Ancient gods of purity. An amazing fairytale horse is flying. He loves to splash around in colored clouds

This is a list of Gods of ancient Greece for general development :)

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 sunlight. The Greeks depicted him as a beautiful young man.

Ares- God treacherous war, son of Zeus and Hera

Asclepius- god of medicine, 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 — supreme gods 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 was also subject to 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- the 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- endless empty space from which at the beginning of time arose ancient gods Greek religion - Nyx and Erebus.

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- sky deity

Goddesses of ancient Greece

Artemis- goddess of hunting and nature.

Atropos- one of the three moiras, cutting the thread of fate and ending a human life.

Athena (Pallada, Parthenos)- the daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full military armor. One of the most revered greek goddesses, goddess of just war and wisdom, 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 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- the 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 - 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- the 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 Nikta, 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.

And finally, a test to find out what kind of God you are

tests.ukr.net

Which Greek god are you?

Vulcan - god of fire

In a world where there are so many deceivers, you are a true treasure. You may not be very attractive in appearance, but kind heart attracts any woman to you. You have true maturity, which all women so want to see and so rarely find in men. Intelligence and charm make you the man many ladies would like to marry. As for bed, here too you shine with many talents. Your passion is a true volcano, just waiting in the wings to erupt. The woman with you is a violin in the hands of a master. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise your partner may go crazy with happiness! One night with you is enough to say - you are the god of sex.

Religion Ancient Greece refers to pagan polytheism. The gods played important roles in the structure of the world, each performing its own function. The immortal deities were similar to people and behaved quite humanly: they were sad and happy, quarreled and reconciled, betrayed and sacrificed their interests, were cunning and were sincere, loved and hated, forgave and took revenge, punished and had mercy.

The ancient Greeks used the behavior, as well as the commands of gods and goddesses, to explain natural phenomena, the origin of man, moral principles, and social relations. Mythology reflected the Greeks' ideas about the world around them. Myths originated in different areas Hellas and over time merged into an orderly system of beliefs.

Ancient Greek gods and goddesses

The gods and goddesses belonging to the younger generation were considered the main ones. The older generation, who embodied the forces of the universe and natural elements, lost dominance over the world, unable to withstand the onslaught of the younger ones. Having won, the young gods chose Mount Olympus as their home. The ancient Greeks identified 12 main deities among all deities. olympian gods. So, the gods of Ancient Greece, list and description:

Zeus - god of Ancient Greece- in mythology called the father of the gods, Zeus the Thunderer, lord of lightning and clouds. It is he who has the powerful power to create life, resist chaos, establish order and fair justice on earth. Legends tell about the deity as a noble and kind creature. The Lord of Lightning gave birth to the goddesses Or and the Muses. The Or govern time and the seasons of the year. Muses bring inspiration and joy to people.

The wife of the Thunderer was Hera. The Greeks considered her the quarrelsome goddess of the atmosphere. Hera is the keeper of the home, the patroness of wives who remain faithful to their husbands. With her daughter Ilithia, Hera eased the pain of childbirth. Zeus was famous for his passion. After three hundred years of marriage, the lord of lightning began to visit ordinary women, who gave birth to heroes - demigods. Zeus appeared to his chosen ones in different guises. Before the beautiful Europa, the father of the gods appeared like a bull with golden horns. Zeus visited Danae like a shower of gold.

Poseidon

Sea god - ruler of the oceans and seas, patron saint of sailors and fishermen. The Greeks considered Poseidon a just god, all of whose punishments were deservedly sent to people. Preparing for the voyage, the sailors offered prayers not to Zeus, but to the ruler of the seas. Before going to sea, incense was offered on altars to please the sea deity.

The Greeks believed that Poseidon could be seen during a strong storm on the open sea. His magnificent golden chariot emerged from the sea foam, drawn by fleet-footed horses. The ruler of the ocean received dashing horses as a gift from his brother Hades. Poseidon's wife is the goddess of the roaring sea, Amphthrita. The trident is a symbol of power, giving the deity absolute power over the depths of the sea. Poseidon had a gentle character and tried to avoid quarrels. His loyalty to Zeus was not questioned - unlike Hades, the ruler of the seas did not challenge the primacy of the Thunderer.

Hades

Master of the Underworld. Hades and his wife Persephone ruled the kingdom of the dead. The inhabitants of Hellas feared Hades more than Zeus himself. It is impossible to get into the underworld - and even more so, to return - without the will of the gloomy deity. Hades traveled across the surface of the earth in a chariot drawn by horses. The horses' eyes glowed with hellish fire. People prayed in fear that the gloomy god would not take them to his abodes. Hades' favorite three-headed dog Cerberus guarded the entrance to the kingdom of the dead.

According to legends, when the gods divided power and Hades gained dominion over the kingdom of the dead, the celestial being was dissatisfied. He considered himself humiliated and harbored a grudge against Zeus. Hades never openly opposed the power of the Thunderer, but constantly tried to harm the father of the gods as much as possible.

Hades kidnapped the beautiful Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and the fertility goddess Demeter, by force making her his wife and ruler of the underworld. Zeus did not have power over the kingdom of the dead, so he refused Demeter’s request to return her daughter to Olympus. The distressed goddess of fertility stopped caring for the earth, there was a drought, then famine came. The Lord of Thunder and Lightning had to conclude an agreement with Hades, according to which Persephone would spend two thirds of the year in heaven, and a third of the year in underground world.

Pallas Athena and Ares

Athena is probably the most beloved goddess of the ancient Greeks. The daughter of Zeus, born from his head, she embodied three virtues:

• wisdom;
• calm;
• insight.

The goddess of victorious energy, Athena was depicted as a powerful warrior with a spear and shield. She was also the deity of clear skies and had the power to disperse dark clouds with her weapons. The daughter of Zeus traveled with the goddess of victory Nike. Athena was called upon as the protector of cities and fortresses. It was she who sent down fair state laws to Ancient Hellas.

Ares - deity of stormy skies, Athena's eternal rival. The son of Hera and Zeus, he was revered as the god of war. A warrior filled with rage, with a sword or spear - this is how the ancient Greeks imagined Ares. The God of War enjoyed the noise of battle and bloodshed. Unlike Athena, who fought battles judiciously and honestly, Ares preferred fierce fights. The God of War approved the tribunal - special court over particularly cruel murderers. The hill where the courts took place was named after the warlike deity Areopagus.

Hephaestus

God of blacksmithing and fire. According to legend, Hephaestus was cruel to people, frightening and destroying them with volcanic eruptions. People lived without fire on the surface of the earth, suffering and dying in the eternal cold. Hephaestus, like Zeus, did not want to help mortals and give them fire. Prometheus - Titan, the last of the older generation of gods, was an assistant to Zeus and lived on Olympus. Filled with compassion, he brought fire to earth. For stealing fire, the Thunderer doomed the titan to eternal torment.

