Greek primordial deities

First generation of deities in Greek mythology

Greek deities
series

* Titans and Olympians
* Water deities
* Chthonic deities
* Personified concepts

Primordial deities

* Aether
* Ananke
* Chaos
* Erebus
* Eros
* Gaia
* Hemera
* Nyx
* Ourea
* Phanes
* Pontus
* Tartarus
* Uranus

* v
* t
* e

The primordial deities of Greek mythology are the first generation of gods and goddesses. These deities represented the fundamental forces and physical foundations of the world and were generally not actively worshipped, as they, for the most part, were not given human characteristics; they were instead personifications of places or abstract concepts.

Hesiod, in his Theogony, considers the first beings (after Chaos) to be Erebus, Gaia, Tartarus, Eros and Nyx. Gaia and Uranus, whose severed genitals created the goddess Aphrodite from sea foam,[1] in turn gave birth to the Titans, and the Cyclopes. The Titans Cronus and Rhea then gave birth to the generation of the Olympians: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera and Demeter. They overthrow the Titans, with the reign of Zeus marking the end of the period of warfare and usurpation among the gods.

## Hesiod's primordial genealogy

[edit]

Hesiod's Theogony, (c. 700 BC) which could be considered the "standard" creation myth of Greek mythology,[2] tells the story of the genesis of the gods. After invoking the Muses (II.1–116), Hesiod says the world began with the spontaneous generation of four beings: first arose Chaos (Chasm); then came Gaia (the Earth), "the ever-sure foundation of all"; "dim" Tartarus (the Underworld), in the depths of the Earth; and Eros (Love) "fairest among the deathless gods".[3] (Although in other myths, Eros was the name of Aphrodite's and Ares's son.)

From Chaos came Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx (Night). And Nyx "from union in love" with Erebus produced Aether (Light) and Hemera (Day).[4] From Gaia came Uranus (Sky), the Ourea (Mountains), and Pontus (Sea).[5]

## Chaos

[edit]

In Hesiod's creation myth, Chaos is the first being to ever exist. Chaos is both seen as a deity and a thing, with some sources seeing chaos as an endless void of nothingness in which the universe sprang from.[6] In some accounts Chaos existed first alongside Eros and Nyx,[6] while in others Chaos is the first and only thing in the universe. In some stories, Chaos is seen as existing beneath Tartarus.[6] Chaos is the parent to Night and Darkness.[7]

## Gaia

[edit]

Gaia was the second being to be formed, right after Chaos, in Hesiod's theogony, and parthenogenetically gave birth to Uranus, who would later become her husband and her equal, the Sea, and to the high Mountains.[8]

Gaia is a mother earth figure and is the mother of the titans, while also being the seat on which they exist.[6] Gaia is the Greek Equivalent to the Roman goddess, Tellus / Terra. The story of Uranus' castration at the hands of Cronus due to Gaia's involvement is seen as the explanation for why the Sky and Earth are separated.[9] In Hesiod's story, Earth seeks revenge against Sky for hiding her children the Cyclopes deep within Tartarus. Gaia then goes to her other children and asks for their help to get revenge against their cruel father; of her children, only Cronus, the youngest and "most dreadful" of them all, agrees to do this. Gaia plans an ambush against Uranus where she hides Cronus and gives him the sickle to castrate Uranus. In the spots where his blood hit the earth, monsters and creatures grew including the Erinyes, the Giants, and the Melian nymphs.[10] Cronus goes on to have six children with his sister, Rhea; who become the Olympians. Cronus is later overthrown by his son, Zeus, much in the same way he overthrew his father. Gaia is the mother to the twelve Titans; Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, and Cronus.[7]

Later in the myth, after his succession, Uranus curses Cronus so that his own son (Zeus) will overthrow him, just as Cronus did to Uranus. To try to prevent this, Cronus swallows all of his children as soon as they are born. Rhea seeks out help in hiding her youngest son, Zeus, Gaia hears her distress and gives her a perfectly infant shaped rock that weighs and looks the same as a baby to give to Cronus. Zeus later goes on to defeat his father and become the leader of the Olympians.

After Zeus's succession to the throne, Gaia bears another son with Tartarus, Typhon, a monster who would be the last to challenge Zeus's throne.[10]

Uranus and Gaia have three sets of children: the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Hecatoncheires.

## Tartarus

[edit]

Tartarus is described by Hesiod as both a primordial deity[11] and also a great abyss where the Titans are imprisoned. Tartarus is seen as a prison, but is also where Day, Night, Sleep, and Death dwell, and also imagined as a great gorge that is a distinct part of the underworld. Hesiod tells that it took nine days for the Titans to fall to the bottom of Tartarus, describing how deep the abyss is.[12] In some versions Tartarus is described as a "misty darkness"[9] where Death, Styx, and Erebus reside.

