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SOURCE: www.greekmythology.com
Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, twin brother of Artemis. He was the god of music, and he is often depicted
playing a golden lyre. He was also known as the Archer, far shooting with a silver bow; the god of healing, giving the
science of medicine to man; the god of light; and the god of truth. One of Apollo's most important daily tasks was to
harness his four-horse chariot, in order to move the Sun across the sky.
Apollo was an oracular god, as he was the prophetic deity in the Oracle in Delphi. People from all over the known
world travelled there to learn what the future held for them, through his priestess Pythia. The god was also
worshipped in the island of Delos, which was initially dedicated to his twin sister Artemis. In relation to the rituals
and practices that took place in Delos and Delphi, it could be said that there were two completely distinct cults in
honour of Apollo.
As already mentioned, Apollo was also considered as the god of healing and medicine, either through himself or
through his son Asclepius. At the same time, he could also bring forth disease and plague with his arrows; it was
considered that a god that can cause disease is also able to prevent it.
His holy tree was the laurel, and his holy animal was the dolphin.
Apollo Is also called Phoebus, Apollon.
The Muses were the Greek goddesses of inspiration in literature, science and the arts. They were the daughters of Zeus and
Mnemosyne (the personification of memory), and they were also considered water nymphs. Some scholars believed that the
Muses were primordial goddesses, daughters of the Titans Uranus and Gaea. Personifications of knowledge and art, some of
the arts of the Muses included Music, Science, Geography, Mathematics, Art, and Drama. They were usually invoked at the
beginning of various lyrical poems, such as in the Homeric epics; this happened so that the Muses give inspiration or speak
through the poet's words.
There were nine Muses according to Hesiod, protecting a different art and being symbolised with a different item; Calliope
(epic poetry - writing tablet), Clio (history - scroll), Euterpe (lyric poetry - aulos, a Greek flute), Thalia (comedy and pastoral
poetry - comic mask), Melpomene (tragedy - tragic mask), Terpsichore (dance - lyre), Erato (love poetry - cithara, a Greek type
of lyre), Polyhymnia (sacred poetry - veil), and Urania (astronomy - globe and compass). On the other hand, Varro mentions
that only three Muses exist: Melete (practice), Mneme (memory) and Aoide (song).
Athena was the Greek goddess of reason, intelligent activity, arts and literature. She was the daughter of Zeus; her birth is
unique in that she did not have a mother. Instead, she sprang full grown and clad in armor from Zeus' forehead.
She was fierce and brave in battle; however, she only took part in wars that defended the state and home from outside enemies.
She was the patron of the city, handcraft, and agriculture. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the
trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She was the embodiment of wisdom, reason,
and purity. She was Zeus' favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. Her holy tree was the
olive tree and she was often symbolized as an owl.
She became the patron goddess of Athens after winning a contest against Poseidon by offering the olive tree to the Athenians.
It is evident that Athena and Athens derive from the same root; Athens (or Athenae) is in plural form, because it represents the
sisterhood of the goddess that existed there. Similarly, Athena was called Mykene in the city of Mycenae (also a plural after the
respective sisterhood), and Thebe in the city of Thebes (or Thebae, both plural forms).
Athena Is also called Minerva, Athina, Athene.
Demeter was the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest. She was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. It was believed that
Demeter made the crops grow each year; thus the first loaf of bread made from the annual harvest was offered to her. She was
the goddess of the earth, of agriculture, and of fertility in general. Sacred to her are livestock and agricultural products, poppy,
narcissus and the crane.
Demeter was intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the
underworld. In her anger at her daughter's loss, Demeter laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, and the
land to become desolate. Zeus, alarmed for the barren earth, sought for Persephone's return. However, because she had eaten
while in the underworld, Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that Persephone would spend four months each
year in the underworld. During these months Demeter would grieve for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the
world, creating winter. Her return brought the spring.
