The ancient Greeks professed paganism - polytheism, in which they worshiped a large number of gods, each of whom was responsible for one phenomenon or function.
Greek gods, whose names are familiar to almost everyone from school, behave like ordinary people, endowed with power. They are cunning, weaving intrigues and quarreling. Their relationship with each other is incredibly confusing, so it is so interesting to study the myths dedicated to them.
The supreme god of the ancient Greek pantheon is Zeus, the lightning thrower, he was in charge of the sky. Almost all of the major Olympic gods are children or brothers and sisters, including his wife Hera, who is also his sister, whom he often cheats, according to myths.
Hades, brother of Zeus, manages the underworld, the kingdom of the dead. An interesting myth is connected with him, his wife Persephone and her mother Demeter, explaining the change of seasons.
Poseidon, brother of Zeus, is the ruler of the seas and oceans, patronizes sea travelers. Typically depicted with a trident in his hand.
The names of the Greek gods who are the children of Zeus are familiar to almost everyone: Aphrodite, Artemis, Ares, Apollo, Hermes.
Aphrodite, the
goddess of love and beauty, one of the 12 great Olympic gods, was born from sea foam, but, nevertheless, is traditionally considered the daughter of Zeus. She is often referred to in myths as a secondary participant in the action, but there are stories dedicated only to her.
Artemis and Apollo, twins born of the goddess Leto from Zeus, personify the moon and the sun, respectively.
Artemis, the goddess of hunting, the ever-young and virgin protector of nature, is often portrayed with a bow surrounded by animals. The famous Herostratus, wanting to become famous, burned the temple dedicated to
Artemis of Ephesus. Apollo patronized sciences and arts, he was also a healer.
Ares - the god of war, according to some assumptions was not of Greek, but Thracian origin, however, he is often referred to as the son of Zeus and Hera. For some time he was the lover of Aphrodite, his sister, their relationship is mentioned in many myths and is the cause of numerous conflicts. Their union gave birth to 6 children: Phobos, Deimos, Eros, Anteros, Gimeros and Harmony. As you can see, the names of the Greek gods were reflected in astronomy, but more on that later.
Hermes is the patron saint of merchants and thieves, the son of Zeus and, according to some assumptions, Maya, and according to others - Persephone, who was Zeus's niece. Hermes' symbols are caduceus and winged sandals, as well as a characteristic helmet, although it is often depicted without it.
Also, one cannot fail to mention Athena, one of the Olympic gods. She patronized wisdom and knowledge. She was the daughter of Zeus, born of his head.
Another famous goddess, occupying a significant place in the ancient Greek pantheon, is Demeter, who is responsible for fertility and agriculture, literally being the universal mother, as well as the sister of Zeus. The names of the Greek gods, in particular, Demeter, can be seen even in modern culture, for example, the name Dmitry, popular in Russia, literally means “dedicated to the goddess Demeter”.
As already mentioned, the Greek names of the gods, as well as their Roman counterparts, were widely used in astronomy. Mercury (Hermes), Venus (Aphrodite), Mars (Ares), Jupiter (Zeus), Saturn (Kronos, father of Zeus), Uranus (grandfather of Zeus), Pluto (Poseidon), as well as planetary satellites and numerous asteroids.
The names of the Greek gods, no doubt, are known to almost everyone, but not only their names, but also their deeds are worthy of study, because they are interesting and entertaining.