12 main gods of ancient Greece. Greek gods list and meaning

The mythology of Ancient Greece had great value for humanity and, first of all, for the development of culture. Ancient peoples were characterized by polytheism, that is, polytheism. Greek gods looked like ordinary people, because they did not have immortality and had vices. They lived on the very high mountain Olympus, where ordinary people could not get. In mythology there are many gods who had their own purpose and significance for humans.

Important gods of Greek mythology

The most important thing on Mount Olympus was Zeus, who was considered the almighty father of the gods. He was the patron of wind, thunder, lightning and other natural phenomena. He had a scepter, thanks to which he could cause storms and also calm them. Other important deities:

  1. Greek Helios could see everything that was happening in the Universe, so he was often called all-seeing. The Greeks turned to him to find out important information. Helios was depicted as a young guy with a ball in one hand and a cornucopia in the other. One of the ancient seven wonders of the world is the Colossus of Rhodes, which is a statue of Helios. Every morning, the sun god rode into the sky in his chariot drawn by four winged horses and gave people light.
  2. Greek god Apollo was the patron of many areas: medicine, archery, creativity, but most often he was called the god of light. His constant attributes are: lyre, larv and plectrum. As for animals, swans, wolves and dolphins were considered sacred to Apollo. This god was depicted as a young guy who always had a bow in his hands, since he was an excellent shooter, and a lyre. Various holidays and festivals were held in honor of this god.
  3. God of dreams in Greek mythology - Morpheus. He had the ability to penetrate people's dreams, and in the form of any person. Thanks to his powers, the God of Sleep thoroughly copied his voice, habits and other qualities. Morpheus was imagined as a slender young man who had wings on his temples. There is not a large number of images of this god in the form of an old man with a poppy in his hands. It was this flower that was a constant attribute of Morpheus, since it had soporific properties. The emblem of this god was the twin gates to the world of dreams. One half was made from Ivory and she opened the entrance to false dreams, and the other half of the horns was responsible for true dreams.
  4. God of healing in Greek mythology - Asclepius. In many images he is represented as an old man with a large beard. His attribute is a staff that entwines a snake, symbolizing the eternal rebirth of life. Image of a staff before today considered a symbol of medicine. He knew everything medicinal properties plants, discovered antidotes for bites, and also developed surgery. In honor of Asclepius, many temples were created, which certainly had a hospital.
  5. Greek god of fire - Hephaestus. He was considered the patron of blacksmithing. He made various products, which were used by other gods of Olympus. Hephaestus was born a sick and lame child. That is why his mother Hera threw him from Olympus. Hephaestus's products were not only durable, but also beautiful and as believable as possible. The god of fire was depicted as an ugly, but broad-shouldered man.
  6. Greek was the ruler of the underworld. People did not consider him evil and portrayed him as a powerful older man. He had a big beard. In general, he was very similar to his brother Zeus. This god had several attributes. The main thing was the helmet, which gave invisibility. In his hands, Hades held a two-pronged pitchfork or a scepter with the heads of three dogs. Wild tulips were considered a symbol of the god of the underworld. The Greeks sacrificed black bulls to Hades.

List of Gods of Ancient Greece

Hades - god - ruler of the kingdom of the dead.

Antaeus is a hero of myths, a giant, the son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave its son strength, thanks to which no one could control him.

Apollo is the god of sunlight. The Greeks depicted him as a beautiful young man.

Ares is the god of treacherous war, the son of Zeus and Hera.

Asclepius - god of medicine, son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis

Boreas is the god of the north wind, the son of the Titanides Astraeus (starry sky) and Eos (morning dawn), brother of Zephyr and Note. He was depicted as a winged, long-haired, bearded, powerful deity.

Bacchus is one of the names of Dionysus.

Helios (Helium) is the god of the Sun, brother of Selene (goddess of the Moon) and Eos (dawn). In late antiquity he was identified with Apollo, the god of sunlight.

Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most multi-valued Greek gods. Patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence.

Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera, the god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron of artisans.

Hypnos is the deity of sleep, the son of Nyx (Night). He was depicted as a winged youth.

Dionysus (Bacchus) is the god of viticulture and winemaking, the object of a number of cults and mysteries. He was depicted either as an obese elderly man or as a young man with a wreath of grape leaves on his head.

Zagreus is the god of fertility, the son of Zeus and Persephone.

Zeus is the supreme god, king of gods and people.

Zephyr is the god of the west wind.

Iacchus is the god of fertility.

Kronos is a titan, the youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, the father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was overthrown from the throne by Zeus...

Mom is the son of the goddess of Night, the god of slander.

Morpheus is one of the sons of Hypnos, the god of dreams.

Nereus is the son of Gaia and Pontus, a meek sea god.

Not - the god of the south wind, was depicted with a beard and wings.

Ocean is a titan, the son of Gaia and Uranus, the brother and husband of Tethys and the father of all the rivers of the world.

The Olympians are the supreme gods of the younger generation of Greek gods, led by Zeus, who lived on the top of Mount Olympus.

Pan is a forest god, the son of Hermes and Dryope, a goat-footed man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock.

Pluto is the god of the underworld, often identified with Hades, but unlike him, he owned not the souls of the dead, but the riches of the underworld.

Plutos is the son of Demeter, a god who gives wealth to people.

Pontus is one of the senior Greek deities, the offspring of Gaia, the god of the sea, the father of many titans and gods.

Poseidon is one of the Olympian gods, the brother of Zeus and Hades, who rules over the sea elements. Poseidon was also subject to the bowels of the earth,
he commanded storms and earthquakes.

Proteus is a sea deity, son of Poseidon, patron of seals. He had the gift of reincarnation and prophecy.

Satyrs are goat-footed creatures, demons of fertility.

Thanatos is the personification of death, the twin brother of Hypnos.

The Titans are a generation of Greek gods, the ancestors of the Olympians.

Typhon is a hundred-headed dragon born of Gaia or Hera. During the battle of the Olympians and the Titans, he was defeated by Zeus and imprisoned under the volcano Etna in Sicily.

Triton is the son of Poseidon, one of the sea deities, a man with a fish tail instead of legs, holding a trident and a twisted shell - a horn.

Chaos is the endless empty space from which at the beginning of time arose ancient gods Greek religion - Nyx and Erebus.

Chthonic gods are deities of the underworld and fertility, relatives of the Olympians. These included Hades, Hecate, Hermes, Gaia, Demeter, Dionysus and Persephone.

Cyclops are giants with one eye in the middle of their forehead, children of Uranus and Gaia.

Eurus (Eur) - god of the southeast wind.

Aeolus is the lord of the winds.

Erebus is the personification of the darkness of the underworld, the son of Chaos and the brother of Night.

Eros (Eros) - god of love, son of Aphrodite and Ares. IN ancient myths- a self-emerging force that contributed to the ordering of the world. He was depicted as a winged youth (in the Hellenistic era - a boy) with arrows, accompanying his mother.

Ether - sky deity

Goddesses of ancient Greece

Artemis is the goddess of hunting and nature.

Atropos is one of the three moiras, cutting the thread of fate and ending human life.

Athena (Pallada, Parthenos) is the daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full military armor. One of the most revered greek goddesses, goddess of just war and wisdom, patroness of knowledge.

Aphrodite (Kytherea, Urania) - goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came from sea ​​foam)

Hebe is the daughter of Zeus and Hera, the goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts.

Hecate is the goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, the patroness of sorcerers.

Hemera - goddess daylight, personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.

Hera is the supreme Olympian goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage.

Hestia - goddess hearth and home and fire.

Gaia is mother earth, the foremother of all gods and people.

Demeter is the goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Dryads are lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.

