Father of the Greek gods. Pantheon of the main Olympian gods of ancient Greece
The main gods in Ancient Hellas were recognized as those who belonged to the younger generation of celestials. Once upon a time, it took away power over the world from the older generation, who personified the main universal forces and elements (see about this in the article The Origin of the Gods of Ancient Greece). The older generation of gods are usually called titans. Having defeated the Titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored the 12 Olympian gods. Their list usually included Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hephaestus, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hermes, Hestia. Hades is also close to the Olympian gods, but he does not live on Olympus, but in his underground kingdom.
- the main deity of ancient times Greek mythology, king of all other gods, personification of the boundless sky, lord of lightning. In Roman religion Jupiter corresponded to it.
P
oseidon - the god of the seas, among the ancient Greeks - the second most important deity after Zeus. Like olithe symbol of the changeable and turbulent water element, Poseidon was closely associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity. In Roman mythology he was identified with Neptune.Hades - the ruler of the gloomy underground kingdom of the dead, inhabited by the ethereal shadows of the dead and terrible demon creatures. Hades (Hades), Zeus and Poseidon made up the triad of the most powerful gods of Ancient Hellas. As ruler of the depths of the earth, Hades was also involved in agricultural cults, with which his wife, Persephone, was closely associated. The Romans called him Pluto.
Hera - sister and wife of Zeus, the main female goddess of the Greeks. Patroness of marriage and conjugal love. Jealous Hera severely punishes violation of marriage bonds. For the Romans, it corresponded to Juno.
Apollo – originally a god sunlight, whose cult then received a broader meaning and connection with the ideas of spiritual purity, artistic beauty, medical healing, and retribution for sins. As the patron of creative activity, he is considered the head of the nine muses, and as a healer, he is considered the father of the god of doctors, Asclepius. The image of Apollo among the ancient Greeks was formed under the strong influence of Eastern cults (the Asia Minor god Apelun) and carried refined, aristocratic features. Apollo was also called Phoebus. He was revered under the same names in Ancient Rome.
Artemis - sister of Apollo, virgin goddess of forests and hunting. Like the cult of Apollo, the veneration of Artemis was brought to Greece from the East (the Asia Minor goddess Rtemis). Artemis's close connection with forests stems from her ancient function as the patroness of vegetation and fertility in general. The virginity of Artemis also contains a dull echo of the ideas of birth and sexual relations. In Ancient Rome she was revered in the person of the goddess Diana.
Athena is the goddess of spiritual harmony and wisdom. She was considered the inventor and patroness of most sciences, arts, spiritual pursuits, agriculture, and crafts. With the blessing of Pallas Athena, cities are built and public life. The image of Athena as a defender of fortress walls, a warrior, a goddess who, at birth, came out of the head of her father, Zeus, armed, is closely connected with the functions of patronage of cities and the state. For the Romans, Athena corresponded to the goddess Minerva.
Hermes is the ancient pre-Greek god of roads and field boundaries, all boundaries separating one from the other. Because of his ancestral connection with roads, Hermes was later revered as the messenger of the gods with wings on his heels, the patron of travel, merchants and trade. His cult was also associated with ideas about resourcefulness, cunning, subtle mental activity (skillful differentiation of concepts), and knowledge of foreign languages. The Romans have Mercury.
Ares is the wild god of war and battles. In Ancient Rome - Mars.
Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of sensual love and beauty. Her type is very close to the Semitic-Egyptian veneration of the productive forces of nature in the image of Astarte (Ishtar) and Isis. Famous legend about Aphrodite and Adonis is inspired by the ancient eastern myths about Ishtar and Tammuz, Isis and Osiris. The ancient Romans identified it with Venus.
Eros - son of Aphrodite, divine boy with a quiver and bow. At the request of his mother, he shoots well-aimed arrows that ignite incurable love in the hearts of people and gods. In Rome - Amur.
Hymen - companion of Aphrodite, god of marriage. After his name, wedding hymns were called hymens in Ancient Greece.
Hephaestus - a god whose cult in the era of hoary antiquity was associated with volcanic activity - fire and roar. Later, thanks to the same properties, Hephaestus became the patron of all crafts associated with fire: blacksmithing, pottery, etc. In Rome, the god Vulcan corresponded to him.
Demeter - in Ancient Greece, she personified the productive force of nature, but not wild, as Artemis once was, but “ordered”, “civilized”, the one that manifests itself in regular rhythms. Demeter was considered the goddess of agriculture, who rules the annual natural cycle renewal and decay. She also directed the cycle human life- from birth to death. This last side of the cult of Demeter constituted the content of the Eleusinian mysteries.
Persephone - daughter of Demeter, kidnapped by the god Hades. The inconsolable mother, after a long search, found Persephone in the underworld. Hades, who made her his wife, agreed that she should spend part of the year on earth with her mother, and the other with him in the bowels of the earth. Persephone was the personification of grain, which, being “dead” sown into the ground, then “comes to life” and comes out of it into the light.
Hestia - patron goddess of the hearth, family and community ties. Altars to Hestia stood in every ancient Greek home and in the main public building of the city, all citizens of which were considered one big family.
Dionysus - the god of winemaking and those violent natural forces that drive a person to insane delight. Dionysus was not one of the 12 “Olympian” gods of Ancient Greece. His orgiastic cult was borrowed relatively late from Asia Minor. The common people's veneration of Dionysus was contrasted with the aristocratic service of Apollo. From the frenzied dances and songs at the festivals of Dionysus, ancient Greek tragedy and comedy later emerged.
The ancient Greek religion, as well as the ancient Slavic and ancient Eastern religions, was characterized by polytheism. Belief in gods, each of whom is responsible for a certain area of human life or a natural phenomenon, replaced totemism, fetishism and magic, and was a new step in the development of religion as a whole. The emergence of religion and belief in gods was associated with the impossibility of a logical explanation for the creation of life on earth and the occurrence of natural disasters.
Ancient Greek Gods on Mount Olympus
The ancient Greeks believed that the sacred Mount Olympus was the abode of the gods. In their minds, the gods were immortal, but nothing human was alien to them: they had the full range of human vices and virtues, just like people experienced feelings of unrequited love, could be jealous, were fair or formidable, and sometimes quarreled among themselves.
