Helios
Helios was the greek sun god. He may be thought of as a personification
of the sun. He plays little role in the myths. He became rather
overshadowed by Apollo the lord of the sun.
He was the son of Hyperion. Demeter is intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the underworld. In her anger at her daughter's loss Demeter laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, the land became desolate. Zeus became alarmed and sought Persephone's return. However, because she had eaten while in the underworld Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that Persephone would spend four months each year in the underwold. During these months Demeter greves her daughters absence, and withdraws her gifts from the world, creating winter. Her return brought the spring.
Demeter is also known for founding the Eleusinian Mysteries. These were huge festivels held every five years. They were importaint events for many centuries. Yet, little is known of them as those attending were sworn to secrecy. The central tenant seems to have been that just as grain returns every spring after its harvest and wintery death, so too the human soul could be reborn after the death of the body.
Persephone
Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and
Demeter. After her abduction by
Hades she became his wife and Queen
of the underworld.
Dionysus is the son of Zeus and
Semele. He is the only god to have a
mortal parent. Zeus came to Semele in the night, invisable, felt only
as a devine presence. Semele was pleased to be a lover of a god,
even though she did not know which one. Word soon got around and
Hera
quickly assumed who was responsible. Hera went to Semele in disguise
and convinced her she should see her lover as he really was.
When Zeus next came to her she made him promise to grant her one wish.
She went so far as to make him swear on the
River Styx that he would
grant her request. Zeus was madly in love and agreed. She then asked
him to show her his true form. Zeus, was unhappy, and knew what would
happen but, having sworn he had no choice. He appeared in his true form
and Semele was instantly burnt to a crisp by the sight of his glory.
Zeus did manage to rescue Dionysus and stiched him into his thigh to
hold him until he was ready to be born. His birth from Zeus alone
conferred immortality upon him.
Dionysus
Dionysus is the god of the vine. He invented wine and spread the art of
tending grapes. He has a dual nature. On the one hand bringing joy and
devine ecstasy. On the other brutal, unthinking, rage. Thus, reflecting
both sides of wines nature.
If he choses Dionysus can drive a man mad.
No normal fetters can hold him or his followers.
Dionysus wandered the world actively encouraging his cult. He was accompanied by the Maenads, wild women, flush with wine, shoulders draped with a fawn skin, carrying rods tipped with pine cones. While other gods had templaces the followers of Dionysus worshipped him in the woods. Here they might go into mad states where they would rip apart and eat raw any animal they came upon.
Dionysus is also one of the very few that was able to bring a dead person out of the underworld. Even though he had never seen Semele he was concerned for her. Eventually he journeyed into the underworld to find her. He faced down Thanatos and brought her back to Mount Olympus.
Dionysus became one of the most important gods in everyday life. He became associated with several key concepts. One was rebirth after death. Here his dismemberment by the Titans and return to life is symbolically echoed in tending vines, where the vines must be pruned back sharply, and then become dormant in winter for them to bear fruit. The other is the idea that under the influence of wine, one could feel possessed by a greater power. Unlike the other gods Dionysus was not only outside his believers but, also within them. At these times a man might be greater then himself and do works he otherwise could not.
The festivel for Dionysus is in the spring when the leaves begin to reapper on the vine. It became one of the most important events of the year. It's focus became the theater. Most of the great greek plays were initially written to be performed at the feast of Dionysus. All who took part writers, actors, spectators were regaurded as scared servents of Dionysus during the festivel.
Eros
Eros is the son of Aphrodite.
Eros is the god of love. In particular erotic, romantic, love.
He is often represented blindfolded because, love is often blind.
His "weapon" is darts or arrows. In either case the tips have been
magically treated to produce either uncontrolable love or unsurmountable
disintrested in the first person seen be Eros's victim after wounding.
Hebe
Hebe is the daughter of Zeus
and Hera.
She is the goddess of youth. She, along with Ganymede
are the cupbearers to the gods. Hebe is Hercules wife.
Eris
Hebe is the daughter of Zeus
and Hera.
She is the goddess of discord. In addition to her main activity of
sowing discord, she frequently accompanies her brother
Ares to battles. On these occasions
she rides his chariot and brings her son Strife.
Eris is unpopular and frequently snubbed as a guest by the other gods and mankind. This was not always a safe thing to do. The most dramatic example being the Trojan War, which was an indirect result of not inviting Eris to a wedding.
Helios
Helios was the greek sun god. He may be thought of as a personification
of the sun. He plays little role in the myths. He became rather
overshadowed by Apollo the lord of the sun.
He was the son of Hyperion.
Thanatos
Thanatosos was the greek god of death. He may be thought of as a
personification of death. He plays little role in the myths. He became rather
overshadowed by Hades the lord of the sun.
Pan
Pan is the son of Hermes.
He is the god of goatherds and shepherds.
He is mostly human in appearnce but, with goat horns and goat feet.
He is an excellent musician and plays the pipes. He is merry and
playful frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He is at home
in any wild place but, is favorite is Arcady, where he was born.
He is always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but, always rejected
because he is ugly.
His name is the basis for the word "panic". There are two differing explanations for this. The first is that he was present when Zeus defeated the Titans and claimed that it has his yelling that caused the Titans to flee. However, this seems at odds with his being Hermes son. The second is that he created the noises in the woods at night the scared travelers.
Nemesis
Nemesis means righteous anger, due enactment, or devine vengence.
This god helped to avenge those who were wronged. The Graces
They are the daughters of Zeus and
Eurynome. There are three Graces: Aglaia (Splendor),
Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Thalia (Good Cheer). The are known for singing and
dancing for the gods.
The Muses
They are the daughters of Zeus and
Mnemosyne.
They are known for the music of their song, which brings joy to any who
hear it. There are nine Muses, each with her own specialty:
Clio (History), Urania (Astronmy),
Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope
(Epic Poetry), Erato (Love Poetry), Polyhymnia (Songs to the Gods),
Euterpe (Lyric Poetry).
The Erinnyes
Also known as the Furies, punish crime. They persue wrong doers relentlessly,
until death, often driving them to suicide. They are particularly concerned with
matricide. There are three Erinnyes, Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto.
The Erinnyes came from the blood of Uranus
when he was castrated.
![[Greek Myth]](greek_myth_button.gif)