God of war on Olympus. Coins "Olympic Games" and the great Opimpians of Russia
The religion of Ancient Greece refers to pagan polytheism. The gods played important roles in the structure of the world, each performing its own function. The immortal deities were like people and behaved quite humanly: they were sad and rejoiced, quarreled and reconciled, betrayed and sacrificed their interests, were cunning and were sincere, loved and hated, forgave and avenged, punished and pardoned.
In contact with
The behavior, as well as the commands of the gods and goddesses, the ancient Greeks explained natural phenomena, the origin of man, moral principles, and social relations. Mythology reflected the ideas of the Greeks about the world around them. Myths originated in different parts of Hellas and eventually merged into an ordered system of beliefs.
Ancient Greek gods and goddesses
The main gods and goddesses belonging to the younger generation were considered. The older generation, which embodied the forces of the universe and the elements of nature, lost its dominance over the world, unable to resist the onslaught of the younger ones. having won, the young gods chose Mount Olympus as their home. The ancient Greeks singled out 12 main deities from all deities. Olympic gods. So, the gods of Ancient Greece, the list and description:
Zeus - God of Ancient Greece- in mythology it is called the father of the gods, Zeus the Thunderer, the lord of lightning and clouds. It is he who has the mighty power to create life, to resist chaos, to establish order and a fair trial on earth. Legends tell about the deity as a noble and kind being. The Lord of Lightning gave birth to the goddesses Or and Muses. Or govern the time and seasons of the year. Music brings inspiration and joy to people.
Hera was the wife of the Thunderer. The Greeks considered her the absurd goddess of the atmosphere. Hera is the guardian of the house, the patroness of wives who are faithful to their husbands. With her daughter Ilithia, Hera relieved the pains of childbirth. Zeus was famous for his passion. After a three-hundred-year marriage, the lord of lightning began to visit ordinary women who gave birth to heroes from him - demigods. Zeus appeared to his chosen ones in different guises. Before the beautiful Europe, the father of the gods stood like a bull with golden horns. Zeus visited Danae as a golden rain.
Poseidon
Sea god - lord of the oceans and seas, patron saint of sailors and fishermen. The Greeks considered Poseidon a just god, all punishments of which were sent to people deservedly. Preparing for the voyage, the sailors offered prayers not to Zeus, but to the lord of the seas. Before going out to sea, incense was offered on altars to please the sea deity.
The Greeks believed that Poseidon could be seen during a strong storm on the high seas. His magnificent golden chariot emerged from the sea foam, drawn by swift horses. The lord of the ocean received dashing horses as a gift from his brother Hades. The wife of Poseidon is the goddess of the noisy sea, Amphrita. The trident - a symbol of power, gave the deity absolute power over the depths of the sea. Poseidon was distinguished by a gentle character, sought to avoid quarrels. His loyalty to Zeus was not questioned - unlike Hades, the ruler of the seas did not dispute the primacy of the thunderer.
Hades
Lord of the underworld. Hades and his wife Persephone ruled over the kingdom of the dead. The inhabitants of Hellas feared Hades more than Zeus himself. It is impossible to get into the underworld - and even more so, to return - without the will of a gloomy deity. Hades traveled the surface of the earth in a chariot drawn by horses. The eyes of the horses blazed with hellish fire. People in fear prayed that the gloomy god would not take them to their abode. A favorite of Hades, the three-headed dog Cerberus guarded the entrance to the realm of the dead.
According to the legends, when the gods shared power and Hades got dominion over the kingdom of the dead, the celestial was dissatisfied. He considered himself humiliated and held a grudge against Zeus. Hades never openly opposed the power of the Thunderer, but constantly tried to harm the father of the gods as much as possible.
Hades kidnapped the beautiful Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of fertility Demeter, by force making her his wife and ruler of the underworld. Zeus had no power over the realm of the dead, so he refused Demeter's request to return her daughter to Olympus. The distressed goddess of fertility stopped taking care of the earth, drought came, then famine came. The lord of thunder and lightning had to conclude an agreement with Hades, according to which Persephone would spend two-thirds of the year in heaven, and a third of the year in the underworld.
Pallas Athena and Ares
Athena is probably the most beloved goddess of the ancient Greeks. The daughter of Zeus, born from his head, she embodied the three virtues:
- wisdom;
- calm;
- insight.
Goddess of victorious energy, Athena was portrayed as a powerful warrior with a spear and shield. She was also the deity of clear skies, having the power to disperse dark clouds with her weapons. The daughter of Zeus traveled with Nike, the goddess of victory. Athena was called upon as the protector of cities and fortresses. It was she who sent down just state laws to Ancient Hellas.
