Often Hecate was considered the goddess of the moon and was identified with Artemis. The Greek nickname for Hekate is "Triodite" and latin name"Trivia" originate from the legend that this goddess lives at the crossroads.
  • - hundred-armed fifty-headed giants, the personification of the elements, the sons of Uranus (Heaven) and the goddess Gaia (Earth).
  • (Helium) - the god of the Sun, brother of Selene (Moon) and Eos (morning dawn). In late antiquity, he was identified with Apollo. According to Greek myths, Helios travels around the sky every day in a chariot drawn by four fiery horses. The main center of the cult was located on the island of Rhodes, where a giant statue was erected in his honor, considered one of the seven wonders of the world (Colossus of Rhodes).
  • Hemera- the goddess of daylight, the personification of the day, born of Nikto and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.
  • - the supreme Olympic goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage. From Zeus, she gave birth to Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus and Ilithyia (the goddess of childbirth, with whom Hera herself was often identified.
  • - the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most significant Greek gods. The patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence, Hermes patronized schools and orators. He played the role of a messenger of the gods and a conductor of the souls of the dead. He was depicted, as a rule, in the form of a young man in a simple hat and winged sandals, with a magic wand in his hands. In Roman mythology, he was identified with Mercury.
  • - goddess of the hearth and fire, eldest daughter Kronos and Gaia, sister of Hades, Hera, Demeter, Zeus and Poseidon. In Roman mythology, the goddess Vesta corresponded to her.
  • - the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron of artisans (especially blacksmiths). The Greeks depicted Hephaestus as a broad-shouldered, undersized and lame man, working in a forge, where he forges weapons for the Olympian gods and heroes.
  • - mother earth, mother of all gods and people. Coming out of Chaos, Gaia gave birth to Uranus-Sky, and from marriage with him gave birth to titans and monsters. The Roman mother goddess corresponding to Gaia is Tellus.
  • - the god of sleep, the son of Nikta and Erebus, the younger twin brother of the god of death Thanatos, a favorite of the muses. Lives in Tartar.
  • - Goddess of fertility and agriculture. The daughter of Kronos and Rhea, belongs to the number of senior Olympian gods. Mother of the goddess Kore-Persephone and the god of wealth Plutos.
  • (Bacchus) - the god of viticulture and winemaking, the object of a number of cults and mysteries. He was depicted either as a fat elderly man, or as a young man with a wreath of grape leaves on his head. In Roman mythology, Liber (Bacchus) corresponded to him.
  • - lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees. The life of a dryad was closely connected with her tree. If the tree died or was cut down, the dryad also died.
  • God of fertility, son of Zeus and Persephone. In the mysteries he was identified with Dionysus.
  • - Supreme Olympian god. The son of Kronos and Rhea, the father of many younger gods and people (Hercules, Perseus, Helen of Troy). Lord of storms and thunders. As the ruler of the world, he had many different functions. In Roman mythology, Zeus was associated with Jupiter.
  • - God west wind, brother of Boreas and Nota.
  • - the god of fertility, sometimes identified with Dionysus and Zagreus.
  • - patron goddess of childbirth (Roman Lucina).
  • - the god of the river of the same name in Argos and the most ancient king of Argos, the son of Tethys and the Ocean.
  • - the deity of the great mysteries, introduced into the Eleusinian cult by the Orphics and associated with Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus.
  • - the personification and goddess of the rainbow, the winged messenger of Zeus and Hera, the daughter of Tawmant and the oceanids Electra, the sister of the Harpies and Arches.
  • - demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing misfortune and death to people.
  • - Titan, son of Uranus and Gaia, was thrown by Zeus into Tartarus
  • - Titan, the youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, the father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus. In Roman mythology, he is known as Saturn - a symbol of inexorable time.
