main gods i olympians
TRANSCRIPT
MAIN GODS I OLYMPIANS
GREEK ROMAN
Aphrodite Venus
Apollo Apollo
Ares Mars
Artemis Diana
Athena Minerva
Demeter Ceres
Dionysus Liber
Hephaestus Vulcan
Hera Juno
Hermes Mercury
Hestia Vesta
Poseidon Neptune
Zeus Jupiter
MAIN GODS II OLYMPIANS
GREEK ROMAN
Asclepius Aesculapius
Charites Gratiae
Dioscuri Dioscuri
Eileithyia Lucina
Eros Cupid
Hebe Juventas
Heracles Hercules
Horae Horae
Leto Latona
Moirae Parcae
Muses Musae
Nike Victoria
Tyche Fortuna
MAIN GODS III TITANS
GREEK ROMAN
Atlas Atlas
Cronus Saturn
Oceanus Oceanus
Prometheus Prometheus
Rhea Ops
Tethys Tethys
Themis Themis
MAIN GODS IV PRIMEVAL
GREEK ROMAN
Gaea Tellus
Nyx Nox
Uranus Caelus
MAIN GODS V UNDERWRLD
GREEK ROMAN
Charon Charon
Erinyes Furiae
Hades Dis, Pluto
Hecate Hecate
Persephone Proserpine
HE IMMORTALS of the Ancient Greek pantheon can be divided into roughly eight classes.
THE FIRST of these were the PROTOGENOI or First Born gods. These were the primeval beings who emerged at creation to form the very fabric of universe: Earth, Sea, Sky, Night, Day, etc. Although they were divinites they were purely elemental in form: Gaia was the literal Earth, Pontos the Sea, and Ouranos the Dome of Heaven. However they were sometimes represented assuming anthroporphic shape, albeit ones that were indivisible from their native element. Gaia the earth, for example, might manifest herself as a matronly woman half-risen from the ground ; and Thalassa the sea might lift her head above the waves in the shape of a sea-formed woman.
THE SECOND were the nature DAIMONES (Spirits) and NYMPHAI who nurtured life in the four elements. EG fresh-water Naiades, forest Dryades, beast-loving Satyroi, marine Tritones, etc.
THE THIRD were the body- and mind-affecting DAIMONES (Spirits). EG Sleep (Hypnos), Love (Eros), Joy (Euphrosyne), Hate (Eris), Fear (Phobos), Death (Thanatos), Old Age (Geras), etc.
THE FOURTH class consisted of the THEOI (Gods) who controlled the forces of nature and bestowed civilised arts upon mankind.
THEOI OURANIOI (Sky Gods). EG Helios (Sun), Anemoi (Winds), etc THEOI HALIOI (Sea Gods). EG The Nereides, Triton, Glaukos, etc THEOI KHTHONIOI (Underworld Gods). EG Persephone, Hekate, etc THEOI GEORGIKOI (Agricultural Earth Gods). EG Ploutos, etc THEOI NOMIOI (Pastoral Earth Gods). EG Pan, Aristaios, etc THEOI POLIKOI (City Gods). EG Hestia, Eunomia, etc THEOI OLYMPIOI (Olympian Gods). EG The Mousai, Hebe, etc THEOI TITANES (Titan Gods). EG Themis, Kronos, Prometheus, etc APOTHEOTHENAI (Deified Mortals). EG Herakles, Asklepios, etc
THE FIFTH were the 12 OLYMPIAN GODS who governed the universe and commanded the legions of lesser gods and spirits. They were, namely, Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Apollon, Ares, Athene, Aphrodite, Hephaistos, Hermes, Dionysos, and Hestia.
THE SIXTH of the immortals were the spirits of the CONSTELLATIONS which circed the heavenly night sky. Every constellation, including the twelve signs of the Zodiac, was possessed of one or more spirits EG Saggitarius was the centaur Kheiron, Gemini the Dioskouroi Twins, etc.
THE SEVENTH class consisted of the fabulous MONSTERS, BEASTS, GIANTSof myth. They were semi-divine creatures, closely related to the gods. EGGIGANTES (Giants), DRAKONES (Dragons), Kentauroi (Centaurs), Kerberos (Cerberus), Sphinx, Sirens, etc.
THE EIGHTH were the HEROI HEMITHEOI (Semi-Divine Heroes) who were worshipped after death as minor divinities. They included great heroes like Akhilleus, Theseus and Perseus; heroines such as Alkmene, Helene and Baubo; and founding kings like Erikhthonios, Kadmos and Pelops.
There were many divinities in the Greek pantheon who fell into more than one of these categories. Tykhe (Lady Fortune), for example, can easily be classified under category Two as an Okeanis Nymphe, Three as fortune personified, and Four as a popularly worshipped goddess.
THE GODS
THE GODS
THE GODS
KEY TO THE DEITY-SUMMARIES BELOW
NAME Transliterated Greek spelling of the god's name.Modern Spellings: Spellings of the name in modern languages : En = English; Fr = French; Es = Spanish; It = ItalianRoman Name: The Roman name of the godGod of: The god's general spheres of influence Parents: The usual parentage of the god in mythSpouse: The wife or husband of the godOffspring: The significant divine offspring of the godAnimals: The god's sacred animals (beasts, birds and/or fish) Plants: Trees, shrubs, flowers and herbs held sacred to the godIconography: Usual attributes of the god in Greek vase painting, relief and sculptureImages: Location of images of the deity on the Theoi siteTheoi Pages: Links to pages on this site containing more detailed descriptions of the god, his/her mythology, and cult. The linked to pages contain quotes from a wide range of classical literature, as well as images of the deity in classical art. Click on the numbers 1 - 2 - 3 ... Thumbnail Image: The majority of these images come from C5th - C4th BC Greek vase paintings. The mosaics and frescoes are from the Imperial Roman era. Click on the thumbs to view the full size image.
(I) THE TWELVE OLYMPIAN GODS
The Greek Pantheon was ruled by a council of twelve great gods known as the Olympians, namely Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athene, Hephaistos, Ares, Aphrodite, Apollon, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysos, and sometimes Hestia.These twelve gods demanded worship from all their subjects. Those who failed to honour any one of the Twelve with due sacrifice and libation were duly punished.Directly and through a host of divine minions the Twelve gods governed all aspects of human life.
ZEUS
Modern Spellings: Zeus (En, Fr, Es, It)Roman Name: Jupiter, JoveGod of: King of Heaven, Sky, Weather, Fate, KingshipParents: Titan Kronos & Titanis RheaSpouse: HeraOffspring: Athene, Apollon, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes, Dionysos, Herakles, others see pg 2 (below) Animals: Golden eagle, Wolf Plants: Oak, Celery Iconography: Lightning bolt, Lotus staff, Eagle, Oak wreath Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1; statues pgs 5-7 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 (other pages still under construction)
POSEIDON
Modern Spell.: Poseidon (En), Poséidon (Fr), Poseidón (Es), Poseidone (It)Roman Name: Neptunus (Neptune)God of: King of the Seas, Rivers, Earthquakes, Horses
GODS vs GIANTS
ZEUS
POSEIDON
Parents: Titan Kronos & Titanis RheaSpouse: Amphitrite Offspring: Triton, others see pg 2 (below) Animals: Horse, Bull, DolphinPlants: Seaweed, Pine TreeIconography: Trident, FishImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1; statues pgs 5- 6(below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 (other pages still under construction)
HERE
Modern Spellings: Hera (En, Es), Héra (Fr), Era (It) Roman Name: JunoGoddess of: Queen of Heaven, the Sky, Women, Marriage, Impregnation Parents: Titan Kronos & Titanis RheaSpouse: Zeus Offspring: Ares, Hephaistos, Eileithyia, Hebe, others see pg 2 (below) Animals: Cuckoo, Peacock, Crane, Hawk, Cow (Heifer), Lion Plants: Chaste Tree, PomegranateIconography: Lotus staff, Crown, LionImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pg 4-5 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 (other pages still under construction)
DEMETER
Modern Spellings: Demeter (En), Déméter (Fr), Deméter (Es), Demetra (It)Roman Name: CeresGoddess of: Agriculture, Grain & Bread, The AfterlifeParents: Titan Kronos & Titanis RheaSpouse: None Offspring: Persephone, Ploutos, others see pg 8 (below) Animals: Serpent, Swine, Gecko Plants: Wheat, Barley, Poppy, Mint Iconography: Grain Sheaf, Lotus Staff, Torch, CornucopiaImages: Vase paintings pg 2; statues pgs 10-12 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13
APOLLON
Modern Spellings: Apollo (En, It), Apollon (Fr), Apolo (Es) Roman Name: ApolloGod of: Music, Prophecy, Education, Healing & DiseaseParents: God Zeus and Titanis LetoSpouse: NoneOffspring: Asklepios, others see pg 2 (below) Animals: Swan, Raven, Mouse, Wolf Plants: Laurel, Larkspur Iconography: Lyre, Laurel wreath or branch, Bow & arrows, Delphic tripod Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1; statues pgs 4-8 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 (other pages still under construction)
ARTEMIS
HERA
DEMETER
APOLLON
Modern Spellings: Artemis (En), Artémis (Fr), Artemisa (Es), Artemide (It)Roman Name: DianaGoddess of: Hunting, Wild Animals, Children, Choirs, Disease Parents: God Zeus & Titanis LetoSpouse: None (Virgin Goddess) Children: None (Virgin Goddess)Animals: Deer, Bear, Wild boar, Guinea fowl, Quail Plants: Cypress, Walnut, Amaranth-flower Iconography: Bow & arrows, Hunting spears, Lyre, DeerImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pgs 12-15 (below)Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16
ATHENE
Modern Spellings: Athena (En), Athéna (Fr), Atenea (Es), Atena (It)Roman Name: MinervaGoddess of: Warcraft, Heroism, Counsel, Pottery, Weaving, Olives & Oil Parents: God Zeus & Titanis MetisSpouse: None (Virgin Goddess) Offspring: None (Virgin Goddess)Animals: Little Owl, Crow Plants: Olive TreeIconography: Greek helmet, Aigis (Goat-skin breastplate), SpearImages: Vase paintings see pg 1; statues pgs 2-5 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 (other pages still under construction)
ARES
Modern Spellings: Ares (En, Es, It), Arès (Fr) Roman Name: MarsGod of: War, Battle, ManlinessParents: God Zeus & Goddess HeraSpouse: Perhaps AphroditeOffspring: Deimos, Phobos, others see pg 8 (below) Animals: Serpent, Vulture, Woodpecker, Eagle-owlPlants: Perhaps Manna Ash Iconography: Helmet, SpearImages: Vase paintings, mosaics & statues pg 2 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12
APHRODITE
Modern Spellings: Aphrodite (En, Fr), Afrodita (Es), Afrodite (It)Roman Name: VenusGoddess of: Love, Beauty, Pleasure, ProcreationParents: God Zeus & Titanis Dione; or Born of the Sea-FoamSpouse: Hephaistos, perhaps later Ares Offspring: Eros, others see pg 10 (below) Animals: Turtle dove, Sparrow, Goose, Hare Plants: Apple Tree, Rose, Myrtle, Myrrh Tree, Anemone, Lettuce Iconography: Eros (winged godling), Apple, DoveImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statue see pg 16-17 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11- 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18
ARTEMIS
ATHENE
ARES
APHRODITE
HERMES
Modern Spellings: Hermes (En, Es), Hermès (Fr), Ermes (It)Roman Name: Mercurius (Mercury) God of: Animal Husbandry, Travel, Trade, Athletics, Language, Thievery, Good Luck, Guide of the Dead, Herald of the Gods Parents: God Zeus & Nymphe MaiaSpouse: None Children: Pan, others see pg 9 (below)Animals: Tortoise, Sheep, Cattle, Hawk Plants: Crocus, Strawberry Tree Iconography: Kerykeion (Herald's Rod), Traveller's Cap, Winged BootsImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pg 12 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13
HEPHAISTOS
Modern Spell.: Hephaestus (En), Héphaïstos (Fr), Hefesto (Es), Efesto (It)Roman Name: Vulcanus (Vulcan)God of: Metalworking, Fire, Building, Scupture, Volcanism Parents: Goddess Hera (no father)Spouse: Aphrodite or Kharis Offspring: See pg 6 (below) Animals: Donkey, Crane Plants: Fennel Iconography: Hammer, Tongs, Anvil, Donkey, Crane-head Images: Vase paintings pg 2; statue pg 11 (below)Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11
DIONYSOS
Modern Spellings: Dionysus (En, Fr), Dioniso (Es), Dionysio (It)Roman Name: Liber, BacchusGod of: Wine, Drunkenness, Madness, Parties, Vegetation, The AfterlifeParents: God Zeus & Princess SemeleSpouse: AriadneOffspring: See pg 10 (below) Animals: Leopard, Lynx, Tiger, Serpent, Bull, Goat, DonkeyPlants: Grape-vine, Ivy, Bindweed, Silver Fir Iconography: Thyrsos (pine-cone tipped staff), Grapes, Ivy wreath, Leopard Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pgs 13-14 (below)Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15
HESTIA
Modern Spellings: Hestia (En, Fr, Es), Estia (It) Roman Name: VestaGoddess of: Home, Hearth, Family, Meals, Sacrificial offeringsParents: Titan Kronos & Titanis RheaSpouse: None (Virgin Goddess) Offspring: None (Virgin Goddess)Animals: Swine Plants: Chaste Tree Iconography: Chaste tree branch, Head veil, Kettle
HERMES
HEPHAISTOS
DIONYSOS
HESTIA
Images: Vase paintings & statues pg 2 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2
(II) KING & QUEEN OF THE DEAD
The thirteenth of the great gods was Haides, King of the Dead. Unlike the other 12, he was never titled Olympian, nor did he partake in the feasts of Heaven. Instead this lord remained ever enthroned within the gloom of the underworld.