Prometheus managed to escape punishment. Possessing prophetic abilities, the titan knew that Zeus was in danger of death at the hands of his own son in the future. Thanks to Prometheus's hint, the lord of lightning did not unite in marriage with the one who would give birth to a patricidal son, and strengthened his rule forever. For the secret of maintaining power, Zeus granted the titan freedom.

In Hellas there was a running festival. Participants competed with lit torches in their hands. Athena, Hephaestus and Prometheus were symbols of the celebration that served as the birth of the Olympic Games.

Hermes

The deities of Olympus were not only characterized by noble impulses, lies and deceit often guided their actions. God Hermes is a rogue and thief, the patron of trade and banking, magic, alchemy, and astrology. Born by Zeus from the Mayan galaxy. His mission was to convey the will of the gods to people through dreams. From the name of Hermes comes the name of the science of hermeneutics - the art and theory of interpretation of texts, including ancient ones.

Hermes invented writing, was young, handsome, energetic. Ancient images depict him as a handsome young man in a winged hat and sandals. According to legend, Aphrodite rejected the advances of the god of trade. Gremes is not married, although he has many children, as well as many lovers.

The first theft of Hermes was 50 cows of Apollo, he committed it at a very young age. Zeus gave the kid a good beating and he returned the stolen goods. Subsequently, the Thunderer more than once turned to his resourceful son to solve sensitive problems. For example, at the request of Zeus, Hermes stole a cow from Hera, into which the beloved of the lord of lightning turned.

Apollo and Artemis

Apollo is the sun god of the Greeks. Being the son of Zeus, Apollo spent the winter in the lands of the Hyperboreans. God returned to Greece in the spring, bringing awakening to nature, immersed in winter hibernation. Apollo patronized the arts and was also the deity of music and singing. After all, along with spring, the desire to create returned to people. Apollo was credited with the ability to heal. Just as the sun drives out darkness, so the celestial being drove out illnesses. The sun god was depicted as an extremely handsome young man holding a harp.

Artemis is the goddess of hunting and the moon, patroness of animals. The Greeks believed that Artemis took night walks with the naiads - the patroness of the waters - and shed dew on the grass. At a certain period in history, Artemis was considered a cruel goddess who destroys sailors. Human sacrifices were made to the deity to gain favor.

At one time, girls worshiped Artemis as the organizer of a strong marriage. Artemis of Ephesus began to be considered the goddess of fertility. Sculptures and pictures of Artemis depicted a woman with big amount nipples on the chest to emphasize the generosity of the goddess.

Soon the sun god Helios and the moon goddess Selene appeared in legends. Apollo remained the deity of music and art, Artemis - goddess of the hunt.

Aphrodite

Aphrodite the Beautiful was worshiped as the patroness of lovers. The Phoenician goddess Aphrodite combined two principles:

• femininity, when the goddess enjoyed the love of the young man Adonis and the singing of birds, the sounds of nature;
• militancy, when the goddess was portrayed as a cruel warrior who obliged her followers to take a vow of chastity, and was also a zealous guardian of fidelity in marriage.

The ancient Greeks managed to harmoniously combine femininity and belligerence, creating the perfect image of female beauty. The embodiment of the ideal was Aphrodite, bringing pure, immaculate love. The goddess was depicted as a beautiful naked woman emerging from the foam of the sea. Aphrodite is the most revered muse of poets, sculptors, and artists of that time.

The son of the beautiful goddess Eros (Eros) was her faithful messenger and assistant. The main task of the god of love was to connect life lines lovers. According to legend, Eros looked like a well-fed baby with wings.

Demeter

Demeter is the patron goddess of farmers and winemakers. Mother Earth, that’s what they called her. Demeter was the embodiment of nature, which gives people fruits and grains, absorbing sunlight and rain. They depicted the goddess of fertility with light brown, wheat-colored hair. Demeter gave people the science of arable farming and crops grown hard work. The daughter of the goddess of wine, Persephone, becoming the queen of the underworld, connected the world of the living with the kingdom of the dead.

Along with Demeter, Dionysus, the deity of winemaking, was revered. Dionysus was portrayed as a cheerful young man. Usually his body was entwined with a vine, and in his hands the god held a jug filled with wine. Dionysus taught people to care for grapevines, singing riotous songs that later formed the basis of ancient Greek drama.

Hestia

Goddess family well-being, unity and peace. The altar of Hestia stood in every house near the family hearth. Residents of Hellas perceived urban communities as large families, so sanctuaries of Hestia were always present in prytanae (administrative buildings in Greek cities). They were a symbol of civil unity and peace. There was a sign that if you take coals from the prytanean altar on a long journey, the goddess will provide her protection along the way. The goddess also protected foreigners and the afflicted.

Temples to Hestia were not built, because she was worshiped in every home. Fire was considered a pure, cleansing natural phenomenon, so Hestia was perceived as the patroness of chastity. The goddess asked Zeus for permission not to marry, although Poseidon and Apollo sought her favor.

Myths and legends have evolved over decades. With each retelling of the story, new details were acquired and previously unknown characters emerged. The list of gods grew, making it possible to explain natural phenomena the essence of which ancient people could not understand. Myths passed on the wisdom of older generations to young ones, explained the state structure, and affirmed the moral principles of society.

The mythology of Ancient Greece gave humanity many stories and images that were reflected in the masterpieces of world art. For centuries, artists, sculptors, poets and architects have drawn inspiration from the legends of Hellas.

The main gods in Ancient Hellas were recognized as those who belonged to the younger generation of celestials. Once upon a time, it took away power over the world from the older generation, who personified the main universal forces and elements (see about this in the article The Origin of the Gods of Ancient Greece). The older generation of gods are usually called titans. Having defeated the Titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored the 12 Olympian gods. Their list usually included Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hephaestus, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hermes, Hestia. Hades is also close to the Olympian gods, but he does not live on Olympus, but in his underground kingdom.

- the main deity of ancient times Greek mythology, king of all other gods, personification of the boundless sky, lord of lightning. In Roman religion Jupiter corresponded to it.

Poseidon - the god of the seas, among the ancient Greeks - the second most important deity after Zeus. Like olithe symbol of changeable and stormy water element Poseidon was closely associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity. In Roman mythology he was identified with Neptune.

Hades - the ruler of the gloomy underground kingdom of the dead, inhabited by the ethereal shadows of the dead and terrible demon creatures. Hades (Hades), Zeus and Poseidon made up the triad of the most powerful gods of Ancient Hellas. As ruler of the depths of the earth, Hades was also involved in agricultural cults, with which his wife, Persephone, was closely associated. The Romans called him Pluto.

