Greek gods. What is Mount Olympus in ancient Greek mythology, who lived there Olympus ancient Greek mythology
Olympus- the highest mountain range in Greece (2917 m).
In ancient Greek mythology, Olympus is a sacred mountain, the seat of the gods led by Zeus.
In this regard, the Greek gods are often called “Olympians.”
12 gods of Olympus
- Zeus- the chief of the Olympian gods. God of the sky, thunder and lightning, in charge of the whole world.
(In Roman mythology - Jupiter). - Hera- wife of Zeus. The patroness of marriage, protecting the mother during childbirth.
(In Roman mythology - the goddess Juno). - Poseidon- god of the seas.
(In Roman mythology - Neptune). - Hades- the god of the underworld of the dead and the name of the kingdom of the dead itself.
(In Roman mythology - Pluto). - Demeter- goddess of fertility, patroness of agriculture. Her name means "Mother Earth".
(In Roman mythology - Ceres). - Apollo- god of the sun, light and truth.
Patron of the arts, leader and patron of the muses, predictor of the future, god-healer, also cleansed people who committed murder. Apollo represents the Sun.
(Phoebus in Roman mythology). - Artemis- virgin, always young goddess of the hunt, goddess of fertility, goddess of female chastity, patroness of all life on Earth, giving happiness in marriage and assistance during childbirth.
(In Roman mythology - Diana). - Hephaestus- god of fire, patron of blacksmithing and the most skilled blacksmith.
(In Roman mythology - Vulcan). - Athena- the goddess of organized war, military strategy and wisdom, who gave her name to the city of Athens.
In addition, the goddess of knowledge, arts and crafts. Virgo-warrior, patroness of cities and states, sciences and crafts, intelligence, dexterity, and ingenuity.
(In Roman mythology - Minerva). - Ares- god of War. (In Roman mythology - Mars).
- Aphrodite- goddess of beauty and love. (In Roman mythology - Venus).
- Hermes- god of trade, profit, intelligence, dexterity and eloquence, giving wealth and income in trade,
god of athletes
Patron of heralds, ambassadors, shepherds, travelers. Patron of magic, alchemy and astrology. He invented measures, numbers, and the alphabet and taught these to people.
(In Roman mythology - Mercury).
The founder of the games is considered to be Hercules, the son of Zeus. At the first games, athletes competed in a race of 1 stage (192.27 m).
In subsequent games: running, jumping, pankratium (fighting without rules), discus, spear, horse racing, chariot racing. During the Olympic Games, a sacred truce was established between the policies. The games were held for 5 days once every 4 years. The athletes trained at Olympia ten months before the start of the competition.
The winner (“Olympian”) was given a wreath, a palm branch, and a branch of the sacred olive from the Acropolis.
The honor of the winner extended to his descendants. Only men attended the Olympic Games. The participants, anointed with oil, performed naked. The Ancient Olympic Games ended in 395 AD when Olympia was destroyed by two major earthquakes. In 1896 A.D. Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the idea of ancient competitions and organized the first
modern Olympic Games.
Coins "Olympic Games" and the great Olympians of Russia
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Portraits of participants in the First Congress of the International Olympic Committee (IOC): in the center - Pierre de Coubertin, to his right - General A.D. Butovsky (founder of the IOC from Russia), to the left of them - the torch and emblem of the Russian Olympic Committee. |
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The tradition of Olympic victories of Russian athletes began ON THE. Panin-Kolomenkin(1871-72 - 1956), who became the first in figure skating at the IV Olympics in London (1908). For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, a gold medal was won by a Russian athlete. |
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Summer Olympic Games 1912. The official name is the Games of the V Olympiad - the Olympic Games held in Stockholm (Sweden). The Russian football team, after being eliminated from the main tournament (defeated by Finland - 1:2), was defeated in the consolation match from the German team with a score of 0:16. This defeat remains the largest for the Russian team and to this day. |
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The number "2000" against the backdrop of the Australian continent. In the interconnected three zeros there are images of a runner, a high jumper and a weightlifter, under the zeros there is a semicircle of the inscription: “CITIUS” “ALTIUS” “FORTIUS” (Faster, Higher, Stronger). "XXYII SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES" took place in Sydney (Australia) in 2000. In the unofficial medal standings, Russia took 2nd place. |
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Yashin Lev Ivanovich(1929-1990) - one of the best goalkeepers in the history of world football. From 1949 until the end of his sports career in 1971, he played for the Dynamo sports club (Moscow). Since 1957 - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, multiple winner of championships and cup tournaments of the USSR, winner of the European Cup, champion Olympic Games L.I. Yashin is a Hero of Socialist Labor, awarded the Order of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, medals, the IOC Olympic Order and the FIFA Golden Order. Shown is a stylized image of a football field, on the right is a portrait of L.I. Yashin, below - a soccer ball with his facsimile signature, at the top along the circumference - the inscription: "LEV YASHIN". |
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Streltsov Eduard Anatolievich(1937-1990) - one of the best Soviet strikers in the history of football, played in the Torpedo team. At the age of 17 he made his debut in the USSR national team, at the age of 18 he was the top scorer of the USSR championship (1955), at 19 years old - Olympic champion(1956 Melbourne - Australia). The best football player of the USSR (1967, 1968), member of Grigory Fedotov's scorers club. The prestigious Russian Sagittarius award, which has been awarded annually since 1997 to the country's best football players, is named in his honor. E.A. Streltsov was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor, and the Torpedo stadium in Moscow was named after him. |
