Names of the gods: ancient gods of the North. Pagan gods of ancient Rus' Names of various gods
Researchers of the past claim that the history of mankind does not know a single people who denied the existence of certain higher powers guiding their earthly and sometimes afterlife. Ideas about them changed as civilization developed, and on their basis numerous religious cults were formed, both those that have survived to this day and those that have sunk into the depths of centuries. Let us recall just some of the gods of the Ancient World, which, according to the generally accepted definition, originates in the prehistoric period and is limited to the 5th century, when the world entered the era of the early Middle Ages.
Ancient Sumerian deities
A conversation about the heroes and gods of the Ancient World should begin with a story about the religious ideas of the Sumerians, who lived on the territory of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and created at the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. e. first world civilization. Their beliefs and the mythology they generated were based on the worship of numerous demiurge gods - the creators of the world and everything in it, as well as the spirits who patronized people in various aspects of their lives.
These are probably the most ancient gods of the world about which fairly complete information has been preserved. The dominant place among them was occupied by the god An (or Anu). According to him, he was one of the demiurges who created the world, and existed even before the earth was separated from the sky. Among other celestials, he enjoyed such unquestioned authority that the Sumerians always depicted him as presiding over the councils of the gods, which they arranged to resolve the most important issues.
Among the Sumerian patron gods, the most famous is Marduk, whose name is associated with the founding and further development of one of the largest cities of the Ancient World - Babylon. It was believed that the city owes its rise and prosperity to him. It is characteristic that as the ancient metropolis grew, the worship of its patron took on an ever wider scale. In the pantheon of Sumerian gods, Marduk was given the same place as Jupiter among the ancient Greek celestials.
Rejected Passion
As an example of Sumerian mythology, it is appropriate to cite one of the stories about the Goddess Ishtar, who successfully patronized such seemingly incompatible things as love and war. The legend that has reached us tells how one day the heart of the goddess was inflamed with love for the brave hero Gilgamesh, who returned from a military campaign in which he won thanks to her patronage.
For the service rendered, Ishtar wished that the hero would become her husband, but was refused, since Gilgamesh had heard not only about her countless love affairs, but also about the manner of turning annoying men into spiders, wolves, rams and other dumb creatures. Of course, he didn’t get away with it, because what could be worse than the revenge of a rejected woman?
Heavenly Bull
The angry Ishtar went to heaven to her parents - the supreme god Anu and his wife Antu, to whom she told about her humiliation. To take revenge on the offender, she persuaded the old people to create for her a terrible Heavenly Bull, capable of destroying Gilgamesh. Otherwise, the obstinate daughter threatened to raise all the dead from their graves and give them the human race to be devoured.
Knowing from experience that it is useless to argue with their daughter, An and Antu fulfilled her request. The goddess returned to earth with a bull, which, having first drunk all the water in the Euphrates River, began to devour the unfortunate Sumerians. And this would have been the end of the ancient civilization, but, fortunately, the same Gilgamesh arrived in time, who, together with his friend Enkidu, defeated the monster and sacrificed its carcass to other, more decent deities.
The legend ends with Ishtar, standing at the walls of the ancient city of Uruk, cursing the obstinate Gilgamesh and, having gathered all the Sumerian harlots, bitterly mourns with them the destroyed bull. Why she needed representatives of the most ancient profession for this - history is silent.
Lost Civilization
It only remains to add that the pantheon of gods of the Ancient World, revered by the Sumerians, is very extensive. To the names already mentioned we will add only the most famous: Anunnaki, Adad, Bel, Dumuzi, Inanna, Tiamat, Tammuz, Sumukan, Sina and Tsarpanitu.
In the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. e. the state of Sumer gave way to the growing power of the Babylonian Empire, and Sumerian as a spoken language fell into disuse. Nevertheless, literary works were written on it for almost 2 thousand years, some of which were discovered during archaeological excavations.
Gods of Egypt
Inseparable from people’s desire to understand the world around them, which is sometimes frightening and full of impenetrable secrets for them. Evidence of the attempts of the ancient Egyptians to understand its structure is the creation of a numerous pantheon of gods who became the product of their imagination and personified natural forces for them.
A characteristic feature of the Egyptians was the belief in the divine origin of the pharaohs, on which their unlimited power was based. Both the heavenly rulers and their earthly governors were not always friendly to people, and therefore both had to be propitiated not only with prayers and praises, but also with sacrifices, the nature of which varied depending on who they were intended for.
The gods of the Ancient World and the myths telling about them have always represented a bright page. The vast pantheon of gods born on the banks of the Nile is no exception. Historians count about 2 thousand of its representatives, but no more than 100 of them enjoyed universal veneration, while the worship of the rest was local.
It is interesting to note that with the change in the balance of political forces in the country, the hierarchical position occupied by certain gods also changed. The history of the Ancient World, including Egypt, is full of turmoil and upheaval, which resulted in frequent changes of rulers, which radically changed the status of the gods they especially revered. Meanwhile, from the general pantheon one can single out a number of characters whose “rating” was consistently high throughout the history of Ancient Egyptian civilization.
The top of the divine hierarchy
This is, first of all, the creator of everything earthly ─ also known under the names Amun or Atum. It was he who was considered the father of all pharaohs. Sometimes in the imagination of the Egyptians, Amun-Ra took on a female form and was then called the goddess Amunet. This transvestite god was especially revered in Thebes, which for a long period was the capital of the state. Usually he was depicted as a man in royal vestments and a crown decorated with feathers, less often in the form of a goose or ram.
Slightly inferior to him in popularity was the god of fertility and the afterlife, Osiris, whose list of closest relatives aroused the deepest respect for him. Being the son of the earth god Heb and the sky goddess Nut, he took as his wife his own sister Isis, the patroness of fertility, motherhood, health and sea travel (consanguineous marriages were not forbidden in that era). Having inherited the title of supreme ruler over time, he taught the Egyptians to cultivate the land, observe laws and honor the gods.
Deceit and love in Egyptian mythology
However, like many ancient gods of the peoples of the world, Osiris endured many different hardships and ordeals on the way to his greatness. It all started with the fact that the desert god Set, who personified the evil principle, planned to kill him and take the place of the supreme ruler himself. He carried out his insidious plan in a rather original way.