Ares - deity of stormy skies, the eternal rival of Athena. The son of Hera and Zeus, he was revered as the god of war. A warrior full of rage, with a sword or a spear - this is how Ares was depicted by the imagination of the ancient Greeks. The god of war enjoyed the noise of battle and bloodshed. Unlike Athena, who fought judiciously and honestly, Ares preferred fierce fights. The god of war approved the tribunal - a special trial of particularly cruel murderers. The hill where the courts took place is named after the warlike deity Areopagus.
Hephaestus
God of blacksmithing and fire. According to legend, Hephaestus was cruel to people, frightened and destroyed them with volcanic eruptions. People lived without fire on the surface of the earth, suffering and dying in the eternal cold. Hephaestus, like Zeus, did not want to help mortals and give them fire. Prometheus - a titan, the last of the older generation of gods, was the assistant of Zeus and lived on Olympus. Filled with compassion, he brought fire to the earth. For stealing fire, the Thunderer doomed the titan to eternal torment.
Prometheus managed to escape punishment. With visionary abilities, the titan knew that Zeus in the future was threatened with death at the hands of his own son. Thanks to the hint of Prometheus, the lord of lightning did not unite in a marriage alliance with the one who would give birth to a parricide son, and strengthened his dominion forever. For the secret of maintaining power, Zeus gave the titan freedom.
In Hellas there was a holiday of running. Participants competed with lit torches in their hands. Athena, Hephaestus and Prometheus were symbols of the celebration that gave rise to the Olympic Games.
Hermes
The deities of Olympus were characterized not only by noble impulses, lies and deceit often guided their actions. God Hermes is a rogue and a thief, the patron of trade and banking, magic, alchemy, astrology. Born by Zeus from the Mayan galaxy. His mission was to convey the will of the gods to people through dreams. From the name of Hermes came the name of the science of hermeneutics - the art and theory of interpretation of texts, including ancient ones.
Hermes invented writing, was young, handsome, energetic. Antique images depict him as a handsome young man in a winged hat and sandals. According to legend, Aphrodite rejected the advances of the god of commerce. Gremes is not married, although he has many children, as well as many lovers.
The first theft of Hermes - 50 cows of Apollo, he committed it at a very young age. Zeus gave the kid a good "bashing" and he returned the stolen. In the future, the Thunderer more than once turned to the resourceful offspring to solve thorny problems. For example, at the request of Zeus, Hermes stole a cow from Hera, into which the beloved of the lightning lord turned.
Apollo and Artemis
Apollo is the Greek god of the sun. As the son of Zeus, Apollo spent the winter in the lands of the Hyperboreans. In Greece, the god returned in the spring, bringing the awakening of nature, immersed in hibernation. Apollo patronized the arts, and was also the deity of music and singing. After all, together with the spring, the desire to create returned to people. Apollo was credited with the ability to heal. As the sun casts out darkness, so the celestial cast out ailments. The sun god was depicted as an extremely handsome young man with a harp in his hands.
Artemis is the goddess of the hunt and the moon, the patroness of animals. The Greeks believed that Artemis made night walks with naiads - the patroness of the waters - and shed dew on the grass. At a certain period in history, Artemis was considered a cruel goddess who destroys sailors. Human sacrifices were made to the deity to gain favor.
At one time, girls worshiped Artemis as the organizer of a strong marriage. Artemis of Ephesus was considered the goddess of fertility. Sculptures and pictures of Artemis depicted a woman with a large number of nipples on her chest to emphasize the generosity of the goddess.
Soon the god of the sun Helios and the goddess of the moon Selene appeared in the legends. Apollo remained the deity of music and art, Artemis - goddess of the hunt.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite the Beautiful was worshiped as the patroness of lovers. The Phoenician goddess Aphrodite combined two principles:
- femininity, when the goddess enjoyed the love of the young man Adonis and the singing of birds, the sounds of nature;
- militancy, when the goddess was portrayed as a cruel warrior who obliged her followers to take a vow of chastity, and was also a zealous guardian of fidelity in marriage.
The ancient Greeks managed to harmoniously combine femininity and militancy, creating a perfect image of female beauty. The embodiment of the ideal was Aphrodite, carrying pure, immaculate love. The goddess was depicted as a beautiful naked woman emerging from the foam of the sea. Aphrodite is the most revered muse of poets, sculptors, artists of that time.
The son of the beautiful goddess Eros (Eros) was her faithful messenger and assistant. The main task of the god of love was to connect the life lines of lovers. According to legend, Eros looked like a plump baby with wings.
Demeter
Demeter is the patron goddess of farmers and winemakers. Mother Earth, as they called her. Demeter was the embodiment of nature, which gives people fruits and cereals, absorbing sunlight and rains. They portrayed the goddess of fertility with blond, wheaten hair. Demeter gave people the science of arable farming and crops grown by hard work. The daughter of the goddess of winemaking Persephone, becoming the queen of the underworld, connected the world of the living with the kingdom of the dead.
