Achilles was a Greek hero, most famous for his part in the Trojan War. He was the son of Thetis and Peleus, the king of Myrmidons. Poseidon and Zeus were in love with Thetis, but Prometheus warned them of a prophecy that said that the son of Thetis would become greater than … [Read more...]
Adonis
Greek God of beauty and desire Adonis was the god of beauty and desire in Greek mythology. He was originally worshipped in Phoenicia (which is now the modern-day Lebanon) but he was adopted by the Greeks later. He was the son of Theias, the king of Syria. His mother was … [Read more...]
Adventures of Theseus
According to Greek mythology, Theseus was the son of Aethra, yet his father was unknown. At the time, Aethra supposedly had two suitors; King Aegeus of Athens, and Poseidon, God of the Sea. King Aegeus assumed the child was his own, and in the months preceding the birth of … [Read more...]
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, also known as the King of Macedonia, was a famous Greek king who came to the throne in the year 336BC. He is widely regarded as being one of the most successful military commanders in all of history and was responsible for changing the face of the ancient … [Read more...]
Aphrodite
Greek Goddess of Love, Beauty & Eternal Youth Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Beauty and according to Hesiod's Theogony, she was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus. She supposedly arose from the foam when the Titan Cronus slew his father … [Read more...]
Apollo
God of the Sun, the Light, the Music and Prophecy Apollo is one of the most complex and important gods, and is the god of many things, including: music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. He is the son of Zeus and the Titan Leto, and was … [Read more...]
Apollo and Daphne
In Greek Mythology, Apollo was the God of Light, and it was his job to pull the sun across the sky in his 4-horse chariot every day. He has also been referred to as the God of music, poetry, art, medicine, knowledge, plague and archery. Apollo was the son of Zeus (the God of … [Read more...]
Arachne
The Arachne is a creature from Greek mythology, whose name was later used for words like "arachnid" and "arachnophobia." There's very little to fear about the story of Arachne, however. Hers is a cautionary tale about pride that we can all learn from. According to the myth, … [Read more...]
Ares
Greek God of War Ares is the god of war, one of the Twelve Olympian gods and the son of Zeus and Hera. In literature Ares represents the violent and physical untamed aspect of war, which is in contrast to Athena who represents military strategy and generalship as the goddess of … [Read more...]
Artemis
Greek Goddess of the Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon, Archery Artemis is known as the goddess of the hunt and is one of the most respected of all the ancient Greek deities. It is thought that her name, and even the goddess herself, may even be pre-Greek. She was the daughter … [Read more...]
Athena
Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War Athena, also referred to as Athene, is a very important goddess of many things. She is goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She … [Read more...]
Atlas
In Greek Mythology, Atlas was a Titan who was responsible for bearing the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, a punishment bestowed on him by Zeus. Atlas was given this task in retribution for him leading the Titans into battle, or Titanomachy, against the Olympian Gods for … [Read more...]
Bellerophon
Perseus is not the only one to ride the winged horse, Pegasus. Bellerophon (Bellerophontes) is also granted the right to ride the magical steed. Though prophecies and divine intervention abound in this man's life, he still meets a tragic end due to his careless … [Read more...]
Calypso
Calypso is a figure from Greek mythology that has very unclear origins. While it's not completely clear exactly who or what she is, she is perhaps most famous for her role in Homer's Odyssey. Her role in that tale composes one of the more important movements in the book, and is … [Read more...]
Centaurs
In Greek mythology, Centaurs (or Kentauroi) are half-man, half horse creatures that inhabited the mountains and forests of Thessaly. Centaurs were said to be primal, existing in tribes and making their homes in caves, hunting wild animals and arming themselves with rocks and tree … [Read more...]
Cerberus
Cerberus: The three Headed Dog of Greek Mythology There are many unique creatures mentioned in Greek mythology. One of the most well known may be the three-headed dog known as Cerberus. It was the job of Cerberus to guard the entrance to Hades. In Greek mythology, this was the … [Read more...]
Chaos
Chaos was the origin of everything and the very first thing that ever existed. It was a primordial void, which everything was created from including the universe and the Greek Gods. In ancient Greek, Chaos is translated as ‘the gaping void.’ The first deities that emerged from … [Read more...]