Hera - sister and wife of Zeus, the main female goddess of the Greeks. Patroness of marriage and conjugal love. Jealous Hera severely punishes violation of marriage bonds. For the Romans, it corresponded to Juno.

Apollo - originally the god of sunlight, whose cult then acquired wider meaning and connection with the ideas of spiritual purity, artistic beauty, medical healing, and retribution for sins. As the patron of creative activity, he is considered the head of the nine muses, and as a healer, he is considered the father of the god of doctors, Asclepius. The image of Apollo among the ancient Greeks was formed under the strong influence of Eastern cults (the Asia Minor god Apelun) and carried refined, aristocratic features. Apollo was also called Phoebus. He was revered under the same names in Ancient Rome.

Artemis - sister of Apollo, virgin goddess of forests and hunting. Like the cult of Apollo, the veneration of Artemis was brought to Greece from the East (the Asia Minor goddess Rtemis). Artemis's close connection with forests stems from her ancient function as the patroness of vegetation and fertility in general. The virginity of Artemis also contains a dull echo of the ideas of birth and sexual relations. In Ancient Rome she was revered in the person of the goddess Diana.

Athena is the goddess of spiritual harmony and wisdom. She was considered the inventor and patroness of most sciences, arts, spiritual pursuits, agriculture, and crafts. With the blessing of Pallas Athena, cities are built and public life continues. The image of Athena as a defender of fortress walls, a warrior, a goddess who, at birth, came out of the head of her father, Zeus, armed, is closely connected with the functions of patronage of cities and the state. For the Romans, Athena corresponded to the goddess Minerva.

Hermes is the ancient pre-Greek god of roads and field boundaries, all boundaries separating one from the other. Because of his ancestral connection with roads, Hermes was later revered as the messenger of the gods with wings on his heels, the patron of travel, merchants and trade. His cult was also associated with ideas about resourcefulness, cunning, subtle mental activity (skillful differentiation of concepts), and knowledge of foreign languages. The Romans have Mercury.

Ares is the wild god of war and battles. In Ancient Rome - Mars.

Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of sensual love and beauty. Her type is very close to the Semitic-Egyptian veneration of the productive forces of nature in the image of Astarte (Ishtar) and Isis. The famous legend about Aphrodite and Adonis is inspired by the ancient eastern myths about Ishtar and Tammuz, Isis and Osiris. The ancient Romans identified it with Venus.

Eros - son of Aphrodite, divine boy with a quiver and bow. At the request of his mother, he shoots well-aimed arrows that ignite incurable love in the hearts of people and gods. In Rome - Amur.

Hymen - companion of Aphrodite, god of marriage. After his name, wedding hymns were called hymens in Ancient Greece.

Hephaestus - a god whose cult in the era of hoary antiquity was associated with volcanic activity - fire and roar. Later, thanks to the same properties, Hephaestus became the patron of all crafts associated with fire: blacksmithing, pottery, etc. In Rome, the god Vulcan corresponded to him.

Demeter - in Ancient Greece, she personified the productive force of nature, but not wild, as Artemis once was, but “ordered”, “civilized”, the one that manifests itself in regular rhythms. Demeter was considered the goddess of agriculture, who rules the annual natural cycle of renewal and decay. She also supervised the cycle of human life - from birth to death. This last side of the cult of Demeter constituted the content of the Eleusinian mysteries.

Persephone - daughter of Demeter, kidnapped by the god Hades. The inconsolable mother, after a long search, found Persephone in the underworld. Hades, who made her his wife, agreed that she should spend part of the year on earth with her mother, and the other with him in the bowels of the earth. Persephone was the personification of grain, which, being “dead” sown into the ground, then “comes to life” and comes out of it into the light.

Hestia - patron goddess of the hearth, family and community ties. Altars to Hestia stood in every ancient Greek house and in the main public building a city where all citizens were considered one big family.

Dionysus - the god of winemaking and those violent natural forces that drive a person to insane delight. Dionysus was not one of the 12 “Olympian” gods of Ancient Greece. His orgiastic cult was borrowed relatively late from Asia Minor. The common people's veneration of Dionysus was contrasted with the aristocratic service of Apollo. From the frenzied dances and songs at the festivals of Dionysus, ancient Greek tragedy and comedy later emerged.

Ancient Greek mythology was formed in the south of the Balkan Peninsula and became the basis of the worldview of the peoples of the Mediterranean in antiquity. It had a strong influence on ideas about the world in the pre-Christian era, and also became the basis for many later folklore stories.

In this article we will look at who the gods of Ancient Greece were, how the Greeks treated them, how ancient Greek mythology was formed and what influence it had on later civilizations.

The origins of Greek mythology

The settlement of the Balkans by Indo-European tribes - the ancestors of the Greeks - occurred in several stages. The first wave of settlers were the founders Mycenaean civilization, which we know from archaeological data and Linear B.

Initially, the higher powers in the minds of the ancients did not have personification (the element did not have an anthropomorphic appearance), although there were family ties between them. There were also legends about the universe, linking gods and people.

As the settlers settled in a new place, their religious views also modified. This happened thanks to contacts with the local population and events that had a strong impact influence on the life of the ancients. In their minds, both natural phenomena (change of seasons, earthquakes, eruptions, floods) and human actions (the same wars) could not do without the intervention or direct will of the gods, which is reflected in literary works. Moreover, later interpretations of events, when their participants were no longer alive, were based precisely on divine intrigue (for example, the Trojan War).

Influence of Minoan culture

The Minoan civilization, located on the island of Crete and a number of smaller ones (Thira), was partly the predecessor of the Greek one. Relatives The Minoans did not come to the Greeks. They, judging by archaeological data, originated from prehistoric Asia Minor from Neolithic times. During their life on Crete they formed unified culture, language (it has not been completely deciphered) and religious ideas based on the mother cult (the name of the Great Goddess has not reached us) and bull worship.

The state that existed on Crete did not survive the crisis of the Bronze Age. Climate change on mainland Eurasia has led to mass migrations from the mainland, which Crete did not escape; Pelasgians and other so-called “peoples of the sea” (as they were called in Egypt) began to settle on it, and later - the second wave of Greek settlers - the Dorians. The volcanic eruption on the island of Thira led to a protracted economic crisis, from which the Minoan civilization never recovered.

Nevertheless, the religion of the Minoans had a strong influence on that of the Greeks who moved here. The island fits firmly into their ideas about the world, there they placed the homeland of many of their gods, and the legend of the Minotaur (a remnant of the bull cult) survived both Ancient Greece and subsequent eras.

Names of the gods of Mycenaean Greece

In the tablets written in Linear B, it was possible to read the names of some gods. They are also known to us from later inscriptions, already classical. The difficulty in reading these tablets was that the letter itself was borrowed oh (like everyone else) letter systems) from Minoan, which, in turn, was a development of old hieroglyphic signs. First, people from mainland Greece who lived in Knossos began to use the letter, and then it spread to the mainland. It was used most often for economic purposes.