Demeter was also known for founding the Eleusinian Mysteries. These were huge festivals held every five years and very
important events for many centuries. Yet, little is known about them as those attending were sworn to secrecy. It is thought that
the central tenet around which the Mysteries revolved was that just like grain returns every spring after its harvest and the
winter lull, so does the human soul after the death of the body, reincarnated in a next life.
Demeter Is also called Ceres, Sito, Thesmophoros.
Dionysus was the god of fertility and wine, later considered a patron of the arts. He created wine and spread the art of
viticulture (Viticulture (from the Latin word for vine) is the science, production, and study of grapes. It deals with
the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as
viniculture.). He had a dual nature; on one hand, he brought joy; or he would bring brutal and blinding rage, thus reflecting the
dual nature of wine.
Dionysus was also one of the very few characters able to bring a dead person back from the underworld. Even though he had
never seen Semele, his mother, he was concerned for her. Eventually, he journeyed into the underworld to find her. He faced
down Thanatos and brought her back to Mount Olympus.
Dionysus became one of the most important gods in everyday life and was associated with several key concepts. One was
rebirth after death; his dismemberment by the Titans and his return to life was symbolically echoed in viticulture, where the
vines must be pruned back sharply, and then become dormant in winter for them to bear fruit. Another concept was that under
the influence of wine, one could feel possessed by a greater power. Unlike other gods, Dionysus was not merely a god to be
worshipped, but he was also present within his followers; at those times, a man would possess supernatural powers and was able
for things he would not be able to do otherwise.
The festival for Dionysus was held in the spring when vines would start bearing leaves. It became one of the most important
events of the year and its primary focal point was the theater. Most of the great Greek plays were initially written to be
performed at the feast of Dionysus. All participants, writers, actors, spectators, were regarded as sacred servants of Dionysus
during the festival.
Dionysus Is also called Bacchus, Dionysos.
SOURCE: http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Dionysos.html
SYMBOLS & ATTRIBUTES
Dionysos' most distinctive attribute was the thyrsos, a pine-cone tipped staff. His other attributes included a drinkingcup (kantharos), fruiting grapevines and a panther.
The god was usually clothed in a long robe (chiton) and cloak (himation) and crowned with a wreath of ivy-leaves.
Below are some examples of his attributes as depicted in ancient Greek art:1. Pine-cone staff (thyrsos); 2. Thyrsos-staff head; 3. Grapevines; 4. Drinking-cup; 5. Wreath of ivy-leaves.
SACRED ANIMALS & PLANTS
Dionysos' sacred animals were the panther (leopard), tiger, bull and serpent. The god rode on the back of a panther
or drove a chariot drawn by a pair of the beasts.
His sacred plants were the grapevine, ivy, bindweed (prickly ivy) and pine tree. Devotees of the god wore wreaths of
ivy and carried pine-cone tipped staffs.
Below are examples of the god's animals as depicted in ancient Greek art and photos of his sacred plants:1. Panther; 2. Grapevine; 3. Ivy; 4. Bindweed; 5. Pine tree.
Hermes was the Greek god of commerce, son of Zeus and Maia. Quick acting and cunning, he was able to move swiftly
between the world of man and the world of gods, acting as a messenger of the gods and the link between mortals and the
Olympians.
He was the protector of travelers, thieves and athletes. He occasionally tricked the other gods for his own amusement or in an
effort to protect humans. With the ability to move freely between worlds, he also served as the guide of the souls of the dead to
the underworld and the afterlife.
When Hermes was born, he jumped out of his crib, stole Apollo's cattle and then went back to his crib playing innocent.
However, Apollo figured it out, grabbed Hermes and went to Zeus to complain. The father of gods simply laughed and didn't
punish Hermes. To apologize, Hermes gave Apollo the lyre which he had just invented.
Hermes Is also called Mercury, Ermis
Hades was the brother of Zeus and Poseidon. After the overthrow of their father, Cronus, he drew lots with them to share the
universe. He drew poorly, which resulted in becoming lord of the underworld and ruler of the dead. Nevertheless, he was not
considered to be death itself, as this was a different god, called Thanatos. Greedy like his brother Poseidon, he was mainly
interested in increasing his subjects, and anyone whose deeds resulted in people dying was favored by him. The Erinnyes (the
Furies) were welcomed guests in his kingdom.
