The youngest of the Charities, Aglaea or Aglaia ("splendor, brilliant, shining one") was Hephaestus' wife and Asclepius' daughter in Greek mythology. Other sources cite her and her sisters as the daughters of Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome. With Charopus, she was the mother of Nireus. Her other two sisters were Euphrosyne, and Thalia. Together they were known as the Three Graces, or the Charities. ...

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Including:

Charites - Regional differences Charites - In art

Read more here: » Charites: Encyclopedia - Charites

Although the Graces usually numbered three, according to the Spartans, Cleta, not Thalia, was the third, and other Graces are sometimes mentioned, including Auxo, Charis, Hegemone, Phaenna, and Pasithea. Pausanias interrupts his Description of Greece (book 9.xxxv.1 - 7) to expand upon the various conceptions of the Graces that had developed in different parts of mainland Greece and Ionia: "The Boeotians say that Eteocles was the first man to sacrifice to the Graces. Moreover, they are aware that he established thre ...

See also:

Charites, Charites - Regional differences, Charites - In art

Read more here: » Charites: Encyclopedia II - Charites - Regional differences

Zeús or Dzeús (Greek Ζεύς) or Dias (Greek Δίας) ("divine king") is the leader of the gods and god of the sky and thunder in Greek mythology. Zeus - Prehistory. Zeus is the continuation of Dyeus, the supreme god in Indo-European religion, also continued as Vedic Dyaus Pitar (cf. Jupiter), and as Tyr (Ziu, Tiw, Tiwaz) in Germanic and Norse mythology. Tyr was however supplanted by Odin as the supreme god among the Germanic tribes and they did not identify Zeu ...

Including:

Zeus - Prehistory
Zeus - Role and epithets Zeus - Panhellenic cults of Zeus Zeus - Some local Zeus-cults Zeus - Oracles of Zeus Zeus - Zeus and foreign gods
Zeus - Zeus in myth
Zeus - Consorts and children Zeus - Zeus miscellany
Zeus - Zeus in Neopaganism Zeus - Spoken-word myths - audio files

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(Most of the gods and goddesses had Roman equivalents.) See also family tree of the Greek gods and the list of Greek mythological creatures. List of Greek mythological characters - Immortals. List of Greek mythological characters - The twelve gods of Olympus. Aphrodite - Goddess of beauty and Love Apollo - God of healing, light, and poetry, patron of scribes Arês - God of war Artemis - Goddess of the hunt and the moon Athena - G ...

Including:

List of Greek mythological characters - Greek mythological characters List of Greek mythological characters - Immortals
List of Greek mythological characters - The twelve gods of Olympus List of Greek mythological characters - Other deities List of Greek mythological characters - Primeval gods List of Greek mythological characters - Titans List of Greek mythological characters - The Hundred-Handed List of Greek mythological characters - Cyclopes List of Greek mythological characters - River gods List of Greek mythological characters - Nymphs List of Greek mythological characters - Giants
List of Greek mythological characters - Mortals
List of Greek mythological characters - A-B List of Greek mythological characters - C-G List of Greek mythological characters - H-L List of Greek mythological characters - M-P List of Greek mythological characters - R-Z

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Aphrodite (World Book «AF roh DY tee») (Αφροδίτη, "risen from sea-foam") is the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite - Worship. The epithet Aphrodite Acidalia was occasionally added to her name, after the spring she used to bathe in, located in Boeotia (Virgil I, 720). She was also called Kypris or Cytherea after her alleged birth-places in Cyprus and Cythera, respectively. The island of Cythera was a center of her cult. She was associated with Hesp ...

