Immortals
[edit]Olympian deities
Main article: Twelve Olympians
The Greeks created images of their deities for many purposes. A temple would house the statue of a god or goddess, or multiple deities, and might be decorated with relief scenes depicting myths. Divine images were common on coins. Drinking cups and other vessels were painted with scenes from myths.
| Deity | Description |
|---|---|
 | Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη, Aphroditē)
Goddess of love, beauty, desire, and pleasure. Although married to Hephaestus she had many lovers, most notably Ares, Adonis, and Anchises. She was depicted as a beautiful woman and of all the goddesses most likely to appear nude or seminude. Poets praise the radiance of her smile and her laughter. Her symbols include roses and other flowers, the scallop shell, and myrtle wreath. Her sacred animals are doves and sparrows. Her Roman counterpart was Venus.
Cnidian Aphrodite, a Roman work modeled after an original by Praxiteles
|
 | Apollo (Ἀπόλλων, Apóllōn)
God of music, healing and plague, prophecy, poetry, and enlightenment. He is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. As brother and sister, they were identified with the sun and moon; both use a bow and arrow. In the earliest myths, Apollo contends with his half-brother Hermes. In sculpture, Apollo was depicted as a handsome, beardless young man with long hair and an ideal physique. As the embodiment of perfectionism, he could be cruel and destructive, and his love affairs were rarely happy. His attributes include the laurel wreath and lyre. He often appears in the company of the Muses. Animals sacred to Apollo include roe deer, swans, cicadas, hawks, ravens, crows, foxes, mice, and snakes.
|
 | Ares {Ἄρης, Árēs)
God of war, bloodshed, and violence. The son of Zeus and Hera, he was depicted as a beardless youth, either nude with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. Homer portrays him as moody and unreliable, and he generally represents the chaos of war in contrast to Athena, a goddess of military strategy and skill. Ares' sacred animals are the vulture, venomous snakes, dogs, and boars. His Roman counterpart Mars by contrast was regarded as the dignified ancestor of the Roman people.
Roman marble head of the war god modeled after a Greek bronze original
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_-_Galleria_dei_Candelabri_-_Vatican.JPG) | Artemis (Ἄρτεμις, Ártemis)
Virgin goddess of the hunt, wilderness, animals, young girls, childbirth and plague. In later times she became associated with the moon. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin sister of Apollo. In art she was often depicted as a young woman dressed in a short knee-length chiton and equipped with a hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. Her attributes include hunting spears, animal pelts, deer and other wild animals. Her sacred animals are deer, bears, and wild boars. Diana was her Roman counterpart.
Artemis reaching for arrow (missing) from her quiver, with hound
|
 | Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ, Athēnâ)
Goddess of intelligence and skill, warfare, battle strategy, handicrafts and wisdom. According to most traditions, she was born from Zeus's head fully formed and armored. She was depicted crowned with a crested helm, armed with shield and a spear, and wearing the aegis over a long dress. Poets describe her as "grey-eyed" or having especially bright, keen eyes. She was a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. Her symbol is the olive tree. She is commonly shown accompanied by her sacred animal, the owl. The Romans identified her with Minerva.
Athena on a red-figure cup dating 500–490 BC
|
 | Demeter (Δημήτηρ, Dēmētēr)
Goddess of grain, agriculture and the harvest, growth and nourishment. Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of Zeus, by whom she bore Persephone. She was one of the main deities of the Eleusinian Mysteries, in which her power over the life cycle of plants symbolized the passage of the human soul through its life course and into the afterlife. She was depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and a torch. Her symbols are the cornucopia, wheat-ears, the winged serpent, and the lotus staff. Her sacred animals are pigs and snakes. Ceres was her Roman counterpart.
Demeter, typically seated, on a relief from Turkey
|
 | Dionysus (Διόνυσος, Diónysos)
God of wine, parties and festivals, madness, chaos, drunkenness, drugs, and ecstasy. He was depicted in art as either an older bearded god or a pretty effeminate, long-haired youth. His attributes include the thyrsus (a pinecone-tipped staff), drinking cup, grape vine, and a crown of ivy. He is often in the company of his thiasos, a posse of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and his old tutor Silenus. The consort of Dionysus was Ariadne. Animals sacred to him include dolphins, serpents, tigers, and donkeys. A later addition to the Olympians, in some accounts he replaced Hestia. Bacchus was another name for him in Greek, and came into common usage among the Romans.
Dionysus reclining on a leopard
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 | Hades (ᾍδης, Hádēs) or Pluto (Πλούτων, Ploutōn)
King of the underworld and the dead, and god of the earth's hidden wealth, both agricultural produce and precious metals. His consort is Persephone. His attributes are the drinking horn or cornucopia, key, sceptre, and the three-headed dog Cerberus. The screech owl was sacred to him. He was one of three sons of Cronus and Rhea, and thus sovereign over one of the three realms of the universe, the underworld. As a chthonic god, however, his place among the Olympians is ambiguous. In the mystery religions and Athenian literature, Pluto (Plouton, "the Rich") was his preferred name, with Hades more common for the underworld as a place. The Romans translated Plouton as Dis Pater ("the Rich Father") or Pluto.
Hades reclines, holding a giant drinking horn, offering a wine bowl to Persephone
|
 | Hephaestus (Ἥφαιστος, Hḗphaistos)
Crippled god of fire, metalworking, and crafts. The son of Hera by parthenogenesis, he is the smith of the gods and the husband of the adulterous Aphrodite. He was usually depicted as a bearded man with hammer, tongs and anvil—the tools of a smith—and sometimes riding a donkey. His sacred animals are the donkey, the guard dog and the crane. Among his creations was the armor of Achilles. Hephaestus used the fire of the forge as a creative force, but his Roman counterpart Volcanus (Vulcan) was feared for his destructive potential and associated with the volcanic power of the earth.