Ilithyia is the patron goddess of women in labor.

Iris is a winged goddess, Hera's assistant, messenger of the gods.

Calliope is the muse of epic poetry and science.

Kera are demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, who bring misfortune and death to people.

Clio is one of the nine muses, the muse of history.

Clotho (“spinner”) is one of the moiras that spins the thread of human life.

Lachesis is one of the three Moira sisters, who determine the fate of every person even before birth.

Leto is a Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.

Maya is a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven galaxies - the daughters of Atlas, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born to her.

Melpomene is the muse of tragedy.

Metis is the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him.

Mnemosyne is the mother of nine muses, the goddess of memory.

Moira - goddess of fate, daughter of Zeus and Themis.

The Muses are the patron goddesses of the arts and sciences.

Naiads are nymphs who guard the waters.

Nemesis is the daughter of Nyx, a goddess who personified fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.

Nereids - fifty daughters of Nereus and Oceanids Doris, sea deities.

Nika is the personification of victory. She was often depicted wearing a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece.

Nymphs are the lowest deities in the hierarchy of Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature.

Nikta is one of the first Greek deities, the goddess is the personification of the primordial Night.

Orestiades - mountain nymphs.

Ora - goddess of the seasons, peace and order, daughters of Zeus and Themis.

Peyto is the goddess of persuasion, the companion of Aphrodite, who was often identified with her patroness.

Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, the goddess of fertility. The wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death.

Polyhymnia is the muse of serious hymn poetry.

Tethys is the daughter of Gaia and Uranus, the wife of Oceanus and the mother of the Nereids and Oceanids.

Rhea is the mother of the Olympian gods.

Sirens are female demons, half-woman, half-bird, capable of changing the weather at sea.

Talia is the muse of comedy.

Terpsichore is the muse of dance art.

Tisiphone is one of the Erinyes.

Tyche is the goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, companion of Persephone. She was depicted as a winged woman standing on a wheel and holding a cornucopia and a ship's rudder in her hands.

Urania is one of the nine muses, the patroness of astronomy.

Themis - Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moira.

Harites - goddesses female beauty, the embodiment of good, joyful and eternal young beginnings life.

The Eumenides are another hypostasis of the Erinyes, revered as goddesses of benevolence who prevented misfortunes.

Eris is the daughter of Nyx, sister of Ares, goddess of discord.

Erinyes are goddesses of vengeance, creatures of the underworld, who punished injustice and crimes.

Erato - Muse of lyrical and erotic poetry.

Eos is the goddess of the dawn, sister of Helios and Selene. The Greeks called it “rose-fingered.”

Euterpe is the muse of lyrical chant. Depicted with a double flute in her hand.

The life of the ancient Greek gods on Mount Olympus seemed to people to be pure fun and a daily celebration. The myths and legends of those times represent a storehouse of philosophical and cultural knowledge. Having looked at the list of gods of Ancient Greece, you can plunge into a completely different world. Mythology surprises with its uniqueness; it is important because it pushed humanity to the development and emergence of many sciences, such as mathematics, astronomy, rhetoric, and logic.

First generation

Initially there was Mist, and out of it Chaos arose. From their union came Erebus (darkness), Nyx (night), Uranus (sky), Eros (love), Gaia (earth) and Tartarus (abyss). All of them played a gigantic role in the formation of the pantheon. All other deities are somehow connected with them.

Gaia is one of the first deities on earth, appearing along with the sky, sea and air. She great mother everything on earth: heavenly gods were born from her union with her son Uranus (sky), sea gods from Pontos (sea), giants from Tartaros (hell), and mortal creatures were created from her flesh. She was depicted as an obese woman, half rising from the ground. We can assume that it was she who came up with all the names of the gods of Ancient Greece, a list of which can be found below.