Including:

Aphrodite - Worship Aphrodite - Birth Aphrodite - Adulthood
Aphrodite - Marriage with Hephaestus Aphrodite - Aphrodite and Psyche Aphrodite - Adonis Aphrodite - The Judgement of Paris Aphrodite - Pygmalion and Galatea Aphrodite - Other Stories
Aphrodite - Aphrodite in Neopaganism Aphrodite - Consorts and children Aphrodite - Other names

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Acrisius was a mythical king of Argos, and a son of Abas and Ocalea (or Aglaea, depending on the author). He quarrelled constantly with his twin brother Proetus, inventing bucklers in the process, and in the end expelled him to Tiryns. His daughter, Danaë, was prophesied to have a son that would kill him, so Acrisius locked her in a bronze tower (or a cave) when she became fertile. Zeus had intercourse with her in the form of a shower of gold. She became pregnant with Perseus. Acrisius put the child and Danae in a chest and th ...

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Dionysus or Dionysos (Ancient Greek: Διώνυσος or Διόνυσος; also known as Bacchus in both Greek and Roman mythology and associated with the Italic Liber), the Thracian god of wine, represents not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficent influences. He is viewed as the promoter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover of peace — as well as the patron deity of both agriculture and the theater. Greeks borrowed Dionysus' figure and within the Olympian tradition he i ...

Including:

Dionysus - Worship
Dionysus - Bacchanalia Dionysus - Appellations
Dionysus - Birth Dionysus - Childhood Dionysus - Midas Dionysus - Other stories
Dionysus - Consorts/Children
Dionysus - Parallels with Christianity Dionysus - Modern interpretations Dionysus - Dionysus in Neopaganism Dionysus - names with the origin Dionysus Dionysus - Bibliography

Read more here: » Dionysus: Encyclopedia - Dionysus

On the representation of the Graces, Pausanias wrote, "Who it was who first represented the Graces naked, whether in sculpture or in painting, I could not discover. During the earlier period, certainly, sculptors and painters alike represented them draped. At Smyrna, for instance, in the sanctuary of the Nemeses, above the images have been dedicated Graces of gold, the work of Bupalus; and in the Music Hall in the same city there is a portrait of a Grace, painted by Apelles. At Pergamus likewise, in the chamber of Attalus, are o ...

See also:

Charites, Charites - Regional differences, Charites - In art

Read more here: » Charites: Encyclopedia II - Charites - In art

Asclepius (Greek Ἀσκλήπιος also rendered Aesculapius in Latin and transliterated Asklepios) was the god of medicine and healing in ancient Greek mythology, according to which he was born a mortal but was given immortality as the constellation Ophiuchus after his death. His name means "cut up," and (perhaps incidentially) shares a root with the word scalpel. He represents the healing aspect of the medical arts, while his daughters Hygieia, Me ...

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In earlier Greek mythology, the sun was personified as a deity called Hêlios (Greek for "the sun"), whom Homer equates with the sun titan Hyperion. Other sources say Helios is Hyperion's son by his sister Theia. Helios was seen driving a fiery chariot across the sky. He has two sisters, the moon goddess Selene and the dawn goddess Eos. Many think that Apollo becomes the Olympian "sun god", but this idea is mostly based on speculation and assumption. The equivalent of Helios in Roman mythology is Sol. Helios - Gre ...

Including:

Helios - Greek mythology Helios - Roman mythology Helios - Helios and Apollo Helios - Consorts/Children Helios - Epitheta

Read more here: » Helios: Encyclopedia - Helios

The best known story involving Helios is that of his son Phaeton, who drove the sun chariot to his own disaster. Helios was sometimes referred to with the epithet Helios Panoptes ("the all-seeing"). The names of the horses were Pyrois, Eos, Aethon and Phlegon. Helios was worshipped throughout the Peloponnesus, and especially on Rhodes (an island he pulled out of the sea), where annual gymnastic tournaments were held in his honor. The Colossus of Rhodes was dedicated to him. Helios was often depicted as a haloed youth in a chariot, wearing a cloak and with a globe and a whip. Roo ...

