Ancient Greek gods and heroes. Greek gods

Ancient tablets from the Aegean culture give us the first clues about who the Greek gods and goddesses were. Mythology Ancient Greece became for the famous authors of Hellas. It still provides us with rich material for artistic imagination today. Like the powerful Olympian male rulers, the female divine hypostases have strong character and a remarkable mind. Let's talk about each one separately in more detail.

Artemis

Not all Greek goddesses can boast such a harmonious interweaving of fragility and grace with a decisive and tough character as Artemis. She was born on the island of Delos from the marriage of the powerful Zeus and the goddess Leto. Artemis' twin brother was the radiant Apollo. The girl became famous as the goddess of hunting and the patroness of everything that grows in forests and fields. The brave girl did not part with a bow and arrows, as well as a sharp spear. She had no equal in the hunt: neither a fast deer, nor a timid doe, nor an angry boar could hide from the dexterous goddess. When the hunt was going on, the forest was filled with laughter and cheerful cries of Artemis's eternal companions - the river nymphs.

Tired, the goddess headed to the sacred Delphi to visit her brother and, to the magnificent sounds of his harp, danced with the muses, and then rested in cool grottoes overgrown with greenery. Artemis was a virgin and religiously guarded her chastity. But she nevertheless, like many Greek goddesses, blessed marriage and childbirth. Symbols: doe, cypress, bear. In Roman mythology, Artemis corresponded to Diana.

Athena

Her birth was accompanied by fantastic events. It all started with the fact that the Thunderer Zeus was informed: he would have two children from the goddess of reason, Metis, one of whom would overthrow the ruler. Zeus couldn’t think of anything better than to lull his wife to sleep with gentle speeches and swallow her while she was sleeping. After some time, the god felt a painful headache and ordered his son Hephaestus to cut off his head, hoping to get deliverance. Hephaestus swung and cut the head of Zeus - and from there came the divine Pallas Athena in a sparkling helmet, with a spear and shield. Her war cry shook Olympus. Until now, Greek mythology has never known a goddess so majestic and sincere.

The mighty warrior became the patroness of fair battles, as well as states, sciences, and crafts. Many heroes of Greece won thanks to the advice of Athena. Young girls especially revered her because she taught them the art of needlework. The symbols of Pallas Athena are an olive branch and a wise owl. In Latin mythology she is called Minerva.

Atropos

One of the three sisters - goddesses of fate. Clotho spins the thread of human life, Lachesis closely monitors the course of destinies, and Atropos mercilessly cuts the threads of human destiny when he considers the life of a particular earthling to be over. Her name translates as “inevitable.” In ancient Roman mythology, in which Greek goddesses have Latin counterparts, she is called Morta.

Aphrodite

She was the daughter of the god Uranus, patron of heaven. It is well known that Aphrodite was born from snow-white sea foam near the island of Cythera, and the wind carried her to an island called Cyprus. There the young girl was surrounded by the goddesses of the seasons (oras), crowned her with a wreath of wild flowers, and covered her with gold-woven robes. This gentle and sensual beauty is the Greek goddess of beauty. Where her light foot stepped, flowers instantly blossomed.

The Ori brought the goddess to Olympus, where she evoked quiet sighs of admiration. The jealous wife of Zeus, Hera, hastened to arrange the marriage of Aphrodite with the ugliest god of Olympus - Hephaestus. The goddesses of fate (Moiras) gave the beauty only one divine ability - to create love around herself. While her lame husband was diligently forging iron, she delighted in inspiring love in people and gods, fell in love herself and patronized all lovers. Therefore, Aphrodite, according to tradition, is also the Greek goddess of love.

An indispensable attribute of Aphrodite was her belt, which endowed the owner with the power to inspire love, seduce and attract. Eros is the son of Aphrodite, to whom she gave her instructions. Symbols of Aphrodite are dolphins, doves, roses. In Rome she was called Venus.

Hebe

She was the daughter of Hera and Zeus, the sister of the bloodthirsty god of war Ares. By tradition, she is considered the goddess of youth. In Rome they call her Juventa. The adjective “juvenile” is often used today to define everything related to youth and adolescence. On Olympus, Hebe was the main cupbearer until the son of the Trojan king Ganymede took her place. In sculptural and pictorial images, the girl is often depicted with a golden cup filled with nectar. The goddess Hebe personifies the youthful prosperity of countries and states. According to myths, she was given in marriage to Hercules. They became the parents of Alexiaris and Aniket, considered patrons of youth and sports. The sacred tree of Hebe is the cypress. If a slave entered the temple of this goddess, he was immediately granted freedom.

Gemera

The goddess of daylight, in contrast to Hecate, the patroness of cancer and nightmare visions, as well as sorcerers, the clever Hemera was the eternal companion of the sun god Helios. According to one mythical version, she kidnapped Cephalus and gave birth to Phaeton, who crashed on the sun chariot, unable to control it. In Roman legends, Hemera is equal to Diez.

Gaia

The goddess Gaia is the progenitor of all living things. According to legends, she was born from Chaos and ordered all the elements. That is why she patronizes the earth, the sky, and the seas, and is considered the mother of the titans. It was Gaia who persuaded her sons to rebel against Uranus, the progenitor of heaven. And then, when they were defeated, she “pitted” her new giant sons against the Olympian gods. Gaia is the mother of the terrible hundred-headed monster Typhon. She asked him to take revenge on the gods for the death of the giants. Gaia was the heroine of Greek hymns and songs. She is the first soothsayer at Delphi. In Rome she corresponds to the goddess Tellus.

Hera

A companion of Zeus, famous for her jealousy and spending a lot of time on eliminating and neutralizing her rivals. Daughter of the titans Rhea and Kronos, swallowed by her father and rescued from his womb thanks to Zeus defeating Kronos. Hera occupies a special place on Olympus, where the Greek goddesses shine in glory, whose names are associated with the duties of patronizing all spheres of human life. Hera is the patron of marriage. Like her royal husband, she could command thunder and lightning. At her word, a downpour could fall on the earth or the sun could shine. Hera's first assistant was the Greek goddess of the rainbow - Iris.

