The gods of Olympus were the most revered among the entire Greek pantheon, which also included the Titans and various minor deities. These main ones ate the ambrosia prepared for them, were devoid of prejudices and many moral concepts, and that is why they are so interesting to ordinary people.

Olympian gods Ancient Greece Zeus, Hera, Ares, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Demeter, Hestia, Hermes and Dionysus were considered. Sometimes this list included the brothers of Zeus - Poseidon and Hades, who, undoubtedly, were significant gods, but did not live on Olympus, but in their kingdoms - underwater and underground.

The myths about the most ancient gods of Ancient Greece have not been preserved in their entirety, however, even those that have reached contemporaries evoke strange feelings. The main Olympian god was Zeus. His pedigree begins with Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky), who first gave birth to huge monsters - the Hundred-Handed and Cyclops, and then - the Titans. The monsters were cast into Tartarus, and the Titans became the parents of many gods - Helios, Atlas, Prometheus and others. The youngest son of Gaia, Cronus, overthrew and castrated his father because he had cast so many monsters into the bosom of the earth.

Having become the supreme god, Cron took his sister, Rhea, as his wife. She gave birth to Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Poseidon and Hades. But since Cronus knew about the prediction of being overthrown by one of his children, he ate them. The last son– Zeus, his mother hid him on the island of Crete and raised him. As an adult, Zeus gave his father a potion that made him vomit up the children he had eaten. And then Zeus began a war against Cronus and his allies, and his brothers and sisters, as well as the Hundred-Handed, Cyclops and some Titans, helped him.

Having won, Zeus with his supporters began to live on Olympus. The Cyclopes forged lightning and thunder for him, and so Zeus became the Thunderer.

Hera. The wife of the main Olympian god Zeus was his sister Hera, the goddess of the family and protector of women, but at the same time jealous and cruel to her rivals and children of her loving husband. The most famous children of Hera are Ares, Hephaestus and Hebe.

Ares- the cruel god of aggressive and bloody war, patronizing commanders. Few people loved him and even his father only tolerated this son.

Hephaestus- a son rejected for his ugliness. After his mother threw him from Olympus, Hephaestus was raised by the sea goddesses, and he became a wonderful blacksmith who created magical and very beautiful things. Despite the ugliness, it was Hephaestus who became the husband of the most beautiful Aphrodite.

Aphrodite was born from sea foam - many people know this, but not everyone knows that first the seminal fluid of Zeus got into this foam (according to some versions it was the blood of castrated Uranus). The goddess of love Aphrodite could subjugate anyone - both god and mortal.

Hestia- sister of Zeus, personifying justice, purity and happiness. She was the protector of the family hearth, and later the patroness of the entire Greek people.

Demeter- another sister of Zeus, goddess of fertility, prosperity, spring. After Hades abducted Demeter's only daughter, Persephone, a drought reigned on earth. Then Zeus sent Hermes to return his niece, but Hades refused his brother. After long negotiations, it was decided that Persephone would live with her mother for 8 months, and with her husband in the underworld for 4 months.

Hermes- son of Zeus and the nymph Maya. From infancy, he showed cunning, dexterity and excellent diplomatic qualities, which is why Hermes became the messenger of the gods, helping to safely resolve the most difficult problems. In addition, Hermes was considered the patron saint of merchants, travelers and even thieves.

Athena appeared from the head of her father, Zeus, so this goddess was considered the personification of strength and justice. She was the defender of Greek cities and a symbol of just war. The cult of Athena was very widespread in Ancient Greece; a city was even named after her.

Apollo and Artemis- illegitimate children of Zeus and the goddess Latona. Apollo had the gift of clairvoyance and the Delphic Temple was built in his honor. In addition, this beautiful god was a patron of the arts and a healer. Artemis is a wonderful huntress, the patroness of all life on earth. This goddess was described as a virgin, but she blessed marriages and the birth of children.

Dionysus- the son of Zeus and the king's daughter Semele. Because of Hera's jealousy, Dionysus's mother died, and the god carried his son by sewing his legs into his thigh. This god of winemaking gave people joy and inspiration.

Having settled on the mountain and dividing spheres of influence, the Olympian gods of Ancient Greece turned their gaze to the earth. To some extent, people became pawns in the hands of the gods, who decided destinies, rewarded and punished. However, due to connections with ordinary women, many heroes were born who challenged the gods and sometimes became winners, such as Hercules.

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

Ares- god of 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- titanium, younger son Gaia and Uranus, father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus...

Mom- son of the goddess of Night, god of slander.

Morpheus- one of the sons of Hypnos, god of dreams.

Nereus- son of Gaia and Pontus, meek sea god.