Headed the pantheon of Gods Zeus- God of the sky, lightning and thunder. Zeus was considered the ruler of the whole world, possessed unlimited power over people, nature and other Gods, because it was he who managed to throw his father into Tartarus, thus seizing supreme power. In honor of Zeus, the ancient Greeks built a huge number of temples; they made sacrifices to him in order to earn his goodwill. The statue of Zeus at Olympia, created by the sculptor Phidias, is one of the seven wonders of the world. Wife of Zeus, a goddess with a very cool disposition Hera was the patroness of family and marriage.
Brother of Zeus Poseidon was responsible for the water world: seas, rivers and oceans. He was the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. Hades dominated the underground kingdom of the dead, into which, according to the beliefs of the Greeks, the souls of the dead fell. Ares was the god of bloody and unjust wars, and his wife Aphrodite, on the contrary, in contrast to it, it patronized love, beauty and harmony in human relationships.
The favorite daughter of Zeus enjoyed special respect among the ancient Greeks - Athena–Pallas, goddess of wisdom, who was considered the patroness of the city of Athens. According to legend, Athena was born from the head of Zeus, for which her father rewarded her with intelligence and deep thinking. The elder sister of Zeus was responsible for fertility on earth Demeter. The change of seasons was explained by Demeter's grief for her daughter Persephone, who, being the wife of Hades, spent six months in the underworld next to her husband. At this time, the vegetation on the earth withered and winter began.
Was the god of winemaking Dionysus. In the minds of the Greeks, Dionysus also patronized the religious inspiration of people. The daughter of Zeus was considered the patroness of the Moon and hunting. Artemis. The lame God was the patron of blacksmiths and artisans Hephaestus. Concluded the magnificent pantheon of Gods Hermes, who quickly moved across the sky, thanks to his winged sandals, was the god of eloquence and trade.
The era of the birth of Christianity accelerated the death of the Gods in the minds of the ancient Greeks. The Myth of the Death of God Pana, became the first commemoration of the imminent death of all immortal gods. Christianity included the entire pantheon of Gods in one God. The temples of the ancient Gods were turned into churches, all manuscripts were destroyed, all statues and dedicatory inscriptions were broken in rage. The gods left Olympus. A new round of human history has begun.
Mythology offers a fascinating, colorful journey into ancient times. Immortal powerful beings lived on high mountain Olympus and, according to myths, influenced the structure of the world, changed the lives of people who turned to them for help. What were the gods of ancient Greece: a list and description of their deeds, meaning for the Greeks.
In Ancient Hellas, the most revered were the younger celestials, who defeated the older gods - the Titans. The young gods of ancient Greece settled on Mount Olympus, with the exception of Hades, who lived in his underground kingdom. Each immortal had a certain higher power and performed its own functions. The gods were no strangers to experiences and feelings; in their behavior they sometimes resembled people. The only thing they differed in was immortality.
In ancient Greece, 12 deities were worshiped. This list does not include the underground god Hades, but he was revered and feared by the people of Ancient Greece. Over time, the relationship between immortal creatures has become overgrown with myths and legends that are of genuine interest today.
We offer a list and pictures of all 12 Olympian gods and Hades:
Apollo
Mighty Zeus
Zeus was considered the main god on Olympus and the ruler of the whole world in ancient Greece. Lord of thunder and lightning, distributing good and evil. Zeus's father was the titan Kronos, and his mother was Rhea. Kronos was predicted that he would lose power because of his own children. In order to prevent this, the titan swallowed all of its newborn children. Rhea managed to hide the son of Zeus in a cave where the boy was growing up. The matured Zeus teamed up with his brothers and sisters to overthrow Kronos. After the death of the ruler, the brothers divided power: Zeus got the heavens, Poseidon the sea, Hades the underworld.
At the beginning of his reign, Zeus was a real tyrant. Tried to destroy the human race twice. Only after consolidating his position in power did he slightly loosen the reins of government. The ancient Greek gods submitted to the power of the Thunderer, only occasionally trying to rebel. Zeus brought kings to rule, strengthened rights and order.
The wife of Zeus was the majestic Hera. Her husband appreciated her and gave her honors. The Thunderer was a passionate person; in addition to his wife, he had many love affairs.
Zeus' lovers were:
- Diameter,
- Eurynoma,
- Mnemosyne,
- Mayan,
- Themis.
Not all women reciprocated the thunderer's feelings. Then Zeus took the form of their lovers, animals, natural phenomena in order to achieve his goal.
Hera gave birth to three children: Hephaestus, Hebe and Ares. Other women gave birth to Hermes, Charit, Persephone, Aphrodite and many others.
Pay attention! All of Zeus' wives were his sisters.
Useful video: Zeus is the most powerful God of Olympus
God of War Ares
He preferred bloody, treacherous massacres carried out for the sake of war itself. The god of war in Greek mythology was so cruel and ferocious that his own father hated him. In Greek mythology, the origins of Ares are ambiguous. Some sources claim that he was born from an immaculate conception from the magic flower of Hera. According to another version, the parents were Zeus and Hera.
The father hated his son so much that if it were not for the relationship, he would have severely punished him. A loving mother always protected Ares and helped. But she could not accept her son’s vicious relationship with Aphrodite.
According to myth, Ares was a merciless warrior who crushed many enemies. Not a single bloody battle took place without him. His companions Enyo and Eris accompanied him in all battles, causing fury among the warriors and patronizing discord. .The God of War was not considered invincible. After each defeat, he became submissive and quiet for a short time, and came to his father with complaints.
Ares was handsome, had a muscular, strong body, fair skin, regular facial features, so he often indulged in lovemaking. Thanks to his beauty, even with a very vile character, he was very popular with the opposite sex. Immortal, simple women competed with each other for the right to become his lover.
He never raped women, captivated by his charisma, the ladies gave themselves to him of their own free will. A passionate, ardent lover gave unearthly pleasure, so women always remembered their lover with warmth and love.
Ares had many lovers, but the only woman he loved was Aphrodite. Their connection in mythology is even called marriage, despite the fact that the beloved was married to Hephaestus. In mythology, the relationship between Ares and Aphrodite is described with condemnation.
Numerous love affairs gave him about 50 children. Aphrodite gave birth to seven children: Pothos, Himeros, Deimos, Phobos, Anteros, Eros and Harmony. Ares loved his children, always came to the rescue, stood up for the heirs.
Some people are now turning to the divine fighter: asking for victory over enemies, success.
Majestic Apollo
Apollo is the sun god of the Greeks. He was revered as the patron of artistic attractiveness. He was also a healer, a talented predictor, and a brave hero. The ambitious, eternally young god occupied a place of honor on Olympus. He was second after Zeus.