Uranus is one of the primitive gods of Ancient Greece. He was the original ruler of the universe. He was overthrown by his son Kronos. Born by one Gaia, he was also her husband. Some sources call his father Akmon. Uranus was depicted as a bronze dome covering the world.

List of gods of Ancient Greece, born of Uranus and Gaia: Oceanus, Cous, Hyperion, Crius, Thea, Rhea, Themis, Iapetus, Mnemosyne, Tethys, Kronos, Cyclopes, Brontes, Steropes.

Uranus did not feel much love for his children, or rather, he hated them. And after birth, he imprisoned them in Tartarus. But during their rebellion he was defeated and castrated by his son Kronos.

Second generation

The Titans, born of Uranus and Gaia, were the six gods of time. The list of titans of Ancient Greece includes:

Ocean - tops the list of gods of Ancient Greece, titanium. It was a large river surrounding the earth, it was the container of all fresh water. Oceanus's wife was his sister, the Titanide Tethys. Their union gave birth to rivers, streams and thousands of oceanids. They did not take part in the Titanomachy. The ocean was depicted as a horned bull with a fish tail instead of legs.

Kay (Koi/Keos) - Phoebe's brother and husband. Their union gave birth to Leto and Asteria. Depicted as a celestial axis. It was around her that the clouds revolved and Helios and Selene walked across the sky. The couple were thrown by Zeus into Tartarus.

Crius (Krios) is an ice titan capable of freezing all living things. He shared the fate of his brothers and sisters, thrown into Tartarus.

Iapetus (Iapetus/Iapetus) - the most eloquent, commanded the titans when attacking the gods. Also sent by Zeus to Tartarus.

Hyperion - lived on the island of Trinacria. He did not take part in the Titanomachy. The wife was the titinide Thea (thrown into Tartarus along with her brothers and sisters).

Kronos (Chronos/Kronus) is the temporary ruler of the world. He was so afraid of losing the power of the supreme god that he devoured his children so that not one of them would lay claim to the throne of the ruler. He was married to his sister Rhea. She managed to save one child and hide him from Kronos. Overthrown by his only saved heir, Zeus, and sent to Tartarus.

Closer to people

The next generation is the most famous. They are the main gods of Ancient Greece. The list of their exploits, adventures and legends with their participation is very impressive.

They not only became closer to people, descending from heaven and emerging from chaos to the top of the mountain. The gods of the third generation began to contact people more often and more willingly.

Zeus especially boasted about this, who was very partial to earthly women. And the presence of the divine wife Hera did not bother him at all. It was from his union with man that the well-known hero of myths, Hercules, was born.

Third generation

These gods lived on Mount Olympus. They got their title from its name. There are 12 gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which is known to almost everyone. They all performed their functions and were endowed with unique talents.

But more often they talk about fourteen gods, the first six of which were the children of Kronos and Rhea:

Zeus - main god Olympus, the ruler of the sky, personified power and strength. God of lightning, thunder and creator of people. The main attributes of this god were: Aegis (shield), Labrys (double-sided axe), Zeus' lightning (double-pronged pitchfork with jagged edges) and an eagle. Distributed good and evil. Was in an alliance with several women:

  • Metis - the first wife, the goddess of wisdom, was swallowed by her husband;
  • Themis - goddess of justice, second wife of Zeus;
  • Hera - the last wife, the goddess of marriage, was the sister of Zeus.

Poseidon is the god of rivers, floods, seas, drought, horses and earthquakes. His attributes were: a trident, a dolphin and a chariot with white-maned horses. Wife - Amphitrite.

Demeter is the mother of Persephone, sister of Zeus and his lover. She is the goddess of fertility and patronizes farmers. Demeter's attribute is a wreath of ears.

Hestia is the sister of Demeter, Zeus, Hades, Hera and Poseidon. Patron of sacrificial fire and family hearth. She took a vow of chastity. The main attribute was a torch.

