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

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

The legends of the Olympic gods have been passed down from generation to generation, and have had a huge impact on world culture. Plots from ancient Greek mythology were present in literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, music. They "influenced" almost all spheres. human life, as they reflected people's ideas about the structure of the world.

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

According to ancient Greek myths, before the "central" Gods ascended to Olympus, Chaos existed on Earth, which gave rise to Eternal Gloom and dark Night. From them came Eternal Light and bright Day. So, night began to replace day, and day - night, forever and ever.

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

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

Then the goddess Night gave birth to death, discord, deceit, a nightmare, destruction and revenge. Kronos began to rule in a world where struggle, horror and misfortune reigned. So the Night punished the cunning Kronos.

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

Zeus

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

Zeus grew up, went to war with his father, overthrew him from the throne and imprisoned him in Tartarus - an abyss from which it is impossible to leave. But first he made him vomit up all the swallowed children, made his brothers and sisters Gods and reigned over the world, sitting on Olympus.

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

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

Hera

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

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

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

Poseidon

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

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

Hades

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

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

Demeter

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

The most famous legend is about Demeter and her daughter Persephone, who was kidnapped by Hades. Mother left Olympus and wandered the Earth in search of her disappeared daughter. Demeter grieved greatly for Persephone, even the harvest stopped growing. Hunger set in and people began to die. The gods were surprised why people stopped offering sacrifices to them, and complained about this to Zeus. Then he sent for Demeter to Earth to be found and returned to Olympus. But she did not want to return to the Gods. Then Zeus ordered Hades to present his daughter to Demeter.

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

Apollo

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

Apollo is young, beautiful and strong: on Olympic Games won a fistfight against Ares (God of War) himself. He had no wife, and more than 70 children. Mythology ascribes to him numerous connections with goddesses, mortal women, and even with young men.

Athena

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

Due to her unusual appearance, the goddess of war is easy to distinguish in paintings and sculptures. Her clothes are a linen dress, armor, a helmet. In the hands - always a spear, near her - a chariot. Athena has a strong-willed face, a clear look and gray expressive eyes, fair-haired. long hair. Her appearance expresses calmness and determination.

Who are Athena's parents is not entirely clear. According to one version, he was Zeus, who gave birth to her alone.

Hermes

Even the gods of Olympus were not interested in deceit and deceit. One very nice, judging by the ancient images, a god named Hermes was known as a famous rogue and thief. He was born to the Pleiades Maya from Zeus. Being quite a baby, Hermes committed his first theft - he stole 50 cows from Apollo. After a good "bashing" from dad, the kid pointed out where he hid the cattle. True, later Zeus more than once turned to a smart child to carry out his orders. Once he asked Hermes to steal a cow from Hera: Io, the beloved of the Thunderer, turned into her.

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

Hephaestus

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

Hephaestus loved to forge since childhood: his metal products had no equal either on Earth or on Olympus. Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing. The most famous legend is about him and about Prometheus, who had to be chained to a rock by the best blacksmith on the orders of Zeus. The wives of Hephaestus were Aglaya and Aphrodite.

Aphrodite

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

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

Aphrodite is a "popular" mythological character in the works of ancient sculptors and artists. She is almost never alone in them, for her beauty captivated not only people and gods, but birds and animals. Her companions are nymphs, Eros, Charites, dolphins and Oras. Either she was portrayed as a naked prude, then as a flirtatious girl, then as a passionate woman.

Ares

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

Zeus did not have paternal feelings for Ares and even hated him. On the sacred Olympus, he had to hardly "break through" his authority. Ares participated in the Trojan War, but the fair Athena defeated him.

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

Artemis

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

Artemis was born from the relationship of Zeus with the titanides Leto. She was served by oceanids and nymphs. Despite the fact that she was the patroness of childbearing, Artemis herself was unmarried and childless. Artists and sculptors depicted her as young, dressed in a chiton convenient for hunting, with a spear in her hand, with a bow and a quiver behind her back. When Artemis appeared naked on Houdon's canvas, a real scandal erupted. It was the end of the 18th century.