HAIDES
Modern Spellings: Hades (En, Es), Hadès (Fr), Ade (It)Roman Name: Pluto, DisGod of: King of the Underworld, the Dead, DeathParents: Titan Kronos & Titanis RheaSpouse: Persephone Offspring: See pg 1 (below) Animals: Screech owl Plants: Asphodel, Mint, White Poplar Iconography: Cornucopia, Bird-tipped staff Images: Vase paintings pg 1 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
PERSEPHONE
Modern Spellings: Persephone (En), Perséphone (Fr), Perséfone (Es), Persefone (It)Roman Name: ProserpinaGoddess of: Queen of the Underworld, the Afterlife, Spring Growth, GrainParents: God Zeus & Goddess DemeterSpouse: HaidesOffspring: See pg 1 (below) Animals: Screech owl Plants: Wheat, Narcissus, Black Poplar, Mint, AsphodelIconography: Eleusinian torch or torches, Wheat sheafs Images: Vase paintings pg 1 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
(III) OTHER IMPORTANT GODS
The other Gods and Spirits of the Pantheon fell within the sphere of one or more of the twelve great Olympians. They essentially functioned as minions and, servants of the greater gods.The most important of these gods appear below.
HEKATE
Modern Spellings: Hecate (En), Hécate (Fr, Es), Ecate (It)Roman Name: Hecate, TriviaGoddess of: Witchcraft, Ghosts
HAIDES
PERSEPHONE
HEKATE
Parents: Titan Perses & Titanis AsteriaSpouse: None (perhaps a Virgin Goddess)Offspring: See pg 1 (below) Plants: Herbs, AsphodelAnimals: Dog, Weasel, Polecat Iconography: Twin torches, Triple body Images: Vase paintings pg 1 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2
THE 3 ERINYES (Furies)
Modern Spellings: Erinyes, Erinnyes (En, Fr), Erinias (Es), Erinni (It)Roman Name: FuriaeGoddesses of: Punishment, RetributionParents: Protogenos Ouranos & Protogenos GaiaNames: Alekto, Megaira, Tisiphone Animals: Poisonous serpent, Screech owl Plants: Elm, YewIconography: Serpentine hair, Poison serpents, Wings, Whip Images: Vase paintings pgs 1, 2 & 4 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
HELIOS
Modern Spellings: Helius (En), Hélios (Fr), Helios (Es), Elo (It)Roman Name: SolGod of: the SunParents: Titan Helios & Titanis TheaSpouse: Rhode Offspring: Phaethon, others see pg 3 (below) Animals: Rooster, White Horse Plants: Heliotrope, FrankincenseIconography: Aureole (sun crown)Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1 (below)Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
GAIA
Modern Spellings: Gaea (En), Gaia (Fr, Es), Gea (It)Roman Name: Terra, TellusGoddess of: the EarthParents: None (Emerged at Creation)Spouse: OuranosOffspring: Ouranos (Sky), Pontos (Sea), the Titanes, the Erinyes, the Kyklopes, the Hekatonkheires, the Gigantes, others see pg 1 (below) Animals: - Plants: - Iconography: Half risen from earthImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1 (below)Theoi Pages: 1
RHEA
THE ERINYES
HELIOS
GAIA
Modern Spellings: Rhea (En, Fr), Rea (Es, It) Roman Name: OpsGoddess of: Mother of the Gods, Motherhood, MountainsParents: Protogenos Ouranos & Protogenos GaiaSpouse: KronosOffspring: Zeus, Poseidon, Haides, Hera, Demeter, HestiaAnimals: LionPlants: Silver FirIconography: Turret crown, Lions Images: Vase paintings pg 1; statues pg 6 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
THEMIS
Modern Spellings: Themis (En), Thémis (Fr), Temis (Es), Temi (It)Roman Name: ThemisGoddess of: Custom, Order, ProphecyParents: Protogenos Ouranos & Protogenos GaiaSpouse: ZeusOffspring: Horai, Moirai, others see pg 1 (below) Animals: - Plants: -Iconography: Delphic tripod Images: Vase paintings pg 1 (below) Theoi Pages: 1
LETO
Modern Spellings: Leto (En, Es, It), Lètô (Fr) Roman Name: LatonaGoddess of: Motherhood, Womanly DemureParents: Titan Koios & Titanis PhoibeSpouse: None (consort of Zeus) Offspring: Apollon, ArtemisAnimals: Rooster, Weasel (Ichneumon)Plants: Date Palm Iconography: Head veil Images: Vase paintings pg 1 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2
PAN
Modern Spellings: Pan (En, Fr, Es, It) Roman Name: FaunusGod of: Herds & Flocks, Mountain WildernessParents: God Hermes & Nymphe PenelopeiaSpouse: Aix Offspring: See pg 1 (below)Animals: Goat, Sheep Plants: Pine Tree, Reeds Iconography: Pan-pipes, Goat legs, Horns Images: Vase paintings & fresco pg 1; statues pg 2 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2
RHEA
THEMIS
LETO
PAN
EILEITHYIA
Modern Spellings: Ilithyia (En), Ilithye (Fr), Ilitía (Es), Ilizia (It)Roman Name: LucinaGoddess of: Childbirth, Pregnancy & Labour Parents: God Zeus & Goddess HeraSpouse: NoneOffspring: See pg 1 (below) Animals: Weasel (Ichneumon) Plants: - Iconography: Raised hands Images: Vase paintings pg 1 (below)Theoi Pages: 1
EROS
Modern Spellings: Eros (En, Fr, Es, It)Roman Name: Cupidus (Cupid), AmorGod of: Love, Sexual DesireParents: Goddess Aphrodite & (father variously named)Spouse: PsykheOffspring: See pg 1 (below) Animals: HarePlants: Apple, Rose, Myrtle Iconography: Wings, Bow & arrows, Torch, Myrtle wreath Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pgs 1 & 3; statues pg 4 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
AMPHITRITE
Modern Spellings: Amphitrite (En, Fr), Anfitrite (Es, It) Roman Name: SalaciaGoddess of: Queen of the Sea, Sea Life (fish, shellfish, sea-mammals) Parents: Sea-God Nereus & Nymphe DorisSpouse: PoseidonOffspring: Triton, others see pg 1 (below)Animals: Dolphin, Fish, SealPlants: SeaweedIconography: Dolphin, Fish, Pinched fingers Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1 (below)Theoi Pages: 1 - 2
ASKLEPIOS
Modern Spellings: Asclepius (En), Asclépios (Fr), Asclepio (Es, It) Roman Name: AesculapiusGod of: Medicine, HealingParents: God Apollon & Princess KoronisSpouse: EpioneOffspring: See pg 1 (below) Animals: Serpent Plants: Herbs (healing) Iconography: Serpent-entwined staff
EILEITHYIA
EROS
AMPHITRITE
ASKLEPIOS
Images: Mosaics pg 1; statues pg 2 (below) Theoi pages: 1 - 2
THE 9 MOUSAI (Muses)
Modern Spellings: Muses (En, Fr), Musas (Es), Muse (It)Roman Name: MusaeGoddesses of: Music, Song, Dancing, the Arts Parents: God Zeus & Titanis MnemosyneNames: Kleio, Euterpe, Thaleia, Melpomene, Terpsikhore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Ourania, KalliopeAnimals: Dove Plants: - Iconography: Lyre (cithara & barbiton), Laurel wreath, Scroll-chest, ScrollImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pgs 1, 4, 8 & 9; statues pg 11 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11
THE 3 KHARITES (Graces)
Modern Spellings: Charites (En, Fr), Cárites (Es), Carite (It)Roman Name: GratiaeGoddesses of: Joy, Mirth, Beauty, Adornment, Festivities, Dancing Parents: God Zeus & Titanis Eurynome Names: Aglaia, Euphrosyne, ThaleiaAnimals: - Plants: - Iconography: Dancing circle Images: Mosaics & frescoes pg 1; statues pg 6 (below)Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
THE 3 HORAI (Seasons)
Modern Spellings: Horae (En), Heures (Fr), Horas (Es), Ore (It)Roman Name: HoraeGoddesses of: the Seasons, Law, Good Order, PeaceParents: God Zeus & Titanis ThemisNames: Eirene, Dike, EunomiaAnimals: - Plants: Fruit trees Iconography: Branches of fruit & blossoms, Basket of fruit, CornucopiaImages: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1; statue pg 3 (below) Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
THE 3 MOIRAI (Fates)
Modern Spellings: Moirae (En), Moires (Fr), Moras (Es), Moire (It)Roman Name: ParcaeGoddesses of: Fate, DestinyParents: God Zeus & Titanis ThemisNames: Klotho, Lakhesis, AtroposOffspring: None (Virgin goddesses) Animals: - Plants: - Iconography: Spinning spool, Thread, Shears
THE MOUSAI
THE KHARITES
THE HORAI
Images: Currently noneTheoi Pages: 1
HERAKLES THEOS
Modern Spellings: Heracles (En, Es), Héraclès (Fr), Eracle (It) Roman Name: HerculesGod of: Defender against EvilParents: God Zeus & Princess AlkmeneSpouse: HebeOffspring: Numerous mortal offspring Animals: -Plants: White Poplar Iconography: Lion skin cape, Gnarled club Images: Vase paintings see all pages below; statues see God pgs 1 - 3 Theoi Pages 12 Labours: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12Theoi Pages Other Adventures: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12Theoi Pages God: 1 - 2 - 3
OTHER MINOR GODS
For hundreds of other minor gods and spirits see the A- Z Guide.Those listed here on the Pantheon page were the best known and most widely worshipped gods of ancient Greece.
Greek myth and legend is filled with a wide variety of monsters and creatures ranging from Dragons, Giants, Demons and Ghosts, to multiformed creatures such as the Sphinx, Minotaur, Centaurs, Manticores and Griffins.There were also many fabulous animals such as the Nemean Lion, golden-fleeced Ram and winged horse Pegasus, not to mention the creatures of legend such as the Phoenix, Unicorns (Monocerata) . Even amongst the tribes of man, myth spoke of strange peoples inhabiting the far reaches of the earth such as the hopping Umbrella-Foots, the one-eyed Arimaspians, the Dog-Headed men, and the puny Pygmies.
AMPHISBAENAE see Beasts, African
AUTOMOTONS (Automotones) Creatures crafted out of metal and endowed with life by the smith-god Hephaestus.
BULLS, BRONZE (Tauroi Khalkeoi) Four fire- breathing, bronze bulls
which Hephaestus crafted for King Aeetes of Colchis.
CELEDONES (Keledones) Golden singing maidens which Hephaistos
crafted for the first temple of Apollo at Delphi.
DOGS, GOLD & SILVER (Kuones Khryseos Argyreos) A pair of gold
and silver dogs which Hephaestus crafted for King Alcinous of the Phaeacians.
HERAKLES
SIREN
SPHINX
AUTOMOTON
SEA-GOD, NEREUS
HORSES, CABEIRIAN (Hippoi Kabeirikoi) A pair of metallic, fire-breathing horses owned by the twin Cabiri gods.
MAIDENS, GOLDEN (Kourai Khryseai) Four golden maidens which Hephaestus crafted as his own attendants.
TALUS (Talos) A bronze giant which Hephaestus crafted for Queen Europa of Crete to patrol the borders of her island.
BASILISCI see Beasts, African
BEASTS, AFRICAN (Theres Aithiopes) The semi-legendary land of Ethiopia (Sub-saharan Africa) was the home of many fabulous beasts.
AMPHISBAENAE (Amphisbainai) Saharan snakes with two heads, one at each end of the body.
BASILISCI (Basiliskoi) Deadly serpents which killed by touch.
BULLS, ETHIOPIAN (Tauroi Aithiopikoi) Gigantic African bulls whose red hides were impervious to steel.
CATOBLEPAS (Katoblepon) African hoofed animals whose downward looking head, when raised, could kill man with a gaze or with its noxious breath.
DRAGONS, ETHIOPIAN (Drakones Aithiopikoi) Gigantic African serpents.
LEUCROCOTAE (Leukrokota) An animals with a powerful jaw of bone in place of teeth, which could imitate human voices to lure it prey.
PEGASI, ETHIOPIAN (Pegasoi Aithiopikoi) The winged horses of Ethiopia who had a single horn growing from their forehead.
SATYRS, ISLAND (Satyroi Nesioi) Ape-like satyrs native to certain islands off the African coast.
SATYRS, LIBYAN (Satyroi Libyes) Monkey-like satyrs who lived in the forest of Mount Atlas.
SPHINXES, ETHIOPIAN (Sphinxes Aithiopikoi) Women-headed African lions.
BEASTS, INDIAN (Theres Indikoi) Legendary India was the home of many fabulous beasts.
ANTS, INDIAN (Myrmekes Indikoi) Gigantic ants which guarded the gold-fields of the Indian desert.
CETEA, INDIAN (Ketea Indikoi) Fabulous half-animal, half-fish sea-monster such as fish-tailed lions, bears, wolves, rams and even spiny-haired mermaids.
DRAGONS, INDIAN (Drakones Indikoi) Giant Indian serpents which preyed on elephants.
MONOCERATA (Hippoi Monokerata) The unicorns, magical single-horned equines native to India.
WORMS, INDOS Gigantic white worms which inhabited the Indos river.
BEASTS, PERSIAN & ARABIAN (Theres Persikoi) Various fabulous animals were believed to inhabit the lands of Arabia and Persia. See also Manticore and Phoenix.
SERPENTS, WINGED (Ophies Pteretoi) Feathery-winged serpents of Arabia
which guarded the valuable myrrh fields.
BIRDS, OF ARES (Ornithes Areioi) Arrow-shooting birds which guarded the Amazonian shrine of the god Ares.
BIRDS, STYMPHALIAN (Ornithes Stymphalides) Man-eating which haunted lake Stymphalus in Arkadia. Heracles weas sent to drive them away as one of his Labours
BOAR, CALYDONIAN (Hus Kalydonios) A gigantic Aetolian boar slain by a band of heroes in the famed Calydonian Boar Hunt.
BOAR, CLAZOMENEAN (Hus Klazomenaios) A gigantic winged sow which ravaged the island of Clazomenae.