Hades is the ruler of the underworld of the dead. Consort of Persephone (goddess of fertility and queen of the kingdom of the dead). The attributes of Hades were a bident or a rod. Depicted with the underground monster Cerberus - a three-headed dog who stood guard at the entrance to Tartarus.

Hera is the sister and at the same time the wife of Zeus. The most powerful and wise goddess of Olympus. She was the patroness of family and marriage. A mandatory attribute of Hera is a diadem. This decoration is a symbol of the fact that she is the main one on Olympus. All the main gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which she headed, obeyed her (sometimes reluctantly).

Other Olympians

Even if these gods did not have such powerful parents, almost all of them were born from Zeus. Each of them was talented in their own way. And he coped well with his duties.

Ares is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of battles, war and masculinity. He was a lover and then the husband of the goddess Aphrodite. Ares' companions were Eris (goddess of discord) and Enyo (goddess of furious war). The main attributes were: helmet, sword, dogs, burning torch and shield.

Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto, was the twin brother of Artemis. God of light, leader of the muses, god of healing and predictor of the future. Apollo was very loving, he had many mistresses and lovers. The attributes were: a laurel wreath, a chariot, a bow and arrows and a golden lyre.

Hermes is the son of Zeus and the galaxy of Maya or Persephone. God of trade, eloquence, dexterity, intelligence, animal husbandry and roads. Patron of athletes, merchants, artisans, shepherds, travelers, ambassadors and thieves. He is the personal messenger of Zeus and the guide of the dead to the kingdom of Hades. He taught people writing, trade and bookkeeping. Attributes: winged sandals that allow him to fly, invisibility helmet, caduceus (a rod decorated with two intertwined snakes).

Hephaestus is the son of Hera and Zeus. God of blacksmithing and fire. He was limping on both legs. Hephaestus's wives are Aphrodite and Aglaia. The attributes of the god were: blacksmith's bellows, tongs, chariot and pilos.

Dionysus is the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele. God of vineyards and winemaking, inspiration and ecstasy. Patron of the theater. He was married to Ariadne. Attributes of God: a cup of wine, a wreath of vines and a chariot.

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Leto, twin sister of Apollo. The young goddess is a hunter. Born first, she helped her mother give birth to Apollo. Chaste. Attributes of Artemis: a doe, a quiver of arrows and a chariot.

Demeter is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Mother of Persephone (wife of Hades), sister of Zeus and his lover. Goddess of agriculture and fertility. Demeter's attribute is a wreath of ears.

Athena, the daughter of Zeus, completes our list of gods of Ancient Greece. She was born from his head after he swallowed her mother Themis. Goddess of war, wisdom and craft. Patroness of the Greek city of Athens. Her attributes were: a shield with the image of the Gorgon Medusa, an owl, a snake and a spear.

Born in foam?

I would like to say something separately about the next goddess. She is not only a symbol of female beauty to this day. Moreover, the history of its origin is hidden in mystery.

There is a lot of controversy and speculation about the birth of Aphrodite. First version: the goddess was born from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed foam. Second version: Aphrodite arose from a sea shell. Third hypothesis: she is the daughter of Dione and Zeus.

This goddess was in charge of beauty and love. Spouses: Ares and Hephaestus. Attributes: chariot, apple, rose, mirror and dove.

How they lived on the great Olympus

All the Olympian gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which you see above, had the right to live and spend all their free time from miracles on the great mountain. The relationship between them was not always rosy, but few of them decided on open hostility, knowing the power of their enemy.

Even among the great divine creatures there was no permanent peace. But everything was decided by intrigues, secret conspiracies and betrayals. It's very similar to the human world. And this is understandable, because humanity was created precisely by the gods, so they are all similar to us.