Thetis receives the armor made for her son Achilles by Hephaestus
|
 | Hera (Ἥρα, Hḗra)
Queen of the heavens and goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, heirs, kings and empires. She is the wife of Zeus and daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was usually depicted as a regal woman in the prime of her life, wearing a diadem and veil and holding a lotus-tipped staff. Although she was the goddess of marriage, Zeus's many infidelities drive her to jealousy and vengefulness. Her sacred animals are the heifer, the peacock, and the cuckoo. At Rome she was known as Juno.
Bust of Hera wearing a diadem
|
 | Hermes (Ἑρμῆς, Hērmēs)
God of boundaries, travel, communication, trade, thievery, trickery, language, writing, diplomacy, athletics, and animal husbandry. The son of Zeus and Maia, Hermes is the messenger of the gods, and a psychopomp who leads the souls of the dead into the afterlife. He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. His attributes include the herald's wand or caduceus, winged sandals, and a traveler's cap. His sacred animals are the tortoise, the ram, and the hawk. The Roman Mercury was more closely identified with trade and commerce.
|
 | Hestia (Ἑστία, Hestía)
Virgin goddess of the hearth, home and chastity. She is a daughter of Rhea and Cronus and sister of Zeus. Not often identifiable in Greek art, she appeared as a modestly veiled woman. Her symbols are the hearth and kettle. In some accounts, she gave up her seat as one of the Twelve Olympians in favor of Dionysus, and she plays little role in Greek myths. Her counterpart Vesta, however, was a major deity of the Roman state.
Hestia from a relief depicting all twelve Olympians in procession
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 | Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν, Poseidōn)
God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and the creator of horses; known as the "Earth Shaker." He is a son of Cronus and Rhea and brother to Zeus and Hades. He rules one of the three realms of the universe as king of the sea and the waters. In classical artwork, he was depicted as a mature man of sturdy build with a an often luxuriant beard, and holding a trident. The horse and the dolphin are sacred to him. His wedding with Amphitrite is often presented as a triumphal procession. His Roman counterpart was Neptune.
Poseidon, hand uplifted to wield his trident (missing), from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens
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 | Zeus Ζεύς, Zeus)
King of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and fate. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. He overthrew Cronus and gained the sovereignty of heaven for himself. In artwork, he was depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes are the royal scepter and the lightning bolt, and his sacred animals are the eagle and the bull. His counterpart Jupiter, also known as Jove, was the supreme deity of the Romans.
Coin issued under Alexander the Great showing Zeus on his throne holding a scepter and eagle.
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[edit]
Primordial deities
| Ancient Greek name | English name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Αἰθήρ (Aithḗr) | Aether | The god of the upper air and light |
| Ἀνάγκη (Anánkē) | Ananke | The goddess of inevitability, compulsion, and necessity. |
| Ἔρεβος (Érebos) | Erebos or Erebus | The god of darkness and shadow. |
| Γαῖα (Gaîa) | Gaia or Gaea or Ge | Personification of the Earth (Mother Earth); mother of the Titans. |
| Ἡμέρα (Hēméra) | Hemera | Goddess of daylight. |
| Χάος (Cháos) | Chaos | The nothingness from which all else sprang. |
| Χρόνος (Chrónos) | Chronos | The god of time. Not to be confused with the Titan Cronus, the father of Zeus. |
| Nῆσοι (Nē̂soi) | The Nesoi | The goddesses of the islands. |
| Νύξ (Nýx) | Nyx or Night | The goddess of night. |
| Οὐρανός (Ouranós) | Uranus | The god of the heavens (Father Sky); father of the Titans. |
| Οὔρεα (Oúrea) | The Ourea | The gods of mountains. |
| Φάνης (Phánēs) | Phanes | The god of procreation in the Orphic tradition. |
| Πόντος (Póntos) | Pontus | The god of the sea, father of the fish and other sea creatures. |
| Τάρταρος (Tártaros) | Tartarus | The god of the deepest, darkest part of the underworld, the Tartarean pit. Which is also referred to as Tartarus itself. |
| Θάλασσα (Thálassa) | Thalassa | Spirit of the sea and consort of Pontos. |
[edit]Titans
| Greek name | English name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Twelve Titans | ||
| Ὑπερίων (Hyperíōn) | Hyperion | Titan of light. With Theia, he is the father of Helios (the sun), Selene (the moon) and Eos (the dawn). |
| Ἰαπετός (Iapetós) | Iapetus | Titan of mortality and father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, Menoetius and Atlas. |
| Κοῖος (Koîos) | Coeus | Titan of intellect and the axis of heaven around which the constellations revolved. |
| Κρεῖος (Kreîos) | Crius | The least individualized of the Twelve Titans, he is the father of Astraeus, Pallas and Perses. |
| Κρόνος (Crónos) | Kronos | The leader of the Titans, who overthrew his father Uranus only to be overthrown in turn by his sons, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. Kronus was cut up with his own scythe and his body parts were scattered across the earth. |