BOAR, CROMMYONIAN (Hus Krommyon) A gigantic sow which ravaged the region of Crommyon. It was slain by the hero Theseus.
BOAR, ERYMANTHIAN (Hus Erymanthios) A gigantic Arcadian boar which Heracles was sent to fetch as one of his twelve labours.
BULL, CRETAN (Tauros Kretaios) The bull which impregnated Pasiphae queen of Crete and which Heracles was sent to fetch as one of his labours.
BULL, OF EUROPA (Tauros Europaios) A bull which carried the Phoenician princess Europa across the sea to Crete. It was sometimes depicted as a fish-tailed animal.
BULL, SERPENT (Tauros Ophis) A black-skinned monster with the foreparts of a bull and the rearparts of a serpent. It was slain by the Sea-Titan Aegaeon during the Titan-War.
CATOBLEPAS see Beasts, African
CENTAURS (Kentauroi) A tribe of creatures who had the heads and torsos of men and the bodies of horses.
CENTAURIDES (Kentaurides) The female centaurs, women with the bodies of horses in place of legs.
CENTAURS, CYPRIAN (Kentauroi Kyprioi) A tribe of centaurs native to the island of Cyprus.
CENTAURS, DIONYSIAN (Kentauroi Lamoi) The centaur attendants of the god Dionysos.
BIRDS, STYMPHAL.
BOAR, CALYDONIAN
BULL, OF EUROPA
CENTAUR
CENTAUR, CHIRON
CENTAURS, PELOPONNESIAN (Kentauroi Peloponnesioi) A tribe of Arcadian centaurs which battled Heracles for the wine of Pholus.
CENTAURS, THESSALIAN (Kentauroi Thessalioi) A tribe of Magnesian centaurs who battled the Lapith tribesmen at the wedding of King Pirithoos.
CHIRON (Kheiron) A wise, immortal Centaur, half-brother of Zeus. He was the mentor of many Greek heroes.
EURYTION 1 A Thessalian centaur who tried to abduct the bride of King
Pirithoos.
EURYTION 2 A Pelopennesian centaur slain by Heracles.
ICHTHYOCENTAURS (Ikhthyokentauroi) Two marine centaurs, named
Bythos and Aphros, with the upper torsoes of a men and the lower bodies of hippocamps (fish-tailed horses).
NESSUS (Nessos) A centaur slain by Heracles.
PHOLUS (Pholos) A goodly centaur who entertained Heracles.
CERBERUS (Kerberos) The three-headed, giant hound that guarded the gates of Hades. It had lion's feet, a mane of serpents and the tail of a viper.
CERCOPES (Kerkopes) A pair of mischievous monkey-like dwarfs.
CHIMERA (Khimaira) A three headed monster, with the foreparts of a lion, the hind-parts of a goat and goat's-head rising from its back, and the tail of a headed-serpent.
CRAB, GIANT (Karkinos) A giant crab which fought alongside the Hydra against Heracles.
DEER, CERYNITIAN (Elaphos Kerynitis) A golden-horned deer which Heracles was sent to fetch as one of his twelve labours.
DEER, GOLDEN-HORNED (Elaphoi Khrysokeroi) Five immortal golden-horned deer sacred to the goddess Artemis. Four of them drew the goddess' chariot.
DEMONS (Kakodaimones) Some of the personified spirits and demons of the underworld were monstrous in appearance.
ACHLYS (Akhlys) The demon of misery was a pale green hag with bleeding cheeks and tear-stained eyes, overgrown fingernails and dusty hair.
EMPUSA (Empousa) A flame-haired vampiric demon with a leg of bronze and a hoofed foot of an ass. Disguised as a beautiful woman she seduced men to feed on their flesh and blood.
CERBERUS
CHIMERA
DEER, CERYNITIAN
EURYNOMUS (Eurynomos) A blue-black skinned demon of the underworld who fed on the flesh of corpses.
KERES Dark-winged death demons which haunted the battlefields of men
and fed on the blood of dying men. They were pale ugly hags with clawed hands and gnashing teeth.
LIMOS The demon of hunger was a starved, wasted creature with parchment
skin, and swollen joints.
MELINOE A spectral underworld demon who issued forth from the
underworld to terrify men. One side of her body was ink-black and the other bone-white.
ZELUS (Zelos) The demon of jealousy was a monstrous hag that fed upon
venomous serpents. Her body was shrunken, her teeth black, and her breasts covered in green venom.
DOG, GOLDEN (Kuon Khryseos) A golden hound which Rhea sent to guard the infant Zeus and his nurse the goat Amaltheia.
DOG, LAELAPS (Kuon Lailaps) A fabulous dog destined always to catch its mark.
DOG, ORTHROS (Kuon Orthros) A two-headed, serpent-tailed dog which guarded the cattle of Geryon. It was slain by Heracles.
DRACAENAE (Drakainai) Female-monsters with the head and torsos of women and serpentine-tails in place of legs.
CAMPE (Kampe) A monstrous Tartarean dracaena who had the body of a
woman and a serpent's tail. Her head was wreathed in snakes and her serpentine body was arrayed with a thousand snake's tails for feet. She was armed with a giant scorpion's sting, black wings and around her waist were arrayed the heads of fifty wild beasts.
DRACAENA, POINE (Drakaina Poine) A monstrous child-devouring she-dragon sent by Apollo to punish the men of Argos.
DRACAENA, SCYTHIAN (Drakaina Skythia) A Scythian dracaena who seduced Heracles and bore him three sons.
ECHIDNA 1 (Ekhidna) An immortal Cicilian dracaena who mated with the monstrous giant Typhon and bore a brood of the most fearsome of monsters.
DOG, ORTHRUS
DRAGON, COLCHIS
DRAGON, THEBAN
DRAGONS, MEDEAN
DRAGON, HYDRA
ECHIDNA 2 (Ekhidna) A monstrous she-serpent which ravaged Argos.
SYBARIS A Lamia demon which preyed on the men of Phocis.
DRAGONS (Drakones) A race of giant, toothed serpentine monsters.
DRAGON, COLCHIAN (Drakon Kolkhios) A gigantic Colchian dragon which guarded the famed golden-fleece.
DRAGON, HESPERIAN (Drakon Hesperia) A hundred headed dragon which
guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides.
DRAGON, LYDIAN (Drakon Maionios) A Lydian dragon slain by the giant
Damasen.
DRAGON, THEBAN (Drakon Ismenios) A monstrous Theban dragon slain by
the hero Cadmus. From its earth-sown teeth were sprung a race of fully-grown, armed warriors.
DRAGON, THESPIAN (Drakon Thespiakos) A dragon which plagued the
town of Thespia.
DRAGONS, MEDEAN (Drakones Medea) A pair of winged serpents which
drew the chariot of the witch Medea.
DRAGONS, TROJAN (Drakones Troiades) A pair of monstrous sea-serpents
sent by Poseidon to destroy Laocoon and his sons.
PYTHON A monstrous serpent that guarded the shrine of Delphi.
EAGLE, CAUCASIAN (Aetios Kaukasios) A gigantic Caucasian eagle which fed on the liver of the chained Titan Prometheus.
EAGLE, OF ZEUS (Aetos Dios) A gigantic golden eagle, the animal familiar of Zeus.
FISHES, OF APHRODITE (Ikhthyes) Two large fish which carried the goddess Aphrodite ashore following her sea-birth.
FOX, TEUMESSIAN (Alopex Teumesios) A gigantic fox which ravaged the kingdom of Thebes, preying upon the unfortunate children of the country.
GIANTS (Gigantes) A breed of oversized, mostly monstrous men.
EAGLE, CAUCASUS
GIANT, GERYON
POLYPHEMUS
GIANT, TYPHON
GIANT, ALCYONEUS
AGRIUS & OREUS (Agrios, Oreios) A pair of man-eating Giants who were half man, half bear.
ALCYONEUS (Alkyoneus) The King of the Giants who was immortal within his homeland of Pallene. Herakles wounded him and dragged him incapacitated from his country to die.
ALOADAE (Aloidai) Twin giants who tried to storm Olympus by piling three mountains one upon the other. They were slain by the gods.
ANTAEUS (Antaios) A Libyan giant who drew his strength from the earth. He lifted and strangled to death by Heracles.
ARGUS PANOPTES (Argos Panoptes) A giant whose body was covered with eyes. He was slain by Hermes.
CACUS (Kakos) A fire-breathing Italian giant slain by Heracles.
CYCLOPES, ELDER (Kyklopes) Three one-eyed giants who forged the weapons of the gods.
CYCLOPES, YOUNGER (Kyklopes) A tribe of cannibalistic giants who shepherded flocks of sheep on the isle of Sicily.
DAMASEN A gigantic Lydian hero.
ECHIDNADES (Ekhidnades) A serpent-legged giant slain by Ares.
ENCELADUS (Enkelados) A fire-breathing giant burried by Athena beneath Mount Etna.
GEGENEES A tribe of six-armed Mysian giants which were slain by the Argonauts.
GERYON A winged giant three-bodied giant. He was slain by Heracles.
GIGANTES, HECA- The one hundred giants of Phlegra who waged war on the gods. They were led by Alcyoneus, Porphyrion and Enceladus.
HECATONCHEIRES (Hekatonkheires) Three hundred-handed, fifty-headed giants who guarded the gates of Tartarus.
HYPERBOREAN GIANTS (Gigantes Hyperboreioi) Three gigantic sons of Boreas the god of the North Wind who were immortal priests of the virtuous Hyperborean tribe.
LAESTRYGONES (Laistrygones) A race of man-eating giants.
ORION A handsome giant who could walk on water.
POLYPHEMUS (Polyphemos) The greatest of the younger Cyclopes. He was blinded by Odysseus.
TALUS (Talos) A bronze giant who patrolled the island of Crete.
TITYUS (Tityos) A giant who tried to rape the goddess Leto and was sent to eternal punishment in Hades.
TYPHON (Typhoeus) A monstrous giant with one human and ninety-nine
animal heads, two hundred hands each tipped with fifty serpents, a pair of serpent tails for legs, giant wings, and a fire-breathing maw. He was buried beneath Mt Etna by Zeus.
GORGONS (Gorgones) Three monstrous Libyan sisters with broad faces, staring eyes, flaring nostrils, wiry beards, tusks and protruding tongues. Their heads were wreathed in snakes, a pair of golden wings sprung from their backs, and in place of hands they had brazen claws.
GRAEAE (Graiai) Three old hags born with grey hair, wrinkled skin and only one tooth and one eye between them.
GRIFFINS (Grypes) Winged beasts with the foreparts of eagles and the bodies of lions.
HARPIES (Harpyiai) Three winged monsters with the bodies of birds and the heads and torsos of women.
HIPPALEKTRYON (Hippalektryon) A creature with the fore-parts of the rooster and the body of a horse.
HIPPOCAMPI (Hippokampoi) Sea-creatures with the fore-parts of horses and the tails of serpentine fish.
HORSES, IMMORTAL (Hippoi Athanatoi) A breed of swift-footed, immortal horses.
ARION (Areion) The immortal horse of the hero Adrastus.
BALIUS & XANTHUS (Balios, Xanthos) Two immortal horses owned by the
hero Achilles.
HORSES, OF ARES (Hippoi Areioi) Four fire-breathing horses which drew
the chariot of Ares.
HORSES, OF DIOMEDES (Hippoi Diomedios) Four man-eating horses
owned by the Thracian King Diomedes. Heracles was sent to fetch them as one of his twelve labours.
HORSES, TROJAN A herd of immortal horses owned by the kings of Troy.
HYDRA (Hydra) The nine-headed serpent of Lerna who sprung two heads for every one which was decapitated. It was slain by Heracles.
GORGON, MEDUSA
GRIFFIN
HORSE, PEGASUS
HIPPOCAMP
MEN, CECROPS
LION, NEMEAN
LEUCROCOTAE See Beasts, African
LION, NEMEAN (Leon Nemeios) A gigantic Argive lion whose skin was impervious to weapons. It was strangled by Heracles.
MANTICORE (Mantikhoras) A winged Persian monster with the head of a man, the body of a lion and a spiked missile-throwing tail.
MEN, EARTH-BORN (Anthropoi Autokhthonoi) Unusual men sometimes sprouted from the earth itself.
CECROPS (Kekrops) An earth-born king of Athens who had the tail of a serpent in place of legs.
SPARTI (Spartoi) A race of earth-born warriors, which sprang fully grown, armed and ready for battle from the sown teeth of a dragon.
MEDUSA (Medousa) A mortal Gorgon slain by Perseus.
MEN, FANTASTIC Races of strangely-formed men were believed to inhabit the farthest reaches of the earth.
ARIMASPIANS (Arimaspoi, Monommatoi) A tribe of one-eyed men who battled the eagle-headed Griffins for their gold.
ARTABATITAE (Artabatitai) An African tribe of four-legged men.
ASTOMI (Astomoi) A hair-covered Indian tribe of men without mouths, who sustained themselves on the scent of aromatic plants.
BLEMMYAE (Blemmyai, Sternophthalmoi) A tribe of headless African men whose faces were set upon their chests.
CALINGI (Kalingoi) A short-lived Indian tribe who reached maturity at five and died of old age at eight.
CHOROMANDAE (Khromandai) A hair-covered Indian tribe, with dog's teeth and a horrible scream in place of speech.
CUNOCEPHALI (Kunokephaloi, Hemikunes) A tribe of dog-headed African men.
GORGADES An African tribe whose women were entirely covered in hair.
HIPPOPODES A northern European tribe with horse's feet.
MACHLYES (Makhlyes) A Libyan tribe whose bodies were female on one side and male on the other.
MACROBI (Makroboi) Long-lived Indian tribes never touched by old age.
MACROCEPHALI (Makrokephaloi) A tribe of African men with long, elongated heads.
MANDI (Mandoi) A race of Indians who grew old and wrinkled shortly after birth.
NULI (Nuloi) An African people with backward-turned, eight-toed feet.
PANDAE (Pandai) A tribe of long-lived Indian men with gigantic ears, eight fingers and toes, and white-hair covering their bodies which turned black with age.