Having made a golden chest of a suitable size and invited guests, among whom was Osiris, the villain announced that he would give this jewel to anyone who could fit comfortably in it. Everyone began to try, and when it was Osiris’s turn, Seth slammed the lid of the chest, tied it with ropes and threw it into the Nile, along the waves of which it floated to God knows where.
Having learned about the disappearance of her husband, Isis went in search of him and found a chest with her husband off the Phoenician coast. But her joy turned out to be premature. Seth, who followed on his heels, got ahead of Isis and, before her eyes, chopped up her husband’s body into pieces, scattering them throughout Egypt.
But the villain had little idea who he was dealing with - the goddess collected most of the remains of Osiris, made a mummy from them, and so successfully that she soon conceived her son Horus, who later became the god of the hunt and was depicted as a man with a falcon’s head. Having matured, Horus defeated Set and helped his mother resurrect his father's mummy.
Other inhabitants of the ancient Egyptian pantheon
Let us recall some more names of the gods of the Ancient World who lived on the banks of the Nile. This is primarily the god Shu. He and his wife Tefnut were the first celestials, created by the supreme god Atum and ushering in the separation of the sexes. Shu was considered the god of sunlight and air. He was depicted as a man in a headdress with a train, while his wife had the appearance of a lioness.
Another god of the Ancient World, considered the embodiment of the sun, was the supreme ruler Ra. His images in the form of a man with a falcon's head, crowned with a solar disk, are often found on the walls of Egyptian temples of that ancient era. A special feature of Ra was his ability to be born every day from the sacred cow Nut and, having made his way across the vault of heaven, to plunge into the kingdom of the dead in order to repeat everything all over again the next morning.
It is worth noting that Osiris, discussed above, in addition to his wife Isis, had another sister named Nephthys. In Egyptian mythology, she played the rather gloomy role of the goddess of death and mistress of the kingdom of the dead. She emerged from her underground possessions only at sunset and spent the entire night sailing across the sky in her black boat. Her image can often be seen on the lids of sarcophagi, where she appears in the form of a winged woman.
The far from complete list of Egyptian gods can be continued with such names as Sekhmet, Bastet, Nepid, Thoth, Menhit, Ptah, Hathor, Shesemu, Khons, Heket and many others. Each of them has its own history and its own appearance, imprinted on the walls of temples and the interior of the pyramids.
World of the Gods of Ancient Greece
Ancient myth-making, which had a huge influence on the formation of the entire European culture, reached its highest point of flowering in Ancient Hellas. The origin of the world and the gods in Ancient Greece, as well as in Egypt, did not seem accidental. The creation of all things was attributed to the supreme creator, whose role in this case was performed by Zeus. He was the king of all other gods, the lord of lightning and the personification of the boundless sky. In Roman mythology, which became a continuation of Greek, this image corresponds to Jupiter, endowed with the same properties and inheriting the external features of its ancestor. Zeus's wife was the goddess Hera, the patroness of motherhood, who protected women during childbirth.
A characteristic feature of the Greek pantheon of gods is its elitism. Unlike the characters in Ancient Hellas, there were only 12 celestials who lived on the top of Mount Olympus and descended to earth only in case of emergency. At the same time, the status of the other deities was much lower, and they played a secondary role.
It is worth noting another characteristic feature of the Greek and Roman gods - it was customary to depict them exclusively in human form, giving perfection to the features of each. In the modern world, the gods of Ancient Greece are well known, since their marble statues are an unattainable example of ancient art.
Elite of the ancient Greek pantheon
Everything that was in one way or another connected with war and accompanied by bloodshed was commanded, in the minds of the ancient Greeks, by two deities. One of them was Ares, who had an unbridled temper and delighted himself with the spectacle of heated battles. Zeus did not like him for his excessive bloodthirstiness and tolerated him on Olympus only because he was his son. The Thunderer's sympathies were on the side of his own daughter Athena, the goddess of a just war, wisdom and knowledge. Appearing on the battlefield, she pacified her overly discordant brother. In Roman mythology, she corresponds to Minerva.
It is difficult to imagine the world of heroes and gods of Ancient Greece without Apollo, the god of sunlight, a skilled healer and patron of the muses. His name became a household name thanks to his sculptural images that embodied the standard of male beauty. Several centuries later, among the Romans, Apollo was incarnated in the image of Phoebus.
The standard of female beauty, as perceived by the ancient Greeks, is the goddess of love Aphrodite, who was the prototype of the Roman Venus. Born from sea foam, the beauty took love, marriage, fertility and spring under her protection. It is very curious that, despite the abundance of the most enviable suitors, she gave her heart to the lame Hephaestus (the Romans called him Vulcan) - the god of blacksmithing, preferring a hard-working and homely husband to the handsome men from the top of Olympus.
In order not to offend any of the gods of the Ancient World, who were once revered on the shores of Hellas, let us remember the patroness of the moon, fertility, hunting and female chastity Artemis (Diana among the Romans), the ruler of the kingdom of the dead Hades, the god of the seas Poseidon (aka Neptune) and the reckless drunkard god wine and fun ─ Dionysus, better known by his Roman name Bacchus.
Since over the past centuries the number of admirers of this god has not only not decreased, but is also growing every year, we will devote a few lines to him. It is known that Dionysus was born as a result of the secret love of Zeus and the Theban princess Semele. The jealous wife of the Thunderer, the goddess Hera, resorted to cunning and destroyed the passion of her lascivious husband, but could not destroy the child she hated.
Having resorted to the help of Hermes, the god of travelers and an expert on human souls, Zeus, secretly from his wife, handed over his son to be raised by the nymphs, the patronesses of the life-giving forces of nature. When Dionysus grew up and turned from a rosy-cheeked child into a beautiful young man, they gave him a grapevine and taught him how to prepare a life-giving drink from its fruits. Since then, the illegitimate became the god of wine and fun. The people of Greece worshiped him by decorating themselves with garlands of grape leaves and singing hymns in his honor.
The beginning of a new era
These 12 celestial beings do not limit the entire list of gods of the Ancient World, once sung by Greek poets, who brought to us the unique spirit of ancient myths. But only they became the inhabitants of Olympus, their images inspired outstanding sculptors and painters of subsequent eras, which brought worldwide fame to these gods hidden from us through centuries.