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

Especially for Lilia-Travel.RU - Anna Lazareva

Throughout the history of mankind, civilizations, replacing each other, brought their way of life, their culture and religion. Few people today know the names of Sumerian idols or Assyrian idols. But the names of the ancient Greek gods are known to almost everyone. More than two thousand years ago, thanks to the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek culture spread throughout his empire. And since then, the ancient Greek gods live in the memory of people. Stories about them were passed from mouth to mouth, sung in poems and described in novels.

Many people know stories about the formidable Zeus, the cunning Hera, the frivolous Artemis and the selfless Prometheus. Other characters of Greek mythology gradually faded into the shadows. In this article, we will refresh the memory of the stories of several gods highly respected by the ancient peoples. As is customary in mythology, each of them patronized a certain area of ​​human activity or was responsible for certain natural phenomena.

sky god

The sky god's name is Uranus. He belongs to the oldest generation of gods. He appeared either from Chaos, or from Hemera, or from Ophion. All myths represent his birth in different ways. However, everyone agrees that it was Uranus who first began to rule the world.

The most striking feature of this deity was incredible fertility. His wife Gaia gave birth to child after child. But Uranus did not like children. And he thrust them back into the bosom of his wife.

In the end, Gaia was tired of this, and she made a cunning plan to overthrow her husband. Putting a sharp sickle into the hands of her son Kronos, she hid it in a secluded place and taught him what to do.

When the loving husband, as usual, lay down on the marriage bed, Kronos jumped out of hiding and castrated his father. Himself reproductive organ tyrant Kronos threw to the ground. The fertility of Uranus was so great that from every drop of his blood that fell to the ground, giants and goddesses were born. So the Erinyes and Aphrodite appeared.

Rejected by wife, children and subjects

Together with male dignity, Uranus also lost his power, which passed to Kronos, who rebelled against him. According to the legends of Euhemerus, the disgraced supreme god died in the ocean and was buried in an ordinary fortress.

Until now, archaeologists have not discovered a single temple that would be dedicated to Uranus. Although the ancient Greek gods, the list of which is very impressive, have always been distinguished by the presence of devoted fans. But in this case not even pictures of Uranus remain. Even in myths, despite his position as supreme ruler, Uranus is described as minor character. And only in one literary work- "Theogony" - this god is described in more or less detail.

bestower of light

The ancient Greek god of the sun, Helios, also belongs to the most ancient generation of celestials. He is much older than the Olympian gods and belongs to the family of titans. But in relation to fans, he was much more fortunate than the ill-fated Uranus. In honor of Helios, temples were built and statues were erected. One of the seven wonders of the world - the Colossus of Rhodes - depicted this particular god.

The fact that a giant bronze statue, reaching a height of 36 meters, was built on Rhodes is not an accidental phenomenon. The fact is that this island was considered the personal possession of Helios. According to legend, while other ancient Greek gods divided earthly possessions among themselves, he did not leave his post in a fiery chariot marching through the sky. Therefore, he himself extracted the island for himself from the depths of the sea.

An enviable place in the family tree

The radiant god could rightfully be proud of his origin. His father was the titan Hyperion (which is why in myths he sometimes appears under the nickname Hyperionid), and his mother was the titanide Theia. The sisters of Helios were the goddess of the moon, Selene, and the goddess of the dawn, Eos. Although there are sometimes discrepancies regarding the latter. Some ancient authors call Eos not a sister, but the daughter of a god.

The ancient Greeks portrayed Helios as a beautiful man with an athletic build. Every day he began by leading the heavenly chariot, which was drawn by snow-white winged horses. The names of amazing animals matched their appearance - Lightning, Thunder, Light and Shine. Having passed the usual path through the sky, in the evening Helios solemnly descended into the western waters of the ocean, in order to start all over again in the morning.

ancient greek god of art

The Greeks have long been considered admirers of all that is beautiful. Until now, Apollo, the ancient Greek god, the patron of art and the leader of the nine muses, has been the standard of male beauty. Poets, painters and musicians have drawn inspiration from this image for hundreds of years. However, despite his impressive appearance and a very close relationship with the goddess of love (she was his own sister), Apollo did not always seek reciprocity from his chosen ones and chosen ones.

At one time, he was rejected by the goddesses Cybele, Persephone and Hestia. And the nymph Daphne chose to forever turn into a plant in order to avoid the unequivocal courtship of Apollo. Yes, and a mere mortal princess Cassandra was not seduced by his sweet speeches. As for Koronida and Marpessa, they literally at the first opportunity exchanged the company of the golden-haired deity for entertainment with other partners.