PANOTII (Panotioi) A fabulous tribe of northern men with gigantic, body-length ears.
PYGMIES (Pygmaioi) A tribe of one and a half foot tall African men who rode goats into battle against migrating cranes.
SCIAPODS (Skiapodes, Steganopodes) A tribe of one-legged Libyan men
who used their gigantic foot as shade against the midday sun.
SCIRITAE (Sikiritai) An Indian race with snake-like nostrils in place of a nose,
and bandy serpentine legs.
STRUTHOPODES (Strouthopodes) An Indian tribe whose men had 18 inch
long feet and whose women had tiny sparrow-like ones.
SYRBOTAE (Syrbotai) A tribe of twelve-foot tall Africans.
MINOTAUR (Minotauros) A Cretan monster with the head of a bull and the hairy body of a man.
NEADES Gigantic animals native to the island of Samos whose roar could split apart the ground.
PANES A tribe of nature-spirits which had the heads and torsos of men, the legs and tails of goats, goatish faces and goat-horns.
AEGIPAN (Aigipan) A demi-god with the fore-parts of a goat and the tail of a
fish.
PAN The goat-legged, horned god of shepherds and flocks.
PEGASUS (Pegasos) A winged horse tamed by the hero Bellerophon and ridden into battle with the Chimera.
PHASMA Ghosts or phantoms which haunted the living. Some were corporeal in form, retaining their physical bodies, others were merely bodiless spirits.
GHOST, PHILINNION A dead Macedonian woman who rose up from her tomb at night to haunt a handsome young guest of her parents. She was probably a lamia (vampire).
GHOST, POLYCRITUS (Polykritos) A dead man who rose up from his grave and devoured his living hermaphroditic son.
PAN
MINOTAUR
RIVER, ACHELOUS
LAMIAE (Lamiai) Vampiric demons whichy preyed on young men in the guise of a beautiful woman and drank their blood.
LAMIA CORINTHIAN (Lamia Korinthia) A vampiric Lamia who disguised herself as a wealthy Phoenician woman in order to seduce a handsome young man and drain his blood.
LAMIA LIBYAN (Lamia Libys) A vampiric Libyan demon which preyed on children. She could pluck out her own bleeding eyes.
PHANTOMS, EIDOLONES Evil man-possessing spirits or ghosts.
PHANTOM, EPHESIAN PLAGUE (Eidos Loimos Ephesios) A plague-bringing demon that haunted the town of Ephesus.
TARAXIPPI (Taraxippoi) Horse-frightening ghosts or daemones which
haunted the race-courses of Olympia, Nemea and the Isthmus.
PHOENIX (Phoinix) A fabulous golden-red bird whose feathers shone with the light of the sun.
PYGMIES See Men, fantastic
RAM, GOLDEN-FLEECED (Krios Khrysomallos) A flying, talking, golden-fleeced Ram who rescued the children Phrixus and Helle from a sacrifice to the gods.
RIVER GODS & DAEMONES (Theoi Daimones Potamoi) The river-gods appeared either as men from the chest upwards, set upon the serpentine tail of a fish and crowned with a single bull's horn, or as horned man-headed bulls.
ACHELOUS (Akheloios) An Aetolian river-god who was wrestled by Heracles.
OCEANUS (Okeanos) The god of the great earth-encircling river Ocean. He
had the tail of a serpentine fish and a bull's horn on his head.
SATYRS (Satyroi) A tribe of nature-spirits with the body of men, the tails of horses, pug noses and the ears of asses.
MARSYAS A satyr defeated by Apollo in a musical contest.
SATYR, ETHIOPIAN (Satyros Aithiopikos) A phantom satyr which plagued an
African town.
SATYR, LEMNIAN (Satyros Lemnios) A satyr which consorted with a woman
of the island of Lemnos.
SATYR, MARSYAS
SATYR, SILENUS
SEA-GOD, SCYLLA
SEA-GOD, TRITON
SEA-MONSTER
SILENI (Seilenoi) A race of elderly Satyrs with the bodies of old-men, pug-noses, the tails of horses, and asses' ears.
SILENUS (Seilenos) An elderly Satyr companion of Dionysus.
SCORPION (Skorpios) A giant scorpion sent by Gaea to slay the giant Orion.
SEA GODS & DAEMONES (Theoi Daimones Einalioi) Many of sea-gods appeared as fish-tailed mermen, or were otherwise fabulous in form.
CHARYBDIS (Kharybdis) A sea daemon whose inhalations formed a deadly whirlpool.
DELPHIN (Delphin) An immortal dolphin attendant of Poseidon.
EURYNOME A mermaid-like sea-goddess with the tail of a fish in place of legs.
GLAUCUS (Glaukos) A blue-skinned, green-haired, fish-tailed sea-god.
NEREUS An elderly sea-god with the coiled tail of a fish in place of legs.
SCYLLA (Skylla) A monstrous sea-dracaena with the upper body of a beautiful nymphe, the serpentine-tail of a sea-monster and sprung from her waist a ring of six dog foreparts.
TELCHINES (Telkhines) Sea-demons with the heads of dogs and flippers of seals in place of hands.
TRITON A sea-god with either a single or a pair of serpentine fish-tails in place of legs.
TRITONES A race of sea daemones with the upper bodies of men and the tails of fish. Some were fearsome, scaly monsters with sharp carnivore teeth.
SEA MONSTERS (Ketea) A race of gigantic, serpentine sea-dragons.
SCOLOPENDRA (Skolopendra) A gargantuan sea-monster with hair extending from its nostrils, a flat crayfish-like tail and rows of webbed feet lining each of its flanks.
SEA MONSTER, ETHIOPIAN (Ketos Aithiopios) A sea-monster killed by Perseus.
SEA MONSTER, TROJAN (Ketos Troios) A sea-monster slain by Heracles.
SHEEP, GOLDEN (Melai Khryseoi) A flock of aggressive and highly poisonous, golden-fleeced sheep.
SIRENS (Seirenes) Three winged sea-monsters whose irresistable song lured sailors to their deaths. They had the heads (or heads and torsos) of women and the bodies of birds.
SPHINX A Theban monster with the head of a woman and the body of a lioness.
TURTLE, GIANT A giant turtle preyed on the men cast into the sea by the bandit Sciron.
UNICORNS Fabulous Indian horses with a single magical horn. The Greeks called them Monocerata (One-Horned) which the Romans translated as Unicorni.
APHRODITE was the great Olympian goddess of beauty, love, pleasure and and procreation. She was depicted as a beautiful woman usually accompanied by the winged godling Eros (Love). Her attributes included a dove, apple, scallop shell and mirror. In classical sculpture and fresco she was often depicted nude.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the goddess include:--
Her birth from the sea foam; Her adulterous affair with the god Ares; Her love for Adonis , a handsome Cypriot youth who was tragically killed by a
boar; Her love for Ankhises , a shepherd-prince; The judgement of Paris in which the goddess was awarded the prize of the
golden apple in return for promising Paris Helene in marriage; The Trojan War in which she supported her favourites Paris and Aeneas and
was wounded in the fighting; The race of Hippomenes for Atalanta, which was won with the help of the
goddess and her golden apples; The death of Hippolytos , who was destroyed by the goddess for scorning her
worship; The statue of Pygmalion which was brought to life by Aphrodite in answer to
his prayers; The persecution of Psykhe , the maiden loved by the goddess' son Eros.
This site contains a total of 18 pages describing the goddess Aphrodite, including general descriptions, mythology, and cult. The content is outlined in the table below. Quotes for these pages are still being compiled (see bottom of this page for the current status of this project).
INDEX APHRODITE PAGES
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
Encyclopedia Entry Hymns to Aphrodite Images of Aphrodite Physical
Descriptions
PART 2: GODDESS OF
Love & Procreation Beauty & Grace Pleasure, Merriment Love Poetry
PARENTS
[1] Born from the castrated genitals of OURANOS in the sea's foam (Hesiod Theogony 188, Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.21, Apuleius 6.6, Nonnus Dionysiaca 1.86, et al)[2] ZEUS & DIONE (Homer Iliad 5.370; Euripides Helen 1098; Apollodorus 1.13, Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.21, et al)[3] OURANOS & HEMERA (Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.21)
OFFSPRING
See Family of Aphrodite
ENCYCLOPEDIA
Star of Venus Identified with
Foreign Goddesses
PART 3: APHRODITE MYTHS 1
Birth of Aphrodite War of the Giants Flight from
Typhoeus Creation of Pandora Feasts of the Gods Birth of Priapos Pythian Music
Contest Weaving Contest
PART 3: APHRODITE MYTHS 2
The Trojan War
PART 3: APHRODITE MYTHS 3
Aphrodite & Eros Loves of the Gods Loves of Men Aphrodite in Fable
PART 3: APHRODITE MYTHS 4
Judgment of Paris Aphrodite &
Harmonia Aphrodite & Beroe
PART 4: APHROD. WRATH 1
Halia, Brothers Hippolytos Hippomenes Kerastai Kinyras' Daughters Lemnian Women Menelaos Nisos Pasiphae Propoitides
APHRODI′TE (Aphroditê), one of the great Olympian divinities, was, according to the popular and poetical notions of the Greeks, the goddess of love and beauty. Some traditions stated that she had sprung from the foam (aphros) of the sea, which had gathered around the mutilated parts of Uranus, that had been thrown into the sea by Kronos after he had unmanned his father. (Hesiod. Theog. 190; compare Anadyomene.) With the exception of the Homeric hymn on Aphrodite there is no trace of this legend in Homer, and according to him Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione. (Il.v. 370, &c., xx. 105.) Later traditions call her a daughter of Kronos and Euonyme, or of Uranus and Hemera. (Cic. De Nat. Deor. iii. 23; Natal. Com. iv. 13.)
According to Hesiod and the Homeric hymn on Aphrodite, the goddess after rising from the foam first approached the island of Cythera, and thence went to Cyprus, and as she was walking on the sea-coast flowers sprang up under her feet, and Eros and Himeros accompanied her to the assembly of the other great gods, all of whom were struck with admiration and love when she appeared, and her surpassing beauty made every one desire to have her for his wife.
According to the cosmogonic views of the nature of Aphrodite, she was the personification of the generative powers of nature, and the mother of all living beings. A trace of this notion seems to be contained in the tradition that in the contest of Typhon with the gods, Aphrodite metamorphosed herself into a fish, which animal was considered to possess the greatest generative powers. (Ov. Met. v. 318, &c.; comp. Hygin.Poet. Astr. 30.) But according to the popular belief of the Greeks and their poetical descriptions, she was the goddess of love, who excited this passion in the hearts of gods and men, and by this power ruled over all the living creation. (Hom. Hymn. in Ven. ; Lucret. 15, &c.)
Ancient mythology furnishes numerous instances in which Aphrodite punished those who neglected her worship or despised her power, as well as others in which she favoured and protected those who did homage to her and recognized her sway. Love and beauty are ideas essentially connected, and Aphrodite
Tyndareus
PART 4: APHROD. WRATH 2
Akheilos Akmon Anaxarete Diomedes Eos Erymanthos Glaukos Helios Herakles Kalliope Kleio Myrrha Smyrna Narkissos Nerites Orpheus Pan Polyphonte Seirenes
PART 4: APHROD. WRATH 3
Psykhe
PART 5: APHRODITE FAVOUR
Aeneas Andromakhe Ariadne & Dionysos Boutes Dexikreon Hektor Helene Hermaphroditos Hippomenes Ino Pandareus'
Daughters Paris Penthesileia Pygmalion Rome City Skylla
PART 6: APHRODITE FAMILY
Genealogy Divine Offspring Mortal Offspring
was therefore also the goddess of beauty and gracefulness. In these points she surpassed all other goddesses, and she received the prize of beauty from Paris; she had further the power of granting beauty and invincible charms to others. Youth is the herald, and Peitho, the Horae, and Charites, the attendants and companions of Aphrodite. (Pind. New. viii. 1, &c.) Marriages are called by Zeus her work and the things about which she ought to busy herself. (Hom. Il. v. 429; comp. Od. xx. 74; Pind. Pyth. ix. 16, &c.) As she herself had sprung from the sea, she is represented by later writers as having some influence upon the sea (Virg. Aen. viii. 800; Ov. Heroid. xv. 213; comp. Paus. ii. 34. § 11.)
During the Trojan war, Aphrodite, the mother of Aeneas, who had been declared the most beautiful of all the goddesses by a Trojan prince, naturally sided with the Trojans. She saved Paris from his contest with Menelaus (Il. iii. 380), but when she endeavoured to rescue her darling Aeneas from the fight, she was pursued by Diomedes, who wounded her in her hand. In her fright she abandoned her son, and was carried by Iris in the chariot of Ares to Olympus, where she complained of her misfortune to her mother Dione, but was laughed at by Hera and Athena. (Il. v. 311, &c.) She also protected the body of Hector, and anointed it with ambrosia. (Il. xxiii. 185.)
According to the most common accounts of the ancients, Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus (Odyss.viii. 270), who, however, is said in the Iliad (viii. 383) to have married Charis. Her faithlessness to Hephaestus in her amour with Ares, and the manner in which she was caught by the ingenuity of her husband, are beautifully described in the Odyssey. (viii. 266, &c.) By Ares she became the mother of Phobos, Deimos, Harmonia, and, according to later traditions, of Eros and Anteros also. (Hesiod. Theog. 934, &c., Scut. Herc. 195; Hom. Il. xiii. 299, iv. 440; Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. iii. 26; Cic. De Nat. Deor. iii. 23.)
But Ares was not the only god whom Aphrodite favoured; Dionysus, Hermes, and Poseidon likewise enjoyed her charms. By the first she was, according to some traditions, the mother of Priapus (Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. i. 933) and Bacchus (Hesych. s.