Chimaera
Chimaera - A Fire-Breathing Monster Chimaera has become one of the most famous female monsters described in Greek mythology. An aura of mystery has always surrounded this creature. (Even today, the name "chimaera" sometimes refers to a genetic puzzle.) Greek sailors … [Read more...]
Coeus
According to Greek mythology, Coeus is the Titan God of the North, and the Titan of Resolve and Intelligence as well as the embodiment of the celestial axis around which the heavens revolve. The etymology of Coeus’ name provided scholars to theorise that he was also the God of … [Read more...]
Crius
Hesiod, the Greek historian, names Crius as one of the Titans born from Uranus and Gaia. Little is known about Crius, he was one of the Titans overthrown in the Titanomachy and was the father of Perses and the grandfather of Hecate. He is known as the Titan God of heavenly … [Read more...]
Cronus
Cronus is possibly the most famous of the Titans as he was the King and leader of his brothers fighting against Uranus and eventually the Olympian Gods. Born of Uranus and Gaia, he was the wiliest and youngest of their offspring and perhaps the most powerful. Cronus would gain by … [Read more...]
Cupid
If you mention 'Cupid' to just about anybody, they will tell you he is the God of Love, but how much do we really know that is fact rather than fiction. Who is Cupid In Latin, Cupid goes by two names that have different origins, but whose meanings are both associated with love. … [Read more...]
Cyclopes
The Cyclopes were giant; one-eyed monsters; a wild race of lawless creatures who possess neither social manners nor fear of the Gods. Cyclopes means ‘round eye.’ Considered the sons of Uranus and Gaea they were the workmen of the God Hephaestus whose workshop was in the heart of … [Read more...]
Daedalus
Daedalus was well known as a genius inventor in Greek mythology and he is both a central part of several myths as well as a side character in a few others. He is perhaps best known for two things, though - he is both the architect behind the Labyrinth and the father of the tragic … [Read more...]
Demeter
Greek Goddess of Agriculture, Fertility, Sacred Law and the Harvest Demeter is the goddess of the harvest and presides over grains and the fertility of the earth. Although she was most often referred to as the goddess of the harvest, she was also goddess of sacred law and the … [Read more...]
Diana
Like her Greek counterpart, Artemis, Diana was the goddess of the hunt. The daughter of the Roman god Jupiter and his mistress, Latona, Diana was born on the island of Delos with her twin brother, Apollo, the god of light. Although primarily associated with hunting, Diana was … [Read more...]
Dionysus
Greek God of Wine & the Grape Harvest Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theatre. He may have been worshipped as early as 1500-100BC by Mycenean Greeks according to very old scripts inscribed with his … [Read more...]
Echidna
Echidna the She-Viper - Mother of Monsters Echidna is a somewhat obscure, but nevertheless fearsome monster in Greek mythology. Homer’s The Iliad and Hesiod’s poem Theogony are some of the oldest writings to feature her, and have therefore been influential in shaping Echidna’s … [Read more...]
Eos
Eos is a Greek goddess who shows up more often in literature, such as the Odyssey, than in actual religious practice. She remains reasonably famous in spite of that fact, mostly because one of her main myths was popular in Athens, which left more written records than most other … [Read more...]
Eros
Eros was the Greek god of Love, in some stories he first appears as a primordial god, born from Chaos and in others he is the son of Aphrodite. In the primordial myths, according to Hesiod, Eros was born from Chaos after Gaia and Tartarus and was involved at the beginning of … [Read more...]
Gaea
In Greek mythology, Gaea (or Gaia), the primordial earth or mother goddess was one of the deities who governed the universe before the Titans existed. In the creation myth, Chaos came before everything else. He was made of Void, Mass and Darkness in confusion; and then earth … [Read more...]
Hades
Greek God of the Dead and King of the Underworld Hades was the god of the underworld and the name eventually came to also describe the home of the dead as well. He was the oldest male child of Cronus and Rhea. Hades and his brothers Zeus and Poseidon defeated their father and … [Read more...]
Harpies
The Harpies were mythical monsters in Greek mythology that had the form of a bird with a human female face; often agents of punishment they abducted people and tortured them on their way to Hades’ domain, employed by the God as instruments for the punishment of the guilty. They … [Read more...]