The structure of the letter was syllabic. Therefore, the names of the gods below will be given in this version.

It is unknown to what extent these deities were personified. A priestly stratum existed in the Mycenaean period, this fact is known from written sources. But some circumstances are suggestive. For example, name of Zeus occurs in two variants - di-wi-o-jo and di-wi-o-ja - both masculine and feminine. The very root of the word - “div” - has the meaning of a deity in general, which can be seen in parallel concepts in other Indo-European languages ​​- remember, for example, the Iranian devas.

In this era, ideas about the creation of the world from Mist and Chaos, which gave birth to the sky (Uranus) and the earth (Gaia), as well as darkness, the abyss, love, and night, also disappear. In later beliefs of some developed cults of these gods and titans we don’t see - all the stories with them have been preserved in the form of myths about the universe.

Pre-Greek cults of mainland Greece

It should be noted that a number of areas of life of the ancient Greeks that we attribute to them are not Greek in origin. This also applies to the cults that “controlled” these areas. All of them belonged earlier to the peoples who lived here before the first wave of Greek Achaean settlers. These were both Minoans and Pelasgians, Cycladic Islanders and Anatolians.

Definitely, the pre-Greek manifestations of the cult include the personification of the sea as an element and concepts associated with the sea (the word θάλασσα is most likely of Pelasgian origin). This also includes the cult olive tree.

Finally, some of the deities were originally of external origin. So, Adonis came to Greece from the Phoenicians and other Semitic peoples.

All this existed among the peoples who lived in the eastern Mediterranean before the Greeks, and was adopted by them along with a number of deities. The Achaeans were people from the continent and did not cultivate olives, nor did they possess the art of navigation.

Greek mythology of the classical period

The Mycenaean period was followed by a decline in civilization, which was associated with the invasion of the northern Greek tribes - the Dorians. After this there comes a period Dark Ages- this is how it was called due to the lack of written sources in Greek dating from that period. When the new Greek writing appeared, it had nothing in common with Linear B, but arose independently from Phoenician alphabet.

But at this time, the mythological ideas of the Greeks formed into a single whole, which was reflected in the main source of those times - Homer’s poems “Iliad” and “Odyssey”. These ideas were not entirely monolithic: there were alternative interpretations and variations, and these were developed and supplemented in later times, even when Greece was under the rule of the Roman Empire.

Gods of Ancient Greece

Homer in his poems does not explain where the gods and heroes of his works came from: from this we can conclude that they were known to the Greeks. The events described by Homer, as well as the plots of other myths (about the Minotaur, Hercules, etc.) were considered by them historical events, where the actions of gods and people are closely intertwined.

Ancient Greek gods

The gods of Ancient Greece during the polis period can be divided into several categories. The Greeks themselves divided the other world depending on the “relevance” of a particular god at the current moment, the sphere of his influence, as well as his status among other gods.

Three generations of gods

The world, according to the Greeks, arose from Mist and Chaos, which gave birth to the first generation of gods - Gaia, Uranus, Nikta, Erebus and Eros. In the classical period, they were perceived as something abstract, and therefore they did not have any developed cults. Nevertheless, their presence was not denied. Thus, Gaia (earth) was a chthonic force, ancient and indomitable, Eros in the main source of those times was the embodiment of physical love, Uranus represented the sky.

The second generation of gods were the Titans. There were many of them, and some of them became the progenitors of people and other gods. Some of the most famous titans include:

• Kronos is the father of the Olympian gods;
• Rhea - mother of the Olympian gods;
• Prometheus - who gave fire to people;
• Atlas - holding the sky;
• Themis is the giver of justice.

The third generation is the gods of Olympus. It was they who were revered by the Greeks, the temples of these gods were erected in cities, and they are the main characters of many myths. The Olympian gods also took on a number of functions of older gods: for example, initially Helios was the sun god, and later he was brought closer to Apollo. Because of this duplication of functions, it is often difficult to give a "crossword" concise definition of a Greek god. Thus, both Apollo and Asclepius can be called the god of healing, and both Athena and her companion Nike can be called the goddess of victory.

According to legend, the Olympian gods defeated the Titans in a ten-year battle, and now rule over people. They have different origins, and even their lists differ from one author to another. But we will tell you about the most influential of them.

Olympian gods

Let's imagine the Olympian gods in the following table:

Greek name	Accepted in the literature	What does it patronize?	Parents	Who is Zeus related to?
Ζεύς	Zeus	thunder and lightning, supreme god	Kronos and Rhea
Ἥρα	Hera	marriage and family	Kronos and Rhea	sister and wife
Ποσειδῶν	Poseidon	chief sea god	Kronos and Rhea	Brother
Ἀΐδης	Hades	patron of the kingdom of the dead	Kronos and Rhea	Brother
Δημήτηρ	Demeter	agriculture and fertility	Kronos and Rhea	sister
Ἑστία	Hestia	hearth and sacred fire	Kronos and Rhea	sister
Ἀθηνᾶ	Athena	wisdom, truth, military strategy, science, craft, cities	Zeus and the Titanide Metis	daughter
Περσεφόνη	Persephone	wife of Hades, patroness of spring	Zeus and Demeter	daughter
Ἀφροδίτη	Aphrodite	love and beauty	Uranus (more precisely, sea foam, which formed after Kronos castrated Uranus and threw it into the sea)	aunt
Ἥφαιστος	Hephaestus	blacksmithing, construction, invention	Zeus and Hera	son
Ἀπόλλων	Apollo	light, art, healing	Zeus and Titanide Leto	son
Ἄρης	Ares	war	Zeus and Hera	son
Ἄρτεμις	Artemis	hunting, fertility, chastity	Zeus and Leto, sister of Apollo	daughter
Διόνυσος	Dionysus	viticulture, winemaking, religious ecstasy	Zeus and Semele (mortal woman)	daughter
Ἑρμῆς	Hermes	dexterity, theft, trade	Zeus and the nymph Maya	son

The information indicated in the fourth column is ambiguous. IN different regions Greece existed different versions the origin of the Olympians who are not the children of Kronos and Rhea.

The Olympian gods had the most developed cults. Statues were erected for them, temples were built, and holidays were held in their honor.

The Olympus mountain range in Thessaly, the highest in Greece, was considered the habitat of the Olympian gods.

Minor gods and goddesses

They were the younger generation of gods and also had different origins. Most often, such gods were subordinate to the older ones and performed some specific function. Here are some of them:

This is a separate category of revered objects of Greek mythology. They are heroes of myths and represent people of semi-divine origin. They have superpowers, but, like people, they are mortal. Heroes are favorite characters in ancient Greek vase paintings.