Hestia

She was also the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Hestia, the goddess of the family hearth and sacrificial fire, was not vain. By right of birth, she occupied one of the twelve main places on Olympus, but she was supplanted by the god of wine Dionysus. Hestia did not defend her rights, but quietly stepped aside. She did not like wars, hunting, or love affairs. The most beautiful gods Apollo and Poseidon sought her hand, but she chose to remain unmarried. People honored this goddess and made sacrifices to her before the start of each sacred ceremony. In Rome she was called Vesta.

Demeter

The goddess of good fertility, who experienced personal tragedy when the underground god Hades fell in love and kidnapped Demeter's daughter Persephone. While the mother was looking for her daughter, life stood still, the leaves withered and flew away, the grass and flowers dried up, the fields and vineyards died and became empty. Seeing all this, Zeus ordered Hades to release Persephone to earth. He could not disobey his powerful brother, but asked to spend at least a third of the year with his wife in the underworld. Demeter rejoiced at the return of her daughter - gardens began to bloom everywhere and the fields began to sprout. But every time Persephone left the earth, the goddess again fell into sadness - and a fierce winter began. In Roman mythology, Demeter corresponds to the goddess Ceres.

Iris

Greek goddess of the rainbow, already mentioned. According to the ideas of the ancients, the rainbow was nothing more than a bridge connecting the earth with the sky. Iris was traditionally depicted as a golden-winged girl, and in her hands she held a bowl of rainwater. The main duty of this goddess was to spread the news. She did this with lightning speed. According to legend, she was the wife of the wind god Zephyr. The iris flower, which amazes with its play, is named after Iris color shades. Also from her name comes the name of the chemical element iridium, the compounds of which also differ in a variety of color tones.

Nikta

This is the Greek goddess of the night. She was born from Chaos and was the mother of Aether, Hemera and the Moira, goddesses of fate. Nikta also gave birth to Charon, the carrier of the souls of the dead to the kingdom of Hades, and the goddess of revenge Nemesis. In general, Nikta is connected with everything that stands on the verge of life and death and contains the mystery of existence.

Mnemosyne

Daughter of Gaia and Uranus, goddess personifying memory. From Zeus, who seduced her by reincarnating as a shepherd, she gave birth to nine muses who were responsible for childbirth and the arts. A spring was named in her honor, giving memory despite the spring of oblivion, for which Leta is responsible. It is believed that Mnemosyne has the gift of omniscience.

Themis

Goddess of law and justice. She was born to Uranus and Gaia, was the second wife of Zeus and conveyed his commands to the gods and people. Themis is depicted blindfolded, with a sword and scales in her hands, personifying an impartial fair trial and retribution for crimes. It symbolizes legal organizations and norms to this day. In Rome, Themis was called Justice. Like other Greek goddesses, she had the gift of bringing order to the world of things and nature.

Eos

Sister of Helios, the sun god, and Selene, the moon goddess, Eos is the patroness of the dawn. Every morning she rises from the ocean and flies on her chariot across the sky, causing the sun to wake up and scattering handfuls of diamond dew drops on the ground. Poets call her “beautiful-haired, pink-fingered, golden-throned,” emphasizing in every possible way the splendor of the goddess. According to myths, Eos was ardent and amorous. The scarlet color of the dawn is sometimes explained by the fact that she is ashamed of a stormy night.

Here are the main goddesses sung by the singers and myth-makers of Ancient Hellas. We talked only about the blessed goddesses who give creativity. There are other characters whose names are associated with destruction and sorrow, but they are a special topic.

Known to many since childhood. Some people were seriously fascinated by the myths of ancient Greece, while others loved ancient culture vaccinated at school. It would seem strange to transfer this knowledge into adulthood, because all this is actually a myth.

Brief introduction:

However, the ancient Greek gods and the events that happen to them are reflected in many works of literature and cinema; almost all modern plots are taken precisely from antiquity.

Knowledge of the gods of ancient Greece- a necessary condition for understanding many philosophical issues. That is why every person is simply obliged to know as much as possible about the famous gods from Olympus.

Generations of gods of ancient Grtions

Distinguish several generations ancient Greek gods.

At first there was only darkness, from which Chaos was formed. Having united together, darkness and chaos gave birth to Erob, who personified darkness, Nyukta, or as she is also callednight, Uranus - the sky, Eros - love, Gaia - mother earth and Tartarus, which is the abyss.

I generation of gods

All heavenly gods appeared thanks to the union of Gaia and Uranus, the sea deities originated from Pontos, the union with Tartas led to the emergence of giants, while earthly creatures are the flesh of Gaia herself.

In principle, all the ancient Greek gods originated from her; she came up with the names, giving life.

Usually the goddess of the earth was depicted as a rather large woman who towers half over the planet.

Uranus was the ruler of the universe. If it was depicted, it was only in the form of an all-encompassing bronze dome covering the entire world.

Together with Gaia they gave birth to several titan gods:
The ocean (all the world's waters, was horned bull with a fish tail)
Tethys (also titanide), Thea, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne like the goddess of memory,
Crius (this titan had the ability to freeze), Kronos.
In addition to the Titans, the Cyclopes are considered children of Uranus and Gaia. Hated by their father, they were sent down to Tartarus for a long time.
For a long time, the power of Uranus was beyond comparison; he single-handedly controlled his children, until one of them, Kronos, otherwise called Chronos, decided to overthrow his father from his pedestal.

The Time Lord managed to depose his father Uranus by killing him with a sickle. As a result of the death of Uranus, the great titans and titanides appeared on earth, who became the first inhabitants of the planet. Gaia also played a certain role in this; she could not forgive her husband for expelling the firstborn of the Cyclops to Tartarus. From the blood of Uranus appeared the Erinyes, creatures who patronized blood feuds. Kronos thus achieved unprecedented power, but the expulsion of his father did not go unnoticed by his own personality.

Kronos's wife was his sister, the Titanide Rhea. When Kronos became a father, he was madly afraid that one of his children would also turn out to be a traitor. According to thisTitan devoured his offspring as soon as they were born. Kronos's fears were justified by one of his sons, the great Zeus, who sent his father into the darkness of Tartarus.