Family by Kingdom
PART 7: APHRODITE LOVES 1
Ares Dionysos Hephaistos Hermes Nerites Poseidon Zeus
PART 7: APHRODITE LOVES 2
Adonis Ankhises Boutes Phaon Phaethon
PART 8: ESTATE, ATTRIBUTES
Dove Sky Chariot Sea Chariot Clothing & Jewellery Magical Girdle Palace Sacred Animals Sacred Plants
Flowers Sacred Gems
PART 9: ATTENDANTS
PART 10: CULT & STATUES 1
General Cult Attika, S. Greece Megaris, S. Greece Salamis, S. Greece Aigina, S. Greece Korinthia, S. Greece Sikyonia, S. Greece Argolis, S. Greece Lakonia, S. Greece Messenia, S. Greece
PART 10: CULT & STATUES
v.Bakchou Diônês), by the second of Hermaphroditus (Ov.Met. iv. 289, &c.; Diod. iv. 6; Lucian, Dial. Deor. xv. 2), and by Poseidon she had two children, Rhodos and Herophilus. (Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. viii. 24.)
As Aphrodite so often kindled in the hearts of the gods a love for mortals, Zeus at last resolved to make her pay for her wanton sport by inspiring her too with love for a mortal man. This was accomplished, and Aphrodite conceived an invincible passion for Anchises, by whom she became the mother of Aeneas and Lyrus.
Respecting her connexions with other mortals see Adonis and Butes. The ancient story ran thus : Smyrna had neglected the worship of Aphrodite, and was punished by the goddess with an unnatural love for her father. With the assistance of her nurse she contrived to share her father's bed without being known to him. When he discovered the crime he wished to kill her; but she fled, and on being nearly overtaken, prayed to the gods to make her invisible. They were moved to pity and changed her into a tree called smurna. After the lapse of nine months the tree burst, and Adonis was born. Aphrodite was so much charmed with the beauty of the infant, that she concealed it in a chest which she entrusted to Persephone; but when the latter discovered the treasure she had in her keeping, she refused to give it up. The case was brought before Zeus, who decided the dispute by declaring that during four months of every year Adonis should be left to himself, during four months he should belong to Persephone, and during the remaining four to Aphrodite. Adonis however preferring to live with Aphrodite, also spent with her the four months over which he had controul. Afterwards Adonis died of a wound which he received from a boar during the chase. Thus far the story of Adonis was related by Panyasis.
Later writers furnish various alterations and additions to it. According to Hyginus (Fab. 58, 164, 251, 271), Smyrna was punished with the love for her father, because her mother Cenchreis had provoked the anger of Aphrodite by extolling the beauty of her daughter above that of the goddess. Smyrna after the discovery of her crime fled into a forest, where she was changed into a tree from which Adonis came
2
Elis, S. Greece Akhaia, S. Greece Arkadia, S. Greece Boiotia, C. Greece Phokis, C. Greece Oz. Lokris, C. Greece Thessalia, N. Greece Delos, Gr. Aegean Kos, Greek Aegean Illyria, N, of Greece Thrake, N. of Greece Kypros, E. Meditt. Teuthrania, Anatolia Karia, Anatolia Lydia, Anatolia Mysia, Anatolia Pamphylia, Anatolia Egypt, North Africa Libya, North Africa Sicily, S. Italy Latium, C. Italy Gaul, S. France
PART 11: TITLES & EPITHETS
Poetic Titles Epithets Cult Titles
SUMMARY OF APHRODITE
forth, when her father split it with his sword. The dispute between Aphrodite and Persephone was according to some accounts settled by Calliope, whom Zeus appointed as mediator between them. (Hygin. Poet. Astron. ii. 7.) Ovid (Met x. 300, &c.) adds the following features: Myrrha's love of her father was excited by the furies; Lucina assisted her when she gave birth to Adonis, and the Naiads anointed him with the tears of his mother, i. e. with the fluid which trickled from the tree. Adonis grew up a most beautiful youth, and Venus loved him and shared with him the pleasures of the chase, though she always cautioned him against the wild beasts. At last he wounded a boar which killed him in its fury.
According to some traditions Ares (Mars), or, according to others, Apollo assumed the form of a boar and thus killed Adonis. (Serv. ad Virg. Ecl. x. 18; Ptolem. Hephaest. i. p. 306, ed. Gale.) A third story related that Dionysus carried off Adonis. (Phanocles ap. Plut. Sumpos. iv. 5.) When Aphrodite was informed of her beloved being wounded, she hastened to the spot and sprinkled nectar into his blood, from which immediately flowers sprang up. Various other modifications of the story may be read in Hyginus (Poet. Astron. ii. 7), Theocritus (Idyll. xv.), Bion (Idyll. i.), and in the scholiast on Lycophron. (839, &c.) From the double marriage of Aphrodite with Ares and Adonis sprang
Priapus. (Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. i. 9, 32.) Besides him Golgos and Beroe are likewise called children. of Adonis and Aphrodite. (Schol. ad Theocrit. xv. 100; Nonn. Dionys. xli 155.) On his death Adonis was obliged to descend into the lower world, but he was allowed to spend six months out of every year with his beloved Aphrodite in the upper world. (Orph. hymn. 55. 10.)
Aphrodite possessed a magic girdle which had the power of inspiring love and desire for those who wore it; hence it was borrowed by Hera when she wished to stimulate the love of Zeus. (Hom. Il. xiv. 214, &c.) The arrow is also sometimes mentioned as one of her attributes. (Plnd. Pyth. iv. 380; Theocrit. xi. 16.) In the vegetable kingdom the myrtle, rose, apple, poppy, and others, were sacred to her. (Ov. Fast. iv. 15. 143; Bion, Idyll. i. 64; Schol. ad Aristoph. Nub. 993; Paus. ii. 10. § 4; Phornut. 23.)
The animals sacred to her, which are often mentioned as drawing her chariot or serving as her messengers, are the sparrow, the dove, the swan, the swallow, and a bird called iynx. (Sappho, in Ven. 10; Athen. ix. p. 395; Horat. Carm. iv. 1. 10; Aelian,Hist. An. x. 34; Pind. Py/th/. l. c.) As Aphrodite Urania the tortoise, the symbol
of domestic modesty and chastity, and as Aphrodite Pandemos the ram was sacred to her. [Urania; Pandemos.] When she was represented as the victorious goddess, she had the attributes of Ares, a helmet, a shield, a sword : or a lance, and an image of Victory in one hand. The planet Venus and the spring-month of April were likewise sacred to her. (Cie. de Nat. Deor. iii. 20; Ov. Fast. iv. 90.)
All the surnames and epithets given to Aphrodite are derived from places of her worship, from events connected with the legends about her, or have reference to her character and her influence upon man, or are descriptive of her extraordinary beauty and charms. All her surnames are explained in separate articles.
The principal places of her worship in Greece were the islands of Cyprus and Cythera. At Cnidus in Caria she had three temples, one of which contained her renowned statue by Praxiteles. Mount Ida in Troas was an ancient place of her worship, and among the other places we may mention particularly the island of Cos, the towns of Abydos, Athens, Thespiae, Megara, Sparta, Sicyon, Corinth, and Eryx in Sicily. The sacrifices offered to her consisted mostly of incense and garlands of flowers (Virg. Aen. i. 416; Tacit. Hist. ii. 3), but in some places animals, such as pigs, goats, young cows, hares, and others, were sacrificed to her. In some places, as at Corinth, great numbers of females belonged to her, who prostituted themselves in her service, and bore the name of hierodouloi. (Dict.of Ant. s. v. Hetairai.) Respecting the festivals of Aphrodite see Dict. of Ant. s.v. Adônia, Anagôgia, Aphrodisia, Katagôgia.
The worship of Aphrodite was undoubtedly of eastern origin, and probably introduced from Syria to the islands of Cyprus, Cythera, and others, from whence it spread all over Greece. It is said to have been brought into Syria from Assyria. (Paus. i. 14. § 6.) Aphrodite appears to have been originally identical with Astarte, called by the Hebrews Ashtoreth, and her connexion with Adonis clearly points to Syria. But with the exception of Corinth, where the worship of Aphrodite had eminently an Asiatic character, the whole worship of this goddess and all the ideas concerning her nature and character are so entirely Greek, that its introduction into Greece must be assigned to the very earliest periods. The elements were derived from the East, but the peculiar development of it belongs to Greece. The Roman goddess Venus was identified with the Greek Aphrodite.
Aphrodite, the ideal of female graec and beauty, frequently engaged the talents and genius of the ancient artists. The most celebrated representations of her were those of Cos and Cnidus. Those which are still extant are divided by archaeologists into several classes, accordingly as the goddess is represented in a standing position and naked, as the Medicean Venus, or bathing, or half naked, or dressed in a tunic, or as the victorious goddess in arms, as she was represented in the temples of Cythera, Sparta, and Corinth. (Paus. iii. 23. § 1, ii. 5. § 1, iii. 15. § 10.)
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
Greek Name Transliteration Latin Spelling Roman Name
Aphroditê Aphrodite Venus
APOLLON
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
Apollôn Apollo Apollo
ARES was the great Olympian god of war, battlelust, civil order and manly courage. In Greek art he was depicted as either a mature, bearded warrior dressed in battle arms, or a nude beardless youth with helm and spear. Because of his lack of distinctive attributes he is often difficult to identify in classical art.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:--
His adulterous affair with Aphrodite in which the pair were trapped in a net laid by her husband Hephaistos;
The slaying of Adonis , his rival for the love of Aphrodite, in the guise of a boar;
The transformation of Kadmos of Thebes and his wife Harmonia into serpents; The murder of Hallirhothios to avenge his daughter's rape and his subsequent
trial in the court of the Areiopagos; The arrest of Sisyphos , an impious man who kidnapped the god Death; The battle of Herakles and Kyknos in which the god intervened in support of
his son; His support of the Amazones , warrior daughters of the god; His capture by the Aloadai giants who imprisoned him in a bronze jar; The Trojan War in which he was wounded by Diomedes in battle with the help
of Athene.
ARTEMIS was the great Olympian goddess of hunting, 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, and Apollon men and boys.
In ancient art Artemis was usually depicted as a girl dressed in a short knee-length chiton and equipped with a hunting bow and quiver of arrows.
Some of the best known myths featuring the goddess include:--
Her birth , immediately following which she assisted her mother in the birth of her twin brother Apollon;
The Trojan War where she was beaten by Hera in an angry contest of the gods;
The hunter Aktaion who encountered the goddess whilst she was bathing and was turned into a stag;
The Aloadai giants who attempted to storm Olympos but were tricked by Artemis into killing each other;
The sacrifice of Iphigeneia whom King Agamemnon offered to her for the passage of the Greek fleet to Troy;
The giant Orion , a close companion of the goddess, who was slain by the goddess or her jealous brother;
The Kalydonian boar sent by Artemis to ravage Kaldyon; The nymph Kallisto , a companion of Artemis, who was seduced by Zeus in the
guise of the goddess.
ATHENE
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
Athênê Athena Minerva
Athena, Athenian red-figure amphoraC6th B.C., Antikenmuseen, Berlin
ATHENE (or Athena) was the great Olympian goddess of wise counsel, war, the defence of towns, heroic endeavour, weaving, pottery and other crafts. She was depicted crowned with a crested helm, armed with shield and spear, and wearing the snake-trimmed aigis cloak wrapped around her breast and arm, adorned with the monstrous head of the Gorgon.
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 War of the Giants in which she buried Enkelados beneath Mount Etna and
made her aigis from the skin of Pallas; The attempted rape of the goddess by Hephaistos, who spilled his seed upon
the earth and produced Erikhthonios, who she then adopted as her own; The assisting of Perseus in his quest to slay the Gorgon and the Argonauts in
their quest for the Golden Fleece; The assisting of Herakles with his twelve labours; The weaving contest with Arakhne who was transformed by the goddess into
a spider;
The blinding of Teiresias for viewing her naked in the bath; The Judgement of Paris in which she competed with Hera and Aphrodite for
the prize of the golden apple; The Trojan War where she sided with the Greeks in battle, but attacked their
ships with a storm when they failed to punish Oilean Ajax for violating her Trojan shrine.
DEMETER
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
Dêmêtêr Demeter Ceres
Eleusinian Demeter & Plutus, Apulian red-figureloutrophoros C4th B.C., The J. Paul Getty Museum
DEMETER was the great Olympian goddess of agriculture, grain, and bread, the prime sustenance of mankind. She also presided over the foremost of the Mystery Cults which promised its intiates the path to a blessed afterlife. Demeter was depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and and a torch.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the goddess include:--
The abduction of her daughter Persephone by Hades, and the great dearth she brought down upon the earth;
The nursing of Demophoon , the young son of King Keleus of Eleusis; The journeys of Triptolemos , a hero sent by the goddess to instruct mankind
in agriculture; Her assault by Poseidon who forcefully coupled with her in the form of a
horse; The punishment of Erysikhthon who was cursed with an unquenchable
hunger by the goddess for cutting down her holy grove.
DIONYSOS
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
Dionysos Dionysus Liber
Bakkhos Bacchus Bacchus
Dionysus, Athenian red-figure hydriaC5th B.C., Harvard University Art Museum
DIONYSOS (or Dionysus) was the great Olympian god of wine, vegetation, pleasure and festivity. He was depicted as either an older bearded god or a pretty
effeminate, long-haired youth. His attributes included thethyrsos (a pine-cone tipped staff), drinking cup, leopard and fruiting vine. He was usually accompanied by a troop of Satyrs and Mainades (female devotees or nymphs).
Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:--
His birth from the thigh of Zeus and his fostering by Ino, Seilenos and the Nysiades;
His flight from Lykourgos who drove the young god and his followers into the sea;
The dismemberment of Pentheus who denied the god's divinity and attempted to drive him from Thebes;
The instruction of Ikarios in winemaking; The metamorphosis of the Tyrrhenian pirates into dolphins when they
attempted to kidnap him; His love for Ariadne who he found abandoned by Theseus on the island of
Naxos and wed; His journey to the underworld to recover his mother or wife; His campaign against the Indians .