Of all the heroes, only Asclepius, Hercules and Polydeuces were awarded immortality. The first was elevated to the rank of gods because he surpassed everyone in the art of healing and gave his knowledge to people. Hercules, according to one version, received immortality thanks to the fact that he drank the milk of Hera, with whom he later feuded. According to another, it was the result of an agreement on ten labors (in the end he performed twelve).

Polydeuces and Castor (the Dioscuri twins) were the sons of Zeus and Leda. Zeus gave immortality only to the first, because the second had died by that time. But Polydeuces shared immortality with his brother, and since then it was believed that the brothers lie in the tomb for a day, and spend the second on Olympus.

Other heroes worth mentioning are:

• Odysseus, king of Ithaca, participant in the Trojan War and wanderer;
• Achilles, a hero of the same war, who had one weak spot - his heel;
• Perseus, conqueror of Medusa the Gorgon;
• Jason, leader of the Argonauts;
• Orpheus, a musician who descended to his dead wife in the underworld;
• Theseus visiting the Minotaur.

In addition to gods, titans and heroes, in the beliefs of the Greeks there were also entities of a smaller order, representing a place or element. Thus, the winds had their own name (for example, Boreas is the patron of the north wind, and Not - the southern wind) and the sea elements, and rivers, streams, islands and other natural objects were under the power of the nymphs who lived there.

Supernatural beings

Appear regularly in myths and poems. Here are some of them:

• Gorgon Medusa;
• Minotaur;
• Basilisk;
• Sirens;
• Griffins;
• Centaurs;
• Cerberus;
• Scylla and Charybdis;
• Satires;
• Echidna;
• Harpies.

The role of the gods for the Greeks

The Greeks themselves did not consider the gods to be something distant and absolute. They weren't even all-powerful. Firstly, each of them had his own area of ​​​​activity, and secondly, they argued among themselves and people, and victory was not always on the side of the former. Gods and people were connected by a common origin, and people considered the gods to be superior to them in strength and abilities, hence the worship and peculiar ethics of treating the gods: they could not be angered and they could not be proud of victories over them.

An illustration of the latter was the fate of Ajax, who escaped the wrath of Poseidon, but the latter still caught up with him and broke the rock to which he was clinging. And also a symbolic description of the fate of Arachne, who surpassed Athena in the art of weaving and was turned into a spider.

But both gods and people were subject to fate, which was personified by the three Moirai, weaving the thread of fate for every mortal and immortal. This image comes from the Indo-European past and is identical to the Slavic Rozhanitsy and Germanic Norns. For the Romans, fate is represented by Fatum.

Their origin is lost; in ancient times there were various legends about how they were born.

At a later time, when Greek philosophy began to develop, the concepts of what governs the world began to develop precisely in the direction of a certain upper world who has power over everything. First, Plato outlined the theory of ideas, then his student, Aristotle, substantiated the existence of a single deity. The development of such theories prepared the way for the spread of Christianity later.

Influence of Greek mythology on Roman

The Roman Republic, and then the Empire, absorbed Greece quite early, in the 2nd century BC. But Greece not only avoided the fate of other conquered territories that underwent Romanization (Spain, Gaul), but also became a kind of standard of culture. IN Latin language some Greek letters were borrowed, dictionaries were replenished with Greek words, and the very knowledge of Greek was considered a sign of an educated person.

The dominance of Greek mythology was also inevitable - it was closely intertwined with Roman, and Roman became, as it were, its continuation. The Roman gods, who had their own history and characteristics of the cult, became analogues of the Greek ones. Thus, Zeus became an analogue of Jupiter, Hera - Juno, and Athena - Minerva. Here are some more gods:

• Hercules - Hercules;
• Aphrodite - Venus;
• Hephaestus - Vulcan;
• Ceres - Demeter;
• Vesta - Hestia;
• Hermes - Mercury;
• Artemis - Diana.

Mythology was also subsumed under Greek models. Thus, the original god of love in Greek mythology (more precisely, the personification of love itself) was Eros - among the Romans it corresponded to Cupid. The legend of the founding of Rome was “tied” to the Trojan War, where the hero Aeneas was introduced, who became the ancestor of the inhabitants of Lazio. The same applies to other mythical characters.

Ancient Greek mythology: influence on culture

The last followers of the cult of the ancient Greek gods lived in Byzantium back in the first millennium AD. They were called Hellenes (from the word Hellas) in contrast to the Christians, who considered themselves Romans (heirs of the Roman Empire). In the 10th century, Greek polytheism was completely eradicated.

But the myths and legends of Ancient Greece did not die. They became the basis of many folklore stories of the Middle Ages, and in countries completely distant from each other: for example, the story about Cupid and Psyche became the basis for the fairy tale about beauty and the beast, presented in the Russian corpus as “The Scarlet Flower.” In medieval books, pictures with scenes from the mythology of the Greeks - from European to Russian - are not uncommon (in any case, they are in the Litsevoy Vault of Ivan the Terrible).

All European ideas about the pre-Christian era were associated with the Greek gods. Thus, the action of Shakespeare’s tragedy “King Lear” dates back to pre-Christian times, and although at that time the Celts lived on the territory of the British Isles and there were Roman garrisons, it is the Greek gods that are mentioned.

Finally, Greek mythology became a source of subjects for the works of artists, and for a long time it was a plot from Greek mythology (or, as an option, the Bible) that was supposed to be the topic of the examination paper for graduation from the Academy of Arts in the Russian Empire. The future members of the Itinerants Association who broke this tradition became famous.

The names of the Greek gods and their Roman analogues are used to name celestial bodies, new types of microscopic creatures, and some concepts have firmly entered the vocabulary of citizens far from Greek mythology. Thus, inspiration for a new business is described as the convergence of the muse (“for some reason the muse does not come”); the mess in the house is called chaos (there is even a colloquial version with the emphasis on the second syllable), and the vulnerable spot is called Achilles heel not knowing who Achilles is.

1. Zeus is the supreme deity, the head of the Olympian family of gods. Thunderer, god of thunder and lightning.

2. Apollo (Phoebus) – god of harmony, divination, archer. God of light, the Sun.

3. Artemis – goddess of the hunt.

Goddess of the Moon, patroness of women in labor. Apollo's twin sister

4. Ares is the god of war.

5. Athena – goddess of wisdom and just war.

6. Aphrodite – goddess of love and beauty.

7. Hera – wife and sister of Zeus. Supreme Olympian goddess, “guardian”, mistress.

8. Hermes is the messenger of the gods, the patron of travelers, the guide of the souls of the dead.

9. Hestia - goddess of the hearth, patroness of unquenchable fire.

10. Hephaestus – god of fire and blacksmithing.

11. Demeter – goddess of fertility and agriculture.

12. The following contenders for 12th place among the Olympic gods were: Poseidon - god and ruler of the sea; Hades is the god and ruler of the kingdom of the dead; Dionysus (Bacchus) is the god of the fruit-bearing forces of the earth, vegetation, viticulture, and winemaking.