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The coin depicts the football players at the moment of the final game Olympics in Melbourne, which took place on December 8, 1956 between the teams of the USSR and Yugoslavia and ended with a score of 1:0 in favor of the Soviet team. Inscriptions: under the image of the kangaroo “Melbourne”, below in a circle “Olympic Champions 1956”. The coin was issued in 1997 for the 100th anniversary of Russian football. The date of birth of football in Russia is considered to be October 24, 1897, when the teams of the Vasileostrovsky Football Club and the St. Petersburg Sports Fans Club met in the first match in St. Petersburg. |
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The coin depicts the football players at the moment of the final game at the Olympics in Seoul October 1, 1988 between the teams of the USSR and Brazil, which ended in the victory of the Soviet team with a score of 2:1. Inscriptions: on the right - “Seoul”, below in a circle - “Olympic Champions. 1988." At the top in a circle is the inscription: “100th anniversary of Russian football.” In the unofficial medal standings, the USSR team took 1st place. |
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Galina Alekseevna Kulakova(born 1942) - Soviet skier.
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Smetanina Raisa Petrovna(born 1952) - Soviet skier, 4-time Olympic champion.
In Innsbruck (1976) she won two gold medals in the 10 km race. and in the relay, and was second at a distance of 5 km. In Lake Placid (1980) she won at a distance of 5 km. and won silver in the relay race, in Sarajevo (1984) she won two silver medals at distances of 10 and 20 km, in Calgary (1988) she won a silver medal in the 10 km race. and bronze at a distance of 20 km, in Albertville (1992) she received a gold medal in the relay. Five-time world champion. She won more than twenty gold medals at the USSR championships (1974, 1976-1977, 1983-1986, 1989, 1991) at various distances. She was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, and the Badge of Honor. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.
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Latynina Larisa Semenovna(born 1934), an outstanding Soviet athlete - gymnast, absolute champion of the Olympic Games in 1956 and 1960, until 2012 she had the largest collection of Olympic medals in the history of sports - 9 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze. Absolute world champion in 1958 and 1962, Europe in 1957 and 1961, Soviet Union in 1961 and 1962. |
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Andrianov Nikolay Efimovich(1952 – 2011), outstanding Soviet athlete – gymnast, absolute champion of the 1976 Olympic Games, winner of 7 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze medals at the 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics, world champion 1974 (rings), 1978 (all-around and rings), European champion 1971 (pommel horse and vault), 1973 (floor exercise and vault) and 1975 (all-around, floor exercise, vault). Winner of the World Cup competition 1975-1977. |
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Rodnina Irina Konstantinovna(born 1949) - an outstanding figure skater, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1969), competed in pairs figure skating for CSKA in 1968-1972. with Ulanov A.N., and since 1973 - with Zaitsev A.G. Rodnina I.K. - champion of the USSR in 1970-1971, 1973-1975 and 1977, Europe and the world in 1969-1978 and 1980, Olympic Games in 1972 with Ulanov A.N., in 1976 and 1980. with Zaitsev A.G. Zaitsev Alexander Gennadievich(born 1952) - an outstanding figure skater, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1973), performed in pairs figure skating for CSKA with I.K. Rodnina. Zaitsev A.G. - champion of the USSR in 1973-1975, 1977, Europe and the world in 1973-1978, 1980, Olympic Games in 1976 and 1980 |
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Pakhomova Lyudmila Alekseevna(1946-1986) and Gorshkov Alexander Georgievich(born 1946) competed in ice dancing for Dynamo (Moscow). Multiple champions of the USSR, Europe, world and Olympic Games(1976). L.A. Pakhomova was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor. A.G. Gorshkov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, "Badge of Honor", "For Services to the Fatherland" IV degree. As six-time world and European champions in ice dancing, they are included in the Guinness Book of Records. |
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The coin "Sochi 2014 Olympic Games" features a relief allegorical image Prometheus (titan in ancient Greek mythology, who stole fire from Hephaestus, took it from Olympus and gave it to people) in the image of a man in ancient robes with a burning torch in his hand, around him along the edge are figures of athletes representing winter sports: |
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The coin "Sochi 2014 Olympic Games" features a relief allegorical image Matsesta (Matsesta - “fire water” - hydrogen sulfide healing spring in Sochi) in the image of a young woman in antique robes with a jug on her shoulder from which she pours water, around her along the edge are figures of athletes representing winter sports: figure skating, skeleton, snowboarding, freestyle, cross-country skiing, short track and curling, below in two lines - the inscription: "SOCHI" and the date: "2014", under them are five Olympic rings. |
Google Doodle
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August 2, 2018 - Celebration of Mount Olympus
Event Description:On August 2, 1913, 105 years ago, three climbers (Swiss photographer Frédéric Boissonnas, his friend Daniel Baud-Bovy, and Greek hunter Christos Kakkalos) scaled the 9,573-foot (2,917-meter) peak where the Greek gods are said to have lived. .