Together with Demeter, Dionysus was revered - the deity of winemaking. Dionysus was portrayed as a cheerful young man. Usually his body was entwined with a vine, and in his hands the god held a jug filled with wine. Dionysus taught people to take care of vines, to sing exuberant songs, which later formed the basis of ancient Greek drama.
Hestia
Goddess of family well-being, unity and peace. The altar of Hestia stood in every house near the family hearth. The inhabitants of Hellas perceived urban communities as large families, therefore, in the pritanei (administrative buildings in Greek cities), the sanctuaries of Hestia were always present. They were a symbol of civil unity and peace. There was a sign that if you take coals from the altar of the pritanei on a long journey, then the goddess will provide her protection on the way. The goddess also protected strangers and the afflicted.
Temples to Hestia were not built because she was worshiped in every home. Fire was considered a clean, cleansing natural phenomenon, so Hestia was perceived as the patroness of chastity. The goddess asked Zeus for permission not to marry, although Poseidon and Apollo sought her favor.
Myths and legends have evolved over decades. With each retelling of the story, new details were acquired, previously unknown characters appeared. The list of gods grew, making it possible to explain natural phenomena, the essence of which ancient people could not understand. Myths conveyed the wisdom of the older generations to the young, explained the state structure, and affirmed the moral principles of society.
The mythology of ancient Greece gave mankind many plots and images that are reflected in the masterpieces of world art. Throughout the centuries, artists, sculptors, poets and architects have drawn inspiration from the legends of Hellas.
Olympus- the highest mountain range in Greece (2917 m).
IN ancient Greek mythology Olympus is a sacred mountain, the seat of the gods, led by Zeus.
In this regard, the Greek gods are often referred to as "Olympians".
12 gods of Olympus
- Zeus- Chief of the Olympian gods. God of the sky, thunder and lightning, in charge of the whole world.
(In Roman mythology - Jupiter). - Hera- Wife of Zeus. The patroness of marriage, protecting the mother during childbirth.
(In Roman mythology - the goddess Juno). - Poseidon- the god of the seas.
(In Roman mythology - Neptune). - Hades- the god of the underworld of the dead and the name of the kingdom of the dead.
(In Roman mythology - Pluto). - Demeter- goddess of fertility, patroness of agriculture. Her name means "Mother Earth".
(In Roman mythology - Ceres). - Apollo- the god of the sun, light and truth.
The patron of the arts, the leader and patron of the muses, the predictor of the future, the healer god, also cleansed people who committed murder. Apollo represents the Sun.
(In Roman mythology Phoebus). - Artemis- the virgin, always young goddess of hunting, the goddess of fertility, the goddess of female chastity, the patroness of all life on Earth, giving happiness in marriage and help during childbirth.
(In Roman mythology - Diana). - Hephaestus- the god of fire, the patron of blacksmithing and the most skilled blacksmith.
(In Roman mythology - Vulcan). - Athena- the goddess of organized warfare, military strategy and wisdom, who gave the name to the city of Athens.
In addition, the goddess of knowledge, arts and crafts. Virgo warrior, patroness of cities and states, sciences and crafts, intelligence, skill, ingenuity.
(In Roman mythology - Minerva). - Ares- god of War. (In Roman mythology - Mars).
- Aphrodite- Goddess of beauty and love. (In Roman mythology - Venus).
- Hermes- the god of trade, profit, intelligence, dexterity and eloquence, giving wealth and income in trade,
god of athletes.
The patron saint of heralds, ambassadors, shepherds, travelers. Patron of magic, alchemy and astrology. He invented measures, numbers, the alphabet and taught this to people.
(In Roman mythology - Mercury).
The founder of the games is Hercules, the son of Zeus. At the first games, athletes competed in the race for 1 stage (192.27 m.).
At subsequent games: running, jumping, pankrat (fight without rules), discus, spear, horse racing, wrestling (races) of chariots. At the time of the Olympic Games, a sacred truce was established between the policies. Games were held for 5 days once every 4 years. Athletes trained in Olympia ten months before the start of the competition.
The winner ("olympionics") was awarded a wreath, a palm branch, a branch of the sacred olive tree from the Acropolis.
The honor of the winner extended to the descendants. The Olympic Games were attended only by men. The participants, anointed with oil, performed naked. The ancient Olympic Games ended in 395 AD when Olympia was destroyed by two powerful earthquakes. In 1896 AD French Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the idea of ancient competitions and organized the first
modern Olympic Games.