## Eros

[edit]

Eros is the god of love in Greek mythology, and in some versions is one of the primordial beings that first came to be parentlessly. In Hesiod's version, Eros was the "fairest among the immortal gods ... who conquers the mind and sensible thoughts of all gods and men."[7]

## Nyx

[edit]

In some variations of Hesiod's Theogony, Nyx (Night) is told as having black wings; and in one tale she laid an egg in Erebus from which Eros sprang out.[13] One version of Hesiod's tale tells that Night shares her house with Day in Tartarus, but that the two are never home at the same time.[12] However, in some versions Nyx's home is where Chaos and Tartarus meet, suggesting to the idea that Chaos resides beneath Tartarus.[9]

Many of Nyx's children were also personifications of abstract concepts. A list of them, which varies by source:

Greek Name  | Roman Equivalent  | Description  | Hesiod[14] | Cicero[15] | Hyginus[16]

|
|
|
|
|

Aether | Aether  | Light  | ✓  | ✓  |
Apate | Fraus  | Deceit  | ✓  | ✓  |
Deimos | Metus  | Fear  |  | ✓  |
Dolos?  | Dolus | Guile  |  | ✓  |
Eleos | Misericordia  | Compassion  |  |  | ✓
Epiphron | Epiphron  | Prudence  |  |  | ✓
Eris | Discordia  | Discord  | ✓  |  | ✓
Eros | Cupid  | Love  |  | ✓  | ✓
Euphrosyne | Euphrosyne  | Good Cheer  |  |  | ✓
Geras | Senectus  | Old Age  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Hemera | Dies  | Day  | ✓  | ✓  |
The Hesperides | Hesperides  | Nymphs of the evening  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Hybris | Petulantia  | Wantonness  |  |  | ✓
Hypnos | Somnus  | Sleep  | ✓  |  | ✓
Ker | Letum  | Destiny  | ✓  |  | ✓
The Keres | Tenebrae  | Violent Death  | ✓  | ✓  |
The Moirai | Parcae  | Fates  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Momus | Querella  | Blame  | ✓  | ✓  |
Moros | Fatum  | Doom  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Nemesis | Invidentia  | Retribution  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Oizys | Miseria  | Pain  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Oneiroi | Somnia  | Dreams  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Philotes | Amicitia/Gratia  | Love  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓
Ponos | Labor  | Hardship  |  | ✓  |
Sophrosyne | Continentia  | Moderation  |  |  | ✓
Styx | Styx  | Hatred  |  |  | ✓
Thanatos | Mors  | Death  | ✓  | ✓  | ✓

Hyginus also includes Epaphus and Porphyrion among Nyx's children. Some accounts also include Hecate (Crossroads and Magic) among Nyx's children.[17][18]

Aether, Hemera, and Eros are Nyx's only children who are among the primordial gods. Hesiod says Nyx and Erebus together had Aether and Hemera, but Nyx had the other children on her own. Cicero and Hyginus say Nyx had all her children with Erebus.

In Virgil's Aeneid, Nox is said to be the mother of the Furies by Hades.[19]

Some authors made Nyx the mother of Eos, the dawn goddess, who was often conflated with Nyx's daughter Hemera.[20] When Eos' son Memnon was killed during the Trojan War, Eos made Helios (the sun god) downcast, and asked Nyx to come out earlier so that she would collect her son's dead body undetected by the Greek and the Trojan armies.[21]

## Eris

[edit]

Nyx's daughter Eris went on to have many children of her own who were also personifications of abstract concepts:[22]

Greek Name  | Roman Equivalent  | Description

|
|

Algos | Dolor  | Pains
Amphillogiai | Altercatio  | Disputes
Androktasiai | Androktasiai  | Manslaughters
Atë | Atë  | Ruin
Dysnomia | Dysnomia  | Anarchy
Horkos | Jusjurandum  | Oath
Hysminai | Pugnae  | Battles
Lethe | Oblivio  | Forgetfulness
Limos | Fames  | Starvation
Logoi  | Logoi  | Stories
Machai | Machai  | Wars
Neikea | Altercatio  | Quarrels
Phonoi | Phonoi  | Murders
Ponos | Labor  | Hardship
Pseudea  | Pseudea  | Lies

## Non-Hesiodic theogonies

[edit]

The ancient Greeks entertained different versions of the origin of primordial deities. Some of these stories were possibly inherited from the pre-Greek Aegean cultures.[23]

### Homeric primordial theogony

[edit]

The Iliad, an epic poem attributed to Homer about the Trojan War (an oral tradition of c. 700–600 BC), states that Oceanus (and possibly Tethys, too) is the parent of all the deities.[24]

### Other Greek theogonies

[edit]

* Alcman (fl. 7th century BC) called Thetis the first goddess, producing poros (path), tekmor (marker), and skotos (darkness) on the pathless, featureless void.[25][26]
* Orphic poetry (c. 530 BC) made Nyx the first principle, Night, and her offspring were many. Also, in the Orphic tradition, Phanes, a mystic Orphic deity of light and procreation, sometimes identified with Eros, is the original ruler of the universe, who hatched from the cosmic egg.[27] The Orphic tradition also includes Ananke "Compulsion" and Chronos "Time" among the primordial deities.
* Aristophanes (c. 446–386 BC) wrote in his play The Birds that Nyx was the first deity also, and that she produced Eros from an egg.