Helios
Helios, the Sun God A handsome Titan with flowing hair, driving a golden chariot pulled by four fiery steeds across the sky. That was the image that would come to the minds of ancient Greeks when they thought of Helios. To them, he was the representation of the sun and sunlight, … [Read more...]
Hephaestus
Greek God of Fire and Metalworking Hephaestus was the god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture. He was the son of Zeus and Hera and married to Aphrodite by Zeus to prevent a war of the gods fighting for her hand. He was a smithing god, making … [Read more...]
Hera
Greek Goddess of Marriage and Queen of Olympus Hera is the Queen of the Gods and is the wife and sister of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon. She is known for being the Goddess of Marriage & Birth. Despite being the Goddess of Marriage, she was known to be jealous and vengeful … [Read more...]
Heracles
Heracles is one of the most recognised and famous of the divine heroes in Greek mythology. The son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, he was considered the greatest of the heroes, a symbol of masculinity, sire of a long line of royal clans and the champion of the Olympian … [Read more...]
Hermes
Greek God of Trade, Eloquence and Messenger of the Gods Hermes was one of the 12 Olympian Gods and was god of trade, thieves, travelers, sports, athletes, and border crossings, guide to the Underworld. He was the second youngest Olympian god and was the son of Zeus and Maia, one … [Read more...]
Hestia
Greek Goddess of the Hearth and Domestic Life Hestia was the goddess of the hearth, home, architecture, domesticity, family, and the state. She was one of only three virgin goddesses, next to Athena and Artemis. Although both Poseidon and Apollo wanted to marry her, Hestia … [Read more...]
Hyperion
Hyperion - The Titan God Hyperion is a Titan, one of the old gods who ruled before the Olympians. The god of light, he is the son of Uranus, or heaven and Gaea, or earth. Hyperion in turn is the father of the sun, Helios; the moon, Selene and the dawn, Eos. His wife was Thea, … [Read more...]
Hypnos
In Greek mythology, Hypnos is the god associated with sleep. His mother was Nyx (night) and his father was Erebus (darkness). Even Zeus, the most powerful of the Greek gods, was afraid of entering Nyx's realm because she was such a dreadful and powerful goddess. Hypnos and his … [Read more...]
Icarus
The Tragic Story of Icarus A Cautionary Tale A young man named Icarus holds center stage in a very memorable tale from ancient Greek mythology. Even today, some people recount this story as a cautionary warning. Overconfidence sometimes produces disastrous results! The Son of … [Read more...]
Jason
Jason: A Different Type of Greek Hero Jason's Story There are many heroes, foes, and gods in Greek mythology. Some of the most recognized names are Zeus and Hera. Of course, there is also Hades, the god in charge of the underworld. Perhaps one of the most famous figures in … [Read more...]
Juno
In Ancient Roman mythology, the goddess, Juno, held a significant and powerful role among the gods and the people of Rome. She was the daughter of Saturn and married her twin brother, Jupiter, who was the god of sky and thunder, but was also more importantly known as the king of … [Read more...]
Jupiter
Jupiter, the Roman King of the Gods In terms of Roman mythology, the god Jupiter is the king. In fact, he is often referred to as the king of the gods. He may not be the original creator of the mythological creatures that dominated tales and lore; that distinction belongs to his … [Read more...]
King Midas
Midas was a king who reigned in Macedonian Bromium in what is now modern day Turkey. The people he ruled over were called the Brigians or the Moschians. He was the son of the goddess Ida and an unnamed satyr and loved pleasure and wealth. When he was a baby, ants would climb up … [Read more...]
Kratos
Kratos is an interesting figure in Greek mythology. It is largely agreed that he is a god of strength and power, but there are conflicting stories about almost everything else about him. There are two competing versions of his parentage, each of which changes his relation to the … [Read more...]
Mars
Roman God of War - Mars Religion was an important part of daily life in Rome. It helped Romans make sense of good and bad things that happened. If terrible things like natural disasters or battle losses occurred, Romans believed it was evidence that the Gods were unhappy with … [Read more...]
Medea
Medea is the daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis. She is a sorceress who marries the hero Jason. She is the title character of the play written by Euripides. Medea is an enchantress, and is sometimes seen as a priestess of the goddess Hecate. Medea saw Jason after he arrived … [Read more...]
Medusa
One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology, Medusa was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. She went against her vow and married him. For this Athena punished … [Read more...]