The Greeks were not keen on uttering his name, afraid of causing some kind of reaction that would end up with them dead
sooner. Instead, they decided to give him another name, Plouton, deriving from the Greek word for wealth, due to the precious
metals mined from the earth. Thus, Hades also became the god of wealth.
Although an Olympian, Hades preferred the Underworld and rarely left his kingdom. His weapon was a pitchfork, which he
used to create earthquakes, similar to the way Poseidon used his trident. He also had a helmet of invisibility, which he had
received as a gift from the Cyclopes, in order to use it during the clash of the Titans. He was married to Persephone, daughter
of Demeter, whom Hades abducted and carried down to the Underworld.
Hades Is also called Pluto, Dis Pater, Orcus, Plouton.
Poseidon is the god of the sea and protector of all aquatic features. Brother of Zeus and Hades, after the overthrow of their
father, Cronus, he drew lots with them to share the universe. He ended up becoming lord of the sea. He was widely worshipped
by seamen. He married Amphitrite, one of the granddaughters of the Titan Oceanus.
At one point he desired Demeter. To deter him, Demeter asked him to make the most beautiful animal that the world had ever
seen. So, in an effort to impress her, Poseidon created the first horse. In some accounts, his first attempts were unsuccessful and
created a variety of other animals in his quest; thus, by the time the horse was created, his passion for Demeter had diminished.
His weapon was a trident, with which he could make the earth shake, causing earthquakes, and shatter any object. He was
second to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He was considered by Greeks to have a difficult quarrelsome personality. Combined
with his greed, he had a series of disputes with other gods during his various attempts to take over the cities they were patrons
of.
Poseidon Is also called Neptune.
Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. He overthrew his father, Cronus, and then drew lots with his
brothers Poseidon and Hades, in order to decide who would succeed their father on the throne. Zeus won the draw and became
the supreme ruler of the gods, as well as lord of the sky and rain. His weapon was a thunderbolt which he hurled at those who
displeased or defied him, especially liars and oath breakers. He was married to Hera.
Zeus, the presiding deity of the universe, ruler of the skies and the earth, was regarded by the Greeks as the god of all natural
phenomena on the sky; the personification of the laws of nature; the ruler of the state; and finally, the father of gods and men.
Using his shield, the Aegis, Zeus could create all natural phenomena related to the air and the sky, such as storms, tempests, and
intense darkness. At his command, mighty thunders would flash and lightning would roll, wreaking havoc; or the skies would
open to rejuvenate the earth with life-giving water.
As the personification of the operations of nature, he represented the grand laws of unchanging and harmonious order, by which
both the natural and the spiritual world were governed. He was the god of regulated time as marked by the changing seasons
and the regular succession of day and night, in contrast to what his father Cronus represented before him; absolute time, i.e.
eternity.
As the ruler of the state, he was the source of kingly power, the upholder of all institutions connected to the state, and the friend
and patron of princes, whom he guarded and assisted with his advice and counsel. He was also the protector of the people, and
watched over the welfare of the whole community.
As the father of the gods, Zeus ascertained that each deity perform their individual duty, punished their misdeeds, settled their
disputes, and acted towards them on all occasions as their all-knowing counselor and mighty friend.
As the father of men, he took a paternal interest in the actions and well-being of mortals. He watched over them with tender
solicitude, rewarding truth, charity, and fairness, while severely punishing perjury and cruelty. Even the poorest and most
forlorn wanderer could find a powerful advocate in Zeus, for he, as a wise and merciful paternal figure, demanded that the
wealthy inhabitants of the earth be attentive to the needs of their less fortunate fellow citizens.
Zeus Is also called Jupiter, Dias.