The path to the top passed through deep ravines and steep climbs in foggy and rainy weather.
At one of the peaks of the mountain, which they named "Victory", climbers leave a bottle with a note describing their ascent and a map of the ascent.
The greatest and most powerful of the Greek gods, the Thunderer, son of Rhea (Earth) and Kronos (Time). Kronos mercilessly devoured all his children, fearing that they would rebel against him. Rhea saved Zeus, her sixth child, by allowing Kronos to swallow a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes instead of the baby. The matured Zeus forced his father to return the children he had swallowed and, together with them, entered into a fight with Kronos and the Titans for power over the world.
Apollo
The god of sunlight, son of Zeus and Leto (Latona), was born on the island of Delos. The island was called luminous because of the golden flowers that covered it. According to legend, jealous Hera forbade her husband's beloved to set foot on solid ground. Leto, pursued by the dragon Python, whom Hera sent, wandered around the world. At the request of Zeus, Poseidon raised Delos (then called Asteria), stolen by Scylla and hidden in the waves, to the surface. Summer took refuge on the floating island, where she was able to calmly give birth to twins - golden-haired Apollo and his sister Artemis.
After this, huge pillars rising from the depths of the sea stopped the island, and it firmly took its place in the Aegean Sea. The palm tree under which Leto gave birth to her divine children became sacred. Apollo's arrows always hit their target. Apollo travels a lot, but always returns to his home island of Delos (modern Dilos). Near Delphi, he killed the dragon - the monster Python, who was pursuing his mother. In honor of this victory, the Temple of Delphi, the main center of veneration of Apollo, was built.
The Delphic oracles had a huge influence on the course of Greek history. Apollo, who had the gift of foresight, endowed people with this property. He was also considered the god of harmony, spiritual activity and the arts, especially music and singing. He was often depicted holding a lyre, received from Hermes. On Parnassus he dances in circles with nine muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. Apollo was also revered as a deity protecting crops and herds, and was known as a god - the averter of troubles and the god of healing. The sacred tree of Apollo was the laurel.
Artemis
The beautiful young virgin Artemis, daughter of Zeus and Leto (Latona), twin sister of Apollo, was born on the island of Delos. Artemis was born first and immediately began to help her mother, taking Apollo into her arms. With a bow and a quiver, with a spear in her hands, the huntress Artemis, accompanied by nymphs, spends time in the forests.
Artemis is the goddess of fertility, she takes care of everything that grows on earth. She patronizes domestic animals and wild animals. It was believed that she blesses birth, weddings and marriage. However, this goddess had a decisive character, and woe was the one who angered her. So, she sent a terrible boar to Calydon because King Oeneus, having collected a rich harvest, sent gifts to all the gods except her. The goddess cruelly punished the hunter Actaeon, who accidentally spied her bathing: she turned the young man into a deer, and he was torn to pieces by the dogs with whom he and his friends were hunting.
Hermes, the son of Zeus and the mountain nymph Maya, was born in a mountain cave. Just three hours old, he killed a turtle and made a lyre from its shell. After this, he stole a herd of cows from Apollo. Zeus ordered their return, but when Apollo drove the hidden herd out of the cave, Hermes began to play his lyre. The wondrous sounds produced by this musical instrument captivated Apollo, and in exchange for the lyre he gave Hermes his cows. From infancy, Hermes was distinguished by extraordinary cunning and dexterity, so that he was even considered the patron saint of trickery. Hermes is the messenger of the gods, the patron of travelers. He is a mediator between gods and people. Hermes was revered by the traveler, the speaker, the merchant, and even the thief. The messenger of the gods, Hermes, was depicted wearing golden winged sandals and holding a staff in his hand.
