Post by ARADIA PETERSON on Jun 14, 2010 13:20:33 GMT -5
Well, my class and I did some research on greek gods and goddesses lately, and I thought I might share what I still have access to. I own none of this info except the bit on Eos.
HERMES
Skills and Traits
Hermes is the God of husbandry, roads, travel, hospitality, heralds, diplomacy, trade, thievery, language, writing, persuasion, cunning wiles, athletic contests, gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. Wherever Hermes goes he carries his Caduceus. A Caduceus is a staff with two snakes wrapped around it and wings at the top.
Hermes' Lyre Myth
One morning Maia gave birth to Hermes. She wrapped him in cloth and went to sleep. While she was asleep Hermes got out of the cloth and went to Thessaly were his brother Apollo's cattle grazed. While he was there he stole many herds and drove them to Greece. He hid them in the city of Pylos. Before he went back to Maia he caught and killed a turtle and took out its internals. Using the the intestine of the cattle and the hollow shell he made the first lyre. When he got back to his Mom he wrapped himself back up in the cloth. When Apollo figured out had been robbed he told Maia that Hermes had taken them. Maia said that he couldn't have he was still wrapped up in the cloth. Then Zeus said that he had been watching Hermes and that Hermes had stolen the cattle. During the argument Hermes had started to play his lyre, the music enchanted Apollo so much that offered to trade the cattle for the lyre. Hermes traded and later Apollo became the lord of music. Later while Hermes was watching his cattle he invented the Syrinx. The Syrinx is also known as the Pan Flute
Background
Information
Hermes' parents are Maia and Zeus. His siblings are Athena, Dike, Eunomia, Eirena, Klotho, Lakhesis, Atropos, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, Euterpe, Melpomene, Terpsikhore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Ourania, Kalliope, Eileithyia, Hebe, Zagreus, Melinoe, Dionysus, Paneia, Herse, Britomartis, Aigipan, Athena , Tykhe, Kairon, Hercules, Thalia, Apollo, and Perseus. Hermes had many children. His known children are Pan, Hermaphroditus, Eros, Tyche, Abderus, and Autolycus. Since Hermes is a Greek God he had many wives too. His wives are Aphrodite, Persephone, Brimo, and Daeira. Many of Hermes wives were nymphs. Hermes was born in Arcadia, near the mountain Cyllene. Hermes lives in Mount Olympus and is one of the top twelve Greek Gods and Goddess. He is Zeus’ personal messenger.
Weaknesses
In addition to Hermes many strengths, he has a few weaknesses. One of them is that he cannot stay still for too long. Because Hermes is always moving he brings attention to himself which causes him to get caught. Also, he likes to play music all the time. This causes him to bring more attention to himself when he is trying to be sneaky. Both of these weaknesses caused him to be caught when he was stealing Apollo's cattle. Hermes has no other major weaknesses
Call Hermes
By Doug Kerber
Do you need to call home?
Call Hermes
Need a ride?
Call Hermes
Need an airplane ticket?
Call Hermes
Did Santa skip you?
Call Hermes
It's Valentine's Day
Call Hermes
Lost?
Call Hermes
Did you get hurt while traveling?
Call Hermes
Need the right words?
Call Hermes
Broke your instrument?
Call Hemes
Are you moving?
Call Hermes
Need something better than FED-EX?
Call Hermes
HADES
Info
Hades rules the underworld and is a selfish god. He keeps all his dead souls in the gates of Hell and lets none go out. Hades many names are Pluto,Haides, Aides, and Aidoneus. He presides over funeral rites and defends the right of the dead to have a proper burial. He also rules over all the hidden wealth of the earth such as the seed-grain and all the mined gems.His animal is Cerberus. Cerberus is a 3 headed guard dog. He lives in the Helm of Darkness and owns a Helmet of Invisibility. Hades was eaten as soon as he was born by Cronus along with 4 other of his siblings. Zeus later made the Titan threw them up and together they drove all the Titan gods from heaven and locked them away in the Pit of Tartaros.
Pit of Tartaros
The Pit of Tartaros was a dungeon of Torment. After death the souls were judged. If they were bad souls the would be punished by being thrown into the pit.Tartarus is both a deity and a place in the underworld even lower than Hades.Tartarus is also the unbounded first-existing entity from which the Light and the Cosmos are born.When Cronus, the ruling Titan, came to power he imprisoned the Cyclopes in Tartarus. He also imprisoned the three Hecatonchires. Zeus released them, and defeated Campe, to aid in his conflict with the Titan giants. The gods of Olympus eventually defeated the Titans. Many, but not all of the Titans, were thrown into Tartarus. Epimetheus, Metis, and Prometheus are some Titans who were not banished to Tartarus. Later, when Zeus defeated the monster Typhon and he threw the monster into the same pit.
Info Continued
When the three victorious brothers then drew lots for the divisions of the world, Hades received the third portion, the dark dismal realm of the underworld, as his domain. Hades wanted a bride so he made his brother grant him one of Zeus' daughters. The god offered him Persephone the daughter of Demeter. So, he abducted her from Demeter because he knew Demeter wouldn't let Persephone go willingly. Demeter learned of this and caused winter untill her daughter was returned. Persephone returned but she had eaten something there so she had to return for a portion of each year. This portion is winter and that is why their is winter. Hades was a dark-bearded, regal god. He was depicted as Aidoneus, enthroned in the underworld, holding a bird-tipped sceptre, or as Plouton, the giver of wealth, pouring fertility from a cornucopia.The Romans named him Dis, or Pluto, the Latin form of his Greek title Plouton, "The Lord of Riches."
Family History
Hades the horrible god of the Underworld has many family members. His brothers are Poseidon and Zeus. His sisters are Demeter, Hestia, and Hera. His parents are Cronus and Rhea. His grandparents are the Titans. His great grandparents are Uranus and Gaia. His great great grandparent is Chaos. Persephone was Hades wife. He stole her from Demeter.
Hades Myth
As one of his labors for King Eurystheus, Hercules had to bring Hades' watchdog Cerberus back from the Underworld. Hercules had divine help, probably from Athena. Since the dog was only being borrowed, Hades was sometimes portrayed as willing to lend Cerberus, as long as Hercules used no weapon to capture the fearsome beast. Elsewhere Hades was portrayed as injured or threatened by a club and bow-wielding Hercules.
DIONYSUS
Info
Dionysus is the god of wine, parties and festivals, madness, drunkenness and pleasure. He is depicted in art as an old bearded god or a long haired youth. He carries a staff with a pine-cone on top and a crown of ivy. He is the newest member to the Olympians and replaced Hestia. His Roman name is Bacchus. One of his other names is Zagreus. A bunch of his stories are of how Dionysus moved into a city, was resisted, and then destroyed those who opposed him. Dionysus has several songs are sung in his honor. One is Dithyramb.
Family History
Dionysus' dad is Zeus and his mom is either the mortal woman Semele or the daughter of Demeter, Persephone.
He has no brothers or sisters. On Zeus' side his grandparents are Cronus and Rhea. His great grandparents are the Titans. His great great grandparents are Uranus and Gaia. His great great great grandparent is Chaos. On Semeles side his grandparent are Cadmus and Harmonia. On Persephone side his grandparents are Demeter and Zeus. The rest is the same as Zeus' side. His wife was Ariade, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. He rescued her after she tried to end her
life.
Dionysus Myth
In one myth, Dionysus is the son of the god Zeus and the mortal woman, Semele . Semele is killed by Zeus' lightning bolts while Dionysus is still in her womb. Dionysus is rescued and has a second birth from Zeus after developing in his thigh. Zeus then gives the infant to some nymphs to be raised. In another version Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Persephone. Hera gets the Titans to lure the infant with toys, because she is jealous, and then they rip him to shreds eating everything but Dionysus' heart, which is saved by either Athena, Rhea, or Demeter. Zeus remakes his son from the heart and implants him in Semele who bears a new Dionysus . Dionysus is called "twice born."
Another Dionysus Myth
Dionysus returned to Thebes, his putative birthplace, where his cousin Pentheus is king. He has returned to punish the King of Thebes for denying that he was a god and born of a god and a mortal. Pentheus is enraged at the worship of Dionysus and forbids it, but he cant stop the women, including his mother Agave, or even the elders of the kingdom from swarming to the wilds to join the Maenads in worship. Dionysus lures Pentheus to the wilds where he is killed by the Maenads and then mutilated by Agave.
Song
This is a chorus of praise to Dionysus. It is called Dithyramb:
Black goatskin covers my arms
I am the hunter, at one with the forest
the moon is my eye
the air is so thick, so heavy tonight
someone is crying... or was it laughter?
I enter the fairyland
Frozen silence
Where am I?
Two yellow stars
blaze in the dark
The lion-woman did not devour me
though all my weapons have disappeared
'The poisoned fruit will give life to the dead'
I was told by the golden Sphinx
From that time I am your servant
thank you, Liberator, for opening my eyes
on wooded peaks of desolate Parnassus
I have rected altars of bones
Ecstatic dances play with the torchlight
wind from the sea hug naked bodies
the mystic feast for you is prepared
just give the sign to let down the knife
Come to us, whose name is Life and Death,
and teach us not to fear the silence of the night
Definitions
Maenads- A term given to women under the ecstatic spell of Dionysus.
HEPHAESTUS
Info
Hephaestus was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes. You can spell his name 8 different ways. Two spellings are Hephaistus and Hēphaistos. His Roman name is Vulcan. Hephaestus was lame, which gave him a grotesque look in the eyes of Greeks. He worked as the blacksmith to the gods and he was worshiped alot in the manufacturing and industrial centers of Greece, particularly in Athens. The main part of his cult was in Lemnos. Hephaestus's symbols are a Smith's hammer, an anvil and a pair of tongs, and sometimes he is portrayed holding an axe. Some of the stuff that Hephaestus forged was Hermes' winged helmet and sandals, the Aegis breastplate, Aphrodite's famed girdle, Agamemnon's staff of office, Achilles' armor, Hercules' bronze clappers, Helios' chariot as well as his own due to his lameness, the shoulder of Pelops, and Eros' bow and arrows. He also created all the thrones in the Palace of Olympus. He created fire to use but then Prometheus stole some and gave it to men.
Family History
Hephaestus was born from Hera and Zeus. His grandparents are Cronus and Rhea. His great grandparents are the Titans. His great great grandparents are Uranus and Gaia. His great great great grandparent is Chaos. His wife is either a Charis or Aphrodite.