### Philosophical theogonies

[edit]

Philosophers of Classical Greece also constructed their own metaphysical cosmogonies, with their own primordial deities:

* Pherecydes of Syros, (c. 600–550 BC) in his Heptamychia, wrote that there were three divine principles, who came before all things, and who have always existed: Zas (Ζάς, Zeus), Cthonie (Χθονίη, Earth), and Chronos (Χρόνος, Time).[28][29][30][31]
* Empedocles (c. 490–430 BC) wrote that there were four elements which ultimately make up everything: fire, air, water, and earth.[32] He said that there were two divine powers, Philotes (Love) and Neikos (Strife),[33] who wove the universe out of these elements.
* Plato (c. 428–347 BC) introduced (in Timaeus) the concept of the demiurge, who had modeled the universe on the Ideas.

## Interpretation of primordial deities

[edit]

Scholars dispute the meaning of the primordial deities in the poems of Homer and Hesiod.[34] Since the primordials give birth to the Titans, and the Titans give birth to the Olympians, one way of interpreting the primordial gods is as the deepest and most fundamental nature of the cosmos.

For example, Jenny Strauss Clay argues that Homer's poetic vision centers on the reign of Zeus, but that Hesiod's vision of the primordials put Zeus and the Olympians in context.[23] Likewise, Vernant argues that the Olympic pantheon is a "system of classification, a particular way of ordering and conceptualizing the universe by distinguishing within it various types of powers and forces."[35] But even before the Olympic pantheon were the Titans and primordial gods. Homer alludes to a more tumultuous past before Zeus was the undisputed King and Father.[36]

Mitchell Miller argues that the first four primordial deities arise in a highly significant relationship. He argues that Chaos represents differentiation, since Chaos differentiates (separates, divides) Tartarus and Earth.[37] Even though Chaos is "first of all" for Hesiod, Miller argues that Tartarus represents the primacy of the undifferentiated, or the unlimited. Since undifferentiation is unthinkable, Chaos is the "first of all" in that he is the first thinkable being. In this way, Chaos (the principle of division) is the natural opposite of Eros (the principle of unification). Earth (light, day, waking, life) is the natural opposite of Tartarus (darkness, night, sleep, death). These four are the parents of all the other Titans.

## See also

[edit]

* Ancient Greece portal
* Myths portal

* Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)
* Ex nihilo
* Family tree of the Greek gods

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Aphrodite | Mythology, Worship, & Art | Britannica".
2. ^ Hard, p. 21.
3. ^ Theogony 116–122 (Most, pp. 12, 13). West 1966, p. 192 line 116 Χάος, "best translated Chasm"; Most, p. 13, translates Χάος as "Chasm", and notes: (n. 7): "Usually translated as 'Chaos'; but that suggests to us, misleadingly, a jumble of disordered matter, whereas Hesiod's term indicates instead a gap or opening". Other translations given in this section follow those given by Caldwell, pp. 5–6.
4. ^ Theogony 123–125 (Most, pp. 12, 13).
5. ^ Theogony 126–132 (Most, pp. 12, 13).
6. ^ a b c d Bussanich, John (July 1983). "A Theoretical Interpretation of Hesiod's Chaos". Classical Philology. 78 (3): 212–219\. doi:10.1086/366783. JSTOR 269431. S2CID 161498892.
7. ^ a b c Van Kooten, George (2005). Creation of Heaven and Earth. Brill. pp. 77–89.
8. ^ Gotshalk, Richard (2000). Homer and Hesiod, Myth and Philosophy. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America. p. 196.
9. ^ a b c Sale, William (Winter 1965). "The Dual Vision of "Theogony"". Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics. 4 (4): 668–699\. JSTOR 20162994.
10. ^ a b Leftkowitz, Mary R. (September 1989). "The Powers of the Primeval Goddess". American Scholar – via EBSCOhost.
11. ^ Hesiod, Theogony, 119
12. ^ a b Johnson, David (Spring–Summer 1999). "Hesiod's Description of Tartarus ("Theogony" 721-819)". Phoenix. 53 (1/2): 8–28\. doi:10.2307/1088120. JSTOR 1088120.
13. ^ Dietrich, B.C. (1997). "Aspects of Myth and Religion". Classical Association of South Africa. 20: 59–71\. JSTOR 24591525.
14. ^ Hesiod Theogony 221
15. ^ Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.17
16. ^ Hyginus Preface
17. ^ Bacchylides Frag 1B
18. ^ Scholiast on Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 3.467 with the Orphic hymns as the authority.
19. ^ Virgil, Aeneid 6.250 (mother of the "Eumenides" another name for the Furies), 7.323–330 (Allecto a daughter of Pluto and Night), 12.845–846 (Night mother of the Furies).
20. ^ Quintus Smyrnaeus, 2.625–26; cf. Aeschylus, Agamemnon 265
21. ^ Philostratus of Lemnos, Imagines 1.7.2
22. ^ Hesiod Theogony 226
23. ^ a b Clay, Jenny Strauss (26 May 2006). The Politics of Olympus: Form and Meaning in the Major Homeric Hymns (2 ed.). London, UK: Bristol Classical Press. p. 9\. ISBN 9781853996924.
24. ^ Homer. Iliad. Book 14.
25. ^ Alcman, Fragment 5 (from Scholia) = Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 2390.
26. ^ Campbell, D. A. (1989). Greek Lyric II: Anacreon, Anacreontea, Choral Lyric from Olympis to Alcman. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 388–395\. ISBN 0-674-99158-3.
27. ^ "Phanes". Theoi. Protogenos.
28. ^ Kirk, G. S.; F.B.A, Regius Professor of Greek G. S. Kirk; Raven, J. E.; Schofield, M. (1983-12-29). The Presocratic Philosophers: A Critical History with a Selection of Texts. Cambridge University Press. pp. 56. ISBN 978-0-521-27455-5.
29. ^  Laërtius, Diogenes, "The Seven Sages: Pherecydes" , Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, vol. 1:1, translated by Hicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.), Loeb Classical Library, § 119
30. ^ Smith, William (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. Robarts - University of Toronto. Boston, Little. p. 258.
31. ^ Damascius. Difficulties and Solutions Regarding First Principles. 214.
32. ^ Wallace, William (1911). "Empedocles" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 09 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 344–345, see third para, lines four to six. "...There are, according to Empedocles, four ultimate elements, four primal divinities, of which are made all structures in the world—fire, air, water, earth."
33. ^ Reynolds, Frank; Tracy, David (1990-10-30). Myth and Philosophy. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-0418-8.
34. ^ Nagy, Gregory (1992-01-01). Greek Mythology and Poetics. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0801480485.
35. ^ Vernant, Jean Pierre (1980-01-01). Myth and Society in Ancient Greece. Harvester Press. ISBN 9780855279837.
36. ^ "The Internet Classics Archive | The Iliad by Homer". classics.mit.edu. pp. Book I (396–406), Book VIII (477–83). Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
37. ^ Miller, Mitchell (October 2001). "'First of all': On the Semantics and Ethics of Hesiod's Cosmogony - Mitchell Miller - Ancient Philosophy (Philosophy Documentation Center)". Ancient Philosophy. 21 (2): 251–276\. doi:10.5840/ancientphil200121244. Retrieved 2016-01-21.

