Greek Gods and Goddesses

Greek Gods and Goddesses
Author Unknown

Achelous	Greek river god. Acheloüs, in the form of a bull, fought Heracles for Deianira. He lost and Heracles broke off one of his horns which became the Cornucopia, or horn of plenty. Achelous is known for having fathered the sirens, also called the Acheloides. Eldest son of Oceanus and Tethys. Also known as Acheloos
Adonis	Greek vegetation god and consort of Aphrodite. He was actually a Phoenecian god who was later adopted by the Greeks as a mortal consort to Aphrodite. He was killed by a wild boar, and Aphrodite caused the plant anemone to grow from him when she discovered his body. Symbolizes element of earth, love, fertility, health.
Aeolos	Greek god of wind and air. Aeolos lived on an island near Sicily where he guarded the caves where he kept the winds. He would let out he wind only as the gods of Olympus instructed, whether in gusts, gales, or breezes. One day, Odysseus visited Aeolos on the island. He was warmly welcomed, and when he left, Aeolos gave him a bag containing all the dangerous and threatening winds, so that Odysseus would have a safe travel back to Ithaca without worrying about bad weather. Odysseus did as Aeolos bid him, but once his homeland was in sight, he laid down to sleep knowing he needn't worry about poor weather. But as he slept, one of his men curiously opened the bag, freeing all the fierce winds and blowing the little ship way of course.
Aether	Greek personification of air.
Aethon	Greek personification of famine.
Alcmene	Greek goddess of midwinter, the new year, stateliness, beauty and wisdom. Zeus fooled her by appearing as her husband, because of which she had a child by him. The result of her union with Zeus was Hercules.
Alcyone	Greek goddess of the sea, the moon, calm, tranquility. She who brings life to death and death to life.
Alpheios	Greek river god. He became infatuated with a nymph named Arethusa. He persued her to incessantly that she eventually prayed to Artemis for help. Artemis answered her by making the stream Arethusa inhabited and represent run underground, thereby eluding the persistent Alpheios.
Alphito	Greek goddess of barley flour, destiny, and the moon.
Amphityonis	Greek goddess of wine, friendships and relationships between nations.
Amphitrite	Greek goddess of the sea. She took care of all the creatures of the ocean. Wife of Poseidon, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.
Apeliotes	Greek god of the south-eastern winds.
Aphrodite	Greek Goddess of passion and sexual love, and womanly beauty. She is considered the epitome of beauty and femininity. Said to have been born of sea-foam. She is kind to those she liked, but can be cruel and merciless to those who displease her. She married Hephaestos, had an affair with Ares, and was caught. Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione, and mother of Eros. Her animal totems are the dove, sparrow, swan, and swallow. Plants sacred to her are myrtle, poppy, rose, and apple. She symbolizes feminine prowess, sexuality, relationships, flower magic.
Apollo	Greek god of the sun, light, music, song, medicine, and healing. Patron of herdsmen. Apollo's mother Leto was forced to run from Hera, the jealous wife of Zeus. She went to the Island of Delos and delivered her two children- the twins, Apollo and Artemis. Though the god of light, Apollo had a dark side. Under the name of Carneios, he is seen as a god of death. He and Artemis slew all of their mother Leto's children when Niobe, their grandmother, claimed all of Leto's children were more beautiful than the gods. Apollo was worshipped at the oracle of Delphi, where a priestess who give forth his predictions. The Greeks believed that the Egyptian God Heru and Apollo were the same deities. He is the twin brother of Artemis. Apollo's minor associations include black magic, blessing, justice, divination, oracles, prophecy, creativity, fertility, productivity, success.
Arachne	Greek spider goddess, weaver of fate and destiny.
Ares	Greek war god of storms and hurricanes, also considered a father of the gods. Undoubtedly the most fierce and vicious of the gods within the Greek pantheon. He had a passion for mass slaughter. Son of Zeus and Hera.