1. Zeus, Dius, in Greek mythology the supreme deity, the father of gods and people, the head of the Olympian family of gods. Zeus is a native Greek deity, his name is of Indo-European origin and means “bright sky.” Zeus is the son of Kronos and Rhea, he belongs to the third generation of gods, which overthrew the previous generation - the Titans. Three brothers Zeus, Poseidon and Hades divided power among themselves. Zeus gained dominance in the sky. Zeus left supreme power over the world and control of all celestial phenomena, primarily thunder and lightning (Zeus the “Thunderer”, Zeus the “Cloud Chaser”). During the period of patriarchy, Zeus is localized on Mount Olympus and is called Olympian. Zeus transforms the world, giving birth to gods who bring law, order, science, art, and moral standards into this world. Zeus is the Olympian patron of the community of people, city life, protector of the offended and patron of those who pray; other gods obey him. Zeus is the father of many heroes who carry out his will and divine plans. The beginnings of statehood, order and morality among people are connected, according to Greek legend, not with the gifts of Prometheus, from which people became proud, but with the activities of Zeus, who put shame and conscience into people, qualities necessary in social communication. In the Hellenistic era, the image of Zeus acquires the features of a world omnipotent, striving for monotheism. In honor of Olympian Zeus, the Olympic Games were held as a symbol of unity and mutual consent of the Greek city-states. Zeus was revered as the guardian of public order and family; he was credited with establishing laws and customs. The attributes of Zeus were an aegis, a scepter, and sometimes an eagle and a hammer. As the giver of victory in war and competitions, Zeus was depicted with the goddess of victory Nike (Roman - Victoria) in his hand. Zeus was considered the father of the younger generation of Olympic gods: Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hephaestus, Dionysus, Hebe, Iris, Persephone, as well as muses, charites and many heroes: Hercules, Perseus and others. Many noble families descended from Zeus. The most important places of the cult of Zeus were Dodona (Epirus) and Olympia (Elis), where the Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus.

Individual episodes of the myth of Zeus are contained in the Iliad, the Odyssey, Hesiod's Theogony, Apollodorus's Mythological Library and other ancient works. In ancient Roman mythology, Zeus corresponded to Jupiter. Zeus-Ammon, in Egyptian mythology, Ammon was a god.

2. Hera - the wife and sister of Zeus, the supreme Olympian goddess, the youngest daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Her name probably means "guardian", "mistress". Hera's marriage to her brother is a vestige of an ancient consanguineous family. Hera was the last, third after Metis and Themis, the legal wife of Zeus. Hera's marriage determined her supreme power over the other Olympian goddesses; she is the first on Olympus and the greatest goddess; Zeus himself listens to her advice. But in this image one can see the features of a female local deity of the pre-Olympic period: autonomy and independence in marriage, constant quarrels with Zeus, jealousy, terrifying anger. In the myths first transmitted by Homer and Hesiod, Hera is a model marital fidelity. As a sign of this, she was depicted in her wedding attire. Hera on Olympus is the defender of her own family hearth, which is endlessly threatened by Zeus’s amorousness.

Hera - in ancient Greek mythology - the queen of the gods, the patroness of women, marriage and birth. Hera was depicted as a majestic woman in long robes with a wreath or diadem on her head. In Roman mythology, Hera is identified with Juno.

3. Demeter, in Greek mythology, the goddess of fertility and agriculture, daughter of Kronos and Rhea, sister and wife of Zeus, from whom she gave birth to Persephone. One of the most revered Olympic deities. The ancient chthonic origin is attested to by the very name of the goddess, which literally means “mother earth.” She is a goddess who is kind to people, of beautiful appearance, with hair the color of ripe wheat, an assistant in peasant affairs, who taught people the wisdom of agriculture. The myth of Demeter also reflects the original struggle of life and death. She is portrayed as a grieving mother who lost her daughter Persephone, kidnapped by Hades. Demeter is primarily the goddess of farmers; she is glorified at the festival of Thesmophoria. Demeter is one of the ancient female great goddesses who bestow fruitful power on all living things. The main sacred place of Demeter is Eleusis in Attica, where for 9 days of the month of September the Eleusinian Mysteries took place, symbolizing spiritual and physical purification. The cult of Demeter, widespread in many areas of Greece, merged in Ancient Rome with the cult of the Italian plant deity Ceres. Demeter - in ancient Greek mythology - the sister of Zeus; the goddess of fertility and agriculture, who gave an ear of wheat to people and taught them to cultivate the land and grow bread. Demeter was depicted standing or sitting on a throne: - with a wreath of ears of corn on her head; - with a torch and a basket of fruits or ears of corn in hands.

4. Hestia, in Greek mythology, the goddess of the hearth, the eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea, an Olympian deity. She is the patroness of the unquenchable fire - the beginning that unites the world of the gods, human society and every family. The chaste, celibate Hestia resides on Olympus, symbolizing the unshakable cosmos. The image of Hestia early acquired the abstract features of personified fire and is not associated with mythological subjects.

5. Hephaestus, in Greek mythology the god of fire and blacksmithing. Olympian deity of Asia Minor origin, containing ancient features fire element. Hephaestus appears either as a flame fetish or as a lord of fire. Its origin is interpreted in two ways. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, but he is also the son of only Hera, born by her in revenge on Zeus. His parents didn't like him and threw him to the ground twice. Hephaestus is lame on both legs and ugly, which brings him closer to the archaic elements. On Olympus, Hephaestus entertains the gods with jokes, treats them with ambrosia and nectar, and generally acts in a kind of service role, which also indicates his non-Greek origin. The myths about Hephaestus also reflect the flourishing of artistic and craft creativity in the era of patriarchy. In Attica, one of the phyla (units) bore the name of Hephaestus, and he himself was revered among the main deities by the inhabitants of Attica - the “sons of Hephaestus.” The classic image of Hephaestus is a blacksmith and a skilled craftsman in his workshop, his assistants are mechanical maids. He is a master and an artist, but he is also light, fire, ether. He protects houses, cities and tribes, but he is also the moon and all the luminaries, a shining, all-devouring demon, i.e. Hephaestus is Olympus, and the underworld, and the highest creativity, and elemental demonism. Hephaestus was predominantly revered in Athens (in Ceramics), where he was the god of crafts, but could not compete with the more ancient Prometheus and Daedalus. After the overthrow of Hephaestus from Olympus, he was saved by the inhabitants of the island of Lemnos, the Synthians. In Crete there is no slightest indication of the cult of Hephaestus. The cult of Hephaestus was brought to the mainland from the islands of the Aegean Sea by Hellenic settlers. Thus, the chthonic non-Greek deity became one of the most revered gods among the artisans and craftsmen of Athens. Hephaestus loved physical labor.