## References

[edit]

* Hard, Robin, The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology", Psychology Press, 2004, ISBN 9780415186360. Google Books.
* Hesiod, Theogony, in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Greek primordial deities at Wikimedia Commons
* Greek Primeval Deities

* v
* t
* e

Ancient Greek deities

Primal
elements|

* Aether
* Chaos
* Erebus
* Eros
* Gaia
* Hemera
* Nyx
* The Ourea
* Pontus
* Tartarus
* Uranus

Titans|

| Twelve Titans|

* Coeus
* Crius
* Cronus
* Dione
* Hyperion
* Iapetus
* Mnemosyne
* Oceanus
* Phoebe
* Rhea
* Tethys
* Theia
* Themis

|

Descendants of the Titans|

* Asteria
* Astraeus
* Atlas
* Eos
* Epimetheus
* Helios
* Leto
* Menoetius
* Pallas
* Perses
* Prometheus
* Selene

Olympian
deities|

| Twelve Olympians|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

|

Olympian Gods|

* Asclepius
* Eileithyia
* Enyo
* Eris
* Iris
* Harmonia
* Hebe
* Heracles
* Paean
* Pan

Muses|

* Daughters of Zeus
* Calliope
* Clio
* Euterpe
* Erato
* Melpomene
* Polyhymnia
* Terpsichore
* Thalia
* Urania
* Daughters of Apollo
* Apollonis
* Borysthenis
* Cephisso
* Boeotian Muses
* Aoide
* Melete
* Mneme
* Muses of the Lyre
* Hypate
* Mese
* Nete
* Muses at Sicyon
* Polymatheia

Charites (Graces)|

* Aglaia
* Euphrosyne
* Hegemone
* Pasithea
* Thalia

Horae (Hours)|

* Dike
* Eirene
* Eunomia

Children of Styx|

* Bia
* Kratos
* Nike
* Zelus

Water
deities|

| Sea deities|

* Amphitrite
* Benthesikyme
* Brizo
* Calliste
* Calypso
* Ceto
* Eurybia
* Glaucus
* Leucothea
* Melicertes
* Nereus
* Nerites
* Oceanus
* Phorcys
* Pontus
* Poseidon
* Proteus
* Rhodos
* Tethys
* Thalassa
* Thaumas
* Thetis
* Triton

|

Oceanids|

* Acaste
* Admete
* Asia
* Callirhoe
* Ceto
* Clymene (consort of Helios)
* Clymene (wife of Iapetus)
* Clytie
* Dione
* Dodone
* Doris
* Electra
* Eurynome
* Idyia
* Melia (consort of Apollo)
* Melia (consort of Inachus)
* Metis
* Perse
* Philyra
* Pleione
* Plouto
* Styx
* Telesto
* Theia
* Zeuxo

Nereids|

* Amatheia
* Amphithoe
* Amphitrite
* Arethusa
* Cymatolege
* Cymo
* Dynamene
* Galatea
* Galene
* Protomedeia
* Psamathe
* Sao
* Spio
* Thalia
* Thetis

River gods|

* Achelous
* Alpheus
* Anapus
* Asopus
* Asterion
* Axius
* Caanthus
* Cebren
* Cephissus
* Enipeus
* Kladeos
* Meander
* Nilus
* Numicus
* Phyllis
* Peneus
* Sangarius
* Scamander
* Selemnus
* Simoeis
* Strymon