  • - daughter of the goddess of discord Eris, mother harit (according to Hesiod). And also the river of Oblivion in the underworld (Virgil).
  • - Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
  • (Metis) - the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him.
  • - mother of nine muses, goddess of memory, daughter of Uranus and Gaia.
  • - daughters of Nikta-Night, the goddess of fate Lachesis, Cloto, Atropos.
  • - the god of ridicule, slander and stupidity. Son of Nyukta and Erebus, brother of Hypnos.
  • - one of the sons of Hypnos, the winged god of dreams.
  • - the patron goddess of the arts and sciences, the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne.
  • - nymphs-guardians of waters - deities of rivers, lakes, springs, streams and springs.
  • - the daughter of Nikta, a goddess who personified fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.
  • - fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanides of Dorida, sea deities.
  • - the son of Gaia and Pontus, meek sea god.
  • - the personification of victory. Often she was depicted with a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece.
  • - the goddess of the Night, a product of Chaos. The mother of many gods, including Hypnos, Thanatos, Nemesis, Mom, Kera, Moira, Hesperiad, Eris.
  • - the lowest deities in the hierarchy of the Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature and were closely connected with their habitats. River nymphs were called naiads, tree nymphs were called dryads, mountain nymphs were called orestiads, and sea nymphs were called nereids. Often, nymphs accompanied one of the gods and goddesses as a retinue.
  • Note- the god of the south wind, depicted with a beard and wings.
  • The ocean is a titan, the son of Gaia and Uranus, the forefather of the gods of the sea, rivers, streams and sources.
  • Orion is a deity, the son of Poseidon and the oceanides Euryale, daughter of Minos. According to another legend, he came from a fertilized bull skin, buried for nine months in the ground by King Giriei.
  • Ory (Mountains) - the goddess of the seasons, tranquility and order, the daughter of Zeus and Themis. There were three of them: Dike (or Astrea, goddess of justice), Eunomia (goddess of order and justice), Eirene (goddess of peace).
  • Pan is the god of forests and fields, the son of Hermes and Dryopa, a goat-legged man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock. According to the myths, Pan invented the flute. In Roman mythology, Pan is associated with the Faun (patron of the herds) and Sylvanus (the demon of the forests).
  • Peyto- the goddess of persuasion, the companion of Aphrodite, often identified with her patroness.
  • Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, the goddess of fertility. Hades' wife and queen underworld who knew the secrets of life and death. The Romans revered Persephone under the name of Proserpina.
  • Python (Delphin) - a monstrous serpent, a product of Gaia. He guarded the ancient soothsayer of Gaia and Themis in Delphi.
  • The Pleiades are the seven daughters of the titan Atlanta and the oceanid Pleione. The brightest of them bear the names of Atlantis, Artemis's girlfriends: Alcyone, Keleno, Maya, Merope, Sterope, Taygeta, Electra. All the sisters were combined in a loving union with the gods, with the exception of Merope, who became the wife of Sisyphus.
  • Pluto - the god of the underworld, before the 5th century BC named Hades. In the future, Hades is mentioned only by Homer, in other later myths - Pluto.
  • Plutos is the son of Demeter, the god who gives people wealth.
  • Pont- one of the oldest Greek gods, the son of Gaia (born without a father), the god of the Inner Sea. He is the father of Nereus, Tawmant, Phorky and his sister-wife Keto (from Gaia or Tethys); Eurybia (from Gaia; Telchines (from Gaia or Thalassa); genera of fish (from Thalassa.
  • - one of the Olympian gods, brother of Zeus and Hades, ruling over the sea element. Poseidon was also subject to the bowels of the earth, he commanded storms and earthquakes. Depicted as a man with a trident in his hand, usually accompanied by a retinue of lower sea deities and sea animals.
  • Proteus is a sea deity, the son of Poseidon, the patron saint of seals. Possessed the gift of reincarnation and prophecy.