Gods who do not live on top of Olympus

Not all deities had the chance to reach such heights and climb Mount Olympus to rule the world there, feasting and having fun. Many other gods either could not deserve such a high honor, or were modest and were content ordinary life. If, of course, you can call the existence of a deity that way. In addition to the Olympian gods, there were other gods of Ancient Greece, a list of their names is here:

  • Hymen is the god of marriage (the son of Apollo and the muse Calliope).
  • Nike is the goddess of victory (daughter of Styx and the Titan Pallant).
  • Iris is the goddess of the rainbow (daughter of the sea god Thaumant and the oceanid Electra).
  • Ata is the goddess of darkness (daughter of Zeus).
  • Apata is the mistress of lies (heir to the goddess of night darkness Nyukta).
  • Morpheus is the god of dreams (son of the lord of dreams Hypnos).
  • Phobos is the god of fear (descendant of Aphrodite and Ares).
  • Deimos - Lord of Terror (son of Ares and Aphrodite).
  • Ora - goddesses of the seasons (daughters of Zeus and Themis).
  • Aeolus is the demigod of the winds (heir to Poseidon and Arna).
  • Hecate is the mistress of darkness and all monsters (the result of the union of the titan Persian and Asteria).
  • Thanatos - god of death (son of Erebus and Nyukta).
  • Erinyes - goddess of revenge (daughter of Erebus and Nyukta).
  • Pontus is the ruler of the inland sea (heir to Ether and Gaia).
  • Moiras are goddesses of fate (daughters of Zeus and Themis).

These are not all the gods of Ancient Greece, the list of which can be continued even further. But to get acquainted with the main myths and legends, it is enough to know only these characters. If you want to read more stories about each, we are sure that the ancient storytellers came up with a lot of intertwining of their destinies and details of the divine life, in which you will gradually get to know more and more new heroes.

Meaning of Greek Mythology

There were also muses, nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, heroes, cyclops, giants and monsters. All this huge world was not invented in one day. Myths and legends have been written for decades, with each retelling acquiring new details and never-before-seen characters. More and more new gods of Ancient Greece appeared, the list of whose names grew from one storyteller to another.

The main purpose of these stories was to teach future generations the wisdom of elders, in clear language talk about good and evil, about honor and cowardice, about loyalty and lies. Well, besides, such a huge pantheon made it possible to explain almost any natural phenomenon that had not yet been scientifically substantiated.

It arouses genuine interest, intrigues and excites. It combines fictional and modern world. Quite a few books have been written about him and many films have been made. The Pantheon of Greek gods is a real treasure trove for studying the history, customs and life of Ancient Greece. What function did the celestials perform on the sacred Mount Olympus? What unimaginable power and authority were they endowed with? This and much more will be discussed in our new divine article!

A pantheon, or simply a group of gods belonging to the same religion, consisted of a large number of celestial beings, each of whom performed an assigned role and carried out its own function. In their appearance and behavior, the gods and goddesses were similar to ordinary people. They experienced the same emotions and feelings, fell in love and quarreled, were angry and had mercy, deceived and spread gossip. But their main difference was immortality! Over time, the history of relations between the gods became increasingly overgrown with myths. And this only increased interest and admiration for the ancient religion...


Representatives of the younger generation of celestials in Ancient Hellas were considered the main gods. Once upon a time, they took away the right to rule the world from the older generation (titans), who personified the natural elements and universal forces. Having defeated the Titans, the younger gods, under the leadership of Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. We will tell you about the 12 main Olympian gods and goddesses, their assistants and companions, who were worshiped by the Greeks!

King of the gods and main deity. Representative of the endless sky, lord of lightning and thunder. Zeus had unlimited power over both people and gods. The ancient Greeks honored and feared the Thunderer, appeasing him in every possible way with the best donations. Babies learned about Zeus even in the womb, and attributed all misfortunes to the wrath of the greatest and omnipotent.


Brother of Zeus, ruler of the sea, rivers, lakes and oceans. He personified courage, stormy temper, hot temper and unearthly strength. As the patron saint of seafarers, he could cause famine, capsize and sink ships, and decide the fate of fishermen in open waters. Poseidon is closely associated with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.