Hephaestus Myth
Hera threw Hephaestus out of heaven in disgust because he was lame or he was flung by Zeus, because he came to his mother’s rescue when Zeus had her in the barn for opposing him. He fell into the sea, where Thetis and the Oceanid Eurynome cared for him in a sea cave, or he fell for an entire day and landed on the island of Lemnos, where he was cared for by the Sintians, an ancient Lemnian tribe.
Song
This song is to praise Hephaestus. It is called The Hammer of the Gods:
Take this weight from off my chest
Crush and kill all that is left
Bend your will unto the task
The hammer falls, it falls
To forge a man that's free from fear
Clothed in hate that's seared for years
I will be the one to outrun fate
And I will die upon my feet
All I need is a good mistake
One more look at the devil's face
Beaten, broken, bruised, and blind
One more twisted hulking rhyme
Hammer, scythe, and blade and mace
And sands of time, of time
Crushing oceans of regret
Suffocate under the whip
Back now shattered but with hands held high
And I deny, refuse to give what's mine
All I need is a good mistake
One more look at the devil's face
What I need is one more taste
The hammer's fall with a godless grace
Swing the hammer, bludgeon me
Bruised and battered, standing free
So relieve me of this life
And the burden of what's right
Break this body, I will stand tall
And I deny, you will not take what's mine
All I need is a good mistake
One more look at the devil's face
What I need is one more taste
The hammer's fall with a godless grace
Definitions
Charis- A member of the Charites.
Charites- Goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. Only three Charites at a time.
APOLLO
INFO
Apollo is the god of many things. They are the sun, beuty,music,arts,medicine, and peotry. Apollo is always carrying a bow with him and also plays a golden lyre. The most usuall symbols of Apollo are the cow, golden lyre, and bow and arrow. He is also known to be the god of prophecy. A very famous myth is that Apollo used to drive his chariot across the sky to get the sun. Once he does this he pulls the sin across the sky and that is how the sun rises and sets.
Apollo is the god of the sun.
FAMILY
Apollo's father is the ruler of gods, Zeus. His mother is Leto. Apollo only has one real sister and that is Artemis. The story goes that Zeus' wife Hera was very angry when she found out about the pregnancy so she banned Leto from having the twins on land.She went sent a serpent named Python. So Leto went to the floating island of Delos. Once she got there she bore Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. Artemis was born before Apollo and she had to help Leto bore Apollo. Apollo never had a wife but he had relationships with many water nymphs. Like his father one of his weaknesses was an attraction to nymphs.
APOLLO AND PYTHON
Pyhton was the serpent that followed Leto and did not let her have Apollo and Artemis on dry land. Wherever the dragon went he destroyed towns people and other people. For revenge Apollo was going to kill Python who guarded Delphi. He killed the monster with a bow and arrows. Homer wrote "he killed the fearsome dragon Python, piercing it with darts" Apollo then took over the oracle at delphi. Soon this became his main oracle and everybody wanted advice from it. It is also one of the most famous oracles in the greek world. Delphi2.jpg
APOLLO AND HIS SISTER
Apollos twin sister is Artemis. She is the god of wilderness, wild animals, and is the huntress. and.Apollo and his twin sister killed the children on Niobe. they killed them with bow and arrows. they killed them because Niobe was making Leto jealous because she was bragging that she had more kids than leto. So as revenge Apollo and his sister Artemis killed the seven boys and girls of Niobe. Since both apollo and Artemis carrie around bows that is the weapon they used.
POEM
Phoebos Apollo, radiant and shining archer,
Pythian Apollo, Lord of Delphi and oracles
Delian Apollo, Lord of the Island of Delos,Delphinius,
Averter of evil, Rescuer, Protector of strangers,
Divine healer, Far-shooter. Beautiful, terrible god of truth and light,
I ask your presence. I call to you
To be here this evening and witness this rite.
Golden son of Zeus and Leto, Brother of Artemis,
Lord of the Hyperboreans most pious,
Averter of plagues, giver of foresight
I ask for your blessing of purity, your shining inspiration,
and your unparalleled song.
Apollo, brilliant one of far sight and beautiful voice,
Wine and honey I pour to you.
Ie, Paeon
Pictures and Poem from:
sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/evergreen-olympus/apollo-sun-god
spaceflightnow.com/news/n0211/04soho/sun.jpg
www.beardieweirdie.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/zeus.jpg
www.olympiclimo.gr/Delphi2.jpg
APOLLO AGAIN
Apollo (right) holding his bow and the lyre with Python slain behind him
Apollo's Family and Many names
It's easy to say theat Apollo has an extreme family, just as any god. He is the son of Leto (goddes of motherhood) and Zeus. Also, his twin sister is Artemis, while he has more than twenty half-siblings.
Some of those are Aphrodite, Hermes, the Muses, Dionysus, Hercules, Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus, Persephone, Athena, and Epaphus. Those are just some. He has fathered four children of mythological importance: Orpheus, Asclepius, Troilus, and Aristaeus. Just like his family, he has many names, such as Phoebus (the brilliant), Xanthus the fair, Chrysocomes (of golden locks), Hecatebolos (god of sudden death), Alexikakos (healer god), Paeon (the healer), Nomius (the sheperd god), and Lukoktonos (wolf killer) (to name a few).
Apollo and his many Skills, Talents, and Traits
Apollo was not only known as the sun god. He had many other powers. He was also the god of high culture, light, medicine (healing), music (song and the lyre), flocks and prophecy. Also, his attributes were the bow and arrow, sheperd's crook, and the lyre. He was also known as "Wolf God" or "Wolf Killer". Being one of the most important gods, he had many attributes and symbols. His dominant symbols were the lyre,
laurel wreath, raven, and the golden bow and arrow. Additionally, his sacred animals were the swans, vultures, crows, cicadas, wolfs, roosters, hawks and serpents. Meanwhile, his sacred plants were the laurel, palm, olive, and tamarisk tree. Furthermore, he was the second most prayed to god (Zeus was first). Because Apollo was a solar god, he made the fruits and plants around him grow, ripen, and bloom. The fields at Delphi were consecrated to him and he drove away mice and locusts from all crops.In addition he was thought of as and archer god who brought sudden death to whatever mortal lay fat to his golden arrows. Being the healer god, he drove away illnesses from mortals. He was one of the first and greatest lyre players after the young Hermes gave him the first lyre in exchange for the stolen head of cattle.As you can see, Apollo was a well represented Olympian.
There are also various other interesting facts about the great god Apollo. He was the god of divination. He had oracles at Thymbra, Delphi, Grynia, Didymus, Delos, and many more all over Greece. But his most famous oracle was at Delphi. A great sanctuary was built there in his honor. The preistess at Delphi, Pythia, would be possesed by Apollo and revealed seemingly meaningless, broken phrases which were later interpreted by the preist. In addition, he was a great ally of the Trojans in the Trojan war. He hailed down arrows upon the ungrateful greeks. Also, he slayed the horrible monster Python, but we'll cover that later.
Myth: Apollo and the Mighty Python
There once was a serpent named Python who resided in Mt.Parnassus at Delphi. Wherever it went it brought a horrible smell and death. Hera, Queen of the Gods, was angry with Zeus for his love to Leto. During Leto's pregnancy, Hera demanded Python to chase Leto around Greece and neighboring companies. Hera also cursed Leto so that she could not give birth on dry land.Later, Leto gave birth to Apollo (and Artemis) on a floating island in the Mediterranean sea. When Apollo was only four days old (and fully grown), he decided to wreak revenge on the horrible Python for making his mother suffer. He went to Python's cave at Delphi. As soon as Python lay his eyes on the livid Apollo, he boiled with anger (not literally). He lunged at Apollo, but Apollo quickly stuck an arrow into the serpent's forehead. Python's cry was so loud that you could hear it all across the valley. As the creature lay dead on the floor of his own cave, Apollo proudly said,"Go rot!" Apollo then buried the horrid creature under Mt.Parnassus and celebrated with song and dance (his specialty).
After the incident, the Greeks named Python's cave Pytho, which quite literally means "to rot."
The First Delphic Hymn to Apollo
English
Oh, come now, Muses, to the craggy sacred place
Upon the far seen, twin-peaked Parnassus
Celebrated and dear to us, Pierian maidens
Repose on the snow-clad mountain top;
Celebrate the Pythian lord with the golden sword
Phoebus, who Leto bore unassisted on the Delian rock
Surrounded by silvery olives, the luxurative plant
Which the goddess Pallas (Athena) long ago brought forth
ARTEMIS Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She is the twin sister of Apollo.
Artemis can speak to animals. She was the goddess of wilderness, the huntress and wild animals.
When she was three her father asked her what gift she wanted and she said she wanted some golden arrows to be free from love and to live her life as she pleased.
She was a virgin goddess. She became a goddess of childbirth in many cities.
She was often thought with the crescent moon above her forehead and sometimes identified with Selene a goddess of the moon.
She was one of the 12 Olympians. Living on Mount Olympus in her own palace.
Artemis was very possessive. Sometimes she would get really mad on anyone who disobeyed her wishes, especially against her special or sacred animals.
She was worshiped in most Greek cities but as a secondary goddess They were some festivals in her honor.
Artemis and her brother Apollo put death to the children on Niobe. They did this because Niobe, in Greek mythology proud of her numerous family, six daughters and six sons, she was proud of her superiority and went to her friend Leto, the mother of two children, Apollo and Artemis. As a punishment that Leto gave, Apollo slew Niobe sons and Artemis slew her daughters.
Greek name Artemis. Roman name Diana. Goddes of Moon, animals and childbirth. Symbol moon, deer, silver bow and gold arrows.
Strengths/Talents: Physically strong, able to defend herself, defender and guardian of women in childbirth and of wildlife in general.
Weaknesses/Flaws/Quirks: Dislikes men, whom she sometimes orders torn apart if they see her bathing. Opposes the institution of marriage and the subsequent loss of freedom it entails for women.
Poem
A goddess of the moon,
animals, and childbirth.
Killed a person turned him into a stag,
how harsh is that?
Had a twin brother,
and daughter of the mighty Zues.
One of the 12 Olympians.
Put death to many people.
So many legend,
the best one being born a day before her brother.
Kind but when she gets mad very harsh.
A goddess of many things.
Legends
Artemis was born one day before her brother Apollo. Her mother gave birth to her on a floting island of Delos then, almost immediately after her birth, and then she helped deliver Apollo. This was the beginning of her role as guardian of young children and patron of women in childbirth. Being a goddess of contradictions, she was the protesters of women in labor, but it was said that the arrows of Artemis brought them sudden death while giving birth. As was her brother, Apollo, Artemis was a divinity of healing, but also brought and spread diseases such as leprosy, rabies and even gout.