Note- the god of the south wind, depicted with a beard and wings.

Ocean- Titan, son of Gaia and Uranus, brother and husband of Tethys and father of all the rivers of the world.

Olympians- the supreme gods of the younger generation of Greek gods, led by Zeus, who lived on the top of Mount Olympus.

Pan- forest god, son of Hermes and Dryope, goat-footed man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock.

Pluto- the god of the underworld, often identified with Hades, but unlike him, he owned not the souls of the dead, but the riches of the underworld.

Plutos- son of Demeter, god who gives wealth to people.

Pont- one of the senior Greek deities, the offspring of Gaia, the god of the sea, the father of many titans and gods.

Poseidon- one of the Olympian gods, brother of Zeus and Hades, who rules over the sea elements. Poseidon 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 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, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge.

Aphrodite (Kytharea, Urania)- goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of the sea foam)

Hebe- daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts.

Hecate- goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, patroness of sorcerers.

Gemera- goddess of daylight, personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.

Hera- the supreme Olympian goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage.

Hestia- goddess of the hearth and fire.

Gaia- mother earth, foremother of all gods and people.

Demeter- goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.

Ilithia- patron goddess of women in labor.

Iris- winged goddess, assistant of Hera, messenger of the gods.

Calliope- muse of epic poetry and science.

Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing troubles and death to people.

Clio- one of the nine muses, the muse of history.

Clotho ("spinner")- one of the moiras spinning thread 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- the 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, punishing 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.

Ancient tablets from the Aegean culture give us the first clues about who the Greek gods and goddesses were. The mythology of Ancient Greece became for the famous authors of Hellas. It still provides us with rich material for artistic imagination today. Like the powerful Olympian male rulers, the female divine hypostases have a strong character and remarkable intelligence. Let's talk about each one separately in more detail.

Artemis

Not all Greek goddesses can boast such a harmonious interweaving of fragility and grace with a decisive and tough character as Artemis. She was born on the island of Delos from the marriage of the powerful Zeus and the goddess Leto. Artemis' twin brother was the radiant Apollo. The girl became famous as the goddess of hunting and the patroness of everything that grows in forests and fields. The brave girl did not part with a bow and arrows, as well as a sharp spear. She had no equal in the hunt: neither a fast deer, nor a timid doe, nor an angry boar could hide from the dexterous goddess. When the hunt was going on, the forest was filled with laughter and cheerful cries of Artemis's eternal companions - the river nymphs.

Tired, the goddess headed to the sacred Delphi to visit her brother and, to the magnificent sounds of his harp, danced with the muses, and then rested in cool grottoes overgrown with greenery. Artemis was a virgin and religiously guarded her chastity. But she nevertheless, like many Greek goddesses, blessed marriage and childbirth. Symbols: doe, cypress, bear. In Roman mythology, Artemis corresponded to Diana.

Athena

Her birth was accompanied by fantastic events. It all started with the fact that the Thunderer Zeus was informed: he would have two children from the goddess of reason, Metis, one of whom would overthrow the ruler. Zeus couldn’t think of anything better than to lull his wife to sleep with gentle speeches and swallow her while she was sleeping. After some time, God felt a painful headache and ordered his son Hephaestus to cut off his head, hoping to get deliverance. Hephaestus swung and cut the head of Zeus - and from there came the divine Pallas Athena in a sparkling helmet, with a spear and shield. Her war cry shook Olympus. I didn't know until now Greek mythology a goddess so majestic and sincere.

The mighty warrior became the patroness of fair battles, as well as states, sciences, and crafts. Many heroes of Greece won thanks to the advice of Athena. Young girls especially revered her because she taught them the art of needlework. The symbols of Pallas Athena are an olive branch and a wise owl. In Latin mythology she is called Minerva.

Atropos

One of the three sisters - goddesses of fate. Clotho spins the thread of human life, Lachesis closely monitors the course of destinies, and Atropos mercilessly cuts the threads of human destiny when he considers the life of a particular earthling to be over. Her name translates as “inevitable.” In ancient Roman mythology, in which Greek goddesses have Latin counterparts, she is called Morta.

Aphrodite

She was the daughter of the god Uranus, patron of heaven. It is well known that Aphrodite was born from snow-white sea foam near the island of Cythera, and the wind carried her to an island called Cyprus. There the young girl was surrounded by the goddesses of the seasons (oras), crowned her with a wreath of wild flowers, and covered her with gold-woven robes. This gentle and sensual beauty is the Greek goddess of beauty. Where her light foot stepped, flowers instantly blossomed.