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. Looking at the list of gods 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 the 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 the earth, was the receptacle 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 the power of the supreme god that he 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. A mandatory attribute of 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 vine wreath and a chariot.

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto, the twin sister of Apollo. The young goddess is a huntress. 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 contented ordinary life. If, of course, you can call the existence of a deity that way. Besides 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 is the ruler of the inland sea (heir to 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 actors. If you would like 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. All this huge 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 a natural phenomenon which has not yet been scientifically substantiated.

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

Of course, many tribes and peoples had their own deities and idols. They personified the forces of nature, incomprehensible and frightening. ancient man. However, the ancient Greek gods were not only symbols of nature, they were considered the creators of all moral goods and the guardians of the beautiful and great powers of the ancient people.

Generations of the gods of ancient Greece

V different time were and various List one ancient author differed from another, but still it is possible to distinguish common periods.

So, in the days of the Pelasgians, when the cult of worship of the forces of nature flourished, the first generation of Greek gods appeared. It was believed that the Mist ruled the world, from which the first supreme deity appeared - Chaos, and their children - Nikta (Night), Eros (Love) and Erebus (Darkness). The land was in complete disarray.

The names of the Greek gods of the second and third generation are already known to the whole world. These are the children of Nikta and Eber: the air god Ether and the goddess of the day Hemera, Nemesis (Retribution), Ata (Lie), Mom (Stupidity), Kera (Misfortune), Erinia (Revenge), Moira (Fate), Eris (Discord). And also take the twins Thanatos (herald of Death) and Hypnos (Sleep). Children of the goddess of the earth Hera - Pontus (inner Sea), Tartarus (Abyss), Nereus (calm sea) and others. As well as the first generation of powerful and destructive titans and giants.

The Greek gods that existed among the Pelagestians were overthrown by the titans and a series of universal catastrophes, stories about which have been preserved in myths and legends. After them, a new generation appeared - the Olympians. These are gods in human form. Greek mythology. Their list is huge, and in this article we will talk about the most significant and famous people.

The first supreme god of ancient Greece

Kronos or Chronov is the god and keeper of time. He was the youngest of the sons of the earth goddess Hera and the sky god Uranus. His mother loved him, cherished and indulged him in everything. However, Kronos grew up to be very ambitious and cruel. Once Hera heard a prediction that his son would be the death of Kronos. But she decided to keep it a secret.

Meanwhile, Kronos killed his father and gained supreme power. He settled on Mount Olympus, which went straight to heaven. Hence the name of the Greek gods, as the Olympians. When Kronos decided to marry, his mother told him about the prophecy. And he found a way out - he began to swallow all his born children. His poor wife Rhea was horrified, but she failed to convince her husband of the opposite. Then she hid her third son (little Zeus) from Kronos on the island of Crete under the supervision of forest nymphs. It was Zeus who became the death of Kronos. When he grew up, he went to Olympus and overthrew his father, while making him regurgitate all his brothers.

Zeus and Hera

So, the new humanoid Greek gods from Olympus became the rulers of the world. Zeus was the father of the gods. He is the gatherer of clouds and the lord of lightning, creating all living things, as well as the establisher of order and justice on earth. The Greeks considered Zeus the source of goodness and nobility. The Thunderer is the father of the goddesses Or, the rulers of time and annual changes, as well as the Muses, who give people inspiration and joy.

Zeus' wife was Hera. She was portrayed as a grumpy goddess of the atmosphere, as well as the keeper of the hearth. Hera patronized all women who remained faithful to their husbands. And also, together with her daughter Ilithia, she facilitated the process of childbirth. According to myths, Zeus was very loving, and after three hundred years married life got bored. He began to visit mortal women in a variety of guises. So, he appeared to beautiful Europe in the form of a huge bull with golden horns, and to Danae - in the form of starry rain.

Poseidon

Poseidon is the god of the seas and oceans. He always remained in the shadow of his more powerful brother Zeus. The Greeks believed that Poseidon was never cruel. And all the troubles and punishments that he sent to people were well-deserved.

Poseidon is the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. Always, before setting sail, people prayed first of all to him, and not to Zeus. In honor of the ruler of the seas, altars were smoked for several days. According to legend, Poseidon could be seen during a storm on the high seas. He appeared from the foam in a golden chariot drawn by dashing horses given to him by his brother Hades.

Poseidon's wife was the goddess of the noisy sea, Amphitrite. The symbol is a trident, which bestowed complete power over the deep sea. Poseidon had a soft, non-confrontational disposition. He always sought to avoid quarrels and conflicts, and was unconditionally devoted to Zeus, unlike Hades.

Hades and Persephone

The Greek gods of the underworld are, above all, the gloomy Hades and his wife Persephone. Hades is the god of death, the lord of the kingdom of the dead. He was feared even more than the Thunderer himself. No one could go down to the underworld without the permission of Hades, and even more so, return. According to Greek mythology, the gods of Olympus divided power among themselves. And Hades, who got the underworld, was unhappy. He harbored a grudge against Zeus.

Despite the fact that he never spoke directly and openly, there are many examples in the legends when the god of death tried in every possible way to spoil the life of his crowned brother. So, once Hades kidnapped the beautiful daughter of Zeus and the goddess of fertility Demeter Persephone. He forcibly made her his queen. Zeus had no power over the realm of the dead, and chose not to mess with his embittered brother, so he refused the frustrated Demeter's request to save his daughter. And only when the goddess of fertility in grief forgot about her duties, and drought and famine began on earth, Zeus decided to talk to Hades. They entered into an agreement according to which Persephone would spend two-thirds of the year on earth with her mother, and the rest of the time in the kingdom of the dead.