Naiads|

* Aegina
* Achiroe
* Aganippe
* The Anigrides
* Argyra
* Bistonis
* Bolbe
* Caliadne
* Cassotis
* Castalia
* Cleocharia
* Creusa
* Daphne
* Drosera
* Harpina
* The Ionides
* Ismenis
* Larunda
* Lilaea
* Liriope
* Melite
* Metope
* Minthe
* Moria
* Nana
* Nicaea
* Orseis
* Pallas
* Pirene
* Salmacis
* Stilbe
* The Thriae
* Corycia
* Cleodora
* Melaina
* Tiasa

Personifications|

| Children of Eris|

* Algos
* Amphillogiai
* The Androktasiai
* Atë
* Dysnomia
* Horkos
* Hysminai
* Lethe
* Logoi
* Limos
* Machai
* Neikea
* Phonoi
* Ponos
* Pseudea

|

Children of Nyx|

* Apate
* Eris
* Geras
* Hesperides
* Hypnos
* The Keres
* The Moirai
* Atropos
* Clotho
* Lachesis
* Momus
* Moros
* Nemesis
* Oizys
* The Oneiroi
* Philotes
* Thanatos

Others|

* Achlys
* Adephagia
* Aergia
* Aidos
* Aion
* Alala
* Alastor
* Aletheia
* Alke
* Amechania
* Anaideia
* Ananke
* Angelia
* Anteros
* Apheleia
* Arete
* The Arae
* Astraea
* Caerus
* Chronos
* Chrysus
* Corus
* Deimos
* Dikaiosyne
* Dyssebeia
* Eiresione
* Ekecheiria
* Eulabeia
* Eupraxia
* Eusebeia
* Ersa
* Eros
* Erotes
* Gelos
* Hedone
* Hedylogos
* Heimarmene
* Hermaphroditus
* Homados
* Homonoia
* Horme
* Hymen
* Iacchus
* Ioke
* Kakia
* Koalemos
* Kydoimos
* The Litae
* Lyssa
* The Maniae
* Methe
* Nomos
* Palioxis
* Peitharchia
* Peitho
* Penia
* Penthus
* Pepromene
* Pheme
* Phobos
* Phrike
* Phthonus
* Poine
* Polemos
* Poros
* Praxidice
* Proioxis
* Prophasis
* Soter
* Soteria
* Thrasos
* Tyche

Other deities|

| Sky|

* The Anemoi
* Boreas
* Eurus
* Notus
* Zephyrus
* Hesperus
* Phosphorus
* Phaethon
* Astrape and Bronte
* Aura
* The Hesperides
* The Hyades
* Nephele
* The Pleiades
* Alcyone
* Sterope
* Celaeno
* Electra
* Maia
* Merope
* Taygete
* Sirius
* Tritopatores

|

Agriculture|

* Aphaia
* Demeter
* Despoina
* Eunostus
* Opora
* Philomelus
* Plutus

Health|

* Asclepius
* Aceso
* Epione
* Iaso
* Hygieia
* Paean
* Panacea
* Telesphorus

Rustic
deities|

* Aetna
* Agdistis
* The Alseids
* Amphictyonis
* Aristaeus
* Attis
* Britomartis
* The Cabeiri
* Comus
* The Dryades
* Erato
* The Hamadryades
* Chrysopeleia
* The Epimelides
* Hecaterus
* Leuce
* The Maenades
* The Meliae
* Hyperborean maidens
* The Oreads
* Echo
* Priapus
* Rhapso
* Silenus
* Telete

Others|

* Aphroditus
* Arke
* Auxesia
* Enodia
* Circe
* Enyalius
* Hecate
* Palaestra
* Pasiphaë
* Phanes
* Sosipolis

* v
* t
* e

Ancient Greek religion and mythology

Religion and religious practice

Main beliefs|

* Ages of Man
* Golden Age
* Heroic Age
* Ancient accounts of Homer
* Apotheosis
* Arete
* Daemon
* Destiny
* Eudaimonia
* Euhemerism
* Eunoia
* Eusebeia
* Golden mean
* Golden Rule
* Greek words for love
* Hemitheos
* Hero cult
* Hubris
* Interpretatio graeca
* Katabasis
* Kleos
* Know thyself
* Metamorphosis
* Metempsychosis
* Nympholepsy
* Paradoxography
* Patron gods
* Pederasty
* Phronesis
* Polytheism
* Sophrosyne
* Soter
* Theia mania
* Xenia

Texts / odes /
epic poems|

| Epic Cycle|

* Aethiopis
* Cypria
* Iliad
* Iliupersis
* Little Iliad
* Nostoi
* Odyssey
* Telegony

|

Theban Cycle|

* Oedipodea
* Thebaid
* Epigoni
* Alcmeonis

Others|

* Aesop's Fables
* Aretalogy
* Argonautica
* Bibliotheca
* Catalogue of Women
* Cyranides
* Delphic maxims
* Derveni papyrus
* Dionysiaca
* Golden Verses of Pythagoras
* Greek Magical Papyri
* Homerica
* Homeric Hymns
* Interpretation of Dreams
* Oneirocritica
* Orphic Hymns
* Papyrus Graecus Holmiensis
* Sibylline Books
* Sortes Astrampsychi
* Stories from Plato
* Atlantis
* Myth of Er
* Ring of Gyges
* Theogony
* Works and Days