Coins "Olympic Games" and the great Opimpians of Russia
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Portraits of the participants of the First Congress of the International Olympic Committee (IOC): in the center - Pierre de Coubertin, to the right of him - General A.D. Butovsky (the founder of the IOC from Russia), to the left of them - a torch and the emblem of the Russian Olympic Committee. |
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The tradition of Olympic victories for Russian athletes began ON THE. Panin-Kolomenkin(1871-72 - 1956), who became the first in figure skating at the IV Olympics in London (1908). For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, a gold medal was won by a Russian athlete. |
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Summer Olympic Games 1912. The official name is the Games of the V Olympiad - the Olympic Games held in Stockholm (Sweden). The Russian football team, after being eliminated from the main tournament (defeated by Finland - 1: 2), was defeated in a consolation match from the German team with a score of 0:16. This defeat remains the largest for the Russian team and to this day. |
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The number "2000" against the background of the Australian continent. In the three zeros connected to each other - images of a runner, a high jumper and a weightlifter, under the zeros in a semicircle of the inscription: "CITIUS" "ALTIUS" "FORTIUS" (Faster, Higher, Stronger). "XXYII SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES" in Sydney (Australia) in 2000. In the unofficial medal standings, Russia took 2nd place. |
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Yashin Lev Ivanovich(1929-1990) - one of the best goalkeepers in the history of world football. From 1949 until the end of his sports career in 1971 he played for the sports club "Dynamo" (Moscow). Since 1957 - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, multiple winner of the championships and cup tournaments of the USSR, winner of the European Cup, champion Olympic Games L.I. Yashin - Hero of Socialist Labor, awarded the Order of Lenin, two orders of the Red Banner of Labor, medals, the Olympic Order of the IOC and the Golden Order of FIFA. Depicted - a stylized image of a football field, on the right - a portrait of L.I. Yashin, at the bottom - a soccer ball with his facsimile signature, at the top along the circumference - the inscription: "LEV YASHIN". |
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Streltsov Eduard Anatolievich(1937-1990) - one of the best Soviet strikers in the history of football, played in the Torpedo team. At the age of 17 he made his debut in the USSR national team, at the age of 18 - the best scorer of the USSR championship (1955), at 19 years old - Olympic champion(1956 Melbourne - Australia). The best football player of the USSR (1967, 1968), a member of the club scorers Grigory Fedotov. The prestigious Russian award "Sagittarius" is named in his honor, which has been awarded annually since 1997 to the best football players in the country. E.A. Streltsov was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor, the Torpedo stadium in Moscow was named after him. |
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The coin depicts football players at the moment of the final game on Olympics in Melbourne, which took place on December 8, 1956 between the teams of the USSR and Yugoslavia and ended with a score of 1:0 in favor of the Soviet team. Inscriptions: under the image of the kangaroo "Melbourne", at the bottom in a circle "Champions of the 1956 Olympics". The coin was issued in 1997 for the 100th anniversary of Russian football. The date of birth of football in Russia is considered to be October 24, 1897, when the teams of the Vasileostrovsky Football Club and the St. Petersburg Sports Fans Circle met in St. Petersburg in the first match. |
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The coin depicts the players at the moment of the final game at the Seoul Olympics October 1, 1988 between the teams of the USSR and Brazil, which ended with the victory of the Soviet team with a score of 2: 1. Inscriptions: on the right - "Seoul", below in a circle - "Champions of the Olympics. 1988". At the top in a circle is the inscription: "100th anniversary of Russian football." In the unofficial medal standings, the USSR team took 1st place. |
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Galina Alekseevna Kulakova(born 1942) - Soviet skier.
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Smetanina Raisa Petrovna(born 1952) - Soviet skier, 4-time Olympic champion.
In Innsbruck (1976) she won two gold medals in the 10 km race. and in the relay, and was second at a distance of 5 km., in Lake Placid (1980) she won at a distance of 5 km. and won silver in the relay, in Sarajevo (1984) she won two silver medals at distances of 10 and 20 km, in Calgary (1988) she won a silver medal in the 10 km race. and bronze at a distance of 20 km., in Albertville (1992) received a gold medal in the relay. Five-time world champion. She won more than twenty gold medals at the USSR championships (1974, 1976-1977, 1983-1986, 1989, 1991) at various distances. She was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor, the Order of Friendship of Peoples, the Badge of Honor. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.