HEPHAISTOS
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
` Hêphaistos Hephaestus Vulcanos, Vulcan
Hephaestus, Athenian red-figure skyphosC5th B.C., Toledo Museum of Art
HEPHAISTOS was the great Olympian god of fire, metalworking, stonemasonry and the art of sculpture. He was usually depicted as a bearded man holding hammer and tongs--the tools of a smith--and riding a donkey.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:--
His fall from Olympos in which he was cast away by Hera at birth; The trapping of Hera in a cursed throne and his return to Olympos; The adultery of his wife Aphrodite who was trapped with Ares in a golden net; The crafting of Pandora , the first woman, at the command of Zeus; The attempted rape of Athena which resulted in the impregnation of Earth and
the birth of Erikhthonios; The crafting of the cursed necklace of Harmonia which doomed her
descendants to a cycle of tragedy; The Trojan War in which he fought the river-god Skamandros with fire; The crafting of the armour of Akhilleus at the request of the hero's mother
Thetis.
HERA
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
` Hêrê Hera Juno
Hera, Athenian red-figure lekythosC5th B.C., Rhode Island School of Design
HERA was the Olympian queen of the gods and the goddess of women and marriage. She was also a goddess of the sky and starry heavens. She was usually depicted as a beautiful woman wearing a crown and holding a royal, lotus-tipped staff. Sometimes she held a royal lion or had a cuckoo or hawk as her familiar.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the goddess include:--
Her marriage to Zeus and her earlier seduction by the god in the guise of a cuckoo bird;
The birth of Hephaistos who she produced alone and cast from heaven because he was crippled;
Her persecution of the consorts of Zeus , especially Leto, Semele and Alkmene;
Her persecution of Herakles and Dionysos, the favourite bastard sons of Zeus;
The punishment of Ixion , who was chained to a fiery wheel for attempting to violate the goddess;
The assisting of the Argonauts in their quest for the golden fleece, their leader Jason being one of her favourites;
The judgement of Paris , in which she competed against Aphrodite and Athene for the prize of the golden apple;
The Trojan War , in which she assisted the Greeks.
HERMES
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
` Hermês Hermes Mercurius, Mercury
Hermes, Athenian red-figure lekythosC5th B.C., Metropolitan Museum of Art
HERMES was the great Olympian God of animal husbandry, roads, travel, hospitality, heralds, diplomacy, trade, thievery, language, writing, persuasion, cunning wiles, athletic contests, gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. He was also the personal agent and herald of Zeus, the king of the gods. Hermes was depicted as either a handsome and athletic, beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. His attributes included the herald's wand or kerykeion (Latin caduceus), winged boots, and sometimes a winged travellers cap and chlamys cloak.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:--
The theft of Apollon's cattle which he accomplished as a toddler in the crib; The transformation of the tell-tale Battos to stone; The slaying of Argos Panoptes , the hundred-eyed guardian of the nymph Io; The assisting of Perseus in the hero's quest to slay Medousa; The seduction of Khione on the same night as his brother Apollon; The assisting of Odysseus in his encounter with the witch Kirke.
POSEIDON
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
Poseidôn Poseidon Neptunus, Neptune
Poseidon (Neptune) driving a chariot of hippocamps,Roman mosaic C3rd A.D., Sousse Museum, Tunis
POSEIDON was the great Olympian god of the sea, rivers, flood and drought, earthquakes, and horses.He was depicted as a mature man of sturdy build with a dark beard, and holding a trident.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:--
The War of the Titanes where he fought beside Zeus and Hades to imprison the old gods in Tartaros;
The division of the cosmos amongst the sons of Kronos in which he received dominion over the sea;
The burying of Polybotes beneath the island of Kos in the giant war; The sending of a sea-monster to punish the Trojans for refusing to pay him
for building their walls; The seduction of women such as Tyro, Amymone, Aithra and the Gorgon
Medousa; His contest with Athena for dominion of Athens in which he produced the first
horse; The persecution of Odysseus for the blinding of his son the Kyklops
Polyphemos.
N.B. The collection of Poseidon pages are still largely under construction.
POSEIDON
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
Poseidôn Poseidon Neptunus, Neptune
Poseidon (Neptune) driving a chariot of hippocamps,Roman mosaic C3rd A.D., Sousse Museum, Tunis
POSEIDON was the great Olympian god of the sea, rivers, flood and drought,
earthquakes, and horses.He was depicted as a mature man of sturdy build with a dark beard, and holding a trident.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:--
The War of the Titanes where he fought beside Zeus and Hades to imprison the old gods in Tartaros;
The division of the cosmos amongst the sons of Kronos in which he received dominion over the sea;
The burying of Polybotes beneath the island of Kos in the giant war; The sending of a sea-monster to punish the Trojans for refusing to pay him
for building their walls; The seduction of women such as Tyro, Amymone, Aithra and the Gorgon
Medousa; His contest with Athena for dominion of Athens in which he produced the first
horse; The persecution of Odysseus for the blinding of his son the Kyklops
Polyphemos.
N.B. The collection of Poseidon pages are still largely under construction.
ZEUS
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingRoman Name
Zeus Zeus Jupiter, Jove
Zeus with eagle & lightning, Athenian red-figureamphora C5th B.C., Musée du Louvre, Paris
ZEUS was the king of the gods, the god of sky and weather, law, order and fate. He was depicted as a regal man, mature with sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes were a lightning bolt, royal sceptre and eagle.
Some of the more famous myths featuring the god include:--
His birth and upbringing in the Diktaion cave, where he was nursed by Amaltheia and guarded by the shield-clashing Kouretes;
The Titan War in which he overthrew the Titanes and imprisoned them in Tartaros;
His battle with Typhoeus , a hundred headed, monstrous giant who attempted to capture heaven;
The War of the Giants who attempted to storm Olympos but were slain by Zeus and the gods;
The Great Deluge in which he flooded the earth to destroy mankind and begin the world anew;
His conflict with Prometheus over the theft of benefactions for mankind; The punishment of Salmoneus, Tantalos and Ixion, men who offended the god
with their impiety; The birth and life of Herakles, his favoured son, who he had transferred to
Olympos at death; His extramarital affairs with women such as Leda, seduced in the form of a
swan; Europa, as a bull; Danae, as a golden shower; Kallisto, as Artemis; and Antiope as a satyr;
The Trojan War which he orchestrated from start to end, including the casting
of the golden apple of discord.
N.B. The Zeus pages are still under construction.
PERSEPHONE
Greek Name Transliteration Latin NameTranslation
Persephonê ProserpinaDestructive-Slayer?(persô, phonos)
Persephone, Krater C4th B.C.,Antikensammlungen, Munich
PERSEPHONE was the goddess queen of the underworld, wife of the god Haides. She was also the goddess of spring growth, who was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter in the Eleusinian Mysteries. This agricultural-based cult promised its initiates passage to a blessed afterlife.
Persephone was titled Kore (the Maiden) as the goddess of spring's bounty. Once upon a time when she was playing in a flowery meadow with her Nymph companions, Kore was seized by Haides and carried off to the underworld as his bride. Her mother Demeter despaired at her dissappearance and searched for her
the throughout the world accompanied by the goddess Hekate bearing torches. When she learned that Zeus had conspired in her daughter's abduction she was furious, and refused to let the earth fruit until Persephone was returned. Zeus consented, but because the girl had tasted of the food of Haides--a handful of pomegranate seeds--she was forced to forever spend a part of the year with her husband in the underworld. Her annual return to the earth in spring was marked by the flowering of the meadows and the sudden growth of the new grain. Her return to the underworld in winter, conversely, saw the dying down of plants and the halting of growth.
In other myths, Persephone appears exclusively as the queen of the underworld, receiving the likes of Herakles and Orpheus at her court.
Persephone was usually depicted as a young goddess holding sheafs of grain and a flaming torch. Sometimes she was shown in the company of her mother Demeter, and the hero Triptolemos, the teacher of agriculture. At other times she appears enthroned beside Haides.
HAIDES
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingTranslation
`` Haidês, Hadês Hades Unseen One
Aidês, Aidôneus Ades, Aidoneus Unseen One
Hades, Apulian krater C4th B.C.,Antikensammlungen, Munich
HAIDES (Aides, Aidoneus, or Hades) was the King of the Underworld, the god of death and the dead. He presided over funeral rites and defended the right of the dead to due burial. Haides was also the god of the hidden wealth of the earth, from the fertile soil with nourished the seed-grain, to the mined wealth of gold, silver and other metals.Hades was devoured by Kronos as soon as he was born, along with four of his siblings. Zeus later caused the Titan to disgorge them, and together they drove the Titan gods from heaven and locked them away in the pit of Tartaros. When the three victorious brothers then drew lots for the division of the cosmos, Hades received the third portion, the dark dismal realm of the underworld, as his domain.
Hades desired a bride and petitioned his brother Zeus to grant him one of his daughters. The god offered him Persephone, the daughter of Demeter. However, knowing that the goddess would resist the marriage, he assented to the forceful abduction of the girl. When Demeter learned of this, she was furious and caused a great dearth to fall upon the earth until her daughter was returned. Zeus was forced to concede lest mankind perish, and the girl was fetched forth from the underworld. However, since she had tasted of the pomegranate seed, she was forced to return to him for a portion of each year.
Haides was depicted as a dark-bearded, regal god. He was depicted as either Aidoneus, enthroned in the underworld, holding a bird-tipped sceptre, or as Plouton, the giver of wealth, pouring fertility from a cornucopia. The Romans named him Dis, or Pluto, the Latin form of his Greek title Plouton, "the Lord of Riches."
HEKATE
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingTranslation
``
HekatêHekata
HecateHecata
Worker from Afar(hekatos)
Hekate & Cerberus, Apulian red-figure kraterC4th B.C., Antikensammlungen, Munich
HEKATE (or Hecate) was the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea.
Hekate assisted Demeter in her search forPersephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches. After the mother-daughter reunion became she Persephone's minister and companion in Haides.
Two metamorphosis myths describe the origins of her animal familiars: the black she-dog and the polecat (a mustelid house pet kept to hunt vermin). The bitch was originally the Trojan Queen Hekabe, who leapt into the sea after the fall of Troy and was transformed by the goddess into her familiar. The polecat was originally the
witch Gale who was transformed into the beast to punish her for her incontinence. Other say it was Galinthias, the nurse of Alkmene, transformed by the angryEileithyia, but received by Hekate as her animal.
Hekate was usually depicted in Greek vase painting as a woman holding twin torches. Sometimes she was dressed in a knee-length maiden's skirt and hunting boots, much like Artemis. In statuary Hekate was often depicted in triple form as a goddess of crossroads.
Hekate was identified with a number of other goddesses, including Artemis and Selene(Moon), the Arkadian Despoine, the sea-goddess Krataeis, the goddess of the Taurian Khersonese (of Skythia), the Kolkhian Perseis, and Argive Iphigeneia, the Thracian goddesses Bendis and Kotys, Euboian Maira (the dog-star), Eleusinian Daeira and the Boiotian Nymphe Herkyna.
AMPHITRITE
Greek Name Transliteration Latin NameTranslation
Amphitritê Amphitrite, Salacia Encircling Third?
Amphitrite & Poseidon, Roman mosaicC4th A.D.. Musée du Louvre
AMPHITRITE was the goddess queen of the sea, the wife of King Poseidon. Some say
she was one of the fiftyNereides, others an Okeanis, but most simply describe her as the female personification of the sea: the loud-moaning mother of fish, seals and dolphins. As such she was essentially the same as Thalassa. When Poseidon first sought Amphitrite's hand in marriage, she fled his advances, and hid herself away near Atlas in the Ocean stream at the far ends of the earth. The dolphin-god Delphineventually tracked her down and persuaded her to return to wed the sea-king.
Amphitrite was depicted in Greek vase painting as a young woman, often raising her hand in a pinching gesture. Sometimes she was shown holding a fish. In mosaic art the goddess usually rides beside her husband in a chariot drawn by fish-tailed horses orhippokampoi. Sometimes her hair is enclosed with a net and her brow adorned with a pair of crab-claw "horns".
Her name is probably derived from the Greek words amphis and tris, "the surrounding third." Her son Tritôn was similarly named "of the third." Clearly "the third" is the sea, although the reason for the term is obscure. Her Roman equivalent was Salacia, whose name means "the salty one."
TETHYS
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingTranslation
Têthys Tethys Grandmother, Nurse
Oceanus & Tethys, Roman mosaic from ZeugmaC2nd A.D., Gaziantep Museum, Turkey
TETHYS was the Titan goddessof the sources fresh water which nourished the earth. She was the wife of Okeanos, the earth-encircling, fresh-water stream, and the mother of thePotamoi (Rivers), Okeanides(Springs, Streams & Fountains) and Nephelai (Clouds). Tethys was imagined feeding her children's streams by drawing water from Okeanos through subterranean aquifers. Her name was derived from the Greek word têthê, "the nurse" or "grandmother."
In Greek vase painting Tethys appears as an attributeless woman in the company ofEileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, and her fish-tailed husband Okeanos. In mosaic art she appears with a small pair of wings decorating her brow, probably in her role as the mother of rain-couds.
Tethys was likely identified with the Titanis Eurynome, one-time Queen of Heaven, who was cast into the Ocean-stream along with her husband Ophion by Kronos. She was probably also connected with the Protogenos Thesis (Mother Creation) who appears in the Orphic cosmogony. Tethys was later represented by poets as the sea personified, and so equated with Thalassa.
TRITON
Greek Name Transliteration Latin SpellingTranslation
Tritôn Triton Of the Third (tritos)
Triton with conch, Paestan red-figure kraterC4th B.C., J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu
TRITON was a fish-tailed sea god, the son and herald of Poseidon, king of the seas.
He stilled the waves with the blow of a conch-shell trumpet. Triton was also described as the god of the giant, Libyan, salt-lake Tritonis. When the Argonauts were stranded in the desert he assisted them in finding passage from the lake back to the sea.