| Mνημοσύνη (Mnēmosýnē) | Mnemosyne | Titan of memory and remembrance, and mother of the Nine Muses. |
| Ὠκεανός (Ōceanós) | Oceanus | Titan of the all-encircling river Oceans around the earth, the font of all the Earth's fresh-water. |
| Φοίβη (Phoíbē) | Phoebe | Titan of the "bright" intellect and prophecy, and consort of Koios. |
| Ῥέα (Rhéa) | Rhea | Titan of female fertility, motherhood, and generation. She is the sister and consort of Cronus, and mother of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter and Hestia. |
| Τηθύς (Tēthýs) | Tethys | Wife of Oceanus, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains and clouds. |
| Θεία (Theía) | Theia | Titan of sight and the shining light of the clear blue sky. She is the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios, Selene and Eos. |
| Θέμις (Thémis) | Themis | Titan of divine law and order. |
| Other Titans | ||
| Ἀστερία (Astería) | Asteria | Titan of nocturnal oracles and falling stars. |
| Ἀστραῖος (Astraîos) | Astraeus | Titan of stars and planets, and the art of astrology. |
| Ἄτλας (Átlas) | Atlas | Titan forced to carry the sky upon his shoulders by Zeus. Also Son of Iapetus. |
| Αὔρα (Aúra) | Aura | Titan of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning. |
| Διώνη (Diṓnē) | Dione | Titan of the oracle of Dodona. |
| Ἠώς (Ēṓs) | Eos | Titan of the dawn. |
| Ἐπιμηθεύς (Epimētheús) | Epimetheus | Titan of afterthought and the father of excuses. |
| Εὐρυβία (Eurybía) | Eurybia | Titan of the mastery of the seas and consort of Krios. |
| Εὐρυνόμη (Eurynómē) | Eurynome | Titan of water-meadows and pasturelands, and mother of the three Charites by Zeus. |
| Ἥλιος (Hḗlios) | Helios | Titan of the sun and guardian of oaths. |
| Κλυμένη (Clyménē) | Clymene or Asia | Titan of renown, fame and infamy, and wife of Iapetos. |
| Λήλαντος (Lēlantos) | Lelantos | Titan of air and the hunter's skill of stalking prey. He is the male counterpart of Leto. |
| Λητώ (Lētṓ) | Leto | Titan of motherhood and mother of the twin Olympians, Artemis and Apollo. |
| Μενοίτιος (Menoítios) | Menoetius | Titan of violent anger, rash action, and human mortality. Killed by Zeus. |
| Μῆτις (Mē̂tis) | Metis | Titan of good counsel, advice, planning, cunning, craftiness and wisdom. Mother of Athena. |
| Ὀφίων (Ophíōn) | Ophion | An elder Titan, in some versions of the myth he ruled the Earth with his consort Eurynome before Cronus overthrew him. |
| Πάλλας (Pállas) | Pallas | Titan of warcraft. He was killed by Athena during the Titanomachy. |
| Πέρσης (Pérsēs) | Perses | Titan of destruction and peace. |
| Προμηθεύς (Promētheús) | Prometheus | Titan of forethought and crafty counsel, and creator of mankind. |
| Σελήνη (Selḗnē) | Selene | Titan of the moon. |
| Στύξ (Stýx) | Styx | Titan of the Underworld river Styx and personification of hatred. |
[edit]Gigantes (giants)
- The Hekatonkheires (Ἑκατόγχειρες), or Centimanes (Latin), the Hundred-Handed Ones, giant gods of violent storms and hurricanes. Three sons of Uranus and Gaea, each with their own distinct characters.[1]
- Briareus or Aigaion (Βριάρεως), The Vigorous
- Cottus (Κόττος), The Furious
- Gyges (Γύγης), The Big-Limbed
- Agrius (Ἄγριος), a man-eating Thracian giant who was half-man and half-bear
- Alcyoneus (Ἀλκυονεύς), the king of the Thracian giants, who was slain by Heracles
- Aloadae (Ἀλῳάδαι), twin giants who attempted to storm heaven
- Otos (Ότος)
- Ephialtes (Εφιάλτης)
- Antaeus (Ἀνταῖος), a Libyan giant who wrestled all visitors to the death until he was slain by Heracles
- Argus Panoptes (Ἄργος Πανόπτης), a hundred-eyed giant tasked with guarding over Io
- Cyclopes (Elder), three one-eyed giants who forged the lightning-bolts of Zeus
- Arges (Ἄργης)
- Brontes (Βρόντης)
- Steropes (Στερόπης)
- Cyclopes (Younger), a tribe of one-eyed, man-eating giants who herded flocks of sheep on the island of Sicily
- Polyphemus (Πολύφημος), a cyclops who briefly capturedOdysseus and his men, only to be overcome and blinded by the hero
- Enceladus (Ἐγκέλαδος), one of the Thracian giants who made war on the gods
- The Gegenees (Γηγενέες), a tribe of six-armed giants fought by the Argonauts on Bear Mountain in Mysia
- Geryon (Γηρυών), a three-bodied, four-winged giant who dwelt on the red island of Erytheia
- The Laestrygonians (Λαιστρυγόνες), a tribe of man-eating giants encountered by Odysseus on his travels
- Orion (Ὠρίων), a giant huntsman whom Zeus placed among the stars as the constellation of Orion
- Porphyrion (Πορφυρίων), the king of the Gigantes who was struck down by Heracles and Zeus with arrows and lightning-bolts after he attempted to rape Hera
- Talos (Τάλως), a giant forged from bronze by Hephaestus, and gifted by Zeus to his lover Europa as her personal protector
- Tityos (Τίτυος), a giant slain by Apollo and Artemis when he attempted to violate their mother Leto.
- Typhon (Τυφῶν), a monstrous immortal storm-giant who was defeated and imprisoned in the pits of Tartarus
[edit]Personified concepts
- Achlys (Ἀχλύς), spirit of the death-mist
- Adephagia (Ἀδηφαγία), spirit of satiety and gluttony
- Adikia (Ἀδικία), spirit of injustice and wrongdoing
- Aergia (Ἀεργία), spirit of idleness, laziness, indolence and sloth
- Agon (Ἀγών), spirit of contest, who possessed an altar at Olympia, site of the Olympic Games.