II generation of gods

The Titans and Titanides are the second generation of ancient Greek gods.

III generation of gods

The most famous and familiar to modern man is third generation.

As is already clear, the main one among them was Zeus, he was the unconditional leader, all life on earth strictly obeyed him.

Besides Zeus t third generation of gods Ancient Greece has 11 more Olympian gods.

Their wide popularity is justified by the fact that thesethe gods, as the legends say, came down to people and participated in their lives, while the titans always remained on the sidelines, living their own lives, each performing their functions separately.

All 12 gods lived , based on myths, on Mount Olympus. Each of the gods performed its own specific function and had its own talents. Each had a unique character, which was often the cause of people's sorrows or, conversely, joys.

And now about the most famous gods in more detail in a brief summary...

Zeus

Poseidon

The rest of the gods

Each of the gods described was incredibly powerful and very revered in ancient Greece, but they were not the only ones who made up the third, most famous generation.
The descendants of Zeus also joined him. Among them are the common children of the Thunderer and Hera.
For example, Ares personified masculinity and was often called the god of war. Ares never appeared alone anywhere; he was always accompanied by two faithful companions: Eris, the goddess of discord, and Enyo, the goddess of war.
His brother Hephaestus was worshiped by all blacksmiths, and he was also the master of fire.
He was unloved by his father because he was very ugly in appearance and had a limp.
Despite this, he had a total of two wives, Aglaya, and the beautiful Aphrodite.

Aphrodite

Hera was the last, but not the only wife of Zeus. His second wife Themis was consumed by the Thunderer even before Athena was born, but this did not prevent the birth of one of the great goddesses.

Athena was born from her father, Zeus himself, and came out of his head. It personifies war, but not only. She is also known as the embodiment of wisdom and crafts. All the ancient Greeks turned to her, but especially the residents of the city of Athena, since the young goddess was considered the patroness of this locality.

Less known in wide circles is the other daughter of Zeus and Themis, Ora, who personified the seasons. In addition, the three goddesses Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, who together were simply called Moira, are also credited as daughters of Zeus and Themis.

First, Clotho spun the threads of life, Lachesis determined human destiny, and Anthropos personified death. However, not all sources of information call the Moiras daughters of Zeus; there is another version, according to which they were daughters of the night.

One way or another, all three sisters were constantly approaching supreme god, helping him keep track of people, and predetermining many different destinies.

This is where the children of Zeus, born in a legal marriage, end, and a whole galaxy of illegitimate, but no less revered and respected descendants begins. These are the twin brother and sister Apollo, who was the patron of music and a predictor of the future, and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.

They appeared to Zeus after his relationship with Leto. Artemis was born earlier. Speaking about her, not only the image of a huntress pops up in my head, but also a pure and immaculate maiden, since Artemis embodied chastity, was not loving, or more precisely, there is not a single confirmation of her possible romances.

But Apollo, on the contrary, is known not only as a golden-haired youth and the embodiment of light, but also for his numerous love affairs. One of the love stories became very symbolic for the young god, leaving an eternal reminder of himself in the form of a laurel wreath crowning the head of Apollo.

Another illegitimate son, Hermes, was born from the galaxy of Maya. He patronized merchants, speakers, gymnasiums and sciences, and was also the god of livestock. During life, the ancient Greeks asked Hermes for the gift of eloquence, and after death they relied on him as a faithful guide on their final journey. It was Hermes who accompanied the souls of the dead to the kingdom of Hades. Widely known thanks, among other things, to his constant attributes: winged sandals and an invisibility helmet and a staff decorated with metal weave in the form of snakes.

In addition, it is also known about the illegitimate daughter of Zeus Persephone, born from the goddess Demeter, as well as about the son Dionysus, who was born by a simple mortal woman Semele. Dionysus, nevertheless, was a full-fledged god, the patron of the theater.

Ariadne became his wife, which brought Dionysus even closer to greatness, making him also one of the most famous gods of ancient Greece. There are other known children of Zeus born from mortal women. This is, for example, Perseus, who was born by the Argive princess Danae, the famous Helen, also the daughter of Zeus, her mother was the Spartan queen Leda, the Phoenician princess gave the Thunderer another descendant of Minos.

All the Olympian gods led a calm, measured lifestyle, succumbing to hobbies, mortal passions, and fleeting amusements, without forgetting to fulfill their direct duties. Life on Olympus was not so simple, due to numerous feuds and intrigues between various gods. Each sought to prove their power without encroaching on the other’s responsibilities, so sooner or later a compromise was reached. But not all the gods of ancient Greece were lucky enough to live on Mount Olympus; some of them lived in other, less well-known places. These are all those who, for whatever reason, fell out of favor with Zeus or simply did not deserve his recognition.

In addition to the Olympian gods, there were others. For example, Hymen, who was the patron saint of marriage. Born thanks to the union of Apollo and the muse Calliope. The goddess of victory Nike was the daughter of the titan Pallatus, Iris, personifying the rainbow, was born of one of the oceanids, Electra. Ata can also be distinguished as the goddess of the gloomy mind; her father was the famous Zeus. The child of Aphrodite and Ares Phobos, the god of fear, lived separately from his parents, just like his brother Deimos, the lord of horror.

Besides the gods in ancient greek mythology There are also muses, nymphs, satyrs and monsters. Each character is thoughtful and individual, carrying some idea. Everyone has a certain type of behavior and thinking, perhaps it is because of this that the world of myths is so much more multifaceted and arouses special interest in childhood.

In conclusion I must say...

The gods described above are only short version. Naturally, this list of gods cannot be called complete. Hundreds of books are not enough to tell about all the gods of ancient Greece without exception, but everyone must know about the existence of the ones described above. If for the inhabitants of ancient Greece the pantheon of gods served as a justification for all sorts of objects and phenomena, then for modern people the images themselves are curious.

It is not their material environment and not the reasons that prompted the birth of such heroes, but precisely the allegories that they evoke. Otherwise it will be impossible to understand everything ancient greek myths and legends. Almost any text written in antiquity has references to one or more of the main gods of both the first, second and third generations.