Artemis	Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt. She is also one of the virgin goddesses, and she protects women in labor, small children and wild animals. She, Hestia, and Athena are not affected by Aphrodite's manipulations. Artemis may be thought of as the "silver goddess." She wore silver sandals, rode a silver chariot in the silver moonlight, and kills with silver arrows shot from a silver bow. In fact, many dying women, as well as women in childbirth, went to Artemis to ask for a quick, painless death from Her silver arrows. Artemis was very beautiful and had many suitors, but would not marry until she found someone as wild and free and herself. Her nymphs, as well, vowed to not marry. But one day, seven of the nymphs were in the woods when they saw the strong and handsome hunter Orion. Because of their promise to shun men, they fled. But he saw them and persued. Though swift and lithe, the nymphs grew weary. They called out to Artemis for help. Hearing their prayer, she turned them into pigeons, which flew up into the sky and because the stars called the Pleiades. Orion turned away to hunt elsewhere, but soon met Artemis herself. Sharing a passion for hunting and the woodlands, they became good friends. Apollo worried that she would marry Orion and break her vow. He knew that Orion received the ability to walk on water from his father Poseidon and was often out on the sea. So, he went to his sister and led her to the sea. Provoking her with his great accomplishments, he dared her to try to hit a distant target at sea. Unaware that it was Orion, she shot an arrow precisely and hit the target. The waves lifted Orion's body to the short. Artemis grieved her loss, then she placed him among the stars, with the Pleiades and his dog Sirius. Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo, and the daughter of Leto and Zeus. Also symbolizes health, love, charms, shapeshifting. Sacred to Artemis are deer/stags, geese, wild dogs, fish, goats, bees, bears, trees.
Asopos	A minor Greek river god.
Astarte	"The Lady of the Mountain". Greek goddess of fertility, fire, love, productivity, astrology, war, vengeance, victory, sexual prowess.
Ate	Greek goddess of obsession, guilty, infatuation, and mischief. She was a trickster who would lead men into actions that would be their demise.
Athena	Greek Goddess of war and wisdom. She is the daughter of Zeus, born by springing forth fully grown from his forehead. It is believed that she was conceived to carry out deeds that Zeus could not do but would want to. Her name, "Pallas Athene", is representative of her dual nature. She can be seen as "Pallas", goddess of storms, courage, strength, battle, war, chivalry, and victory. She can also be "Athene", the goddess of peace, beauty, wisdom, creativity, education, science, and the arts. She was responsible for teaching mortals natal care and healing. She also invented the flute, created the olive tree, and showed men how to train horses. Athena is the patron of craftsmen and the protector of cities. Her animal symbols are the cock, snake, owl, and olive tree. I begin to sing of Pallas Athena, the glorious Goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, savior of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia. Wise Zeus himself bore her from his awful head, arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great Olympus began to reel horribly at the might of the bright- eyed Goddess, and earth round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly: the bright Son of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed horses a long while, until the maiden Pallas Athena had stripped the heavenly armour from her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus was glad. And so hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis! -Homeric Hmyn #28
Aura	Greek goddess of the morning wind. See also Aurora.
Aurora	Greek goddess of the dawning morning. She gave birth to the morning star and the winds (Zephyrus, Boreas, Notos, and Euros) by Astraeos, the god of starlight.

Bacchus	Roman god of fertility, mirth, merriment, revelry, wine, wisdom, and inspiration. Bacchus was born of Zeus and Semele's union against the will of Hera, Zeus' wife. When the jealous Hera learned of Semele's pregnancy by Zeus she angrily plotted against them. She disguised herself and came to Semele, telling her she should ask that Zeus appear before her in all his glory as the god of thunder. Zeus swore to grant whatever wish Semele might have. Forced to abide by his oath, he appeared to Semele as a display of lightening and thunder, which killed her. As Semele died, she gave birth to Bacchus, who died as well. Zeus restored life to him and sent the child to be raised by the nymphs, out of Hera's jealous eye. As the god of spring, he is Bacchus is said to be in terrible pain during winter when the flowering plants and vines wither and die. His followers were called bacchants. After reveling and overindulging in wine, they danced around in a craze often trampling and tearing people and animals to pieces. Bacchanalia was a festival held which involved excessive drinking and drunken orgies. Also known as Dionysus [Greek]. Blessed are the disciples who become prophets, the Gnostics who hold the holy wand of god. Blessed are those who wear the ivy crown of the Conquering One-- Blessed, blessed are they, Bacchus is our god! -Bacchae Euripides, circa 400 BCE
Balder	Norse (Scandinavian) god of joy, light, beauty, innocence, purity, and reconciliation. His parents are Odin and Frigg. Balder's mother, Frigg, took oaths from all plants, creatures, minerals, and elements that they would not harm him, all except the mistletoe plant for she felt it was too young and too small to harm him. He was therefore considered immune from harm and the other gods would throw things at him in sport. Loki deceived Hod (Balder's blind brother) into throwing a spear made from mistletoe at Baldur. It was this which killed him. This story can easily be compared to the Greek legend of Achilles' heel.
