Greek gods: names, history and main gods of mythology

You Greek gods, worshiped by the ancient inhabitants of Greece, were represented in human form and symbolized human longings and fears.

They ruled the forces of nature, commanded the sky, earth, sun, moon, rivers, sea, wind, etc. The gods behaved like human creatures, that is, they had jealousy, envy, hatred and love. They were immortal and were arranged in a hierarchy.

Although deeply rooted in the general context of the culture in which it was formed, a god could like any element cultural, moving from one group to another changing its meaning and function, to adjust to the interests of the new medium Social.

An example is the gods worshiped in ancient Rome, called Roman gods, which came mostly from Greece. These only changed their name when they were adopted in Rome.

Major Greek Gods

Representation of Some Greek Gods of Olympus
Representation of Some Greek Gods of Olympus

Below is a list of the main gods of Greek mythology:

  • aphrodite - goddess of beauty and love
  • Apollo - God of light
  • Ares - God of War
  • Artemis - moon goddess
  • Athena - wisdom goddess
  • Demeter - god of the fertile land
  • Dionysus - god of party, wine and pleasure
  • Eos - Goddess of the Dawn
  • Eros - God of love
  • Hades - Underworld god
  • Helios - sun god
  • Hermes - god of communications and travel
  • Ivy - goddess of heaven, motherhood and marriage
  • hestia - fire goddess
  • Hours - goddess representing the seasons of the year
  • Mnemosyne - goddess of memory
  • persephone - queen of the underworld
  • Poseidon - god of the seas
  • Selene - goddess of the moon
  • Themis - goddess of laws
  • Zeus - God of gods

greek heroes

In addition to the Greek gods, find out who the main heroes of mythology are:

bellerophon

Pegasus, the flying horse of Bellerophon
Pegasus, the flying horse of Bellerophon

Almost gods were also the heroes. They were admired for their human qualities and not for the possible divine help they might receive.

bellerophon he was a hero and single-handedly killed Chimera, a terrible fire-spewing monster.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, presented him with a golden rein. With this object Bellerophon caught Pegasus, the flying horse that led him through the skies to Chimera's lair.

Perseus

Greek gods
Statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa

Perseus, son of Zeus, killed the Jellyfish, whose eyes turned into stone statues all those who stared at her. Hermes, god of the wind, helped him by lending him his winged sandals and Athena gave him her shield.

theseus

Greek gods
Statue of Theseus fighting the Minotaur

theseus received no aid, yet freed Athens from a cruel tribute to King Minos of Crete.

Every year, Minos required seven young Athenian young men and seven damsels to be devoured by the Minotaur. This was a monster with a human body and a bull's head that was trapped in the Labyrinth of Knossos.

heracles

Heracles and the Centaur
Heracles and the Centaur

heracles (Hercules, for the Romans) murdered his wife, Megara, and for that he was given twelve difficult tasks:

  1. to kill a lion that ravaged the valley of Nemea;
  2. exterminate the nearly invincible Hydra of Lerna, a nine-headed monster;
  3. to capture the Crinee deer, which had feet of bronze;
  4. capture the wild boar of Erimanto;
  5. clean the stables of King Augeas, where three thousand animals were accumulated;
  6. kill the birds of prey in Lake Styphalia;
  7. seize the bull of Crete;
  8. take the wild horses of Diomedes;
  9. find the belt of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons;
  10. Find the oxen of Gerião;
  11. Have the golden apples of the Hesperides;
  12. Beat the dog Cerberus, guard of hell.

After winning the twelve tasks, Hercules freed the titan Prometheus, who was chained to a rock.

Other Heroes of Greek Mythology

Among the heroes of Greek mythology were:

  • agamemnon: Trojan war commander
  • Achilles: participated in the siege of the city of Troy
  • Oedipus: deciphered the riddle of the sphinx
  • Atlanta: heroine who participated in the Caridon wild boar hunt
  • Ajax: Trojan war hero
  • Cadmus: who defeated the dragon that controlled the city of Thebes

greek muses

Among mortal men and immortal gods there were creatures semi-divine that the Greeks venerated as muses, among them, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne:

Greek gods
Greek Muses: Clio, Polymnia, Urania
  • clio: protective and inspiring muse of the story.
  • Polymynia: muse of oratory and sacred poetry.
  • Urania: astronomy muse.
Greek gods
Greek Muses: Eratus, Euterpe and Calliope
  • eratus: muse of love poetry.
  • Euterpe: muse of music.
  • calliope: muse of epic poetry and eloquence.
Greek gods
Greek Muses: Melpomene, Terpsichore and Talia
  • Melpomene: muse of tragic poetry
  • Terpsichore: dance and singing muse
  • talia: muse of comedy and poetry

Read too:

  • greek goddesses
  • Greek mythology
  • Roman Mythology
  • Roman gods
  • Egyptian Mythology
  • Egyptian gods
  • Norse mythology
  • What is mythology?
  • Exercises on Ancient Greece
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