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Latynina Larisa Semyonovna(born 1934), an outstanding Soviet gymnast, absolute champion of the Olympic Games in 1956 and 1960, until 2012 she had the largest collection of Olympic medals in the history of sports - 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze. Absolute world champion 1958 and 1962, Europe 1957 and 1961, Soviet Union 1961 and 1962. |
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Andrianov Nikolai Efimovich(1952 - 2011), an outstanding Soviet athlete - gymnast, absolute champion of the 1976 Olympic Games, winner of 7 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals at the 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics, world champion 1974 (rings), 1978 (all-around and rings), European champion 1971 (horse and vault), 1973 (floor exercises and vault) and 1975 (all-around, floor exercises, vault). Winner of the World Cup competition 1975-1977. |
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Rodnina Irina Konstantinovna(born 1949) - an outstanding figure skater, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1969), performed in pairs figure skating for CSKA in 1968-1972. with Ulanov A.N., and since 1973 - with Zaitsev A.G. Rodnina I.K. - champion of the USSR in 1970-1971, 1973-1975 and 1977, Europe and the world in 1969-1978 and 1980, Olympic Games in 1972 with Ulanov A.N., in 1976 and 1980. with Zaitsev A.G. Zaitsev Alexander Gennadievich(born 1952) - an outstanding figure skater, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1973), performed in pairs figure skating for CSKA with Rodnina I.K. Zaitsev A.G. - champion of the USSR in 1973-1975, 1977, Europe and the world in 1973-1978, 1980, Olympic Games in 1976 and 1980 |
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Pakhomova Ludmila Alekseevna(1946-1986) and Gorshkov Alexander Georgievich(born in 1946) performed in ice dancing for Dynamo (Moscow). Multiple champions of the USSR, Europe, the world and Olympic Games(1976). L.A. Pakhomova was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor. A.G. Gorshkov was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, "Badge of Honor", "For Services to the Fatherland" IV degree. As six-time world and European champions in ice dancing, they are included to the Guinness Book of Records. |
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On the coin "Olympic Games Sochi-2014" there is a relief allegorical image Prometheus (titan in ancient Greek mythology, who stole the fire from Hephaestus, carried it away from Olympus and handed it over to people) in the image of a man in antique robes with a burning torch in his hand, around him along the edge are figures of athletes representing winter sports: |
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On the coin "Olympic Games Sochi-2014" there is a relief allegorical image Matsesta (Matsesta - "fire water" - hydrogen sulfide healing spring in Sochi) in the image of a young woman in antique robes with a jug on her shoulder, from which she pours water, around her along the piping are figures of athletes representing winter sports: figure skating, skeleton, snowboarding, freestyle, cross-country skiing, short track and curling, below in two lines - the inscription: "SOCHI" and the date: "2014", under them - five Olympic rings. |
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August 2, 2018 - Mount Olympus Celebration
Event description:On August 2, 1913, 105 years ago, three climbers (Swiss photographer Frédéric Boissonnas, his friend Daniel Baud-Bovy and Greek hunter Christos Kakkalos) climbed the 9,573-foot (2,917-meter) peak where the Greek gods were said to have lived. .
The way to the top passed through deep ravines and steep climbs in foggy and rainy weather.
On one of the peaks of the mountain, which they called "Victory", climbers leave a bottle with a note describing their ascent and a map of the ascent.
Olympus is a mountain range in Greece, which was revered as the abode of the ancient Greek gods. The maximum height of the mountain is 2917 meters. Olympus is a sacred mountain. According to ancient Greek mythology, they live here the gods of Olympus or Olympians. Zeus is considered the main god on Olympus.
Due to the fact that, as we have already discussed in , Greek mythology is quite similar to the Slavic, since it comes from the common Indo-European culture for us, it is worth continuing to consider various aspects of ancient Greek paganism in order to better understand our own paganism. It is also worth noting that the gods that inhabit the Greek Mount Olympus are most likely part of the beliefs that arose at a time when a certain part of the Indo-Europeans settled these lands and transferred the ancient Indo-European beliefs to the area in which they settled. This is evidenced by the beliefs of other peoples, who also inhabited the high peaks with a host of supreme gods. IN Ancient Rus' this belief has not been preserved, apparently because most of central Russia is plains. Most likely, the gods inhabiting the sacred mountains from Indo-European mythology, among the Slavs became gods that live in heaven.
According to ancient Greek mythology, the gods of Olympus are the third generation of gods. The first generation of gods were: Nikta (Night), Erebus (Darkness), Eros (Love). The second generation of gods were the children of Nikta and Erebus: Ether, Hemera, Hypnos, Thanatos, Kera, Moira, Mom, Nemesis, Eris, Erinyes and Ata; from Ether and Hemera came Gaia and Uranus; from Gaia came such gods as: Tartarus, Pontus, Keto, Nereus, Tamant, Forky, Eurybia, as well as titans, titanides and hecatoncheirs (hundred-armed fifty-headed giants). All these gods, as well as their descendants, are very interesting from the point of view of mythology and faith, but we will focus only on children of the titan Kronos and the titanide Rhea.
