Greek Goddesses

APHRODITE (VENUS) - Daughter of Zeus and Dione according to Homer. 'The
Woman Born Of The Waves' according to Hesiod, born of the foam impregnated by
the sexual organs of Uranus, which Cronos (Saturn) had severed and thrown into
the sea. Plato identifies these as two separate Aphrodites. One Urania, the
daughter of Uranus was goddess of pure love. The other, called Pandemos, (Root
of pandemonium?) was the Goddess of 'common' love. She married Hephaestus,
but was unfaithful with Aries.

Aries was caught and humiliated. Aphrodite fled in shame to Cyprus, and there
took Thrace as lover, resulting in the birth of Eros (Love), Anteros (Love in
return), Deimos and Phobos (Terror and Fear). She also was a lover of Adonis, a
human shepherd named Anchises who fathered Aneas, of Hermes and of Dionysus who
fathered Priapus. She was known for jealousy. She made Eos (Dawn) fall in love
with Orion in spite for her seduction of Aries. She punished all who did not
succumb to her. A beauty competition between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite was
proposed by Eris (Discord) with the prize being a golden apple. It was judged by
the human Paris. All the Goddesses offered him bribes to win.

Aphrodite offered Helen, most beautiful of all Humans. She won and thus caused
the Trojan War. Eros was the primordial god of instinct. When Aphrodite appeared
he adapted himself and joined forces with her. At this time the sexes became
distinct. Aphrodite's kingdom was the place of desire. Young girls were said to
pass from the place of Artemis (chastity and games) to the place of Aphrodite,
where they become women. Considered by some to be an affliction or madness that
women must bear. She represents female lust and passion, and demonstrates its
potential for destructive effect. Young girls gave their virginity to the
Goddess by living in her temples and offering themselves to passing strangers.

ARTEMIS (DIANA) - Daughter of Zeus and Leto. The huntress, she is seen as the
forever young goddess. She is proud of her shapeliness and keeps her virginity
to protect it. She was a warrior, joining Apollo to kill Python and other
exploits. Anyone who offended her or tried to win her virginity paid dearly.
They were killed, transformed, or mutilated. She defended modesty and punished
illicit love and excesses. She avenged rape. She also took out her anger on
those virgins who gave in to love. She did not mind marriage, but when a virgin
married she was to give up all the things of childhood, toys and dolls, locks of
hair, etc., leaving them on her altar.

ATHENA (MINERVA) - Daughter of Zeus and Metis. Metis was swallowed by
Zeus, and when it was time for Diana's birth, he had Hephaestus crack open his
skull and she came forth in full armor shouting a war cry. Also a virgin
Goddess, she lived among men without fear due to her warrior's skills. She was
the protectress of Odysseus and other men. She was a warrior who used strategy,
ambush, cunning, and magic rather than brute force. Her shield bore the head of
a gorgon and she paralyzed her adversaries and made her companions invincible.
She was against excess, both in war and every day life. She taught men to
control their savagery and to tame nature. Was the initiator of all skills.
Taught Pandora to weave, trained horses and invented the chariot. She was the
patroness of blacksmiths and carpenters. She built the first ship and the boat
of the Argonauts.

CYBELE - Was born as Agditis, a hermaphrodite monster, from a stone fertilized
by Zeus. The Gods decided to mutilate him and made the Goddess Cybele from him.
Her love for Attis, a human shepherd, drove him insane and he castrated himself
for her. Her priests were eunuchs dressed as women. It is from the temple of
Cybele that the reference in the Wiccan Charge of the Goddess to "At mine
Altars, the youths of Lacedaemon in Sparta made due sacrifice.", comes.

DEMETER (CERES) - Daughter of Cronos (Saturn) and Rhea, the Goddess of
corn and grain. Demeter bore Persephone. She renounced her duties as goddess and
began a fast and went into exile from Olympos when her daughter was abducted
into the underworld until her daughter should be returned to her. She caused the
spread of the knowledge of the cultivation of corn.