Apollo and his twin sister Artemis were born on the island of Delos. Their parents are Zeus and Leto. The children were born at seven months old on the seventh day of the month. It was from that time that the seventh number began to be revered by the Greeks. Their mother had to hide from Hera’s wrath for a long time. The rest of the inhabitants of Olympus joyfully received the news of the birth of babies, generously gifted them, fed them with ambrosia and nectar.
The young man quickly matured. On the fourth day after birth, he already killed the snake. At the age of four he built a temple. The giant Titius, who insulted Leto's mother, suffered from the arrows of the young god. For killing the serpent Python, he was exiled by his father to Earth, where he served as a shepherd for eight years. A handsome, charming man was very popular among women. But despite this, he was unhappy in love. Many women deceived him and rejected his love. Coronis gave birth to Asclepius, Cyrene - Aristaeus. Also among the offspring were Pythagoras, Euripides, and Orpheus.
Useful video: Apollo - light and darkness
Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing. Since childhood I was weak and ugly. Hera's own mother, seeing her sick child, was ashamed to show him to other deities and threw him into the sea, but the baby survived. The sea goddess Thetis became the adoptive mother. When Hephaestus grew up, his own mother recognized her son. According to some myths, the lame Hephaestus forgave his own mother, even defended her before Zeus. For disobedience, the Thunderer threw Hephaestus from a cliff, which caused him to become lame on both legs.
All buildings on Olympus were built by Hephaestus. The Olympic army was equipped with armor made by his hands. He had a great love for blacksmithing. If other ancient Greek gods were reluctant to engage in physical labor, Hephaestus spent all his time at work. Craftsmen and blacksmiths turned to him for help. The patron of crafts taught people blacksmithing. Hephaestus symbolizes the power, complex nature of the flame.
He was ugly and therefore not interesting to women. By order of Zeus, Aphrodite became his wife. The beautiful wife was unable to love her husband, to whom she was forcibly married.
Beautiful Aphrodite
The goddess of love in myths - Aphrodite - was revered by the Greeks as the embodiment of eternal spring and youth. She patronized beauty, fertility, and marriages. She was asked for her lover's favor. Many generations associate the names of Aphrodite and Apollo with beauty and impeccability.
Aphrodite brought peace and harmony into people's lives. But the goddess's favor extended only to those who revered her. She severely punished everyone who did not appreciate her gifts. This is what happened with Narcissus. The handsome young man paid with his life for not appreciating his beauty and the benefits bestowed by Aphrodite.
The impeccable beauty of the goddess Aphrodite conquered the inhabitants of Olympus and mere mortals. She was served by the patroness of grace and beauty - Harita and Ora. Flowers bloomed wherever she stepped. Aphrodite never suffered defeat in love affairs, always received reciprocity from her lovers, personified voluptuousness.
The goddess of love Aphrodite was not faithful in marriage and easily started relationships with other men. She did not give her husband a single heir, while she bore many children to her lovers. The fruits of their love with Ares were: Phobos, Deimos, Harmony, Eros, Anteros. She gave Dionysus a son, Priapus. From Hermes, Aphrodite gave birth to Hemaphrodite. Aeneas was born to the goddess from King Anchises.
There are two versions of the birth of Aphrodite. According to one of them, she was born as an adult from sea foam and came ashore on the island of Cyprus. According to another version, she was born traditional way, parents were Zeus and the nymph Dione.
Useful video: mistress of love desires
Conclusion
The ancient Greek gods are endowed with all the virtues and vices that are inherent in people themselves. The Greeks used myths to explain phenomena they did not understand. The Celestials were not without weaknesses. Behind his power and beautiful appearance, there were many vices hidden. Getting to know the gods allows you to learn better about the life and customs of ancient peoples, and get in touch with history.
Each of the peoples of the Ancient World had their own deities, powerful and not so powerful. Many of them had unusual abilities and were the owners of wonderful artifacts that gave them additional strength, knowledge and, ultimately, power.
Amaterasu ("Great Goddess Who Illuminates the Heavens")
Country: Japan
Essence: Sun Goddess, ruler of the heavenly fields
Amaterasu is the eldest of three children of the progenitor god Izanaki. She was born from drops of water with which he washed his left eye. She took possession of the upper heavenly world, while her younger brothers got the night and the water kingdom.
Amaterasu taught people how to cultivate rice and weave. The imperial house of Japan traces its ancestry from her. She is considered the great-grandmother of the first Emperor Jimmu. The rice ear, mirror, sword and carved beads given to her became sacred symbols of imperial power. According to tradition, one of the emperor's daughters becomes the High Priestess of Amaterasu.
Yu-Di (“Jade Sovereign”)
Country: China
Essence: Supreme Overlord, Emperor of the Universe
Yu-Di was born at the moment of the creation of Earth and Heaven. The Heavenly, Terrestrial, and Underground worlds are subject to him. All other deities and spirits are subordinate to him.
Yu-Di is absolutely emotionless. He sits on a throne in a robe embroidered with dragons and holding a jade tablet in his hands. Yu Di has an exact address: the god lives in a palace on Mount Yujingshan, which resembles the court of the Chinese emperors. Under it function heavenly councils responsible for various natural phenomena. They perform all sorts of actions that the Lord of Heaven himself does not condescend to do.
Quetzalcoatlus ("Feathered Serpent")
Country: Central America
Essence: Creator of the world, lord of the elements, creator and teacher of people
Quetzalcoatl not only created the world and people, but also taught them the most important skills: from agriculture to astronomical observations. Despite his high status, Quetzalcoatl sometimes acted in a very peculiar way. For example, in order to get maize grains for people, he entered an anthill, turning into an ant himself, and stole them.
Quetzalcoatl was depicted both as a feathered serpent (the body symbolizing the Earth, and the feathers representing vegetation) and as a bearded man wearing a mask.
According to one legend, Quetzalcoatl voluntarily went into overseas exile on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Because of this, the Aztecs initially mistook the conquistador leader Cortes for the returned Quetzalcoatl.
Baal (Balu, Baal, "Lord")
Country: Middle East
Essence: Thunderer, god of rain and elements. In some myths - the creator of the world
Baal, as a rule, was depicted either as a bull or as a warrior riding on a cloud with a lightning spear. During the festivities in his honor, mass orgies took place, often accompanied by self-mutilation. It is believed that human sacrifices were also made to Baal in some areas. From his name comes the name of the biblical demon Beelzebub (Ball-Zebula, “Lord of the Flies”).