The Ori brought the goddess to Olympus, where she evoked quiet sighs of admiration. Jealous wife Zeus Hera hastened to arrange the marriage of Aphrodite with the ugliest god of Olympus - Hephaestus. The goddesses of fate (Moiras) gave the beauty only one divine ability - to create love around herself. While her lame husband was diligently forging iron, she delighted in inspiring love in people and gods, fell in love herself and patronized all lovers. Therefore, Aphrodite, according to tradition, is also the Greek goddess of love.

An indispensable attribute of Aphrodite was her belt, which endowed the owner with the power to inspire love, seduce and attract. Eros is the son of Aphrodite, to whom she gave her instructions. Symbols of Aphrodite are dolphins, doves, roses. In Rome she was called Venus.

Hebe

She was the daughter of Hera and Zeus, the sister of the bloodthirsty god of war Ares. By tradition, she is considered the goddess of youth. In Rome they call her Juventa. The adjective “juvenile” is often used today to define everything related to youth and adolescence. On Olympus, Hebe was the main cupbearer until the son of the Trojan king Ganymede took her place. In sculptural and pictorial images, the girl is often depicted with a golden cup filled with nectar. The goddess Hebe personifies the youthful prosperity of countries and states. According to myths, she was given in marriage to Hercules. They became the parents of Alexiaris and Aniket, considered patrons of youth and sports. sacred tree Hebes - cypress. If a slave entered the temple of this goddess, he was immediately granted freedom.

Gemera

The goddess of daylight, in contrast to Hecate, the patroness of cancer and nightmare visions, as well as sorcerers, the clever Hemera was the eternal companion of the sun god Helios. According to one mythical version, she kidnapped Cephalus and gave birth to Phaeton, who crashed on the sun chariot, unable to control it. In Roman legends, Hemera is equal to Diez.

Gaia

The goddess Gaia is the progenitor of all living things. According to legends, she was born from Chaos and ordered all the elements. That is why she patronizes the earth, the sky, and the seas, and is considered the mother of the titans. It was Gaia who persuaded her sons to rebel against Uranus, the progenitor of heaven. And then, when they were defeated, she “set” her new giant sons against olympian gods. Gaia is the mother of the terrible hundred-headed monster Typhon. She asked him to take revenge on the gods for the death of the giants. Gaia was the heroine of Greek hymns and songs. She is the first soothsayer at Delphi. In Rome she corresponds to the goddess Tellus.

Hera

A companion of Zeus, famous for her jealousy and spending a lot of time on eliminating and neutralizing her rivals. Daughter of the titans Rhea and Kronos, swallowed by her father and rescued from his womb thanks to Zeus defeating Kronos. Hera occupies a special place on Olympus, where the Greek goddesses shine in glory, whose names are associated with the duties of patronizing all spheres of human life. Hera is the patron of marriage. Like her royal husband, she could command thunder and lightning. At her word, a downpour could fall on the earth or the sun could shine. Hera's first assistant was the Greek goddess of the rainbow - Iris.

Hestia

She was also the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Hestia, the goddess of the family hearth and sacrificial fire, was not vain. By right of birth, she occupied one of the twelve main places on Olympus, but she was supplanted by the god of wine Dionysus. Hestia did not defend her rights, but quietly stepped aside. She did not like wars, hunting, or love affairs. The most beautiful gods Apollo and Poseidon sought her hand, but she chose to remain unmarried. People honored this goddess and made sacrifices to her before the start of each sacred ceremony. In Rome she was called Vesta.

Demeter

The goddess of good fertility, who experienced personal tragedy when the underground god Hades fell in love and kidnapped Demeter's daughter Persephone. While the mother was looking for her daughter, life stood still, the leaves withered and flew away, the grass and flowers dried up, the fields and vineyards died and became empty. Seeing all this, Zeus ordered Hades to release Persephone to earth. He could not disobey his powerful brother, but asked to spend at least a third of the year with his wife in the underworld. Demeter rejoiced at the return of her daughter - gardens began to bloom everywhere and the fields began to sprout. But every time Persephone left the earth, the goddess again fell into sadness - and a fierce winter began. In Roman mythology, Demeter corresponds to the goddess Ceres.

Iris

Greek goddess of the rainbow, already mentioned. According to the ideas of the ancients, the rainbow was nothing more than a bridge connecting the earth with the sky. Iris was traditionally depicted as a golden-winged girl, and in her hands she held a bowl of rainwater. The main duty of this goddess was to spread the news. She did this with lightning speed. According to legend, she was the wife of the wind god Zephyr. The iris flower is named after the Iris, striking in its play of color shades. The name also comes from her name chemical element iridium, the compounds of which also differ in a variety of color tones.