And since all literature and theater of our time are in any case built on ancient ideals, every self-respecting person is obliged to know these ideals. The images of Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo have long become household names; today they are very archetypal, and, oddly enough, understandable to everyone.

Just because you don’t have to get seriously involved Greek mythology in order to know the famous story of the Apple of Discord. And there are many such examples. Therefore, the gods of ancient Greece are not just passing characters from childhood, this is something that absolutely every educated adult should know.

The religion of Ancient Greece belongs to pagan polytheism. The gods were playing important roles in the structure of the world, each performing its own function. The immortal deities were similar to people and behaved quite humanly: they were sad and happy, quarreled and reconciled, betrayed and sacrificed their interests, were cunning and were sincere, loved and hated, forgave and took revenge, punished and had mercy.

The behavior, as well as the commands of gods and goddesses, was used by the ancient Greeks to explain natural phenomena, the origin of man, moral principles, public relations. Mythology reflected the Greeks' ideas about the world around them. Myths originated in different regions of Hellas and over time merged into an orderly system of beliefs.

Ancient Greek gods and goddesses

The gods and goddesses belonging to the younger generation were considered the main ones. The older generation, who embodied the forces of the universe and natural elements, lost dominance over the world, unable to withstand the onslaught of the younger ones. Having won, the young gods chose Mount Olympus as their home. The ancient Greeks identified 12 main Olympian gods among all the deities. So, the gods of Ancient Greece, list and description:

Zeus - god of Ancient Greece- in mythology called the father of the gods, Zeus the Thunderer, lord of lightning and clouds. It is he who has the powerful power to create life, resist chaos, establish order and fair justice on earth. Legends tell about the deity as a noble and kind creature. The Lord of Lightning gave birth to the goddesses Or and the Muses. The Or govern time and the seasons of the year. Muses bring inspiration and joy to people.

The wife of the Thunderer was Hera. The Greeks considered her the quarrelsome goddess of the atmosphere. Hera is the keeper of the home, the patroness of wives who remain faithful to their husbands. With her daughter Ilithia, Hera eased the pain of childbirth. Zeus was famous for his passion. After three hundred years of marriage, the lord of lightning began to visit ordinary women who gave birth to heroes - demigods. Zeus appeared to his chosen ones in different guises. Before the beautiful Europa, the father of the gods appeared like a bull with golden horns. Zeus visited Danae like a shower of gold.

Poseidon

Sea god - ruler of the oceans and seas, patron saint of sailors and fishermen. The Greeks considered Poseidon a just god, all of whose punishments were deservedly sent to people. Preparing for the voyage, the sailors offered prayers not to Zeus, but to the ruler of the seas. Before going 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 open sea. His magnificent golden chariot emerged from the sea foam, drawn by fleet-footed horses. The ruler of the ocean received dashing horses as a gift from his brother Hades. Poseidon's wife is the goddess of the roaring sea, Amphthrita. The trident is a symbol of power, giving the deity absolute power over the depths of the sea. Poseidon had a gentle character and tried to avoid quarrels. His loyalty to Zeus was not questioned - unlike Hades, the ruler of the seas did not challenge the primacy of the Thunderer.

Hades

Mister underworld. Hades and his wife Persephone ruled 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 the gloomy deity. Hades traveled across the surface of the earth in a chariot drawn by horses. The horses' eyes glowed with hellish fire. People prayed in fear so that the gloomy god would not take them to his abodes. Hades' favorite three-headed dog Cerberus guarded the entrance to the kingdom of the dead.

According to legends, when the gods divided power and Hades gained dominion over the kingdom of the dead, the celestial being was dissatisfied. He considered himself humiliated and harbored 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 fertility goddess Demeter, by force making her his wife and ruler of the underworld. Zeus did not have power over the kingdom of the dead, so he refused Demeter’s request to return her daughter to Olympus. The distressed goddess of fertility stopped caring for the earth, there was a drought, then famine came. The Lord of Thunder and Lightning had to enter into 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. Daughter of Zeus, born from his head, she embodied three virtues:

wisdom;
calm;
insight.

The goddess of victorious energy, Athena was depicted as a powerful warrior with a spear and shield. She was also the deity of clear skies and had the power to disperse dark clouds with her weapons. The daughter of Zeus traveled with the goddess of victory Nike. Athena was called upon as the protector of cities and fortresses. It was she who sent down fair state laws to Ancient Greece.

Ares - deity of stormy skies, Athena's eternal rival. The son of Hera and Zeus, he was revered as the god of war. A warrior filled with rage, with a sword or spear - this is how the ancient Greeks imagined Ares. The God of War enjoyed the noise of battle and bloodshed. Unlike Athena, who fought battles judiciously and honestly, Ares preferred fierce fights. The God of War approved a tribunal - a special trial of especially cruel murderers. The hill where the courts took place was named after the warlike deity Areopagus.

Hephaestus

God of blacksmithing and fire. According to legend, Hephaestus was cruel to people, frightening and destroying 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 - Titan, the last of the older generation of gods, was an assistant to Zeus and lived on Olympus. Filled with compassion, he brought fire to earth. For stealing fire, the Thunderer doomed the titan to eternal torment.

Prometheus managed to escape punishment. Possessing prophetic abilities, the titan knew that Zeus was in danger of death at the hands of his own son in the future. Thanks to Prometheus's hint, the lord of lightning did not unite in marriage with the one who would give birth to a patricidal son, and strengthened his rule forever. For the secret of maintaining power, Zeus granted the titan freedom.

In Hellas there was a running festival. Participants competed with lit torches in their hands. Athena, Hephaestus and Prometheus were symbols of the celebration that served as the birth of the Olympic Games.

Hermes

The deities of Olympus were not only characterized by noble impulses, lies and deceit often guided their actions. God Hermes is a rogue and thief, the patron of trade and banking, magic, alchemy, and 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 comes 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 trade. Gremes is not married, although he has many children, as well as many lovers.

The first theft of Hermes was 50 cows of Apollo, he committed it at a very young age. Zeus gave the kid a good beating and he returned the stolen goods. Subsequently, the Thunderer more than once turned to his resourceful son to solve sensitive problems. For example, at the request of Zeus, Hermes stole a cow from Hera, into which the beloved of the lord of lightning turned.