Religions|

| Antecedents|

*   * Minoan religion
* Mycenaean religion
* List of Mycenaean deities
* Paleo-Balkan mythology
* Proto-Indo-European mythology
* Religions of the ancient Near East

|

Expressions|

* Atheism
* Henotheism
* Monotheism
* Polytheism

Hellenistic religions|

* Early Christianity
* Christianization
* Relationship with Greek philosophy
* Esoteric systems
* Early alchemy
* Gnosticism
* Hermeticism
* Neoplatonism
* Hellenistic Judaism
* God-fearers
* Syncretic religions
* Alexander
* Ptolemaic cult
* Etruscan religion
* Greco-Buddhism
* Roman religion
* Imperial cult
* Religious views of emperor Julian

Mystery religions
and sacred mysteries|

* Arcadian Mysteries
* Delos Mysteries
* Dionysian Mysteries
* Eleusinian Mysteries
* Imbrian Mysteries
* Mithraism
* Mysteries of Isis
* Orphism
* Samothracian Mysteries

New religious movements|

* Discordianism
* Feraferia
* Gaianism
* Hellenism

Religious practice|

| Worship
/ rituals|

* Amphidromia
* Arotoi Hieroi
* Astragalomancy
* Baptes
* Cult of Artemis at Brauron
* Daduchos
* Divination
* Funeral and burial practices
* Funeral oration
* Greco-Roman mysteries
* Hero cult
* Heroön
* Hierophany
* Hieros gamos
* Hymns
* Incubation
* Komos
* Nekyia
* Omophagia
* Orgia
* Panegyris
* Prayer
* Sacrifice
* Animal sacrifice
* Hecatomb
* Holocaust
* Libation
* Pharmakos
* Votive offering
* Theatre

|

Religious
offices|

* Amphictyonic league
* Archon basileus
* Basilinna
* Gerarai
* Hiereia
* Hierophant
* Hierophylakes
* Iatromantis
* Kanephoros
* Mystagogue
* Oracle
* Sibyl
* Thiasus

Religious
objects|

* Baetyl
* Cult image
* Chryselephantine sculpture
* Xoanon
* Greek terracotta figurines
* Kernos
* Kykeon
* Loutrophoros
* Omphalos
* Panathenaic amphora
* Rhyton
* Sacrificial tripod
* Sceptre
* Thymiaterion

Magic|

* Apotropaic magic
* Curse tablet
* Divination
* Greek Magical Papyri
* Hermeticism
* Hermetica
* Necromancy
* Philia

Events|

| Festivals
/ feasts|

* Actia
* Adonia
* Agrionia
* Amphidromia
* Anthesteria
* Apellai
* Apaturia
* Aphrodisia
* Arrhephoria
* Ascolia
* Bendidia
* Boedromia
* Brauronia
* Buphonia
* Chalceia
* Diasia
* Delia
* Delphinia
* Dionysia
* Ecdysia
* Elaphebolia
* Gamelia
* Halieia
* Haloa
* Heracleia
* Hermaea
* Hieromenia
* Iolaia
* Kronia
* Lenaia
* Leucophryna
* Lykaia
* Metageitnia
* Munichia
* Oschophoria
* Pamboeotia
* Pandia
* Plynteria
* Ptolemaieia
* Pyanopsia
* Skira
* Synoikia
* Soteria
* Tauropolia
* Thargelia
* Theseia
* Thesmophoria

|

Games|

* Agon
* Panathenaic Games
* Rhieia

Panhellenic Games|

* Olympic Games
* Heraean Games
* Pythian Games
* Nemean Games
* Isthmian Games
* Actia

Sacred places|

| Temples /
sanctuaries|

* Asclepieion
* Delphinion
* Mithraeum
* Necromanteion of Acheron
* Nymphaeum
* Panionium
* Parthenon
* Ploutonion
* Telesterion
* Temenos
* Temple of Artemis, Ephesus
* Temple of Zeus, Olympia

|

Oracles|

* Amphiareion of Oropos
* Aornum
* Claros
* Delphi
* Didyma
* Dodona
* Oracle of Apollo Thyrxeus at Cyaneae
* Oracle of Apollo at Ptoion
* Oracle of Artemis at Ikaros
* Oracle of Menestheus
* Sanctuary of the Great Gods
* Tegyra

Mountains|

* Cretea
* Mount Ida (Crete)
* Mount Ida (Turkey)
* Mount Lykaion
* Olympus

Caves|

* Cave of Zeus, Aydın
* Caves of Pan
* Psychro Cave
* Vari Cave

Islands|

* Island of Achilles
* Delos
* Islands of Diomedes

Springs|

* Castalian Spring
* Hippocrene
* Pierian Spring

Others|

* Athenian sacred ships
* Paralus
* Salaminia
* Eleusis
* Hiera Orgas
* Kanathos
* Olympia
* Sacred Way
* Theatre of Dionysus