Dionysus
God of vegetation, viticulture, winemaking and fun. Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele, the daughter of the Theban king. On the advice of the jealous Hera, Semele asked Zeus to appear to her in all his greatness. Zeus did so, but the lightning of the thunderer incinerated Semele, and he barely had time to snatch the premature Dionysus, who was born to her, from the flames. Zeus sewed the baby into his thigh, and at the appointed time he unfastened the stitches, and Dionysus was born. He went through many trials before achieving fame. Dionysus gave people strength and joy. He walked all over the world, from country to country, and was constantly accompanied by a crowd of dancing and singing maenads and satyrs.
Pan is the son of Hermes and the nymph Dryope. He was born with goat legs, horns and a long beard. Pan did not want to live on Olympus, but went to the mountains. There, among the forests, he grazes herds and plays the sonorous pipe. Pan is the god of the forest, fields, the god of shepherds, protecting the flocks. He is an indispensable companion of the god of wine Dionysus.
Prometheus
Because he taught people how to build houses and make fire, Zeus ordered the Titan Prometheus to be chained to the top of the Caucasus with strong chains. Every day a huge eagle flew to him and pecked out the unfortunate man’s liver. At the place of his torment, Prometheus met with Io, the daughter of the river god Ipah. Jealous Hera turned her into a cow, which was guarded by the stoic Argus. Prometheus predicted Io that she would give birth to Epaphus.
The curse of Zeus was removed from Prometheus by Hercules, who killed the eagle. And Prometheus received his release by revealing a great secret to Zeus: the Thunderer should not marry the sea nymph Thetis, since fate predetermined that, no matter who Thetis’s husband was, she would have a son from him, who would be more powerful than his father. On the advice of Prometheus, Thetis was given as a wife to Peleia, and she gave birth to Achilles, one of the greatest heroes of Greece.
Olympus is a historical, mythological and natural symbol of Greece. This is the highest mountain range (not mountain) in Greece. The three highest peaks are called Mytikas or "Throne of Zeus" (2917 m), Scolio (2912 m) and Stefani (2905 m). In total, Olympus has 52 peaks, including 33 with a height of more than 2000 m above sea level. Not one of the peaks bears the name Olympus, which comes from the metaphor “Always Shining.” Snow on the mountain range begins to fall in the first half of October and by the beginning of December a dense snow crust forms, glowing under the rays of the sun. Frequent snowfalls in winter form a snow cover of up to 4 meters on the Muse plateau at an altitude of 2700 meters. The wind can reach hurricane force.
The mountain range acquired its modern appearance 10 million years ago. In ancient times, Olympus served as the natural border of Thessaly and Macedonia. The area of Olympus is 2.9 thousand square meters. km. To go around Olympus, you need to describe a circle of 150 km.
Olympus National Reserve is characterized by great biodiversity, including 23 rare endemic species (found only here). In antiquity there were even lions on Olympus. Among the birds is the golden eagle, the favorite bird of Zeus. Olympus is included in the list of the best national parks in Europe and has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1981.
On the northern slope of Olympus there was a city-sanctuary of the Macedonians - Dion, that is, the city of Zeus.
There are several Mount Olympus in the world. In Greece and the Greek islands alone, more than ten mountains are called Olympus, four ridges in the USA, three in Asia Minor, one in Cyprus. The highest Olympus (26.2 km) is located on Mars. But only the mountain range in northern Greece is the true Olympus, where the Olympian gods lived. It is he who is mentioned by Homer and other poets of Ancient Greece.
According to ancient Greek mythology, the Olympus mountain range was the residence of the main “Olympian” gods, led by Zeus.
On the main Greek Olympus, in addition to Zeus, the kingdoms of the following deities are located: Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Dionysus, Hephaestus and Hermes. The palace for the gods was built by the one-eyed giant Cyclops, who were freed from the kingdom of the dead by Zeus himself. In gratitude, the Cyclopes gave Zeus power over thunder and lightning. Hephaestus forged the decorations for the palace of Olympus in his workshop. The entrance to the palace was through a cloud gate guarded by other gods. The mansions of Zeus and Hera had windows facing Athens, Thebes, Sparta, Corinth, Argos and Mycenae. Other gods and multi-membered servants lived in the palace.
Above the mythological Olympus there is always a blue sky, from which golden light pours. In the kingdom of Zeus there is no rain or snow; sunny summer always reigns here. Only below are clouds swirling, covering the sinful earth.
Gods on Mount Olympus
In Roman mythology, Zeus was identified with Jupiter. Under the care of the Goddess Hera, the sea nymph Thetis grew up, with the help of whom the Argonauts successfully made their way through the strait past Scylla and Charybdis. Thetis avoided intercourse with the loving Zeus, who, in revenge, doomed her to marry a mere mortal.