Boreas	Greek god of the northern arctic winds. He vied with Zephyrus for the love of Chloris, and lost.
Callisto	Greek moon goddess.
Chloe	Greek. Demeter's name as protector of spouts.
Cybele	Greek Great Mother of the Gods. She is the leading deity of the Greek mystery religions. Symbolizes the element air and fertility.
Cytherea	Another name for the Greek love goddess Aphrodite. See also Aphrodite.
Daemons	A race of invisible beings. Assigned by Zeus to every mortal to attend to, protect, and guide. They were nameless unless they attended a god or goddess. To be watchful of your life, cheerful, and honorable, is to respect your daemon. To be reckless and ignore your conscience is to go against the daemon. The daemon would die with its assigned mortal. The Greeks believed that great heros and champions were possessed by daemons. Eventually this belief extended, and the Greeks believe that every hero died honorably was actually ascended to live with the gods.
Demeter	Greek Earth goddess. All-nourishing mother of the earth. Her daughter, Persephone, was gathering flowers one day when Hades came out from the earth and abducted her to make her his bride. Demeter grieved and searched all the lands for her. Wherever she was warmly received, she would give people instruction in agriculture. Along her way she met the kind Keleos of Attica, and left him her snake-drawn carriage and the seed of barely so that he could spread the knowledge of agriculture around the lands. Demeter finally found out where Persephone had been taken. Though Zeus had given Hades permission to carry off the girl, and had instructed the other gods not to help, Demeter was able to convince them to come to her aid. They agreed, provided that Persephone had not eaten anything in her time in the underworld. However, Persephone had eaten 6 seeds of a pomegranate Hades had given her as proof of her love. They came to a compromise; Persephone would spend 6 months of the year with Demeter, during which time the earth would prosper and flourish in Demeter's joy. The other 6 months would be passed by Persephone in the underworld with Hades. While Persephone is with Hades, Demeter grieves her and the earth suffered extreme temperatures and poor harvests. This is a myth which explains the seasons. Demeter is the daughter of Chronos and Rhea. She is associated with agriculture, crops, and all produce, as well as abundance in childbirth and agriculture.
Dione	Greek nature and earth goddess, daughter of Uranus and Gaia. Mother of Aphrodite. Associated with divination, predictions, love, prophecy.
Discordia	Roman goddess of discord and strife, known as Eris to the Greeks. The other gods employed her to stir up feuds and rivalry amongst men. Root of Erisian/Discordian beliefs. Mother of Enyo.
Doris	Greek sea goddess.
Eirene	Greek goddess of peace and wealth. Her symbols include the cornucopia, the olive branch, corn ears on her head, and Herme's staff. Also known as Pax.
Elpis	Greek god of hope who stood over Eros holding a lily.
Enyo	Greek goddess of war. She spreads terror and alarm before and during combat. A consort of Ares, sometimes considered his sister, sometimes his wife.
Erebos	A Greek god of darkness.
Eros	Greek god of sexual desire. See also Cupid.
Eunomia	Greek goddess of order and legislation.
Faunus	Roman and Italian god of woodlands. Symbolizes love. Also known as Pan [Greek].
Flora	Roman goddess of blossoming and flowering plants. She is the wife of Zephyrus who gave her eternal youth. Also known as Chloris [Greek]
Ganymede	Greek cup bearer.
Hades	Greek god of death, keeper of the underworld. He was the brother of Zeus but was in the underworld instead of upon Olympus.

Helios	Greek god of the sun. His roman counterpart was Sol.
Hephaestus	Greek blacksmith god. Fire magic, creativity, wisdom.
Hera	Greek goddess of matrimony and cycles of women's growth. Sister and wife of Zeus. She is best known for her intense jealousy of all of Zeus' affairs with mortal women. She can be invoked for love, the moon, element of Air, motherhood.
Hermes	Greek god of commerce. He was a messenger for the gods, often carrying messages from mortals to gods and vice versa. He symbolizes communication, health, knowledge, fertility, and insight.
Hestia	Greek mother goddess. She symbolizes the element of fire, domestic and home magic, conception, and the well-being of the self and family. See also Vesta
Hymen	Greek god of marriage. Symbolizes love, virginity, and obviously the oath of marriage.