Hades was portrayed as a gloomy man sitting on a throne. On earth he traveled in a chariot harnessed by hellish horses with burning eyes. And at this time, people were afraid and prayed that he would not take them to his kingdom. Hades' favorite was the three-headed dog Cerberus, who tirelessly guarded the entrance to the world of the dead.

Athena Pallas

The beloved Greek goddess Athena was the daughter of the Thunderer Zeus. According to the myths, she was born from his head. At first it was believed that Athena was a goddess clear sky, which with her spear dispersed all the black clouds. She was also a symbol of victorious energy. The Greeks depicted Athena as a powerful warrior with a shield and a spear. She always traveled with the goddess Nike, who personifies victory.

In ancient Greece, Athena was considered the protector of fortresses and cities. She gave people just and right state orders. The goddess personified wisdom, calmness and a penetrating mind.

Hephaestus and Prometheus

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

Prometheus changed everything. He was the last of the Titans to survive. He lived on Olympus and was right hand Zeus. Prometheus could not watch how people suffer, and, having stolen the sacred fire from the temple, he brought it to earth. For which he was punished by the Thunderer and doomed to eternal torment. But the titan was able to agree with Zeus: he granted him freedom in exchange for the secret of maintaining power. Prometheus could see the future. And in the future of Zeus, he saw his death at the hands of his son. Thanks to the titan, the father of all gods did not marry the one who could bear him a murderous son, and thus forever consolidated his power.

The Greek gods Athena, Hephaestus and Prometheus became symbols of the ancient festival of running with lit torches. Ancestor of the Olympic Games.

Apollo

The Greek sun god Apollo was the son of Zeus. He was identified with Helios. According to Greek mythology, Apollo lives in the distant lands of the Hyperboreans in winter, and returns to Hellas in the spring and again pours life into withered nature. Apollo was also the god of music and singing, since, along with the revival of nature, he gave people the desire to sing and create. He was called the patron of art. Music and poetry in ancient Greece were considered the gift of Apollo.

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

Artemis

Apollo's sister Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. It was believed that at night she wandered through the forests with her naiad companions and irrigated the earth with dew. She was also called the patroness of animals. At the same time, many legends are associated with Artemis, where she cruelly drowned sailors. People were sacrificed to appease her.

At one time, the Greeks called Artemis the patroness of brides. The girls performed rituals and brought offerings to the goddess in the hope of strong marriage. Artemis of Ephesus even became a symbol of fertility and childbearing. The Greeks portrayed the goddess with many nipples on her chest, which symbolized her generosity as a nurse of people.

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

Ares

Initially, Ares was considered the god of the stormy sky. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. But among the ancient Greek poets, he received the status of the god of war. He was always portrayed as a fierce warrior armed with a sword or spear. Ares loved the noise of battle and bloodshed. Therefore, he was always at enmity with the goddess clear sky Athena. She was for prudence and fair fighting, he was for fierce skirmishes and countless bloodshed.

Ares is also considered the creator of the tribunal - the trial of murderers. The trial took place on a sacred hill, which was named after the god - the Areopagus.

Aphrodite and Eros

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

Eros or Eros is the Greek god of love. He was the son of the beautiful Aphrodite, her messenger and faithful assistant. Eros connected the destinies of all lovers. He was portrayed as a small plump boy with wings.

Demeter and Dionysus

Greek gods, patrons of agriculture and winemaking. Demeter personified nature, which under sunlight and heavy rains matures and bears fruit. She was portrayed as a "fair-haired" goddess, giving people a harvest, deserved by labor and sweat. It is Demeter that people owe to the science of arable farming and sowing. The goddess was also called "mother earth". Her daughter Persephone was the link between the world of the living and the realm of the dead, she belonged to both worlds.

Dionysus is the god of winemaking. As well as brotherhood and joy. Dionysus gives people inspiration and fun. He taught people how to work the vine, as well as wild and exuberant songs, which then served as the basis for the ancient Greek drama. God was portrayed as a young cheerful youth, his body was entwined with a vine, and in his hands was a jug of wine. Wine and vine are the main symbols of Dionysus.