Nikta

This is the Greek goddess of the night. She was born from Chaos and was the mother of Aether, Hemera and the Moira, goddesses of fate. Nikta also gave birth to Charon, the carrier of the souls of the dead to the kingdom of Hades, and the goddess of revenge Nemesis. In general, Nikta is connected with everything that stands on the verge of life and death and contains the mystery of existence.

Mnemosyne

Daughter of Gaia and Uranus, goddess personifying memory. From Zeus, who seduced her by reincarnating as a shepherd, she gave birth to nine muses who were responsible for childbirth and the arts. A spring was named in her honor, giving memory despite the spring of oblivion, for which Leta is responsible. It is believed that Mnemosyne has the gift of omniscience.

Themis

Goddess of law and justice. She was born to Uranus and Gaia, was the second wife of Zeus and conveyed his commands to the gods and people. Themis is depicted blindfolded, with a sword and scales in her hands, personifying an impartial fair trial and retribution for crimes. It symbolizes legal organizations and norms to this day. In Rome, Themis was called Justice. Like other Greek goddesses, she had the gift of bringing order to the world of things and nature.

Eos

Sister of Helios, the sun god, and Selene, the moon goddess, Eos is the patroness of the dawn. Every morning she rises from the ocean and flies on her chariot across the sky, causing the sun to wake up and scattering handfuls of diamond dew drops on the ground. Poets call her “beautiful-haired, pink-fingered, golden-throned,” emphasizing in every possible way the splendor of the goddess. According to myths, Eos was ardent and amorous. The scarlet color of the dawn is sometimes explained by the fact that she is ashamed of a stormy night.

Here are the main goddesses sung by the singers and myth-makers of Ancient Hellas. We talked only about the blessed goddesses who give creativity. There are other characters whose names are associated with destruction and sorrow, but they are a special topic.

In ancient times, according to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, 12 Olympian gods lived on Olympus, 6 men and 6 women. The genealogies of all the Olympian gods, demigods and heroes of Greek myths began with them.
These Olympian gods made a strange journey from even more ancient times into the future. The Greek gods turned into Roman gods to remain gods... but with different names. Gods of ancient Greece and Rome having different names perform the same functions and come from the same more ancient gods.

Greece, sea, foot of Olympus. Olympus, a beautiful mountain visible from afar. This is the home of the Olympian gods, shrouded in clouds. If you climb the mountain, to its very peak, you will find there only enough space for a few people.

The Greek goddesses are the bearers of eternal feminine qualities and today these goddesses live among us as normal women. The question of our choice is what we want to choose for ourselves. What kind of goddess or god do we want to look like and how will we accept this image of our destiny.

The idea of ​​​​representing the ancient Greek and Roman goddesses passed through love and stretches a laurel branch from the valley of the Pene River where the legend of Daphne was born.

Nymph Daphne was the most beautiful daughter of Peneus - the god of Rivers and the goddess of the Earth - Gaia. The god of love, Eros, struck the heart of the sun god Apollo with one shot of his arrow, and he fell madly in love with Daphne.

Eros either forgot to shoot his second arrow into Daphne’s heart, or regretted it, and as a result, Daphne rejected the advances of Apollo, who was in love with her, and ran as far as possible from the persistent suitor, who didn’t want to know anything about Daphne’s feelings for him, but only and thought about how to take possession of the object of my love.

But it was impossible for Daphne to escape from the all-seeing Sun God and, desperate to hide from Apollo, she asked her mother to turn her into a laurel bush growing on the banks of the Pene River and thus forever escape from the annoying love of the Sun God Apollo. Having found her in the form of a bush, the lover Apollo wove a laurel wreath and put it on his head as a sign eternal love and vowed to make a laurel evergreen tree. Among the ancient Greeks, the laurel wreath became a prize given to winners in the Olympic Games.

The legend is very beautiful and tragic... Is this a punishment for unrequited love?

Artemis(V Ancient Rome- goddess Diana) daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto (Latona, according to another version - Demeter), sister of Apollo. When Leto became pregnant, she hid on the island of Delos. The wife of Zeus, Hera, who was also the goddess of marriage, having learned about this blasphemy, sent the Delphic Python in pursuit of her. Zeus saved his daughter and, under a palm tree on the island of Delos, Leto gave birth to Artemis and Apollo.

Artemis loved her brother Apollo very much and often came to the top of Parnassus, where he lived, to rest and listen to him play the golden cithara and the songs of the muses. At dawn, having slept, she again rushed into the forests to hunt.

The ancient Roman goddess Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the patroness of wild animals and the Moon. Diana is depicted as a hunter with a bow, the arrows of which never miss the target, surrounded by deer and dogs. Artemis's kingdom is wilderness.

