Pomeroy, Sarah B., et al. A Brief History of Ancient Greece. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014. Print.
Greek Gods
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| Aphrodite Goddess of Love, Beauty, & Eternal Youth |
"Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Beauty and according to Hesiod’s Theogony,
she was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus. She supposedly arose from the foam when the Titan Cronus slew his father Uranus and threw his genitals into the sea. Many gods believed that her beauty was such that their rivalry over her would spark a war of the gods. Because of this, Zeus married Aphrodite to Hephaestus – he wasn’t seen as a threat because of his ugliness and deformity."
she was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus. She supposedly arose from the foam when the Titan Cronus slew his father Uranus and threw his genitals into the sea. Many gods believed that her beauty was such that their rivalry over her would spark a war of the gods. Because of this, Zeus married Aphrodite to Hephaestus – he wasn’t seen as a threat because of his ugliness and deformity."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/aphrodite -Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
| Apollo God of the Sun, the Light, the Music, & the Prophecy |
"Apollo is one of the most complex and important gods, and is the god of many things, including: music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. He is the son of Zeus and the Titan Leto, and was born in the Greek island of Delos, along with his older twin sister Artemis – goddess of the hunt. Apollo is the ideal of the kouros, which means he has a beardless, athletic and youthful appearance. He is also an oracular god as a patron of Delphi and could predict prophecy through the Delphic Oracle Pythia."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/apollo/ -Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 18, 2014
| Ares God of War |
"Ares is the god of war, one of the Twelve Olympian gods and the son of Zeus and
Hera. In literature Ares represents the violent and physical untamed aspect of war, which
is in contrast to Athena who represents military strategy and generalship as the goddess
of intelligence. Although Ares embodied the physical aggression necessary for success
in war, the Greeks were ambivalent toward him because he was a dangerous, overwhelming force that was insatiable in battle."
Hera. In literature Ares represents the violent and physical untamed aspect of war, which
is in contrast to Athena who represents military strategy and generalship as the goddess
of intelligence. Although Ares embodied the physical aggression necessary for success
in war, the Greeks were ambivalent toward him because he was a dangerous, overwhelming force that was insatiable in battle."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/ares/ -Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Artemis Goddess of the Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon, & Archery |
"Artemis is known as the goddess of the hunt and is one of the most respected of all the ancient Greek deities. It is thought that her name, and even the goddess herself, may even be pre-Greek. She was the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods, and the Titaness Leto and she has a twin brother, the god Apollo. Not only was Artemis the goddess of the hunt, she was also known as the goddess of wild animals, wilderness, childbirth and virginity. Also, she was protector of young children and was know to bring and relieve disease in women. In literature and art she was depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrow."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/artemis/ -Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Athena Goddess of Wisdom & War |
"Athena, also referred to as Athene, is a very important goddess of many things. She
is goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She is known most specifically
for her strategic skill in warfare and is often portrayed as companion of heroes and is
the patron goddess of heroic endeavor."
is goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She is known most specifically
for her strategic skill in warfare and is often portrayed as companion of heroes and is
the patron goddess of heroic endeavor."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/athena/ -Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Demeter Goddess of Agriculture, Fertility, Sacred Law, & Harvest |
"Demeter is the goddess of the harvest and presides over grains and the fertility
of the earth. Although she was most often referred to as the goddess of the
harvest, she was also goddess of sacred law and the cycle of life and death. Her virgin
daughter Persephone was abducted by the god of the underworld, Hades,
and Demeter endlessly searched for her, preoccupied with loss and grief. The
seasons halted and living things stopped growing and died."
of the earth. Although she was most often referred to as the goddess of the
harvest, she was also goddess of sacred law and the cycle of life and death. Her virgin
daughter Persephone was abducted by the god of the underworld, Hades,
and Demeter endlessly searched for her, preoccupied with loss and grief. The
seasons halted and living things stopped growing and died."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/demeter/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Dionysus God of Wine & Grape Harvest |
"Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre. He may have been worshipped as early as 1500-100BC
by Mycenean Greeks according to very old scripts inscribed with his name.Earlier images and descriptions of Dionysus depict him as a mature male, bearded and robed holding
a fennel staff tipped with a pine-cone. However, in later images the god is show to be
a beardless, sensuous, naked or semi-naked androgynous youth."
by Mycenean Greeks according to very old scripts inscribed with his name.Earlier images and descriptions of Dionysus depict him as a mature male, bearded and robed holding
a fennel staff tipped with a pine-cone. However, in later images the god is show to be
a beardless, sensuous, naked or semi-naked androgynous youth."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/dionysus/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Hades God of the Dead & King of the Underworld |
"Hades was the god of the underworld and the name eventually came to also describe the home of the dead as well. He was the oldest male child of Cronus and Rhea. He was later known to the Greeks as Plouton, which the Romans pluralized to Pluto. The god of the underworld was married to Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, whom he obtained through deception after abducting her to the underworld and giving her the forbidden fruit pomegranate, forcing her to remain in the underworld with him for one third of each year."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/hades/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Hephaestus God of Fire & Metalworking |
"Hephaestus was the god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art
of sculpture. He was the son of Zeus and Hera and married to Aphrodite by Zeus to
prevent a war of the gods fighting for her hand. He was a smithing god, making all
of the weapons for Olympus and acting as a blacksmith for the gods. He had his own
palace on Olympus where he made many clever inventions and automatons of metal
to work for him. He is similar to Athena in his giving skill and help to mortals –
in his case artists. It was believed that Hephaestus taught men the arts alongside Athena. However, he was also considered far inferior to that of the goddess of wisdom."