Brother of Poseidon and Zeus, to whom the entire underworld, the kingdom of the dead, was subordinate. The only one who did not live on Olympus, but was rightfully considered an Olympian god. All the dead went to Hades. Although people were afraid to even pronounce the name of Hades, ancient mythology he is represented as a cold, unshakable and indifferent god, whose decision must be carried out unquestioningly. In his dark kingdom with demons and shadows of the dead, where the sun's rays do not penetrate, one can only enter. There is no turning back.


Aristocratic and refined, the god of healing, sunlight, spiritual purity and artistic beauty. Having become the patron of creativity, he is considered the head of the 9 muses, as well as the father of the god of doctors, Asclepius.


The most ancient god of roads and travel, patron of trade and merchants. This celestial being with wings on his heels was associated with a subtle mind, resourcefulness, cunning and excellent knowledge of foreign languages.


The insidious god of war and fierce battles. The mighty warrior preferred bloody reprisals and waged war for the sake of war itself.


Patron of blacksmithing, pottery and other crafts associated with fire. Even in ancient times, Hephaestus was associated with volcanic activity, roar and flame.


Wife of Zeus, patroness of marriage and conjugal love. The goddess was distinguished by jealousy, anger, cruelty and excessive severity. In a state of rage, she could bring terrible troubles to people.


The daughter of Zeus, the beautiful goddess of love, who easily fell in love with herself and fell in love herself. In her hands was concentrated the great power of love, pure and sincere, which she bestowed on the gods and people.


Goddess of just war, wisdom, patroness of spiritual pursuits, art, agriculture and crafts. Pallas Athena was born from the head of Zeus in full armor. Thanks to her, public life flows and cities are built. For her knowledge and intelligence, she was the most respected and authoritative celestial being among the pantheon of Greek gods.


Patroness of agriculture and goddess of fertility. She is the guardian of life, who taught man peasant labor. She fills the barns and replenishes supplies. Demeter is the embodiment of the primitive energy of creativity, the great mother who gives birth to all living things.


Artemis

Goddess of forests and hunting, sister of Apollo. Patroness of vegetation and fertility. The virginity of the goddess is closely connected with the idea of ​​birth and sexual relations.

In addition to the 12 main Olympian gods, among the Greek celestials there were many equally significant and authoritative names.

God of winemaking and all natural forces that make a person happy.


Morpheus. Everyone was in his arms. Greek god of dreams, son of Hypnos - god of sleep. Morpheus could take any form, accurately copy his voice, and appear to people in their dreams.

Son of Aphrodite and part-time god of love. A cute boy with a quiver and a bow accurately throws arrows at people, which ignite unbreakable love in the hearts of gods and people. In Rome, Cupid corresponded to it.


Persephone. The daughter of Demeter, kidnapped by Hades, who dragged her to his underworld and made her his wife. She spends part of the year upstairs with her mother, the rest of the time she lives underground. Persephone personified the grain that is sown in the ground and comes to life when it comes out into the light.

Patron of the hearth, family and sacrificial fire.


Pan. Greek god of forests, patron of shepherds and flocks. Represented with goat legs, horns and a beard with a pipe in his hands.

Goddess of victory and constant companion of Zeus. The divine symbol of success and a happy outcome is always depicted in a pose of rapid movement or with wings. Nika takes part in all musical competitions, military enterprises and religious celebrations.


And that is not all greek names gods:

  • Asclepius is the Greek god of healing.
  • Proteus is the son of Poseidon, a sea deity. He had the gift of predicting the future and changing his appearance.
  • Triton, the son of Poseidon, brought news from the depths of the sea by blowing a conch shell. Depicted as a mixture of horse, fish and man.
  • Eirene - the goddess of peace, stands at the Olympian throne of Zeus.
  • Dike is the patroness of truth, a goddess who does not tolerate deception.
  • Tyukhe is the goddess of luck and successful chance.
  • Plutos - ancient greek god wealth.
  • Enyo is the goddess of furious war, causing fury in the fighters, bringing confusion to the battle.
  • Phobos and Deimos are the sons and companions of Ares, the god of war.