- Aidos (Αἰδώς), spirit of modesty, reverence and respect
- Aisa (Αἴσα), personification of lot and fate
- Alala (Ἀλαλά), spirit of the war cry
- Alastor (Ἀλάστωρ), spirit of blood feuds and vengeance
- Aletheia (Ἀλήθεια), spirit of truth, truthfulness and sincerity
- The Algea (Ἄλγεα), spirits of pain and suffering
- Achos (Ἄχος) "trouble, distress"
- Ania (Ἀνία) "ache, anguish"
- Lupe (Λύπη) "pain, grief, sadness"
- Alke (Ἀλκή), spirit of prowess and courage
- Amechania (Ἀμηχανία), spirit of helplessness and want of means
- The Amphilogiai (Ἀμφιλογίαι), spirits of disputes, debate and contention
- Anaideia (Ἀναίδεια), spirit of ruthlessness, shamelessness, and unforgivingness
- The Androktasiai (Ἀνδροκτασίαι), spirits of battlefield slaughter
- Angelia (Ἀγγελία), spirit of messages, tidings and proclamations
- Apate (Ἀπάτη), spirit of deceit, guile, fraud and deception
- Apheleia (Ἀφέλεια), spirit of simplicity
- Aporia (Ἀπορία), spirit of difficulty, perplexity, powerlessness and want of means
- The Arae (Ἀραί), spirits of curses
- Arete (Ἀρετή), spirit of virtue, excellence, goodness and valour
- Atë (Ἄτη), spirit of delusion, infatuation, blind folly, recklessness and ruin
- Bia (Βία), spirit of force, power, bodily strength and compulsion
- Caerus (Καιρός), spirit of opportunity
- Corus (Κόρος), spirit of surfeit
- Deimos (Δεῖμος), spirit of fear, dread and terror
- Dikaiosyne (Δικαιοσύνη), spirit of justice and righteousness
- Dike (Δίκη), spirit of justice, fair judgements and the rights established by custom and law
- Dolos (Δόλος), spirit of trickery, cunning deception, craftiness, treachery and guile
- Dysnomia (Δυσνομία), spirit of lawlessness and poor civil constitution
- Dyssebeia (Δυσσέβεια), spirit of impiety
- Eirene (Εἰρήνη), goddess of peace
- Ekecheiria (Ἐκεχειρία), spirit of truce, armistice, and the cessation of all hostilities; honoured at the Olympic Games
- Eleos (Ἔλεος), spirit of mercy, pity and compassion
- Elpis (Ἐλπίς), spirit of hope and expectation
- Epiphron (Ἐπίφρων), spirit of prudence, shrewdness, thoughtfulness, carefulness and sagacity
- Eris (Ἔρις), spirit of strife, discord, contention and rivalry
- The Erotes (ἔρωτες)
- Eucleia (Εὔκλεια), spirit of good repute and glory
- Eulabeia (Εὐλάβεια), spirit of discretion, caution and circumspection
- Eunomia (Εὐνομία), goddess of good order and lawful conduct
- Eupheme (Εὐφήμη), spirit of words of good omen, acclamation, praise, applause and shouts of triumph
- Eupraxia (Eὐπραξία), spirit of well-being
- Eusebeia (Eὐσέβεια), spirit of piety, loyalty, duty and filial respect
- Euthenia (Εὐθενία), spirit of prosperity, abundance and plenty
- Gelos (Γέλως), spirit of laughter
- Geras (Γῆρας), spirit of old age
- Harmonia (Ἁρμονία), goddess of harmony and concord
- Hebe (Ήβη), goddess of youth
- Hedone (Ἡδονή), spirit of pleasure, enjoyment and delight
- Heimarmene (Εἵμαρμένη), personification of share destined by fate
- Homados (Ὅμαδος), spirit of the din of battle
- Homonoia (Ὁμόνοια), spirit of concord, unanimity, and oneness of mind
- Horkos (Ὅρκος), spirit of oaths
- Horme (Ὁρμή), spirit of impulse or effort (to do a thing), eagerness, setting oneself in motion, and starting an action
- Hybris (Ὕβρις), spirit of outrageous behaviour
- Hypnos (Ὕπνος), god of sleep
- The Hysminai (Ὑσμῖναι), spirits of fighting and combat
- Ioke (Ἰωκή), spirit of pursuit in battle
- Kakia (Kακία), spirit of vice and moral badness
- Kalokagathia (Καλοκαγαθία), spirit of nobility
- The Keres (Κῆρες), spirit of violent or cruel death
- Koalemos (Κοάλεμος), spirit of stupidity and foolishness
- Kratos (Κράτος), spirit of strength, might, power and sovereign rule
- Kydoimos (Κυδοιμός), spirit of the din of battle, confusion, uproar and hubbub
- Lethe (Λήθη), spirit of forgetfulness and oblivion, and of the river of the same name
- Limos (Λιμός), spirit of hunger and starvation
- The Litae (Λιταί), spirits of prayer
- Lyssa (Λύσσα), spirit of rage, fury and rabies in animals
- The Machai (Μάχαι), spirits of fighting and combat
- Mania (Μανία), spirit or spirits of madness, insanity and frenzy
- The Moirai, or "Fates" (Μοίραι)
- Momus (Μῶμος), spirit of mockery, blame, censure and stinging criticism
- Moros (Μόρος), spirit of doom
- The Neikea (τὰ Νείκη), spirits of quarrels, feuds and grievances
- Nemesis (Νέμεσις), goddess of revenge, balance, righteous indignation and retribution
- Nike (Νίκη), goddess of victory
- Nomos (Νόμος), spirit of law
- Oizys (Ὀϊζύς), spirit of woe and misery
- The Oneiroi (Ὄνειροι), spirits of dreams
- Palioxis (Παλίωξις), spirit of backrush, flight and retreat from battle
- Peitharchia (Πειθαρχία), spirit of obedience
- Peitho (Πειθώ), spirit of persuasion and seduction
- Penia (Πενία), spirit of poverty and need
- Penthus (Πένθος), spirit of grief, mourning and lamentation
- Pepromene (Πεπρωμένη), personification of the destined share, similar to Heimarmene
- Pheme (Φήμη), spirit of rumour, report and gossip
- Philophrosyne (Φιλοφροσύνη), spirit of friendliness, kindness and welcome
- Philotes (Φιλότης), spirit of friendship, affection and sexual intercourse
- Phobos (Φόβος), spirit of panic fear, flight and battlefield rout
- The Phonoi (Φόνοι), spirits of murder, killing and slaughter
- Phrike (Φρίκη), spirit of horror and trembling fear