Medusa was a monster, one of the Gorgon sisters and daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaea (Earth) and
Oceanus (Ocean). She had the face of an ugly woman with snakes instead of hair; anyone who looked into her eyes was
immediately turned to stone. Her sisters were Sthenno and Euryale, but Medusa was the only mortal of the three.
She was originally a golden-haired, fair maiden, who, as a priestess of Athena, was not to marry; however, after being wooed
by Poseidon and falling for him, she forgot her vows and married him. For this offence, she was punished by the goddess in a
most terrible manner. Each wavy lock of the beautiful hair that had charmed her husband was changed into a venomous snake;
her once gentle, love-inspiring eyes turned into blood-shot, furious orbs, which excited fear and disgust in the mind of the
onlooker; whilst her former roseate hue and milk-white skin assumed a loathsome greenish tinge.
Seeing herself transformed into such a repulsive creature, Medusa fled her home, never to return. Wandering about, abhorred,
dreaded, and shunned by the rest of the world, she turned into a character worthy of her outer appearance. In her despair, she
fled to Africa, where, while wandering restlessly from place to place, young snakes dropped from her hair; that is how,
according to the ancient Greeks, Africa became a hotbed of venomous reptiles. With the curse of Athena upon her, she turned
into stone whomever she gazed upon, till at last, after a life of nameless misery, deliverance came to her in the shape of death, at
the hands of Perseus.
Pegasus was a flying horse in Greek mythology, usually depicted as white colored. His father was Poseidon and his mother
was the Gorgon Medusa; he was born along with his brother Chrysaor when Medusa was decapitated by Perseus. Pegasus
was captured and tamed by the Greek hero Bellerophon and helped him in his fights against the Chimera and the Amazons.
Later, Bellerophon continued riding Pegasus on their way to Mount Olympus, but Zeus dismounted him on the way; Pegasus
continued on the journey and reached Olympus.
SOURCE: http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/olympian-gods.html
APOLLON (Apollo) was the Olympian god of prophecy and oracles, music, song and poetry, archery, healing,
plague and disease, and the protection of the young. He was depicted as a handsome, beardless youth with long
hair and attributes such as a wreath and branch of laurel, bow and quiver of arrows, raven, and lyre.
ARTEMIS was the Olympian goddess of hunting, the wilderness and wild animals. She was also a goddess of
childbirth, and the protectress of the girl child up to the age of marriage--her twin brother Apollon was similarly the
protector of the boy child. Together the two gods were also bringers of sudden death and disease--Artemis targetted
women and girls, Apollon men and boys.
In ancient art Artemis was usually depicted as a girl or young maiden with a hunting bow and quiver of arrows.
DEMETER was the Olympian goddess of agriculture, grain and bread who sustained mankind with the earth's rich
bounty. She presided over the foremost of the Mystery Cults which promised its intiates the path to a blessed
afterlife in the realm of Elysium. Demeter was depicted as a mature woman, often wearing a crown and bearing
sheaves of wheat or a cornucopia (horn of plenty), and a torch.
ATHENE (Athena) was the Olympian goddess of wisdom and good counsel, war, the defence of towns, heroic
endeavour, weaving, pottery and various other crafts. She was depicted as a stately woman armed with a shield and
spear, and wearing a long robe, crested helm, and the famed aigis--a snake-trimmed cape adorned with the
monstrous visage of the Gorgon Medousa (Medusa).
MYTHS
The more famous myths featuring the goddess Athene include:-Her birth from the head of Zeus, fully-grown and arrayed in arms.
Her contest with Poseidon for dominion of Athens in which she produced the first olive tree and he the first horse. <<
THE GODDESS ATHENA
Parents
Zeus and Metis
Goddess of
Wisdom, war,
weaving, crafts
Home
Mount Olympus
Symbols
Aegis, gorgoneion
Sacred
Animals
Owl
Sacred
Plants
Olive tree
Other Names
Pallas, Tritogeneia
Roman
Name
Minerva
SOURCE: http://greek-gods.info/greek-gods/dionysus/
Personality and Style of Dionysus
Dionysus was a god known for his lightheartness and always offered his help to anyone in need. He was
therefore very popular among gods and mortals and many festivals were being held every year in his honor.