Minerva
Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom. She was also the goddess of trade, the arts, and strategy in war. Her domains included medicine, poetry, and handicrafts as well. She was in charge of so many things that Ovid called her the "goddess of a thousand works"! Minerva was … [Read more...]
Minotaur
The tale of the Minotaur is one of the classics of Greek mythology and contains an extraordinary number of important elements. Characters like the brilliant Daedalus, strong Theseus, evil King Minos and his beautiful daughter Ariadne all make an appearance in this story. The … [Read more...]
Myths of the Constellations
Since the beginning of time man has looked up at the night sky and wondered about the stars. These points of light were once a mystery. Before man discovered all we know today about the stars and planets, they used the constellations to tell a story. Constellations are like a dot … [Read more...]
Neptune
Neptune is the Roman God of the sea. He is the brother of Pluto and Jupiter.He is very similar to Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.Often associated with fresh water, he was first referenced in Roman mythology as being associated with water around 399 BC. Given a name that means … [Read more...]
Nike
In Greek Mythology, Nike was the Goddess of speed, strength and victory. Also known as Winged Goddess, Nike is most often pictured as having wings. She was the child of Pallas (Titan) and Styx In most beliefs, Styx is the name of the river that separates Planet Earth from the … [Read more...]
Odysseus
In Greek mythology, Odysseus is the great-grandson of Hermes, one of the twelve Olympian Gods. He is the son of Laertes, the king of Ithaca, and Anticlea and the husband of Penelope and father of a child named Telemachus. Known for his leadership skills, wit, and intelligence, … [Read more...]
Pan
The culture of Ancient Greece involved a complex spiritual world of major and minor gods that oversaw human events and engaged in dramas of their own. One of these, called Pan, ruled over nature and pasturelands. He is frequently depicted in literature and artworks. Although he … [Read more...]
Pegasus
Pegasus is a mythological creature described as a beautiful, pure white stallion with wings. He was born from the blood of Medusa, a frightful Gorgon whose gaze could turn men to stone, when the hero Perseus decapitated her. His twin brother of Chrysaor, who is depicted as a … [Read more...]
Persephone
Persephone's story actually focuses more on her mother, Demeter, and what happens when Persephone disappears. The young goddess is also the daughter and niece of Zeus, and the wife and niece of Hades when she becomes the queen of the Underworld. Daughter of Demeter Persephone … [Read more...]
Perseus
Perseus was one of the oldest out of all of the Greek mythological heroes. He is best known in Greek mythology as the slayer of Medusa, one of three female creatures, or Gorgons, with hair said to be made of poisonous snakes. Perseus and his origins on Argos Perseus was thought … [Read more...]
Pluto
Pluto was one of three brothers and two sisters born to the Roman god, Saturn, and his goddess wife, Ops. Upon the death of Saturn and after the defeat of the Titans, the three brothers divided the realms of their father. Jupiter received the sky as his dominion; Neptune, the … [Read more...]
Polyphemus
Cyclopes are the only beasts of the first creation that are not punished by Zeus when he overthrows his father, Cronus. This may have something to do with them being his nephews as sons of Poseidon, and no, there are no female cyclopes. They will eventually become favorites of … [Read more...]
Poseidon
Greek God of the Sea Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses and is considered one of the most bad-tempered, moody and greedy Olympian gods. He was known to be vengeful when insulted. He is the son of Cronus and Rhea and was swallowed by his father along … [Read more...]
Prometheus
The myth of Prometheus explains how human beings first discovered fire, and it is so ancient that it almost certainly predates the Greeks. It happens early in their mythology even by their own standards, because Prometheus lived in the dim times before the Greek gods were first … [Read more...]
Rhea
During ancient times, there were many things people did not understand. For instance, they didn't know why the seasons changed. They didn't know why the winter months were cold and the spring and summer months were warm or hot. Why the sun was out during day time and why the … [Read more...]
Saturn
The Roman god Saturn has a long history and a festival all of his own. The Romans generally borrowed their gods from the ancient Greeks, and almost every Roman god had a Greek counterpart. Saturn's original counterpart in Greece was Cronus. Cronus was a Titan. In Greek … [Read more...]