The history of the Ancient World is generally accepted to have ended with the fall of Rome in 476 and the abdication of its last emperor, Romulus Augustus. From that moment on, the world moved to a new stage of its development ─ the early Middle Ages. Gradually, not only the way of life of the past faded into oblivion, but also the gods who gave birth to and protected it.
Their numerous pantheon was replaced by a single God ─ Creator and Creator of all things. The cult of the former celestials was declared dark paganism, and its followers were subjected to no less cruel persecutions than those that they had recently carried out against Christians.
The topic of deities and names of gods is especially popular and is in incredible demand, although literally ten years ago it was relegated to the background due to the fact that people stopped believing and became different. However, even now it is touched upon infrequently - mainly in case of desire to ask for help...
Names of the Gods: The Most Popular Topic of Our Time
In one direction the topic continues to be touched upon, and as you may have guessed, this concerns the direction of the name book. People in the thicket began to turn to name books with deities in search of a name for their child. By giving a child the name of a god, one of the deified beings, parents hope that the growing little man with him will be guaranteed happy, as a reward for belief.
It is impossible to say so with one hundred percent certainty, but the fact remains - the names of gods are popular in the world, in all cultures, in the East, Asia, Europe, America, and in Orthodox lands.
Those who deified Isis and Horus were common. There were others - but they were in much less demand, although each was dedicated to a specific temple in which admirers and believers worshiped.
Ancient Greece…
Ancient Greek beliefs were deep in mythology, but many are confused about where the real and where is just a fictional mythological character. Then the names of Greek gods were given exclusively to children in rich, wealthy families. The common people did not hold them in such esteem - heroes were revered (Hercules, Odysseus, etc.).
Morpheus (responsible for dreams), Poseidon (favorite of sailors and ship owners), Dionysus (respected by winemakers), Zeus (king of deities), Hermes (patronizes thieves and traders), Ares (warriors bowed before him) - this is not all scroll.
Japanese culture in naming practice
In Japan, representatives of the divine world were treated differently. In addition to the usual patrons of goodness, strength and war, the names of the Japanese gods of magic were well known - the tradition of belief in them did not last long, but gave rise to a lot of stories and myths, which are now based on anime.
There, the essence of the name of God was understood differently, a different meaning was attached, but faith clearly could not be betrayed - they were punished for this, and in confirmation there are many facts about which history tells.
Raijin (like Zeus), Fujin (patron of the wind), Emma (queen of the underworld), Tsukyoshi (lord of the moon) - the list is huge, but these were respected more than anyone else.
A few words to end...
Faith varied everywhere at all times, but the “highest” were held in high esteem by both believers and non-believers. The name forms were different, but people believed in them not for their sound - it was simply customary to honor higher beings, it was the way it was, which, unfortunately, cannot be said in our modern age.
ABDER - son of Hermes, friend of Hercules
AUGIAS - son of Helios, king of Elis
AGENOR - King of Sidon
AGLAVRA - daughter of Kekrop
AGLAYA - one of the graces
ADMET - King Fer, friend of Hercules
ADMETA - daughter of Eurystheus, priestess of the goddess Hera
HADES - god of the underworld (among the ancient Romans PLUTO)
ACID - son of Semetis, lover of Galatea
ACRISIA - king of Argos, father of Danae
ALKESTIS - daughter of King Iolcus Pelia, wife of Admet
ALKIDS - the name of Hercules given to him at birth
ALKION - one of the seven daughters of Atlas
ALCMENE - daughter of the Mycenaean king Electryon, mother of Hercules
AMALTHEA - the goat who suckled Zeus with her milk
AMPHITRYON - Greek hero, husband of Alcmene
AMPHITRITE - one of the daughters of Nereus, wife of the god of the seas Poseidon
ANGEUS - Greek hero, participant in the campaign of the Argonauts
ANDROGEUS - son of the Cretan king Minos, killed by the Athenians
ANDROMEDA - daughter of the king of Ethiopia Cepheus and Cassiopeia, wife of Perseus
ANTEUS - son of the earth goddess Gaia and the god of the seas Poseidon
ANTHEA - wife of King Pret of Tiryns
ANTIOPE - Amazon
APOLLO (PHEBUS) - god of sunlight, patron of the arts, son of Zeus
APOP - in ancient Egyptian mythology a monstrous serpent, the enemy of the Sun god Ra
ARGOS - shipbuilder who built the ship "Argo"
ARGUS - mythological standing monster that guarded Io
ARES - in ancient Greek mythology, the god of war, the son of Zeus and Hera (among the ancient Romans MARS)
ARIADNE - daughter of the Cretan king Minos, beloved of Theseus, later the wife of the god Dionysus
ARKAD - son of Zeus and Callisto
ARTEMIS - goddess of the hunt, daughter of Zeus and Latona, sister of Apollo
ASCLEPIA (ESCULAPIUS) - son of Apollo and Coronis, a skilled healer
ASTEROPE - one of the seven daughters of Atlas
ATA - goddess of lies and deceit
ATAMANT - King Orkhomenes, son of the wind god Aeolus
ATLAS (ATLANT) - a titan holding the entire celestial sphere on its shoulders
ATHENA - goddess of war and victory, as well as wisdom, knowledge, arts and crafts (among the ancient Romans MINERVA)
APHRODITE - goddess of love and beauty (among the ancient Romans VENUS)
AHELOY - river god
ACHILLES - Greek hero, son of King Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis
BELLER - Corinthian killed by Hippo
BELLEROPHON (HIPPO) - son of King Glaucus of Corinth, one of the greatest heroes of Greece
BOREAS - god of the winds
VENUS (see APHRODITE)
VESTA (see HESTIA)
GALATEA - one of the Nereids, beloved Akida
GANIMED - a beautiful young man, the son of the Dardanian king Troy, kidnapped by Zeus
HARMONY - daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, wife of the founder of Thebes, Cadmus