- Phthonus (Φθόνος), spirit of envy and jealousy
- Pistis (Πίστις), spirit of trust, honesty and good faith
- Poine (Ποίνη), spirit of retribution, vengeance, recompense, punishment and penalty for the crime of murder and manslaughter
- Polemos (Πόλεμος), personification of war
- Ponos (Πόνος), spirit of hard labour and toil
- Poros (Πόρος), spirit of expediency, the means of accomplishing or providing, contrivance and device
- Praxidike (Πραξιδίκη), spirit of exacting justice
- Proioxis (Προίωξις), spirit of onrush and battlefield pursuit
- Prophasis (Πρόφασις), spirit of excuses and pleas
- The Pseudologoi, spirits of lies
- Ptocheia (Πτωχεία), spirit of beggary
- Soter (Σωτήρ), male spirit of safety, preservation and deliverance from harm
- Soteria (Σωτηρία), female personification of safety, preservation and deliverance from harm
- Sophrosyne (Σωφροσύνη), spirit of moderation, self-control, temperance, restraint, and discretion
- Techne (Τέχνη), personification of art and skill
- Thanatos (Θάνατος), spirit of death and mortality
- Thrasos (Θράσος), spirit of boldness
- Tyche (Τύχη), goddess of fortune, chance, providence and fate
- Zelos ( Ζῆλος), spirit of eager rivalry, emulation, envy, jealousy and zeal
Chthonic deities
- Amphiaraus (Ἀμφιάραος), a hero of the war of the Seven Against Thebe who became an oracular spirit of the Underworld after his death
- Angelos (Ἄγγελος), a daughter of Zeus and Hera who became an underworld goddess
- Askalaphos (Ἀσκάλαφος), the son of Acheron and Orphne who tended the Underworld orchards before being transformed into a screech owl by Demeter
- Cerberus (Κέρβερος), the three-headed hound who guarded the gates of Hades
- Charon (Χάρων), ferryman of Hades
- Empusa (Ἔμπουσα), a monstrous underworld spirit or spirits with flaming hair, the leg of a goat and a leg of bronze. They are also servants of Hecate.
- Erebos (Ἔρεβος), the primeval god of darkness, his mists encircled the underworld and filled the hollows of the earth
- The Erinyes (Ἐρινύες), the Furies, goddesses of retribution
- Hecate (Ἑκάτη), goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy
- Judges of the Dead
- Aiakos (Αἰακός), former mortal king of Aegina, guardian of the keys of Hades and judge of the men of Europe
- Minos (Μίνως), former mortal king of Crete and judge of the final vote
- Rhadamanthys (Ῥαδάμανθυς), former mortal lawmaker and judge of the men of Asia
- Keuthonymos (Κευθόνυμος), an Underworld spirit and father of Menoetes
- Cronus (Κρόνος), deposed king of the Titans; after his release from Tartarus he was appointed king of the Island of the Blessed
- Lamia (Λάμια), a vampiric Underworld spirit or spirits in the train of Hecate
- Lampades (Λαμπάδες), torch-bearing Underworld nymphs
- Macaria (Μακαρία), daughter of Hades and goddess of blessed death (not to be confused with the daughter of Heracles)
- Melinoe (Μελινόη), daughter of Persephone and Zeus who presided over the propitiations offered to the ghosts of the dead
- Menoetes (Μενοίτης), an Underworld spirit who herded the cattle of Hades
- Mormo (Μορμώ), a fearsome Underworld spirit or spirits in the train of Hecate
- Nyx (Νύξ), the primeval goddess of night
- Persephone (Περσεφόνη), queen of the underworld, wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth
- Rivers of the Underworld
- Acheron (Αχέρων), the river of pain
- Kokytos (Kωκυτός), the river of wailing
- Lethe (Λήθη), the river of forgetfulness
- Phlegethon (Φλεγέθων), the river of fire
- Styx (Στύξ), the river of oaths
- Tartarus (Τάρταρος), the primeval god of the dark, stormy pit of Hades
- Thanatos (Θάνατος), spirit of death and minister of Hades
[edit]Sea deities
- Aegaeon (Αιγαίων), god of violent sea storms and ally of the Titans
- Achelous (Αχειλος), shark-shaped sea spirit
- Amphitrite (Αμφιτρίτη), sea goddess and consort of Poseidon
- Benthesikyme (Βενθεσικύμη), daughter of Poseidon, who resided inEthiopia
- Brizo (Βριζώ), patron goddess of sailors, who sent prophetic dreams
- Ceto (Κῆτώ), goddess of the dangers of the ocean and of sea monsters
- Charybdis (Χάρυβδις), a sea monster and spirit of whirlpools and the tide
- Cymopoleia (Κυμοπόλεια), a daughter of Poseidon married to the Giant Briareus
- Delphin (Δέλφιν), the leader of the dolphins, Poseidon placed him in the sky as the constellation Delphin
- Eidothea (Ειδοθέα), prophetic sea nymph and daughter of Proteus
- Glaucus (Γλαῦκος), the fisherman's sea god
- Gorgons (Γοργόνες), three monstrous sea spirits
- The Graeae (Γραῖαι), three ancient sea spirits who personified the white foam of the sea; they shared one eye and one tooth between them
- Deino (Δεινώ)
- Enyo (Ενυώ)
- Pemphredo (Πεμφρεδώ)
- The Harpies (Ηάρπυιαι), winged spirits of sudden, sharp gusts of wind
- Hippocampi (ἱπποκαμπος), the horses of the sea they are half horse with the tail of a fish
- Hydros (Ὑδρος), primordial god of waters
- The Ichthyocentaurs (Ιχθυοκένταυροι), a pair of centaurine sea-gods with the upper bodies of men, the lower fore-parts of horses, ending in the serpentine tails of fish
- Bythos (Βύθος) "sea depth"
- Aphros (Άφρος) "sea foam"
- Karkinos (Καρκίνος), a giant crab who allied itself with the Hydra against Heracles. When it died, Hera placed it in the sky as the constellation Cancer.