As is known, they were pagans, i.e. They believed in several gods. There were a great many of the latter. However, there were only twelve main and most revered ones. They were part of the Greek pantheon and lived on the sacred So, what are the Olympian gods of Ancient Greece? This is the question being considered today. All the gods of Ancient Greece obeyed only Zeus.

He is the god of the sky, lightning and thunder. People are also considered. He can see the future. Zeus maintains the balance of good and evil. He is given the power to punish and forgive. He strikes guilty people with lightning, and overthrows the gods from Olympus. In Roman mythology it corresponds to Jupiter.

However, on Olympus near Zeus there is also a throne for his wife. And Hera takes it.

She is the patroness of marriage and mothers during childbirth, the protector of women. On Olympus she is the wife of Zeus. In Roman mythology, her counterpart is Juno.

Is the god of cruel, treacherous and bloody war. He is delighted only by the spectacle of a hot battle. On Olympus, Zeus tolerates him only because he is the son of the Thunderer. Its analogue in the mythology of Ancient Rome is Mars.

Ares will not have long to go on rampage if Pallas Athena appears on the battlefield.

She is the goddess of wise and just war, knowledge and art. It is believed that she came into being from the head of Zeus. Her prototype in the myths of Rome is Minerva.

Has the moon risen in the sky? This means, according to the ancient Greeks, the goddess Artemis went for a walk.

Artemis

She is the patroness of the Moon, hunting, fertility and female chastity. Her name is associated with one of the seven wonders of the world - the temple in Ephesus, which was burned by the ambitious Herostratus. She is also the sister of the god Apollo. Its analogue in Ancient Rome- Diana.

Apollo

He is the god of sunlight, marksmanship, as well as a healer and leader of the muses. He is the twin brother of Artemis. Their mother was the Titanide Leto. His prototype in Roman mythology is Phoebus.

Love is a wonderful feeling. And, as the inhabitants of Hellas believed, she is patronized by the equally beautiful goddess Aphrodite

Aphrodite

She is the goddess of beauty, love, marriage, spring, fertility and life. According to legend, it appeared from a shell or sea foam. Many gods of Ancient Greece wanted to marry her, but she chose the ugliest of them - the lame Hephaestus. In Roman mythology, she was associated with the goddess Venus.

Hephaestus

Is considered a jack of all trades. He was born with an ugly appearance, and his mother Hera, not wanting to have such a child, threw her son from Olympus. He didn't crash, but since then he's been limping badly. His counterpart in Roman mythology is Vulcan.

There is a big holiday, people are happy, wine flows like a river. The Greeks believe that it is Dionysus who is having fun on Olympus.

Dionysus

Is and fun. Was carried and born... by Zeus. This is true, the Thunderer was both his father and mother. It so happened that Zeus’s beloved, Semele, at the instigation of Hera, asked him to appear in all his power. As soon as he did this, Semele immediately burned in the flames. Zeus barely managed to snatch their premature son from her and sew him into his thigh. When Dionysus, born of Zeus, grew up, his father made him cupbearer of Olympus. In Roman mythology his name is Bacchus.

Where do the souls of dead people go? To the kingdom of Hades, that’s how the ancient Greeks would have answered.

This is the ruler of the underground kingdom of the dead. He is the brother of Zeus.

Is the sea rough? This means that Poseidon is angry about something - this is what the inhabitants of Hellas thought.

Poseidon

This is the oceans, the lord of the waters. He is also the brother of Zeus.

Conclusion

That's all the main gods of Ancient Greece. But you can learn about them not only from myths. Over the centuries, artists have formed a consensus about Ancient Greece (pictures presented above).