Trtion was depicted in Greek vase painting as fish-tailed merman, sometimes bearded, sometimes youthful. In Greek sculpture and mosaic he was often given twin fish or dolphin tails. Mosaic art added a pair of crab-claw "horns", green-tinged skin, and sometimes a pair of equine forelegs. As Poseidon's herald, he had a winged brow and conch-shell trumpet.
Triton was often multiplied into a host of sea-spirits called Tritones which were regarded as satyr-like daimones of the sea.
SELENE
Greek Name Transliteration Latin NameTranslation
Selênê Luna Moon (selênê)
Selene driving Pegasi-chariot, Athenian red-figurekylix C5th B.C., Antikensammlung, Berlin
SELENE was the Titan goddess of the moon. She was depicted as a woman either riding side saddle on a horse or in a chariot drawn by a pair of winged steeds. Her lunar sphere or crescent was represented as either a crown set upon her head or as the fold of a raised, shining cloak. Sometimes she was said to drive a team of oxen
and her lunar crescent was likened to the horns of a bull. Selene's great love was the shepherd prince Endymion. The beautiful boy was granted eternal youth and immortality by Zeus and placed in a state of eternal slumber in a cave near the peak of Lydian Mount Latmos. There his heavenly bride descended to consort with him in the night.
A number of other goddesses were also associated with the moon, however, only Selene was represented by the old Greek poets represented as the moon incarnate. Other Greek moon goddesses included Pasiphae, the Leukippides,Eileithyia, Hekate, Artemis, Bendis, and Hera (who sometimes doubled for Selene in the Endymion myth).
IRIS
Greek Name Transliteration Latin NameTranslation
Iris Iris, ArcusRainbow (iris),Messenger (eiris)
Iris, Athenian red-figure lekythos C5th B.C.,Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design
IRIS was the goddess of the rainbow, the messenger of the Olympian gods. She was often represented as the handmaiden and personal messenger of Hera. Iris was a goddess of sea and sky--her father Thaumas "the wondrous" was a marine-god, and
her mother Elektra "the amber" a cloud-nymph. For the coastal-dwelling Greeks, the rainbow's arc was most often seen spanning the distance beteween cloud and sea, and so the goddess was believed to replenish the rain-clouds with water from the sea. Iris had no distinctive mythology of her own. In myth she appears only as an errand-running messenger and was usually described as a virgin goddess. Her name contains a double meaning, being connected both with iris, "the rainbow," and eiris, "messenger."
Iris appears in ancient Greek vase painting as a beautiful young woman with golden wings, a herald's rod (kerykeion), and sometimes a water-pitcher (oinochoe) in her hand. She was usually depicted standing beside Zeus or Hera, sometimes serving nectar from her jug. As cup-bearer of the gods Iris is often indistinguishable from Hebe in art.
NYX
Greek Name Transliteration Latin NameTranslation
Nyx Nox Night (nyx, nyktos)
Helius, Nyx & Hemera-Heos, Athenian black-figure lekythos C5th B.C., Metropolitan Museum
NYX was the goddess of the night, one of the ancient Protogenoi (first-born elemental gods). In the cosmogony of Hesiod she was born of Air (Khaos), and breeding with Darkness (Erebos) produced Light (Aither) and Day (Hemera), first components of the primeval universe. Alone, she spawned a brood of dark spirits,
including the three Fates, Sleep, Death, Strife and Pain.
Nyx was a primeval goddess usually represented as simply the substance of night: a veil of dark veil of mist drawn forth from the underworld which blotted out the light of Aither (shining upper atmosphere). Her opposite number was Hemera (Day), who scattered the mists of night, or Eos, the goddess of the dawn.
In ancient art Nyx was portrayed as a either a winged goddess or charioteer, sometimes crowned with an aureole of dark mist.
EOS
Greek Name Transliteration Latin NameTranslation
Êôs Aurora Dawn (êôs)
Eos the dawn, Athenian red-figure kraterC5th B.C., Johns Hopkins University Museum
EOS was the rosy-fingered goddess of the dawn. She and her siblings Helios (the Sun) and Selene (the Moon) were numbered amongst the second-generation Titan gods. Eos rose up into the sky from the riverOkeanos at the start of each day, and with her rays of light dispersed the mists of night. She was sometimes depicted riding in a golden chariot drawn by winged horses, at other
times she was shown borne aloft by her own pair of wings. Eos had an unquenchable desire for handsome young men, some say as the result of a curse laid upon her by the goddess Aphrodite. Her lovers included Orion, Phaethon, Kephalos and Tithonos, three of which she ravished away to distant lands. The Trojan prince Tithonos became her official consort. When the goddess petitioned Zeus for his immortality, she neglected also to request eternal youth. In time he shrivelled up by old age and transformed into a grasshopper.
Eos was closely identified with Hemera, the primordial goddess of day. In some myths--such as the tales of Orion and Kephalos--Eos stood virtually as a non-virginal substitute for Artemis.
AURAI
Greek NameTransliteration
Latin SpellingTranslation
AuraAurai
AuraAurae
Breeze,Breezes (aura)
THE AURAI (or Aurae) were the nymphs of the breezes. They were named as daughters of the earth-encircling river Okeanos or the north-wind Boreas.
In the story of Kephalos they, or a single Aura, were equated with the dawn-goddess Eos. There was also a Titan goddess named Aura.
GAIA
Greek Name Transliteration Latin NameTranslation
Gaia, Gaiê, Gê Gaea, Terra, Tellus Earth
Aura nymph, Athenianred- figure vase C5th B.C.
Gaea rising from the earth, Athenian red-figurekylix C5th B.C., Antikenmuseen, Berlin
GAIA (or Gaea) was the Protogenos(primeval divinity) of earth, one of the primal elements who first emerged at the dawn of creation, along with air, sea and sky. She was the great mother of all : the heavenly gods were descended from her union with Ouranos (the sky), the sea-gods from her union with Pontos (the sea), the Gigantes from her mating with Tartaros(the hell-pit) and mortal creatures were sprung or born from her earthy flesh.
In myth Gaia appears as the prime opponent of the heavenly gods. First she rebelled against her husband Ouranos (Sky) who had imprisoned her sons in her womb. Then later, when her son Kronosdefied her by imprisoning these same sons, she assisted Zeus in his overthrow of the Titan. Finally she came into conflict with Zeus, angered with him for the binding of her Titan-sons in the pit of Tartaros. In her opposition she first produced the tribe of Gigantes and later the monsterTyphoeus to dethrone him, but both failed in both attempts.
In the ancient Greek cosmology earth was conceived as a flat disk encirced by the river Okeanos, and topped above by the solid dome of heaven and below by the great pit of Tartaros. She herself supported the sea and moutains upon her breast.
Gaia was depicted as a buxom, matronly woman, half risen from the earth (as in
the image right) in Greek vase painting. She was portrayed as inseperable from her native element. In mosaic art, Gaia appears as a full-figured, reclining woman, often clothed in green, and sometimes accompanied by grain spirits--the Karpoi.
ACHOS (Akhos) Pain of Body, Pain of Mind, Grief, Distress (Latin Dolor)
ADEPHAGIA Gluttony
ADICIA (Adikia) Injustice, Wrong-doing
AEDOS (Aidos) Reverence, Respect, Shame, Self-Respect, Modesty (Latin Pudicitia)
AERGIA Idleness, Laziness, Do Nothing, Sloth (Latin Socordia, Ignavia)
AESCHYNE (Aiskhyne) Shame, Sense of Shame, Modesty, Honour (Latin Pudicitia)
AGLAEA (Aglaia) Beauty, Splendour, Glory, Magnificence, Adornment
AGON Contest, Struggle
ALALA War-Cry, Battle-Cry
ALASTOR Blood Feud, Vengeance
ALETHEIA Truth, Truthfulness, Sincerity (Latin Veritas)
ALGEA (plural) Pain of Body, Pain of Mind, Grief, Distress, Suffering (Latin Dolor)
AMECHANIA (Amekhania) Helplessness, Want of Means
AMPHILOGIAE (Amphilogiai) (plural) Disputes, Debate, Contention (Latin Altercatio)
ANAIDEIA Ruthlessness, Shamelessness, Unforgivingness
ANANCE (Ananke) Necessity, Compulsion (Latin Necessitas)
ANDROCTASIAE (Androktasiai) (plural) Slaughter of Men in Battle
ANGELIA Message, Tidings, Proclamation
ANIA Grief, Sorrow, Distress, Trouble (Latin Dolor)
ANTEROS Reciprocated Love
APATE Trick, Fraud, Deceit, Guile, Treachery (Latin Dolus, Fraus)
APORIA Difficulty, Perplexity, Want of Means
ARAE (Arai) (plural) Curses, Imprecations
ARETE Virtue, Excellence, Goodness, Manliness, Valour (Latin Virtus)
ATE Delusion, Infatuation, Folly, Reckless Impulse, Rash Action (Latin Nefas, Error)
BIA Force, Power, Might, Bodily Strength, Compulsion (Latin Vis)
CACIA (Kakia) Vice, Moral Badness
CAERUS (Kairos) Opportunity, Critical Time, Advantage, Profit (Latin Occasio, Tempus)
CALLEIS (Kalleis) Beauty
CALOCAGATHIA (Kalokagathia) Nobility, Nobleness, Goodness
CHARIS (Kharis) Beauty, Grace, Favour
CHARITES (Kharites) (plural) Grace, Favour, Beauty (Latin Gratiae)
COALEMUS (Koalemos) Stupidity, Foolishness
CORUS (Koros) Satiety, Surfeit, Insolence, Disdain
CRATUS (Kratos) Strength, Might, Power, Bodily Strength, Rule (Latin Potestas)
CTESIUS (Ktesios) Home, House, Domestic Property
CYDOIMUS (Kydoimos) Din of Battle, Confusion, Uproar, Hubbub
DEIMUS (Deimos) Terror-Fear, Dread (Latin Pavor, Formido)
DEMOCRACIA (Demokrakia) Democracy
DICAIOSYNE (Dikaiosyne) Justice, Righteousness
DIKE Justice, Rights by Custom & Law, Righteous Judgment (Latin Justitia)
DOLUS (Dolos) Trickery, Cunning Deception, Craftiness, Guile, Treachery (Latin Dolus)
DYSNOMIA Lawlessness, Bad Civil Constitution
DYSSEBIA Impiety, Ungodliness (Latin Impietas)
EIRENE Peace (Latin Pax)
ECECHEIRIA (Ekekheiria) Truce, Armistice, Cessation of Hostilities
ELEUS (Eleos) Pity, Mercy, Compassion (Latin Misericordia, Clemencia)
ELPIS Hope, Expectation (Latin Spes)
EPIALES Nightmare
EPIDOTES Ritual Purification
EPIPHRON Prudence, Shrewdness, Carefulness, Thoughtfulness, Sagacity
ERIS Strife, Discord, Quarrel, Contention, Rivalry, Battle-Strife (Latin Discordia)
EROS Love, Sexual Passion (Latin Amor, Cupidos)
EUCLEIA (Eukleia) Good Repute, Glory
EUDAEMONIA (Eudaimonia) Happiness
EUNOMIA Good Order, Civil Order, Good Laws, Lawful Behaviour
EUPHEME Good Words, Praise, Acclamation, Applause
EUPHROSYNE Good Cheer, Cheerfulness, Merriment, Joy, Mirth
EUPRAXIA Good Conduct
EUSEBIA Piety, Filial Respect, Loyalty (Latin Pietas)
EUTHENIA Prosperity, Abundance, Plenty
EUTHYMIA Good Cheer, Joy, Contentment
EUTYCHIA (Eutykhia) Good Fortune, Luck, Prosperity, Success (Latin Fortuna)
GELUS (Gelos) Laughter (Latin Risus)
GERAS Old Age (Latin Senectus)
HARMONIA Harmony, Marital Harmony, Concord, Union, Joining (Latin Concordia)
HEBE Youth, Youthful Prime (Latin Juventas)
HEDONE Pleasure, Enjoyment, Delight, Sensual Pleasures (Latin Voluptas)
HEDYLOGUS (Hedylogos) Sweet talk, Flatter
HESYCHIA (Hesykhia) Quiet, Rest, Silence, Stillness (Latin Quies, Silentia)
HIMERUS (Himeros) Sexual Desire, Longing, Yearning
HOMADUS (Homados) Din of Battle, Battle-Noise, Tumult
HOMONOEA (Homonoia) Concord, Unanimity, Oneness of Mind (Latin Concordia)
HORCUS (Horkos) Oath, Punishment of Perjury (Latin Jusjurandum)
HORMES Effort, Impulse to Do, Setting Oneself in Motion, Eagerness, Starting Action
HYBRIS Insolence, Violence, Excessive Pride, Wantonness, Outrageous Behaviour (Latin Petulantia, Superbia)
HYGEIA Good Health (Latin Salus)
HYPNUS (Hypnos) Sleep, Sleepiness (Latin Somnus)
HYSMINAE (Hysminai) (plural) Fighting, Fights, Fist-Fights, Combat (Latin Pugna)
KERES (plural) Death, Doom of Death, Plague (Latin Letum, Tenebrae)
LETHE Forgetfulness, Oblivion (Latin Oblivio, Letum)
LIMUS (Limos) Hunger, Famine, Starvation (Latin Fames)
LITAE (Litai) (plural) Prayer, Entreaty
LUPE Pain of Body, Pain of Mind, Grief (Latin Dolor)
LYSSA Rage, Martial Rage, Fury, Raging Madness, Frenzy, Rabies (Latin Ira, Furor, Rabies)
MACHAE (Makhai) (plural) Battle, Combat
MANIAE (Maniai) (plural) Madness, Crazed Frenzy, Insanity (Latin Insania)
METHE Drunkenness, Inebriety
MNEMOSYNE Memory (Latin Moneta)
MOIRAE (Moirai) (plural) Fate, Destiny, Portion (Latin Parca, Parcae)
MOMUS (Momos) Mockery, Ridicule, Blame, Reproach, Stinging Criticism (Latin Querella)
MORUS (Moros) Fate, Destiny, Doom, Death (Latin Fatum)
MUSICA (Mousika) Music
NEICEA (Neikea) (plural) Quarrel, Feud, Grievance (Latin Altercatio)
NEMESIS Righteous Indignation, Distribution of Dues, Jealousy, Wrath (Latin Invidia)
NIKE Victory (Latin Victoria)
NOMUS (Nomos) Law, Laws, Ordinances, Statutes
NOSI (Nosoi) (plural) Sickness, Disease, Plague (Latin Morbus)
OIZYS Woe, Misery (Latin Miseria, Tristitia)
OLETHRUS (Olethros) Day of Doom, Destruction, Death
ONEIRI (Oneiroi) (plural) Dream, Dreams (Latin Somnium, Somnia)
OSSA Rumour (Latin Fama)
PALIOXIS Backrush, Flight, Retreat in Battle
PAREGOROS Comfort, Consolation, Soothing Words (Latin Consolatio)
PEITHARCHIA (Peitharkhia) Obedience to Command
PEITHO Persuasion, Suasion, Seduction (Latin Suadela)
PENIA Poverty, Need, Penury
PENTHUS (Penthos) Grief, Sorrow, Mourning, Misery (Latin Luctus)
PHEME Rumour, Report, Common Talk, Gossip, Fame, Reputation (Latin Fama)
PHILIA Affectionate Regard, Friendship (Latin Amicitia, Gratia)
PHILOPHROSYNE Friendliness, Kindliness, Welcome
PHILOTES Friendship, Love, Affection, Sex (Latin Amicitia, Gratia)
PHOBUS (Phobos) Panic-Fear, Flight, Rout (Latin Metus, Terror, Fuga)
PHONI (Phonoi) (plural) Murder, Killing, Slaughter
PHRICE (Phrike) Horror (Latin Horror)
PHTHISIS Wasting Away, Perishing, Decay (Latin Tabes)
PHTHONUS (Phthonos) Envy, Jealousy, Ill-Will, Malice (Latin Invidia)
PHYGE Flight, Escape, Flight from Battle, Exile, Banishment (Latin Fuga)
PISTIS Trust, Honesty, Faith, Trustworthiness (Latin Fides)
PLUTUS (Ploutos) Wealth
POINAE (Poinai) (plural) Retribution, Vengeance, Recompense, Punishment, Penalty, Bloodmoney (for murder and manslaughter) (Latin Ultio)
POLEMUS (Polemos) War, Battle
POMPE Religious Procession
PONUS (Ponos) Hard Work, Toil, Labour (Latin Labor)
PORUS (Poros) Expediency, Means of Accomplishing or Providing, Contivance, Device
POTHUS (Pothos) Sexual Longing, Yearning
PRAXIDICAE (Praxidikai) Exacting Justice
PRAXIDIKE Exacting Justice, Exacting Penalties
PROIOXIS Onrush, Pursuit in Battle
PROPHASIS Excuse, Plea
PSEUDOLOGI (Pseudologoi) (plural) Lies, Lying Words, Falsehood (Latin Mendacium)
PTOCHEIA (Ptokheia) Beggary
SOPHIA Wisdom
SOPHROSYNE Moderation, Temperence, Self-Control, Prudence, Discretion (Latin Continentia, Sobrietas)
SOTER Safety, Deliverance & Preservation from Harm
SOTERIA Safety, Deliverance & Preservation from Harm
TECHNE (Tekhne) Art, Craft, Technical Skill
TELETE Consecration, Initiation
THALIA Festivity, Banquet
THANATUS (Thanatos) Death (Latin Mors, Letus)
THRASUS (Thrasos) Overboldness, Rashness, Insolence
TYCHE (Tykhe) Fortune, Chance, Providence, Fate (Latin Fortuna)
ZELUS (1) (Zelos) Rivalry, Zeal, Emulation, Ambition, Envy
ZELUS (2) (Zelos) Jealousy, Envy
A COMPLETE LIST OF ABSTRACT PERSONIFICATIONS (LATIN)
The following Latin personifications appear in the works of poets and writers such as Ovid, Virgil, Cicero, Statius, Seneca, Apuleius and Hyginus.