Apollo and Artemis

Apollo is the sun god of the Greeks. Being the son of Zeus, Apollo spent the winter in the lands of the Hyperboreans. God returned to Greece in the spring, bringing awakening to nature, immersed in winter hibernation. Apollo patronized the arts and was also the deity of music and singing. After all, along with spring, the desire to create returned to people. Apollo was credited with the ability to heal. Just as the sun drives out darkness, so the celestial being drove out illnesses. The sun god was depicted as an extremely handsome young man holding a harp.

Artemis is the goddess of hunting and the moon, patroness of animals. The Greeks believed that Artemis took night walks with the 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 strong marriage. Artemis of Ephesus began to be considered the goddess of fertility. Sculptures and pictures of Artemis depicted a woman with many breasts on her chest to emphasize the goddess's generosity.

Soon the sun god Helios and the moon goddess Selene appeared in 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 love 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 belligerence, creating a perfect image of female beauty. The embodiment of the ideal was Aphrodite, bringing 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, and 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 well-fed baby with wings.

Demeter

Demeter is the patron goddess of farmers and winemakers. Mother Earth, that’s what they called her. Demeter was the embodiment of nature, which gives people fruits and grains, absorbing sunlight and rain. They depicted the goddess of fertility with light brown, wheat-colored hair. Demeter gave people the science of arable farming and crops grown with hard work. The daughter of the goddess of wine, Persephone, becoming the queen of the underworld, connected the world of the living with the kingdom of the dead.

Along with Demeter, Dionysus, the deity of winemaking, was revered. 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 care for grapevines, singing riotous songs that later formed the basis of ancient Greek drama.

Hestia

Goddess 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 prytaneans ( administrative buildings in Greek cities) 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 prytanean altar on a long journey, the goddess will provide her protection along the way. The goddess also protected foreigners and the afflicted.

Temples to Hestia were not built, because she was worshiped in every home. Fire was considered a pure, 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, the stories acquired new details, and previously unknown characters emerged. The list of gods grew, making it possible to explain natural phenomena the essence of which ancient people could not understand. Myths passed on the wisdom of older generations to young ones, explained government system, affirmed the moral principles of society.

The mythology of Ancient Greece gave humanity many stories and images that were reflected in the masterpieces of world art. For centuries, artists, sculptors, poets and architects have drawn inspiration from the legends of Hellas.

Adonis is the deity of dying and resurrecting nature, borrowed from Phenicia in the 5th century. BC e. At the request of Zeus, Adonis had to spend a third of the year with Aphrodiges, a third of the year with Persephone.

Hades is one of the main Greek gods, the ruler of the kingdom of the dead and the entire underworld. Brother of Zeus, Poseidon and Demeter.

Amphitrite is a sea goddess, wife of Poseidon, mistress of the seas.

Apollo (Phoebus) is one of the main Greek gods, the son of Zeus, brother of Artemis. Deity of the sun, sunlight, enlightenment, patron of art, personified by 9 muses, agriculture, guardian of herds, roads, travelers, sailors, warrior god, healer god and soothsayer god. The most important centers of the cult of Apollo in Greece were Delphi with its famous oracle, the islet of Delos and Didyma near Miletus.

Ares (or Ares) - god of war, military art, son of Zeus and Hera. One of the main Olympic deities.

Artemis is one of the main goddesses, part of the family of 12 Olympic deities, patroness of forests, forest vegetation, animals, natural fertility, including childbirth, daughter of Zeus, twin sister of Apollo.

Asclepius is the god of healing and medical art, son of Apollo.

Athena is one of the main goddesses of the Greek pantheon, was part of the family of 12 Olympian gods, the patroness of wisdom, sciences, crafts, victorious war and peaceful prosperity, chief goddess of Athens and Attica. Born in an unusual way: Athena came out of the head of Zeus.

Aphrodite is one of the main goddesses of Greece, part of the family of 12 Olympian deities, daughter of Zeus; according to another version, she was born from sea foam, the goddess of beauty, sensual love, female fertility and love charm.

Hebe is the goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera. On Olympus she offered ambrosia and nectar to the gods.

Hecate is one of the goddesses of the underworld, the mistress of shadows in the underworld, the goddess of ghosts and nightmares, magic and spells. Like Artemis, she was considered the mistress of beasts. Daughter of Zeus.

The hecatomb is the main sacrifice at temples of a hundred animals or more.

Helios is one of the main Greek gods, especially in the Hellenistic era. The sun god was often identified with Apollo. Son of the titan Hyperion.

Hera is one of the main greek goddesses, member of the family of 12 Olympian gods, sister and wife of Zeus, mother of Hebe, Hephaestus and Areya, queen on Olympus. As the female hypostasis of Zeus - the mistress of lightning and thunder, clouds and storms, another function of Hera is the patroness of marriage and conjugal love, guardian of family foundations, assistant to pregnant women and mothers.

Hercules is a Greek hero, awarded immortality and ranked among the host of Olympian gods for his exploits. The 12 main labors of Hercules are known: 1) strangled the Nemean lion, 2) killed the Lernaean hydra, 3) caught the Erymanthian boar that was devastating Arcadia, 4) captured the fleet-footed Cerynean hind, 5) killed the Stymphalian bird-monsters with copper beaks, claws and wings, 6 ) obtained the belt of Hippolyta, the cruel queen of the warlike Amazons, 7) cleared the stables of King Augeas, 8) pacified the Cretan bull spitting fire, 9) defeated King Diomedes, who threw strangers to be torn to pieces by his cannibal mares, 10) stole the cows of the three-headed giant Geryon, 11 ) obtained the golden apples of the Hesperides, which were brought to him by Atlas, the giant who supported the firmament. When Atlas went for apples, Hercules held the firmament for him, 12) caught and brought into the sunlight the formidable guardian of the underworld - the dog Kerberus. In addition, Hercules defeated the giant Antaeus, tearing him away from mother earth, who gave him strength, and strangled him in his arms. As a baby, he strangled a snake in a cradle, took part in the campaign of the Argonauts, in the Calydonian hunt, etc.