However, no matter how impressive the above list looks, Apollo had disproportionately more love victories. In addition to the huge number of women conquered by him, literary critics count more than twenty young men who were romantically connected with him. And at least one young man - Levkat - refused the offer to become the lover of the golden-haired god.

Prosperity Giver

If the names of Apollo, Helios and even Uranus are still widely known by people, then the question of what the god of wealth was called in ancient Greek mythology will surely baffle many. He is not so often found in myths, and it seems that no temples were built for him. Although in the visual arts, the Greek god of wealth appears even in several guises - as a baby, and an old man, and even one of the guardians of hell.

Plutos was born from the union of Demeter (goddess of fertility) and Iasion (god of agriculture). And since in the old days wealth was directly dependent on the harvest, such a combination gave rise to the patron of wealth. Every mortal who pleased the goddess Demeter in any way automatically fell under the tutelage of Plutos.

Iasion died at the hands of Zeus, who was jealous of Demeter for him. And Plutos himself, already in adulthood, was blinded by Zeus so that he would not distinguish between honest and dishonest people, bestowing wealth. However, the god of wealth in ancient Greek mythology did not remain blind forever. After some time, the generous Asclepius healed him.

Wind gods in mythology

The wind brothers Boreas, Zephyr and Not were also direct descendants of the ancient titans. Their parents were Astray and Eos - the god of the starry sky and the goddess of the dawn, respectively. Boreas ruled the strong north wind, Zephyr the west wind, and Noth the south wind. Homer also mentions Eurus - the east wind. However, its origin is unknown and information about it is very scarce.

According to legend, Boreas lived on the top of Mount Gemm, which is located in Thrace. Stocks of cold and darkness were also stored in his dwelling. The ancient Greek god of the wind himself was described as a strong old man with long gray hair and a lush long beard. Powerful wings extended behind him, and instead of legs, Boreas had several snake tails.

The most famous story involving this character is the story of the abduction of the daughter of the Athenian king, Orithyia. Boreas fell in love with this girl and asked her father many times to let them marry. However, King Erechtheus was not at all delighted with the prospect of having such a son-in-law. Therefore, he repeatedly refused Boreas, citing many vague and indistinct excuses.

As ancient Greek mythology testifies, the gods are accustomed to getting what they want. Therefore, Boreas, without further ado, simply stole the Orithy that he liked and took possession of her without any marriage. And although history is silent about the details of their relationship, it is known for certain that for the god of the wind it was by no means a momentary impulse. After all, Orithia managed to give birth to four children for him - two sons and two daughters.

However, the erotic interests of Boreas were by no means limited to pretty girls alone. Once he, turning into a stately stallion, in one day covered twelve selected mares from a herd of three thousand that belonged to Erichthonius. As a result of this connection, a dozen foals were born, capable of galloping right through the air.

The patron saint of trade and trickery

The ancient Greek god of trade - Hermes - is described in a number of myths. He is the official messenger from other gods, often helping the heroes and periodically arranges small, but non-malicious dirty tricks to the supreme gods just for the sake of fooling around. For example, he steals the sword from Ares, deprives Apollo of his beloved bow and arrow, and even steals the scepter from Zeus himself.

In the hierarchy of the Olympian gods, Hermes occupies an honorable position due to his origin. His mother, Maya, is the oldest and most beautiful of the seven sisters (Pleiades). She was the daughter of the titan Atlanta (the one who, as a punishment for participating in the rebellion, was forced to hold the starry firmament on his shoulders) and the Oceanid Pleione, the daughter of the titan of the Ocean. Maya liked the loving Zeus the Thunderer, and he, seizing a moment while Hera was sleeping, copulated with the Pleiades, who gave birth to Hermes from this union.

The adventures of the cunning god began from the cradle. Learning somehow that Apollo owns a large herd of cows, Hermes decided to steal them. His idea was brilliantly executed. Moreover, in order to knock the pursuer off the trail, the precocious cunning man attached sandals to the hooves of the cows. Hermes hid the herd in a cave on the island of Pylos, and he returned home.