Another legend was Artemis being associated with chastity, at an early age she asked her father, Zeus, to grant her eternal virginity.
Another legend is when Artemis was bathing in the woods a hunter saw her bathing naked. She did not like him looking at her. She turned him into a stag and had his own dogs eat him. This is a stature of the person Artemis turned into a stag and herself.
This picture is from cc.oulu.fi/~yseppa/pics/image_artem_b.jpg
This picture from library.thinkquest.org/J002604/ephesus.jpg
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was the third Temple of Artemis.
Watch an Artemis vidio
animoto.com/play/wELgFn7KYmf602x3EDhkew
ARTEMIS AGAIN
Artemis, the Goddess of the Forest and the Hunt. Also known as Selene, Goddess of the Moon, has been an idol of greek mythology for thousands of years. She was remembered as a virgin Goddess, and looked up at by many women as guidence to childbirth, life, and strength. Along with being the Goddess of the Forest, she was also the Goddess of all things Wild, of the Hunt, of Childbirth, and of the Moon. With her twin brother, Apollo, they did many powerful and memorable things with their supereb archery skills.
Perhaps what she is best known for is her Silver Bow and Golden Arrows. They were made by the Cyclops and Hephaestus. They are a symbol of strength and the hunt. Her brother, Apollo has a Golden Bow and Silver Arrows. Although she is known as the protector of children and child birth, one shot from her arrows can and will bring sudden death in child birth.
Artemis had a very interesting, and quite small family. Fist of all, her father is Zeus, the King of the Gods, and her mother was an Nyph, Leto. This might be why Artemis had 12 nymph followers.Like most children, Artemis and Apollo were very protective of their mother, for she had very limited powers. One myth goes that Niobe, was boasting about how great her children were, compared to Leto's two children. Artemis and Apollo were highly offended, and they killled all of the children of Niobe. Niobe wept for days and days until she finally got over it and went on with her life with no children.
Artemis was a very peculiar and possesive goddess. She didn't like anyone or anything that disrespected her. When her father asked her what she wanted most, she said eternal verginity. Zeus respected this request, and from then on, Artemis was a virgin. Many men have tried to get her to fall in love with them, but Artemis knew what to look for. Although she was a virgin, many women lookd to her advice on how to raise a family, and protect children. Many women saw her as a symbol of guidence.
Myths
Artemis, since she is a very interesting Goddess, has many myths.
Once, a young hunter was hunting in the forest with his hounds, when he spotted Artemis bathing in a lake with her nymphs. he was captivated by her beauty that he hid in the shrubs and watched some more. As soon as Artemis saw the hunter watching her, she dipped her hand in the water and splashed the young hunter. When the water touched him, he turned into a stag. Not knowing that they were chasing their master, the hounds chased, hunted down, and killed the stag. All that have tried to win Artemis' heart, have failed miserably.
One day, Gaea, the Goddess of Nature, was being teased by Orion that he was a better hunter than she was. Artemis, Caring for Gaea, did not like what Orion was saying, because in her opinoin, no one was better than Gaea at hunting. Artemis raised her bow and arrow, and shot Orion. Feeling guilty for him, she asked her father to honor him in some way. Respecting his daughtor's wishes, Zues turned Orion into the constelation, and that's how Orion was placed into the night sky.
Artemis is best known for her myths, attitude, hunting skills, and her love twords nature. She was refered to as Selene and Diana. The people respected Artemis so much, that a temple was built in her honor. It was built byt Chersiphron and Metogenes in 550 BC. It took 120 years to build its competely marble structure except for the tile covered wooden roof. It had a length of 425 feet, and a width of 225 feet. Its foundation was377 by 40 feet. The temple stood on 127 columns, each 60 feet high. The temple stood in the City of Aphasias, wich is now the coast of Turkey . Although the temple had many priceless paintings, artifacts, and statues, it was destroyed by King Cruesus Lydia in the same year it was finished, 550 BC. It now lies in ruins at the place it was built.
METIS
Metis was said to be the goddess of prudence. Wise and cunning, she was Zeus' main adviser. Later, she became his first wife. Metis was admired for her poetry, wittiness, and wisdom.
Family
Metis was born to the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. Her siblings were river gods and goddesses and the Oceanids (after Oceanus) including Doris, Calypso, Styx, Persies, Tyche, Eurynome, and Telesto. After Cronos was conquered by the gods and goddesses, Zeus married her. She soon became pregnant with her daughter, Athena.
Myths
There are only a few myths concerning Metis because her time as a goddess was limited.However, she had an extremely important role in defeating Cronos and in the unusual birth of Athena.
When the Titan Cronos still ruled the world, he was worried his children would attempt to steal his power, so as Rhea gave birth to each of his children, he swallowed them. However, Rhea caught on and when Zeus, her youngest, was born. She gave Cronos a stone wrapped in a blanket instead of a baby. She hid her son away in a cave to be raised by nymphs. When Zeus was fully grown, he had every intention to overthrow the Titans on his own and get rid of his father. Wise Metis knew he would need help, though, and created a concoction to make Cronos regurgitate his children. With the help of his siblings, Zeus overthrew his father and threw him into Tataurus.
Metis' daughter had a strange birth. While the goddess was pregnant with Athena, Zeus got a prophecy that if Metis bore a son, the son would overthrow him just as he had overthrown his father and his father had overthrown his grandfather. As a precaution, Zeus decided to eliminate the problem. One day, he lured Metis close with sweet words. When she became near enough, he swallowed her. After this unfortunate event, Metis resided in his brain and gave him advice. She worked on armor for her daughter. When it was time for Athena to be born, Zeus got a pounding headache. Hephaestus split his head open with an axe and the goddess of wisdom sprung out fully grown, wearing the armor Metis crafted for her.
www.minervaclassics.com/AthBirth.jpg
Haiku
Witty wry and wise
Zeus’ foremost adviser
Goddess of prudence
Daughter to Titans
Zeus’ first lover and wife
Athena’s mother
An Olympian
Perhaps the wisest of all
But is no longer
Lured close with love
Swallowed by her husband
Resides in his head
Still whispers wisdom
To the master of all gods
Despite her new home
NYX
Nyx, the goddess of the night, was feared and revered by both men and the other gods. She was often captured in ancient art and myths as a shadowy figure with stars shining on her long, dark dress and wings protruding from her back. She was also said to ride a chariot.
The goddess of the night was worshiped by Greeks everywhere, but especially by mischief-makers and criminals to whom she offered her protection.
Family
Most agree Nyx was born out of Chaos, but some myths say she was the son of Eros. She and her brother, Erebus (darkness), then had many children including Aether (light), Lyssa (mad rage), Philotes (friendship), Geras (age), Charon (Hades' ferrier), Moros (destiny), Ponos (toil), Thanatos (death), Hypnos (sleep), Morpheus (dreams), Momus (ridicule), Oizys (distress), Apate (deceit), Hemera (day), Nemesis (moral anger), Eris (strife), the Oneirio (dreams), the Fates, and Keres (death fate). That just names a few because she had a total of thirty-seven immortal children. Clearly, Nyx had quite an immense family. View her family tree here: www.theoi.com/Tree2.html
Myth
In the Iliad, Hypnos is asked to put Zeus to sleep by Hera. However, he reminds her of a time when he put Zeus to sleep for her once before. When Zeus awoke, he was extremely angry and would have thrown Hypnos into the ocean if Nyx had not intervened. Because she was feared by even the king of all gods, she was able to keep the fury of Zeus at bay and her son safe.
Haiku
Imposing and tall
Black wings and billowing dress
Goddess of the night
Born out of Chaos
With her lover Erebus
Thirty-seven kids
Chasing day away
Smothering land in darkness
Deadly and silent
Frightens even him
The most revered of all gods
Zeus of Olympus
Helping crooks and thieves
Shielding with a dark caress
Intimidating
PAN
Basic Facts About Pan
Pan is the god of Shepherds and flocks, mountain wilds, and rustic music. He wandered the mountains and hills of Arcadia playing his pan pipes and chasing after nymphs. He only loved nymphs, but they often ran away from his advances. One day, when Pan made advances on a nymph named Syrinx, she decided to run away from him. This ended up not being a very good idea on her part. As she ran away, Pan transformed her into a group of reeds! He then wove these reeds into his famous pan pipes. When Pitys did the same thing to Pan, he turned her into a mountain fir, which was the gods' holy tree. Pan also made advances on a nymph named Echo, but she spurned him for them. After she spurned him, she faded away because Narcissus broke her heart, but her voice remained in the mountains forever. That is why the voice that repeats when you yell on a mountain it is called an echo. It was said that it was Pan who aroused feelings of uncontrolled fear in lonely places. That is why it is now called pan-ic. Pan is depicted as a man with the horns, the legs, and the tail of a goat, with a thick beard, snub nose, and pointed ears, as you can see in the picture to the right. In paintings and sculptures, Pan usually appears in the retinue of the god Dionysus, the god of the vine, and other rustic gods' such as Aristaios, Marsyas, and Aigipan. The greeks usually associated the name "Pan" with a word meaning all, but the true origin is an Arkadian word meaning "rustic". Sometimes Pan split into a group called the Panes, or a triad where the member's names were Agreus, Nomios, And Phorbas. Pan is thought to be one of the youngest gods, along with Dionysus.
The Birth of Pan
The story of Pan's birth began when the god Hermes came down from Olympus to visit Arcadia, where he used to tend flocks, and even though he was a god, he still loved the beauty of Arcadia. When he arrived, he met the daughter of Dryopos, and fell in love with her. With Dryopos' permission, he and the girl were married, and decided to have a child together. Their son was born with a full beard, goat legs, and goat horns. When the nurse saw the newborn child's face, she ran away in fright, leaving the small child on its own. Hermes came and took the baby and brought him up to Mount Olympus to raise him. He set the child down beside Zeus, and Zeus loved the boy. The boy brought joy to all their hearts, so they named him Pan, meaning "all".
There are other versions of the story where either Zeus and Hybris were the parents, or Odysseus' exiled wife Penelope ran away to Arcadia and bore a child to Hermes. Also, Dryopos' daughter was named Penelope, so it can get confusing. Also, there are versions where he was the son of Hermes and Thymbris, the son of Hermes and Sose, the son of Hermes and Callisto, or the son of Hermes and Orneios.