Kronos and Rhea, as mentioned above, are the gods of the second generation. There were 12 titans and titanides in total. All of them are sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia. Six sons-titans of Uranus and Gaia (Hyperion, Iapetus, Kay, Krios, Kronos and Ocean) and six daughters-titanides (Mnemosyne, Rhea, Teia, Tethys, Phoebe and Themis) entered into marriage with each other and gave birth to a new, third generation of gods . It is worth here to move away from the line of narration and note that the gods cannot be humanized and everything can be taken literally. Marriages between gods who are conditional brothers and sisters cannot be understood as a forbidden relationship between relatives. In simple words, the gods, to beget sons and daughters, do not have sex. This can be understood as the connection of certain elements, as a result of which new element, or the connection of certain energy or other entities, but in fact, all these assumptions are unlikely to have a real basis, since the essence of the divine is hardly accessible to human understanding.
The most interesting for us from the point of view of ancient Greek mythology are the children of the titan Kronos and the titanides Rhea. It was their children, who were called Kronids, who became the first gods of Olympus. Six gods, descendants of Kronos and Rhea: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades (not the god of Olympus), Demeter and Hestia. Next, we will consider these gods in more detail. Also, the descendants of Zeus became Olympians ( chief god Olympus): Athena, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, Apollo and Artemis. There are 12 gods of Olympus in total.
So, what kind of gods lived on the sacred Mount Olympus?
Zeus the supreme god of Olympus. In ancient Greek mythology, he is the god of the sky, thunder and lightning. In Roman mythology, Zeus was identified with Jupiter. IN Slavic mythology Zeus is similar to the god Perun, who is also the god of thunder and lightning, the ruler of the sky. In Norse mythology, Zeus is also identified with one of the highest gods - Thor. Interestingly, the attributes of Zeus in ancient Greek representations were a shield and a double-sided ax. The ax is also an attribute of Perun and Thor (mjolnir). Researchers suggest that the ax attribute appeared in this god in connection with one of his divine duties - a lightning bolter that splits trees in half, as if the god of thunder struck from above with an ax. In ancient Greece, Zeus was not only the father of the gods, but also the father of all people.
Hera- the most powerful goddess on Olympus. She is the wife of Zeus. Hera is the patroness of marriages and women in childbirth. It is difficult to say which of the Slavic goddesses Hera can be identical with, since in her functions she is similar to both Makosh (the supreme goddess, patroness of marriages and women in childbirth), and the woman in labor Lada. It is interesting that Hera with a human face began to be depicted in relatively late times, however, even after that she was often depicted according to ancient customs - with a horse's head. In the same way, the ancient Slavs Makosh and Lada depicted in the form of deer, elk or horses.
Poseidon- one of the most revered gods of Olympus. He is the patron saint of the seas, fishermen and sailors. After the gods defeated the titans, Poseidon got into the possession of the water element. Poseidon's wife is Amphitrite, a Nereid, daughter of the sea god Nereus and Dorida. The son of Poseidon and Amphitrite is Triton. Extremely meager evidence of the existence of a sea god among the Slavs has come down to us. It is only known that in the Novgorod lands he was called the Lizard.
Demeter- the goddess of Olympus, the ancient Greek goddess of fertility and agriculture, birth and prosperity. In ancient Greece, she was the most revered goddess, since the harvest depended on her favor, and therefore the life of the ancient Greeks. It is believed that the cult of Demeter is an Indo-European or even pre-Indo-European cult of the mother goddess. The Mother Goddess or Great Mother in the Indo-European era was Mother Earth. In our Slavic paganism, Demeter is certainly the identical Slavic goddess Makosh.
The daughter of Demeter is Persephone. Persephone is a complete correspondence to the Slavic goddess Morana. Persephone, despite the fact that she was the daughter of the revered Olympic goddess, is not involved in the gods of Olympus. Persephone is the goddess of the underworld of the dead, so she is not present on Olympus.
For the same reason, Hades (the son of Kronos and Rhea) is not included among the gods of Olympus. Hades is the god of the underworld of the dead. In Slavic mythology, it corresponds to Chernobog.
Another goddess of Olympus is Hestia. Goddess of the home. It represents purity, family happiness and peace. Hestia was the patroness of not only the hearth, but also the patroness of the eternal fire, which should never go out. IN ancient world eternal flame was present different peoples, including the Greeks and Slavs. The eternal flame was maintained in honor of the gods and the souls of the dead people. As a phenomenon of eternal memory, the eternal flame has survived to this day.
Athena- goddess of war Daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom Metis. Athena inherited strength from her father, Zeus, and wisdom from her mother. She was depicted in armor and with a spear in her hands. In addition to her warlike trait, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and justice. According to legend, Athena gave the ancient Greeks the olive (olive tree). For this reason, famous warriors, heroes and winners of sports games and competitions have always been awarded with an olive wreath.
Another god of war, also living on Olympus, is considered Ares. Son of Zeus and Hera. Athena and Ares are slightly opposite gods. If Athena is a fair goddess who advocates war for the sake of truth, then Ares patronizes war for the sake of war or even insidious war. His companions are the goddess of discord Eris and the bloodthirsty goddess Enyo. The horses of Ares are named: Flame, Noise, Horror and Shine.