In the end, Apollo still managed to find out that a little boy was driving his herd. He immediately guessed whose hands these tricks were, and went straight to Maya. In response to Apollo's accusations, the unsuspecting mother only pointed in confusion to the cradle in which Hermes, wrapped in swaddling clothes, calmly lay. However, this time Apollo did not let himself be fooled. He took the baby and carried him to Zeus.

Hermes' first deal

Apollo asked his father to deal with his stepbrother. The ancient Greek gods often resorted to his help in resolving controversial issues. However, no matter how the formidable Zeus asked Hermes, he denied everything. And only the perseverance of Apollo made it possible to beat the truth out of the young rascal. Or maybe it was the very first time that Hermes just wanted to show off his dexterity. It's no joke - to hold Apollo himself!

Near the cave in which the young Hermes hid the stolen herd, there lived a large tortoise. The boy killed her and made the first lyre out of the shell. The strings for this instrument were the thin and strong intestines of several cows slaughtered by him.

While Apollo was inspecting his herd, Hermes, knowing the reverent attitude of his divine brother to music, sat down at the entrance to the cave and, as if by chance, played on the instrument he had invented. Enchanted by the sound of the lyre, Apollo offered to give all his cows for this instrument. That was just what Hermes wanted. He readily agreed to a deal, and while tending the flock, he began to play the flute. Apollo wanted to get this one too unusual instrument, and in return he offered his brother his magic wand, which has the power to reconcile enemies.

Subsequently, Hermes became the god of trade, and at the same time, cheating with theft. But even his dishonest deeds were always carried out with a touch of humor and playfulness, for which his fans loved him. And the rod, bartered from Apollo, became an integral attribute of Hermes. The second significant item of his supernatural equipment is winged sandals made of gold and having the power to transfer him to any place on the land of the living, in the realm of the dead and in the heavenly abode of the gods.

Artful Inventor

But Hermes not only dabbled. According to the beliefs of the Greeks, it was he who invented writing. He came up with the first seven letters of the alphabet while watching the flight of cranes. He is also credited with the invention of numbers, as well as units of measurement. All this Hermes taught people, for which he received their veneration and gratitude.

Most of all, this god is known as the messenger of Zeus. In addition, by own initiative Hermes very often disinterestedly helped various heroes. Thanks to him, the innocent Frix and Gella were saved. He helped Amphion build the walls of the city, and gave Perseus a sword with which he was able to defeat Medusa. Hermes told Odysseus about the secret properties of the magic herb. And even the god of war, he saved from the malicious plans of the Aloads.

ancient greek god of war

Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera. But his father did not love him and did not hide his attitude. And for ordinary mortals, in whose lives the ancient Greek gods often interfered, the very name Ares caused chilling horror. After all, he was not just a god of war (his sister Pallas Athena was also considered the goddess of war, but fair and honest), but the inspirer of brutal massacres and senseless murders. For Ares, the war was needed simply for the heady aroma of combat and fresh blood. And for what reason the battle broke out was a matter of secondary importance.

But although the essence of this god was disgusting to others, he is portrayed as a very pleasant man without a trace of ugliness. Yes, and romantic feelings were not entirely alien to this mastermind of wars. Ares fell in love with the very goddess of love - Aphrodite, who reciprocated. And the fact that she was the wife of Hermes did not prevent them from conceiving five joint children.

The combination of fury of rage and reckless love gave rise to the most interesting offspring. Aphrodite gave birth to Ares Eros (the god of sensual attraction, often called Eros), Anteros, who himself denied the possibility of love and sought to arouse in others a feeling of hatred for those who love them, Deimos and Phobos (horror and fear, respectively) and daughter - Harmony.

Such names of the ancient Greek gods as Enyo and Eris are inextricably linked with the activities of Ares. They are his faithful companions and bring their share of bitterness, rage and bloodthirstiness into battles. While Ares himself, having personally taken up the sword, indiscriminately sows death around him.

Debunking Myths

The ancient Greeks endowed their gods with all the vices and virtues that they saw in human society. With the help of myths, they sought to explain incomprehensible and frightening natural phenomena and find the meaning of their existence. Little by little, the original uncomplicated stories were overgrown with additional details, new characters appeared and fresh ideas were put forward. Thus, the world treasury of literature was replenished with new works.