of sculpture. He was the son of Zeus and Hera and married to Aphrodite by Zeus to
prevent a war of the gods fighting for her hand. He was a smithing god, making all
of the weapons for Olympus and acting as a blacksmith for the gods. He had his own
palace on Olympus where he made many clever inventions and automatons of metal
to work for him. He is similar to Athena in his giving skill and help to mortals –
in his case artists. It was believed that Hephaestus taught men the arts alongside Athena. However, he was also considered far inferior to that of the goddess of wisdom."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/hephaestus/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Hera Goddess of Marriage & Queen of Olympus |
"Hera is the Queen of the Gods and is the wife and sister of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon. She is known for being the Goddess of Marriage & Birth. Despite being the Goddess of Marriage, she was known to be jealous and vengeful towards the many lovers and offspring of her husband Zeus. She was also known to turn her anger towards mortals who crossed her as well – for example, Paris, who chose Aphrodite over Hera as the most beautiful goddess at the marriage of the sea-nymph Thetis to a mortal called Peleus."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/hera/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
| Hermes God of Trade, Eloquence, & the Messenger of the Gods |
"Hermes was one of the 12 Olympian Gods and was god of trade, thieves, travelers,
sports, athletes, and border crossings, guide to the Underworld. He was the second youngest Olympian god and was the son of Zeus and Maia, one of the seven Pleiades
and daughter of the Titan Atlas. As the god of boundaries and transitions, Hermes
was known to be quick and cunning and had the ability to freely move between the
mortal and divine worlds. It is this skill that made him a luck-bringing messenger to
the gods and intercessor between mortals and the divine."
sports, athletes, and border crossings, guide to the Underworld. He was the second youngest Olympian god and was the son of Zeus and Maia, one of the seven Pleiades
and daughter of the Titan Atlas. As the god of boundaries and transitions, Hermes
was known to be quick and cunning and had the ability to freely move between the
mortal and divine worlds. It is this skill that made him a luck-bringing messenger to
the gods and intercessor between mortals and the divine."
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| Hestia Goddess of the Hearth & Domestic Life |
"Hestia was the goddess of the hearth, home, architecture, domesticity, family, and
the state. She was one of only three virgin goddesses, next to Athena and Artemis. Although both Poseidon and Apollo wanted to marry her, Hestia made an oath to Zeus
that she would remain forever pure and undefiled, never entering into a union with a man. As the goddess of the hearth she personified the fire burning in the hearth of every home
in Greece. Hestia receiving the first offering at every sacrifice in the household with families pouring sweet wine in her name and dedicating the richest portion of food to her."
the state. She was one of only three virgin goddesses, next to Athena and Artemis. Although both Poseidon and Apollo wanted to marry her, Hestia made an oath to Zeus
that she would remain forever pure and undefiled, never entering into a union with a man. As the goddess of the hearth she personified the fire burning in the hearth of every home
in Greece. Hestia receiving the first offering at every sacrifice in the household with families pouring sweet wine in her name and dedicating the richest portion of food to her."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/hestia/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
| Poseiden God of the Sea
"Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses and is considered
one of the most bad-tempered, moody and greedy Olympian gods. He was known to be vengeful when insulted – for example when he brutally blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus because his father, Odysseus, had insulted him. After the gods defeated the Titans, the world was divided into three and Zeus, Hades and Poseidon drew straws to decide which they would rule. Zeus drew the skies, Hades the underworld, and Poseidon the seas. There is only one reference to this divide, by Home in the Iliad." |
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/poseidon/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
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| Zeus God of the Sky & King of the Gods |
"Zeus was the first of the gods and a very imposing figure. Often referred to as the
“Father of Gods and men”, he is a sky god who controls lightning (often using it as
a weapon) and thunder. Zeus is king of Mount Olympus, the home of Greek gods,
where he rules the world and imposes his will onto gods and mortals alike."
“Father of Gods and men”, he is a sky god who controls lightning (often using it as
a weapon) and thunder. Zeus is king of Mount Olympus, the home of Greek gods,
where he rules the world and imposes his will onto gods and mortals alike."
http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/zeus/ - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014
The myths -- the beliefs and religion -- of the Ancient Greeks are indications of what the Greek people viewed as important. Being a strong warrior, skilled in athletics, and acting bravely and heroically are reoccurring traits and/or themes in many Greek myths: A man is called ‘good’ (agathos) when he exhibits bravery and skill in fighting and athletic contests. He is ‘bad’ (kakos) if he is a coward or useless in battle” (Pomeroy et al. 55). Myths provide a picture of a behavioral pattern based on honor and dishonor, warrior based society that promotes skills in fighting, acts of bravery, athleticism, male dominance, and a world in which the people believe that many powers are possessed by many gods.
Pomeroy, Sarah B., et al. A Brief History of Ancient Greece. 3rd ed. New York:
Oxford University Press, 2014. Print.
Greek Myths
The Greek Creation Myth
There are many myths that explain the creation of life, but the Greek creation myth
is particularly interesting due to its complexity. The Theogony, written by Hesiod
sometime in 800 BC, literally translates: “birth of the gods.”
is particularly interesting due to its complexity. The Theogony, written by Hesiod
sometime in 800 BC, literally translates: “birth of the gods.”
Links - Greek Heroes & Legends
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