6. Hermes, in Greek mythology, originally the god of cattle breeding and shepherds, later the messenger of the gods, the patron of travelers, the guide of the souls of the dead. Hermes is the son of Zeus and the beautiful nymph of the mountains Maya, the grandfather of the brave and wise Odysseus. An Olympian deity, although pre-Greek, possibly of Asia Minor origin. Hermes is equally present in both worlds - life and death; he is a mediator between one and the other, just as he is a mediator between gods and people. The guidance of Hermes on the paths of life and death is reinterpreted in the era of classical mythology as the patronage of heroes. Hermes protects the heroes during their travels. The cunning and dexterity of Hermes make him the patron of trickery and theft. The function of Hermes as the patron of shepherds, multiplying offspring in herds together with Hecate, is secondary. Hermes and Apollo mutually exchanged a number of important functions or divided them among themselves. During the period of late antiquity, the image of Hermes Trismegistus (“thrice greatest”) arose in connection with the proximity of Hermes to the other world; The occult sciences and the so-called hermetic (secret, closed, accessible only to initiates) writings were associated with this image. Hermes was revered at anthesteria - the festival of the awakening of spring and the memory of the dead.

Hermes is usually depicted as a young man wearing a cloak, a hat with a curved brim (winged helmet), golden winged sandals (high boots with wings) and a golden magic wand, a gift from Apollo, decorated with two snakes. Hermes is considered the inventor musical instrument- lyres. In addition, Hermes was a merry fellow and a joker and loved to play pranks. It was he who once jokingly stole a scepter from Zeus, a trident from Poseidon, and a bow and golden arrows from Apollo. True, if he used them, it was only for noble purposes. No one could surpass him in cunning, ingenuity and cunning, so thieves and cheaters consider him their patron. People honored him because he gave them measures of weight and length, numbers and the alphabet invented by the centaur Chiron, and taught them to read and write. He was glorified as the patron god of young athletes. In his honor, stadiums for athletic competitions and schools for gymnastics were built, which were called gymnasiums and were decorated with sculptural images of God. There is a well-known myth about the love of Io and Zeus, which took place thanks to Hermes.

Hermes is the patron of travelers, merchants, the god of trade and profit, the inventor of the lyre and the shepherd's flute, and the leader in the round dances of nymphs. In ancient Roman mythology, Hermes corresponded to Mercury.

7. Ares, Ares, in Greek mythology the god of war, treacherous, treacherous, war for the sake of war, in contrast to Pallas Athena - the goddess of fair and just war. Initially, Ares was simply identified with war and deadly weapon. The oldest myth about Ares testifies to his non-Greek, Thracian origin. Ares' companions were the goddess of discord Eris and the bloodthirsty Enyo. His attributes are a spear, a burning torch, dogs, and a kite. His very birth was initially thought of purely chthonically: Hera gave birth to Ares without the participation of Zeus from touching a magic flower. In Olympian mythology, Ares has great difficulty getting along with its plastic and artistic images and laws, although now he is considered the son of Zeus himself and settles on Olympus.

In Homer, Ares is a violent deity, at the same time possessing traits of romantic love that were previously unusual for him. His epithets are: “strong”, “huge”, “fast”, “furious”, “harmful”, “treacherous”, “destroyer of people”, “destroyer of cities”, “stained with blood”. The violent and immoral Ares with great difficulty assimilated with the Olympian gods, and numerous layers of different eras were preserved in his image. In Rome, Ares is identified with the Italic god Mars, and in later art and literature he is known primarily under the name Mars. Herodotus identified the Scythian deity with Ares, real name which was not preserved in the sources. “Scythian Ares,” who was one of the third category of gods of the seven-divine Scythian pantheon, was revered in the guise of an ancient iron sword placed on top of a quadrangular twig altar, and domestic animals and every hundredth captive were sacrificed to him. The identification of this Scythian god with the Greek Ares and the forms of his cult indicate that he was a god of war. Ares - in ancient Greek mythology - the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of cruel and bloody war, war for the sake of war. Ares was depicted wearing a helmet, armed with a shield, a spear and a short sword.

8. Aphrodite, in Greek mythology the goddess of love and beauty. Goddess of Asia Minor origin. The etymology of this non-Greek name for the goddess is unclear. There are two versions of the origin of Aphrodite: according to one, the later one, she is the daughter of Zeus and Diana; according to another, she was born from the blood of Uranus, castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed foam; hence the so-called the popular etymology of her name is “foam-born” and one of her nicknames - Anadyomene - “appeared on the surface of the sea.” Aphrodite possessed the cosmic functions of powerful, world-permeating love. Aphrodite was represented as the goddess of fertility, eternal spring and life. Hence the epithets of the goddess: “Aphrodite in the gardens”, “sacred garden”, “Aphrodite in the stems”, “Aphrodite in the meadows”. She is always surrounded by roses, myrtles, anemones, violets, daffodils, lilies and accompanied by charites, oras and nymphs. Aphrodite was glorified as the giver of abundance to the earth, the summit (“goddess of the mountains”), companion and good helper in swimming (“goddess of the sea”), i.e. the earth, sea and mountains are embraced by the power of Aphrodite. She is the goddess of marriages and even childbirth, as well as a “child-bearer.” Gods and people are subject to the love power of Aphrodite. Only Athena, Artemis and Hestia are beyond her control. Aphrodite's service was often of a sensual nature (Aphrodite was even considered the goddess of hetaeras, she herself was called a hetaera and a harlot), gradually the archaic goddess with her elemental sexuality and fertility turned into a flirtatious and playful Aphrodite, who took her place among the Olympian gods. This classic Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione, her birth from the blood of Uranus is almost forgotten. There were numerous sanctuaries of Aphrodite in other regions of Greece (Corinth, Boeotia, Messenia, Achaia, Sparta), on the islands - Crete (in the city of Paphos, where there was a temple that had pan-Greek significance, and hence the nickname of Aphrodite - the Paphos goddess), Kythera, Cyprus, Sicily (from Mount Erice - nickname Ericinia). Aphrodite was especially revered in Asia Minor (Ephesus, Abydos) and Syria. The ancient Greeks believed that Aphrodite provided protection to heroes, but her help extended only to the sphere of feelings. In ancient art, Aphrodite was depicted as a woman in the prime of her life and beauty. Aphrodite's constant attribute was a wonderful belt, in which the secret of her charm was hidden and love, desire, and words of seduction were contained. According to legend, it was this belt that Aphrodite gave to Hera in order to help her divert the attention of Zeus. In Ancient Rome, Aphrodite was identified with Venus and was considered the ancestor of the Romans thanks to her son Aeneas, the ancestor of the Julius family, to which, according to legend, Julius Caesar belonged. Of the ancient images of Aphrodite, the most famous are: Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles (mid-4th century BC), Aphrodite (Venus) of Milo (2nd century BC). dnMenu(10,3);