The Myths of Pan
The Music Contest of Apollo and Pan
One day, the god Pan challenged the god Apollo in a contest of music, to see once and for all who was the best musician. They met on top of a mountain and they brought a few judges with them. One of those judges was Midas, the king with the golden touch. First, Pan played on his pipes, and he enchanted the judges with his amazing music. All of the judges applauded his music,and he bowed when his performance was finished. After him, the fabled Apollo came onto the stage with his Lyre. He gently plucked the strings and played his soft music. Again, the judges were enchanted into silence. Finally, when Apollo dressed in his purple robe finished his song, the judges gathered to make their decision. Pan and Apollo waited patiently for the results. Overall, Apollo won the contest, but there was one judge that thought Pan had the better music. That judge was King Midas. In punishment for his insolence, Apollo said "Let your ears ;bear the same knowledge of judging as your head." And with that, Midas' ears turned into those of a donkey. After this embarrasment, Midas took to hiding in his temples with a purple turban around his head.
Pan and the Wanderings of Demeter
According to the accounts of the people of Thelpousa about the affair between Poseidon and Demeter, they say that afterwards, Demeter was angry with Poseidon and grieved at the taking of her daughter, Persephone. So she dressed herself in black robes and ran away to a remote corner of the world and shut herself in a large cavern. She stayed in for a very, very long time, and the gods were beginning to worry. Because she was gone, the fruits and grains of the earth were dying (she was the goddess of the harvest), and with them the human race. The humans relied on Demeter and her power to keep their crops growing, and in her state of grief she was shunning the humans. It seemed that no god could begin to think of where Demeter could be hiding. That was, until one day when Pan was roaming the valleys and hills of Arcadia. He hunted mountain by mountain until he finally reached the peak of Mount Elaios. He spied Demeter and the state she was in with the clothes she was wearing, and reported what he had seen to the great god Zeus. Zeus then sent Morai, whom Demeter trusted, to speak with her and try to convince her to come back. Demeter listened to Morai, and laid aside her wrath for the time, and even managed to moderate her grief for her daughter for the time being.
The Children of Pan
The first child of Pan was a boy named Acis. He was the son of the nymph Symaethis and Pan, and he was a great joy to both his parents. Pan's second child was Eurymedon, and he wore rustic armor and used rustic weapons. He was much more militant than his father. His third child was named Crenaeus, who's first sight was that of the stream his mother the nymph Ismenis had control over, and he was cradled on the bank of his native river. His fourth child was Crotus, who kept the company of the goddess Mousai on Mount Helicon. He was an amazing hunter and musician, who invented both the hunting bow and the ways to accompany music like rhythmic beats. His fifth child was Iynx, an Oreiad Nymph who created the magical love charm called the Iynx (what a surprise!). The Iynx is a spinning wheel with a wryneck bird attached to it. She used this to make Zeus fall in love with her, or as some say, with the nymph Io. Hera was extremely angry at what the nymph had done, so she turned Iynx into one of the wryneck birds she used on her wheel. The word "Jinx" is derived from her name. Another of Pan's children was Silenus, the rustic god of drinking and wine. His name was derived from the words seio, which means "to move to and fro", and lenos, which means "the wine trough". He rode in the train of Dionysus seated on the back of a donkey. Pan also had twelve children that were all born with his name and distinguishing figures. They had the body of a human, but the head of a goat! They lived in caverns in the mountainsides where there father lived.
Hymns to Pan
I sing of Pan, nymph-leader, darling of the Naiades, adornment of golden choruses, lord of winsome muse
When he pours forth the god-inspired siren-song of the melodious Syrinx
And stepping nimbly to the melody leaps down from the shadowy caves,
Moving his all-shape body
Fine dancer, fine of face, conspicuous with blond beard.
To star-eyed Olympos goes the all-tune sound, sprinkling the company of the Olympian gods with the immortal muse.
All the earth and sea are mixed thanks to you, for you are the bulwark of all
Oh ie Pan, Pan!
My Dog
To Pan and the Dryads here
I dedicate my hunting spear,
My dog, the bag that holds my store;
I am too poor to offer more!
Nay, but my dog I cannot spare!
He must return my crusts to share,
My daily rambles to attend,
My little comrade and my friend.
Macedonius: 6th century A.D.
EOS
er name is Eos, known as Aurora by the Romans. Her element is the dawn, she is the bringer of the light, scatterer of shadow and melter of morning dew. She chases away the frost of night and brings warmth to the world as she rises from the river Okeanus to do her duty. Eos opens the gate for Apollo and his chariot of the Sun. Her father was the Titan of the Sun, Helios. Her mother was Theia. When the titans were overthrown, Eos joined the gods of Olympus. She only wanted to continue her duty, as she is a peaceful goddess. She is also the goddess of new beginnings and goals. She is described as the rosy-fingered goddess by many bards and poets. Her names include Hrigenia, Orqria, ‘Hmera, Titw, AuwV, AwV, RododaktuloV, CrusopacuV, FaesforoV, and KrokopeploV. Eos is mother of the Directional Winds Zephyrus(West), Notus (North), and Boreas (South) and all of the stars including the Morning Star (the planet, Venus,) known as Eosphorus or Dawn
Caller. Other children of hers include Euros, Hesperos, Emathion, and Memnon. According to myth, Eos appears much younger than most other goddesses (around 14-20 depending on the myth) but all depictions of Eos place her as about the same age as the others, hinting that there is more than one goddess under the name 'Eos' (not including Eros, God of Love). Eos had many lovers including Ares, Orion, Paethon, Kepalos, and Thithonus. In some myths, Eos takes Artemis's place as goddess of the moon and Apollo's sister. She is also, at times, synonymous with Hemera, the primordial goddess of day who fell with the Titans. Many myths are associated with her, and I will only retell a few. Here you are.
Image By Martin Herbert
Curse
Eos resided in rest, waiting. Her duty of opening the gate for Apollo was not due for another four hours. She lay on the grass, no wind stirred her hair, no stars sparkled high above, for this was before the stars or winds had come to be. There would be many starless nights before Eos created the sparkling lights. At Eos’s side, a tall man sat comfortably. He sat with folded legs and looked at the dark blanket above them, torn only by the crescent moon. Eos watched him fondly, the fire in his red pupils shimmered with a determination she loved. She sat up, and looked across the green field in which they rested. The man’s arm snaked around her waist; she huddled close to him. Ares, king of war. His red robes were soft against her cheek, made of souls lost valiantly in battle, souls of men who did not wish to go to Hades, but to continue on their journey in war and victory. Eos waited sorrowfully as she knew her time with the God would soon come to an end. Eos was a prophet, she knew about beginnings and endings even if only with tiny whispers of futuristic memory. Eos loved this man, but endings are inevitable when you're dating a god who was cheating on Aphrodite. Eos sighed and huddled closer to the God. She could stretch it; for a century or two at least.
A dove called, mourning the night. Ares jumped, doves always scared him, as well as swans. The tree behind them, a Myrtle, sprung to life. Aphrodite stood above them in the most outrageous human form Eos had ever seen her in; a stunning girl with a super-model build and long bubble-gum pink hair. Her hot pink eyes were full of anger. The dove who fluttered down from the air above her to alight on her shoulder was instantly dismissed. Aphrodite was not happy to see her lover with another woman; you could see it in every twitch of her perfect red lips.
"Eos!" Aphrodite hissed, growling insults that were in no way nice or ladylike.
"Hi," Eos acknowledged.
"Why are you with Ares?" She questioned.
Eos had the perfect retort, "Why aren't you with Hephaestus?"
Aphrodite's nostrils flared. "That ugly idiot? I love Ares and you know it."
"Do I? You never told me and neither did he..." Eos turned to look at Ares. He looked back innocently, shrugging.
"I'm sick of you, you needn't talk back to your superiors. I condemn you here and now." Aphrodite's eyes dared her to respond with another smart comment.
"Condemn me how, make every mortal I see fall in love with me?" Eos took the dare, yawning.
Aphrodite's eyes twinkled darkly "You are doomed to constantly fall in love." Eos's eyes stretched wide, that took her words away. Oh... no. Eos had forgotten about that ability of Aphrodite's... oops. This would interfere with her duty... Eos sighed in defeat, pulled away from the War God and vanished into the starless night.
Starless
Image by Evelyn de Morgan
Eos's eyes fell once more on the starless sky, the only light in the sky was the fading moon; a pure white stone in a dark midnight-blue pond. A few years had passed; Eos had avoided mortals the best she could but still, her heart had been given to at least three mortal men since Aphrodite had cast her curse. Perhaps she no longer had a heart to give... However, she still was inseparably devoted to bringing the day and keeping the light. Eos watched on from the bank of the river which she stood on; Okeanus. She stepped forth from the water and found herself at Apollo's gate. He stood there in his chariot with his constant smile and a poem at his lips. Eos rolled the rosy-dawn colored eyes of her current form and opened the gate. She dilly-dallied as much as she could, to see if she could annoy Apollo. She couldn't; nothing short of theft could annoy him. She grumbled, flying forth on the wings Zeus had given her years ago to scatter light from her basket and melt dew with her magic. She flew before Apollo; a difficult task for anyone but Eos. His horses were fast and his wit and smile made you want to keep pace with him. At such a high speed it was a wonder Eos spotted the young prince at all. Thithonus, Prince of Troy, was on his horse, seemingly trying to race the sun just for the heck of it. Both he and his steed were handsome; beautiful. The surge returned to Eos's heart. Thithonus seemed different, somehow; special. She would ask him to marry her; but first she must ask Zeus a favor. Once Apollo dismissed her with a wave of his hand and a cheery poem about ice burning things, Eos soared to Olympus.
Eos's visits to Olympus were rare and always quick, but she loved the mountain. Eos entered the throne room and respectfully knelt at Zeus's feet. He beckoned her up and summoned her closer; she stated her request.
"Would you please grant Thithonus, Prince of Troy eternal life? I wish to spend my days with him."
Zeus only nodded and snapped his fingers. Then he sent her away with not one word. Zeus was a busy god but he could be counted on. Eos flew to Thithonus and told him of her love and his new life. He accepted her and they married, she bore him many children; Memnon and the stars and the winds, but after twenty years, Eos noticed her mistake. Thithonus was still aging even if he couldn't die. She had asked Zeus for his eternal life, but not eternal youth. Disgusted, Eos stopped seeing Thithonus as much as she could, as he aged more and more. After a very long time, Thithonus became so old he shrank into a grasshopper and Eos threw him into the Underworld in disgust.