Jupiter and Thetis. The former lover begs the celestial to spare her son Achilles (the future hero of Troy). She hugs the knees of the ruler sitting on the throne.
The plot is described by Homer.
French artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1811
If you are lucky, after the fascinating myths you will be invited to take part in a symposium (feast) with “nectar and ambrosia” (food and drink of the gods) at an altitude of 1500 meters with a theatrical procession led by Zeus, Hera and Hephaestus.
The concepts of “Olympus” and “Olympia” (a city with a sacred grove in the Peloponnese) should not be confused. The names Olympic Games and the Olympic flame come from dedication to the Olympic gods, and the tradition of the Olympic flame began at the 1936 Olympics in the Third Reich.
Modern Olympus is a unique natural zone with different climatic conditions. The air temperature on Olympus in summer does not rise above 26°C and does not fall below 5°C in winter. Excursion tourists are usually brought to an observation deck at an altitude of 1000 meters, from where, in good weather, an impressive view of the main peaks of the mountain range opens.
On foot you can climb up to 2700 meters without any problems; above that, mountaineering training is desirable.
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In early June, snow remains on the mountain range. Local Greeks say that the summer beach season begins when the snow melts on Olympus.
From here, in good weather, the main peaks of Olympus are visible; in bad weather, only the television relay tower is visible.
A mere mortal against the background of the divine Olympus
View from the observation deck in rainy weather of the Macedonian Plain and the Aegean Sea
On the observation deck there is a tavern where you can drink a glass of good Greek wine for the Olympian gods. Rainy weather is especially conducive to this.
At the foot of the mountain range and 5 km from the sea is the town of Litochoro. Despite the distance from the sea, 36 sea captains emerged from it. The ceramics industry flourishes here. All the main routes to the Olympic mountain range begin from the town. On the horizon is the Aegean Sea. Once upon a time, sea waves splashed at the foot of Olympus. It is now farmland and there are numerous beach hotels along the coast.
We offer a list of the most famous ancient Greek gods with brief descriptions and links to full articles with illustrations.
- Hades is the god - ruler of the kingdom of the dead, as well as the kingdom itself. One of the elder Olympian gods, brother of Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Poseidon and Hestia, son of Kronos and Rhea. Husband of the fertility goddess Persephone
- - hero of myths, giant, son of Poseidon and the Earth of Gaia. The earth gave its son strength, thanks to which no one could control him. But Hercules defeated Antaeus, tearing him away from the Earth and depriving him of the help of Gaia.
- - god of sunlight. The Greeks depicted him as a beautiful young man. Apollo (other epithets - Phoebus, Musaget) - son of Zeus and the goddess Leto, brother of Artemis. He had the gift of foreseeing the future and was considered the patron of all arts. In late antiquity, Apollo was identified with the sun god Helios.
- - god of treacherous war, son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks portrayed him as a strong young man.
- - twin sister of Apollo, goddess of hunting and nature, was believed to facilitate childbirth. She was sometimes considered a moon goddess and identified with Selene. The center of the cult of Artemis was in the city of Ephesus, where a grandiose temple was erected in her honor - one of the seven wonders of the world.
- - god of medical art, son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis. To the Greeks he was represented as a bearded man with a staff in his hand. The staff was entwined with a snake, which later became one of the symbols of the medical profession. Asclepius was killed by Zeus for trying to resurrect the dead with his art. In the Roman pantheon, Asclepius corresponds to the god Aesculapius.
- Atropos(“inevitable”) - one of the three moiras, cutting the thread of fate and ending a human life.
- - the daughter of Zeus and Metis, born from his head in full military armor. Goddess of just war and wisdom, patroness of knowledge. Athena taught people many crafts, established laws on earth, and gave musical instruments to mortals. The center of veneration of Athena was in Athens. The Romans identified Athena with the goddess Minerva.
- (Kytherea, Urania) - goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she emerged from the sea foam, hence her title Anadyomene, “foam-born”). Aphrodite corresponds to the Sumerian Inanna and the Babylonian Ishtar, the Egyptian Isis and the Great Mother of the Gods, and finally, the Roman Venus.
- - god of the north wind, 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.
- - in mythology, sometimes called Dionysus by the Greeks, and Liber by the Romans, was originally a Thracian or Phrygian god, whose cult was adopted by the Greeks very early. Bacchus, according to some legends, is considered the son of the daughter of the Theban king, Semele, and Zeus. According to others, he is the son of Zeus and Demeter or Persephone.
- (Hebea) - daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts, bringing them nectar and ambrosia. In Roman mythology, Hebe corresponds to the goddess Juventa.
- - goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, patroness of sorcerers. Hecate was often considered the goddess of the moon and was identified with Artemis. Hecate's Greek nickname "Triodita" and her Latin name "Trivia" originate from the legend that this goddess dwells at crossroads.