Myths and mythology

Deities
(Family tree)|

| Primordial deities|

* Aether
* Ananke
* Chaos
* Chronos
* Erebus
* Eros
* Gaia
* Hemera
* Nyx
* Phanes
* Pontus
* Thalassa
* Tartarus
* Uranus

|

Titans|

| First generation|

* Coeus
* Crius
* Cronus
* Hyperion
* Iapetus
* Mnemosyne
* Oceanus
* Phoebe
* Rhea
* Tethys
* Theia
* Themis

|

Second generation|

* Asteria
* Astraeus
* Atlas
* Eos
* Epimetheus
* Helios
* Leto
* Menoetius
* Metis
* Pallas
* Perses
* Prometheus
* Selene

Third generation|

* Hecate
* Hesperus
* Phosphorus

Twelve Olympians|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

Water deities|

* Amphitrite
* Alpheus
* Ceto
* Glaucus
* Naiads
* Nereids
* Nereus
* Oceanids
* Phorcys
* Poseidon
* Proteus
* River gods
* Scamander
* Thaumas
* Thetis
* Triton

Love deities|

| Erotes|

* Anteros
* Eros
* Hedylogos
* Hermaphroditus
* Himeros
* Hymen/Hymenaeus
* Pothos

|

* Aphrodite
* Aphroditus
* Philotes
* Peitho

War deities|

* Adrestia
* Alala
* Alke
* Amphillogiai
* Androktasiai
* Ares
* Athena
* Bia
* Deimos
* Enyalius
* Enyo
* Eris
* Gynaecothoenas
* Homados
* Hysminai
* Ioke
* Keres
* Kratos
* Kydoimos
* Ma
* Machai
* Nike
* Palioxis
* Pallas
* Perses
* Phobos
* Phonoi
* Polemos
* Proioxis

Chthonic deities|

| Psychopomps|

* Charon
* Hermes
* Hermanubis
* Thanatos

|

* Angelos
* Cabeiri
* The Erinyes (Furies)
* Hades / Pluto
* Hecate
* Hypnos
* Keres
* Lampad
* Melinoë
* Persephone
* Zagreus

Health deities|

* Aceso
* Aegle
* Artemis
* Apollo
* Asclepius
* Chiron
* Darrhon
* Eileithyia
* Epione
* Hebe
* Hygieia
* Iaso
* Paean
* Panacea
* Telesphorus

Sleep deities|

* Empusa
* Epiales
* Hypnos
* Pasithea
* Oneiroi

Messenger deities|

* Angelia
* Arke
* Hermes
* Iris

Trickster deities|

* Apate
* Hermes
* Momus

Magic deities|

* Circe
* Hecate
* Hermes Trismegistus
* Pasiphaë

Art and beauty deities|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* The Charites (Graces)
* Aglaea
* Euphrosyne
* Thalia
* Dionysus
* The Muses
* Calliope
* Clio
* Polyhymnia
* Euterpe
* Terpsichore
* Erato
* Melpomene
* Thalia
* Urania

Other major deities|

* The Anemoi (Winds)
* Boreas
* Eurus
* Notus
* Zephyrus
* Azone
* Chrysaor
* Cybele
* Eileithyia
* Glycon
* Harmonia
* Nemesis
* Pan
* Pegasus
* Zelus

Heroes /
heroines|

| Individuals|

* Abderus
* Achilles
* Actaeon
* Adonis
* Aeneas
* Ajax the Great
* Ajax the Lesser
* Akademos
* Amphiaraus
* Amphitryon
* Antilochus
* Atalanta
* Autolycus
* Bellerophon
* Bouzyges
* Cadmus
* Chrysippus
* Cyamites
* Daedalus
* Diomedes
* Dioscuri (Castor and Polydeuces)
* Echetlus
* Eleusis
* Erechtheus
* Eunostus
* Ganymede
* Hector
* Heracles
* Icarus
* Iolaus
* Jason
* Meleager
* Menelaus
* Narcissus
* Nestor
* Odysseus
* Oedipus
* Orpheus
* Otrera
* Pandion
* Peleus
* Pelops
* Penthesilea
* Perseus
* Theseus
* Triptolemus

|

Groups|

* Argonauts
* Calydonian hunters
* Epigoni
* Seven against Thebes

Oracles
/ seers|

* Aesacus
* Aleuas
* Amphiaraus
* Amphilochus
* Ampyx
* Anius
* Asbolus
* Bakis
* Branchus
* Calchas
* Carnus
* Carya
* Cassandra
* Elatus
* Ennomus
* Epimenides
* Halitherses
* Helenus
* Iamus
* Idmon
* Manto
* Melampus
* Mopsus
* Munichus
* Phineus
* Polyeidos
* Polypheides
* Pythia
* Sibyls
* Cimmerian
* Cumaean
* Delphic
* Erythraean
* Hellespontine
* Libyan
* Persian
* Phrygian
* Samian
* Telemus
* Theiodamas
* Theoclymenus
* Tiresias

Other
mortals|

* Aegeus
* Aegisthus
* Agamemnon
* Andromache
* Andromeda
* Antigone
* Augeas
* Briseis
* Cassiopeia
* Creon of Thebes
* Chryseis
* Chrysothemis
* Clytemnestra
* Damocles
* Deidamia
* Deucalion
* Electra
* Eteocles
* Europa
* Gordias
* Hecuba
* Helen of Troy
* Hellen
* The Heracleidae
* Hermione
* Hippolyta
* Io
* Iphigenia
* Ismene
* Jocasta
* Laius
* Lycian peasants
* Lycaon
* The Maenads
* Memnon
* Messapian shepherds
* Midas
* Minos
* Myrrha
* Neoptolemus
* Niobe
* Orestes
* Paris
* Patroclus
* Penelope
* Philomela
* Phoenix
* Polybus of Corinth
* Polynices
* Priam
* Procne
* Pylades
* Pyrrha
* Telemachus
* Troilus