Ishtar (Astarte, Inanna, "Lady of Heaven")
Country: Middle East
Essence: Goddess of fertility, sex and war
Ishtar, sister of the Sun and daughter of the Moon, was associated with the planet Venus. Associated with the legend of her journey to the underworld was the myth of nature dying and reborn every year. She often acted as an intercessor for people before the gods. At the same time, Ishtar was responsible for various feuds. The Sumerians even called wars “the dances of Inanna.” As a goddess of war, she was often depicted riding a lion, and was probably a prototype of the Whore of Babylon riding on a beast.
The passion of the loving Ishtar was destructive for both gods and mortals. For her many lovers, everything usually ended in big trouble or even death. The worship of Ishtar included temple prostitution and was accompanied by mass orgies.
Ashur ("Father of the Gods")
Country: Assyria
Essence: God of War
Ashur is the main god of the Assyrians, the god of war and hunting. His weapon was a bow and arrow. As a rule, Ashur was depicted together with bulls. Another symbol of it is the solar disk above the tree of life. Over time, as the Assyrians expanded their possessions, he began to be considered the consort of Ishtar. The High Priest of Ashur was the Assyrian king himself, and his name often became part of the royal name, as, for example, the famous Ashurbanipal, and the capital of Assyria was called Ashur.
Marduk ("Son of Clear Sky")
Country: Mesopotamia
Essence: Patron of Babylon, god of wisdom, ruler and judge of the gods
Marduk defeated the embodiment of chaos Tiamat, driving the “evil wind” into her mouth, and took possession of the book of destinies that belonged to her. After that, he cut Tiamat's body and created Heaven and Earth from them, and then created the entire modern, ordered world. The other gods, seeing the power of Marduk, recognized his supremacy.
Marduk's symbol is the dragon Mushkhush, a mixture of scorpion, snake, eagle and lion. Various plants and animals were identified with the body parts and entrails of Marduk. Main temple Marduk - a huge ziggurat (step pyramid) probably became the basis of the legend of the Tower of Babel.
Yahweh (Jehovah, "He Who Is")
Country: Middle East
Essence: Single tribal god of the Jews
Yahweh's main function was to help his chosen people. He gave the Jews laws and strictly monitored their implementation. In clashes with enemies, Yahweh provided the chosen people with assistance, sometimes the most direct. In one of the battles, for example, he threw huge stones at his enemies, in another case he abolished the law of nature, stopping the sun.
Unlike most other gods of the ancient world, Yahweh is extremely jealous, and forbids the worship of any deities other than himself. Severe punishments await those who disobey. The word “Yahweh” is a replacement for the secret name of God, which is forbidden to be spoken out loud. It was impossible to create his images either. In Christianity, Yahweh is sometimes identified with God the Father.
Ahura-Mazda (Ormuzd, “God the Wise”)
Country: Persia
Essence: Creator of the World and all that is good in it
Ahura Mazda created the laws by which the world exists. He endowed people with free will, and they can choose the path of good (then Ahura Mazda will favor them in every possible way) or the path of evil (serving Ahura Mazda's eternal enemy Angra Mainyu). Ahura Mazda's assistants are the good beings of Ahura created by him. He is surrounded by them in the fabulous Garodman, the house of chants.
The image of Ahura Mazda is the Sun. He is older than the whole world, but at the same time, eternally young. He knows both the past and the future. In the end, he will achieve the final victory over evil, and the world will become perfect.
Angra Mainyu (Ahriman, "Evil Spirit")
Country: Persia
Essence: The embodiment of evil among the ancient Persians
Angra Mainyu is the source of everything bad that happens in the world. He spoiled the perfect world created by Ahura Mazda, introducing lies and destruction into it. He sends diseases, crop failures, natural disasters, gives birth to predatory animals, poisonous plants and animals. Under the command of Angra Mainyu are the devas, evil spirits, who carry out his evil will. After Angra Mainyu and his minions are defeated, an era of eternal bliss should begin.
Brahma ("Priest")
Country: India
Essence: God is the creator of the world
Brahma was born from a lotus flower and then created this world. After 100 years of Brahma, 311,040,000,000,000 earthly years, he will die, and after the same period of time a new Brahma will self-generate and create a new world.
Brahma has four faces and four arms, which symbolizes the cardinal directions. Its indispensable attributes are a book, rosary, a vessel with water from the sacred Ganges, a crown and a lotus flower, symbols of knowledge and power. Brahma lives on the top of the sacred Mount Meru and rides on a white swan. The descriptions of the action of Brahma's weapon Brahmastra are reminiscent of the description of nuclear weapons.
Vishnu ("All-encompassing")
Country: India
Essence: God is the keeper of the world
The main functions of Vishnu are maintenance existing world and opposition to evil. Vishnu appears in the world and acts through his incarnations, avatars, the most famous of which are Krishna and Rama. Vishnu's blue skin, he wears yellow clothes. He has four hands in which he holds a lotus flower, a mace, a conch shell and Sudarshana (a rotating disk of fire, his weapon). Vishnu reclines on the giant multi-headed snake Shesha, which swims in the world's Causal Ocean.
Shiva ("Merciful")
Country: India
Essence: God is the destroyer
Shiva's main task is to destroy the world at the end of each world cycle in order to make room for a new creation. This happens during the dance of Shiva - Tandava (therefore Shiva is sometimes called the dancing god). However, he also has more peaceful functions - a healer and a deliverer from death.
Shiva sits in lotus position on a tiger skin. There are snake bracelets on his neck and wrists. On Shiva's forehead there is a third eye (it appeared when Shiva's wife, Parvati, jokingly covered his eyes with her palms). Sometimes Shiva is depicted as a lingam (an erect penis). But sometimes he is also depicted as a hermaphrodite, symbolizing the unity of the male and female principles. According to popular beliefs, Shiva smokes marijuana, so some believers consider this activity a way to understand him.
Ra (Amon, "Sun")
Country: Egypt
Essence: Sun God
Ra, the main god of Ancient Egypt, was born from the primordial ocean of his own free will, and then created the world, including the gods. He is the personification of the Sun, and every day with a large retinue he travels across the sky in a magic boat, thanks to which he becomes possible life in Egypt. At night, the boat of Ra sails along the underground Nile through afterlife. The Eye of Ra (sometimes considered an independent deity) had the ability to pacify and subjugate enemies. The Egyptian pharaohs traced their origins to Ra, and called themselves his sons.