- Ladon (Λάδων), a hundred-headed sea serpent who guarded the western reaches of the sea, and the island and golden apples of the Hesperides
- Leucothea (Λευκοθέα), a sea goddess who aided sailors in distress
- Nereides (Νηρηίδες), sea nymphs
- Nereus (Νηρέας), the old man of the sea, and the god of the sea's rich bounty of fish
- Nerites (Νερίτης), a sea spirit who was transformed into a shell-fish by Aphrodite
- Oceanus (Ὠκεανός), Titan god of the Earth-encircling river Oceanus, the font of all the Earth's fresh-water
- Palaemon (Παλαίμων), a young sea god who aided sailors in distress
- Phorcys (Φόρκυς), god of the hidden dangers of the deep
- Pontos (Πόντος), primeval god of the sea, father of the fish and other sea creatures
- Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν), king of the sea and lord of the sea gods; also god of rivers, flood and drought, earthquakes, and horses
- Proteus (Πρωτεύς), a shape-shifting, prophetic old sea god, and the herdsman of Poseidon's seals
- Scylla (Σκύλλα), monstrous sea goddess
- The Sirens (Σειρῆνες), sea nymphs who lured sailors to their death with their song
- Aglaope (Αγλαόπη) or Aglaophonos (Αγλαόφωνος) or Aglaopheme (Αγλαοφήμη)
- Himerope (Ίμερόπη)
- Leucosia (Λευκοσία)
- Ligeia (Λιγεία)
- Molpe (Μολπή)
- Parthenope (Παρθενόπη)
- Peisinoe (Πεισινόη) or Peisithoe (Πεισιθόη)
- Raidne (Ραίδνη)
- Teles (Τέλης)
- Thelchtereia (Θελχτήρεια)
- Thelxiope (Θελξιόπη) or Thelxiepeia (Θελξιέπεια)
- The Telchines (Τελχινες), sea spirits native to the island of Rhodes; the gods killed them when they turned to evil magic
- Actaeus (Ακταιος)
- Argyron (Αργυρών)
- Atabyrius (Αταβύριος)
- Chalcon (Χαλκών)
- Chryson (Χρυσών)
- Damon (Δαμων) or Demonax (Δημώναξ)
- Damnameneus (Δαμναμενεύς)
- Dexithea (Δεξιθέα), mother of Euxanthios by Minos
- Lycos (Λύκος) or Lyktos (Λύκτος)
- Lysagora (Λυσαγόρα)?
- Makelo (Μακελώ)
- Megalesius (Μεγαλήσιος)
- Mylas (Μύλας)
- Nikon (Νίκων)
- Ormenos (Ορμενος)
- Simon (Σίμων)
- Skelmis (Σκελμις)
- Tethys (Τηθύς), wife of Oceanus, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains and clouds
- Thalassa (Θάλασσα), primeval spirit of the sea and consort of Pontos
- Thaumas (Θαῦμας), god of the wonders of the sea
- Thoosa (Θόοσα), goddess of swift currents
- Triteia (Τριτεια), daughter of Triton and companion of Ares
- Triton (Τρίτων), fish-tailed son and herald of Poseidon
- Tritones (Τρίτωνες), fish-tailed spirits in Poseidon's retinue
[edit]Sky deities
- Achelois (Ἀχελωΐς), "she who washes pain away", a minor moon goddess
- Aeolus (Aiolos) (Αίολος), god of the winds.
