PRIMORDIAL DEITIES

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Ancient Greek name

English name
Description
(Aithr)

Aether

The god of the upper air and light.

(Annk)

Ananke

The goddess of inevitability, compulsion, and necessity.

(Chos)

Chaos

(Chrnos) Chronos
(rebos)
(Eros)
(Gaa)
(Hmra)

Erebos or
Erebus
Eros

The nothingness from which all else sprang. Described as a

void.
The god of time. Not to be confused with the Titan Cronus,
the father of Zeus.
The god of darkness and shadow.
The god of love and attraction.

Gaia or Gaea
Personification of the Earth (Mother Earth); mother of
or Ge

the Titans.

Hemera

Goddess of daylight.

("Hypnos") Hypnos

God of Sleep.

N (Nsoi)

The Nesoi The goddesses of the islands and sea.

(Nx)

Nyx or Night
The goddess of night.

(Ourans)Uranus

The god of the heavens (Father Sky); father of the Titans.

(Orea)

The Ourea The gods of mountains.

(Phns)

Phanes

The god of procreation in the Orphic tradition.

(Pntos)

Pontus

The god of the sea, father of the fish and other sea creatures.

(TrtarosTartarus
(ThlassaThalassa
("Thnatos")
Thanatos

The god of the deepest, darkest part of the underworld,

the Tartarean pit (which is also referred to as Tartarus itself).
Spirit of the sea and consort of Pontos.
God of Death. Brother to Hypnos (Sleep) and in some
cases Moros (Doom)

TITANS

Greek name

English name
Description

The Twelve Titans

(Hypern)

Hyperion

(Iapets)

Iapetus

Titan of light. With Theia, he is the father of Helios

(the sun), Selene (the moon), and Eos(the dawn).
Titan

of

mortality

and

father

of Prometheus, Epimetheus,

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Menoetius, and Atlas.

(Koos)

Coeus

(Kreos)

Crius

Titan of intellect and the axis of heaven around which

the constellations revolved.
The least individualized of the Twelve Titans, he is the
father of Astraeus, Pallas, andPerses.
The

(Crnos)

Cronus

leader

of

the

Titans,

who

overthrew

his

father Uranus only to be overthrown in turn by his son,

Zeus. Not to be confused with Chronos, the god of time.

Titan of memory and remembrance, and mother of

M (Mnmosn
Mnemosyne
the Nine Muses.
(ceans)

Oceanus

(Phob)

Phoebe

Titan of the all-encircling river Oceans around the earth,

the font of all the Earth's fresh-water.
Titan of the "bright" intellect and prophecy, and consort
of Koios.
Titan of female fertility, motherhood, and generation.

(Rha)

Rhea

She is the sister and consort of Cronus, and mother of

Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia.

(Tths)

Tethys

Wife of Oceanus, and the mother of the rivers, springs,

streams, fountains, and clouds.
Titan of sight and the shining light of the clear blue sky.

(Thea)

Theia

She is the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios,

Selene, and Eos.

(Thmis)

Themis

Titan of divine law and order.

(Astera)

Asteria

Titan of nocturnal oracles and falling stars.

(Astraos)

Astraeus

Other Titans
Titan of dusk, stars, and planets, and the art of
astrology.
Titan forced to carry the sky upon his shoulders by
(tlas)

Atlas

Zeus.
Also Son of Iapetus.
Titan of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early

(Ara)

Aura

(Din)

Dione

Titan of the oracle of Dodona.

(s)

Eos

Titan of the dawn.

morning.

(EpimthesEpimetheusTitan of afterthought and the father of excuses.

(Euryba)

Eurybia

Titan of the mastery of the seas and consort of Krios.

(Eurynm) Eurynome Titan of water-meadows and pasturelands, and

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mother of the three Charites by Zeus.

(Hlios)
(Clymn)
(Llantos)

Helios
Clymene or
Asia
Lelantos

Titan of the sun and guardian of oaths.

Titan of renown, fame, and infamy, and wife of Iapetos.
Titan of air and the hunter's skill of stalking prey.
He is the male counterpart of Leto.
Titan of motherhood and mother of the twin Olympians,

(Lt)

Leto

Artemis
and Apollo.
Titan

of

violent

anger,

rash

action,

and

human

(Menotios) Menoetius mortality.

Killed by Zeus.
Titan of good counsel, advice, planning, cunning,
(Mtis)

Metis

craftiness,
and wisdom. Mother of Athena.
An elder Titan, in some versions of the myth he ruled

(Ophn)

Ophion

the Earth with his consort Eurynome before Cronus

overthrew him. Another account describes him as a
snake, born from the "World Egg"

(Pllas)

Pallas

(Prss)

Perses

Titan of warcraft. He was killed by Athena during the

Titanomachy.
Titan of destruction and peace.

Titan of forethought and crafty counsel, and creator of

(PromthesPrometheus
mankind.
(Seln)

Selene

(Stx)

Styx

Titan of the moon.

Titan of the Underworld river Styx and personification
of hatred.

GIGANTES (GIANTS)

The Hekatonkheires, or Centimanes (Latin), the Hundred-Handed Ones, giant gods of

violent storms and hurricanes. Three sons of Uranus and Gaea, each with their own
distinct characters.[1]

Briareus or Aigaion, The Vigorous

Cottus, The Furious

Gyges, The Big-Limbed

Agrius, a man-eating Thracian giant who was half-man and half-bear

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Alcyoneus, the eldest of the Thracian giants, who was slain by Heracles

Aloadae, twin giants who attempted to storm heaven, in some accounts, using a hill piled
up with stone.

Otos or Otis

Ephialtes

Antaeus, a Libyan giant who wrestled all visitors to the death until he was slain by
Heracles

Argus Panoptes, a hundred-eyed giant tasked with guarding over Io

Cyclopes (Elder), three one-eyed giants who forged the lightning-bolts of Zeus, Trident of
Poseidon and Helmet of Hades

Arges

Brontes

Steropes

Cyclopes (Younger), a tribe of one-eyed, man-eating giants who herded flocks of sheep on
the island of Sicily

Polyphemus, a cyclops who briefly captured Odysseus and his men, only to be
overcome and blinded by the hero

Enceladus, one of the Thracian giants who made war on the gods

The Gegenees, a tribe of six-armed giants fought by the Argonauts on Bear Mountain in
Mysia

Geryon, a three-bodied, four-winged giant who dwelt on the red island of Erytheia

The Laestrygonians, a tribe of man-eating giants encountered by Odysseus on his

travels

Orion, a giant huntsman whom Zeus placed among the stars as the constellation of Orion

Porphyrion, the king of the Thracian Gigantes who was struck down by Heracles and
Zeus with arrows and lightning-bolts after he attempted to rape Hera

Talos, a giant forged from bronze by Hephaestus, and gifted by Zeus to his lover Europa
as her personal protector

Tityos, a giant slain by Apollo and Artemis when he attempted to violate their mother
Leto.

Typhon, a monstrous immortal storm-giant who attempted to launch an attack on Mt.

Olympus but was defeated by the Olympians and imprisoned in the pits of Tartarus

PERSONIFIED CONCEPTS

Achlys spirit of the death-mist, personification of sadness and misery

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Adephagia, spirit of satiety and gluttony

Adikia, spirit of injustice and wrongdoing

Aergia, spirit of idleness, laziness, indolence and sloth

Agon, spirit of contest, who possessed an altar at Olympia, site of the Olympic Games.

Aidos , spirit of modesty, reverence and respect

Aisa, personification of lot and fate

Alala, spirit of the war cry

Alastor, spirit of blood feuds and vengeance

Aletheia, spirit of truth, truthfulness and sincerity

The Algea , spirits of pain and suffering

Achos "trouble, distress"

Ania "ache, anguish"

Lupe "pain, grief, sadness"

Alke, spirit of prowess and courage

Amechania, spirit of helplessness and want of means

The Amphilogiai, spirits of disputes, debate, and contention

Anaideia, spirit of ruthlessness, shamelessness, and unforgivingness

The Androktasiai, spirits of battlefield slaughter

Angelia, spirit of messages, tidings and proclamations

Apate, spirit of deceit, guile, fraud and deception

Apheleia, spirit of simplicity

Aporia, spirit of difficulty, perplexity, powerlessness, and want of means

The Arae, spirits of curses

Arete, spirit of virtue, excellence, goodness, and valour

At, spirit of delusion, infatuation, blind folly, recklessness, and ruin

Bia, spirit of force, power, bodily strength, and compulsion

Caerus, spirit of opportunity

Corus, spirit of surfeit

Deimos, spirit of fear, dread, and terror

Dikaiosyne, spirit of justice and righteousness

Dike, spirit of justice, fair judgement, and the rights established by custom and law

Dolos, spirit of trickery, cunning deception, craftiness, treachery, and guile

Dysnomia, spirit of lawlessness and poor civil constitution

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Dyssebeia, spirit of impiety

Eirene, goddess of peace

Ekecheiria, spirit of truce, armistice, and the cessation of all hostilities; honoured at the
Olympic Games

Eleos, spirit of mercy, pity, and compassion

Elpis, spirit of hope and expectation

Epiphron, spirit of prudence, shrewdness, thoughtfulness, carefulness, and sagacity

Eris, spirit of strife, discord, contention, and rivalry

The Erotes

Anteros, god of requited love

Eros, god of love and sexual intercourse

Hedylogos, god of sweet talk and flattery

Himeros, god of sexual desire

Pothos, god of sexual longing, yearning, and desire

Eucleia, spirit of good repute and glory

Eulabeia), spirit of discretion, caution, and circumspection

Eunomia, goddess of good order and lawful conduct

Eupheme, spirit of words of good omen, acclamation, praise, applause, and shouts of
triumph

Eupraxia, spirit of well-being

Eusebeia, spirit of piety, loyalty, duty, and filial respect

Euthenia, spirit of prosperity, abundance, and plenty

Gelos, spirit of laughter

Geras, spirit of old age

Harmonia, goddess of harmony and concord

Hebe, goddess of youth

Hedone, spirit of pleasure, enjoyment, and delight

Heimarmene, personification of share destined by fate

Homados, spirit of the din of battle

Homonoia, spirit of concord, unanimity, and oneness of mind

Horkos, spirit of oaths

Horme, spirit of impulse or effort (to do a thing), eagerness, setting oneself in motion, and
starting an action