The gods of ancient Greece were different from the rest of the divine beings represented in any other religion of that time. They were divided into three generations, but rumor modern man the names of the second and third generation of the gods of Olympus are more familiar: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia.

According to legend, since the beginning of time, power belonged to the supreme god Chaos. As the name implies, there was no order in the world, and then the goddess of the Earth, Gaia, married Uranus, the father of Heaven, and the first generation of mighty titans was born.

Kronos, according to some sources Chronos (keeper of time), was the last of the six sons of Gaia. Mother doted on her son, but Kronos was a very capricious and ambitious god. One day, a prediction was revealed to Gaia that one of the children of Kronos would kill him. But for the time being, she kept in her depths the fortune teller: the blind half-blood of the Titanides and the secret itself. Over time, Gaia's mother got tired of constant childbirth, and then Kronos castrated his father and overthrew him from heaven.

From that moment began new era: the era of the Olympian gods. Olympus, whose peaks rest against the sky, has become a home for generations of gods. When Kronos decided to marry, his mother told him about the prediction. Not wanting to part with the power of the supreme god, Kronos began to swallow all the children. His wife, meek Rhea, was horrified by this, but she could not break the will of her husband. Then she decided to cheat. Little Zeus, immediately after birth, was secretly transferred to the forest nymphs in wild Crete, where the gaze of a cruel father never fell. Having reached adulthood, Zeus overthrew his father and forced him to regurgitate all the children he had swallowed.

Thunderer Zeus, father of the gods

But Rhea knew: the power of Zeus is not infinite, and he, like his father, is also destined to die at the hands of his son. She also knew that the titans imprisoned by Zeus in gloomy Tartarus would soon be freed and it was they who would take part in the overthrow of Zeus, the father of the Olympic gods. Only one survivor of the Titans could help Zeus retain power and not become like Kronos: Prometheus. Titan had the gift to see the future, but he did not hate Zeus for his cruelty towards people.

In Greece, it is believed that before Prometheus, people lived in permafrost, were like wild creatures without reason and intelligence. Not only the Greeks know that according to legend, Prometheus brought fire to the earth by stealing it from the temple of Olympus. As a result, the thunderer chained the titan and doomed him to eternal torment. Prometheus had the only way out: an agreement with Zeus - the secret of maintaining power for the Thunderer was revealed. Zeus avoided marriage with the one who could bear him a son who could become the leader of the titans. Power forever entrenched in Zeus, no one and nothing dared to encroach on the throne.

A little later, Zeus liked the gentle Hera, the goddess of marriage and the guardian of the family. The goddess was impregnable and the supreme god had to marry her. But after three hundred years, as the chronicles say, this is the honeymoon period of the gods, Zeus got bored. From that moment on, his adventures are described rather amusingly: the Thunderer penetrated to mortal girls in the most different types. For example, to Danae in the form of a dazzling rain of gold, to Europe, the most beautiful of all, in the form of a thoroughbred bull with golden horns.

The image of the father of the gods has always been unchanged: surrounded by a strong thunderstorm, in the mighty hands of lightning.

He was revered, made constant sacrifices. Describing the nature of the Thunderer, it is always especially said about his steadfastness and severity.

Poseidon, god of the seas and oceans

Little is said about Poseidon: the brother of the formidable Zeus takes a place in the shadow of the supreme god. It is believed that Poseidon was not distinguished by cruelty, the punishments that the god of the seas sent to people were always deserved. The most eloquent of the legends associated with the lord of water is the legend of Andromeda.

Poseidon sent storms, but fishermen and sailors more often prayed to him than to the father of the gods. Before traveling by sea, not one of the warriors would risk leaving the harbor without praying in the temple. The altars were usually smoked for several days in honor of the ruler of the seas. According to the legends, Poseidon could be seen in the foam of the raging ocean, in a golden chariot drawn by horses of a special suit. The gloomy Hades gave these horses to his brother, they were indomitable.

His symbol was a trident, giving unlimited power to Poseidon in the vastness of the oceans and seas. But at the same time, it is noted that God had a non-conflict character, tried to bypass quarrels and squabbles. He was always devoted to Zeus, did not strive for power, which cannot be said about the third brother - Hades.