- Aether (Αιθήρ), primeval god of the upper air
- Alectrona (Αλεκτρονα), solar goddess of the morning or waking up
- Anemoi, gods of the winds
- Boreas (Βορέας), god of the north wind and of winter
- Eurus (Εύρος), god of the unlucky east or southeast wind
- Notus (Νότος) god of the south wind
- Zephyrus (Ζέφυρος), god of the west wind
- Aparctias (Απαρκτίας), another name for the north wind (not identified with Boreas)
- Apheliotes (Αφηλιώτης), god of the east wind (when Eurus is considered southeast)
- Argestes (Αργέστης), another name for the west or northwest wind
- Caicias (Καικίας), god of the northeast wind
- Circios (Κίρκιος) or Thraskias (Θρασκίας), god of the north-northwest wind
- Euronotus (Ευρονότος), god of the southeast wind
- Lips (Λίψ), god of the southwest wind
- Skeiron (Σκείρων), god of the northwest wind
- Arke (Άρκη), messenger of the Titans and twin sister of Iris
- Astraios (Ἀστραῖος), Titan god of stars and planets, and the art of astrology
- The Astra Planeti (Αστρα Πλανετοι), gods of the five wandering stars or planets
- Stilbon (Στιλβών), god of Hermaon, the planet Mercury
- Eosphorus (Ηωσφόρος), god of Venus the morning star
- Hesperus (Ἓσπερος), god of Venus the evening star
- Pyroeis (Πυρόεις), god of Areios, the planet Mars
- Phaethon (Φαέθων), god of Dios, the planet Jupiter
- Phaenon (Φαίνων), god of Kronion, the planet Saturn
- Aurai (Αὖραι), nymphs of the cooling breeze
- Aura (Αὖρα), goddess of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning
- Chaos (Χάος), the nothingness from which all else sprang, she also represented the lower atmosphere which surrounded the earth
- Chione (Χιόνη), goddess of snow and daughter of Boreas
- Helios (Ἥλιος), Titan god of the sun and guardian of oaths
- Selene (Σελήνη), Titan goddess of the moon
- Eos (Ἠώς), Titan goddess of the dawn
- Hemera (Ημέρα), primeval goddess of daylight and the sun
- Hera (Ήρα), Queen of Heaven and goddess of the air and starry constellations
- Herse (Ἕρση), goddess of the morning dew
- The Hesperides (Ἑσπερίδες)
- The Hades, nymphs that represented a star cluster in the constellation Taurus and were associated with rain
- Iris (Ίρις), goddess of the rainbow and divine messenger
- The Menae (Μήναι), fifty goddesses of phases of the moon and the fifty lunar months of the four-year Olympiad
- Nephelai (Νεφήλαι), cloud nymphs
- Ouranos (Ουρανός), primeval god of the heavens
- Pandia (Πανδία), daughter of Selene and Zeus; goddess of the full moon and of the earth-nourishing dew
- The Pleiades (Πλειάδες), goddesses of the constellation Pleiades
- Zeus (Ζεύς), King of Heaven and god of the sky, clouds, rain, thunder and lightning
[edit]Rustic deities
- Aetna (Αἴτνη), goddess of the volcanic Mount Etna in Sicily
- Amphictyonis (Αμφικτυονίς), goddess of wine and friendship between nations, a local form of Demeter
- Anthousai (Ανθούσαι), flower nymphs
- Aristaeus (Ἀρισταῖος), god of bee-keeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing and hunting
- Attis (Άττις), vegetation god and consort of Cybele
- Britomartis (Βριτόμαρτις), Cretan goddess of hunting and nets used for fishing, fowling and the hunting of small game
- Cabeiri (Κάβειροι), gods or spirits who presided over the Mysteries of the islands of Lemnos and Samothrace
- Aitnaios (Αιτναιος)
- Alkon (Αλκων)
- Eurymedon (Ευρυμεδών)
- Onnes (Όννης)
- Tonnes (Τόννης)
- Centaurs (Κένταυροι), a race of half-man, half-horse beings
- The Cercopes (Κέρκοπες), a pair of monkey-like thieves who plagued the land of Lydia in western Anatolia
- Akmon (Ακμών)
- Passalos (Πάσσαλος)
- Chloris (Χλωρίς), goddess of flowers and wife of Zephyrus
- Comus (Κόμος), god of revelry, merrymaking and festivity
- Corymbus (Κόρυμβος), god of the fruit of the ivy
- The Curetes (Κουρέτες), guardians of infant Zeus on Mount Ida, barely distinguished from the Dactyls and the Corybantes
- Cybele (Κυβέλη), a Phrygian mountain goddess associated with Rhea
- The Dactyls (Δάκτυλοι)"fingers", minor deities originally representing fingers of a hand
- Dionysus (Διόνυσος), god of wine, drunken orgies and wild vegetation
- Dryades (Δρυάδες), tree and forest nymphs
- Gaia (Γαία), primeval goddess of the earth
- Epimeliades (Επιμελίδες), nymphs of highland pastures and protectors of sheep flocks
- Hamadryades (Αμαδρυάδες), oak tree dryades
- Hecaterus (Ηεκατερος), minor god of the hekateris — a rustic dance of quickly moving hands — and perhaps of the skill of hands in general
- Hephaestus (Ήφαιστος), god of metalworking
- Hermes (Ερμής), god of herds and flocks, of roads and boundary stones
- The Horae (Ώρες), The Hours
- The goddesses of natural order
- The goddesses of springtime growth
- The goddesses of welfare
- The goddesses of the natural portions of time and the times of day
- Auge (Αυγή), first light of the morning
- Anatole (Ανατολή) or Anatolia (Ανατολία), sunrise
- Mousika or Musica (Μουσική), the morning hour of music and study
- Gymnastika, Gymnastica (Γυμναστίκή) or Gymnasia (Γυμνασία), the morning hour of gymnastics/exercise
- Nymphe (Νυμφή), the morning hour of ablutions (bathing, washing)
- Mesembria (Μεσημβρία), noon
- Sponde (Σπονδή), libations poured after lunch
- Elete, prayer, the first of the afternoon work hours
- Akte, Acte (Ακτή) or Cypris (Κυπρίς), eating and pleasure, the second of the afternoon work hours
- Hesperis (Έσπερίς), evening
- Dysis (Δύσις), sunset
- Arktos (Άρκτος), night sky, constellation
- The goddesses of seasons of the year
- Eiar (Είαρ), spring
- Theros (Θέρος), summer
- Pthinoporon (Φθινόπωρον), autumn
- Cheimon (Χειμών), winter
- Korybantes (Κορύβαντες), the crested dancers who worshipped Cybele
- Damneus (Δαμνεύς) "the one who tames(?)"
- Idaios (Ιδαίος) "of Mount Ida"
- Kyrbas (Κύρβας), whose name is probably a variant of Korybas, singular for "Korybantes"
- Okythoos (Ωκύθοος) "the one running swiftly"
- Prymneus (Πρυμνεύς) "of lower areas(?)"