At all times, deities and heroes sought to romanticize and idealize. They act before us as helpers, defenders and arbiters of human destinies. In early civilizations, each boy had his own ideal of a hero, whom he aspired to imitate and worship.

But even the most famous and positive gods and heroes of ancient Greek mythology are not without the usual human vices and weaknesses. And upon closer examination, it invariably turns out that under the brilliant appearance lies a not so attractive essence. However, this fact in no way diminishes the artistic value of the myths that have come down to us, but on the contrary, it allows us to better know the customs and customs of the ancient peoples.

Artemis
Goddess of the moon and hunting, forests, animals, fertility and childbearing. She had never been married, diligently guarded her chastity, and if she took revenge, she did not know pity. Her silver arrows spread plague and death, but she also had the ability to heal. Protected young girls and pregnant women. Her symbols are cypress, fallow deer and bears.

Athena
She was born from the head of Zeus, after he swallowed the oceanid Metis, which turned into a fly. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, science, victorious war and prosperity, and also patronized Athens. Her anger was deadly. Her symbols are the owl and the olive tree.

Aphrodite
The daughter of Zeus (according to another version, she arose from sea foam), the wife of Hephaestus, the goddess of sensual love and beauty. She had many admirers among the gods and mortals. Given in marriage to Hephaestus, she enters into a relationship with Ares, and her husband catches both with golden nets. She also provoked the Trojan War by promising to give Helen to Paris if he called her the most beautiful goddess. Her symbols are roses, doves, arrows, dolphins and rams.

Hebe
The daughter of Zeus and Hera brought nectar and ambrosia to Beth at feasts. It was believed that she became the wife of the Greek hero Hercules when; ascended to Olympus.

Hera
The eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea, sister and wife 3 As the patroness of women and marriage, she was proud and jealous and spent a lot of time chasing her husband's mistresses and punishing them. Her symbols are the pomegranate, the peacock and the cuckoo.

Hestia
The goddess of the hearth, was very popular, as she protected the dwelling and its inhabitants. Each house had an altar where the family brought gifts to her. Calm and gentle, she never participated in jealous quarrels that often broke out on Olympus. She lost her place on Olympus to Dionysus.

Demeter
The goddess of agriculture and fertility, was also revered as the patroness of the family. When her daughter Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, she became so homesick that everything on earth withered, and only with the return of Demeter's daughter and all nature came to life. Her symbol is a sheaf of wheat.

Rhea, christened by Kron, bore him light children, - the Virgin - Hestia, Demeter and the golden-shod Hera, the glorious power of Hades, who lives under the earth, And the providence - Zeus, the father of both immortals and mortals, whose thunders tremble the wide earth. Hesiod "Theogony"

Greek literature originated from mythology. Myth- this is a show ancient man about the world around him. Myths were created at a very early stage in the development of society in various areas of Greece. Later, all these myths merged into a single system.

With the help of myths, the ancient Greeks tried to explain all natural phenomena, presenting them in the form of living beings. At first, experiencing a strong fear of the natural elements, people portrayed the gods in a terrible animal form (Chimera, Gorgon Medusa, Sphinx, Lernean Hydra).

Later, however, the gods become anthropomorphic, that is, they have a human appearance and they have a variety of human qualities (jealousy, generosity, envy, generosity). The main difference between the gods and people was their immortality, but with all their greatness, the gods communicated with mere mortals and even often entered into love relationships with them in order to give birth to a whole tribe of heroes on earth.

There are 2 types of ancient Greek mythology:

1. cosmogonic (cosmogony - the origin of the world) - ends with the birth of Kronos
2. theogonic (theogony - the origin of gods and deities)

The mythology of Ancient Greece went through 3 main stages in its development:

1. pre-Olympic- this is basically a cosmogonic mythology. This stage begins with the idea of ​​the ancient Greeks that everything came from Chaos, and ends with the murder of Kron and the division of the world between the gods.
2. Olympic(early classic) - Zeus becomes the supreme deity and with a retinue of 12 gods settles on Olympus.
3. late heroism- heroes are born from the gods and mortals, who help the gods in establishing order and in the destruction of monsters.

On the basis of mythology, poems were created, tragedies were written, and lyricists dedicated their odes and hymns to the gods.