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Hybris, spirit of outrageous behaviour

Hypnos, god of sleep

Hermes watches Hypnos and Thanatos carry the dead Sarpedon from the battlefield at
Troy (Euphronios krater)

The Hysminai, spirits of fighting and combat

Ioke, spirit of pursuit in battle

Kakia, spirit of vice and moral badness

Kalokagathia, spirit of nobility

The Keres, spirit of violent or cruel death

Koalemos, spirit of stupidity and foolishness

Kratos, spirit of strength, might, power, and sovereign rule

Kydoimos (), spirit of the din of battle, confusion, uproar, and hubbub

Lethe (), spirit of forgetfulness and oblivion, and of the river of the same name

Limos (), spirit of hunger and starvation

The Litae, spirits of prayer

Lyssa, spirit of rage, fury and rabies in animals

The Machai, spirits of fighting and combat

Mania, spirit or spirits of madness, insanity, and frenzy

The Moirai, or "Fates"

Clotho, the spinner of the life thread

Lachesis, the measurer of the life thread

Atropos, the severer of the life thread

Momus, spirit of mockery, blame, censure and stinging criticism

Moros, spirit of doom

The Neikea, spirits of quarrels, feuds and grievances

Nemesis, goddess of revenge, balance, righteous indignation, and retribution

Nike, goddess of victory

Nomos, spirit of law

Oizys, spirit of woe and misery

The Oneiroi, spirits of dreams

Epiales, spirit of nightmares

Morpheus, god of dreams, who takes shape of humans

Phantasos, spirit of dreams of fantasy, who takes shape of inanimate objects

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Phobetor or Icelos, spirit of nightmares, who takes shape of animals

Palioxis, spirit of backrush, flight and retreat from battle

Peitharchia, spirit of obedience

Peitho, spirit of persuasion and seduction

Penia, spirit of poverty and need

Penthus, spirit of grief, mourning, and lamentation

Pepromene, personification of the destined share, similar to Heimarmene

Pheme, spirit of rumour, report, and gossip

Philophrosyne, spirit of friendliness, kindness, and welcome

Philotes, spirit of friendship, affection, and sexual intercourse

Phobos, spirit of panic fear, flight, and battlefield rout

The Phonoi, spirits of murder, killing, and slaughter

Phrike, spirit of horror and trembling fear

Phthonus, spirit of envy and jealousy

Pistis, spirit of trust, honesty, and good faith

Poine, spirit of retribution, vengeance, recompense, punishment, and penalty for the
crime of murder and manslaughter

Polemos, personification of war

Ponos, spirit of hard labour and toil

Poros, spirit of expediency, the means of accomplishing or providing, contrivance and

device

Praxidike, spirit of exacting justice

Proioxis, spirit of onrush and battlefield pursuit

Prophasis, spirit of excuses and pleas

The Pseudologoi, spirits of lies

Ptocheia, spirit of beggary

Soter, male spirit of safety, preservation, and deliverance from harm

Soteria, female personification of safety, preservation, and deliverance from harm

Sophrosyne, spirit of moderation, self-control, temperance, restraint, and discretion

Techne, personification of art and skill

Thanatos, spirit of death and mortality

Thrasos, spirit of boldness

Tyche, goddess of fortune, chance, providence, and fate

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Zelos, spirit of eager rivalry, emulation, envy, jealousy, and zeal

CHTHONIC DEITIES

Amphiaraus, a hero of the war of the Seven Against Thebe who became an oracular spirit
of the Underworld after his death

Angelos, a daughter of Zeus and Hera who became an underworld goddess

Askalaphos, the son of Acheron and Orphne who tended the Underworld orchards before
being transformed into a screech owl by Demeter

Cerberus, the three-headed hound who guarded the gates of Hades

Charon, ferryman of Hades

Empusa, a monstrous underworld spirit or spirits with flaming hair, the leg of a goat and a
leg of bronze. They are also servants of Hecate.

Erebos, the primeval god of darkness, his mists encircled the underworld and filled the
hollows of the earth

The Erinyes, the Furies, goddesses of retribution, known as "The Kindly Ones"

Alecto, the unceasing one

Tisiphone, avenger of murder

Megaera, the jealous one

Hecate, goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy

Judges of the Dead

Aiakos, former mortal king of Aegina, guardian of the keys of Hades and judge of
the men of Europe

Minos, former mortal king of Crete and judge of the final vote

Rhadamanthys, former mortal lawmaker and judge of the men of Asia

Keuthonymos, an Underworld spirit and father of Menoetes

Cronus, deposed king of the Titans; after his release from Tartarus he was appointed king
of the Island of the Blessed

Lamia, a vampiric Underworld spirit or spirits in the train of Hecate

Lampades, torch-bearing Underworld nymphs

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Gorgyra

Orphne, a Lampad nymph of Hades, mother of Askalaphos

Macaria, daughter of Hades and goddess of blessed death (not to be confused with the
daughter of Heracles)

Melinoe, daughter of Persephone and Zeus who presided over the propitiations offered to
the ghosts of the dead

Menoetes, an Underworld spirit who herded the cattle of Hades

Mormo, a fearsome Underworld spirit or spirits in the train of Hecate

Nyx, the primeval goddess of night

Persephone, queen of the underworld, wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth

Rivers of the Underworld

Acheron, the river of pain

Kokytos, the river of wailing

Lethe, the river of forgetfulness

Phlegethon, the river of fire

Styx, the river of oaths

Tartarus, the primeval god of the dark, stormy pit of Hades

Thanatos, spirit of death and minister of Hades

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SEA DEITIES

Aegaeon, god of violent sea storms and ally of the Titans

Achelous, shark-shaped sea spirit

Amphitrite, sea goddess and consort of Poseidon

Benthesikyme, daughter of Poseidon, who resided in Ethiopia

Brizo, patron goddess of sailors, who sent prophetic dreams

Ceto, goddess of the dangers of the ocean and of sea monsters

Charybdis, a sea monster and spirit of whirlpools and the tide

Cymopoleia, a daughter of Poseidon married to the Giant Briareus

Delphin, the leader of the dolphins, Poseidon placed him in the sky as the constellation
Delphin

Eidothea, prophetic sea nymph and daughter of Proteus

Glaucus, the fisherman's sea god

Gorgons, three monstrous sea spirits

Stheno

Euryale

Medusa, the only mortal of the three

The Graeae, three ancient sea spirits who personified the white foam of the sea; they
shared one eye and one tooth between them

Deino

Enyo

Pemphredo

The Harpies, winged spirits of sudden, sharp gusts of wind

Aello or Aellope or Aellopous

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Ocypete or Ocypode or Ocythoe

Podarge or Podarke

Celaeno

Nicothoe

Hippocampi, the horses of the sea they are half horse with the tail of a fish

Hydros, primordial god of waters

The Ichthyocentaurs, a pair of centaurine sea-gods with the upper bodies of men, the
lower fore-parts of horses, ending in the serpentine tails of fish

Bythos "sea depth"

Aphros "sea foam"

Karkinos, a giant crab who allied itself with the Hydra against Heracles. When it died,
Hera placed it in the sky as the constellation Cancer.

Ladon, a hundred-headed sea serpent who guarded the western reaches of the sea, and
the island and golden apples of the Hesperides

Leucothea, a sea goddess who aided sailors in distress

Nereides, sea nymphs

Thetis, leader of the Nereids who presided over the spawning of marine life in the
sea

Arethusa, a daughter of Nereus who was transformed into a fountain

Galene, goddess of calm seas

Psamathe, goddess of sand beaches

Nereus, the old man of the sea, and the god of the sea's rich bounty of fish

Nerites, a sea spirit who was transformed into a shell-fish by Aphrodite

Oceanus, Titan god of the Earth-encircling river Oceanus, the font of all the Earth's freshwater

Palaemon, a young sea god who aided sailors in distress

Phorcys, god of the hidden dangers of the deep

Pontos, primeval god of the sea, father of the fish and other sea creatures

Poseidon and Amphitrite framed byerotes and riding in a chariot drawn byhippocamps;
below them are fishermen at work, with nymphs and creatures of the sea in the
waters (color-enhanced Roman-era mosaic)

Poseidon, king of the sea and lord of the sea gods; also god of rivers, flood and drought,
earthquakes, and horses

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Proteus, a shape-shifting, prophetic old sea god, and the herdsman of Poseidon's seals

Scylla, monstrous sea goddess

The Sirens, sea nymphs who lured sailors to their death with their song

Aglaope or Aglaophonos or Aglaopheme

Himerope

Leucosia

Ligeia

Molpe

Parthenope

Peisinoe or Peisithoe

Raidne

Teles

Thelchtereia

Thelxiope or Thelxiepeia

The Telchines, sea spirits native to the island of Rhodes; the gods killed them when they
turned to evil magic

Actaeus

Argyron

Atabyrius

Chalcon

Chryson

Damon or Demonax

Damnameneus

Dexithea, mother of Euxanthios by Minos

Lycos or Lyktos

Lysagora

Makelo

Megalesius

Mylas

Nikon

Ormenos

Simon

Skelmis

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Tethys, wife of Oceanus, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains, and
clouds

Thalassa, primeval spirit of the sea and consort of Pontos

Thaumas, god of the wonders of the sea

Thoosa, goddess of swift currents

Triteia, daughter of Triton and companion of Ares

Triton, fish-tailed son and herald of Poseidon

Tritones, fish-tailed spirits in Poseidon's retinue

SKY DEITIES

Achelois, "she who washes pain away", a minor moon goddess

Aeolus, god of the winds.