HERMES
Skills and Traits
Hermes is the God of husbandry, roads, travel, hospitality, heralds, diplomacy, trade, thievery, language, writing, persuasion, cunning wiles, athletic contests, gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. Wherever Hermes goes he carries his Caduceus. A Caduceus is a staff with two snakes wrapped around it and wings at the top.
Hermes' Lyre Myth
One morning Maia gave birth to Hermes. She wrapped him in cloth and went to sleep. While she was asleep Hermes got out of the cloth and went to Thessaly were his brother Apollo's cattle grazed. While he was there he stole many herds and drove them to Greece. He hid them in the city of Pylos. Before he went back to Maia he caught and killed a turtle and took out its internals. Using the the intestine of the cattle and the hollow shell he made the first lyre. When he got back to his Mom he wrapped himself back up in the cloth. When Apollo figured out had been robbed he told Maia that Hermes had taken them. Maia said that he couldn't have he was still wrapped up in the cloth. Then Zeus said that he had been watching Hermes and that Hermes had stolen the cattle. During the argument Hermes had started to play his lyre, the music enchanted Apollo so much that offered to trade the cattle for the lyre. Hermes traded and later Apollo became the lord of music. Later while Hermes was watching his cattle he invented the Syrinx. The Syrinx is also known as the Pan Flute
Background
Information
Hermes' parents are Maia and Zeus. His siblings are Athena, Dike, Eunomia, Eirena, Klotho, Lakhesis, Atropos, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, Euterpe, Melpomene, Terpsikhore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Ourania, Kalliope, Eileithyia, Hebe, Zagreus, Melinoe, Dionysus, Paneia, Herse, Britomartis, Aigipan, Athena , Tykhe, Kairon, Hercules, Thalia, Apollo, and Perseus. Hermes had many children. His known children are Pan, Hermaphroditus, Eros, Tyche, Abderus, and Autolycus. Since Hermes is a Greek God he had many wives too. His wives are Aphrodite, Persephone, Brimo, and Daeira. Many of Hermes wives were nymphs. Hermes was born in Arcadia, near the mountain Cyllene. Hermes lives in Mount Olympus and is one of the top twelve Greek Gods and Goddess. He is Zeus’ personal messenger.
Weaknesses
In addition to Hermes many strengths, he has a few weaknesses. One of them is that he cannot stay still for too long. Because Hermes is always moving he brings attention to himself which causes him to get caught. Also, he likes to play music all the time. This causes him to bring more attention to himself when he is trying to be sneaky. Both of these weaknesses caused him to be caught when he was stealing Apollo's cattle. Hermes has no other major weaknesses
Call Hermes
By Doug Kerber
Do you need to call home?
Call Hermes
Need a ride?
Call Hermes
Need an airplane ticket?
Call Hermes
Did Santa skip you?
Call Hermes
It's Valentine's Day
Call Hermes
Lost?
Call Hermes
Did you get hurt while traveling?
Call Hermes
Need the right words?
Call Hermes
Broke your instrument?
Call Hemes
Are you moving?
Call Hermes
Need something better than FED-EX?
Call Hermes
HADES
Info
Hades rules the underworld and is a selfish god. He keeps all his dead souls in the gates of Hell and lets none go out. Hades many names are Pluto,Haides, Aides, and Aidoneus. He presides over funeral rites and defends the right of the dead to have a proper burial. He also rules over all the hidden wealth of the earth such as the seed-grain and all the mined gems.His animal is Cerberus. Cerberus is a 3 headed guard dog. He lives in the Helm of Darkness and owns a Helmet of Invisibility. Hades was eaten as soon as he was born by Cronus along with 4 other of his siblings. Zeus later made the Titan threw them up and together they drove all the Titan gods from heaven and locked them away in the Pit of Tartaros.
Pit of Tartaros
The Pit of Tartaros was a dungeon of Torment. After death the souls were judged. If they were bad souls the would be punished by being thrown into the pit.Tartarus is both a deity and a place in the underworld even lower than Hades.Tartarus is also the unbounded first-existing entity from which the Light and the Cosmos are born.When Cronus, the ruling Titan, came to power he imprisoned the Cyclopes in Tartarus. He also imprisoned the three Hecatonchires. Zeus released them, and defeated Campe, to aid in his conflict with the Titan giants. The gods of Olympus eventually defeated the Titans. Many, but not all of the Titans, were thrown into Tartarus. Epimetheus, Metis, and Prometheus are some Titans who were not banished to Tartarus. Later, when Zeus defeated the monster Typhon and he threw the monster into the same pit.
Info Continued
When the three victorious brothers then drew lots for the divisions of the world, Hades received the third portion, the dark dismal realm of the underworld, as his domain. Hades wanted a bride so he made his brother grant him one of Zeus' daughters. The god offered him Persephone the daughter of Demeter. So, he abducted her from Demeter because he knew Demeter wouldn't let Persephone go willingly. Demeter learned of this and caused winter untill her daughter was returned. Persephone returned but she had eaten something there so she had to return for a portion of each year. This portion is winter and that is why their is winter. Hades was a dark-bearded, regal god. He was depicted as Aidoneus, enthroned in the underworld, holding a bird-tipped sceptre, or as Plouton, the giver of wealth, pouring fertility from a cornucopia.The Romans named him Dis, or Pluto, the Latin form of his Greek title Plouton, "The Lord of Riches."
Family History
Hades the horrible god of the Underworld has many family members. His brothers are Poseidon and Zeus. His sisters are Demeter, Hestia, and Hera. His parents are Cronus and Rhea. His grandparents are the Titans. His great grandparents are Uranus and Gaia. His great great grandparent is Chaos. Persephone was Hades wife. He stole her from Demeter.
Hades Myth
As one of his labors for King Eurystheus, Hercules had to bring Hades' watchdog Cerberus back from the Underworld. Hercules had divine help, probably from Athena. Since the dog was only being borrowed, Hades was sometimes portrayed as willing to lend Cerberus, as long as Hercules used no weapon to capture the fearsome beast. Elsewhere Hades was portrayed as injured or threatened by a club and bow-wielding Hercules.
DIONYSUS
Info
Dionysus is the god of wine, parties and festivals, madness, drunkenness and pleasure. He is depicted in art as an old bearded god or a long haired youth. He carries a staff with a pine-cone on top and a crown of ivy. He is the newest member to the Olympians and replaced Hestia. His Roman name is Bacchus. One of his other names is Zagreus. A bunch of his stories are of how Dionysus moved into a city, was resisted, and then destroyed those who opposed him. Dionysus has several songs are sung in his honor. One is Dithyramb.
Family History
Dionysus' dad is Zeus and his mom is either the mortal woman Semele or the daughter of Demeter, Persephone.
He has no brothers or sisters. On Zeus' side his grandparents are Cronus and Rhea. His great grandparents are the Titans. His great great grandparents are Uranus and Gaia. His great great great grandparent is Chaos. On Semeles side his grandparent are Cadmus and Harmonia. On Persephone side his grandparents are Demeter and Zeus. The rest is the same as Zeus' side. His wife was Ariade, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. He rescued her after she tried to end her
life.
Dionysus Myth
In one myth, Dionysus is the son of the god Zeus and the mortal woman, Semele . Semele is killed by Zeus' lightning bolts while Dionysus is still in her womb. Dionysus is rescued and has a second birth from Zeus after developing in his thigh. Zeus then gives the infant to some nymphs to be raised. In another version Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Persephone. Hera gets the Titans to lure the infant with toys, because she is jealous, and then they rip him to shreds eating everything but Dionysus' heart, which is saved by either Athena, Rhea, or Demeter. Zeus remakes his son from the heart and implants him in Semele who bears a new Dionysus . Dionysus is called "twice born."
Another Dionysus Myth
Dionysus returned to Thebes, his putative birthplace, where his cousin Pentheus is king. He has returned to punish the King of Thebes for denying that he was a god and born of a god and a mortal. Pentheus is enraged at the worship of Dionysus and forbids it, but he cant stop the women, including his mother Agave, or even the elders of the kingdom from swarming to the wilds to join the Maenads in worship. Dionysus lures Pentheus to the wilds where he is killed by the Maenads and then mutilated by Agave.
Song
This is a chorus of praise to Dionysus. It is called Dithyramb:
Black goatskin covers my arms
I am the hunter, at one with the forest
the moon is my eye
the air is so thick, so heavy tonight
someone is crying... or was it laughter?
I enter the fairyland
Frozen silence
Where am I?
Two yellow stars
blaze in the dark
The lion-woman did not devour me
though all my weapons have disappeared
'The poisoned fruit will give life to the dead'
I was told by the golden Sphinx
From that time I am your servant
thank you, Liberator, for opening my eyes
on wooded peaks of desolate Parnassus
I have rected altars of bones
Ecstatic dances play with the torchlight
wind from the sea hug naked bodies
the mystic feast for you is prepared
just give the sign to let down the knife
Come to us, whose name is Life and Death,
and teach us not to fear the silence of the night
Definitions
Maenads- A term given to women under the ecstatic spell of Dionysus.
HEPHAESTUS
Info
Hephaestus was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes. You can spell his name 8 different ways. Two spellings are Hephaistus and Hēphaistos. His Roman name is Vulcan. Hephaestus was lame, which gave him a grotesque look in the eyes of Greeks. He worked as the blacksmith to the gods and he was worshiped alot in the manufacturing and industrial centers of Greece, particularly in Athens. The main part of his cult was in Lemnos. Hephaestus's symbols are a Smith's hammer, an anvil and a pair of tongs, and sometimes he is portrayed holding an axe. Some of the stuff that Hephaestus forged was Hermes' winged helmet and sandals, the Aegis breastplate, Aphrodite's famed girdle, Agamemnon's staff of office, Achilles' armor, Hercules' bronze clappers, Helios' chariot as well as his own due to his lameness, the shoulder of Pelops, and Eros' bow and arrows. He also created all the thrones in the Palace of Olympus. He created fire to use but then Prometheus stole some and gave it to men.
Family History
Hephaestus was born from Hera and Zeus. His grandparents are Cronus and Rhea. His great grandparents are the Titans. His great great grandparents are Uranus and Gaia. His great great great grandparent is Chaos. His wife is either a Charis or Aphrodite.