Aphrodite- Goddess of beauty and love. Daughter of Zeus and Dione. One of the twelve Olympian gods, that is, one of the most revered deities in the ancient Greek pantheon. In Rome, this goddess was called Venus. And in our time, Venus is the image of beauty and love. Born from the foam of sea waters. Aphrodite is also considered the goddess of spring, the birth of life and fertility. The love power of this goddess is considered so strong that not only people, but also gods obey her. Aphrodite's husband was Hephaestus. Children of Aphrodite - Harmony and Eros.
Hephaestus- blacksmith god, patron of blacksmithing. Son of Zeus and Hera. In Slavic mythology, Hephaestus is compared with the god Svarog, who is also a blacksmith god who bound the Earth and taught people how to work metal. In addition to being the god of blacksmithing, Hephaestus was also the god of fire. In Roman mythology, Hephaestus was called Vulcan. His forge is located in a mountain that breathes fire, that is, in an active volcano.
Hermes- the god of trade, eloquence, wealth, profit. It is considered the messenger of the gods, an intermediary between the gods and people. Hermes was also represented as the patron of all travelers. As an intermediary between heaven and earth, Hephaestus is also considered the guide of the souls of the dead to another world. Travelers, merchants, wise men, poets, and even thieves called for help and protection from this god. Hermes has always been considered a cunning and rogue. In early childhood, he stole cows from Apollo, as well as a scepter from Zeus, a trident from Poseidon, tongs and Hephaestus, a belt from Aphrodite, arrows and a bow from Apollo, a sword from Ares. Hermes is the son of Zeus and the mountain nymph Maya. In his divine characteristics, Hermes is very similar to Slavic god Veles, who is also represented as the patron of wealth and trade, an intermediary between people and gods, a conductor of souls.
Apollo- Ancient Greek god, one of the Olympians. Apollo was also called Phoebus. Apollo is the god of light, the personification of the Sun. In addition, he is the patron of the arts, especially music and singing, the god of healing. In Slavic mythology, Apollo is very similar to Dazhdbog - the patron of sunlight, the god-giver of light, heat, vital energy. The god Apollo was born from the union of Zeus (Perun) and Leto (Lada). The twin sister of Apollo is the goddess Artemis.
Artemis Goddess of beauty, youth and fertility. Protector of hunting. Goddess of the Moon. The Moon (Artemis) and the Sun (Apollo) are twin brother and sister. The cult of Artemis was widespread in ancient Greece everywhere. Ephesus had a temple dedicated to Artemis. In this temple there was a statue of the many-breasted patroness of childbearing. In Slavic mythology, Artemis is compared with the daughter of Lada, the patroness of spring, beauty and youth - the goddess Lelei.
The names of most of the gods are arranged as hyperlinks, where you can go to a detailed article about each of them.
The main deities of Ancient Greece: 12 Olympic gods, their helpers and companions
The main gods in Ancient Hellas were those that belonged to the younger generation of celestials. Once it took power over the world from the older generation, personifying the main universal forces and elements (see about this in the article The Origin of the Gods of Ancient Greece). The gods of the older generation are usually called titans. Having defeated the titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored 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 underworld.
Legends and myths of Ancient Greece. Cartoon
Goddess Artemis. Statue in the Louvre
Statue of Athena the Virgin in the Parthenon. Ancient Greek sculptor Phidias
Hermes with caduceus. Statue from the Vatican Museum
Venus (Aphrodite) de Milo. Statue ca. 130-100 BC
God Eros. Red-figure dish, ca. 340-320 BC e.
Hymen Companion of Aphrodite, god of marriage. According to his name, wedding hymns were also called hymens in ancient Greece.
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 would 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 the grain, which, being "dead" sown in the ground, then "comes to life" and comes out of it into the light.
The Abduction of Persephone. Antique jug, ca. 330-320 BC
Amphitrite Poseidon's wife, one of the Nereids
Proteus One of the Greek sea deities. The son of Poseidon, who had the gift to predict the future and change his appearance
Triton- the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, the messenger of the deep sea, trumpeting the shell. By appearance- a mixture of man, horse and fish. Close to the eastern god Dagon.
Eirene- the goddess of the world, standing at the throne of Zeus on Olympus. IN Ancient Rome- Goddess Pax.