Hermes (Ermius) - a member of the Olympic family, one of the main Greek gods, was the messenger and messenger of the gods, fulfilling their will, but at the same time performed numerous functions, was the patron of heralds, gymnastic competitions of youth, trade and associated wealth, cunning, dexterity, deception and theft, travel, roads and crossroads. Son of Zeus and Maya. He accompanied the souls of the dead to the kingdom of Hades.

Hestia is a member of the Olympian family, the goddess of the hearth, the sister of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.

Hephaestus is a member of the Olympic family, patron of fire and blacksmithing, son of Zeus and Hera, husband of Aphrodite.

Gaia is one of the oldest and most important goddesses of the Greek pantheon, the personification of the earth, the ancestor of gods, titans, giants, and all people.

The giants are the sons of Gaia (earth) and Uranus (sky) - divine giants, the first generation of gods, which were replaced by a new generation of Olympian gods led by Zeus. According to myth, the giants were exterminated by the Olympian gods in a fierce battle.

Hymen is the god of marriage and marriage rites, the son of Apollo.

Demeter is a member of the Olympic family, one of the main Greek goddesses, the deity of agriculture and earthly fertility, germinating grain; She was also revered as the patroness and organizer of the economy of a separate family, the sister of Zeus.

Demons - special group secondary divine beings - spirits with unclear functions, they did not have any image, they were the personification of everything unclear, wonderful and fatal in the nature and life of an individual person.

Dike is the deity of truth, the personification of justice, the daughter of Zeus.

Dionysus is one of the oldest and most popular gods of Ancient Greece, the personification of dying and resurrecting nature, the patron of vegetation, the productive forces of nature, viticulture and winemaking, folk festivals, poetic inspiration and theatrical art. Son of Zeus.

Zeus is the supreme god and king of the gods who are part of the Olympian family. The deity of the sky, celestial space, the lord and master of everything that happens in nature, the lives of gods and people, the future and destiny are open to him. As the god of the sky, Zeus commands thunder and lightning, gathers and disperses clouds. Zeus is the father of most members of the Olympian family of gods. One of the main centers of his cult was the town of Olympia in Elis, where the Olympic Games were held in his honor.

Ilithyia is the goddess of childbirth, daughter of Zeus and Hera.

Iris is the goddess of the rainbow. Since the rainbow connects heaven and earth, Iris was considered a mediator between gods and people, conveying the will of the gods.

Cabirs are minor deities who did not have any image, patrons of land fertility, underground fire, and saved from sea storms.

Kekrop is an ancient Attic deity of the earth, the son of Gaia, one of the patrons of Attica and Athens. His cult is closely related to the cult of Athena.

Kronos (Kronos) is one of the most ancient Greek deities, the son of Uranus and Gaia, one of the titans of the first generation of Greek gods. The father of Zeus was cast into Tartarus by Zeus.

Latona (Leto) is the divine mother of Apollo and Artemis. Her cult had no independent significance; she was revered along with her popular children.

Moira - goddess of human destiny, daughter of Zeus. They were depicted as old women spinning the thread of human life. Three Moirai are known: Clotho begins to spin the thread, Lachesis leads the thread of human life, and Atropa cuts the thread.

Morpheus is the deity of dreams, the son of the god of sleep Hypnos.

The Muses, goddesses of poetry, art and science, companions of Apollo, lived on Mount Helicon and Parnassus. There were nine muses: Clio - the muse of history, Euterpe - the muse of lyricism, Thalia - the muse of comedy, Melpomene - the muse of tragedy, Terpsichore - the muse of dancing and choral singing, Erato - the muse of erotic poetry, Polyhymnia - the muse of solemn chants and pantomime, Urania - the muse of astronomy , Calliope is the elder muse, the patroness of epic poetry.

Naiads are deities, patroness of waters, springs, streams and rivers, forces of nature favorable to people, animals and plants.

Nemesis - the goddess of fair and inevitable retribution, punishing for violation established order things, punishing both too much happiness and too much pride.

Nereus is an ancient sea deity, the father of the Nereids, the personification of the calm sea. Like the changeable sea, Nereus could take on different images and had the gift of transformation.

Nereids - nymphs of the sea, daughters of Nereus. They help sailors in danger.

Nike is the daughter of Zeus, the personification of victory as in military battle, and in sports competition.

Nymphs are semi-divine creatures (since they were considered mortal), the personification of various forces and natural phenomena. Nymphs differed sea waters(oceans, nereids), river waters and springs (naiads), mountains (oreads), valleys (napeys), meadows (limoniads), trees (dryads), there were nymphs of certain places (dodons, nisas), islands (Calypso, Kirka). They were considered patrons of poets and carefree, happy pastimes.

Ocean is one of the oldest Greek sea deities, the son of Uranus and Gaia. He lived alone in an underwater palace and did not appear in the meetings of the gods. In classical times, his functions were transferred to Poseidon.

Olympus - sacred mountain Greeks in Northern Thessaly, the permanent residence of twelve main deities: Zeus, Poseidon and Hades (brother gods, lords of the sky, sea and underworld), their wives and children: Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus and Ares. Here live the messengers of their will, Hermes and Iris, as well as those serving the gods “Femvda and Hebe.”

Omphalus is a sacred stone (usually a meteorite). The most famous is the omphalos, kept in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, considered the center of the world.

An oracle is a place of communication between gods and people, where you can find out the will of the deity. The most famous oracle was the oracle of Apollo in Delphi, where the deity’s prophecies were transmitted through the priestess Pythia; in Dodona, the will of Zeus was manifested in the rustling of the leaves of the sacred oak, in Delos - the leaves of the sacred laurel. The transmitted will of the gods was interpreted by a special priestly board.

Ora - goddesses who were in charge of the change of seasons, order in nature, guardians of order and law in society, companions of Aphrodite. The most famous are the three Oras: Eunoia (legality), Dika (justice), Eirene (peace).