HEBE - the forever young beautiful daughter of Zeus and Hera
HECATE - patroness of night evil spirits, witchcraft
HELIOS - god of the sun
HELIADS - daughters of the god Helios
GELLA - daughter of Atamant and the goddess of clouds and clouds Nephele
HERA - wife of Zeus
GERION - a terrible giant who had three heads, three bodies, six arms and six legs
HERCULES - one of the greatest heroes of Greece, the son of Zeus and Alcmene
HERMES - in Greek micrology, the messenger of the Olympic gods, the patron of shepherds and travelers, the god of trade and profit, the son of Zeus and Maya (among the ancient Romans MERCURY)
GERSE - daughter of Cecrops
HESION - wife of Prometheus
HESPERIDES - daughters of Atlas
HESTIA - daughter of Kronos, goddess of the hearth (among the ancient Romans VESTA)
HEPHAESTUS - in Greek mythology, the god of fire, patron of blacksmithing, son of Zeus and Hera (among the ancient Romans VULCAN)
GAIA - goddess of the Earth, from whom the mountains and seas, the first generation of gods, cyclops and giants originated
HYADES - daughters of Atlas who raised Dionysus
GIAS - brother Hyades, who died tragically during a lion hunt
GYLAS - squire of Hercules
Gill - son of Hercules
HYMENEUS - god of marriage
HIMEROT - god of passionate love
HYPERION - titan, father of Helios
HYPNOS - god of sleep
HIPPOCONT - brother of Tiidareus, who expelled him from Sparta
HIPPONOI (see VELLEROPHON)
GYPSIPYLA - queen of the island of Lemnos
GLAUK - king of Corinth, father of Bellerophon
GLAVK - soothsayer
GRANI - goddess of old age
DANAE - daughter of King Acrisius of Argos, mother of Perseus
DAR DAN - son of Zeus and daughter of Atlas Electra
DAPHNE - nymph
DEUCALION - son of Prometheus
DAEDALUS - unsurpassed sculptor, painter, architect
DEIMOS (Horror) - son of the god of war Ares
DEMETRA - goddess of fertility and patroness of agriculture
DEANIRA - wife of Hercules
DIKE - goddess of justice, daughter of Zeus and Themis
DICTIS - a fisherman who found a box with Danae and Perseus in the sea
DIOMEDES - Thracian king
DIONE - nymph, mother of Aphrodite
DIONYSUS - god of viticulture and winemaking, son of Zeus and Semele
EURYSTHES - king of Argos, son of Stenel
EURYTHUS - father of Iphitus, friend of Hercules
EURYTHION - the giant killed by Hercules
EUROPE - daughter of King Agenor of Sidon, beloved of Zeus
EUTERPE - muse of lyric poetry
EUPHROSYNE - one of the Charites (Graces)
HELENA - daughter of Zeus and Leda, wife of Menelaus, because of whose abduction by Paris the Trojan War began
ECHIDNA - a monster, half-woman, half-snake
ZEUS - ruler of Heaven and Earth, thunderer, supreme god among the ancient Greeks (among the ancient Romans JUPITER)
ZET - son of the wind god Boreas, participant in the Argonauts' campaign
ID - cousin of Castor and Pollux, killer of Castor
ICARUS - son of Daedalus, who died because he came too close to the Sun
ICARIUS - a resident of Attica who was the first to grow grapes and make wine
IMHOTEP - Ancient Egyptian physician and architect
INO - daughter of the founder of Thebes Cadmus and Harmonia, wife of King Orkhomenes Adamant, stepmother of Phrixus and Hella
IO - daughter of the river god Inachus, the first king of Argolis, beloved of Zeus
IOBAT - Lycian king, father of Anthea
IOLA - daughter of Bvrit
IOLAI - nephew of Hercules, son of Iphicles
Hippolytus - the son of the Athenian king Theseus and Hippolyta, slandered by his stepmother Phaedra
Hippolyta - Queen of the Amazons
IRIDA - messenger of the gods
ISIS - ancient Egyptian goddess, great-granddaughter of the sun god Ra
IPHICLES - brother of Hercules, son of Amphitryon and Alcmene
IPHITUS - friend of Hercules, killed by him in a fit of madness
KADM - son of the Sidonian king Agekor, founder of Thebes
KALAID - son of the wind god Boreas, participant in the Argonauts' campaign
CALLIOPE - muse of epic poetry
CALLISTO - daughter of the Arcadian king Lycaon, beloved of Zeus
KALKHANT - soothsayer
CASSIOPEIA - Queen of Ethiopia, wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda
CASTOR - son of Leda and the Spartan king Tindareus, brother of Pollux
KARPO - ora of summer, one of the goddesses who were in charge of the change of seasons
KEKROP - half-man, half-snake, founder of Athens
KELENO - one of the daughters of Atlas
KERVER (CERBERUS) - a three-headed dog with a snake tail, who guarded the souls of the dead in the underworld of Hades
KEPHEI (see CEPHEI)
KIKN - Phaeton's friend, who turned into a snow-white swan
KILIK - son of the Sidonian king Agenor
CLYMENE - daughter of the sea goddess Thetis, wife of Helios, mother of Phaethon
CLIO - the muse of history
CLYTEMNESTRA - daughter of Leda and the Spartan king Tyndareus, wife of Agamemnon
CAPRICORN - son of Epianus, childhood friend of Zeus
KOPREI - the messenger of Bvrystheus, who conveyed orders to Hercules
CORONIDA - beloved of Apollo, mother of Asclepius (Aesculapius)
CREON - Theban king, father of Megara, the first wife of Hercules
KRONOS - titan, son of Uranus and Gaia. Having overthrown his father, he became the supreme god. In turn, he was overthrown by his son Zeus
LAOMEDONT - King of Troy
LATONA (SUMMER) - Titanide, beloved of Zeus, mother of Apollo and Artemis
LEARCH - son of Atamant and Ino, killed by his father in a fit of madness
LEDA - wife of the Spartan king Tyndareus, mother of Helen, Clytemnestra, Castor and Pollux
LYCAON - king of Arcadia, father of Callisto
LYCURGUS - Thracian king who insulted Dionysus and was blinded by Zeus as punishment
LIN - music teacher of Hercules, brother of Orpheus
LINKEUS - cousin of Castor and Pollux, distinguished by extraordinary vigilance
LICHAS - messenger of Hercules
MAYA - daughter of Atlas, lover of Zeus, mother of Hermes
MARDUK - patron god of Babylon, supreme deity of the Babylonian pantheon
MARS (see ARES)
MEG ARA - daughter of the Theban king Creon, first wife of Hercules
MEDEA - sorceress, daughter of the king of Colchis Eeta, wife of Jason, later the wife of the Athenian king Aegeus
MEDUSA GORGON - the only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters - winged female monsters with snakes instead of hair; the gaze of the Gorgons turned all living things into stone
MELANIPPA - Amazon, Hippolyta's assistant
MELIKERT - son of King Atamant and the sorceress Ino
MELPOMENE - muse of tragedy
MERCURY (see HERMES)