Hephaestus Myth
Hera threw Hephaestus out of heaven in disgust because he was lame or he was flung by Zeus, because he came to his mother’s rescue when Zeus had her in the barn for opposing him. He fell into the sea, where Thetis and the Oceanid Eurynome cared for him in a sea cave, or he fell for an entire day and landed on the island of Lemnos, where he was cared for by the Sintians, an ancient Lemnian tribe.
Song
This song is to praise Hephaestus. It is called The Hammer of the Gods:
Take this weight from off my chest
Crush and kill all that is left
Bend your will unto the task
The hammer falls, it falls
To forge a man that's free from fear
Clothed in hate that's seared for years
I will be the one to outrun fate
And I will die upon my feet
All I need is a good mistake
One more look at the devil's face
Beaten, broken, bruised, and blind
One more twisted hulking rhyme
Hammer, scythe, and blade and mace
And sands of time, of time
Crushing oceans of regret
Suffocate under the whip
Back now shattered but with hands held high
And I deny, refuse to give what's mine
All I need is a good mistake
One more look at the devil's face
What I need is one more taste
The hammer's fall with a godless grace
Swing the hammer, bludgeon me
Bruised and battered, standing free
So relieve me of this life
And the burden of what's right
Break this body, I will stand tall
And I deny, you will not take what's mine
All I need is a good mistake
One more look at the devil's face
What I need is one more taste
The hammer's fall with a godless grace
Definitions
Charis- A member of the Charites.
Charites- Goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. Only three Charites at a time.
APOLLO
INFO
Apollo is the god of many things. They are the sun, beuty,music,arts,medicine, and peotry. Apollo is always carrying a bow with him and also plays a golden lyre. The most usuall symbols of Apollo are the cow, golden lyre, and bow and arrow. He is also known to be the god of prophecy. A very famous myth is that Apollo used to drive his chariot across the sky to get the sun. Once he does this he pulls the sin across the sky and that is how the sun rises and sets.
Apollo is the god of the sun.
FAMILY
Apollo's father is the ruler of gods, Zeus. His mother is Leto. Apollo only has one real sister and that is Artemis. The story goes that Zeus' wife Hera was very angry when she found out about the pregnancy so she banned Leto from having the twins on land.She went sent a serpent named Python. So Leto went to the floating island of Delos. Once she got there she bore Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. Artemis was born before Apollo and she had to help Leto bore Apollo. Apollo never had a wife but he had relationships with many water nymphs. Like his father one of his weaknesses was an attraction to nymphs.
APOLLO AND PYTHON
Pyhton was the serpent that followed Leto and did not let her have Apollo and Artemis on dry land. Wherever the dragon went he destroyed towns people and other people. For revenge Apollo was going to kill Python who guarded Delphi. He killed the monster with a bow and arrows. Homer wrote "he killed the fearsome dragon Python, piercing it with darts" Apollo then took over the oracle at delphi. Soon this became his main oracle and everybody wanted advice from it. It is also one of the most famous oracles in the greek world. Delphi2.jpg
APOLLO AND HIS SISTER
Apollos twin sister is Artemis. She is the god of wilderness, wild animals, and is the huntress. and.Apollo and his twin sister killed the children on Niobe. they killed them with bow and arrows. they killed them because Niobe was making Leto jealous because she was bragging that she had more kids than leto. So as revenge Apollo and his sister Artemis killed the seven boys and girls of Niobe. Since both apollo and Artemis carrie around bows that is the weapon they used.
POEM
Phoebos Apollo, radiant and shining archer,
Pythian Apollo, Lord of Delphi and oracles
Delian Apollo, Lord of the Island of Delos,Delphinius,
Averter of evil, Rescuer, Protector of strangers,
Divine healer, Far-shooter. Beautiful, terrible god of truth and light,
I ask your presence. I call to you
To be here this evening and witness this rite.
Golden son of Zeus and Leto, Brother of Artemis,
Lord of the Hyperboreans most pious,
Averter of plagues, giver of foresight
I ask for your blessing of purity, your shining inspiration,
and your unparalleled song.
Apollo, brilliant one of far sight and beautiful voice,
Wine and honey I pour to you.
Ie, Paeon
Pictures and Poem from:
sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/evergreen-olympus/apollo-sun-god
spaceflightnow.com/news/n0211/04soho/sun.jpg
www.beardieweirdie.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/zeus.jpg
www.olympiclimo.gr/Delphi2.jpg
APOLLO AGAIN
Apollo (right) holding his bow and the lyre with Python slain behind him
Apollo's Family and Many names
It's easy to say theat Apollo has an extreme family, just as any god. He is the son of Leto (goddes of motherhood) and Zeus. Also, his twin sister is Artemis, while he has more than twenty half-siblings.
Some of those are Aphrodite, Hermes, the Muses, Dionysus, Hercules, Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus, Persephone, Athena, and Epaphus. Those are just some. He has fathered four children of mythological importance: Orpheus, Asclepius, Troilus, and Aristaeus. Just like his family, he has many names, such as Phoebus (the brilliant), Xanthus the fair, Chrysocomes (of golden locks), Hecatebolos (god of sudden death), Alexikakos (healer god), Paeon (the healer), Nomius (the sheperd god), and Lukoktonos (wolf killer) (to name a few).
Apollo and his many Skills, Talents, and Traits
Apollo was not only known as the sun god. He had many other powers. He was also the god of high culture, light, medicine (healing), music (song and the lyre), flocks and prophecy. Also, his attributes were the bow and arrow, sheperd's crook, and the lyre. He was also known as "Wolf God" or "Wolf Killer". Being one of the most important gods, he had many attributes and symbols. His dominant symbols were the lyre,
laurel wreath, raven, and the golden bow and arrow. Additionally, his sacred animals were the swans, vultures, crows, cicadas, wolfs, roosters, hawks and serpents. Meanwhile, his sacred plants were the laurel, palm, olive, and tamarisk tree. Furthermore, he was the second most prayed to god (Zeus was first). Because Apollo was a solar god, he made the fruits and plants around him grow, ripen, and bloom. The fields at Delphi were consecrated to him and he drove away mice and locusts from all crops.In addition he was thought of as and archer god who brought sudden death to whatever mortal lay fat to his golden arrows. Being the healer god, he drove away illnesses from mortals. He was one of the first and greatest lyre players after the young Hermes gave him the first lyre in exchange for the stolen head of cattle.As you can see, Apollo was a well represented Olympian.
There are also various other interesting facts about the great god Apollo. He was the god of divination. He had oracles at Thymbra, Delphi, Grynia, Didymus, Delos, and many more all over Greece. But his most famous oracle was at Delphi. A great sanctuary was built there in his honor. The preistess at Delphi, Pythia, would be possesed by Apollo and revealed seemingly meaningless, broken phrases which were later interpreted by the preist. In addition, he was a great ally of the Trojans in the Trojan war. He hailed down arrows upon the ungrateful greeks. Also, he slayed the horrible monster Python, but we'll cover that later.
Myth: Apollo and the Mighty Python
There once was a serpent named Python who resided in Mt.Parnassus at Delphi. Wherever it went it brought a horrible smell and death. Hera, Queen of the Gods, was angry with Zeus for his love to Leto. During Leto's pregnancy, Hera demanded Python to chase Leto around Greece and neighboring companies. Hera also cursed Leto so that she could not give birth on dry land.Later, Leto gave birth to Apollo (and Artemis) on a floating island in the Mediterranean sea. When Apollo was only four days old (and fully grown), he decided to wreak revenge on the horrible Python for making his mother suffer. He went to Python's cave at Delphi. As soon as Python lay his eyes on the livid Apollo, he boiled with anger (not literally). He lunged at Apollo, but Apollo quickly stuck an arrow into the serpent's forehead. Python's cry was so loud that you could hear it all across the valley. As the creature lay dead on the floor of his own cave, Apollo proudly said,"Go rot!" Apollo then buried the horrid creature under Mt.Parnassus and celebrated with song and dance (his specialty).
After the incident, the Greeks named Python's cave Pytho, which quite literally means "to rot."
The First Delphic Hymn to Apollo
English
Oh, come now, Muses, to the craggy sacred place
Upon the far seen, twin-peaked Parnassus
Celebrated and dear to us, Pierian maidens
Repose on the snow-clad mountain top;
Celebrate the Pythian lord with the golden sword
Phoebus, who Leto bore unassisted on the Delian rock
Surrounded by silvery olives, the luxurative plant
Which the goddess Pallas (Athena) long ago brought forth
ARTEMIS Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She is the twin sister of Apollo.
Artemis can speak to animals. She was the goddess of wilderness, the huntress and wild animals.
When she was three her father asked her what gift she wanted and she said she wanted some golden arrows to be free from love and to live her life as she pleased.
She was a virgin goddess. She became a goddess of childbirth in many cities.
She was often thought with the crescent moon above her forehead and sometimes identified with Selene a goddess of the moon.
She was one of the 12 Olympians. Living on Mount Olympus in her own palace.
Artemis was very possessive. Sometimes she would get really mad on anyone who disobeyed her wishes, especially against her special or sacred animals.
She was worshiped in most Greek cities but as a secondary goddess They were some festivals in her honor.
Artemis and her brother Apollo put death to the children on Niobe. They did this because Niobe, in Greek mythology proud of her numerous family, six daughters and six sons, she was proud of her superiority and went to her friend Leto, the mother of two children, Apollo and Artemis. As a punishment that Leto gave, Apollo slew Niobe sons and Artemis slew her daughters.
Greek name Artemis. Roman name Diana. Goddes of Moon, animals and childbirth. Symbol moon, deer, silver bow and gold arrows.
Strengths/Talents: Physically strong, able to defend herself, defender and guardian of women in childbirth and of wildlife in general.
Weaknesses/Flaws/Quirks: Dislikes men, whom she sometimes orders torn apart if they see her bathing. Opposes the institution of marriage and the subsequent loss of freedom it entails for women.
Poem
A goddess of the moon,
animals, and childbirth.
Killed a person turned him into a stag,
how harsh is that?
Had a twin brother,
and daughter of the mighty Zues.
One of the 12 Olympians.
Put death to many people.
So many legend,
the best one being born a day before her brother.
Kind but when she gets mad very harsh.
A goddess of many things.
Legends
Artemis was born one day before her brother Apollo. Her mother gave birth to her on a floting island of Delos then, almost immediately after her birth, and then she helped deliver Apollo. This was the beginning of her role as guardian of young children and patron of women in childbirth. Being a goddess of contradictions, she was the protesters of women in labor, but it was said that the arrows of Artemis brought them sudden death while giving birth. As was her brother, Apollo, Artemis was a divinity of healing, but also brought and spread diseases such as leprosy, rabies and even gout.