Nika- goddess of victory. Constant companion of Zeus. In Roman mythology - Victoria
Dike- in ancient Greece - the personification of divine truth, a goddess hostile to deceit
Tyukhe- Goddess of good luck and luck. The Romans - Fortuna
Morpheus- the ancient Greek god of dreams, the son of the god of sleep Hypnos
Plutus- god of wealth
Phobos("Fear") - the son and companion of Ares
Deimos("Horror") - the son and companion of Ares
Enyo- among the ancient Greeks - the goddess of violent war, which causes rage in the fighters and brings confusion to the battle. In Ancient Rome - Bellona
Titans
The Titans are the second generation of the gods of Ancient Greece, born of the elements of nature. The first titans were six sons and six daughters, descended from the connection of Gaia-Earth with Uranus-Sky. Six sons: Kron (Time. for the Romans - Saturn), Ocean (father of all rivers), Hyperion, Kay, Crius, Iapetus. Six daughters: Tethys(Water), Theia(Shine), Rhea(Mother Mountain?), Themis (Justice), Mnemosyne(Memory), Phoebe.
Uranus and Gaia. Ancient Roman mosaic 200-250 A.D.
In addition to the titans, Gaia gave birth to Cyclopes and Hecatoncheirs from marriage with Uranus.
cyclops- three giants with a large, round, fiery eye in the middle of the forehead. In ancient times - the personification of the clouds, from which lightning sparkles
Hecatoncheires- "hundred-armed" giants, against whose terrible power nothing can resist. Embodiments of terrible earthquakes and floods.
The Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires were so strong that Uranus himself was horrified by their power. He tied them up and threw them into the depths of the earth, where they still rage, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The stay of these giants in the womb of the earth began to cause her terrible suffering. Gaia persuaded her youngest son, Kronos, to take revenge on his father, Ouranos.
The main gods in Ancient Hellas were those that belonged to the younger generation of celestials. Once it took power over the world from the older generation, personifying the main universal forces and elements (see about this in the article The Origin of the Gods of Ancient Greece). The gods of the older generation are usually called titans. Having defeated the titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored 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 underworld.
- the main deity of ancient Greek mythology, the king of all other gods, the personification of the boundless sky, the lord of lightning. In Roman religions Jupiter corresponded to him.
P
oseidon - the god of the seas, among the ancient Greeks - the second deity in importance after Zeus. like olithe creation of a changeable and stormy water element Poseidon was closely associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity. In Roman mythology, he was identified with Neptune.Hades - the lord of the gloomy underground kingdom of the dead, inhabited by the incorporeal shadows of the dead and terrible demonic 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 associated with agricultural cults, with whom his wife, Persephone, was closely associated. The Romans called it Pluto.
Hera - the sister and wife of Zeus, the main female goddess of the Greeks. The patroness of marriage and conjugal love. Jealous Hera severely punishes the violation of marriage bonds. The Romans corresponded to Juno.
Apollo - originally the god of sunlight, whose cult then received a wider meaning and connection with the ideas of spiritual purity, artistic beauty, medical healing, retribution for sins. Like a patron creative activity is considered the head of the nine muses, as a healer - 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. Under the same names, he was revered 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). The close connection of Artemis with forests comes 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 of the sciences, arts, spiritual pursuits, agriculture, and crafts. With the blessing of Pallas Athena, cities are being built and state life is going on. The image of Athena as a defender of the fortress walls, a warrior, a goddess who, at her very birth, came out of the head of her father, Zeus, armed, is closely connected with the patronage functions of cities and the state. Among the Romans, Athena corresponded to the goddess Minerva.
Hermes is the most ancient pre-Greek god of roads and field boundaries, all borders separating one from the other. Due to his primordial connection with the roads, Hermes was later revered as a 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), knowledge of foreign languages. The Romans have Mercury.
Ares is the wild god of war and battle. 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 form of Astarte (Ishtar) and Isis. The famous legend about Aphrodite and Adonis was inspired by the most ancient oriental myths about Ishtar and Tammuz, Isis and Osiris. The ancient Romans identified with Venus.
Eros - the son of Aphrodite, a divine boy with a quiver and a bow. At the request of his mother, he shoots well-aimed arrows that kindle incurable love in the hearts of people and gods. In Rome - Cupid.
Hymen Companion of Aphrodite, god of marriage. According to his name, wedding hymns were also 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 personified the productive force of nature, but not wild, as Artemis once did, but “ordered”, “civilized”, the one that manifests itself in regular rhythms. Demeter was considered the goddess of agriculture, who rules the annual natural cycle of renewal and decay. She also led the circle human life- from birth to death. This last aspect of the cult of Demeter was 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 would 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 the grain, which, being "dead" sown in 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 house 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 bring a person to insane delight. Dionysus was not one of the 12 "Olympic" gods of Ancient Greece. His orgiastic cult was borrowed comparatively late from Asia Minor. The popular veneration of Dionysus was opposed to the aristocratic service of Apollo. From frenzied dances and songs at the feasts of Dionysus later came the ancient Greek tragedy and comedy.