See also:

Helios, Helios - Greek mythology, Helios - Roman mythology, Helios - Helios and Apollo, Helios - Consorts/Children, Helios - Epitheta

Read more here: » Helios: Encyclopedia II - Helios - Greek mythology

(Most of the gods and goddesses had Roman equivalents.) See also family tree of the Greek gods and the list of Greek mythological creatures. ...

See also:

List of Greek mythological characters, List of Greek mythological characters - Greek mythological characters, List of Greek mythological characters - Immortals, List of Greek mythological characters - The twelve gods of Olympus, List of Greek mythological characters - Other deities, List of Greek mythological characters - Primeval gods, List of Greek mythological characters - Titans, List of Greek mythological characters - The Hundred-Handed, List of Greek mythological characters - Cyclopes, List of Greek mythological characters - River gods, List of Greek mythological characters - Nymphs, List of Greek mythological characters - Giants, List of Greek mythological characters - Mortals, List of Greek mythological characters - A-B, List of Greek mythological characters - C-G, List of Greek mythological characters - H-L, List of Greek mythological characters - M-P, List of Greek mythological characters - R-Z

Read more here: » List of Greek mythological characters: Encyclopedia II - List of Greek mythological characters - Greek mythological characters

Dionysus is a god of mystery religious rites, such as those practiced in honor of Demeter and Persephone at Eleusis near Athens. In the Thracian mysteries, he wears the "bassaris" or fox-skin, symbolizing new life. His own rites the Dionysian Mysteries were the most secretive of all (See also Maenads) Many scholars believe that Dionysus is a syncretism of a local Greek nature deity and a more powerful god from ...

See also:

Dionysus, Dionysus - Worship, Dionysus - Bacchanalia, Dionysus - Appellations, Dionysus - Birth, Dionysus - Childhood, Dionysus - Midas, Dionysus - Other stories, Dionysus - Consorts/Children, Dionysus - Parallels with Christianity, Dionysus - Modern interpretations, Dionysus - Dionysus in Neopaganism, Dionysus - names with the origin Dionysus, Dionysus - Bibliography

Read more here: » Dionysus: Encyclopedia II - Dionysus - Worship

Zeus is the continuation of Dyeus, the supreme god in Indo-European religion, also continued as Vedic Dyaus Pitar (cf. Jupiter), and as Tyr (Ziu, Tiw, Tiwaz) in Germanic and Norse mythology. Tyr was however supplanted by Odin as the supreme god among the Germanic tribes and they did not identify Zeus/Jupiter with either Tyr or Odin, but with Thor. In addition to his Indo-European inheritance, the classical Zeus also derives certain iconographic traits from the cultures of the ancient Near East, such as the scepter. < ...

See also:

Zeus, Zeus - Prehistory, Zeus - Role and epithets, Zeus - Panhellenic cults of Zeus, Zeus - Some local Zeus-cults, Zeus - Oracles of Zeus, Zeus - Zeus and foreign gods, Zeus - Zeus in myth, Zeus - Consorts and children, Zeus - Zeus miscellany, Zeus - Zeus in Neopaganism, Zeus - Spoken-word myths - audio files

Read more here: » Zeus: Encyclopedia II - Zeus - Prehistory

The best known story involving Helios is that of his son Phaeton, who drove the sun chariot to his own disaster. Helios was sometimes referred to with the epithet Helios Panoptes ("the all-seeing"). The names of the horses were Pyrois, Eos, Aethon and Phlegon. Helios was worshipped throughout the Peloponnesus, and especially on Rhodes (an island he pulled out of the sea), where annual gymnastic tournaments were held in his honor. The Colossus of Rhodes was dedicated to him. Helios was often depicted as a haloed youth in a chariot, wearing a cloak and with a globe and a whip. Roo ...