Aether, primeval god of the upper air

Alectrona, solar goddess of the morning or waking up

Anemoi, gods of the winds

Boreas, god of the north wind and of winter

Eurus, god of the unlucky east or southeast wind

Notus, god of the south wind

Zephyrus, god of the west wind

Aparctias, another name for the north wind (not identified with Boreas)

Apheliotes, god of the east wind (when Eurus is considered southeast)

Argestes, another name for the west or northwest wind

Caicias god of the northeast wind

Circios or Thraskias, god of the north-northwest wind

Euronotus, god of the southeast wind

Lips, god of the southwest wind

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Skeiron, god of the northwest wind

Apollo, Olympian God of light, knowledge, music, healing, the sun, and the arts (also god
of day)

Arke, messenger of the Titans and twin sister of Iris

Astraios, Titan god of stars and planets, and the art of astrology

The Astra Planeti, gods of the five wandering stars or planets

Stilbon, god of Hermaon, the planet Mercury

Eosphorus, god of Venus the morning star

Hesperus, god of Venus the evening star

Pyroeis, god of Areios, the planet Mars

Phaethon, god of Dios, the planet Jupiter

Phaenon, god of Kronion, the planet Saturn

Aurai, nymphs of the cooling breeze

Aura, goddess of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning

Chaos, the nothingness from which all else sprang, she also represented the lower
atmosphere which surrounded the earth

Chione, goddess of snow and daughter of Boreas

Helios, Titan god of the sun and guardian of oaths

Selene, Titan goddess of the moon

Eos, Titan goddess of the dawn

Hemera, primeval goddess of daylight and the sun

Hera, Queen of Heaven and goddess of the air and starry constellations

Herse , goddess of the morning dew

The Hesperides

The Hades, nymphs that represented a star cluster in the constellation Taurus and were
associated with rain

Iris, goddess of the rainbow and divine messenger

Nephelai , cloud nymphs

Ouranos, primeval god of the heavens

Pandia, daughter of Selene and Zeus

The Pleiades, goddesses of the constellation Pleiades

Alcyone

Sterope

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Celaeno

Electra

Maia

Merope

Taygete

Zeus, King of Heaven and god of the sky, clouds, rain, thunder, and lightning

RUSTIC DEITIES

Aetna, goddess of the volcanic Mount Etna in Sicily

Amphictyonis, goddess of wine and friendship between nations, a local form of Demeter

Anthousai, flower nymphs

Aristaeus, god of bee-keeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing, and hunting

Attis, vegetation god and consort of Cybele

Britomartis, Cretan goddess of hunting and nets used for fishing, fowling and the hunting
of small game

Cabeiri, gods or spirits who presided over the Mysteries of the islands of Lemnos and
Samothrace

Aitnaios

Alkon

Eurymedon

Onnes

Tonnes

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Centaurs, a race of half-man, half-horse beings

Asbolus

Chariclo, wife of the centaur Chiron

Chiron, the eldest and wisest of the Centaurs

Eurytion

Nessus, a ferryman at the river Euenus

Pholus

The Cercopes, a pair of monkey-like thieves who plagued the land of Lydia in western
Anatolia

Akmon

Passalos

Chloris, goddess of flowers and wife of Zephyrus

Comus, god of revelry, merrymaking, and festivity

Corymbus, god of the fruit of the ivy

The Curetes, guardians of infant Zeus on Mount Ida, barely distinguished from the Dactyls
and the Corybantes

Cybele, a Phrygian mountain goddess associated with Rhea

The Dactyls "fingers", minor deities originally representing fingers of a hand

Acmon

Damnameneus

Delas

Epimedes

Heracles (not to be confused with the hero Heracles)

Iasios

Kelmis

Skythes

companions of Cybele
o

Titias

Cyllenus

Dionysus, god of wine, drunken orgies, and wild vegetation

Dryades, tree and forest nymphs

Gaia, primeval goddess of the earth

Epimeliades , nymphs of highland pastures and protectors of sheep flocks

Hamadryades, oak tree dryades

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Hecaterus, minor god of the hekateris a rustic dance of quickly moving hands and
perhaps of the skill of hands in general

Hephaestus, god of metalworking

Hermes, god of herds and flocks, of roads and boundary stones

The Horae, The Hours

The goddesses of natural order

Eunomia, spirit of good order, and springtime goddess of green pastures

Dike, spirit of justice, may have represented springtime growth

Eirene, spirit of peace and goddess of the springtime

The goddesses of springtime growth

Thallo, goddess of spring buds and shoots, identified with Eirene

Auxo , goddess of spring growth

Karpo, goddess of the fruits of the earth

The goddesses of welfare

Pherousa "the bringer"

Euporie "abundance"

Orthosie "prosperity"

The goddesses of the natural portions of time and the times of day

Auge, first light of the morning

Anatole or Anatolia, sunrise

Mousika or Musica, the morning hour of music and study

Gymnastika, Gymnastica or Gymnasia, the morning hour of gymnastics/exercise

Nymphe, the morning hour of ablutions (bathing, washing)

Mesembria, noon

Sponde, libations poured after lunch

Elete, prayer, the first of the afternoon work hours

Akte, Acte or Cypris, eating and pleasure, the second of the afternoon work hours

Hesperis, evening

Dysis, sunset

Arktos, night sky, constellation

The goddesses of seasons of the year

Eiar, spring

Theros, summer

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Pthinoporon, autumn

Cheimon, winter

Korybantes, the crested dancers who worshipped Cybele

Damneus "the one who tames"

Idaios "of Mount Ida"

Kyrbas, whose name is probably a variant of Korybas, singular for "Korybantes"

Okythoos "the one running swiftly"

Prymneus of lower areas

Pyrrhichos, god of the rustic dance

Maenades, crazed nymphs in the retinue of Dionysus

Methe, nymph of drunkenness

Meliae, nymphs of honey and the ash tree

Naiades, fresh water nymphs

Daphne

Metope

Minthe

The Nymphai Hyperboreioi, who presided over aspects of archery

Hekaerge, represented distancing

Loxo, represented trajectory

Oupis, represented aim

Oreades, mountain nymphs

Adrasteia , a nursemaid of the infant Zeus

Echo, a nymph cursed never to speak except to repeat the words of others

Oceanides, fresh water nymphs

Beroe, a nymph of Beirut, the daughter of Aphrodite and Adonis, who was wooed
by both Dionysus and Poseidon

Calypso

Clytie

Eidyia , the youngest of the Oceanides

The Ourea, primeval gods of mountains

The Palici , a pair of rustic gods who presided over the geysers and thermal springs in
Sicily

Pan, god of shepherds, pastures, and fertility

Page | 20

Potamoi, river gods

Achelous

Acis

Acheron

Alpheus

Asopus

Cladeus

Eurotas

Cocytus

Lethe

Peneus

Phlegethon

Styx

Scamander

Priapus, god of garden fertility

Rhea, the great mother and queen of the mountain wilds

Satyrs, rustic fertility spirits

Krotos, a great hunter and musician who kept the company of the Muses on Mount
Helicon

Silenus, an old rustic god of the dance of the wine-press

Telete, goddess of initiation into the Bacchic orgies

Zagreus, in the Orphic mysteries, the first incarnation of Dionysus

AGRICULTURAL DEITIES

Adonis, a life-death-rebirth deity

Aphaea, minor goddess of agriculture and fertility

Carme, a Cretan spirit who presided over the harvest festival

Carmanor, a Cretan harvest god

Chrysothemis , goddess of the "Golden Custom", a harvest festival, daughter of Demeter

and Carmanor

Cyamites , demi-god of the bean

Demeter, goddess of fertility, agriculture, grain, and harvest

Page | 21

Despoina, daughter of Poseidon and Demeter, goddess of mysteries in Arcadia

Dionysus, god of viticulture and wine

Eunostus, goddess of the flour mill

Hestia, maiden goddess of the hearth who presided over the baking of bread, mankind's
stable food

Persephone, queen of the underworld, wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth

Philomelus, agricultural demi-god inventor of the wagon and the plough

Plutus, god of wealth, including agricultural wealth, son of Demeter

DEIFIED MORTALS

Achilles, hero of the Trojan War

Aiakos, a king of Aegina, appointed as a Judge of the Dead in the Underworld after his
death

Aeolus, a king of Thessaly, made the immortal king of the winds by Zeus

Amphiaraus, a hero of the war of the Seven Against Thebe who became an oracular spirit
of the Underworld after his death

Ariadne, a Cretan princess who became the immortal wife of Dionysus

Aristaeus, a Thessalian hero, his inventions saw him immortalised as the god of beekeeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing, and hunting

Asclepius, a Thessalian physician who was struck down by Zeus, to be later recovered by
his father Apollo

Attis, a consort of Cybele, granted immortality as one of her attendants

Bolina, a mortal woman transformed into an immortal nymph by Apollo

The Dioscuri, divine twins

Castor

Pollux

Endymion, lover of Selene, granted eternal sleep so as never to age or die

Ganymede, a handsome Trojan prince, abducted by Zeus and made cup-bearer of the
gods

Glaucus, the fisherman's sea god, made immortal after eating a magical herb

Hemithea and Parthenos, princesses of the Island of Naxos who leapt into the sea to
escape their father's wrath; Apollo transformed them into demi-goddesses

Heracles, ascended hero

Page | 22

Lampsace, a semi-historical Bebrycian princess honored as goddess for her assistance to

the Greeks

Minos, a king of Crete, appointed as a Judge of the Dead in the Underworld after his death

Ino, a Theban princess who became the sea goddess Leucothea

The Leucippides, wives of the Dioscuri

Phoebe, wife of Pollux

Hilaeira, wife of Castor

Orithyia, an Athenian princess abducted by Boreas and made the goddess of cold, gusty
mountain winds

Palaemon, a Theban prince, made into a sea god along with his mother, Ino

Phylonoe, daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, made immortal by Artemis

Psyche, goddess of the soul

HEALTH DEITIES

Apollo, god of healing and medicine

Asclepius, god of healing

o

Aceso, goddess of the healing of wounds and the curing of illnesses

Aegle, goddess of radiant good health

Epione, goddess of the soothing of pain

Hygieia, goddess of cleanliness and good health

Iaso, goddess of cures, remedies, and modes of healing

Panacea, goddess of healing

Telesphorus, demi-god of convalescence, who "brought to fulfillment"

recuperation from illness or injury

OTHER DEITIES

Acratopotes , god of unmixed wine

Adrastea , a daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, or an epithet of Nemesis

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Agdistis , Phrygian hermaphroditic deity

Alexiares and Anicetus , twin sons of Heracles who presided over the defence of
fortified towns and citadels

Aphroditus , Cyprian hermaphroditic Aphrodite

Astraea, virgin goddess of justice

Auxesia and Damia, two local fertility goddesses

Charites, goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, and fertility

Aglaea, goddess of beauty, adornment, splendor and glory

Euphrosyne, goddess of good cheer, joy, mirth, and merriment

Thalia, goddess of festive celebrations and rich and luxurious banquets

Hegemone "mastery"