Diana of the ancient Romans is also the chaste goddess of femininity, fertility, hunting, the moon and the night. She is depicted accompanied by wild animals with a bow and quiver of arrows, wandering with mountain nymphs through forests and mountains. Diana guards young single women and is the Virgin of purity. Diana in late Roman antiquity was considered the personification of the night and the moon, just as her brother Apollo was identified with the day and the sun.

Diana among the Romans had triple power - on earth, underground and in heaven, and therefore she was given the epithet "goddess of three roads." Her images were often placed at crossroads of major roads. Diana was also known as the patroness of prisoners, plebeians and slaves. Later she began to be considered the patroness of the Latin Union.

Athena(in Ancient Rome - Minerva) was the goddess of wisdom, just war and crafts. Athena is the protector of cities, patroness of the arts, sciences, creativity, crafts and agriculture. She is a stronghold of well-being. Athena is the patroness of the Greek city of Athens, named after her. Athena is the patroness of many heroes. She was often depicted in armor, as she was also known as an excellent strategist.

Being the goddess of war, Athena did not enjoy battles; she preferred to establish the law and resolve disputes peacefully. She was famous for her kindness. The only exception happened in the Trojan War, when, enraged that the apple of discord was not rightfully given to her, Athena, together with Hera, poured out all her rage in battle.

Athena was the daughter of Zeus and the Titanide Metis. Zeus was predicted a terrible future - his future son from Metis was supposed to overthrow him from the throne and then Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife. With the help of the god Hephaestus, he brought the already adult Athena, who was in full battle garb, out of his head. Since then, Athena has been, as it were, a part of Zeus himself, she fulfills his will and carries out the plans of Zeus.

Athena is the desires of Zeus, fulfilled by her in reality. Athena's attributes are the owl, the snake and the aegis. Athena's one touch on a person is enough to give him wisdom and knowledge and make him a wonderful and successful hero. According to mythology, the goddess Athena patronized only ambitious people, making their endeavors successful. Reading the Iliad, we see that Athena patronizes her heroes.

Minerva is the ancient Roman goddess of wisdom, arts and crafts. She is the beloved daughter of Jupiter. According to Roman legend, Minerva was also born without a mother, emerging fully armed from Jupiter, sparkling with her beauty, after Vulcan split his head and removed Minerva from there.

Hestia(in Ancient Rome - Vesta) is the goddess of the hearth and sacrificial fire in Ancient Greece, which burns in its temples and houses. She eldest daughter Kronos and Rhea. Her sisters are Hera, Demeter and Aida, and her brothers are Poseidon and Zeus. Hestia founded the city of Knossos.

Poseidon and Apollo intended to marry her, but she decided to live with her brother Zeus as a virgin. The image of Hestia “owning the Pythian laurel” was in the Athenian Prytaneum, and the altar of Hestia was located in the grove of Zeus Gomoria.

A sacrifice was made to her before the start of any sacred ceremony, no matter whether it was private or public. Thanks to this, the saying “start with Hestia” was preserved in Greece, which served as a synonym for a successful and correct start to a business. As a reward for this, she was given high honors. In the cities, an altar was dedicated to her, on which fire was always maintained, and new colonists took fire from this altar with them to their new homeland.

In ancient Rome, Vesta was the daughter of Saturn and the goddess Rhea. Vesta was also the goddess of the hearth and purity family life. The Romans maintained a sacred fire in her temple. This fire was a symbol of the prosperity of the Roman state. The Vestal priestesses watched over him, since his disappearance was the worst omen. From this sacred fire the fire was lit in new Roman settlements and colonies.

Temple of Vesta on the Palatine Hill of Rome

Vesta's frame was located in Rome on the slope of the Palatine Hill, in a grove opposite the forum. An eternal fire burned in her temple, supported by the priestesses of the goddess - the Vestals. They could be ten-year-old girls who completely devoted their lives to serving Vesta. They were forbidden to marry, and if a Vestal Virgin became pregnant, she was buried alive in the ground.

In June, the Vestalia was celebrated in Rome - a holiday in honor of Vesta. During this holiday, barefoot Roman women made sacrifices to Vesta in her temple. On this day, it was forbidden to use donkeys for any work, since it was the braying of a donkey that once saved Vesta from the dishonor of Priapus, awakening her from sleep. Her sculptures are very rare and depict Vesta as a girl with a veil thrown over her head.

These virgin goddesses are a symbol women's independence. Unlike other inhabitants of Olympus, they, as a rule, are not intended for permanent family life and love. Emotional attachment cannot distract them from what they consider more important to them. They do not grieve from unrequited love. These goddesses are an expression of women's need for emancipation - to be independent and go towards achieving their goals.