MEROPE - daughter of Atlas
METIS - goddess of wisdom, mother of Pallas Athena (among the ancient Romans METIS)
MIMAS - a giant struck by the arrow of Hercules during the battle of the gods with the giants
MINOS - Cretan king, son of Zeus and Europa
MINOTAUR - a monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull, who lived in the Labyrinth, was killed by Theseus
Mnemosyne - goddess of memory and memories
PUG - a Greek hero who understood the language of birds and guessed the future, a participant in the campaign of the Argonauts
NEPTUNE (see POSEIDON)
NEREIDS - fifty daughters of Nereus
NEREUS - sea god, soothsayer
NESS - a centaur who tried to kidnap Deianira, the wife of Hercules, and was killed by him
NEPHEL - goddess of clouds and clouds, mother of Frixus and Hella
NIKTA - goddess of the night
NOT - god of the southern humid wind
NUT - the ancient Egyptian goddess of the Sky
OVERON - in Scandinavian mythology, the king of the elves, a character in William Shakespeare's comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
OINEUS - king of Calydon, father of Meleager - friend of Hercules and Deianira - his wife
OCEANIDS - daughters of the Ocean
OMPHALA - Lydian queen who had Hercules as her slave
ORION - brave hunter
ORPHEUS - son of the river god Eager and the muse Calliope, famous musician and singer
ORFO - two-headed dog, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna
ORY - goddesses who were in charge of the changing seasons
OSIRIS - in ancient Egyptian mythology, the god of dying and resurrecting nature, brother and husband of Isis, father of Horus, patron and judge of the dead
PALLANT - a giant defeated by Athena, from whom she skinned and covered her shield with this skin
PANDORA - a woman made by Hephaestus on the orders of Zeus from clay in order to punish people, the wife of Epimetheus - the brother of Prometheus
PANDROSA - daughter of Cecrops, the first king of Athens
PEGASUS - winged horse
PELEUS - Greek hero, father of Achilles
PELIUS - King Iolcus, father of Alcestis
PENEUS - river god, father of Daphne
PERIPHETUS - a terrible giant, son of Hephaestus, killed by Theseus
PERSEUS - Greek hero, son of Zeus and Danae
PERSEPHONE - daughter of the fertility goddess Demeter and Zeus, wife of the ruler of the underworld Hades (among the ancient Romans PROSERPINE)
PYRRA - wife of Deucalion
PITTHEY - king of Argolis
PYTHIA - prophetess of the god Apollo in Delphi
PYTHON - a monstrous serpent that pursued Latona, was killed by Apollo
PLEIADES - seven daughters of Atlas, sisters of the Hyades
PLUTO (see HADES)
POLYHYMNIA - muse of sacred hymns
POLYDEUCK (POLLUX) - son of Zeus and Leda, brother of Castor
POLYDEKTES - king of the island Serif, who sheltered Danae and Perseus
POLYID - soothsayer
POLYPHEMUS - Cyclops, son of Poseidon, in love with Galatea
POLYPHEMUS - lapith, husband of Hercules' sister, participant in the Argonauts' campaign
POSEIDON - god of the seas, brother of Zeus (among the ancient Romans NEPTUNE)
PRET - king of Tiryns
PRIAM - Trojan king
PROMETHEUS - the titan who gave people fire
RA - the sun god of the ancient Egyptians
RADAMANTHUS - son of Zeus and Europa
REZIA - daughter of the Baghdad caliph, faithful wife of Huon
RHEA - wife of Kronos
SARPEDON - son of Zeus and Europa
SATURN (see KRONOS)
SELENA - goddess of the moon
SEMELE - daughter of the Theban king Cadmus, beloved of Zeus, mother of Dionysus
SEMETIS - mother of Akidas, lover of Galatea
SILENUS - the wise teacher of Dionysus, depicted as a drunken old man
SINNID - a terrible robber defeated by Theseus
SKIRON - a cruel robber defeated by Theseus
SOKHMET - daughter of Ra, had the head of a Lioness, the personification of the fire element
STENEL - father of Eurystheus
STENO - one of the Gorgons
SCYLLA - one of two terrible monsters that lived on both sides of a narrow strait and killed sailors passing between them
TAYGETUS - son of Zeus and Maya, brother of Hermes
TAL - nephew of Daedalus, killed by him out of envy
THALIA - the muse of comedy
TALLO - ora of spring
TALOS - a copper giant given by Zeus to Minos
THANATOS - god of death
THEIA - eldest daughter of Uranus, mother of Helios, Selene and Eos
TELAMON - faithful friend of Hercules, participant in the Argonauts' campaign
TERPSICHORE - muse of dancing
THESENE - Greek hero, son of the Athenian king Aegeus and the Trizen princess Etra, killed the Minotaur
TESTIUS - Estolian king, father of Leda
TEPHYS - titanide, wife of the Ocean
TYNDAREUS - Spartan hero, husband of Leda
TIRESIAS - soothsayer
TITANIA - in Scandinavian mythology, the wife of Oberon, a character in W. Shakespeare's comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
TITON - brother of the Trojan king Priam
TYPHON - a hundred-headed monster, the product of Gaia and Tartarus
TOT - the ancient Egyptian god of the moon
TRIPTOLEMOUS - the first farmer who initiated people into the secrets of agriculture
TRITON - son of the ruler of the seas Poseidon
TROY - Dardanian king, father of Ganymede
URANUS - god of Heaven, husband of Gaia, father of the Titans, Cyclops and hundred-armed giants; was overthrown by his son Kronos
URANIA - muse of astronomy
PHAETON - son of Helios and Klymene, hero of a tragic myth
PHEBE - titanide
PHAEDRA - the wife of the Athenian king Theseus, who fell in love with her stepson Hippolytus and slandered him
THEMIS - goddess of justice, mother of Prometheus
PHOENIX - son of the Sidonian king Agenor
THETIS - sea goddess, mother of Achilles
FIAMAT - among the ancient Babylonians, a monster from which all troubles stemmed
PHILOCTETES - friend of Hercules, who received his bow and arrows as a reward for setting fire to the funeral pyre
PHINEUS - king of Thrace, soothsayer, blinded by Apollo for revealing to people the secrets of Zeus
FOBOS (Fear) - son of the god of war Ares
FRIKS - son of Atamant and Nephele, goddess of clouds and clouds
CHALKIOPE - daughter of the king of Colchis Eeta, wife of Phrixus
CHARYBDA - one of the monsters that lived on both sides of the narrow strait and killed sailors passing by
CHARON - the carrier of dead souls across the River Styx in the underworld of Hades
CHIMERA - a three-headed monster, the product of Typhon and Echidna
CHIRO - a wise centaur, teacher of the famous Greek heroes Theseus, Achilles, Jason, etc.