During her exile the earth became barren until Zeus demanded that Hades return
Persephone. She had eaten from a pomegranate, however, and was forever bound to
the underworld. As a compromise, she was allowed to rise up into the world with
the first growth of spring and return to the underworld at seed sowing in fall.
And so the Earth is barren in the winter, while Demeter mourns, and becomes
fruitful again when Persephone is released. Demeter made herself known to the
children of Eleusis, who raised her a temple and instituted the Eleusinian
mysteries. In Sept.-Oct., the candidates for initiation purified themselves in
the sea, then processed down the sacred path from Athens to Eleusis. The rites
remain secret, but involve a search for a mill for grinding corn, and a
spiritual experience. During the rites, men women and slaves were all treated as
equal.

ERINYES, THE - Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaara. They were born from drops of
blood that fell from Uranus's severed Penis, and did not recognize the authority
of the gods of Olympos. They hounded and tortured their victims, driving them
mad. Also called the Eumenides, The Good Ones, to divert their wrath.
Assimilated by the Romans as the Furies. They were implacable and demanded
punishment for every murder. To them murder was a stain. The murderer had to be
banished and driven mad before purification could occur. They were blind and
carried out their punishments indefinitely.

HARPIES - Greek genii/spirits - Daughters of Thaumes and Electra: Nicotho or
swift-footed, Ocypete or swift of flight, and Celaeno, the dark one. Were either
women with wings or birds with the heads of women. Called the 'hounds of Zeus'
and seized children and souls. Skillful at torture, they could pester a victim
into madness.

HERA (JUNO) - Daughter of Cronos (Saturn) and Rhea brought up by Oceanus and
Tethys. Married Zeus. It was claimed that each year Hera regained her virginity
by bathing in the spring of Canathus. According to some traditions Hephaestus,
Aries, and Hebe (Youth) were conceived by her alone without male assistance. As
Zeus' legitimate wife, her fury at his infidelities was boundless, and she took
vengeance on his lovers and any progeny of the affair without distinction. Zeus
was often reduced to hiding or disguising his children to protect them.

HESTIA/VESTA - Daughter of Cronos (Saturn) and Rhea. Goddess of the hearth, she
had the privilege of retaining her virginity forever. Her symbol was the fire,
which was never allowed to go out. The young bride and newborn child were
presented to her and she was invoked before each meal. Her temple in Rome was
served by the young vestal virgins.

MOERAE (PARCAE) - The Three Fates. Atropos, Clotho, Lachesis, daughters of Zeus
and Themis. The first spins a thread symbolizing birth. The second unravels it,
symbolizing life's processes, and the third cuts it, symbolizing death. They
too were blind and ruled destiny. They were also symbols of a limit which could
not be overstepped. Were connected to their sisters, the furies, who punished
crime.

MUSES - Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory). Calliope ruled epic
poetry, Clio ruled history, Polyhymnia mime, Euterpe the flute, Terpsichore
dance, Erarto lyric art, Melpomene tragedy, Thalia comedy and Urania astronomy.
They delighted the Gods and inspired poets. The Muses created what they sang
about. By praising the gods, they completed their glory, by boasting of valiant
warriors, they wrote their names in history. They were celebrated by the
Pythagoreans as the keepers of the knowledge of harmony.
NEMESIS - Daughter and Night. Ruled over the distribution of wealth, looked
after balance, took revenge on arrogance and punished excess, including
excessive happiness, riches and power. Moderation in all things was her creed.

NYMPHS - Daughter of Zeus and usually part of a greater god(esses) entourage.
Not immortal, though long lived. Mostly lived in caves. Were dark powers whose
beauty alone could lead to madness. Were seducers of many of the gods. Were
considered secondary deities.

THETIS - Daughter of the old man of the sea. Very beautiful. Mother of
Achilles. Saved Zeus from a plot to overthrow him and was an ally of Hera.
Saved the Argonauts as they passed between the clashing rocks