Artemis and Athena represent determination, logical thinking and movement towards achieving the goal. Hestia is the prototype of introversion, her attention is directed to inner world, she is the spiritual center of the female personality. These three goddesses expand our understanding of the qualities of women such as competence and independence. These qualities are characteristic of women who actively strive to achieve their own goals.

The second group of goddesses is a group of vulnerable goddesses - Hera, Demeter and Persephone.

Hera(in Ancient Rome - Juno) was the goddess of marriage. She was the wife of Zeus, who was the supreme god of Olympus.

Hera is originally an Etruscan deity, later becoming a Roman goddess, identified with greek goddess Hero. Juno was the daughter of Saturn and Rhea, sister of Ceres, Pluto, Vesta, Neptune and Jupiter, who was also her husband. Juno was the Roman goddess of marriage, conjugal love, patroness married women, helping pregnant wives, patroness of Rome and the Roman state. The Romans were the first (as far as is known from history) to officially introduce monogamy (monogamy). Juno became the patroness of monogamy and was the goddess of protest against polygamy among the Romans.

Traditionally, Juno is depicted wearing a helmet and armor. Together with Jupiter and Minerva, she is part of the Capitoline Triad, in whose honor a temple was erected on Capitol Hill in Rome. In Rome, sacred geese warned the townspeople with their cries about the attack of the Gauls and thereby saved the city.

On March 1, in Ancient Rome, the festival of matronalia was celebrated in her honor. The month of June is named in her honor. Juno consulted with the goddess of wisdom Minerva and the goddess dark forces Ceres.

Demeter(in Ancient Rome - Ceres) is the goddess of fertility and agriculture. In myths Special attention given to mother Demeter.

The cult of the goddess who protects all life on earth and protects farmers has its roots in the pre-Indo-European era. In ancient times she bore the name Mother Earth. The “Great Mother,” and later Demeter, gave birth to all living things on Earth and received the dead into herself. Demeter was therefore considered the patroness of sorcerers. It was she who taught humanity agriculture and gave people wheat seeds.

Demeter is the second daughter of Kronos and Rhea and the mother of Persephone, wife of Hades. She is the sister of Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Hades and Poseidon. According to legend, Demeter was devoured by her father Kronos and then taken from his womb. In honor of Hercules, Demeter established the Lesser Mysteries for his purification after his murder of the centaurs.

According to one legend, Demeter was married to the Cretan god of agriculture Iasion. From their union, concluded on a thrice-plowed field, Plutos and Philomel were born. According to Diodorus, Demeter was the mother of Eubouleus.

The ancient Roman goddess Ceres was the daughter of Saturn and Rhea, the sister of Jupiter, the mother of Proserpina, goddess of fruit and agricultural land, lawgiver and patroness of peace and marriage. Her sacred flower was the poppy - a symbol of sleep and death, mourning for her daughter Persephone, who was kidnapped by Pluto and carried away to world of the dead. In Roman mythology, Ceres is also the goddess of fertility. Demeter later became associated with Kybella.

Persephone, daughter of Jupiter and Ceres, wife of Pluto (in Ancient Rome - Proserpina). The ancient Greeks called her "Kora" - girl. Proserpina was the goddess of nature and fertility, but after she was kidnapped by Pluto, she became the queen of the underworld.

The cult of the goddess of the underworld can be traced back to the Mycenaean era. Persephone may have been taken from one of the ancient goddesses who were worshiped by local tribes before the Greek invasion of the Balkan Peninsula. Among the Greeks who conquered these peoples, the cult of Persephone was identified with the cult of the goddess of fertility - Kore. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, or the daughter of Zeus and Styx. She was nursed in a cave by Demeter and the nymphs. Ares and Apollo unsuccessfully wooed her. Cora's flower is the narcissus.

She is the wife of the ruler of the underworld Hades (Pluto), who kidnapped her and took her underground. Demeter searched for her daughter all over the world, being in inconsolable grief. The land was barren all this time. To return her daughter, Demeter turned to Zeus for help. Hades had to let Persephone go. But he gave her pomegranate seeds, which arose from drops of the blood of Dionysus. Persephone swallowed pomegranate seeds and found herself doomed to return to the kingdom of the dead.

To calm the inconsolable Demeter, Zeus decided that Persephone would spend only part of the year in the kingdom of Hades, and live the rest of the time on Olympus.

While she was on Olympus, Persephone rose into the sky early in the morning and became the constellation Virgo there so that her awakened mother Demeter could immediately see her. The myth of Persephone has been associated with the change of seasons since ancient times.