HUON - knight of Charlemagne, an example of a faithful spouse
CEPHEI - king of Ethiopia, father of Ariadne
SHU - son of the sun god Ra
EAGR - river god, father of Orpheus
EURYALE - one of the Gorgons
EURYDICE - nymph, wife of Orpheus
EGEI - Athenian king, father of Theseus
ELECTRA - daughter of Atlas, lover of Zeus, mother of Dardanus and Jasion
ELECTRYON - Mycenaean king, father of Alcmene, grandfather of Hercules
ENDYMION - a beautiful young man, Selena’s lover, immersed in eternal sleep
Enceladus - the giant that Athena overwhelmed with the island of Sicily
ENYUO - goddess who sows murder throughout the world, companion of the god of war Ares
EOL - god of the winds
EOS - goddess of the dawn
Epaf - cousin of Phaethon, son of Zeus
EPIAN - father of Capricorn
EPIMETHEUS - brother of Prometheus
ERATO - muse of love songs
ERIGONA - daughter of Icarius
ERIDA - goddess of discord, companion of the god of war Ares
ERICHTHONIUS - son of Hephaestus and Gaia, second king of Athens
EROS (EROT) - god of love, son of Aphrodite
ESCULAPIUS (see ASCLEPIA)
ESON - King Iolka, father of Jason
EET - king of Colchis, son of Helios
JUNO (see HERA)
JUPITER (see ZEUS)
JANUS - god of time
IAPETUS - Titan, father of Atlas
YASION - son of Zeus and Electra
JASON - Greek hero, leader of the Argonauts' campaign
Before the adoption of Christianity, the Slavs, like many other peoples, believed in the existence of several gods, each of which influenced certain areas of the life of the ancient Slavs or a natural phenomenon. The names of the Slavic gods, called pagan Christians, are given below.
Avsen (or, in another way, Ovsen) is the god of the change of seasons, influencing the beginning of autumn and spring.
Belbog is the embodiment of light, a god who brings goodness, good luck and happiness
Bereginya is a great goddess, one of the most ancient. The progenitor of all things.
Veles (in other words, Volos) is the son of Svarog, the embodiment of the master’s wisdom,
god of cattle breeding, second in importance after Perun.
Gromislav is a giant god who helped Svarog in creating the Earth.
Dazhbog is another son of Svarog, the Slavs considered him the god of the Sun and his personification
Dennitsa is the eldest son of Svarog.
Diverkiz is the god of hares.
Did is the god of marital love, the third son of the goddess Lada.
Didilia is the patroness of women during pregnancy, the goddess of female fertility.
Dogoda is the god who gives calm winds and clear weather.
Dodola is the goddess of youth and summer.
Zevana (otherwise known as Zevonia) is the goddess of wild animals and hunting.
Zimertsla (in other words, Zarnitsa or Mertsana) is the goddess of the morning dawn.
Zlebog (in other words, Krovnik, Zlodiy or Khudich) is a god who “provides” villains with torment after their death.
The Golden Woman is a famous goddess of home well-being, peace and quiet.
Karachun (in other words, Korochun) is the lord of frost, an underground god.
Kvasura is the god of winemaking.
Kolyada is a god who embodies the repeating annual cycle.
Kors (in other words, Korsha) is the god of feasts, the lord of food and drink.
Kryshen is a god who possesses knowledge.
Kupalo is the god of flowers, summer and fruit trees. Third in importance after Veles and Perun.
Lad (in other words, Ladnik or Palm) is the god of harmony, friendship and reconciliation.
Lada is the wife of Svarog, the goddess of love, marriage and beauty.
Ice (in other words, Koldnik) is the god of winter.
Lel (in another way, Lelyo or Lelya) is the son of the goddess of love Lada, also the god of love.
Magura (in other words, Perunitsa) is the daughter of Perun, patron of warriors.
Maya is the mother of Kolyada and Kryshenya, a goddess.
Marzana is a goddess who rules over the death of animals.
Mokosh (in other words, Makosh) is the goddess of fertility.
Morena (in other words, Mara, Mora, Madder or Mura) is the goddess of human death.
The sea king is the complete ruler of any water space.
Niyan (in other words, Niy) is the god of punishment, judge of the dead.
Ozem is the god who rules the underworld.
Argument is the god of discord and quarrels.
Perun is the god who commands lightning and thunder, the son of Svarog.
Podaga is the god who commands good weather.
Pozvizd (in other words, Posvist, Pokhvist or Whirlwind) is the god of bad weather and storms.
Polaznik is a god who gives happiness in the New Year.
Polelya is the second son of the goddess of beauty Lada, the god of marriage.
Polkan is a semi-deity, a centaur.
Porenuta is the god who patronizes sailors.
Rule (in other words, Rights or Prono) is the god of justice, personifying universal law.
Pripekalo - the god of dissolute life and fornication.
Prok is the patron saint of merchant seafarers, traders and simply enterprising people.
Friday is the goddess who patronizes departed souls.
Radegast is the Slavic god of war.
Rod is the first god of the Slavs, the creator of the world, visible and invisible.
Rodomysl is the god of wisdom, as well as eloquence.