See also:

Helios, Helios - Greek mythology, Helios - Helios and Apollo, Helios - Consorts/Children, Helios - Epitheta

Read more here: » Helios: Encyclopedia II - Helios - Greek mythology

Aphrodite, in many of the myths involving her, is characterized as vain, ill-tempered and easily offended. Though she is one of the few gods of the Greek Pantheon to be actually married, she is frequently unfaithful to her husband. Hephaestus, of course, is one of the most even-tempered of the Hellenic deities; Aphrodite seems to prefer Ares, the volatile god of war. In Homer's Iliad she surges into battle to save her son, but abandons him (in fact, drops him as she flies through the air) when she herself is hurt (Ares does much the same thi ...

See also:

Aphrodite, Aphrodite - Worship, Aphrodite - Birth, Aphrodite - Adulthood, Aphrodite - Marriage with Hephaestus, Aphrodite - Aphrodite and Psyche, Aphrodite - Adonis, Aphrodite - The Judgement of Paris, Aphrodite - Pygmalion and Galatea, Aphrodite - Other Stories, Aphrodite - Aphrodite in Neopaganism, Aphrodite - Consorts and children, Aphrodite - Other names

Read more here: » Aphrodite: Encyclopedia II - Aphrodite - Adulthood

Cronus sired several children by Rhea: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, but swallowed them all as soon as they were born, since he had learned from Gaia and Uranus that he was destined to be overcome by his own son as he had overthrown his own father. But when Zeus was about to be born, Rhea sought Uranus and Gaia to devise a plan to save him, so that Cronus would get his retribution for his acts against Uranus and his own children. Rhea gave birth to Zeus in Crete, handing Cronus a rock wrapped in swaddling clothes, ...

See also:

Zeus, Zeus - Prehistory, Zeus - Role and epithets, Zeus - Panhellenic cults of Zeus, Zeus - Some local Zeus-cults, Zeus - Oracles of Zeus, Zeus - Zeus and foreign gods, Zeus - Zeus in myth, Zeus - Consorts and children, Zeus - Zeus miscellany, Zeus - Zeus in Neopaganism, Zeus - Spoken-word myths - audio files

Read more here: » Zeus: Encyclopedia II - Zeus - Zeus in myth

List of Greek mythological characters - The twelve gods of Olympus. Aphrodite - Goddess of beauty and Love Apollo - God of the Sun music, healing, light, and poetry, patron of scribes Arês - God of war Artemis - Goddess of the hunt and the moon Athena - Goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war, Zeus' favorite daughter Dêmêtêr - Goddess of agriculture Hephaestus (Hepháistos) - God of fire and the forge Hêra - Goddess of marriage, wife of ZeusSee also:

List of Greek mythological characters, List of Greek mythological characters - Greek mythological characters, List of Greek mythological characters - Immortals, List of Greek mythological characters - The twelve gods of Olympus, List of Greek mythological characters - Other deities, List of Greek mythological characters - Primeval gods, List of Greek mythological characters - Titans, List of Greek mythological characters - The Hundred-Handed, List of Greek mythological characters - Cyclopes, List of Greek mythological characters - River gods, List of Greek mythological characters - Nymphs, List of Greek mythological characters - Giants, List of Greek mythological characters - Mortals, List of Greek mythological characters - A-B, List of Greek mythological characters - C-G, List of Greek mythological characters - H-L, List of Greek mythological characters - M-P, List of Greek mythological characters - R-Z

Read more here: » List of Greek mythological characters: Encyclopedia II - List of Greek mythological characters - Immortals

Apollo as he appears in Homer, a plague-dealing god with a silver (not golden) bow has no solar features. But by Hellenistic times Apollo had become closely connected with the sun religiously. His epithet Phoebus 'shining' was later applied by Latin poets to the sun-god Sol also, perhaps from such connections as well as from its obvious appropriateness. The earliest certain reference to Apollo being sometimes identified with the sun god appears in the surviving fragments of Euripides' play Phaethon. The play as a whole seems to ...

See also:

Helios, Helios - Greek mythology, Helios - Helios and Apollo, Helios - Consorts/Children, Helios - Epitheta

Read more here: » Helios: Encyclopedia II - Helios - Helios and Apollo