There were two main groups of gods in Ancient Greece:

1. titans - gods of the second generation (six brothers - Oceanus, Kei, Crius, Gipperion, Iapetus, Kronos and six sisters - Thetis, Phoebe, Mnemosyne, Teia, Themis, Rhea)
2. olympic gods - Olympians - gods of the third generation. The Olympians included the children of Kronos and Rhea - Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus, as well as their descendants - Hephaestus, Hermes, Persephone, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Athena, Apollo and Artemis. The supreme god was Zeus, who deprived the power of his father Kronos (the god of time).

The Greek pantheon of the Olympian gods traditionally included 12 gods, but the composition of the pantheon was not very stable and sometimes consisted of 14-15 gods. Usually they were: Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hestia, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Dionysus, Hades. The Olympic gods lived on sacred mountain Olympus ( Olympos) in Olympia, off the coast of the Aegean Sea.

Translated from ancient Greek, the word pantheon means "all gods". Greeks

divided the deities into three groups:

• Pantheon (great Olympian gods)
• Inferior deities
• monsters

Heroes occupied a special place in Greek mythology. The most famous of them:

v Odysseus

Supreme gods of Olympus

Greek gods	Functions	roman gods
	god of thunder and lightning, sky and weather, law and fate, attributes - lightning (three-pronged pitchfork with notches), scepter, eagle or chariot drawn by eagles
	goddess of marriage and family, goddess of heaven and starry skies, attributes - diadem (crown), lotus, lion, cuckoo or hawk, peacock (two peacocks carried her wagon)
Aphrodite	"foam-born", the goddess of love and beauty, Athena, Artemis and Hestia were not subject to her, attributes - a rose, an apple, a shell, a mirror, a lily, a violet, a belt and a golden bowl that bestows eternal youth, a retinue - sparrows, doves, a dolphin, satellites - Eros, charites, nymphs, ororas.
	god of the underworld of the dead, "generous" and "hospitable", attribute - magic cap of invisibility and three-headed dog Cerberus
	the god of insidious war, military destruction and murder, he was accompanied by the goddess of discord Eris and the goddess of violent war Enyo, attributes - dogs, a torch and a spear, there were 4 horses in the chariot - Noise, Horror, Shine and Flame
	god of fire and blacksmithing, ugly and lame on both legs, attribute - blacksmith's hammer
	the goddess of wisdom, crafts and art, the goddess of just war and military strategy, the patroness of heroes, the “owl-eyed”, used male attributes (helmet, shield - aegis from the skin of the goat amalthea, decorated with the head of Medusa Gorgon, spear, olive, owl and snake), was accompanied by Nicky
	god of invention, theft, trickery, trade and eloquence, patron of heralds, ambassadors, shepherds and travelers, invented measures, numbers, taught people, attributes - a winged rod and winged sandals	Mercury
Poseidon	god of the seas and all water bodies, floods, droughts and earthquakes, patron of sailors, attribute - a trident that causes storms, breaks rocks, knocks out springs, sacred animals - a bull, a dolphin, a horse, a sacred tree - a pine
Artemis	goddess of hunting, fertility and female chastity, later - goddess of the Moon, patroness of forests and wild animals, forever young, she is accompanied by nymphs, attributes - hunting bow and arrows, sacred animals - doe and bear
Apollo (Phoebus), Kifared	“golden-haired”, “silver-armed”, god of light, harmony and beauty, patron of arts and sciences, leader of the muses, predictor of the future, attributes - silver bow and golden arrows, golden cithara or lyre, symbols - olive, iron, laurel, palm tree, dolphin , swan, wolf
	goddess of the hearth and sacrificial fire, virgin goddess. was accompanied by 6 priestesses - vestals who served the goddess for 30 years
	"Mother Earth", the goddess of fertility and agriculture, plowing and harvest, attributes - a sheaf of wheat and a torch
	god of fruitful forces, vegetation, viticulture, winemaking, inspiration and fun	Bacchus, Bacchus