Underworld|

| Entrances to
the underworld|

| Rivers|

* Acheron
* Cocytus
* Eridanos
* Lethe
* Phlegethon
* Styx

|

Lakes/swamps|

* Acherusia
* Avernus Lake
* Lerna Lake

Caves|

* Cave at Cape Matapan
* Cave at Lake Avernus
* Cave at Heraclea Pontica

Charoniums|

* Charonium at Aornum
* Charonium at Acharaca

Ploutonion|

* Ploutonion at Acharaca
* Ploutonion at Eleusis
* Ploutonion at Hierapolis

Necromanteion (necromancy temple)|

* Necromanteion of Acheron

Places|

* Elysium
* Erebus
* Fields of Asphodel
* Isles of the Blessed
* Mourning Fields
* Tartarus

Judges|

* Aeacus
* Minos
* Rhadamanthus

Guards|

* Campe
* Cerberus

Residents|

* Anticlea
* Danaïdes
* Eurydice
* Ixion
* Ocnus
* Salmoneus
* The Shades
* Sisyphus
* Tantalus
* Tiresias
* Titans
* Tityos

Visitors|

* Dionysus
* Heracles
* Hermes
* Odysseus
* Orpheus
* Pirithous
* Psyche
* Theseus

Symbols/objects|

* Bident
* Cap of invisibility
* Charon's obol

Animals, daemons,
and spirits|

* Ascalaphus
* Ceuthonymus
* Eurynomos
* Menoetius

Mythical|

| Beings|

| Lists|

* Deities
* Mythological creatures
* Mortals
* Minor figures
* Trojan War characters

|

Minor spirits|

* Daemon
* Agathodaemon
* Cacodaemon
* Eudaemon
* Nymph
* Satyr

Beasts /
creatures|

* Centaur
* Centaurides
* Ichthyocentaur
* Cyclops
* Dragon
* Drakaina
* Echidna
* Giant
* Gorgon
* Harpy
* Hecatonchires
* Hippocampus
* Horses of Helios
* Lamia
* Phoenix
* Python
* Siren
* Scylla and Charybdis
* Sphinx
* Typhon

Captured
/ slain by
heroes|

* Calydonian boar
* Cerberus
* Cerynian Hind
* Chimera
* Cretan Bull
* Crommyonian Sow
* Erymanthian boar
* Khalkotauroi
* Lernaean Hydra
* Mares of Diomedes
* Medusa
* Minotaur
* Nemean lion
* Orthrus
* Polyphemus
* Stymphalian birds
* Talos
* Teumessian fox

Tribes|

* Achaeans
* Amazons
* Anthropophagi
* Bebryces
* Cicones
* Curetes
* Dactyls
* Gargareans
* Halizones
* Korybantes
* Laestrygonians
* Lapiths
* Lotus-eaters
* Myrmidons
* Pygmies
* Spartoi
* Telchines

Places
/ Realms|

* Aethiopia
* Ara
* Colchis
* Erytheia
* Hyperborea
* Ismarus
* Ithaca
* Libya
* Nysa
* Ogygia
* Panchaia
* Phlegra
* Scheria
* Scythia
* Symplegades
* Tartessos
* Themiscyra
* Thrinacia
* Troy

Events|

* Apollo and Daphne
* Calydonian boar hunt
* Eros and Psyche
* Judgment of Paris
* Labours of Heracles
* Orpheus and Eurydice
* Returns from Troy
* Odyssey

Wars|

* Amazonomachy
* Attic War
* Centauromachy
* Gigantomachy
* Indian War
* Theomachy
* Titanomachy
* Trojan War

Objects|

* Adamant
* Aegis
* Ambrosia
* Apple of Discord
* Argo
* Dragon's teeth
* Diipetes
* Eidolon
* Galatea
* Girdle of Aphrodite
* Golden apple
* Golden Fleece
* Gordian knot
* Harpe
* Ichor
* Labyrinth
* Lotus tree
* Milk of Hera
* Moly
* Necklace of Harmonia
* Orichalcum
* Palladium
* Panacea
* Pandora's box
* Petasos (Winged helmet)
* Phaeacian ships
* Philosopher's stone
* Shield of Achilles
* Shirt of Nessus
* Sword of Damocles
* Talaria
* Thunderbolt
* Thyrsus
* Trident of Poseidon
* Trojan Horse
* Winnowing Oar
* Wheel of fire

Symbols|

* Bowl of Hygieia
* Caduceus
* Cornucopia
* Gorgoneion
* Kantharos
* Labrys
* Orphic egg
* Ouroboros
* Owl of Athena
* Phallus
* Rod of Asclepius
* Swan song
* Wind
* East
* West
* North
* South

Modern
treatments|

* Classical mythology in western art and literature
* Classicism
* Classics
* Greek mythology in popular culture
* Modern understanding of Greek mythology

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