Scylla
In Greek mythology, Scylla (pronounced "Sill-ah" or "Skee-lah", depending on what country you live in) is a sea monster who lives on the rocks of a narrow water channel opposite of the whirlpool (and originally also a sea monster) Charybdis. Ships caught in between Scylla and … [Read more...]
Selene
Selene - Titan Goddess of the Moon Selene, goddess of the moon, truly represented the moon itself to the Greeks. Although she counts as a goddess in her own right, Selene often gets associated with archer goddess, Artemis, who is also a moon goddess. These two goddesses have … [Read more...]
Sisyphus
Sisyphus was the creator and first king of the city Ephyra (later Corinth). He married the nymph Merope and had four children: Glaucus, Ornytion, Almus and Thersander. Sisyphus helped his city become a commercial hub. He is also rumored to have created the Isthmian Games, a … [Read more...]
The Adventures of Perseus
Perseus is one of the most famous heroes of Greek myth. The character is one of the many 'local heroes' of Greece, tied specifically to Argos. Perseus' character isn't quite as violent or complex as those you might see in other myths, but he's interesting nonetheless. Perseus' … [Read more...]
The Amazons
According to Greek Mythology, the Amazons were a tribe of entirely female warriors. It was believed that the Amazons lived in Themiscyra near the Black Sea. This area is now Turkey, Eastern Europe. The Amazons were famous for being all women and for hating men. No men were … [Read more...]
The Argonauts
The Argonauts were a band of heroes united in the common cause of taking the Golden Fleece from Colchis. This was a group of some of the most legendary heroes of all of Greek mythology, one of the few times in the myths where a group of heroes team up to accomplish a goal. The … [Read more...]
The Sirens
The Sirens were creatures that sang beautifully, luring those passing by to their deaths. Each Siren combined the appearance of a woman and a bird, with the exact appearance varying depending on the artist. Some artists drew Sirens that had bodies of birds with the heads of … [Read more...]
Theogony
Theogony literally means the “birth or genealogy of the gods.” It is the name of an epic poem by Hesiod, a Greek poet who is believed to have lived between 750 and 650 BC. He was thus a contemporary of Homer, the author of the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.” Along with Homer’s works, … [Read more...]
Theseus
Not many heroes are best known for their use of silk thread to escape a crisis, but it is true of Theseus. The Greek demi-god is known for feats of strength but is even better remembered for divine intelligence and wisdom. He had many great triumphs as a young man, but he died a … [Read more...]
Titanomachy
The Wars between the Titans and Olympians The Titanomachy is a series of wars in Greek mythology. These wars took place in Thessaly, and were also called the War of the Titans, the Battle of the Titans, the Battle of the Gods or just the Titan War. These wars were between the … [Read more...]
Triton
Greek Sea-God of Waves & Calm Seas, Herald of Poseidon Triton is one of the mythical Greek gods, and he is the son of Amphitrite and Poseidon. Triton's parents were the god and goddess of the sea, and Triton himself acted as his father's herald. That is why he is often … [Read more...]
Typhon
Typhon - the Father of all Monsters There might be gods and monsters, but rarely are you going to hear about a god who is also a monster. That's exactly what Typhon is, and it's why he's one of the most fearsome deities that you can face. He's most often described as the most … [Read more...]
Uranus
Uranus is one of the old gods in Greek mythology. He ruled the universe, and his name means sky or heaven. He literally was the sky, which the Greeks envisioned as a brass dome studded with stars. He was the husband of Gaia, or Earth. He was not only her husband, but her … [Read more...]
Venus
Venus is the Roman goddess of love, beauty, prosperity, fertility, and victory. She was so important to Romans that they claimed her as their ancestress. According to mythology, her son Aeneas fled from Troy to Italy. He became the ancestor of Remus and Romulus, who founded … [Read more...]
Vulcan
Vulcan is a Roman God whose father was Jupiter, king of the Gods. His mother was Juno, queen of the Gods. It was believed that with such parents he would be quite handsome. As a baby, Vulcan was very small and ugly. He had a face that was red and distorted. Juno was so horrified … [Read more...]
Zeus
Greek God of the Sky and King of the Gods Zeus was the first of the gods and a very imposing figure. Often referred to as the "Father of Gods and men", he is a sky god who controls lightning (often using it as a weapon) and thunder. Zeus is king of Mount Olympus, the home of … [Read more...]