Palladium is an image of an armed deity, usually the oldest wooden statue, considered the guardian of the city. Apollo, Aphrodite, but most often Athena, from whose nickname “Pallas” the name came, had such palladiums.

Pan is the Arcadian god of forests and groves, the son of Hermes, one of the companions of Dionysus. Patron of shepherds, hunters, beekeepers and fishermen. Pan had the gift of instilling uncontrollable, so-called “panic” fear in people.

Panacea is a healing goddess, daughter of Asclepius.

Pegasus is a magical winged horse that, by order of Zeus, delivered thunder and lightning. In the Hellenistic era it became a symbol of poetic inspiration.

Persephone is the daughter of Demeter, the wife of Hades, one of the main goddesses of the Greek pantheon, the mistress of the underworld, the personification of the growth of cereals and earthly fertility. Persephone symbolizes the annual dying and awakening of vegetation, the burial and rebirth of grain sown in the ground.

Plutos is the god of wealth as one of the manifestations of agricultural labor and peaceful life.

A pomp is a solemn procession of a religious nature associated with the offering of gifts to the temple of the main deity of the polis, for example during the celebration of the Panathenaia in honor of Athena, the Eleusinian mysteries in honor of Demeter, etc.

Poseidon is one of the main Olympic gods, the brother of Zeus, the deity of sea moisture, the ruler of numerous sea deities and at the same time the patron of horse breeding.

Prometheus is one of the Titans, that is, the gods of the first generation from Gaia and Uranus, the patron saint of people and civilized life; gave people fire and introduced it to its use, taught people reading, writing, navigation, sciences and crafts. He aroused the wrath of Zeus, who chained him to a rock in the Caucasus, where an eagle that flew in every day pecked out his liver.

Proteus, a sea deity subordinate to Poseidon, had the ability to take on any form.

Rhadamanthus is one of the three judges of the underworld, the son of Zeus.

Rhea is a mother goddess, daughter of Uranus and Gaia, wife of Kronos, mother of Zeus and other Olympian Kronid gods.

Sabazius was originally a Phrygian deity, who later merged with Dionysus.

Satyrs, minor forest deities personifying fertility, were in the retinue of Dionysus. They were depicted as half-humans, half-goats.

Selene - goddess of the Moon, wife of Helios, was often identified with Artemis.

Sarapis is one of the most important gods of Hellenistic Egypt and the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean, a syncretic deity that combines the functions of the ancient Egyptian gods Osiris, Isis, Apis and the Greek gods Apollo, Hades, Asclepius.

Silenus - the demon, son of Hermes, teacher of Dionysus, was depicted in the form of a thick, wine skin, constantly drunk, cheerful, bald old man.

Sirens are half-birds, half-women. With their magical voice they lured sailors onto the rocks and then devoured them.

The Sphinx is a monster depicted as a winged lion with the head of a woman. The monster lived near Thebes and killed people who could not guess its riddles.

Titans are gods of the first generation, children of Uranus and Gaia, they are often identified with giants. The giant titans were defeated by the next generation of Olympian gods and cast down into Tartarus; in other myths, they moved to the islands of the blessed.

Typhon is an evil deity, depicted as a monster with a hundred snake heads spewing flame, the son of Gaia and Tartarus, born after the victory of the Olympians over the Titans.

Tyche is the goddess of fate and chance; her cult gained particular popularity in the Hellenistic era.

Triton is a minor sea deity, son of Poseidon.

Uranus, the primordial supreme deity, the personification of the primary masculine principle, was considered the god of Heaven, which united with the primary feminine principle, the goddess Gaia (earth). From this marriage titans, giants and other deities were born.

Phaeton is the lowest solar deity, the son of Helios.

Phoenix is a mythical character, depicted as a bird (an eagle with golden feathers), which, having reached old age (at 500, 1461, 7006 years), burned itself and was reborn from the ashes young and renewed.

Themis is the goddess of law, legality, established order and predictions. She was depicted with a cornucopia, scales in her hands and a blindfold.

Chaos is the primary uncertainty that exists before the creation of the world. The first creatures of Chaos were the deities Gaia, Tartarus, Eros (love), Erebus (darkness), and Night.

Charites are deities of fertility, beauty, joy, the personification of blooming femininity, the daughter of Zeus.

Charon is the deity of the underworld, the carrier of the souls of the dead across the river of the underworld Acheron.

Chimera is a monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon.

Elysia (Elysian Fields) - fields of the blessed, part of the afterlife, where the chosen ones of the gods live. According to the ideas of the ancient Greeks, people end up in Elysia not so much for a righteous life, but by the grace of the gods.

Eris is the goddess of discord, sister and companion of the god of war Ares, daughter of Night, mother of disasters, quarrels and hunger.

Erinnyes are three goddesses of vengeance living in Hades (Tisiphone, Allecto and Megaera). They punish crimes of oath, violation of customs of hospitality, and murder. A person pursued by Erinnyes loses his mind.

Eros - one of the primary Greek gods, a product of Chaos, personified the elemental connecting principle in nature, later the deity of love, the son of Aphrodite and Ares.

Ether is a deity personifying the upper radiant layer of air, where the king usually resided gods Zeus.

The gods of Ancient Greece were different from other divine entities presented in any other religion of that time. They were divided into three generations, but the names of the second and third generations of the gods of Olympus are more familiar to the ears of modern people: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia.

According to legend, since the beginning of time, power belonged to the supreme god Chaos. As the name implies, there was no order in the world and then the goddess of the Earth Gaia married Uranus, the father of Heaven, and the first generation of powerful titans was born.

Kronos, according to some sources Chronos (keeper of time), was the last of the six sons of Gaia. The mother doted on her son, but Kronos was a very capricious and ambitious god. One day, Gaia received a prophecy that one of Kronos’ children would kill him. But for the time being, she also kept in her depths a fortuneteller: a blind half-breed Titanide and the secret itself. Over time, Gaia's mother got tired of constant childbirth and then Kronos castrated his father and overthrew him from heaven.