9. Athena, in Greek mythology, the goddess of wisdom, just war and crafts, daughter of Zeus and the Titanide Metis. It is believed that Athena was born from the head of Zeus. Athena was, as it were, a part of Zeus, the executor of his plans and will. She is the thought of Zeus, realized in action. Her attributes are a snake and an owl, as well as an aegis, a shield made of goat skin, decorated with the head of the snake-haired Medusa, which has magical powers, frightening gods and people. In ancient times, it was believed that the goddess received the nickname Pallas from the wooden idol of Palladion that fell from the sky. Whatever this nickname means, the legend of the wooden idol falling from the sky itself speaks of Athena as a deity of the most ancient circle. Later myths attribute the appearance of the epithet Pallas to Athena's defeat of the giant Pallant. During the period of heroic mythology, Athena fought with titans and giants: she kills one giant, rips off the skin of another, and dumps the island of Sicily on a third. Classical Athena patronizes heroes and protects public order. She rescued Bellerophon, Jason, Hercules and Perseus from trouble. It was she who helped her favorite Odysseus overcome all difficulties and get to Ithaca after the Trojan War. The most significant support was provided by Athena to the matricide Orestes. She helped Prometheus steal the divine fire, defended the Achaean Greeks during the Trojan War; she is the patroness of potters, weavers and needlewomen. The cult of Athena, widespread throughout Greece, was especially revered in Athens, which she patronized. In Roman mythology, the goddess corresponds to Minerva. Athena was considered the patroness of Athens; The feast of Panathenaia was celebrated in her honor. Athena was depicted as a stern and majestic maiden, in a long robe, fully armed, with a spear, shield and helmet.

10. Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto, brother of Artemis, Olympian god, who included in his classical image the archaic and chthonic features of pre-Greek and Asia Minor development (hence the variety of his functions - both destructive and beneficent, the combination of gloomy and bright sides). Data from the Greek language do not allow us to reveal the etymology of the name Apollo, which indicates the non-Indo-European origin of the image. The attempts of ancient authors to unravel the meaning of the name Apollo are not subject to scientific discussion, although they are characterized by a tendency to combine into one inseparable whole a number of functions of Apollo: the archer, the destroyer, the soothsayer, the guardian of cosmic and human harmony. The image of Apollo connects heaven, earth and the underworld. Along with destructive actions, Apollo also has healing actions; he is a doctor or Paeon, Alexikakos ("Helper"), protector from evil and disease, stopping the plague during the Peloponnesian War. In later times, Apollo was identified with the sun in all the fullness of its healing and destructive functions. The epithet of Apollo - Phoebus - indicates purity, brilliance, prophecy. The combination in the image of Apollo of rational clarity and dark elemental forces is confirmed by the closest connections between Apollo and Dionysus.

Apollo the soothsayer is credited with the founding of sanctuaries in Asia Minor and Italy - in Claros, Didyma, Colophon, Cumae. Apollo is a prophet and oracle, even thought of as the “driver of fate” - Moiraget. Apollo is a shepherd and guardian of flocks. He is the founder and builder of cities, the ancestor and patron of tribes. Apollo is a musician; he received the cithara from Hermes in exchange for cows. He is the patron of singers and musicians, Musaget is the leader of the muses and severely punishes those who try to compete with him in music. Apollo is one of the most complex mythological images. Probably, the cult of Apollo penetrated from Asia Minor to Greece, and from there to Rome (in the Iliad, Apollo patronizes the Trojans). Initially, Apollo was a deity associated with the cult of the productive forces of the earth and averting troubles and illnesses from people. This is how his functions arose: a healer god, a diviner god, and then a god of wisdom, as well as a patron of art (hence Apollo Musagete - the leader of the muses). Later, Apollo began to be identified with the sun god (his nickname Phoebus from the Greek adjective phoibos - bright, shining). The main centers of the cult of Apollo were Delphi, Delos and Didyma (in Asia Minor). Apollo - in ancient Greek mythology - the son of Zeus and the goddess Leto, the god of sunlight, a healer god and soothsayer, patron of the arts. Apollo was depicted as a beautiful young man with a bow or cithara.

11. Artemis, (“bear goddess”, “mistress”, “killer”), in Greek mythology, the goddess of the hunt, daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin sister of Apollo. Born on the island of Asteria (Delos). Artemis spends time in the forests and mountains, hunting, surrounded by nymphs, her companions and also huntresses. She is armed with a bow and is accompanied by a pack of dogs. The goddess has a decisive and aggressive character, often uses arrows as an instrument of punishment and strictly monitors the implementation of customs that regulate the animal and plant world. In the most ancient myths, Artemis was depicted as a bear. In Attica, priestesses of the goddess wore a bearskin when performing rituals. In classical mythology, Artemis was a maiden and protector of chastity. Sanctuaries of Artemis were often built among water sources, considered a symbol of fertility. In Roman mythology, she corresponds to the goddess Diana.

Initially, Artemis was the goddess of fertility, the patroness of animals and hunting, the goddess of the moon, and later the patroness of female chastity and the guardian of women in labor. Artemis was depicted as a beautiful girl-hunter in short clothes with a bow and arrows, accompanied by a deer and nymphs, or as a moon goddess in long clothes with a crescent moon on her head and torches in her hands. 12. Dionysus, in Greek mythology, the god of the fruit-bearing forces of the earth, vegetation, viticulture and winemaking. A deity of eastern origin (Thracian or Lydian-Thracian), which spread to Greece relatively late and established itself there with great difficulty. At the turn of the 7th-8th centuries BC. The cult of Dionysus began to supplant the cults of local gods and heroes. Dionysus, as the deity of the agricultural circle, associated with the elemental forces of the earth, was opposed to Apollo, primarily as the deity of the tribal aristocracy. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and the daughter of the Theban king Cadmus, the mortal woman Semele. The symbol of Dionysus as the god of the fruitful forces of the earth was the phallus. He married Ariadne, abandoned by Theseus. Wherever Dionysus appears, he teaches people viticulture and winemaking. Dionysus's retinue included bacchantes, satyrs and maenads, who crushed everything in their path. Dionysus entered the list of the 12 Olympian gods late. In Delphi he began to be revered along with Apollo. On Parnassus, orgies were held every two years in honor of Dionysus, in which Bacchantes from Attica took part. Ancient Greek tragedy arose from religious and cult rituals dedicated to Dionysus. Dionysus is the god of vegetation, wine and fun, patron of viticulture and winemaking. The ancient Greeks depicted Dionysus as a bearded man in long clothes or a naked youth, surrounded by maenads, satyrs and silenes.