Women in labor are the daughters of the first god Rod, people see them in the form of the constellations Ursa Minor and Ursa Major.
Ruevit is the god who protects warriors.
Svarog is the ancestor of all Slavic gods, the supreme ruler of the Universe.
Svarozhich - god of fire, son of Svarog.
Svarozhichi are the remaining children of Svarog.
Svyatovid is another name of the Slavic god Svarog.
Svyatobor (in another way, simply Bor) is the patron saint of hunters and hunting, the god of forests.
Seva is the goddess of fruit orchards.
Silnobog is a god who patronizes strength and dexterity.
Simargl (or Semargl) is a god personifying the earthly embodiment of fire.
Stribog is the supreme king of the winds, the son of Svarog.
Sumerala is a goddess who rules the underworld.
Triglav is a three-headed deity who has power over heaven, earth and the underworld.
Triglav (in other words, trigla) is the goddess of the earth.
Tur is the patron of agriculture, a god in the form of a bull.
Oud is the god who patronizes love affairs.
Uslad (in other words, Oslad) is the god of pleasures and fun.
Usud is the god who decides human destinies.
Khvorst is a god who rules over infirmities and illnesses.
Khors is the god of light.
Chernbog is a god who personifies misfortunes and troubles.
Chur is the god who patronizes the underground domains and protects their borders.
Yarilo (in another way, Yar-Khmel) is the god of fun and love.
Yarovit is the god of spring thunderstorms, whirlwinds and clouds.
Based on materials from the publication “The World in Facts”
Culture and religion in Athens have been closely intertwined since time immemorial. Therefore, it is not surprising that the country has so many attractions that are dedicated to the idols and gods of antiquity. There is probably nothing like it anywhere. But still, Greek mythology became the most complete reflection of ancient civilization. Gods and titans, kings and heroes from legends - all these are parts of the life and existence of ancient Greece.
Of course, many tribes and people had their own deities and idols. They personified the forces of nature, incomprehensible and frightening to ancient man. However, the ancient Greek gods were not only symbols of nature, they were considered the creators of all moral goods and guardians of the beautiful and great powers of the ancient people.
Generations of Gods of Ancient Greece
At different times there were different Lists of one ancient author differed from another, but it is still possible to identify common periods.
So, during the time of the Pelasgians, when the cult of worship of the forces of nature flourished, the first generation of Greek gods appeared. It was believed that the world was ruled by Mist, from which the first supreme deity appeared - Chaos, and their children - Nikta (Night), Eros (Love) and Erebus (Darkness). There was complete chaos on earth.
The names of the second and third generation Greek gods are already known throughout the world. These are the children of Nyx and Eber: the god of air Ether and the goddess of the day Hemera, Nemesis (Retribution), Ata (Lie), Mom (Stupidity), Kera (Misfortune), Erinyes (Revenge), Moira (Fate), Eris (Strife). And also the twins Thanatos (messenger of Death) and Hypnos (Dream). Children of the earth goddess Hera - Pontus (inner Sea), Tartarus (Abyss), Nereus (calm sea) and others. As well as the first generation of powerful and destructive titans and giants.
The Greek gods that existed among the Pelagestians were overthrown by the Titans and a series of universal catastrophes, the stories of which were preserved in myths and legends. After them a new generation appeared - the Olympians. These are the human-shaped gods of Greek mythology. The list of them is huge, and in this article we will talk about the most significant and famous people.
The first supreme god of Ancient Greece
Kronos or Khronov is the god and keeper of time. He was the youngest of the sons of the earth goddess Hera and the god of heaven Uranus. His mother loved him, cherished him and indulged him in everything. However, Kronos grew up to be very ambitious and cruel. One day, Hera heard a prediction that Kronos’s death would be his son. But she decided to keep it a secret.
Meanwhile, Kronos killed his father and gained supreme power. He settled on Mount Olympus, which went straight into the heavens. This is where the name of the Greek gods, the Olympians, came from. When Kronos decided to get married, his mother told him about the prophecy. And he found a way out - he began to swallow all his born children. His poor wife Rhea was horrified, but she failed to convince her husband otherwise. Then she hid her third son (little Zeus) from Kronos on the island of Crete under the supervision of forest nymphs. It was Zeus who became the death of Kronos. When he grew up, he went to Olympus and overthrew his father, forcing him to regurgitate all his brothers.
Zeus and Hera
So, the new humanoid Greek gods from Olympus became the rulers of the world. The thunderer Zeus became the father of the gods. He is the gatherer of clouds and the lord of lightning, the creator of all living things, as well as the establisher of order and justice on earth. The Greeks considered Zeus the source of goodness and nobility. The Thunderer is the father of the goddesses Or, mistresses of time and annual changes, as well as the Muses, who give people inspiration and joy.
Zeus's wife was Hera. She was portrayed as a grumpy goddess of the atmosphere, as well as a guardian of the hearth. Hera patronized all women who remained faithful to their husbands. And also, together with her daughter Ilithia, she facilitated the birth process. According to myths, Zeus was very loving, and after three hundred years of married life he became bored. He began to visit mortal women in a variety of guises. Thus, he appeared to beautiful Europe in the form of a huge bull with golden horns, and to Danae - in the form of star rain.
Poseidon
Poseidon is the god of the seas and oceans. He always remained in the shadow of his more powerful brother Zeus. The Greeks believed that Poseidon was never cruel. And all the troubles and punishments that he sent to people were deserved.
Poseidon is the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. Always, before setting sail, people prayed first of all to him, and not to Zeus. In honor of the lord of the seas, altars were smoked for several days. According to legends, Poseidon could be seen during a storm on the high seas. He appeared from the foam in a golden chariot drawn by dashing horses, which his brother Hades gave him as a gift.
Poseidon's wife was the goddess of the roaring sea, Amphitrite. The symbol is a trident, which granted complete power over the depths of the sea. Poseidon had a soft, non-conflicting disposition. He always sought to avoid quarrels and conflicts, and was unconditionally loyal to Zeus, unlike Hades.
Hades and Persephone
The Greek gods of the underworld are, first of all, the gloomy Hades and his wife Persephone. Hades is the god of death, ruler of the kingdom of the dead. They feared him even more than the Thunderer himself. No one could go down to the underworld without Hades' permission, much less return. As Greek mythology says, the gods of Olympus divided power among themselves. And Hades, who inherited the underworld, was dissatisfied. He harbored a grudge against Zeus.