Hades, lord of the realm of the dead

Grim Hades is an unusual god and character. He was feared and revered almost more than the lord of the existing Zeus himself. The thunderer himself experienced a feeling of strange fear, barely saw the sparkling chariot of his brother, harnessed by horses with demonic fire in their eyes. No one dared to step into the depths of the kingdom of Hades until there was such a will from the ruler of the underworld. The Greeks were afraid to pronounce his name, especially if there was a sick person nearby. In some records kept in the library of Alexandria, it is said that people before death always hear the terrible, penetrating howl of the guardian of the gates of hell. Two-headed, according to some notes three-headed, the dog Cerberus was the inexorable guardian of the gates of hell and the favorite of the formidable Hades.

It is believed that when Zeus shared power, he offended Hades by giving him the kingdom of the dead. Time passed, the gloomy Hades did not claim the throne of Olympus, but the legends describe quite often that the lord of the dead was constantly looking for ways to ruin the life of the father of the gods. Hades is portrayed as a vindictive and cruel person. It was a man, even in the annals of that era, that it was written that Hades was endowed more than others with human features.

Zeus did not have full power over the kingdom of his brother, he could not bring out or free a single soul without the permission of Hades. Even at the moment when Hades kidnapped the beautiful Persephone, in fact a niece, the father of the gods preferred to refuse the saddened Demeter, rather than demand from his brother to return the mother's daughter. And only the right move of Demeter herself, the goddess of fertility, forced Zeus to descend into the realm of the dead and convince Hades to conclude an agreement.

Hermes, patron of cunning, deceit and trade, messenger of the gods

Hermes belongs to the third generation of the gods of Olympus. This god illegitimate son Zeus and Maia, daughters of Atlas. Maya, even before the birth of her son, was predicted that her son would an unusual child. But even she could not know that the problems would start from the infancy of the little god.

There is a legend about how Hermes, seizing the moment when Maya was distracted, slipped out of the cave. He liked the cows very much, but these animals were sacred and belonged to the god Apollo. Not at all embarrassed by this, the little rogue stole the animals, and in order to deceive the gods, he brought in the cows so that the tracks led out of the cave. And then he hid in the cradle. The enraged Apollo quickly figured out the tricks of Hermes, but the young god promised to create and give the divine lyre. Hermes kept his word.

From that moment on, the golden-haired Apollo never parted with the lyre; all images of God necessarily reflect this instrument. Lyra so touched the god with her sounds that he not only forgot about the cows, but also presented Hermes with his rod of gold.

Hermes is the most unusual of all the children of the Olympians already in that he is the only one who could freely be in both worlds.

Hades loved his jokes and dexterity, it was Hermes who is often depicted as a guide to the gloomy realm of shadows. God brought souls to the thresholds of the sacred river Styx and transferred the soul to the silent Chiron, the eternal carrier. By the way, the ritual of burials with coins in front of their eyes is associated precisely with Hermes and Chiron. One coin for the labors of God, the second for the carrier of souls.

classmates

The pantheon of Greek gods is represented not only by strong and powerful gods, but also by goddesses.

Titanides- goddesses of the second generation, six sisters:
Mnemosyne - the goddess who personified memory; Rhea - goddess, mother of the Olympian gods; Theia is the first lunar goddess; Tefis is the goddess who gives life to everything that exists; Phoebe is the goddess, the nurse of Apollo, Themis is the goddess of justice.

Olympians - third generation goddesses:
Hera is the goddess of marriage and family, Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, crafts and art, Artemis is the goddess of hunting, fertility and female chastity, Hestia is the goddess of the hearth and sacrificial fire, Demeter is the goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Minor Greek goddesses:
Selene - goddess of the moon; Persephone - goddess of the kingdom of the dead and fertility; Nike - goddess of victory; Hebe - the goddess of eternal youth; Eos - goddess of the dawn; Tyche - the goddess of happiness, chance and good luck; Enyo - goddess of violent war; Chlorida - goddess of flowers and gardens; Dike (Themis) - the goddess of justice, justice; Nemesis - winged goddess of revenge and retribution; Iris - the goddess of the rainbow; Gaia is the goddess of the earth.