Osiris (Usir, "The Mighty One")
Country: Egypt
Essence: God of rebirth, ruler and judge of the underworld.
Osiris taught people agriculture. His attributes are associated with plants: the crown and boat are made of papyrus, he holds bundles of reeds in his hands, and the throne is covered with greenery. Osiris was killed and cut into pieces by his brother, the evil god Set, but was resurrected with the help of his wife and sister Isis. However, having conceived the son Horus, Osiris did not remain in the world of the living, but became the ruler and judge of the kingdom of the dead. Because of this, he was often depicted as a swaddled mummy with free hands, in which he holds a scepter and flail. In Ancient Egypt, the tomb of Osiris was highly revered.
Isis ("The Throne")
Country: Egypt
Essence: Intercessor Goddess.
Isis is the embodiment of femininity and motherhood. All segments of the population turned to her with pleas for help, but, first of all, the oppressed. She especially patronized children. And sometimes she acted as a defender of the dead before the afterlife court.
Isis was able to magically resurrect her husband and brother Osiris and give birth to his son Horus. In popular mythology, the floods of the Nile were considered the tears of Isis, which she shed for Osiris, who remained in the world of the dead. The Egyptian pharaohs were called the children of Isis; sometimes she was even depicted as a mother feeding the pharaoh with milk from her breast.
The well-known image is the “veil of Isis,” meaning the concealment of the secrets of nature. This image has long attracted mystics. No wonder Blavatsky’s famous book is called “Isis Unveiled.”
Odin (Wotan, "The Seer")
Country: Northern Europe
Essence: God of war and victory
Odin is the main god of the ancient Germans and Scandinavians. He travels on the eight-legged horse Sleipnir or on the ship Skidbladnir, the size of which can be changed at will. Odin's spear, Gugnir, always flies to the target and hits on the spot. He is accompanied by wise crows and predatory wolves. Odin lives in Valhalla with a squad of the best fallen warriors and warlike Valkyrie maidens.
In order to gain wisdom, Odin sacrificed one eye, and in order to understand the meaning of the runes, he hung on the sacred tree Yggdrasil for nine days, nailed to it with his own spear. Odin's future is predetermined: despite his power, on the day of Ragnarok (the battle preceding the end of the world) he will be killed by the giant wolf Fefnir.
Thor (Thunder)
Country: Northern Europe
Essence: Thunderer
Thor is the god of the elements and fertility among the ancient Germans and Scandinavians. This is a hero god who protects not only people, but also other gods from monsters. Thor was depicted as a giant with a red beard. His weapon is the magic hammer Mjolnir (“lightning”), which can only be held with iron gloves. Thor is girded with a magic belt that doubles his strength. He rides across the sky in a chariot drawn by goats. Sometimes he eats goats, but then resurrects them with his magic hammer. On the day of Ragnarok, last battle, Thor will deal with the world serpent Jormungandr, but he himself will die from his poison.
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The Olympian gods, in contrast to the despotic, mysterious (“chthonic”) eastern gods, were considered as beings, although powerful, but close and understandable to man. They have everything that is characteristic of people: the ability to eat and drink, love and hate, and also have physical disabilities(the god of blacksmithing Hephaestus is lame). Such anthropomorphism - the humanization of gods - is inherent in the ancient worldview and ancient culture as a whole.
Olympian gods(Olympians) in ancient Greek mythology - gods of the third generation (after the original gods and titans - gods of the first and second generations), the highest beings who lived on Mount Olympus.
Traditionally, the Olympic gods included twelve gods. The lists of Olympians do not always match. The Olympians included the children of Kronos and Rhea: Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Hestia, as well as their descendants: Hephaestus, Hermes, Ares, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus.
Chronology of the history of RELIGIONS of Ancient GREECE
From the marriage of Cronus and Rhea, the third generation of gods is born ( Olympians): Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon And Zeus.
Zeus and the other Olympians give birth to the fourth generation of gods. Zeus gives birth Athena, from Zeus and Hera, the consorts of Zeus, are born Hephaestus, Hebe, Ares, Ilithyia. From Zeus and Demeters(fertility goddess) is born Persephone, goddess of vegetation. From Zeus and Summer are born Apollo And Artemis.
PANTHEON OF THE MAIN OLYMPICS
GODS OF ANCIENT GREECE
1. Zeus- the supreme deity, the head of the Olympian family of gods. Thunderer, god of thunder and lightning.
2. Apollo (Phoebus)- god of harmony, divination, arrowhead. God of light, the Sun.
3. Artemis- goddess of the hunt. Goddess of the Moon, patroness of women in labor. Twin sister Apollo
4. Ares- god of war.
5. Athena- goddess of wisdom and just war.
6. Aphrodite- goddess of love and beauty.
7. Hera- wife and sister Zeus. Supreme Olympian goddess, “guardian”, mistress.
8. Hermes- messenger of the gods, patron of travelers, guide of the souls of the dead.
9. Hestia- goddess of the hearth, patroness of unquenchable fire.
10. Hephaestus- God of fire and blacksmithing.
11. Demeter- goddess of fertility and agriculture.
12. Claimed for 12th place among the Olympian gods: Poseidon- god and lord of the sea; Hades- god and ruler of the kingdom of the dead; Dionysus (Bacchus)- god of the fruit-bearing forces of the earth, vegetation, viticulture, winemaking.