Nevertheless, Dionysus was many times misunderstood.
Dionysus was one of the Olympian gods who actually did not live in Mount Olympus but was constantly
travelling around the world together with Satyrs and Maenads in order to discover the secrets of winemaking.
Origin of Dionysus' name
The origin of Dionysus' name remains an unsolved puzzle until today. According to the poet Pindar, it probably
derives from the words "Zeus", the father of Dionysus, and "Nysa", the mountain on which Dionysus was born
and raised.
Appearance of Dionysus
Dionysus was a handsome young man with impressive hair (usually tresses falling below his shoulders) and a
wreath of ivy on his head. In his hand he was holding a "thyrsos", which was a light staff wrapped with leaves
of ivy and a pine cone on its top.
Symbols of Dionysus
The symbols of Dionysus were the thyrsos (a wooden stick wrapped with ivy leaves and vines), the flute and
the wine barrels. His sacred animals were the panther and the tiger.
SOURCE: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/hestia/
HESTIA:
She is a goddess of the Olympian generation, daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister to
Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter and Hera. When Cronus swallowed his children for fear
one would dethrone him, Hestia was the eldest and thus swallowed first.
After Zeus forced his father to disgorge his children, Hestia was the last to be yielded up,
making her both the oldest and the youngest daughter.
As the goddess of the hearth she personified the fire burning in the hearth of every home
in Greece. Hestia receiving the first offering at every sacrifice in the household with
families pouring sweet wine in her name and dedicating the richest portion of food to her.
The hearth fire in the household was not allowed to go out by any family unless it was
ritually distinguished. Though Hestia did not have a public cult, she was worshipped at any
temple, regardless of the god the temple was dedicated to. Hestia is described as a kind,
forgiving and discreet goddess with a passive, non-confrontational nature.
Hestia was the eldest daughter of Cronos and Rhea.
As with the rest of his children, Cronos ate her but eventually regurgitated her.
She was a sibling to Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus.
She was primarily known the Goddess of the Hearth.
Of all the gods and goddesses, she was considered the gentlest and mildest. Others,
critically, have called her colorless because there is little information provided in regard to
her character.
Although Hestia appeared in a few stories, she was not overly significant in Greek
mythology.
Hestia is completely omitted from the works of Homer, author of the Iliad and the
Odyssey.
Poets such as Apollodorous, Hesiod, and Ovid allude to her in their works.
Each city had a public hearth that was sacred to Hestia; the fire kindled there was never
allowed to go out.
New colonies took fire from the hearth in the prytaneion (also known as the town hall) and
kept the fires going in those new locations.
Every meal began and ended with an offering to Hestia.
Facts about Hestia
The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of this famous Greek goddess:
Hestia Fact File
Greek Name: Hestia
Role & Function: Her role is described as being the goddess of the hearth, the home and family. She
was also the goddess of the sacrificial flame
Status: Sister of Zeus, and occasionally included amongst the names of the 12 Olympians
Symbols: A modest head-veil befitting her virgin state and a kettle or cauldron
Gender: Female
Roman Counterpart: The Roman name for this god was Vesta
Name of Husband: Unmarried
Name of Father: Cronus
Name of Mother: Rhea
SOURCE:
http://www.ancient.eu/muse/
Muse
by Mark Cartwright
published on 14 December 2012
In Greek mythology, the nine Muses are goddesses of the various arts such as
music, dance, and poetry and are blessed not only with wonderful artistic talents
themselves but also with great beauty, grace, and allure. Their gifts of song,
dance, and joy helped the gods and mankind to forget their troubles and inspired
musicians and writers to reach ever greater artistic and intellectual heights.