Minor Greek gods

Greek gods	Functions	roman gods
Asclepius	"opener", god of healing and medicine, attribute - a staff entwined with snakes
Eros, Cupid	the god of love, the “winged boy”, was considered the product of a dark night and a bright day, Heaven and Earth, attributes - a flower and a lyre, later - arrows of love and a flaming torch
	"the sparkling eye of the night", the goddess of the moon, the queen of the starry sky, has wings and a golden crown
Persephone	goddess of the realm of the dead and fertility	Proserpina
	the goddess of victory, depicted winged or in a pose of rapid movement, attributes - a bandage, a wreath, later - a palm tree, then - a weapon and a trophy	Victoria
	goddess of eternal youth, depicted as a chaste girl pouring nectar
	“pink-fingered”, “beautiful-haired”, “golden-throned” goddess of the dawn
	goddess of happiness, chance and good luck
	god of the sun, owner of seven herds of cows and seven herds of sheep
Kronos (Chronos)	god of time, attribute - sickle
	goddess of furious war
Hypnos (Morpheus)
	goddess of flowers and gardens
	god of the west wind, messenger of the gods
Dike (Themis)	goddess of justice, justice, attributes - scales in right hand, blindfold, cornucopia in left hand; The Romans put a sword into the hand of the goddess instead of a horn
	god of marriage	Thalassium
Nemesis	winged goddess of revenge and retribution, punishing for violation of social and moral norms, attributes - scales and bridle, sword or whip, chariot drawn by griffins	Adrastea
	golden-winged goddess of the rainbow
	earth goddess

In addition to Olympus, in Greece there was a sacred mountain Parnassus, where muses - 9 sisters, Greek deities who personified poetic and musical inspiration, patrons of the arts and sciences.

Greek Muses

	What patronizes	Attributes
Calliope ("beautiful")	muse of epic or heroic poetry	wax tablet and stylus (bronze rod for writing)
("glorifying")	muse of history	papyrus scroll or scroll case
("pleasant")	muse of love or erotic poetry, lyrics and marriage songs	kifara (stringed musical instrument, a kind of lyre)
("beautiful")	muse of music and lyric poetry	avlos (a wind musical instrument similar to a pipe with a double tongue, the predecessor of the oboe) and syringa (a musical instrument, a kind of longitudinal flute)
("celestial")	muse of astronomy	spotting scope and leaf with celestial signs
Melpomene ("singing")	muse of tragedy	wreath of vine leaves or ivy, theatrical mantle, tragic mask, sword or club.
Terpsichore ("delightful dancing")	muse of dance	head wreath, lyre and plectrum (mediator)
polyhymnia ("multi-singing")	muse of sacred song, eloquence, lyric, chant and rhetoric
("blooming")	muse of comedy and bucolic poetry	comic mask in hands and wreath ivy on the head

Inferior deities in Greek mythology, these are satyrs, nymphs and ororas.

satires - (Greek satyroi) - these are forest deities (the same as in Russia goblin), demons fertility, retinue of Dionysus. They were depicted as goat-legged, hairy, with horse tails and small horns. Satyrs are indifferent to people, mischievous and cheerful, they were interested in hunting, wine, pursued forest nymphs. Their other hobby is music, but they only played wind instruments that make sharp, piercing sounds - flutes and pipes. In mythology, they personified a rough, base beginning in nature and man, therefore they were represented with ugly faces - with blunt, wide noses, swollen nostrils, tousled hair.

nymphs - (the name means "source", among the Romans - "bride") the personification of living elemental forces, noticed in the murmur of a stream, in the growth of trees, in the wild charms of mountains and forests, spirits of the earth's surface, manifestations of natural forces acting in addition to man in the solitude of grottoes , valleys, forests, away from cultural centers. They were portrayed as beautiful young girls with wonderful hair, with a dress of wreaths and flowers, sometimes in a dancing pose, with bare legs and arms, with loose hair. They are engaged in yarn, weaving, sing songs, dance in the meadows to the flute of Pan, hunt with Artemis, participate in the noisy orgies of Dionysus, and are constantly fighting with annoying satyrs. In the view of the ancient Greeks, the world of nymphs was very extensive.

The azure pond was full of flying nymphs,
Dryads animated the garden,
And the bright water spring was sparkling from the urn
Laughing naiads.

F. Schiller

Nymphs of the mountains oreads,

nymphs of forests and trees - dryads,

spring nymphs - naiads,

nymphs of the oceans oceanides,

nymphs of the sea nerids,

nymphs of the valleys sing,

meadow nymphs - limeades.