- - hundred-armed, fifty-headed giants, the personification of the elements, sons of Uranus (Heaven) and the goddess Gaia (Earth).
- (Helium) - god of the Sun, brother of Selene (Moon) and Eos (dawn). In late antiquity he was identified with Apollo. According to Greek myths, Helios travels around the sky every day in a chariot drawn by four fiery horses. The main center of the cult was located on the island of Rhodes, where a giant statue was erected in his honor, considered one of the seven wonders of the world (the Colossus of Rhodes).
- Gemera- goddess of daylight, personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.
- - 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. From Zeus she gave birth to Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus and Ilithyia (the goddess of women in childbirth, with whom Hera herself was often identified.
- - son of Zeus and Maya, one of the most significant Greek gods. Patron of wanderers, crafts, trade, thieves. Possessing the gift of eloquence, Hermes patronized schools and speakers. He played the role of messenger of the gods and guide of the souls of the dead. He was usually depicted as a young man in a simple hat and winged sandals, with a magic staff in his hands. In Roman mythology it was identified with Mercury.
- - goddess of the hearth and fire, eldest daughter of Kronos and Gaia, sister of Hades, Hera, Demeter, Zeus and Poseidon. In Roman mythology, she corresponded to the goddess Vesta.
- - son of Zeus and Hera, god of fire and blacksmithing. He was considered the patron saint of artisans (especially blacksmiths). The Greeks portrayed Hephaestus as a broad-shouldered, short and lame man, working in a forge where he forges weapons for the Olympian gods and heroes.
- - mother earth, foremother of all gods and people. Coming out of Chaos, Gaia gave birth to Uranus-Sky, and from her marriage with him gave birth to titans and monsters. The Roman mother goddess corresponding to Gaia is Tellus.
- - god of sleep, son of Nyx and Erebus, younger twin brother of the god of death Thanatos, favorite of the muses. Lives in Tartarus.
- - goddess of fertility and agriculture. The daughter of Kronos and Rhea, she is one of the elder Olympian gods. Mother of the goddess Kore-Persephone and the god of wealth Plutos.
- (Bacchus) - 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. In Roman mythology, he corresponded to Liber (Bacchus).
- - lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees. The dryad's life was closely connected with her tree. If the tree died or was cut down, the dryad also died.
- - god of fertility, son of Zeus and Persephone. In the Mysteries he was identified with Dionysus.
- - the supreme Olympian god. Son of Kronos and Rhea, father of many younger gods and people (Hercules, Perseus, Helen of Troy). Lord of thunderstorms and thunder. As the ruler of the world, he had many different functions. In Roman mythology, Zeus corresponded to Jupiter.
- - god of the west wind, brother of Boreas and Note.
- - god of fertility, sometimes identified with Dionysus and Zagreus.
- - patron goddess of women in labor (Roman Lucina).
- - the god of the river of the same name in Argos and the most ancient Argive king, the son of Tethys and Oceanus.
- - the deity of the great mysteries, introduced into the Eleusinian cult by the Orphics and associated with Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus.
- - personification and goddess of the rainbow, winged messenger of Zeus and Hera, daughter of Thaumant and the oceanid Electra, sister of the Harpies and Arches.
- - demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing troubles and death to people.
- - Titan, the son of Uranus and Gaia, was thrown into Tartarus by Zeus
- - Titan, youngest son of Gaia and Uranus, father of Zeus. He ruled the world of gods and people and was dethroned by Zeus. In Roman mythology, it is known as Saturn, a symbol of inexorable time.
- - daughter of the goddess of discord Eris, mother of the Harites (according to Hesiod). And also the River of Oblivion in the underworld (Virgil).
- - Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
- (Metis) - the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him.
- - mother of nine muses, goddess of memory, daughter of Uranus and Gaia.
- - daughters of Nikta-Night, goddess of fate Lachesis, Clotho, Atropos.
- - god of ridicule, slander and stupidity. Son of Nyukta and Erebus, brother of Hypnos.
- - one of the sons of Hypnos, the winged god of dreams.
- - patron goddess of the arts and sciences, nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne.
- - nymphs-guardians of waters - deities of rivers, lakes, springs, streams and springs.
- - daughter of Nikta, a goddess who personified fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.
- - fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanids Doris, sea deities.
- - son of Gaia and Pontus, meek sea god.
- - personification of victory. She was often depicted wearing a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece.
- - goddess of the Night, product of Chaos. The mother of many gods, including Hypnos, Thanatos, Nemesis, Mom, Kera, Moira, Hesperiad, Eris.