Detailed Description of the Greek Goddesses
Aurora is the goddess of the dawn. The ancient Greeks called Aurora the ruddy dawn, the pink-fingered goddess Eos. Aurora was the daughter of the titan Gipperion and Theia. According to another version of the Sun - Helios and the Moon - Selena).
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Lethe, the sister of Apollo, between female deities the same as her brother between male ones. She gives light and life, she is the goddess of childbirth and the goddess-nurse; accompanied by forest nymphs, hunts in forests and mountains, guards herds and game. She never submitted to the power of love, and, like Apollo, does not know the bonds of marriage. In Roman mythology, Diana.
Athena is the daughter of Zeus who had no mother. Hephaestus split the head of Zeus with an ax, and Athena jumped out of his head. fully armed. She is the personification of the prudence of Zeus. Athena is the goddess of the mind, war, sciences and arts. In Roman mythology - Minerva
Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Diana, so called because she allegedly came from sea foam. She is the goddess of beauty, happy love and marriage, surpassing all goddesses in charm and grace. In Roman mythology - Venus.
Venus - in Roman mythology, the goddess of gardens, beauty and love, was identified with the mother of Aeneas Aphrodite. Venus was not only the goddess of beauty and love, but also the patroness of the descendants of Aeneas and all the Romans.
Hekate is the goddess of the night, the ruler of darkness. Hecate ruled over all ghosts and monsters, night visions and sorcery. She was born as a result of the marriage of the titan Persian and Asteria.
Graces - in Roman mythology, beneficent goddesses, personifying the joyful, kind and eternally young beginning of life, the daughters of Jupiter, nymphs and goddesses. V ancient Greek mythology- Charity.
Diana - in Roman mythology, the goddess of nature and hunting, was considered the personification of the moon. Diana was also accompanied by the epithet "goddess of three roads", which was interpreted as a sign of Diana's triple power: in heaven, on earth and underground.
Irida is the personification of the rainbow that connects heaven with earth, the messenger of the gods, the mediator in their relations with each other and with people. This is the messenger of Zeus and Hera and the servant of the latter.
Cybele - the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the wife of Kronos, was considered the great mother of the gods. She is the personification of the ordering elemental natural forces start.
Minerva - in Roman mythology, the goddess of wisdom, art, war and cities, the patroness of artisans.
Mnemosyne - in Greek mythology, the goddess of memory, the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the Titanide. Mother of the Muses, whom she gave birth to from Zeus. According to the number of nine nights that Mnemosyne gave to Zeus, there were nine muses.
Moira - Lachesis ("giving lots"), Cloto ("spinning") and Atropos ("inevitable"), daughters of Nikta. Moira are the goddesses of fate, natural necessity, eternal and immutable world laws.
The Muses are goddesses and patrons of the arts and sciences. The Muses were considered the daughters of Zeus and the goddess of memory Mnemosyne.
Nemesis is the goddess of vengeance. The duties of the goddess included punishment for crimes, monitoring the fair and equal distribution of benefits among mortals. Nemesis was born by Nikta as a punishment to Kronos.
Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, or Cecera, the wife of Pluto, or Hades, the formidable mistress of shadows, ruling over the souls of the dead and over the monsters of the underworld, listening with Hades to the curses of people and fulfilling them. In Roman mythology - Proserpina.
Rhea is a Greek goddess in ancient myth-making, one of the Titanides, the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the wife of Kronos. The cult of Rhea was considered one of the very ancient, but was not very common in Greece itself.
Tefis - one of the most ancient deities, titanide, daughter of Gaia and Uranus, sister and wife of the Ocean, mother of streams, rivers and three thousand oceanids, was considered the goddess who gives life to everything that exists.
Themis is the goddess of justice. The Greeks also called the goddess Themis, Themis. Themis was the daughter of the sky god Uranus and Gaia. Her daughters were the goddesses of fate - moira.
Charites - the daughters of Zeus and the oceanides Eurynome, embodied the joyful, kind and eternal young start. The names of these beautiful goddesses were Aglaya ("shining"), Euphrosyne ("good-minded"), Thalia ("blooming"), Kleta ("desired") and Peyto ("persuasion").
Eumenides - merciful, benevolent goddesses - one of the names of female deities, best known under the name Eriny, among the Romans furies, which means angry, furious, avenging goddesses.
Erinyes are the daughters of Earth and Darkness, terrible goddesses of damnation, revenge and punishment, who rebelled against criminals and punish them only for the sake of restoring moral order in the world, but they mainly act as avengers for violation of family rights consecrated by nature. In Roman mythology - Furies