Antheia, goddess of flowers and flowery wreaths

Pasithea, goddess of rest and relaxation

Cleta "the glorious"

Phaenna the shining"

Eudaimonia "happiness"

Euthymia "good mood"

Calleis "beauty"

Paidia "play, amusement"

Pandaisia "banquet for everyone"

Pannychis "all-night (festivity)"

Ceraon, demi-god of the meal, specifically the mixing of wine

Chrysus, spirit of gold

Circe, goddess-witch of Aeaea

Daemones Ceramici, five malevolent spirits who plagued the craftsman potter

Syntribos, the shatterer

Smaragos, the smasher

Asbetos, the charrer

Sabaktes, the destroyer

Omodamos, crudebake

Deipneus, demi-god of the preparation of meals, specifically the making of bread

Eiresione, personification of the olive branch

Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth

Enyalius, minor god of war

Page | 24

Enyo, goddess of destructive war

Harpocrates, god of silence

Hermaphroditus, god of hermaphrodites and effeminate men

Hymenaios, god of marriage and marriage feasts

Ichnaea, goddess of tracking

Iynx, goddess of the love charm

Matton , demi-god of the meal, specifically the kneading of dough

Muses, goddesses of music, song and dance, and the source of inspiration to poets

Titan Muses, daughters of Gaia and Uranus

o

Aoide, muse of song

Arche, muse of origins

Melete, muse of meditation and practice

Mneme, muse of memory

Thelxinoe, muse "charmer of minds"

Olympian Muses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne

o

Calliope, muse of epic poetry

Clio, muse of history

Erato, muse of erotic poetry

Euterpe, muse of lyric poetry

Melpomene, muse of tragedy

Polyhymnia, muse of sacred poetry

Terpsichore, muse of dance and choral poetry

Thalia, muse of comedy and bucolic poetry

Urania, muse of astronomy

Younger Muses, daughters of Apollo

o

Cephisso

Apollonis

Borysthenis

Hypate "the upper (chord of the lyre)"

Mese "the middle (chord of the lyre)"

Nete "the lower (chord of the lyre)"

Polymatheia, muse of knowledge

Palaestra, goddess of wrestling

Rhapso, minor goddess or nymph whose name apparently refers to sewing

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HEROES

Abderus, aided Heracles during his eighth labour and was killed by the Mares of
Diomedes

Page | 26

Achilles, hero of the Trojan War and a central character in Homer's Iliad

Aeneas, a hero of the Trojan War and progenitor of the Roman people

Ajax the Great, a hero of the Trojan War and king of Salamis

Ajax the Lesser, a hero of the Trojan War and leader of the Locrian army

Amphitryon, Theban general who rescued Thebes from the Teumessian fox; his wife was
Alcmene, mother of Heracles

Bellerophon, hero who slew the Chimera

Castor, the mortal Dioscuri twin; after Castor's death, his immortal brother Pollux shared
his divinity with him in order that they might remain together

Chrysippus, a divine hero of Elis

Daedalus, creator of the labyrinth and great inventor, until KingMinos trapped him in his
own creation.

Diomedes, a king of Argos and hero of the Trojan War

Eleusis, eponymous hero of the town of Eleusis

Eunostus, a Boeotian hero

Ganymede, Trojan hero and lover of Zeus, who was given immortality and appointed cupbearer to the gods

Hector, hero of the Trojan War and champion of the Trojan people

Iolaus, nephew of Heracles who aided his uncle in one of his Labors

Jason, leader of the Argonauts

Meleager, a hero who sailed with the Argonauts and killed the Calydonian Boar

Odysseus,

hero

and

king

of

Ithaca

whose

adventures

are

the

subject

of

Homer's Odyssey; he also played a key role during the Trojan War

Orpheus, a legendary musician and poet who attempted to retrieve his dead wife from
the Underworld

Pandion, the eponymous hero of the Attic tribe Pandionis, usually assumed to be one of
the legendary Athenian kingsPandion I or Pandion II.

Perseus, son of Zeus and the founder-king of Mycenae and slayer of the Gorgon Medusa

Theseus, son of Poseidon and a king of Athens and slayer of theMinotaur

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NOTABLE WOMEN

Alcestis, daughter of Pelias and wife of Admetus, who was known for her devotion to her
husband

Amymone, the one daughter of Danaus who refused to murder her husband, thus
escaping her sisters' punishment

Andromache, wife of Hector

Andromeda, wife of Perseus, who was placed among the constellations after her death

Antigone, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta

Arachne, a skilled weaver, transformed by Athena into a spider for her blasphemy

Ariadne, daughter of Minos, king of Crete, who aided Theseus in overcoming the Minotaur
and became the wife of Dionysus

Atalanta, fleet-footed heroine who participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt

Briseis, a princess of Lyrnessus, taken by Achilles as a war prize

Caeneus, formerly Caenis, a woman who was transformed into a man and became a
mighty warrior

Cassandra, a princess of Troy cursed to see the future but never to be believed

Clytemnestra, sister of Helen and unfaithful wife of Agamemnon

Dana, the mother of Perseus by Zeus

Deianeira, the third wife and unwitting killer of Heracles

Electra, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, she aided her brother Orestes in
plotting revenge against their mother for the murder of their father

Europa, a Phoenician woman, abducted by Zeus

Hecuba, wife of Priam, king of Troy, and mother of nineteen of his children

Helen, daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction brought about the Trojan War

Hermione, daughter of Menelaus and Helen; wife of Neoptolemus, and later Orestes

Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra; Agamemnon sacrificed her to

Artemis in order to appease the goddess

Ismene, sister of Antigone

Jocasta, mother and wife of Oedipus

Medea, a sorceress and wife of Jason, who killed her own children to punish Jason for his
infidelity

Medusa, a mortal woman transformed into a hideous gorgon by Athena

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Niobe, a daughter of Tantalus who declared herself to be superior to Leto, causing Artemis
and Apollo to kill her fourteen children

Pandora, the first woman

Penelope, loyal wife of Odysseus

Phaedra, daughter of Minos and wife of Theseus

Polyxena, the youngest daughter of Priam, sacrificed to the ghost of Achilles

Semele, mortal mother of Dionysus

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KINGS

Abas, a king of Argos

Acastus, a king of Iolcus who sailed with the Argonauts and participated in the Calydonian
Boar hunt

Acrisius, a king of Argos

Actaeus, first king of Attica

Admetus, a king of Pherae who sailed with the Argonauts and participated in the
Calydonian Boar hunt

Adrastus, a king of Argos and one of the Seven Against Thebes

Aeacus, a king of the island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf; after he died, he became one of
the three judges of the dead in the Underworld

Aetes, a king of Colchis and father of Medea

Aegeus, a king of Athens and father of Theseus

Aegimius, a king of Thessaly and progenitor of the Dorians

Aegisthus , lover of Clytemnestra, with whom he plotted to murder Agamemnon and

seized the kingship of Mycenae

Aegyptus, a king of Egypt

Aeson, father of Jason and rightful king of Iolcus, whose throne was usurped by his halfbrother Pelias

Athlius, first king of Elis

Aetolus, a king of Elis

Agamemnon, a king of Mycenae and commander of the Greek armies during the Trojan
War

Agasthenes, a king of Elis

Agenor, a king of Phoenicia

Alcinous, a king of Phaeacia

Alcmaeon, a king of Argos and one of the Epigoni

Aleus, a king of Tegea

Amphiaraus, a seer and king of Argos who participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt and
the war of the Seven Against Thebes

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Amphictyon, a king of Athens

Amphion and Zethus, twin sons of Zeus and kings of Thebes, who constructed the city's
walls

Amycus, son of Poseidon and king of the Bebryces

Anaxagoras, a king of Argos

Anchises, a king of Dardania and father of Aeneas

Arcesius, a king of Ithaca and father of Laertes

Argeus, a king of Argos

Argus, a son of Zeus and king of Argos after Phoroneus

Assaracus, a king of Dardania

Asterion, a king of Crete

Athamas (), a king of Orchomenus

Atreus, a king of Mycenae and father of Agamemnon and Menelaus

Augeas, a king of Elis

Autesion, a king of Thebes

Bias, a king of Argos

Busiris, a king of Egypt

Cadmus, founder-king of Thebes

Car, a king of Megara

Catreus, a king of Crete, prophesied to die at the hands of his own son

Cecrops, an autochthonous king of Athens

Ceisus, a king of Argos

Celeus, a king of Eleusis

Cephalus, a king of Phocis who accidentally killed his own wife

Cepheus, a king of Ethiopia

Cepheus, a king of Tegea and an Argonaut

Charnabon, a king of the Getae

Cinyras, a king of Cyprus and father of Adonis

Codrus, a king of Athens

Corinthus, founder-king of Corinth

Cranaus, a king of Athens

Creon, a king of Thebes, brother of Jocasta and uncle of Oedipus

Creon, a king of Corinth who was hospitable towards Jason and Medea
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Cres, an early Cretan king

Cresphontes, a king of Messene and descendent of Heracles

Cretheus, founder-king of Iolcus

Criasus, a king of Argos

Cylarabes, a king of Argos

Cynortas, a king of Sparta

Cyzicus, king of the Dolionians, mistakenly killed by the Argonauts

Danaus, a king of Egypt and father of the Danaides

Dardanus, founder-king of Dardania, and son of Zeus and Electra

Deiphontes, a king of Argos

Demophon of Athens, a king of Athens

Diomedes, a king of Argos and hero of the Trojan War

Echemus, a king of Arcadia

Echetus, a king of Epirus

Eetion, a king of Cilician Thebe and father of Andromache

Electryon, a king of Tiryns and Mycenae; son of Perseus and Andromeda

Elephenor, a king of the Abantes of Euboea

Eleusis, eponym and king of Eleusis, Attica

Epaphus, a king of Egypt and founder of Memphis, Egypt

Epopeus, a king of Sicyon

Erechtheus, a king of Athens

Erginus, a king of Minyean Orchomenus in Boeotia

Erichthonius, a king of Athens, born of Hephaestus' attempt to rape Athena

Eteocles, a king of Thebes and son of Oedipus; he and his brother Polynices killed each
other