These Greco-Roman goddesses personify the traditional role of women - wife, mother and daughter. They express women's needs in family life and affection for home. These goddesses do not live only for themselves and are therefore vulnerable. They suffer, are abused, are kidnapped, oppressed and humiliated by the male gods.
Their stories serve to help women understand their own emotional reactions, cope with their own suffering and move on with their lives.

Aphrodite (in Ancient Rome - Venus) goddess of love and beauty. She is the most beautiful and sexy goddess. Aphrodite belongs to the third category of goddesses - the alchemical goddess. Aphrodite enters into many relationships with men and has many heirs. She is the embodiment of primitive voluptuousness and erotic attraction. Her love affairs happen only by her choice and Aphrodite is never the victim. She allows fleeting sensual relationships, she has no constancy, and she is open to a new life.

Among the ancient Romans, the role of Aphrodite passed to Venus. She is considered the ancestress of the Romans thanks to her son Aeneas. He was the founder of the Julius family, to which Julius Caesar belonged.

Venus was the goddess of spring among the ancient Romans, and later of beauty, love and life. Born from sea foam, Venus became the wife of the god Vulcan and the mother of Cupid (Cupid).

According to one version, the goddess was conceived with the blood (in Greek - afros) of Uranus, castrated by the titan Kronos. The blood of Uranus that fell into the sea formed foam from which the patroness of love and the goddess of fertility, eternal spring and life, Aphrodite, appeared. Aphrodite is surrounded by nymphs, oras and charites. Aphrodite is the goddess of marriage and childbirth. Her roots lie in the sexy and licentious Phoenician fertility goddess Astarte, the Assyrian Ishtar and the Egyptian Isis. Over time, the beautiful Aphrodite was reborn from them, taking her place of honor on Olympus.

Seeing Aphrodite on Olympus, the gods fell in love with her, but Aphrodite chose Hephaestus for herself - the ugliest of all the gods, but also the most skillful. This did not stop her from giving birth to children from other gods (Dionysus, Ares). She gave birth to Eros (or Eros), Anteros - the god of hatred), Harmony, Phobos - the god of fear, Deimos - the god of horror.

Aphrodite was in love with the beautiful Adonis, who was killed by a wild boar while hunting. From his drops of blood appeared Red roses, and beautiful anemones grew from Aphrodite’s tears. Another legend attributes the death of Adonis to the anger of Ares, who was jealous of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite was one of three goddesses who won the argument about who was the most beautiful. She promised the son of the Trojan king Paris the most beautiful of earthly women - the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. Elena. The Trojan War began with the abduction of Helen. Aphrodite's belt contained the desire to possess, love and words of seduction.

Religion played a major role in Everyday life ancient Greeks. The main gods were considered the younger generation of celestials, who defeated their predecessors, the titans, who personified the universal forces. After the victory they settled on sacred mountain Olympus. Only Hades, the ruler of the kingdom of the dead, lived underground in his domain. The gods were immortal, but very similar to people - they were characterized by human traits: they quarreled and made peace, committed meanness and intrigue, loved and cunned. A huge number of myths that have survived to this day are associated with the pantheon of Greek gods, exciting and fascinating. Each god played his role, occupied a certain place in a complex hierarchy and performed his assigned function.

The supreme god of the Greek pantheon is the king of all gods. He commanded thunder, lightning, the sky and the whole world. Son of Kronos and Rhea, brother of Hades, Demeter and Poseidon. Zeus had a difficult childhood - his father, the Titan Kronos, fearing competition, devoured his children immediately after birth. However, thanks to his mother Rhea, Zeus managed to survive. Having grown stronger, Zeus threw his father from Olympus to Tartarus and received unlimited power over people and gods. He was very revered - the best sacrifices were made to him. The life of every Greek from infancy was saturated with the praise of Zeus.

One of three main gods of the ancient Greek pantheon. Son of Kronos and Rhea, brother Zeus and Hades. She obeyed him water element, which he got after defeating the Titans. He personified courage and a hot temper - he could be appeased with generous gifts... but not for long. The Greeks blamed it for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. He was the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. Poseidon's constant attribute was a trident - with it he could cause storms and break rocks.

Brother of Zeus and Poseidon, completing the top three most influential gods of the ancient Greek pantheon. Immediately after birth, he was swallowed by his father Kronos, but was subsequently released from the latter's womb by Zeus. He ruled the underground kingdom of the dead, inhabited by the dark shadows of the dead and demons. One could only enter this kingdom - there was no turning back. The mere mention of Hades caused awe among the Greeks, because the touch of this invisible cold god meant death for a person. Fertility also depended on Hades, giving the harvest from the depths of the earth. He commanded underground riches.