Another legend was Artemis being associated with chastity, at an early age she asked her father, Zeus, to grant her eternal virginity.
Another legend is when Artemis was bathing in the woods a hunter saw her bathing naked. She did not like him looking at her. She turned him into a stag and had his own dogs eat him. This is a stature of the person Artemis turned into a stag and herself.
This picture is from cc.oulu.fi/~yseppa/pics/image_artem_b.jpg
This picture from library.thinkquest.org/J002604/ephesus.jpg
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was the third Temple of Artemis.
Watch an Artemis vidio
animoto.com/play/wELgFn7KYmf602x3EDhkew
ARTEMIS AGAIN
Artemis, the Goddess of the Forest and the Hunt. Also known as Selene, Goddess of the Moon, has been an idol of greek mythology for thousands of years. She was remembered as a virgin Goddess, and looked up at by many women as guidence to childbirth, life, and strength. Along with being the Goddess of the Forest, she was also the Goddess of all things Wild, of the Hunt, of Childbirth, and of the Moon. With her twin brother, Apollo, they did many powerful and memorable things with their supereb archery skills.
Perhaps what she is best known for is her Silver Bow and Golden Arrows. They were made by the Cyclops and Hephaestus. They are a symbol of strength and the hunt. Her brother, Apollo has a Golden Bow and Silver Arrows. Although she is known as the protector of children and child birth, one shot from her arrows can and will bring sudden death in child birth.
Artemis had a very interesting, and quite small family. Fist of all, her father is Zeus, the King of the Gods, and her mother was an Nyph, Leto. This might be why Artemis had 12 nymph followers.Like most children, Artemis and Apollo were very protective of their mother, for she had very limited powers. One myth goes that Niobe, was boasting about how great her children were, compared to Leto's two children. Artemis and Apollo were highly offended, and they killled all of the children of Niobe. Niobe wept for days and days until she finally got over it and went on with her life with no children.
Artemis was a very peculiar and possesive goddess. She didn't like anyone or anything that disrespected her. When her father asked her what she wanted most, she said eternal verginity. Zeus respected this request, and from then on, Artemis was a virgin. Many men have tried to get her to fall in love with them, but Artemis knew what to look for. Although she was a virgin, many women lookd to her advice on how to raise a family, and protect children. Many women saw her as a symbol of guidence.
Myths
Artemis, since she is a very interesting Goddess, has many myths.
Once, a young hunter was hunting in the forest with his hounds, when he spotted Artemis bathing in a lake with her nymphs. he was captivated by her beauty that he hid in the shrubs and watched some more. As soon as Artemis saw the hunter watching her, she dipped her hand in the water and splashed the young hunter. When the water touched him, he turned into a stag. Not knowing that they were chasing their master, the hounds chased, hunted down, and killed the stag. All that have tried to win Artemis' heart, have failed miserably.
One day, Gaea, the Goddess of Nature, was being teased by Orion that he was a better hunter than she was. Artemis, Caring for Gaea, did not like what Orion was saying, because in her opinoin, no one was better than Gaea at hunting. Artemis raised her bow and arrow, and shot Orion. Feeling guilty for him, she asked her father to honor him in some way. Respecting his daughtor's wishes, Zues turned Orion into the constelation, and that's how Orion was placed into the night sky.
Artemis is best known for her myths, attitude, hunting skills, and her love twords nature. She was refered to as Selene and Diana. The people respected Artemis so much, that a temple was built in her honor. It was built byt Chersiphron and Metogenes in 550 BC. It took 120 years to build its competely marble structure except for the tile covered wooden roof. It had a length of 425 feet, and a width of 225 feet. Its foundation was377 by 40 feet. The temple stood on 127 columns, each 60 feet high. The temple stood in the City of Aphasias, wich is now the coast of Turkey . Although the temple had many priceless paintings, artifacts, and statues, it was destroyed by King Cruesus Lydia in the same year it was finished, 550 BC. It now lies in ruins at the place it was built.
METIS
Metis was said to be the goddess of prudence. Wise and cunning, she was Zeus' main adviser. Later, she became his first wife. Metis was admired for her poetry, wittiness, and wisdom.
Family
Metis was born to the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. Her siblings were river gods and goddesses and the Oceanids (after Oceanus) including Doris, Calypso, Styx, Persies, Tyche, Eurynome, and Telesto. After Cronos was conquered by the gods and goddesses, Zeus married her. She soon became pregnant with her daughter, Athena.
Myths
There are only a few myths concerning Metis because her time as a goddess was limited.However, she had an extremely important role in defeating Cronos and in the unusual birth of Athena.
When the Titan Cronos still ruled the world, he was worried his children would attempt to steal his power, so as Rhea gave birth to each of his children, he swallowed them. However, Rhea caught on and when Zeus, her youngest, was born. She gave Cronos a stone wrapped in a blanket instead of a baby. She hid her son away in a cave to be raised by nymphs. When Zeus was fully grown, he had every intention to overthrow the Titans on his own and get rid of his father. Wise Metis knew he would need help, though, and created a concoction to make Cronos regurgitate his children. With the help of his siblings, Zeus overthrew his father and threw him into Tataurus.
Metis' daughter had a strange birth. While the goddess was pregnant with Athena, Zeus got a prophecy that if Metis bore a son, the son would overthrow him just as he had overthrown his father and his father had overthrown his grandfather. As a precaution, Zeus decided to eliminate the problem. One day, he lured Metis close with sweet words. When she became near enough, he swallowed her. After this unfortunate event, Metis resided in his brain and gave him advice. She worked on armor for her daughter. When it was time for Athena to be born, Zeus got a pounding headache. Hephaestus split his head open with an axe and the goddess of wisdom sprung out fully grown, wearing the armor Metis crafted for her.
www.minervaclassics.com/AthBirth.jpg
Haiku
Witty wry and wise
Zeus’ foremost adviser
Goddess of prudence
Daughter to Titans
Zeus’ first lover and wife
Athena’s mother
An Olympian
Perhaps the wisest of all
But is no longer
Lured close with love
Swallowed by her husband
Resides in his head
Still whispers wisdom
To the master of all gods
Despite her new home
NYX
Nyx, the goddess of the night, was feared and revered by both men and the other gods. She was often captured in ancient art and myths as a shadowy figure with stars shining on her long, dark dress and wings protruding from her back. She was also said to ride a chariot.
The goddess of the night was worshiped by Greeks everywhere, but especially by mischief-makers and criminals to whom she offered her protection.
Family
Most agree Nyx was born out of Chaos, but some myths say she was the son of Eros. She and her brother, Erebus (darkness), then had many children including Aether (light), Lyssa (mad rage), Philotes (friendship), Geras (age), Charon (Hades' ferrier), Moros (destiny), Ponos (toil), Thanatos (death), Hypnos (sleep), Morpheus (dreams), Momus (ridicule), Oizys (distress), Apate (deceit), Hemera (day), Nemesis (moral anger), Eris (strife), the Oneirio (dreams), the Fates, and Keres (death fate). That just names a few because she had a total of thirty-seven immortal children. Clearly, Nyx had quite an immense family. View her family tree here: www.theoi.com/Tree2.html
Myth
In the Iliad, Hypnos is asked to put Zeus to sleep by Hera. However, he reminds her of a time when he put Zeus to sleep for her once before. When Zeus awoke, he was extremely angry and would have thrown Hypnos into the ocean if Nyx had not intervened. Because she was feared by even the king of all gods, she was able to keep the fury of Zeus at bay and her son safe.
Haiku
Imposing and tall
Black wings and billowing dress
Goddess of the night
Born out of Chaos
With her lover Erebus
Thirty-seven kids
Chasing day away
Smothering land in darkness
Deadly and silent
Frightens even him
The most revered of all gods
Zeus of Olympus
Helping crooks and thieves
Shielding with a dark caress
Intimidating
PAN
Basic Facts About Pan
Pan is the god of Shepherds and flocks, mountain wilds, and rustic music. He wandered the mountains and hills of Arcadia playing his pan pipes and chasing after nymphs. He only loved nymphs, but they often ran away from his advances. One day, when Pan made advances on a nymph named Syrinx, she decided to run away from him. This ended up not being a very good idea on her part. As she ran away, Pan transformed her into a group of reeds! He then wove these reeds into his famous pan pipes. When Pitys did the same thing to Pan, he turned her into a mountain fir, which was the gods' holy tree. Pan also made advances on a nymph named Echo, but she spurned him for them. After she spurned him, she faded away because Narcissus broke her heart, but her voice remained in the mountains forever. That is why the voice that repeats when you yell on a mountain it is called an echo. It was said that it was Pan who aroused feelings of uncontrolled fear in lonely places. That is why it is now called pan-ic. Pan is depicted as a man with the horns, the legs, and the tail of a goat, with a thick beard, snub nose, and pointed ears, as you can see in the picture to the right. In paintings and sculptures, Pan usually appears in the retinue of the god Dionysus, the god of the vine, and other rustic gods' such as Aristaios, Marsyas, and Aigipan. The greeks usually associated the name "Pan" with a word meaning all, but the true origin is an Arkadian word meaning "rustic". Sometimes Pan split into a group called the Panes, or a triad where the member's names were Agreus, Nomios, And Phorbas. Pan is thought to be one of the youngest gods, along with Dionysus.
The Birth of Pan
The story of Pan's birth began when the god Hermes came down from Olympus to visit Arcadia, where he used to tend flocks, and even though he was a god, he still loved the beauty of Arcadia. When he arrived, he met the daughter of Dryopos, and fell in love with her. With Dryopos' permission, he and the girl were married, and decided to have a child together. Their son was born with a full beard, goat legs, and goat horns. When the nurse saw the newborn child's face, she ran away in fright, leaving the small child on its own. Hermes came and took the baby and brought him up to Mount Olympus to raise him. He set the child down beside Zeus, and Zeus loved the boy. The boy brought joy to all their hearts, so they named him Pan, meaning "all".
There are other versions of the story where either Zeus and Hybris were the parents, or Odysseus' exiled wife Penelope ran away to Arcadia and bore a child to Hermes. Also, Dryopos' daughter was named Penelope, so it can get confusing. Also, there are versions where he was the son of Hermes and Thymbris, the son of Hermes and Sose, the son of Hermes and Callisto, or the son of Hermes and Orneios.