ALTERCATIO Altercation, Dispute, Debate (Greek Amphilogia, Neicus)
AMICITIA Friendship (Greek Philotes, Philia)
AMOR Love (Greek Eros)
ARDOR Ardour, Heat of Passion, Ardent Desire (Greek Pothus)
BELLA War (Greek Enyo)
BONUS EVENTUS Good Fortune, Success
CLEMENCIA Clemency, Mercy (Greek Eleus)
CONCORDIA Concord, Harmony, Agreeing Together (Greek Harmonia, Homonoia)
CONSOLATIO Consolation, Comfort (Greek Paregoron)
CONSUETUDO Habit, Custom
CONTINENTIA Continence, Temperence, Moderation (Greek Sophrosyne)
CURA Care, Worry
DISCORDIA Discord, Strife, Dissension, Disagreement (Greek Eris)
DOLOR Pain (of body and mind), Ache, Distress, Grief, Sorrow, Anguish, Trouble (Greek Algos, Ania, Achos)
DOLUS Guile, Trickery, Cunning Deception (Greek Dolus)
ERROR Error (Greek Ate)
FAMA Rumour, Report, Common Talk, Gossip, Fame, Infamy (Greek Pheme, Ossa)
FAMES Hunger, Famine (Greek Limus)
FATUM Fate, Destiny, Fated Death (Greek Morus)
FIDES Trust, Faith (Greek Pistis)
FORTUNA, FORS Fortune, Chance, Luck, Fate (Greek Tyche)
FRAUS Cheating, Deceit, Fraud (Greek Apate)
FUGA Flight, Escape, Flight from Battle, Exile (Greek Phyge)
FUROR Rage, Madness, Fury (Greek Lyssa)
GRATIA Favour, Esteem, Regard, Liking, Love, Friendship (Greek Philotes, Charis)
GRATIAE (plural) Grace, Favour, Regard, Friendship (Greek Charites)
HORROR Horror, Shivering Fear, Trembling Fear (Greek Phrice)
IGNAVIA Laziness, Idleness, Sloth (Greek Aergia)
IMPETUS Attack, Assault, Violent Impulse, Rapid Motion, Impetus, Impulse
IMPIETAS Impiety (Greek Dyssebia)
INCESTUM (i) Religious Impurity, Uncleanliness, Pollution, Defilement (ii) Sexually Impure, Unchaste, Lewd, Lustful, Incestuous
INSANIA Insanity, Madness, Frenzy (Greek Mania)
INSIDIA Ambush
INVIDIA Envy, Jealousy, Ill-Will (Greek Nemesis, Phthonus, Zelus)
INVIDENTIA Envy, Jealousy, Ill-Will (Greek Nemesis)
IRAE (plural) Anger, Wrath, Rage, Ire (Greek Lyssa)
JUSJURANDUM Oath (Greek Horcus)
JUSTITIA Justice, Equity, Righteousness (Greek Dike)
JUVENTAS Youth (Greek Hebe)
LABOR Labour, Toil, Exertion (Greek Ponus)
LETUM Death, Destruction (Greek Ker)
LETUS Death (Greek Thanatus)
LUCTUS Lamentation, Mourning, Grief, Sorrow (Greek Penthus)
LUES Plague, Pestilence, Spreading Evil or Calamity (Greek Ker, Nosus)
MACIES Wasting, Thinness, Leanness, Meagreness (Greek Ischnasia)
MAJESTA Majesty
MENDACIUM Lie, Untruth, Falsehood (Greek Pseudologus)
METUS Fear, Dread, Terror, Apprehension, Anxiety (Greek Phobus)
MISERIA Misery, Wretchedness, Unhappiness, Distress (Greek Oizys)
MISERICORDIA Pity, Compassion, Mercy (Greek Eleus)
MONETA Memory (Greek Mnemosyne)
MORBUS Disease, Sickness, Plague, Illness, Malady (Greek Nosi)
MORS Death (Greek Thanatus)
NECESSITAS Necessity (Greek Anance)
NEFAS Sin, Unlawfulness, Impiety, Criminality, Wickedness (Greek Cacia)
OBLIVIO Forgetfulness, Oblivion (Greek Lethe)
OCCASIO Opportunity, Occasion (Greek Caerus)
OTIA Ease, Liesure (Greek Acratus)
PARCAE (plural) Portion, Share, Fate, Destiny (Greek Moira, Moirae)
PAVOR Fear, Dread, Anxiety, Panic (Greek Phobus)
PAX Peace (Greek Eirene)
PERTINACIA Obstinacy, Stubbornness, Pertinacity, Perserverence
PESTIS Pestilence, Contagious Disease, Destruction, Ruin (Greek Olethrus, Ker)
PETULANTIA Impudence, Sauciness, Freakishness, Wantonness, Petulance (Greek Hybris)
PIETAS Piety, Filial Respect, Duty, Loyalty (Greek Eusebia)
POENA Penalty, Vengeance, Punishment, Expiation, Compensation (Greek Poine)
POTESTAS Power, Rule, Dominion (Greek Cratus)
PUDICITIA Modesty, Chastity, Virtue, Shame (Greek Aedus, Aischyne)
PUDOR Shame (Greek Aedus)
PUGNA Fight, Fist-Fight, Battle (Greek Hysmina)
QUERELLA Complaint (Greek Momus)
QUIES Quiet, Rest (Greek Hesychia)
RABIES Rage, Madness, Anger, Fury, Frenzy, Rabies (Greek Lyssa)
RISUS Laughter, Joke (Greek Gelus)
SALUS Good Health (Greek Hygeia)
SCELUS Crime
SENECTUS Old Age (Greek Geras)
SILENTIA Silence, Stillness (Greek Hesychia)
SOBRIETAS Sobriety, Temperance, Moderation, Continence (Greek Sophrosyne)
SOCORDIA Sloth, Laziness, Indolence, Inactivity, Carelessness, Negligence (Greek Aergia)
SOLLICITATIO Vexation, Anxiety
SOMNIA (plural) Dream, Dreams (Greek Oneirus, Oneiri)
SOMNUS Sleep (Greek Hypnus)
SOPOR Sleep (Greek Hypnus)
SPES Hope (Greek Elpis)
SUADELA, SUADA Persuasion (Greek Peitho)
SUPERBIA Pride, Arrogance, Loftiness, Haughtiness (Greek Hybris)
TABES Wasting Away, Wasting Disease, Corruption, Putrefaction (Greek Phthisis)
TEMPUS Temporary Time (Greek Caerus)
TENEBRAE Darkness, Darkness-of-Death, Death-Shades (Greek Keres)
TRISTITIA Sadness, Mournfulness, Sorrow, Dejection, Melancholy, Gloominess (Greek Oizys)
ULTIO Vengeance, Revenge (Greek Poena)
VERITAS Truth, Truthfulness, Verity, Integrity (Greek Aletheia)
VETUSTAS Ancient Times, Antiquity
VICTORIA Victory (Greek Nike)
VIRTUS Virtue, Manliness, Courage, Bravery, Excellence (Greek Arete)
VIS Force, Power, Hostile Strength (Greek Bia)
VOLUPTAS Pleasure, Enjoyment, Delight (Greek Hedone)
A SELECTION OF EXTRACTS FROM GREEK AND ROMAN WRITERS
Hesiod, Theogony 211 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) : "Nyx (Night) bare hateful Moros (Doom of Death) and black Ker (Fate of Death) and Thanatos (Death), and she bare Hypnos (Sleep) and the tribe of Oneiroi (Dreams). And again the goddess murky Nyx, though she lay with none, bare Momos (Criticism) and painful Oizys (Misery) , and the Hesperides (Evenings) . . . Also she bare the Moirai (Fates) and the ruthless
avenging Keres (Deaths) . . . Also deadly Nyx bare Nemesis to afflict mortal men, and after her, Apate (Deceit) and Philotes (Sex) and hateful Geras (Old Age) and hard-hearted Eris (Strife).But abhorred Eris (Strife) bare painful Ponos (Toil), and Lethe (Forgetfulness), and Limos (Starvation), and the Algea (Pains), full of weeping, the Hysminai (Fightings) and the Makhai (Battles), the Phonoi (Murders) and the Androktasiai (Man-slaughters), the Neikea (Quarrels), the Pseudo-Logoi (Lies), the Amphilogiai (Disputes), and Dysnomia (Lawlessness) and Ate (Ruin), who share one another's natures, and Horkos (Oath) who does more damage than any other to earthly men, when anyone, of his knowledge, swears to a false oath."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) : "From Nox (Night) and Erebus [were born]: Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Letum (Dissolution), Continentia (Continence), Somnus (Sleep), Somnia (Dreams), Amor--that is Lysimeles, Epiphron, Porphyrion, Epaphus, Discordia (Discord), Miseria (Wretchedness), Petulantia (Wantonness), Nemesis, Euphrosyne, Amicitia (Friendship), Misericordia (Compassion), Styx; the three Parcae (Fates), namely Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos; the Hesperides Aegle, Hesperie and Aerica . . .From Aether and Terra (Earth) [were born]: Dolor (Grief), Dolus (Deceit), Ira (Wrath), Luctus (Lamentation), Mendacium (Falsehood), Jusiurandum (Oath), Vltio (Vengeance), Intemperantia (Intemperance), Altercatio (Altercation), Obliuio (Forgetfulness), Socordia (Sloth), Timor (Fear), Superbia (Pride), Incestum (Incest), Pugna (Combat)."
Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3. 17 (trans. Rackham) : "Aether (Upper Air) and Dies (Day), must be held to be gods, and their brothers and sisters, whom the ancient genealogists name Amor (Love), Dolus (Guile), Metus (Fear), Labor (Toil), Invidentia (Envy), Fatum (Fate), Senectus (Old Age), Mors (Death), Tenebrae (Darkness of Death), Miseria (Misery), Querella (Criticism), Gratia (Friendship), Fraus (Deceit), Pertinacia (Obstinacy), the Parcae (Fates), the Hesperides, the Somnia (Dreams) : all of these are fabled to be the children of Erebus (Darkness) and Nox (Night)."