The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and the Titan Mnemosyne (Memory) after
the couple slept together for nine consecutive nights. They are:
1. Calliope, traditionally the most important (beautiful-voiced and
representing epic poetry and also rhetoric),
2. Clio (glorifying and representing history),
3. Erato (lovely and representing singing),
4. Euterpe (well-delighting and representing lyric poetry),
5. Melpomene (singing and representing tragedy),
6. Polymnia (many hymning and representing hymns to the gods and
heroes),
7. Terpsichore or Stesichore (delighting in dance),
8. Thalia (blooming and representing comedy),
9. Urania (heavenly and representing astronomy).
Certain objects also became associated with the Muses and help to identify their
particular talents. Calliope often holds a writing tablet and stylus, Clio has a
scroll, Euterpe a double aulos (or flute), and Thalia a theatre mask.
The Muses were believed to live on Mt. Olympus where they entertained their
father and the other Olympian gods with their great artistry, but later tradition
also placed them on Mt. Helicon in Boeotia where there was a major cult centre to
the goddesses, or on Mt. Parnassus where the Castalian spring was a favourite
destination for poets and artists. On Mount Olympus, Apollo Mousagetes was, in a
certain sense, the choir leader of the Muses, although his attachment was not
limited to music, as he fathered many children with his musical group. Calliope,
the Muse of epic poetry, was the mother of Orpheus, the wonderfully gifted lyre
player whose father was said by some to be Apollo himself.
ALTHOUGH BRINGERS OF FESTIVITY AND JOY, THE
MUSES WERE NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH WHEN IT
CAME TO THE SUPERIORITY OF THEIR ARTISTIC
TALENTS.
Although bringers of festivity and joy, the Muses were not to be trifled with when
it came to the superiority of their artistic talents. The nine daughters of Pierus
foolishly tried to compete musically with the Muses on Mt. Helicon and were all
turned into birds for their impertinence. The Thracian musician Thamyres (son of
the Nymph Agriope) was another who challenged the Muses in music and after
inevitably coming second best to the goddesses was punished with blindness, the
loss of his musical talent, and his singing voice. This myth was also the subject of
a tragedy by Sophocles. The Muses also acted as judges in another musical
competition, this time between Apollo on his kithara and the satyr Marsyas, who
played the aulos given to him by Athena. Naturally, Apollo won and Marsyas was
flayed alive for his troubles.
Hesiod in his Theogony claimed that he spoke with the Muses on Mt. Helicon, and
they gave him a luxuriant laurel branch and breathed into him their divine voice
so that he could proclaim the glory of the gods and their descendants. Thus, the
simple shepherd was transformed into one of the most important poets in history.
Hesiod also states that the Muses were created as an aid to forgetfulness and
relief from troubles, perhaps as a balance to their mother, who personified
memory.
Terpsichore
In ancient Greece, music, and by association the Muses, were held in great
esteem and music was played in homes, in theatres, during religious ceremonies,
to accompany athletics, provided rhythm during military training, accompanied
agricultural activities such as harvesting, and was an important element in the
education of children. For example, Themistocles, the great Athenian politician
and general, considered his education incomplete because he could not play the
khitara. Throughout the ancient Greek world musical festivals and competitions
were held in honour of the Muses and philosophical schools bore their name: the
Mouseia.
In art, the Muses are depicted as beautiful young women, often with wings. The
Muses often appear on 5th and 4th century BCE red- and black-figure pottery, in
particular in scenes with Apollo playing his kithara or representations of the
Marsyas and Thamyres myths. Many statues of the Muses have been found on
Delos, an important cult centre to Apollo. In addition, in the 5th century BCE, the
iconography of the ideal woman in Greek art came very close to that of a Muse.
Music and, therefore, also the Muses, frequently appear as a subject on lekythoi,
the elegant funerary vases, which were placed in graves so that loved ones might
have the pleasure of music on their journey into the next life. A celebrated
representation of the Muses as a group is the three marble reliefs from a statue
base, dating to c. 325-300 BCE and now housed in the National Archaeological
Museum of Athens.