From this moment a new era began: the era of the Olympian gods. Olympus, whose peaks reach into the sky, became home to generations of gods. When Kronos decided to get married, his mother told him about the prediction. Not wanting to part with the power of the supreme god, Kronos began to swallow all the children. His wife, meek Rhea, was horrified by this, but could not break her husband’s will. Then she decided to cheat. Little Zeus, immediately after birth, was secretly transferred to the forest nymphs in wild Crete, where the gaze of his cruel father never fell. Having reached adulthood, Zeus overthrew his father and forced him to regurgitate all the children he had swallowed.

Thunderer Zeus, father of the gods

But Rhea knew: Zeus’s power is not endless and he, like his father, is also destined to die at the hands of his son. She also knew that the titans, imprisoned by Zeus in gloomy Tartarus, would soon be freed and it was they who would take part in the overthrow of Zeus, the father of the Olympian gods. Only one survivor of the Titans could help Zeus maintain power and not become like Kronos: Prometheus. The Titan had the gift of seeing the future, but he did not hate Zeus for his cruelty towards people.

In Greece, it is believed that before Prometheus, people lived in permanent frost and were like wild creatures without reason or intelligence. Not only the Greeks know that according to legend, Prometheus brought fire to earth, stealing it from the temple of Olympus. As a result, the Thunderer chained the titan and doomed him to eternal torment. Prometheus had the only way out: an agreement with Zeus - the secret of maintaining power for the Thunderer was revealed. Zeus avoided marriage with the one who could bear him a son capable of becoming the leader of the Titans. Power was forever assigned to Zeus; no one and nothing dared to encroach on the throne.

A little later, Zeus took a liking to the gentle Hera, the goddess of marriage and guardian of the family. The goddess was unapproachable and the supreme god had to marry her. But after three hundred years, as the chronicles say, this is the period honeymoon gods, Zeus got bored. From that moment on, his adventures are described quite amusingly: the Thunderer penetrated mortal girls in the most different types. For example, to Danae in the form of a dazzling rain of gold, to Europe, the most beautiful of all, in the form of a thoroughbred bull with golden horns.

The image of the father of the gods has always been unchanged: surrounded by a strong thunderstorm, in the mighty hands of lightning.

He was revered and constant sacrifices were made. When describing the character of the Thunderer, special mention is always made of his steadfastness and severity.

Poseidon, god of the seas and oceans

Little is said about Poseidon: the brother of the formidable Zeus occupies a place in the shadow of the supreme god. It is believed that Poseidon was not distinguished by cruelty; the punishments that the god of the seas sent to people were always deserved. The most eloquent of the legends associated with the lord of water is the legend of Andromeda.

Poseidon sent storms, but at the same time fishermen and sailors more often prayed to him than to the father of the gods. Before traveling by sea, not a single warrior would risk leaving the harbor without praying in the temple. The altars were usually smoked for several days in honor of the lord of the seas. According to legends, Poseidon could be seen in the foam of the raging ocean, in a golden chariot drawn by horses of a special color. The gloomy Hades gave these horses to his brother; they were indomitable.

His symbol was the trident, which gives unlimited power to Poseidon in the vastness of the oceans and seas. But it is noted that God had a non-conflict character and tried to avoid quarrels and squabbles. He was always devoted to Zeus, did not strive for power, which cannot be said about the third brother - Hades.

Hades, ruler of the kingdom of the dead

Gloomy Hades is an unusual god and character. He was feared and revered almost more than the ruler of existence, Zeus himself. The Thunderer himself experienced a feeling of strange fear, as soon as he saw his brother’s sparkling chariot, drawn by horses with demonic fire in his eyes. No one dared to step into the depths of the kingdom of Hades until there was such a will from the ruler of the underworld. The Greeks were afraid to pronounce his name, especially if there was a sick person nearby. Some records kept in the library of Alexandria say that before death people always hear the terrible, piercing howl of the keeper of the gates of hell. The two-headed, or according to some notes three-headed, dog Cerberus was an inexorable guardian of the gates of hell and the favorite of the formidable Hades.

It is believed that when Zeus shared power, he offended Hades by giving him the kingdom of the dead. Time passed, the gloomy Hades did not lay claim to the throne of Olympus, but legends often describe that the ruler of the dead was constantly looking for ways to ruin the life of the father of the gods. Hades is portrayed by character as a vindictive and cruel person. It was precisely man, even in the chronicles of that era, that Hades was endowed with human traits more than others.

Zeus did not have complete power over his brother's kingdom; he could not bring out or free a single soul without the permission of Hades. Even at the moment when Hades kidnapped the beautiful Persephone, essentially his niece, the father of the gods chose to refuse the saddened Demeter rather than demand that his brother return his daughter to her mother. And only the right move of Demeter herself, the goddess of fertility, forced Zeus to descend into the kingdom of the dead and convince Hades to conclude an agreement.

Hermes, patron of cunning, deception and trade, messenger of the gods

Hermes is already in the third generation of the gods of Olympus. This god is the illegitimate son of Zeus and Maya, daughter of Atlas. Maya, even before the birth of her son, had a prediction that her son would be an unusual child. But even she could not know that problems would begin from the infancy of the little god.

There is a legend about how Hermes, seizing the moment when Maya was distracted, slipped out of the cave. He really liked cows, but these animals were sacred and belonged to the god Apollo. Not at all embarrassed by this, the little rogue stole the animals, and in order to deceive the gods, he brought in the cows so that the tracks led out of the cave. And he immediately hid in the cradle. The angry Apollo quickly saw through the tricks of Hermes, but the young god promised to create and give away the divine lyre. Hermes kept his word.

From that moment on, golden-haired Apollo never parted with the lyre; all images of the god necessarily reflect this instrument. Lyra touched the god so much with her sounds that he not only forgot about the cows, but also gave Hermes his rod of gold.

Hermes is the most unusual of all the children of the Olympians in that he is the only one who could freely be in both worlds.

Hades loved his jokes and dexterity; it is Hermes who is often depicted as a guide to the dark kingdom of shadows. God brought souls to the rapids of the sacred river Styx and handed over the soul to the silent Chiron, the eternal carrier. By the way, the burial ritual with coins in front of the eyes is associated specifically with Hermes and Chiron. One coin for the work of God, the second for the carrier of souls.

Classmates