The Myths of Pan
The Music Contest of Apollo and Pan
One day, the god Pan challenged the god Apollo in a contest of music, to see once and for all who was the best musician. They met on top of a mountain and they brought a few judges with them. One of those judges was Midas, the king with the golden touch. First, Pan played on his pipes, and he enchanted the judges with his amazing music. All of the judges applauded his music,and he bowed when his performance was finished. After him, the fabled Apollo came onto the stage with his Lyre. He gently plucked the strings and played his soft music. Again, the judges were enchanted into silence. Finally, when Apollo dressed in his purple robe finished his song, the judges gathered to make their decision. Pan and Apollo waited patiently for the results. Overall, Apollo won the contest, but there was one judge that thought Pan had the better music. That judge was King Midas. In punishment for his insolence, Apollo said "Let your ears ;bear the same knowledge of judging as your head." And with that, Midas' ears turned into those of a donkey. After this embarrasment, Midas took to hiding in his temples with a purple turban around his head.
Pan and the Wanderings of Demeter
According to the accounts of the people of Thelpousa about the affair between Poseidon and Demeter, they say that afterwards, Demeter was angry with Poseidon and grieved at the taking of her daughter, Persephone. So she dressed herself in black robes and ran away to a remote corner of the world and shut herself in a large cavern. She stayed in for a very, very long time, and the gods were beginning to worry. Because she was gone, the fruits and grains of the earth were dying (she was the goddess of the harvest), and with them the human race. The humans relied on Demeter and her power to keep their crops growing, and in her state of grief she was shunning the humans. It seemed that no god could begin to think of where Demeter could be hiding. That was, until one day when Pan was roaming the valleys and hills of Arcadia. He hunted mountain by mountain until he finally reached the peak of Mount Elaios. He spied Demeter and the state she was in with the clothes she was wearing, and reported what he had seen to the great god Zeus. Zeus then sent Morai, whom Demeter trusted, to speak with her and try to convince her to come back. Demeter listened to Morai, and laid aside her wrath for the time, and even managed to moderate her grief for her daughter for the time being.
The Children of Pan
The first child of Pan was a boy named Acis. He was the son of the nymph Symaethis and Pan, and he was a great joy to both his parents. Pan's second child was Eurymedon, and he wore rustic armor and used rustic weapons. He was much more militant than his father. His third child was named Crenaeus, who's first sight was that of the stream his mother the nymph Ismenis had control over, and he was cradled on the bank of his native river. His fourth child was Crotus, who kept the company of the goddess Mousai on Mount Helicon. He was an amazing hunter and musician, who invented both the hunting bow and the ways to accompany music like rhythmic beats. His fifth child was Iynx, an Oreiad Nymph who created the magical love charm called the Iynx (what a surprise!). The Iynx is a spinning wheel with a wryneck bird attached to it. She used this to make Zeus fall in love with her, or as some say, with the nymph Io. Hera was extremely angry at what the nymph had done, so she turned Iynx into one of the wryneck birds she used on her wheel. The word "Jinx" is derived from her name. Another of Pan's children was Silenus, the rustic god of drinking and wine. His name was derived from the words seio, which means "to move to and fro", and lenos, which means "the wine trough". He rode in the train of Dionysus seated on the back of a donkey. Pan also had twelve children that were all born with his name and distinguishing figures. They had the body of a human, but the head of a goat! They lived in caverns in the mountainsides where there father lived.
Hymns to Pan
I sing of Pan, nymph-leader, darling of the Naiades, adornment of golden choruses, lord of winsome muse
When he pours forth the god-inspired siren-song of the melodious Syrinx
And stepping nimbly to the melody leaps down from the shadowy caves,
Moving his all-shape body
Fine dancer, fine of face, conspicuous with blond beard.
To star-eyed Olympos goes the all-tune sound, sprinkling the company of the Olympian gods with the immortal muse.
All the earth and sea are mixed thanks to you, for you are the bulwark of all
Oh ie Pan, Pan!
My Dog
To Pan and the Dryads here
I dedicate my hunting spear,
My dog, the bag that holds my store;
I am too poor to offer more!
Nay, but my dog I cannot spare!
He must return my crusts to share,
My daily rambles to attend,
My little comrade and my friend.
Macedonius: 6th century A.D.
EOS
er name is Eos, known as Aurora by the Romans. Her element is the dawn, she is the bringer of the light, scatterer of shadow and melter of morning dew. She chases away the frost of night and brings warmth to the world as she rises from the river Okeanus to do her duty. Eos opens the gate for Apollo and his chariot of the Sun. Her father was the Titan of the Sun, Helios. Her mother was Theia. When the titans were overthrown, Eos joined the gods of Olympus. She only wanted to continue her duty, as she is a peaceful goddess. She is also the goddess of new beginnings and goals. She is described as the rosy-fingered goddess by many bards and poets. Her names include Hrigenia, Orqria, ‘Hmera, Titw, AuwV, AwV, RododaktuloV, CrusopacuV, FaesforoV, and KrokopeploV. Eos is mother of the Directional Winds Zephyrus(West), Notus (North), and Boreas (South) and all of the stars including the Morning Star (the planet, Venus,) known as Eosphorus or Dawn
Caller. Other children of hers include Euros, Hesperos, Emathion, and Memnon. According to myth, Eos appears much younger than most other goddesses (around 14-20 depending on the myth) but all depictions of Eos place her as about the same age as the others, hinting that there is more than one goddess under the name 'Eos' (not including Eros, God of Love). Eos had many lovers including Ares, Orion, Paethon, Kepalos, and Thithonus. In some myths, Eos takes Artemis's place as goddess of the moon and Apollo's sister. She is also, at times, synonymous with Hemera, the primordial goddess of day who fell with the Titans. Many myths are associated with her, and I will only retell a few. Here you are.
Image By Martin Herbert
Curse
Eos resided in rest, waiting. Her duty of opening the gate for Apollo was not due for another four hours. She lay on the grass, no wind stirred her hair, no stars sparkled high above, for this was before the stars or winds had come to be. There would be many starless nights before Eos created the sparkling lights. At Eos’s side, a tall man sat comfortably. He sat with folded legs and looked at the dark blanket above them, torn only by the crescent moon. Eos watched him fondly, the fire in his red pupils shimmered with a determination she loved. She sat up, and looked across the green field in which they rested. The man’s arm snaked around her waist; she huddled close to him. Ares, king of war. His red robes were soft against her cheek, made of souls lost valiantly in battle, souls of men who did not wish to go to Hades, but to continue on their journey in war and victory. Eos waited sorrowfully as she knew her time with the God would soon come to an end. Eos was a prophet, she knew about beginnings and endings even if only with tiny whispers of futuristic memory. Eos loved this man, but endings are inevitable when you're dating a god who was cheating on Aphrodite. Eos sighed and huddled closer to the God. She could stretch it; for a century or two at least.
A dove called, mourning the night. Ares jumped, doves always scared him, as well as swans. The tree behind them, a Myrtle, sprung to life. Aphrodite stood above them in the most outrageous human form Eos had ever seen her in; a stunning girl with a super-model build and long bubble-gum pink hair. Her hot pink eyes were full of anger. The dove who fluttered down from the air above her to alight on her shoulder was instantly dismissed. Aphrodite was not happy to see her lover with another woman; you could see it in every twitch of her perfect red lips.
"Eos!" Aphrodite hissed, growling insults that were in no way nice or ladylike.
"Hi," Eos acknowledged.
"Why are you with Ares?" She questioned.
Eos had the perfect retort, "Why aren't you with Hephaestus?"
Aphrodite's nostrils flared. "That ugly idiot? I love Ares and you know it."
"Do I? You never told me and neither did he..." Eos turned to look at Ares. He looked back innocently, shrugging.
"I'm sick of you, you needn't talk back to your superiors. I condemn you here and now." Aphrodite's eyes dared her to respond with another smart comment.
"Condemn me how, make every mortal I see fall in love with me?" Eos took the dare, yawning.
Aphrodite's eyes twinkled darkly "You are doomed to constantly fall in love." Eos's eyes stretched wide, that took her words away. Oh... no. Eos had forgotten about that ability of Aphrodite's... oops. This would interfere with her duty... Eos sighed in defeat, pulled away from the War God and vanished into the starless night.
Starless
Image by Evelyn de Morgan
Eos's eyes fell once more on the starless sky, the only light in the sky was the fading moon; a pure white stone in a dark midnight-blue pond. A few years had passed; Eos had avoided mortals the best she could but still, her heart had been given to at least three mortal men since Aphrodite had cast her curse. Perhaps she no longer had a heart to give... However, she still was inseparably devoted to bringing the day and keeping the light. Eos watched on from the bank of the river which she stood on; Okeanus. She stepped forth from the water and found herself at Apollo's gate. He stood there in his chariot with his constant smile and a poem at his lips. Eos rolled the rosy-dawn colored eyes of her current form and opened the gate. She dilly-dallied as much as she could, to see if she could annoy Apollo. She couldn't; nothing short of theft could annoy him. She grumbled, flying forth on the wings Zeus had given her years ago to scatter light from her basket and melt dew with her magic. She flew before Apollo; a difficult task for anyone but Eos. His horses were fast and his wit and smile made you want to keep pace with him. At such a high speed it was a wonder Eos spotted the young prince at all. Thithonus, Prince of Troy, was on his horse, seemingly trying to race the sun just for the heck of it. Both he and his steed were handsome; beautiful. The surge returned to Eos's heart. Thithonus seemed different, somehow; special. She would ask him to marry her; but first she must ask Zeus a favor. Once Apollo dismissed her with a wave of his hand and a cheery poem about ice burning things, Eos soared to Olympus.
Eos's visits to Olympus were rare and always quick, but she loved the mountain. Eos entered the throne room and respectfully knelt at Zeus's feet. He beckoned her up and summoned her closer; she stated her request.
"Would you please grant Thithonus, Prince of Troy eternal life? I wish to spend my days with him."
Zeus only nodded and snapped his fingers. Then he sent her away with not one word. Zeus was a busy god but he could be counted on. Eos flew to Thithonus and told him of her love and his new life. He accepted her and they married, she bore him many children; Memnon and the stars and the winds, but after twenty years, Eos noticed her mistake. Thithonus was still aging even if he couldn't die. She had asked Zeus for his eternal life, but not eternal youth. Disgusted, Eos stopped seeing Thithonus as much as she could, as he aged more and more. After a very long time, Thithonus became so old he shrank into a grasshopper and Eos threw him into the Underworld in disgust.