1. Zeus, Diy, in Greek mythology, the supreme deity, the father of gods and people, the head of the Olympian family of gods. Zeus is a native Greek deity, his name is of Indo-European origin and means “bright sky.” Zeus is the son of Kronos and Rhea, he belongs to the third generation of gods, which overthrew the previous generation - the Titans. Three brothers Zeus, Poseidon and Hades divided power among themselves. Zeus gained dominance in the sky. Zeus left supreme power over the world and control of all celestial phenomena, primarily thunder and lightning (Zeus the “Thunderer”, Zeus the “Cloud Chaser”). During the period of patriarchy, Zeus is localized on Mount Olympus and is called Olympian. Zeus transforms the world, giving birth to gods who bring law, order, science, art, and moral standards into this world. Zeus is the Olympian patron of the community of people, city life, protector of the offended and patron of those who pray; other gods obey him. Zeus is the father of many heroes who carry out his will and divine plans. The beginnings of statehood, order and morality among people are connected, according to Greek legend, not with the gifts of Prometheus, from which people became proud, but with the activities of Zeus, who put shame and conscience into people, qualities necessary in social communication. In the Hellenistic era, the image of Zeus acquires the features of a world omnipotent, striving for monotheism. In honor of Olympian Zeus, they organized Olympic Games- as a symbol of unity and mutual consent of the Greek city-states. Zeus was revered as the guardian of public order and family; he was credited with establishing laws and customs. The attributes of Zeus were an aegis, a scepter, and sometimes an eagle and a hammer. As the granter of victory in war and competitions, Zeus was depicted with the goddess of victory Nike (Roman - Victoria) in his hand. Zeus was considered the father of the younger generation of Olympic gods: Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hephaestus, Dionysus, Hebe, Iris, Persephone, as well as muses, charites and many heroes: Hercules, Perseus and others. Many noble families descended from Zeus. The most important places of the cult of Zeus were Dodona (Epirus) and Olympia (Elis), where the Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus.
Individual episodes of the myth about Zeus are contained in the Iliad, the Odyssey, Hesiod's Theogony, Apollodorus's Mythological Library and other ancient works. In ancient Roman mythology, Zeus corresponded to Jupiter. Zeus-Ammon, in Egyptian mythology, Ammon was a god.
2. Hera- wife and sister of Zeus, supreme Olympian goddess, youngest daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Her name possibly means "guardian", "mistress". The marriage of Hera with her brother is a vestige of an ancient consanguineous family. Hera was the last, third after Metis and Themis, the legal wife of Zeus. Hera's marriage determined her supreme power over the other Olympian goddesses; she is the first on Olympus and the greatest goddess; Zeus himself listens to her advice. But in this image one can see the features of a female local deity of the pre-Olympic period: autonomy and independence in marriage, constant quarrels with Zeus, jealousy, terrifying anger. In the myths first conveyed by Homer and Hesiod, Hera is the model of marital fidelity. As a sign of this, she was depicted in her wedding attire. Hera on Olympus is the defender of her own family hearth, which is endlessly threatened by Zeus's amorousness.
Hera - in ancient Greek mythology - the queen of the gods, the patroness of women, marriage and birth. Hera was depicted as a majestic woman in long robes with a wreath or diadem on her head. In Roman mythology, Hera is identified with Juno.
3. Demeter, in Greek mythology, the goddess of fertility and agriculture, daughter of Kronos and Rhea, sister and wife of Zeus, from whom she gave birth to Persephone. One of the most revered Olympic deities. The ancient chthonic origin is attested to by the very name of the goddess, which literally means “mother earth.” She is a goddess who is kind to people, of beautiful appearance, with hair the color of ripe wheat, an assistant in peasant affairs, who taught people the wisdom of agriculture. The myth of Demeter also reflects the original struggle of life and death. She is portrayed as a grieving mother who lost her daughter Persephone, kidnapped by Hades. Demeter is primarily the goddess of farmers; she is glorified at the festival of Thesmophoria. Demeter is one of the ancient female great goddesses who bestow fruitful power on all living things. Main sacred place Demeter - Eleusis in Attica, where for 9 days of the month of September the Eleusinian Mysteries took place, symbolizing the spiritual and physical cleansing. The cult of Demeter, widespread in many areas of Greece, merged in Ancient Rome with the cult of the Italian plant deity Ceres. Demeter - in ancient Greek mythology - the sister of Zeus; the goddess of fertility and agriculture, who gave an ear of wheat to people and taught them to cultivate the land and grow bread. Demeter was depicted standing or sitting on a throne: - with a wreath of ears of corn on her head; - with a torch and a basket of fruits or ears of corn in hands.
4. Hestia, in Greek mythology, the goddess of the hearth, the eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea, an Olympian deity. She is the patroness of the unquenchable fire - the beginning that unites the world of the gods, human society and every family. The chaste, celibate Hestia resides on Olympus, symbolizing the unshakable cosmos. The image of Hestia early acquired the abstract features of personified fire and is not associated with mythological subjects.
5. Hephaestus, in Greek mythology, the god of fire and blacksmithing. An Olympian deity of Asia Minor origin, containing the most ancient features of the fire element. Hephaestus appears either as a flame fetish or as a lord of fire. Its origin is interpreted in two ways. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, but he is also the son of only Hera, born by her in revenge on Zeus. His parents didn't like him and threw him to the ground twice. Hephaestus is lame on both legs and ugly, which brings him closer to the archaic elements. On Olympus, Hephaestus entertains the gods with jokes, treats them with ambrosia and nectar, and generally acts in a kind of service role, which also indicates his non-Greek origin. The myths about Hephaestus also reflect the flourishing of artistic and craft creativity in the era of patriarchy. In Attica, one of the phyla (units) bore the name of Hephaestus, and he himself was revered among the main deities by the inhabitants of Attica - the “sons of Hephaestus.” The classic image of Hephaestus is a blacksmith and a skilled craftsman in his workshop, his assistants are mechanical maids. He is a master and an artist, but he is also light, fire, ether. He protects houses, cities and tribes, but he is also the moon and all the luminaries, a shining, all-devouring demon, i.e. Hephaestus is Olympus, and the underworld, and the highest creativity, and elemental demonism. Hephaestus was predominantly revered in Athens (in Ceramics), where he was the god of crafts, but could not compete with the more ancient Prometheus and Daedalus. After the overthrow of Hephaestus from Olympus, he was saved by the inhabitants of the island of Lemnos, the Synthians. In Crete there is no slightest indication of the cult of Hephaestus. The cult of Hephaestus was brought to the mainland from the islands Aegean Sea Hellenic settlers. Thus, the chthonic non-Greek deity became one of the most revered gods among the artisans and craftsmen of Athens. Hephaestus loved physical labor.
6. Hermes, in Greek mythology, originally the god of cattle breeding and shepherds, later the messenger of the gods, the patron of travelers, the guide of the souls of the dead. Hermes is the son of Zeus and the beautiful nymph of the mountains Maya, the grandfather of the brave and wise Odysseus. An Olympian deity, although pre-Greek, possibly of Asia Minor origin. Hermes is equally present in both worlds - life and death; he is a mediator between one and the other, just as he is a mediator between gods and people. The guidance of Hermes on the paths of life and death is reinterpreted in the era of classical mythology as the patronage of heroes. Hermes protects the heroes during their travels. The cunning and dexterity of Hermes make him the patron of trickery and theft. The function of Hermes as the patron of shepherds, multiplying offspring in herds together with Hecate, is secondary. Hermes and Apollo exchanged each other side by side essential functions or divided them among themselves. During the period of late antiquity, the image of Hermes Trismegistus (“thrice greatest”) arose in connection with the proximity of Hermes to the other world; The occult sciences and the so-called hermetic (secret, closed, accessible only to initiates) writings were associated with this image. Hermes was revered at anthesteria - the festival of the awakening of spring and the memory of the dead.