Eteocles, son of Andreus, a king of Orchomenus

Eurotas, a king of Sparta

Eurystheus, a king of Tiryns

Euxantius, a king of Ceos, son of Minos and Dexithea

Gelanor, a king of Argos

Haemus, a king of Thrace

Helenus, seer and twin brother of Cassandra, who later became king of Epirus

Hippothon, a king of Eleusis

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Hyrieus, a king of Boeotia

Ilus, founder-king of Troy

Ixion, a king of the Lapiths who attempted to rape Hera and was bound to a flaming
wheel in Tartarus

Lartes, father of Odysseus and king of the Cephallenians; he sailed with the Argonauts
and participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt

Laomedon, a king of Troy and father of Priam

Lycaon of Arcadia, a deceitful Arcadian king who was transformed by Zeus into a wolf

Lycurgus of Arcadia, a king of Arcadia

Lycurgus of Nemea, a king of Nemea

Makedon, a king of Macedon

Megareus of Onchestus, a king of Onchestus in Boeotia

Megareus of Thebes, a king of Thebes

Melampus, a legendary soothsayer and healer, and king of Argos

Melanthus, a king of Messenia

Memnon, a king of Ethiopia who fought on the side of Troy during the Trojan War

Menelaus, a king of Sparta and the husband of Helen

Menestheus, a king of Athens who fought on the side of the Greeks during the Trojan War

Midas, a king of Phrygia granted the power to turn anything to gold with a touch

Minos, a king of Crete; after his death, became one of the judges of the dead in the
Underworld

Myles, a king of Laconia

Nestor, a king of Pylos who sailed with the Argonauts, participated in the Calydonian Boar
hunt and fought with the Greek armies in the Trojan War

Nycteus, a king of Thebes

Odysseus,

hero

and

king

of

Ithaca

whose

adventures

are

the

subject

Homer's Odyssey; he also played a key role during the Trojan War

Oebalus, a king of Sparta

Oedipus, a king of Thebes fated to kill his father and marry his mother

Oeneus, a king of Calydon

Oenomaus, a king of Pisa

Oenopion, a king of Chios

Ogygus, a king of Thebes

Page | 33

of

Oicles, a king of Argos

Oileus, a king of Locris

Orestes, a king of Argos and a son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon; he killed his mother
in revenge for her murder of his father

Oxyntes, a king of Athens

Pandion I, a king of Athens

Pandion II, a king of Athens

Peleus, king of the Myrmidons and father of Achilles; he sailed the with Argonauts and
participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt

Pelias, a king of Iolcus and usurper of Aeson's rightful throne

Pelops, a king of Pisa and founder of the House of Atreus

Pentheus, a king of Thebes who banned the worship of Dionysus and was torn apart by
Maenads

Perseus, founder-king of Mycenae and slayer of the Gorgon Medusa

Phineus, a king of Thrace

Phlegyas, a king of the Lapiths

Phoenix, son of Agenor, founder-king of Phoenicia

Phoroneus, a king of Argos

Phyleus, a king of Elis

Pirithos, king of the Lapiths and husband of Hippodamia, at whose wedding the Battle of
Lapiths and Centaurs occurred

Pittheus, a king of Troezen and grandfather of Theseus

Polybus of Corinth, a king of Corinth

Polybus of Sicyon, a king of Sicyon and son of Hermes

Polybus of Thebes, a king of Thebes

Polynices, a king of Thebes and son of Oedipus; he and his brother Eteocles killed each
other

Priam, king of Troy during the Trojan War

Proetus, a king of Argos and Tiryns

Pylades, a king of Phocis and friend of Orestes

Rhadamanthys, a king of Crete; after his death, he became a judge of the dead in the
Underworld

Rhesus, a king of Thrace who sided with Troy in the Trojan War

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Sarpedon, a king of Lycia and son of Zeus who fought on the side of the Greeks during
the Trojan War

Sisyphus, a king of Thessaly who attempted to cheat death and was sentenced to an
eternity of rolling a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down

Sithon, a king of Thrace

Talaus, a king of Argos who sailed with the Argonauts

Tegyrios, a king of Thrace

Telamon, a king of Salamis and father of Ajax; he sailed with the Argonauts and
participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt

Telephus, a king of Mysia and son of Heracles

Temenus, a king of Argos and descendent of Heracles

Teucer, founder-king of Salamis who fought alongside the Greeks in the Trojan War

Teutamides, a king of Larissa

Teuthras, a king of Mysia

Thersander, a king of Thebes and one of the Epigoni

Theseus, a king of Athens and slayer of the Minotaur

Thyestes, a king of Mycenae and brother of Atreus

Tisamenus, a king of Argos, Mycenae, and Sparta

Tyndareus, a king of Sparta

SEERS

Amphilochus, a seer and brother of Alcmaeon who died in the war of the Seven Against
Thebes

Anius, son of Apollo who prophesied that the Trojan War would be won in its tenth year

Branchus, a seer and son of Apollo

Calchas, an Argive seer who aided the Greeks during the Trojan War

Carnus, an Acarnanian seer and lover of Apollo

Carya, a seer and lover of Dionysus

Cassandra, a princess of Troy cursed to see the future but never to be believed

Ennomus, a Mysian seer, killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

Halitherses, an Ithacan seer who warned Penelope's suitors of Odysseus' return

Helenus, seer and twin brother of Cassandra, who later became king of Epirus

Iamus, a son of Apollo possessing the gift of prophecy, he founded the Iamidai

Idmon, a seer who sailed with the Argonauts

Page | 35

Manto, seer and daughter of Tiresias

Melampus, a legendary soothsayer and healer, and king of Argos

Mopsus, the name of two legendary seers

Polyeidos, a Corinthian seer who saved the life of Glaucus

Telemus, a seer who foresaw that the Cyclops Polyphemus would be blinded by Odysseus

Theoclymenus, an Argive seer

Tiresias, blind prophet of Thebes

AMAZONS

Achilles and Penthesileia (Lucanian red-figure bell-krater, late 5th century BC)

Aegea, a queen of the Amazons

Aella, an Amazon who was killed by Heracles

Alcibie, an Amazonian warrior, killed by Diomedes at Troy

Antandre, an Amazonian warrior, killed by Achilles at Troy

Antiope, a daughter of Ares and sister of Hippolyta

Areto, an Amazon

Asteria, an Amazon who was killed by Heracles

Bremusa, an Amazonian warrior, killed by Idomeneus at Troy

Celaeno, an Amazonian warrior, killed by Heracles

Eurypyle, an Amazon leader who invaded Ninus and Babylonia

Page | 36

Hippolyta, a daughter of Ares and queen of the Amazons

Hippothoe, an Amazonian warrior, killed by Achilles at Troy

Iphito, an Amazon who served under Hippolyta

Lampedo, an Amazon queen who ruled with her sister Marpesia

Marpesia, an Amazon queen who ruled with her sister Lampedo

Melanippe, a daughter of Ares and sister of Hippolyta and Antiope

Molpadia, an Amazon who killed Antiope

Myrina, a queen of the Amazons

Orithyia, an Amazon queen

Otrera, a queen of the Amazons, consort of Ares and mother of Hippolyta

Pantariste, an Amazon who fought with Hippolyta against Heracles

Penthesilea, a queen of the Amazons who fought in the Trojan War on the side of Troy

OLYMPIAN GODS
ZEUS
Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus overthrew his
Father Cronus. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the
draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His
weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. He is married
to Hera but, is famous for his many affairs. He is also known to punish those that lie or
break oaths.
Zeus, the great presiding deity of the universe, the ruler of heaven and earth, was
regarded by the Greeks, first, as the god of all aerial phenomena; secondly, as the
personification of the laws of nature; thirdly, as lord of state-life; and fourthly, as the
father of gods and men.

Page | 37

As the god of aerial phenomena he could, by shaking his aegis, produce storms,
tempests, and intense darkness. At his command the mighty thunder rolls, the lightning
flashes, and the clouds open and pour forth their refreshing streams to fructify the earth.
As the personification of the operations of nature, he represents those grand laws of
unchanging and harmonious order, by which not only the physical but also the moral
world is governed. Hence he is the god of regulated time as marked by the changing
seasons, and by the regular succession of day and night, in contradistinction to his father
Cronus, who represents time absolutely, i.e. eternity.
As the lord of state-life, he is the founder of kingly power, the upholder of all institutions
connected with the state, and the special friend and patron of princes, whom he guards
and assists with his advice and counsel. He protects the assembly of the people, and, in
fact, watches over the welfare of the whole community.
As the father of the gods, Zeus sees that each deity performs his or her individual duty,
punishes their misdeeds, settles their disputes, and acts towards them on all occasions
as their all-knowing counselor and mighty friend.
As the father of men, he takes a paternal interest in the actions and well-being of
mortals. He watches over them with tender solicitude, rewarding truth, charity, and
uprightness, but severely punishing perjury, cruelty, and want of hospitality. Even the
poorest and most forlorn wanderer finds in him a powerful advocate, for he, by a wise
and merciful dispensation, ordains that the mighty ones of the earth should succor their
distressed and needy brethren.

POSEIDON
God of the sea, protector of all waters. Poseidon is the brother of Zeus. After the
overthrow of their Father Cronus he drew lots with Zeus and Hades, another brother, for
shares of the world. His prize was to become lord of the sea. He was widely worshiped by
seamen. He married Amphitrite, a granddaughter of the Titan Oceanus.
At one point he desired Demeter. To put him off Demeter asked him to make the most
beautiful animal that the world had ever seen. So to impress her Poseidon created the
first horse. In some accounts his first attempts were unsuccessful and created a variety

Page | 38

of other animals in his quest. By the time the horse was created his passion for Demeter
had cooled.
His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth, and shatter any object. He is second
only to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality. He
was greedy. He had a series of disputes with other gods when he tried to take over their
cities.

HADES
Hades is the brother of Zeus. After the overthrow of their Father Cronus he drew lots
with Zeus and Poseidon, another brother, for shares of the world. He had the worst draw
and was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He is a greedy god who is
greatly concerned with increasing his subjects. Those whos calling increase the number
of dead are seen favorably. The Erinnyes are welcomed guests. He is exceedingly
disinclined to allow any of his subjects leave.
He is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a
helmet that makes him invisible. He rarely leaves the underworld. He is unpitying and
terrible, but not capricious. His wife is Persephone whom Hades abducted. He is the King
of the dead but, death itself is another god, Thanatos.