- Pyrrhichos (Πυρῥιχος), god of the rustic dance
- Maenades (μαινάδες), crazed nymphs in the retinue of Dionysus
- Methe (Μέθη), nymph of drunkenness
- Meliae (Μελίαι), nymphs of honey and the ash tree
- Naiades (Ναιάδες), fresh water nymphs
- The Nymphai Hyperboreioi (Νύμφαι Υπερβόρειοι), who presided over aspects of archery
- Hekaerge (Εκαέργη), represented distancing
- Loxo (Λοξώ), represented trajectory
- Oupis (Ουπις), represented aim
- Oreades (Ὀρεάδες), mountain nymphs
- Oceanides (Ωκεανίδες), fresh water nymphs
- Beroe (Βερόη), a nymph of Beirut, the daughter of Aphrodite and Adonis, who was wooed by both Dionysus and Poseidon
- Calypso (Καλυψώ)
- Clytie (Κλυτίη)
- Eidyia (Ειδυια), the youngest of the Oceanides
- for the complete list, see List of Oceanids
- The Ourea (Ούρος), primeval gods of mountains
- The Palici (Παλικοί), a pair of rustic gods who presided over the geysers and thermal springs in Sicily
- Pan (Πάν), god of shepherds, pastures, and fertility
- Potamoi, river gods
- Priapus (Πρίαπος), god of garden fertility
- Rhea (Ῥέα), the great mother and queen of the mountain wilds
- Satyrs (Σάτυροι), rustic fertility spirits
- Krotos (Κρότος), a great hunter and musician who kept the company of the Muses on Mount Helicon
- Silenus (Σειληνός), an old rustic god of the dance of the wine-press
- Telete (Τελέτη), goddess of initiation into the Bacchic orgies
- Zagreus (Ζαγρεύς), in the Orphic mysteries, the first incarnation of Dionysus
[edit]Agricultural deities
- Adonis (Άδωνις), a life-death-rebirth deity
- Aphaea (Αφαία), minor goddess of agriculture and fertility
- Carme (Κάρμη), a Cretan spirit who presided over the harvest festival
- Carmanor (Καρμάνωρ), a Cretan harvest god
- Chrysothemis (Χρυσόθεμις), goddess of the "Golden Custom", a harvest festival, daughter of Demeter and Carmanor
- Cyamites (Κυαμίτης), demi-god of the bean
- Demeter (Δημήτηρ), goddess of fertility, agriculture, grain and harvest
- Despoina, daughter of Poseidon and Demeter, goddess of mysteries in Arcadia
- Dionysus (Διόνυσος), god of viticulture and wine
- Eunostus (Εύνοστος), goddess of the flour mill
- Hestia (Ἑστία), maiden goddess of the hearth who presided over the baking of bread, mankind's stable food
- Persephone (Περσεφόνη), queen of the underworld, wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth
- Philomelus (Φιλόμελος), agricultural demi-god inventor of the wagon and the plough
- Plutus (Πλοῦτος), god of wealth, including agricultural wealth, son of Demeter
[edit]Deified mortals
- Achilles (Ἀχιλλεύς), hero of the Trojan War
- Aiakos (Αἰακός), a king of Aegina, appointed as a Judge of the Dead in the Underworld after his death
- Aeolus (Aiolos) (Αἴολος), a king of Thessaly, made the immortal king of the winds by Zeus
- Amphiaraus (Ἀμφιάραος), a hero of the war of the Seven Against Thebe who became an oracular spirit of the Underworld after his death
- Ariadne (Αριάδνη), a Cretan princess who became the immortal wife of Dionysus
- Aristaeus (Ἀρισταῖος), a Thessalian hero, his inventions saw him immortalised as the god of bee-keeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing and hunting
- Asclepius (Ἀσκληπιός), a Thessalian physician who was struck down by Zeus, to be later recovered by his father Apollo
- Attis (Ἄττις), a consort of Cybele, granted immortality as one of her attendants
- Bolina (Βολίνα), a mortal woman transformed into an immortal nymph by Apollo
- The Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι), divine twins
- Endymion (Ἐνδυμίων), lover of Selene, granted eternal sleep so as never to age or die
- Ganymede (Γανυμήδης), a handsome Trojan prince, abducted by Zeus and made cup-bearer of the gods
- Glaucus (Γλαῦκος), the fisherman's sea god, made immortal after eating a magical herb
- Hemithea (Ἡμιθέα) and Parthenos (Παρθένος), princesses of the Island of Naxos who leapt into the sea to escape their father's wrath; Apollo transformed them into demi-goddesses
- Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς), ascended hero
- Lampsace (Λαμψάκη), a semi-historical Bebrycian princess honored as goddess for her assistance to the Greeks
- Minos (Μίνως), a king of Crete, appointed as a Judge of the Dead in the Underworld after his death
- Ino (Ἰνώ), a Theban princess who became the sea goddess Leucothea
- The Leucippides (Λευκιππίδες), wives of the Dioscuri
- Orithyia (Ὠρείθυια), an Athenian princess abducted by Boreas and made the goddess of cold, gusty mountain winds
- Palaemon (Παλαίμων), a Theban prince, made into a sea god along with his mother, Ino
- Phylonoe (Φυλονόη), daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, made immortal by Artemis
- Psyche (Ψυχή), goddess of the soul
[edit]Health deities
- Aceso (Ἀκεσώ), goddess of the healing of wounds and the curing of illnesses
- Aegle (Αἴγλη), goddess of radiant good health
- Asclepius (Ασκληπιός), god of healing
- Epione (Ἠπιόνη), goddess of the soothing of pain
- Hygieia (Υγεία), goddess of cleanliness and good health
- Iaso (Ἰασώ), goddess of cures, remedies and modes of healing
- Paeon (Παιάν, Παιήων, or Παιών), physician of the Olympian gods
- Panacea (Πανάκεια), goddess of healing
- Telesphorus (Τελεσφόρος), demi-god of convalescence, who "brought to fulfillment" recuperation from illness or injury
