In Greek mythology, the Charites (Χάριτες; Greek: "Graces") were goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. They ordinarily numbered three, from youngest to oldest: Aglaea ("Beauty"), Euphrosyne ("Good Cheer"), and Thalia ("Festivities"). In Roman mythology they were known as the Gratiae. The Charites were usually considered the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, though they were also said to be daughters of Dionysus and Aphrodite or of Helios and the naiad Aegle. Homer wrote that they ...

Including:

Charites - Regional differences Charites - In art

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See also:

Charites, Charites - Regional differences, Charites - In art

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

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

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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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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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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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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

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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 ...

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Charites, Charites - Regional differences, Charites - In art

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

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 ...

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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

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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 ...

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

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

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

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. < ...

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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

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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 ...

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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

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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, ...

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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

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Dionysus had an unusual birth that evokes the difficulty in fitting him into the Olympian pantheon. His mother was Semele (daughter of Cadmus), a mortal woman, and his father Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus's wife, Hera, a jealous and vain goddess, discovered the affair while Semele was pregnant. Appearing as an old crone, Hera befriended Semele, who confided in her that her husband was actually Zeus. Hera pretended not to believe her, and planted seeds of doubt in Semele's mind. Curious, Semele demanded of Zeus that he reveal himself in al ...

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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

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The legend goes that Zeus took the infant Dionysus and gave him in charge to the rain-nymphs of Nysa, who nourished his infancy and childhood, and for their care Zeus rewarded them by placing them as the Hyades among the stars (see Hyades star cluster). Alternatively, he was raised by Maro. When Dionysus grew up he discovered the culture of the vine and the mode of extracting its precious juice; but Hera struck him with madness, and drove him forth a wanderer through various parts of the earth. In Phrygia the goddess Cybele, better kn ...

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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 - Childhood

Dionysus had an unusual birth that evokes the difficulty in fitting him into the Olympian pantheon. His mother was Semele (daughter of Cadmus), a mortal woman, and his father Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus's wife, Hera, a jealous and vain goddess, discovered the affair while Semele was pregnant. Appearing as an old crone(in other stories a nurse), Hera befriended Semele, who confided in her that her husband was actually Zeus. Hera pretended not to believe her, and planted seeds of doubt in Semele's mind. Curious, Semele demanded of Zeus th ...

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 - Birth

It is possible that Dionysian mythology would later find its way into Christianity. There are many parallels between Dionysus and Jesus; both were said to have been born from a mortal woman but fathered by a god, to have returned from the dead, and to have transformed water into wine. The modern scholar Barry Powell also argues that Christian notions of eating and drinking "the flesh" and "blood" of Jesus was influenced by the cult of Dionysus. Certainly the Dionysus myth contains a great deal of cannibalism, in its links to Ino (however, on ...

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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

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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 ...

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

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

Once, Dionysus found his old school master and foster father, Silenus, missing. The old man had been drinking, and had wandered away drunk, and was found by some peasants, who carried him to their king, Midas (alternatively, he passed out in Midas' rose garden). Midas recognized him, and treated him hospitably, entertaining him for ten days and nights with politeness, while Silenus entertained Midas and his friends with stories and songs. On the eleventh day he brought Silenus back to Dionysus. Dionysus offered Midas his choice of whatever r ...

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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

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