Hermes is usually depicted as a young man wearing a cloak, a hat with a curved brim (winged helmet), golden winged sandals (high boots with wings) and a golden magic wand, a gift from Apollo, decorated with two snakes. Hermes is considered the inventor of the musical instrument - the lyre. In addition, Hermes was a merry fellow and a joker and loved to play pranks. It was he who once jokingly stole a scepter from Zeus, a trident from Poseidon, and a bow and golden arrows from Apollo. True, if he used them, it was only for noble purposes. No one could surpass him in cunning, ingenuity and cunning, so thieves and cheaters consider him their patron. People honored him because he gave them measures of weight and length, numbers and the alphabet invented by the centaur Chiron, and taught them to read and write. He was glorified as the patron god of young athletes. In his honor, stadiums for athletic competitions and schools for gymnastics were built, which were called gymnasiums and were decorated with sculptural images of God. There is a well-known myth about the love of Io and Zeus, which took place thanks to Hermes.
Hermes is the patron of travelers, merchants, the god of trade and profit, the inventor of the lyre and the shepherd's flute, and the leader in the round dances of nymphs. In ancient Roman mythology, Hermes corresponded to Mercury.
7. Ares, Ares, in Greek mythology, the god of war, insidious, treacherous, war for the sake of war, in contrast to Pallas Athena - the goddess of fair and just war. Initially, Ares was simply identified with war and deadly weapons. Ancient myth about Ares indicates his non-Greek, Thracian origin. Ares' companions were the goddess of discord Eris and the bloodthirsty Enyo. His attributes are a spear, a burning torch, dogs, and a kite. His very birth was initially thought of purely chthonically: Hera gave birth to Ares without the participation of Zeus from touching a magic flower. In Olympian mythology, Ares has great difficulty getting along with its plastic and artistic images and laws, although now he is considered the son of Zeus himself and settles on Olympus. In Homer, Ares is a violent deity, at the same time possessing traits of romantic love that were previously unusual for him. His epithets: “strong”, “huge”, “fast”, “furious”, “harmful”, “treacherous”, “destroyer of people”, “destroyer of cities”, “stained with blood”. The violent and immoral Ares with great difficulty assimilated with the Olympian gods, and numerous layers of different eras were preserved in his image. In Rome, Ares is identified with the Italic god Mars, and in later art and literature he is known primarily under the name Mars. Herodotus identified the Scythian deity with Ares, whose true name was not preserved in the sources. “Scythian Ares,” who was one of the third category of gods of the seven-divine Scythian pantheon, was revered in the guise of an ancient iron sword placed on top of a quadrangular twig altar, and domestic animals and every hundredth captive were sacrificed to him. The identification of this Scythian god with the Greek Ares and the forms of his cult indicate that he was a god of war. Ares - in ancient Greek mythology - the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of a cruel and bloody war, war for the sake of war. Ares was depicted wearing a helmet, armed with a shield, a spear and a short sword.
8. Aphrodite , in Greek mythology, the goddess of love and beauty. Goddess of Asia Minor origin. The etymology of this non-Greek name for the goddess is unclear. There are two versions of the origin of Aphrodite: according to one, the later one, she is the daughter of Zeus and Diana; according to another, she was born from the blood of Uranus, castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed foam; hence the so-called the popular etymology of her name is “foam-born” and one of her nicknames - Anadyomene - “appeared on the surface of the sea.” Aphrodite possessed the cosmic functions of powerful, world-permeating love. Aphrodite was represented as the goddess of fertility, eternal spring and life. Hence the epithets of the goddess: “Aphrodite in the gardens”, “sacred garden”, “Aphrodite in the stems”, “Aphrodite in the meadows”. She is always surrounded by roses, myrtles, anemones, violets, daffodils, lilies and accompanied by charites, oras and nymphs. Aphrodite was glorified as the giver of abundance to the earth, the summit (“goddess of the mountains”), companion and good helper in swimming (“goddess of the sea”), i.e. the earth, sea and mountains are embraced by the power of Aphrodite. She is the goddess of marriages and even childbirth, as well as a “child-bearer.” Gods and people are subject to the love power of Aphrodite. Only Athena, Artemis and Hestia are beyond her control. Aphrodite's service was often of a sensual nature (Aphrodite was even considered the goddess of hetaeras, she herself was called a hetaera and a harlot), gradually the archaic goddess with her elemental sexuality and fertility turned into a flirtatious and playful Aphrodite, who took her place among the Olympian gods. This classic Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione, her birth from the blood of Uranus is almost forgotten. There were numerous sanctuaries of Aphrodite in other regions of Greece (Corinth, Boeotia, Messenia, Achaia, Sparta), on the islands - Crete (in the city of Paphos, where there was a temple that had pan-Greek significance, and hence the nickname of Aphrodite - the Paphos goddess), Kythera, Cyprus, Sicily (from Mount Erice - nickname Ericinia). Aphrodite was especially revered in Asia Minor (in Ephesus, Abydos) and in Syria. The ancient Greeks believed that Aphrodite provided protection to heroes, but her help extended only to the sphere of feelings. In ancient art, Aphrodite was depicted as a woman in the prime of her life and beauty. Aphrodite's constant attribute was a wonderful belt, in which the secret of her charm was hidden and love, desire, and words of seduction were contained. According to legend, it was this belt that Aphrodite gave to Hera in order to help her divert the attention of Zeus. In Ancient Rome, Aphrodite was identified with Venus and was considered the ancestor of the Romans thanks to her son Aeneas, the ancestor of the Julius family, to which, according to legend, Julius Caesar belonged. Of the ancient images of Aphrodite, the most famous are: Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles (mid-4th century BC), Aphrodite (Venus) of Milo (2nd century BC). dnMenu(10,3);
9. Athena, in Greek mythology, the goddess of wisdom, just war and crafts, daughter of Zeus and the Titanide Metis. It is believed that Athena was born from the head of Zeus. Athena was, as it were, a part of Zeus, the executor of his plans and will. She is the thought of Zeus, realized in action. Her attributes are a snake and an owl, as well as an aegis, a shield made of goat skin, decorated with the head of the snake-haired Medusa, which has magical powers, frightening gods and people. In ancient times, it was believed that the goddess received the nickname Pallas from the wooden idol of Palladion that fell from the sky. Whatever this nickname means, the legend of the wooden idol falling from the sky itself speaks of Athena as a deity of the most ancient circle. Later myths attribute the appearance of the epithet Pallas to Athena's defeat of the giant Pallant. During the period of heroic mythology, Athena fought with titans and giants: she kills one giant, rips off the skin of another, and dumps the island of Sicily on a third. Classical Athena patronizes heroes and protects public order. She rescued Bellerophon, Jason, Hercules and Perseus from trouble. It was she who helped her favorite Odysseus overcome all difficulties and get to Ithaca after Trojan War. The most significant support was provided by Athena to the matricide Orestes. She helped Prometheus steal the divine fire, defended the Achaean Greeks during the Trojan War; she is the patroness of potters, weavers and needlewomen. The cult of Athena, widespread throughout Greece, was especially revered in Athens, which she patronized. In Roman mythology, the goddess corresponds to Minerva. Athena was considered the patroness of Athens; The feast of Panathenaia was celebrated in her honor. Athena was depicted as a stern and majestic maiden, in a long robe, fully armed, with a spear, shield and helmet.
10. Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto, brother of Artemis, Olympian god, who included in his classical image the archaic and chthonic features of pre-Greek and Asia Minor development (hence the variety of his functions - both destructive and beneficent, the combination of dark and light sides in him). Data from the Greek language do not allow us to reveal the etymology of the name Apollo, which indicates the non-Indo-European origin of the image. The attempts of ancient authors to unravel the meaning of the name Apollo are not subject to scientific discussion, although they are characterized by a tendency to combine into one inseparable whole a number of functions of Apollo: the archer, the destroyer, the soothsayer, the guardian of cosmic and human harmony. The image of Apollo connects heaven, earth and the underworld.
Along with destructive actions, Apollo also has healing actions; he is a doctor or Paeon, Alexikakos ("Helper"), protector from evil and disease, stopping the plague during the Peloponnesian War. In later times, Apollo was identified with the sun in all the fullness of its healing and destructive functions. Apollo's epithet - Phoebus - indicates purity, brilliance, and prophecy. The combination in the image of Apollo of rational clarity and dark elemental forces is confirmed by the closest connections between Apollo and Dionysus.
Apollo the soothsayer is credited with the founding of sanctuaries in Asia Minor and Italy - in Claros, Didyma, Colophon, Cumae. Apollo is a prophet and oracle, he is even thought of as the “driver of fate” - Moiraget...
Apollo is a shepherd and guardian of flocks. He is the founder and builder of cities, the ancestor and patron of tribes. Apollo is a musician; he received the cithara from Hermes in exchange for cows. He is the patron of singers and musicians, Musaget is the leader of the muses and severely punishes those who try to compete with him in music. Apollo is one of the most complex mythological images. Probably, the cult of Apollo penetrated from Asia Minor to Greece, and from there to Rome (in the Iliad, Apollo patronizes the Trojans). Initially, Apollo was a deity associated with the cult of the productive forces of the earth and averting troubles and illnesses from people. This is how his functions arose: a healer god, a diviner god, and then a god of wisdom, as well as a patron of art (hence Apollo Musagete - the leader of the muses). Later, Apollo began to be identified with the sun god (his nickname Phoebus from the Greek adjective phoibos - bright, shining). The main centers of the cult of Apollo were Delphi, Delos and Didyma (in Asia Minor). Apollo - in ancient Greek mythology - the son of Zeus and the goddess Leto, the god of sunlight, a healer god and soothsayer, patron of the arts. Apollo was depicted as a beautiful young man with a bow or cithara.
11. Artemis, ("bear goddess", "mistress", "killer"), in Greek mythology, the goddess of the hunt, daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin sister of Apollo. Born on the island of Asteria (Delos). Artemis spends time in the forests and mountains, hunting, surrounded by nymphs, her companions and also huntresses. She is armed with a bow and is accompanied by a pack of dogs. The goddess has a decisive and aggressive character, often uses arrows as an instrument of punishment and strictly monitors the implementation of customs that regulate animal and flora. In the most ancient myths, Artemis was depicted as a bear. In Attica, the priestesses of the goddess wore a bearskin when performing rituals. In classical mythology, Artemis was a maiden and protector of chastity. Sanctuaries of Artemis were often built among water sources, considered a symbol of fertility. In Roman mythology, she corresponds to the goddess Diana.
Initially, Artemis was the goddess of fertility, the patroness of animals and hunting, the goddess of the moon, and later the patroness of female chastity and the guardian of women in labor. Artemis was depicted as a beautiful girl-hunter in short clothes with a bow and arrows, accompanied by a deer and nymphs, or as a moon goddess in long clothes with a crescent moon on her head and torches in her hands.
12. Dionysus, in Greek mythology, the god of the fruitful forces of the earth, vegetation, viticulture and winemaking. A deity of eastern origin (Thracian or Lydian-Thracian), which spread to Greece relatively late and established itself there with great difficulty. At the turn of the 7th-8th centuries BC. the cult of Dionysus began to supplant the cults of local gods and heroes. Dionysus, as the deity of the agricultural circle, associated with the elemental forces of the earth, was opposed to Apollo, primarily as the deity of the clan aristocracy. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and the daughter of the Theban king Cadmus, the mortal woman Semele. The symbol of Dionysus as the god of the fruitful forces of the earth was the phallus. He married Ariadne, abandoned by Theseus. Wherever Dionysus appears, he teaches people viticulture and winemaking. Dionysus's retinue included bacchantes, satyrs and maenads, who crushed everything in their path. Dionysus entered the list of the 12 Olympian gods late. In Delphi he began to be revered along with Apollo. On Parnassus, orgies were held every two years in honor of Dionysus, in which Bacchantes from Attica took part. An ancient Greek tragedy arose from religious cult rituals dedicated to Dionysus. Dionysus is the god of vegetation, wine and fun, patron of viticulture and winemaking. The ancient Greeks depicted Dionysus as a bearded man in long clothes or a naked youth, surrounded by maenads, satyrs and silenes.