Hypno	Greek god of sleep. Bother of Thanatos (death) and Dreams. Son of Nox (night) and Erebus.
Jupiter	Roman god of the sky and the father of all gods and men. He symbolizes the element air. Also known as Zeus [Greek]. See also Zeus.
Ladon	Greek river god, son of Oceanus and Tethys, father of Daphne.
Liber	Roman god of wild nature, fertility, passionate lovemaking and wine. Also known as Libera. His counterparts are the Greek gods Dionysius and Bacchus. He symbolizes fertility and wild personalities.
Maia	"Grandmother of Magic". Greek goddess of spring, youth, life, and rebirth. One of the seven daughters of Atlas and mother of Hermes. She symbolizes love.
Mars	Roman god of war. Symbolizes protection, strength, health, energy. Also known as Ares [Greek].
Moros	Greek god of doom; deification of an unfortunate destiny and the fate of a violent death.
Nike	Greek winged goddess of victory. Also known as Victoria [Roman]
Nus	Greek god of understanding and intelligence.
Oceanus	Greek deified stream which encircled Gaea and was the source of all water. Was the father of all the water deities by Tethys. Eldest of the Titans.
Onatha	Iroquois goddess of wheat and crops, similar to the Greek goddess Persephone. See also Persephone.
Pan	Greek god of fertility and the woodlands. He was later demonized by the Christian church. He emodies love, lust, fertility, and the element of earth. Io Pan! Io Pan Pan! Pan Pan! Pan, I am a man: Do as thou wilt, as a great god can, O Pan! Io Pan! Io Pan! Io Pan Pan! I am awake in the grip of the snake. -"Hymn to Pan", Aleister Crowley
Plutus	Greek god of wealth. He was thought to be blind because wealth is given indiscriminately to both the good and the bad. Some stories say eventually he gains his sight back so he can give wealth to the deserving.
Poseidon	Greek god of earthquakes and the sea. Symbolizes the elements air and water, can be invoked for the moon.

Pothos	Greek deification of love, passion, and desire. Consort of Aphrodite.
Prometheus	In Greek mythology, Prometheus was the titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, along with the arts and civilization. He was also often regarded as the creator of man from clay, the first human, and humanity's savior when Zeus threatened to kill all human beings. He greatly offended Zeus by his actions and was punished. There are different sources with different accounts of the legend. In Hesiod's version, Zeus' punishment was the creation of Pandora, the first woman, who was overtaken by temptation and opened a forbidden box thereby unleashing all the lamentations and evils of the world. In the Aeschylean version, Zeus had Prometheus chained to a rock on Mount Caucasus where an eagle ate away at his liver, starting all over each day after the liver had grown back during the night. He is eventually rescued by Hercules.
Proteus	Greek sea god who served Poseidon. He was a shapeshifter and changed form at will.
Pythia	Greek serpent and snake goddess, daughter of Gaia.
Salacia	Roman goddess of spring water. Called Amphitrite by the Greeks.
Saturn	Roman god of agriculture and ruler of the golden age. Also known as Kronos, Chronos [Greek].
Selene	"The Radiant", "The Well Dressed Queen". Greek moon goddess and teacher to the magicians and sorcerers or sorceresses. She was a beautiful woman with long wings and a halo of gold. Daughter of Hyperion and Theia, sister of Helios and Eos. She symbolizes the moon. Also known as Phoebe.
Serapis	Ptolemaic god of the afterlife and fertility, devised by the Greeks from Osiris and Apis. Physician and helper of worshippers in distress. Symbolizes health/healing and fertility.
Thetis	Greek goddess who had an affair with Zeus. However, Zeus learned that Thetis' son would be more powerful than his father, so he married her off to Peleus. They had a son named Achilles. Thetis attempted to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx, but because she held him by the heel, his heel remained his weakness. Thus the allusion to "Achilles' Heel".
Zephyrus	Greek-Roman god fo the west winds, the most pleasant and favored of the winds. Symbolizes the element air. Also known as Zephyrs, Zephyr.
Zeus	Chief god of the Greek pantheon. He is the god of skies, lightening, thunder, and storms. He also takes on other forms: Zeus Chronos: Fertility, earth Zeus Sote: Father and savior of man Zeus Xenios: Protector of politeness and hospitality Zeus Herkios: Protector of house and home Zeus Kleisos: Protector of property Zeus Gamelios: God of marriage contracts. [Greek root "gam" means "marriage", as in "polygamy".]