Despite the fact that he never spoke directly and openly, there are many examples in legends when the god of death tried in every possible way to ruin the life of his crowned brother. So, one day Hades kidnapped the beautiful daughter of Zeus and the goddess of fertility Demeter Persephone. He forcibly made her his queen. Zeus had no power over the kingdom of the dead, and chose not to get involved with his embittered brother, so he refused the upset Demeter’s request to save her daughter. And only when the goddess of fertility, in grief, forgot about her duties, and drought and famine began on earth, Zeus decided to talk to Hades. They entered into an agreement according to which Persephone would spend two thirds of the year on earth with her mother, and the rest of the time in the kingdom of the dead.
Hades was depicted as a gloomy man sitting on a throne. He traveled on earth in a chariot drawn by hellish horses with eyes burning in flames. And at this time people were afraid and prayed that he would not take them into his kingdom. Hades' favorite was the three-headed dog Cerberus, who tirelessly guarded the entrance to the world of the dead.
Pallas Athena
The beloved Greek goddess Athena was the daughter of the thunderer Zeus. According to myths, she was born from his head. At first it was believed that Athena was the goddess of the clear sky, who dispersed all the black clouds with her spear. She was also a symbol of victorious energy. The Greeks portrayed Athena as a powerful warrior with a shield and spear. She always traveled with the goddess Nike, who personified victory.
In Ancient Greece, Athena was considered the protector of fortresses and cities. She gave people fair and correct government systems. The goddess personified wisdom, calmness and insightful intelligence.
Hephaestus and Prometheus
Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing. His activity was manifested by volcanic eruptions, which greatly frightened people. Initially, he was considered only the god of heavenly fire. Since on earth people lived and died in eternal cold. Hephaestus, like Zeus and other Olympian gods, was cruel to the human world, and was not going to give them fire.
Prometheus changed everything. He was the last of the Titans to survive. He lived on Olympus and was the right hand of Zeus. Prometheus could not watch people suffer, and, having stolen the sacred fire from the temple, he brought it to earth. For which he was punished by the Thunderer and doomed to eternal torment. But the titan was able to come to an agreement with Zeus: he granted him freedom in exchange for the secret of maintaining power. Prometheus could see the future. And in the future of Zeus, he saw his death at the hands of his son. Thanks to the titan, the father of all gods did not marry the one who could give birth to a murderous son, and thereby forever secured his power.
The Greek gods Athena, Hephaestus and Prometheus became symbols of the ancient festival of running with lit torches. The progenitor of the Olympic Games.
Apollo
The Greek sun god Apollo was the son of Zeus. He was identified with Helios. According to Greek mythology, Apollo lives in the distant lands of the Hyperboreans in winter, and returns to Hellas in the spring and again pours life into withered nature. Apollo was also the god of music and singing, since, together with the revival of nature, he gave people the desire to sing and create. He was called the patron of art. Music and poetry in Ancient Greece were considered the gift of Apollo.
Due to his regenerative powers, he was also considered the god of healing. According to legend, Apollo expelled all darkness from the sick with his sun rays. The ancient Greeks depicted God as a blond youth holding a harp.
Artemis
Apollo's sister Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. It was believed that at night she wandered through the forests with her companions, the naiads, and watered the ground with dew. She was also called the patroness of animals. At the same time, many legends are associated with Artemis, where she cruelly drowned sailors. To appease her, people were sacrificed.
At one time, the Greeks called Artemis the patroness of brides. The girls performed rituals and brought offerings to the goddess in the hope of a strong marriage. Artemis of Ephesus even became a symbol of fertility and childbirth. The Greeks depicted the goddess with many breasts on her chest, which symbolized her generosity as a nurse of people.
The names of the Greek gods Apollo and Artemis are closely related to Helios and Selene. Gradually the brother and sister lost their physical significance. Therefore, in Greek mythology, separate sun god Helios and moon goddess Selene appeared. Apollo remained the patron of music and the arts, and Artemis - of hunting.
Ares
Ares was originally considered the god of the stormy sky. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. But among the ancient Greek poets he received the status of the god of war. He was always depicted as a fierce warrior, armed with a sword or spear. Ares loved the noise of battle and bloodshed. Therefore, he was always at enmity with the goddess of the clear sky, Athena. She was for prudence and fair conduct of battle, he was for fierce skirmishes and countless bloodsheds.
Ares is also considered the creator of the tribunal - the trial of murderers. The trial took place on a sacred hill, which was named after God - Areopagus.
Aphrodite and Eros
Beautiful Aphrodite was the patroness of all lovers. She is the favorite muse for all poets, sculptors and artists of that time. The goddess was depicted as a beautiful woman emerging naked from the sea foam. Aphrodite's soul was always full of pure and immaculate love. During the time of the Phoenicians, Aphrodite contained two principles - Asherah and Astarte. She was an Asherah when she enjoyed the singing of nature and the love of the young man Adonis. And Astarte - when she was revered as the “goddess of heights” - a stern warrior who imposed a vow of chastity on her novices and protected marital morality. The ancient Greeks combined these two principles in their goddess and created an image of ideal femininity and beauty.
Eros or Eros is the Greek god of love. He was the son of the beautiful Aphrodite, her messenger and faithful assistant. Eros united the destinies of all lovers. He was depicted as a small, plump boy with wings.
Demeter and Dionysus
Greek gods, patrons of agriculture and winemaking. Demeter personified nature, which under sunlight and heavy rains ripens and bears fruit. She was portrayed as a “fair-haired” goddess, giving people a harvest deserved by labor and sweat. It is to Demeter that people owe the science of arable farming and sowing. The goddess was also called "earth mother". Her daughter Persephone was the link between the world of the living and the kingdom of the dead; she belonged to both worlds.
Dionysus is the god of wine. And also brotherhood and joy. Dionysus gives people inspiration and joy. He taught people how to cultivate the vine, as well as wild and riotous songs, which then served as the basis for ancient Greek drama. God was depicted as a young, cheerful youth, his body was entwined with a vine, and in his hands was a jug of wine. Wine and vine are the main symbols of Dionysus.