Wife and at the same time sister of Zeus. According to legend, they kept their marriage a secret for 300 years. The most influential of all the goddesses of Olympus. Patroness of marriage and conjugal love. Protected mothers during childbirth. Was different amazing beauty and... a monstrous character - she was angry, cruel, hot-tempered and jealous, often sending misfortunes to the earth and people. Despite her character, she was revered by the ancient Greeks almost on a par with Zeus.

God of unjust war and bloodshed. Son of Zeus and Hera. Zeus hated his son and tolerated him only because of his close relationship. Ares was distinguished by cunning and treachery, starting a war only for the sake of bloodshed. He was distinguished by an impulsive, hot-tempered character. He was married to the goddess Aphrodite, with her he had eight children, to whom he was very attached. All images of Ares contain military paraphernalia: a shield, helmet, sword or spear, sometimes armor.

Daughter of Zeus and the goddess Dione. Goddess of love and beauty. Personifying love, she was a very unfaithful wife and easily fell in love with those around her. In addition, she was the embodiment of eternal spring, life and fertility. The cult of Aphrodite was very revered in Ancient Greece - magnificent temples were dedicated to her and gifts were brought to her. great sacrifices. An invariable attribute of the goddess’s attire was a magic belt (the belt of Venus), which made those who wore it unusually attractive.

Goddess of just war and wisdom. She was born from the head of Zeus... without the participation of a woman. Born in full combat uniform. She was depicted as a virgin warrior. She patronized knowledge, crafts and art, sciences and invention. She is, in particular, credited with the invention of the flute. She was a favorite of the Greeks. Her images were invariably accompanied by the attributes (or at least one attribute) of a warrior: armor, spear, sword and shield.

Daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Goddess of fertility and agriculture. As a child, she repeated the fate of her brother Hades and was devoured by her father, but was later saved by being extracted from his womb. She was the lover of her brother Zeus. From her relationship with him, she had a daughter, Persephone. According to legend, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades, and Demeter wandered the earth for a long time in search of her daughter. During her wanderings, the land was struck by crop failure, causing famine and death of people. People stopped bringing gifts to the gods, and Zeus ordered Hades to return his daughter to her mother.

Son of Zeus and Semele. The youngest of the inhabitants of Olympus. God of winemaking (he was credited with the invention of wine and beer), vegetation, the productive forces of nature, inspiration and religious ecstasy. The cult of Dionysus was characterized by uncontrollable dancing, mesmerizing music and immoderate drunkenness. According to legend, Hera, the wife of Zeus, who hated the illegitimate child of the Thunderer, sent madness to Dionysus. He himself was credited with the ability to drive people crazy. Dionysus wandered all his life and even visited Hades, from where he rescued his mother Semele. Once every three years, the Greeks held Bacchic festivals in memory of Dionysus' campaign against India.

Daughter of the thunderer Zeus and the goddess Leto. She was born at the same time as her twin brother, the golden-haired Apollo. Virgin goddess of hunting, fertility, female chastity. Patroness of women in labor, giving happiness in marriage. Being a protector during childbirth, she was often depicted with many breasts. A temple was built in her honor at Ephesus, which was one of the seven wonders of the world. She was often depicted with a golden bow and quiver over her shoulders.

God of fire, patron of blacksmiths. Son of Zeus and Hera, brother of Ares and Athena. However, the paternity of Zeus was questioned by the Greeks. Moved forward different versions. One of them, the obstinate Hera, gave birth to Hephaestus from her thigh without male participation, in revenge on Zeus for the birth of Athena. The child was born weak and lame. Hera abandoned him and threw him from Olympus into the sea. However, Hephaestus did not die and found shelter with the sea goddess Thetis. The thirst for revenge tormented Hephaestus, rejected by his parents, and the opportunity to take revenge eventually presented itself to him. Being a skilled blacksmith, he forged a golden throne of incredible beauty, which he sent as a gift to Olympus. The delighted Hera sat down on him and immediately found herself shackled with previously invisible shackles. No amount of persuasion or even the order of Zeus had any effect on the blacksmith god - he refused to free his mother. Only Dionysus was able to cope with the obstinate man by drugging him.

Son of Zeus and the Pleiades of Maya. God of trade, profit, eloquence, dexterity and athleticism. He patronized merchants, helping them get generous profits. In addition, he was the patron of travelers, ambassadors, shepherds, astrologers and magicians. He also had another honorable function - he accompanied the souls of the dead to Hades. He was credited with the invention of writing and numbers. From infancy, Hermes had a penchant for theft. According to legend, he even managed to steal the scepter from Zeus. He did it as a joke... when he was a baby. The constant attributes of Hermes were: a winged staff capable of reconciling enemies, a wide-brimmed hat and winged sandals.