HESTIA
Hestia is Zeus sister. She is a virgin goddess. She does not have a distinct personality.
She plays no part in myths. She is the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house
around which a newborn child is carried before it is received into the family. Each city
had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. Of all
the Olympians, she is the mildest, most upright and most charitable.

HERA
Hera is Zeus wife and sister. She was raised by the Titans Ocean and Tethys. Shea is the
supreme goddess, goddess of marriage and childbirth and takes special care of married
women.

Page | 39

Hera's marriage was founded in strife with Zeus and continued in strife. Zeus courted her
unsuccessfully.

He

then

turned

to

trickery,

changing

himself

into

disheveled

cuckoo. Hera feeling sorry for the bird held it to her breast to warm it. Zeus then
resumed his normal form and taking advantage of the surprise he gained, raped her. She
then married him to cover her shame.
Once when Zeus was being particularly overbearing to the other gods, Hera convinced
them to join in a revolt. Her part in the revolt was to drug Zeus, and in this she was
successful. The gods then bound the sleeping Zeus to a couch taking care to tie many
knots. This done they began to quarrel over the next step. Briareus overheard the
arguments. Still full of gratitude to Zeus, Briareus slipped in and was able to quickly untie
the many knots. Zeus sprang from the couch and grabbed up his thunderbolt. The gods
fell to their knees begging and pleading for mercy. He seized Hera and hung her from the
sky with gold chains. She wept in pain all night but, none of the others dared to interfere.
Her weeping kept Zeus up and the next morning he agreed to release her if she would
swear never to rebel again. She had little choice but, to agree. While she never again
rebelled, she often intrigued against Zeus's plans and she was often able to outwit him.
Most stories concerning Hera have to do with her jealous revenge for Zeus's infidelities.
Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Her favorite city is Argos.

ARES
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He is the god of war.
He is considered murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward. When caught in an act
of adultery with Aphrodite her husband Hephaestus is able publicly ridicule him. His bird
is the vulture. His animal is the dog.

ATHENA

Page | 40

Athena is

the

Greek

virgin

goddess

of

reason,

intelligent

activity,

arts

and

literature. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armor from his
forehead, thus has no mother. She is fierce and brave in battle but, only wars to define
the state and home from outside enemies. She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts,
and agriculture. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the
trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She is
the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeuss favorite child and was
allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree
is the olive. The owl is her bird. She is a virgin goddess.

APOLLO
Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music,
playing a golden lyre. The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who
taught man medicine. The god of light, the god of truth, who can not speak a lie.
One of Apollo's more important daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and
drive the Sun across the sky.
He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the Greek world
to divine the future.
His tree was the laurel. The crow is his bird. The dolphin is his animal.

APHRODITE
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she
has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. There are two
accounts of her birth.
One says she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
The other goes back to when Cronus castrated Uranus and tossed his severed genitles
into the sea. Aphrodite then arose from the sea foam on a giant scallop and walked to
shore in Cyprus.

Page | 41

She is the wife of Hephaestus. The myrtle is her tree. The dove, the swan, and the
sparrow are her birds. Her favorite lover is the god of war, Ares. She represented sex,
affection, and the attraction that binds people together.

HERMES
He was the cleverest of the Olympian gods, and messenger to all the other gods.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is Zeus messenger. He is the fastest of the gods.
He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He is the god of
thieves and god of commerce. He is the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. He
invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy, weights and measures,
boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.

ARTEMIS
She was goddess of chastity, virginity, the hunt, the moon, and the natural
environment. Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Her twin brother is Apollo. She is
the lady of the wild things. She is the huntsman of the gods. She is the protector of the
young. Like Apollo she hunts with silver arrows. She became associated with the moon.
She is a virgin goddess, and the goddess of chastity. She also presides over childbirth,
which may seem odd for a virgin, but goes back to causing Leto no pain when she was
born. She became associated with Hecate. The cypress is her tree. All wild animals are
scared to her, especially the deer.

HEPHAESTUS
Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced
him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly. He is also lame.
Accounts as to how he became lame vary. Some say that Hera, upset by having an ugly
child, flung him from Mount Olympus into the sea, breaking his legs. Others that he took
Hera's side in an argument with Zeus and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus. He is the
god of fire and the forge. He is the smith and armorer of the gods. He uses a volcano as
his forge. He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. He is kind and peace loving.
His wife is Aphrodite. Sometimes his wife is identified as Aglaia.

Page | 42

LIST OF TITANS & TITANESSES

Pindar,

Pythian

Ode

4.

290

ff

(trans.

Conway)

(Greek

lyric

C5th

B.C.)

"Does not even now great Atlas struggle to bear up the weight of heaven, far from his
fathers land and his possessions? But almighty Zeus set free the Titanes for as time
passes and the breeze abates, the sails are set anew."
The Titans were an elder generation of gods who ruled the cosmos before the Olympians
gods came to power. They were responsible for the original ordering of time and the
establishment of fixed heavenly cycles.
The eldest of the Titans--Cronos and his four brothers, Crius, Coeus, Hyperion and
Iapetus--were imprisoned in the stormy pit of Tartarus by Zeus after he was victorious in
the War. Many of the younger Titan gods, however, allied themselves with Zeus and
retained their divine rights under the new regime. Some of these allies later proved to be
rebellious and were sentenced to harsh punishments, such as Atlas who was condemned
to bear the heavens, and Prometheus, who was chained to a rock and an eagle set to feed
on his liver.
The female Titans or Titanides remained neutral in the War, and retained their positions as
prophetic goddesses. Several of these goddesses became consorts of Zeus and received a
place on Mount Olympus as mothers of the gods.
ADANUS (Adanos)
An alternate name for one of the elder Titan sons of Uranus.
ANDES
An alternate name for one of the elder Titan sons of Uranus. He was perhaps the same as
Hyperion.
ANCHIALE (Ankhiale)

Page | 43

A younger Titan goddess who perhaps represented the warmth of fire. She was the wife of
Hecaterus and hte mother of the metal-working Dactyli.
ANYTUS (Anytos)
One of the younger Titans or Curetes. Anytus was an attendant of the goddess Demeter
who fostered her Arcadian daughter Despoine.

ASTERIA
A younger Titan goddess whose name and genealogy suggest presided over the night,
stars and nocturnal prophecy. She was the mother of the goddess Hecate. After the fall of
the Titans Asteria was pursued by Zeus and but leapt into the sea to escape him where
she was transformed into the island of Delos.
ASTRAEUS (Astraios)
The younger Titan god of the stars, the winds, and the art of astrology. He was the father
of the four directional winds and the five wandering stars (the Planeta) by his wife Eos, the
goddess of the dawn.
ATLAS
The younger Titan god of astronomy and the revolution of the heavnely constellations. He
was arrested by Zeus and condemned to bear the heavens upon his shoulders. Homer
suggests he was later released from this torment and appointed guardian of the pillars of
heaven.
AURA
The younger Titanis-goddess of the breezes. She was a virgin huntress raped by the god
Dionysos.
CLYMENE (Klymene)
The younger Titanis-goddess of fame and renown. She was the wife of Iapetos and mother
of Prometheus.
COEUS (Koios)

Page | 44

The Titan god of the intellect as his name would suggest. He was also known as Polus (the
pole) and probably presided over the axis of heaven in the north around which the
constellations revolve. Coeus was one of the four Titan-brothers who conspired with
Cronus in the ambush and castration of Uranus. At the end of the Titan-War, he was
confined by Zeus in the Tartarean pit. Coeus was sometimes described as leader of the
Gigantes, who rebelled against Zeus.
CRIUS (Kreios)
The Titan god of the heavenly constellations and the measure of the year. He was probably
associated with the constellation Aries, the heavenly ram (which the Greeks called Crius).
Its spring rising marked the start of the new year, andthe other constellations were said to
follow in its wake. Crius was one of the four Titan brothers who conspired with Cronus in
the castration of Uranus. He was later cast into the Tartarean pit by Zeus. Crius was
sometimes named as a leader of the Gigantes who rebelled against the rule of Zeus.

CRONUS (Kronos)
The King of the Titaness, and the god of destructive time--time which devours all. He led
his brothers in the ambush and castration of their father Uranus, but was himself deposed
and cast into the pit of Tartarus by his own son Zeus. Some say the old Titan was later
released by Zeus and appointed King of Islands of the Blessed, home of the favoured
dead.
CURETES (Kouretes)
A group of shield clashing Daemones or Titan gods who came to the aid of Rhea to act as
guardians of her son Zeus. They were sometimes called Gigantes, and were probably the
same as those which Hesiod described as being born from the castration of Uranus. Their
sisters, the Meliae, were Zeus' nurses.
DIONE
A prophetic Titan-goddess who presided over the Oracle at Dodona alongside Zeus.
According to some she was the mother of the goddess Aphrodite.
EOS
The younger Titan-goddess of the dawn. She was the mother of the wandering stars (that
is, the planets) and the four directional winds by the Titan Astraeus.
Page | 45

EPIMETHEUS
The Titan god of afterthought. He was appointed with the task of creating the beasts of the
earth, while his brother Prometheus was busy with the crafting of man. Epimetheus was
tricked by Zeus into receiving Pandora, the first woman, and her jar of evils into the house
of man.
EURYBIA
A Titan goddess of the power of the sea. She was the wife of the Uranid Crius.
EURYNOME (1)
The younger Titan-goddess of earth's flowery meadows. She was the mother of the three
lovely Graces by Zeus.
EURYNOME (2)
The younger Titan-goddess of the earth's meadows. She was the wife of the first Titan-King
Ophion. The couple was cast from heaven by Cronus and Rhea who wrestled them for the
throne. This Eurynome may have been the same as Tethys.
GIGANTES
The War of the Giants and its combatants the Gigantes were frequently confounded by the
ancients with the Titans and the Titan War. Sometimes the Gigantes were represented as
soldiers in the army of the Titan-gods, or as rebellious supporters of the deposed Titan
Cronus.
HECATE (Hekate)
The younger Titan-goddess of the ghosts, witchcraft and necromancy. She supported Zeus
in the Titan war and so retained all of her privileges.
HELIUS (Helios)
The Titan god of the sun who rode across the sky in a chariot drawn by four fiery, winged
steeds. He was an ally of Zeus in the Titan-War.
HOPLODAMUS (Hoplodamos)
A Titan, Giant or Curete who with his brothers came to the aid of the Titaness Rhea after
Cronus learnt of her deceptions surrounding the birth of Zeus.

