Sky Gods
The Greeks referred to the deities of the sky and weather as "Theoi Ouranioi" or "Theoi Meteoroi." These gods were governed by Zeus and Hera, the celestial monarchs of the heavens.
In ancient Greek mythology, the concept of the sky and its deities played a pivotal role in shaping the cosmos and narratives of human existence. The chief among these sky gods was Zeus, the ruler of Mount Olympus and the pantheon of gods who resided there.
Revered as the god of the sky, lightning, thunder, and law, his dominion over the heavens was undisputed. His tumultuous rise to power, involving battles with the Titans and the subsequent overthrow of his father, Cronus, established his dominance not only in the skies but over all of the earth and seas.
Yet, Zeus wasn't the only sky deity.
His siblings, Helios and Selene, represented the sun and the moon, respectively.
While Helios drove his golden chariot across the sky, illuminating the world, Selene’s silvery light bathed the night. The sky was also home to celestial phenomena personified as deities, like Eos, the goddess of dawn, and the Anemoi, wind gods representing different directions.
Together, these sky gods and goddesses symbolized the vast, ever-changing canvas of the heavens and its profound influence on Greek culture and spirituality.
Sky Gods
Aeolus
Aeolus is the name of a few different characters in Greek mythology, but the one most commonly associated with the name is the god of winds. He plays a key role in Homer’s Odyssey, in which he’s also known as the keeper of the winds. This Aeolus, from the story, was originally human, but in […]
Anemoi
The Anemoi were four Greek gods of the four winds. They were the offspring of Aeolus and Eos. Aeolus was the god of the Winds. Eos, also known as the Dawn Bringer, was a goddess daughter of either a Titan, Pallas Athena, or Nyx. Hesoid, the Greek poet, gives their parentage as Astraea and Eos. […]
Atlas
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 control of the heavens.
Aura (Aurai, Aurae)
Aura was a nymph (minor diety) that appears in both Greek and Roman mythology. She was the daughter of the Titan Lelantos and Periboa. Aura is associated with gentle breezes, especially the cool, fresh winds that occur early in the morning. She was worshiped as part of an ancient Greek religion called the Eleusinian Mysteries. […]
Boreas
Ancient Greek mythology features many recognizable figures that inspired legends we continue to tell today. While most are familiar with the famous Twelve Olympians, many lessers gods shaped culture and symbolized many core concepts of nature. One of those gods was Boreas. Boreas is one of four Anemoi. The Anemoi are minor gods who acted […]
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 parts of Greece. Who Was She? […]
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 stole food from their victims and […]
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, traveling across the sky every day. Some authors […]
Hera – Greek Goddess of Marriage and Queen of Olympus
Hera was Queen of the Olympian gods. In the story of the Quest of the Golden Fleece, Hera was a gracious protector of the heroes.Hera had few, if any, redeeming qualities. She never forgot an injury.
Hesperus – Greek God of The Evening Star
The Importance of The Night Sky to Ancient Greeks People in ancient Greece often spent time observing the night sky. Sailors in particular relied upon the position of constellations during navigation. Known for centuries as an “evening star” the planet Venus sometimes appears visible in the early evening; for generations, people mistook the planet for […]
Iris
Goddess of The Rainbow A goddess named “Iris” personified the rainbow in the mythology of ancient Greece. Most works of art depict her either in the form of a beautiful rainbow, or as a lovely maiden. She wore wings on her shoulders and usually carried a pitcher in one hand. Her name combined the Greek […]
Nyx – Greek Goddess of The Night
Nyx is the Greek Goddess of the night, and the daughter of Chaos. She was told to be very beautiful. Her birthplace was not on Earth but in Gaia. She is Primordial God. It is said that she was created near the beginning of time. Her home is in the depths of Hades’ underworld. Nyx […]
Selene
Selene, goddess of the moon, truly represented the moon itself to the Greeks. Selene is a Titan goddess. Titan gods and goddesses were actually the divine beings that preceded the Olympian gods and goddesses. The first of these divine beings emerged from the primordial and originally called Gaea mother and Uranus father.
Zephyrus – The God of The West Wind
Zephyrus, also sometimes known as Zephyros or simply Zephyr in English, is the god of the west wind. One of four seasonal wind gods, or Anemoi, Zephyrus is the brother of Notus, the god of the south wind, Eurus, the god of the east wind, and Boreas, the god of the east wind. The offspring […]
Zeus – Greek God Of The Sky and King of the Gods
Zeus was the father of the famous Greek hero Hercules.The name Zeus means "bright" or "sky."His weapon of choice was the thunderbolt, made for him by the Cyclops.