- - lower deities in the hierarchy of Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature and were closely connected with their habitats. River nymphs were called naiads, tree nymphs were called dryads, mountain nymphs were called orestiads, and sea nymphs were called nereids. Often, nymphs accompanied one of the gods and goddesses as a retinue.
- Note- the god of the south wind, depicted with a beard and wings.
- Ocean is a titan, the son of Gaia and Uranus, the forefather of the gods of the sea, rivers, streams and springs.
- Orion is a deity, the son of Poseidon and the Oceanid Euryale, daughter of Minos. According to another legend, he came from a fertilized bull skin, buried for nine months in the ground by King Girieus.
- Ora (Mountains) - goddesses of the seasons, peace and order, daughters of Zeus and Themis. There were three of them in total: Dike (or Astraea, goddess of justice), Eunomia (goddess of order and justice), Eirene (goddess of peace).
- Pan is the god of forests and fields, the son of Hermes and Dryope, a goat-footed man with horns. He was considered the patron saint of shepherds and small livestock. According to myths, Pan invented the pipe. In Roman mythology, Pan corresponds to Faun (the patron of herds) and Silvanus (the demon of the forests).
- Peyto- goddess of persuasion, companion of Aphrodite, 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. The Romans revered Persephone under the name Proserpina.
- Python (Dolphinus) is a monstrous serpent, the offspring of Gaia. Guarded the ancient oracle of Gaia and Themis in Delphi.
- The Pleiades are the seven daughters of the titan Atlas and the oceanids Pleione. The most striking of them bear the names of Atlantis, friends of Artemis: Alcyone, Keleno, Maya, Merope, Sterope, Taygeta, Electra. All the sisters were combined in a love union with the gods, with the exception of Merope, who became the wife of Sisyphus.
- Pluto - god of the underworld, until the 5th century BC. named Hades. Later, Hades is mentioned only by Homer, in other later myths - Pluto.
- Plutos is the son of Demeter, a god who gives wealth to people.
- Pont- one of the most ancient Greek gods, the son of Gaia (born without a father), god of the Inner Sea. He is the father of Nereus, Thaumantas, Phorcys and his sister-wife Keto (from Gaia or Tethys); Eurybia (from Gaia; Telkhines (from Gaia or Thalassa); genera of fish (from Thalassa.
- - one of the Olympian gods, brother of Zeus and Hades, who rules over the sea elements. Poseidon also had power over the bowels of the earth; he commanded storms and earthquakes. He was depicted as a man with a trident in his hand, usually accompanied by a retinue of lower sea deities and sea animals.
- Proteus is a sea deity, son of Poseidon, patron of seals. He had the gift of reincarnation and prophecy.
Olympus (modern Greek pronunciation: "Olymbos") is the highest mountain in Greece. Located in the continental part of the country, in the northeast of the historical region of Thessaly.
Geographical position
In ancient times, the mountain range served as a natural border between Greece proper and Macedonia, an area located north of Greek Thessaly. Despite the fact that Macedonia was considered a “barbarian country” by the ancient Greeks, it was largely influenced by the culture and religion of ancient Greece. This is confirmed by the sanctuary erected at the northern foot of Olympus - the “City of Zeus”, Dion.
Olympus, strictly speaking, is not a single mountain, but is a mountain range that looks from the outside like a jumble of rocky peaks. Even the ancient poet Homer endowed him with such an epithet as “multivertex”. The array consists of three main peaks – Mytikas("Nose"), Stephanie("Throne") and Scolio(“Top”), with a height of 2,905 to 2,917 m. All these peaks surround a deep chasm-bowl called the “cauldron,” that is, “cauldron.”
In the mythology of the ancient Greeks, the hill served as the abode of the highest gods, led by Zeus. The inhabitants of the mountain were included in the pantheon of the highest deities, and were a common object of worship for the inhabitants of all states (nomes and kingdoms) of the classical period of ancient Greece. Based on the name of the mountain, these gods received the name “Olympians”. Their total number was 12, and all of them were relatives of the supreme deity, . Either they were his brothers-sisters, like Hera or Demeter, or his descendants - Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, etc. In one word - “mafia” i.e. family.
Symbols of power in ancient mythology
It was “inhabited” by gods already in ancient times, since the transition of the Greeks from traditional local beliefs to the formation of a single divine pantheon. However, echoes of the era far before the Olympics remained in “classical” mythology as patron deities of local geographical objects: fields, rivers, mountains, valleys. The goat-footed god Pan, satyrs, various nymphs - naiads, dryads, oreads, are the descendants of the most ancient deities revered by the first inhabitants of the country.
Also among the most ancient objects of worship are the Titans. According to ancient mythology, they represented the second generation of gods, led by the father of Zeus - the great Kronos (in Greek - “Time”), who devoured his children. The Titans were defeated by the new gods in a brutal battle called the Titanomachy. After defeating the old deities, they were cast into underground Tartarus. The new deities chose the highest mountain range of the country - Olympus - as their place of residence.