Page | 46

HYPERION
The Titan god of light, and of the cycles of time measured by the lights of heaven -- the
sun, the moon and the dawn. Hyperion was one of the four brother Titans who held Uranus
fast while Cronus castrated him with the sickle. At the end of the Titan War he was cast
into the pit of Tartarus by Zeus.
IAPETUS (Iapetos)
The Titan god of mortality and the allotment of the mortal life-span. His sons Prometheus
and Epimetheus were the creators of animals and men. Iapetus was one of the four
brother-Titans who held Uranus fast while Cronus castrated him with the sickle. As
punishment he was cast into the Tartarean pit by Zeus at the end of the Titan War.
LELANTOS
The Titan god of the breezes of the air. His name means "the unnoticed" or "unseen one".
LETO
The younger Titan-goddess of motherhood, light, and womanly demure. She was the
mother of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis by Zeus.
MEGAMEDES
Another name for the Titan Crios, meaning "the great lord."
MELISSEUS
The Titan or Curete god of honey. He was one of the protectors of the infant Zeus. His
daughters were the god's nurses.
MENOETIUS (Menoitios)
The Titan god of violent anger and rash action as his name would suggest. Zeus blasted
him into Erebus with a thunderbolt, where he became a bondsman of King Hades.
METIS
The younger Titan-goddess of good counsel. She was an ally of Zeus in the Titan War who
fed Cronus an elixir which forced him to disgorge his five devoured children. Later she was
swallowed whole by Zeus who had learned that a son born of their union was destined to
depose him. Their only child was instead a daughter, Athena, who sprang fully grown from
her father's head.
Page | 47

MNEMOSYNE
The elder Titanis-goddess of memory, words and language. She was the mother of the
nine Muses by Zeus. Mnemosyne was also a prophetic goddess associated with the oracle
of Trophonius in Lebadeia.
MUSES ELDER (Mousai)
Three Titan goddesses of music and song. One of them, Mneme (Memory), was the mother
of the nine younger Muses by Zeus.
MYLINUS (Mylinos)
A Titan or Giant of the island of Crete who was destroyed by Zeus. His name means "he of
the grinding millstone," and he was perhaps the same as Cronus "time."

OCEANUS (Okeanos)
The Titan god of the earth-encircling, fresh-water river Oceanus. As a Titan god he
presided over the rising and setting of the heavenly bodies : the sun, the moon, the stars,
and the dawn. His ever-flowing waters, encircling the edges of the cosmos were associated
with the never-ending flow of time. Oceanus was the only one of the brother Uranides not
to participate in the castration of their father Uranus. In the Titan-War he remained
neutral, giving his tacit support to Zeus.
OLYMBRUS (Olymbros)
An alternate name for one of the elder Titan. He may be the same as Olympus the Cretan
mentor of Zeus.
OLYMPUS (Olympus)
A Cretan Titan or Giant who mentored Zeus in his youth. He later roused his kin in an
uprisal against the god but was destroyed. Olympus (whose name may derive from a word
meaning eternal time) was perhaps the same as Cronus or Olymbrus.

Page | 48

OPHION
The eldest of the Titan gods whose brother Cronus wrestled him for the throne of heaven
and cast him down into the Ocean-stream. He was probably the same as Oceanus, or
perhaps Uranus.
OSTASUS
An alternative name for one of the Titan sons of Uranus.
PALLAS
The Titan god of warcraft and the military campaign season. Some say Athena defeated
him in battle and crafted her aegis-cape from his goatish skin.
PERSES
The Titan god of destruction, and perhaps of summer droughts whose name means "the
destroyer." Like his daughter Hecate, he was probably associated with the dog-star: the
source of scorching heat of mid-summer.
PHOEBE (Phoibe)
The elder Titan-goddess of intellect and prophetic goddess of the great Oracle of Delphi.
She was the grandmother of the god Apollo.

PHORCYS (Phorkys)
The old man of the sea was sometimes named as one of the six Titan sons of Uranus.
POLUS (Polos)
The Titan god of the axis of heaven ("polos"). He was usually called Coeus.
PROMETHEUS
The Titan god of forethought and the creator and benefactor of man. He defied Zeus on
several occasions, including tricking the gods out of the best share of the sacrificial meat,
and stealing fire from heaven for the benefit of mankind. Zeus was furious, and had
Prometheus chained to Mount Caucasus, where an eagle was set to devour his everregenerating liver. The Titan was eventually released from his tortures by Heracles.
RHEA (Rheia)
Page | 49

The Queen of the Titans and goddess of female fertility and the mountain wilds. She saved
her son Zeus from the maw of Cronus by substituting the child for a stone wrapped in
swaddling cloth. The Titan had devoured her other five children, but these were later freed
from his beely by Zeus.
SELENE
The younger Titan-goddess of the moon.
STYX
The younger Titan-goddess of oaths of allegiance and of the deadly, netherworld River
Styx. She brought her children Victory, Rivalry, Force and Power to the side of Zeus at the
start of the Titan-War.
SYCEUS (Sykeus)
A Titan or giant who fled from Zeus in the course of their war against the gods. He was
hidden by his mother in the earth in the guise of a fig tree or its sprouting seed.
TETHYS
The elder Titan-goddess of the sources of fresh-water. She was known as the great nurse
("tethis") of life, and was sometimes equated with Thesis, the goddess "creation." Tethys
spawned the Rivers, Clouds and Springs.

THEIA
The elder Titanis goddess of sight and the shining light of heaven ("aither"). She was the
mother of Sun, Moon and Dawn. Her name is also connected with words meaning
"foresight" and "prophecy".
THEMIS
The elder Titan-goddess of the natural order, divine law and tradition. She was also a
goddess of the oracles of Dodona and Delphi. By Zeus she was the mother of the goddess
Fates and of the Seasons, and had a seat by his side on Olympus as advisor.
TITAN

Page | 50

A Titan god who instructed mankind in the observation of the stars and establishment of
the natural or farming calendar. He was perhaps the same as Atlas.

OTHER GODS
DEMETER
Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest. She is the daughter
of Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. The first loaf of
bread from the harvest is sacrificed to her. Demeter is the goddess of the earth, of
agriculture, and of fertility in general. Sacred to her are livestock and agricultural products,
poppy, narcissus and the crane.
Demeter is intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter Persephone was
abducted by Hades to be his wife in the underworld. In her anger at her daughter's

Page | 51

loss Demeter laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, the land
become desolate. Zeus became alarmed and sought Persephone's return. However,
because she had eaten while in the underworld Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it
was decreed that Persephone would spend four months each year in the underworld.
During these months Demeter greaves her daughters absence, and withdraws her gifts
from the world, creating winter. Her return brought the spring.
Demeter is also known for founding the Eleusinian mysteries. These were huge festivals
held every five years. They were important events for many centuries. Yet, little is known
of them as those attending were sworn to secrecy. The central tenet seems to have been
that just as grain returns every spring after its harvest and wintery death, so too the
human soul could be reborn after the death of the body.

PERSEPHONE
Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She was the goddess of springtime and,
after her abduction by Hades she became his wife and Queen of the underworld for six
months of each year. The mint and pomegranate is sacred to her. Persephone raised
Aphrodite's child Adonis. She was also known as Kore, "the Maiden". She symbolized the
sprouting seeds of springtime.

DIONYSUS
He was the god of fertility and wine, later considered a patron of the arts. He invented
wine and spread the art of tending grapes. He has a dual nature. On the one hand, he
brings joy and divine ecstasy. On the other brutal, unthinking, rage. Thus, reflecting both
sides of wines nature. If his choses Dionysus can drive a man mad. No normal fetters can
hold him or his followers.

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Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele. He is the only god to have a mortal
parent. Zeus came

to Semele in

the

night,

invisible,

felt

only

as

divine

presence. Semele was pleased to be a lover of a god, even though she did not know which
one. Word soon got around and Hera quickly assumed who was responsible. Hera went
to Semele in disguise and convinced her she should see her lover as he really was.
When Zeus next came to her she made him promise to grant her one wish. She went so
far as to make him swear on the River Styx that he would grant her request. Zeus was
madly in love and agreed. She then asked him to show her his true form. Zeus, was
unhappy, and knew what would happen but, having sworn he had no choice. He appeared
in his true form and Semele was instantly burnt to a crisp by the sight of his glory. Zeus did
manage to rescue Dionysus and stitched him into his thigh to hold him until he was ready
to be born. His birth from Zeus alone conferred immortality upon him.
Dionysus problems with Hera were not yet over. She was still jealous and arranged for the
Titans to kill him. The Titans ripped him into to pieces. However, Rhea brought him back to
life. After this Zeus arranged for his protection and turned him over the mountain nymphs
to be raised.
Dionysus wandered the world actively encouraging his cult. He was accompanied by the
Maenads, wild women, flush with wine, shoulders draped with a fawn skin, carrying rods
tipped

with

pine

cones.

While

other

gods

had

templaces

the

followers

of Dionysus worshipped him in the woods. Here they might go into mad states where they
would rip apart and eat raw any animal they came upon.
Dionysus is also one of the very few that was able to bring a dead person out of
the underworld. Even though he had never seen Semele he was concerned for her.
Eventually he journeyed into the underworld to find her. He faced down Thanatos and
brought her back to Mount Olympus.
Dionysus became one of the most important gods in everyday life. He became associated
with several key concepts. One was rebirth after death. Here his dismemberment by
the Titans and return to life is symbolically echoed in tending vines, where the vines must
be pruned back sharply, and then become dormant in winter for them to bear fruit. The
other is the idea that under the influence of wine, one could feel possessed by a greater
power. Unlike the other gods Dionysus was not only outside his believers but, also within
them. At these times a man might be greater than him and do works he otherwise could
not.

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The festival for Dionysus is in the spring when the leaves begin to reappear on the vine. It
became one of the most important events of the year. Its focus became the theater. Most
of the great Greek plays were initially written to be performed at the feast of Dionysus. All
who

took

part

writers,

actors,

spectators

were

regarded

as

sacred

servants

of Dionysus during the festival.