Ora - the goddess of the seasons, they were in charge of order in nature. Guardians of Olympus, now opening, then closing its cloudy gates. They are called gatekeepers of heaven. Harness the horses of Helios.

In many mythologies, there are numerous monsters. In ancient Greek mythology, there were also many of them: Chimera, Sphinx, Lernean Hydra, Echidna and many others.

In the same vestibule, the shadows of monsters crowd around:

Scylla biform here and herds of centaurs live,

Here Briares the hundred-handed lives, and the dragon from Lerna

The swamp hisses, and the Chimera intimidates enemies with fire,

Harpies fly in a flock around the three-bodied giants ...

Virgil, "Aeneid"

Harpies are vicious kidnappers and human souls, suddenly swooping in and disappearing as suddenly as the wind, terrify people. Their number ranges from two to five; depicted as wild, half-female, half-birds of a hideous appearance with wings and paws of a vulture, with long sharp claws, but with the head and chest of a woman.

Gorgon Medusa - monster with woman's face and snakes instead of hair, whose gaze turned a man to stone. According to legend it was beautiful girl with beautiful hair. Poseidon, seeing Medusa and falling in love, seduced her in the temple of Athena, for which the goddess of wisdom in anger turned the hair of the Gorgon Medusa into snakes. The Gorgon Medusa was defeated by Perseus, and her head was placed on the auspices of Athena.

Minotaur - a monster with a human body and a bull's head. He was born from the unnatural love of Pasiphae (wife of King Minos) and a bull. Minos hid the monster in the labyrinth of Knossos. Every eight years, 7 boys and 7 girls descended into the labyrinth, intended for the Minotaur as victims. Theseus defeated the Minotaur, and with the help of Ariadne, who gave him a ball of thread, got out of the labyrinth.

Cerberus (Cerberus) - this is a three-headed dog with a snake tail and snake heads on its back, guarding the exit from the kingdom of Hades, not allowing the dead to return to the kingdom of the living. He was defeated by Hercules during one of the labors.

Scylla and Charybdis - this is sea ​​monsters, located at the distance of the arrow flight from each other. Charybdis is a sea whirlpool that absorbs and spews water three times a day. Scylla ("barking") - a monster in the form of a woman, whose lower body was turned into 6 dog heads. When the ship passed the rock where Scylla lived, the monster, opening all its mouths, abducted 6 people from the ship at once. The narrow strait between Scylla and Charybdis was a mortal danger to all who sailed through it.

Also in ancient Greece, there were other mythical characters.

Pegasus - a winged horse, a favorite of the muses. Flying at the speed of the wind. To ride a Pegasus meant to receive poetic inspiration. He was born at the origins of the Ocean, therefore he was named Pegasus (from the Greek "stormy current"). According to one version, he jumped out of the body of the Gorgon Medusa after Perseus cut off her head. Pegasus delivered thunder and lightning to Zeus on Olympus from Hephaestus, who made them.

From the foam of the sea, from the azure wave,

Faster than an arrow and more beautiful than a string,

An amazing fairytale horse is flying

And easily catches heavenly fire!

He likes to splash in colored clouds,

And often walks in magic verses.

So that the ray of inspiration in the soul does not go out,

I saddle you, snow-white Pegasus!

Unicorn - a mythical creature symbolizing chastity. Usually depicted as a horse with one horn coming out of his forehead. The Greeks believed that the unicorn belonged to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. Subsequently, in medieval legends, there was a version that only a virgin could tame him. Having caught a unicorn, it can only be held by a golden bridle.

centaurs - wild mortal creatures with the head and torso of a man on the body of a horse, inhabitants of mountains and forest thickets, accompany Dionysus and are distinguished by their violent temper and intemperance. Presumably, centaurs were originally the embodiment of mountain rivers and turbulent streams. In heroic myths, centaurs are the educators of heroes. For example, Achilles and Jason were raised by the centaur Chiron.

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 a new era began: 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 mortal girls in a variety of forms. For example, to Danae in the form of a dazzling rain of gold, to the most beautiful of all Europe 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 before death, people 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 spoil 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 his 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 problems would begin 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 would lead 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 them is connected precisely with Hermes and Chiron. One coin for the labors of God, the second for the carrier of souls.

Classmates