Why was this particular mountain range chosen as a habitat? The answer to this question is obvious - it is the highest mountain known to the Greeks at that time. This, as it were, emphasizes the superior position of the god-ruler Zeus in relation to other mythological creatures of Greece. Another aspect of the definition also plays a role here, connected with the ideas of the ancient Greeks about the universe. According to their beliefs, upper vaults of heaven - “empires”, where the heavenly bodies are located, are filled with fiery matter. Therefore, living directly in heaven would not be very comfortable even for immortal deities.
In mythology, it is built up with palaces invisible to the human eye, in which the Olympian gods live. These divine palaces were built by a tribe of one-eyed Cyclops giants on the orders of the Thunderer. In gratitude, the Thunderer freed them from underground captivity, allowing them to leave the gloomy Tartarus and settle in the remote corners of the earth. Decorations for the divine palaces were forged by the son of Zeus, the underground blacksmith Hephaestus.
Residents of the summit
According to Homer, on the divine Olympus the sun always shines and a light warm breeze blows. While in its earthly form the mountain is often shrouded in clouds and covered with sparkling snow, hurricane winds blow at its summit. The entrance to the mountain was guarded by lower deities - spirits of gorges and rocks. Any mortal who wished to climb the sacred mountain, according to the beliefs of the ancient Greeks, would face punishment for such insolence. Moreover, divine wrath fell not only on the troublemaker of the Olympians, but also on his entire family, including his descendants.
Palace of the Supreme Ruler. Zeus, and his wife-sister Hera was facing the windows and entrance to the south, the facade to the most significant city-states of ancient Greece - Athens, Mycenae, Sparta, Thebes. This location of the palace once again emphasized the divine choice of the Greek people in relation to the barbarian tribes surrounding them. At Stephanie Peak there was the throne of the head, as evidenced by the ancient name of this peak - “The Throne”.
The main population of Olympus consisted of 12 gods, constituting the highest religious pantheon, recognized by the inhabitants of all states of ancient Greece. This pantheon, for the most part, included relatives of the supreme ruler, Zeus. In this you can also find remnants of the ancient tribal system. He acts not only as a king, but also as an elder of the Kronid clan (children of Kronos), who defeated the hostile clan of the Titans - the Uranids (children of the ancient god Uranus).
At the same time, some Olympian gods did not live directly on it. These are the two younger brothers of Zeus - the king of the underground kingdom of the dead, the gloomy Hades, and the ruler of the depths of the sea - Poseidon. According to some myths, the permanent residence of the blacksmith god Hephaestus was also not Olympus, but underground workshops, where day and night he forged lightning for the thunderer, armor and weapons for gods and semi-divine heroes.
But, nevertheless, Hades, Poseidon, and Hephaestus were not barred from going to Olympus - they could come there at any time for an audience with Zeus, or to feasts regularly organized by the inhabitants of the sacred mountain. Therefore, these three characters are not unreasonably classified as Olympians.
A few more characters from myths and legends
The list of other celestials who lived on the mountain is as follows:
Sisters of Zeus, daughters of the overthrown Kronos:
- Hera is the sister, and also the wife of the Thunderer, the patroness of the family.
- Demeter - helps farmers, giving fertility to the earth.
- Hestia is the guardian of the home.
Children of Zeus:
- Athena is a warrior goddess, patron of crafts and sciences.
- Aphrodite is the standard of beauty, the patroness of pure and high love.
- Hermes is the chief of trade and deception, travelers and merchants.
- Apollo is the god of sunlight, a lover of various arts and fortune tellers.
- Ares is the god of war, with his squire companions Phobos (“fear”) and Deinos (“terror”) reigning over the battlefield.
- Artemis is the eternally young goddess-hunter, patroness of the animal world.
- Dionysus is a winemaker who gives intoxicating joy. Patron of the plant world.
- Persephone is the queen of the dead, wife of Hades. Part of the time he lives in the underworld, the other part on Olympus.
- Hymen is the god of marriage.
In addition to the above mentioned gods, relatives of Zeus, Helios, the deity of the Sun, also lived on the mountain, according to legend. Being a Titan by origin, he, for his loyalty to Zeus, was accepted into the pantheon of the Olympian gods, and rested in his palaces on Olympus at night, between sunset and dawn.
Also, in addition to the celestials, the sacred mountain was inhabited by other mythological creatures, primarily companions and assistants of the main deities. They acted as servants and messengers, conveying the will of the gods to people, as well as performing other tasks. For example, after his death, Hercules was taken to Olympus, and the legendary musician Orpheus delighted the ears of the feasting guests on his cithara.
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