EROS
Eros is the son of Aphrodite. Eros is the god of love. In particular erotic, romantic, love. He
is often represented blindfolded because, love is often blind. His "weapon" is darts or
arrows. In either case the tips have been magically treated to produce either
uncontrollable love or insurmountable disinterested in the first person seen be Eros's
victim after wounding.

HEBE
Hebe, the goddess of youth and the cupbearer of the gods who served ambrosia at the
heavenly feast. She was also the patron goddess of the young bride and an attendant of
the goddess Aphrodite. Hercules received Hebe in marriage upon his ascension to
Olympus, a wedding which reconciled the hero with Hebe's mother Hera.
In Greek vase painting Hebe was depicted either as the bride of Hercules, or the cupbearer
of the gods, pouring ambrosia from a pitcher. Sometimes she was represented with wings
like the goddesses Iris and Nike.
Hebe's male counterpart was the boy Ganymedes and her opposite number was Geras
(Old Age). She may have been equated with Selene's daughter Pandeia.

ERIS
The goddess of strife and discord who stalked the battlefield. She helped the Trojan
War by casting a golden apple addressed "to the fairest" amongst the company of
goddesses.

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HELIOS
Helios was the Greek sun god. He may be thought of as a personification of the sun.
He plays little role in the myths. He became rather overshadowed by Apollo the lord
of the sun. He was the son of Hyperion.
The solar-god who drove a chariot of winged horses across the sky wearing the
shining aureole-crown of the sun upon his head.

THANATOS
Thanatos was the Greek god of death. He may be thought of as a personification of
death. He plays little role in the myths. He became rather overshadowed
by Hades the lord of death.

PAN
He was the son of Hermes and Penelope (later married to Odysseus) in some myths
and the son of Zeus and the nymph Callisto in others. He is the god of flocks and
shepherds. He is mostly human in appearance but, with goat horns and goat feet.
He is an excellent musician and plays the pipes. He is merry and playful frequently
seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He is at home in any wild place but, is favorite
is Arcadia, where he was born. He is always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but,
always rejected because he is ugly.
His name is the basis for the word "panic". There are two differing explanations for
this. The first is that he was present when Zeus defeated the Titans and claimed
that it has his yelling that caused the Titans to flee. However, this seems at odds
with his being Hermes son. The second is that he created the noises in the woods at
night that scared travellers.

NEMESIS

Page | 55

Nemesis means righteous anger, due enactment, or Devine vengeance. This god
helped to avenge those who were wronged.

THE GRACES
They are the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome. There are three Graces: Aglaia
(Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Thalia (Good Cheer). The are known for singing
and dancing for the gods.

THE MUSES
They are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. They are known for the music of
their song, which brings joy to any who hear it. There are nine Muses, each with her
own specialty: Clio (History), Urania (Astronomy), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia
(Comedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato (Love Poetry),
Polyhymnia (Songs to the Gods), Euterpe (Lyric Poetry).

THE ERRINYES
Also known as the Furies, punish crime. They pursue wrong doers relentlessly, until
death, often driving them to suicide. They are particularly concerned with matricide.
There are three Erinnyes, Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto. The Erinnyes came from
the blood of Uranus when he was castrated.

THE FATES
The Fates have the subtle but awesome power of deciding a man's destiny. They
assign a man to good or evil. Their most obvious choice is choosing how long a man
lives. There are three Fates. Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life.
Lachesis, the measurer, who choses the lot in life one will have and measures off
how long it is to be. Atropos, she who cannot be turned, who at death with her
shears cuts the thread of life, The Fates is old and predates the gods. It is not
entirely clear how far their power extends. It is possible that they determine the fate
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of the gods as well. In any case, not even the most powerful is willing to trifle with
them.
Seven days after Meleager's birth the Fates appeared to foretell his future.

CREATION OF THE WORLD

In the beginning there was only chaos. Then out of the void appeared Erebus, the
unknowable place where death dwells, and Night. All else was empty, silent, endless,
darkness. Then somehow Love was born bringing a start of order. From Love came Light
and Day. Once there was Light and Day, Gaea, the earth appeared.
Then Erebus slept with Night, who gave birth to Ether, the heavenly light, and to Day the
earthly light. Then Night alone produced Doom, Fate, Death, Sleep, Dreams, Nemesis, and
others that come to man out of darkness.
Meanwhile Gaea alone gave birth to Uranus, the heavens. Uranus became Gaea's mate
covering

her

on

all

sides.

Together

they

produced

the

three Cyclopes,

the

three Hecatoncheires, and twelve Titans.

However, Uranus was a bad father and husband. He hated the Hecatoncheires. He
imprisoned them by pushing them into the hidden places of the earth, Gaea's womb. This
angered Gaea and she plotted against Uranus. She made a flint sickle and tried to get her
children to attack Uranus. All were too afraid except, the youngest Titan, Cronus.
Gaea and Cronus set up an ambush of Uranus as he lay with Gaea at night. Cronus
grabbed his father and castrated him, with the stone sickle, throwing the severed genitals
into the ocean. The fate of Uranus is not clear. He died, withdrew from the earth, or exiled
himself to Italy. As he departed he promised that Cronus and the Titans would be
punished. From his spilt blood came the Giants, the Ash Tree Nymphs, and the Erinnyes.
From the sea foam where his genitals fell then came Aphrodite.

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Cronus became the next ruler. He imprisoned the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires
in Tartarus. He married his sister Rhea; under his rule the Titans had many offspring. He
ruled for many ages. However, Gaea and Uranus both had prophesied that he would be
overthrown by a son. To avoid this Cronus swallowed each of his children as they were
born. Rhea was angry at the treatment of the children and plotted against Cronus. When it
came time to give birth to her sixth child, Rhea hid herself, and then she left the child to
be raised by nymphs. To conceal her act she wrapped a stone in swaddling cloths and
passed it off as the baby to Cronus, who swallowed it.
This child was Zeus. He grew into a handsome youth on Crete. He consulted Metis on how
to defeat Cronus. She prepared a drink for Cronus design to make him vomit up the other
children. Rhea convinced Cronus to accept his son and Zeus was allowed to return
to Mount Olympus as Cronus's cupbearer. This gave Zeus the opportunity to slip Cronus
the specially prepared drink. This worked as planned and the other five children were
vomited up. Being gods they were unharmed. They were thankful to Zeus and made him
their leader.
Cronus was yet to be defeated. He and the Titans, except Prometheus, Epimetheus,
and Oceanus, fought to retain their power. Atlas became their leader in battle and it
looked for some time as though they would win and put the young gods down. However,
Zeus was cunning. He went down to Tartarus and freed the Cyclopes and the
Hecatoncheires. Prometheus joined Zeus as well. He returned to battle with his new allies.
The Cyclopes provided Zeus with lightning bolts for weapons. The Hecatoncheires he set in
ambush armed with boulders. With the time right, Zeus retreated drawing the Titans into
the Hecatoncheires's ambush. The Hecatoncheires rained down hundreds of boulders with
such a fury the Titans thought the mountains were falling on them. They broke and ran
giving Zeus victory.
Zeus exiled the Titans who had fought against him into Tartarus. Except for Atlas, who was
singled out for the special punishment of holding the world on his shoulders?
However, even after this victory Zeus was not safe. Gaea angry that her children had been
imprisoned gave birth to a last offspring, Typhoeus. Typhoeus was so fearsome that most
of the gods fled. However, Zeus faced the monster and flinging his lighting bolts was able
to kill it. Typhoeus was buried under Mount Etna in Sicily.

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Much later a final challenge to Zeus rule was made by the Giants. They went so far as to
attempt to invade Mount Olympus, piling mountain upon mountain in an effort to reach
the top. But, the gods had grown strong and with the help of Heracles the Giants were
subdued or killed.

THE CREATION OF MAN BY PROMETHEUS

Prometheus and Epimetheus were spared imprisonment in Tartarus because they had not
fought with their fellow Titans during the war with the Olympians. They were given the
task of creating man. Prometheus shaped man out of mud, and Athena breathed life into
his clay figure.
Prometheus had assigned Epimetheus the task of giving the creatures of the earth their
various qualities, such as swiftness, cunning, strength, fur, wings. Unfortunately, by the
time he got to man Epimetheus had given all the good qualities out and there were none
left for man. So Prometheus decided to make man stand upright as the gods did and to
give them fire.
Prometheus loved man more then the Olympians, who had banished most of his family to
Tartarus. So when Zeus decreed that man must present a portion of each animal they
scarified to the gods Prometheus decided to trick Zeus. He created two piles, one with the
bones wrapped in juicy fat, and the other with the good meat hidden in the hide. He then
bade Zeus to pick. Zeus picked the bones. Since he had given his word Zeus had to accept
that as his share for future sacrifices. In his anger over the trick he took fire away from
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man. However, Prometheus lit a torch from the sun and brought it back again to man.
Zeus was enraged that man again had fire. He decided to inflict a terrible punishment on
both man and Prometheus.
To punish man, Zeus had Hephaestus create a mortal of stunning beauty. The gods gave
the mortal many gifts of wealth. He then had Hermes give the mortal a deceptive heart
and a lying tongue. This creation was Pandora, the first women. A final gift was a jar which
Pandora was forbidden to open. Thus, completed Zeus sent Pandora down to Epimetheus
who was staying amongst the men.
Prometheus had warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus but, Pandora's beauty
was too great and he allowed her to stay. Eventually, Pandora's curiosity about the jar she
was forbidden to open became too great. She opened the jar and out flew all manors of
evils, sorrows, plagues, and misfortunes. However, the bottom of the jar held one good
thing - hope.
Zeus was angry at Prometheus for three things: being tricked on sacrifices, stealing fire for
man, and for refusing to tell Zeus which of Zeus's children would dethrone him. Zeus had
his servants, Force and Violence, seize Prometheus, take him to the Caucasus Mountains,
and chain him to a rock with unbreakable adamantine chains. Here he was tormented day
and night by a giant eagle tearing at his liver. Zeus gave Prometheus two ways out of this
torment. He could tell Zeus who the mother of the child that would dethrone him was. Or
meet two conditions: First that an immortal must volunteer to die for Prometheus. Second,
that a mortal must kill the eagle and unchain him. Eventually, Chiron the Centaur agreed
to die for him and Heracles killed the eagle and unbound him.

HELLAS MAP

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