List of Greek mythological figures
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The following is a list of gods, goddesses and many other divine and semi-divine figures from Ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion. (The list does not include creatures; for these, see List of Greek mythological creatures.)
Contents
- 1 Immortals
- 2 Mortals
- 3 See also
- 4 References
- 5 External links
Immortals[edit]
The Greeks created images of their deities for many purposes. A temple would house the statue of a god or goddess, or multiple deities, and might be decorated with relief scenes depicting myths. Divine images were common on coins. Drinking cups and other vessels were painted with scenes from Greek myths.
Major gods and goddesses[edit]
Deity | Description |
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Aphrodite (Ἀφροδίτη, Aphroditē)
Goddess of beauty, love, desire, and pleasure. Although married to Hephaestus she had many lovers, most notably Ares, Adonis, and Anchises. She was depicted as an extraordinarily beautiful woman, with poets praising the radiance of her smile in particular. Her symbols include roses and other flowers, the scallop shell, and the myrtle wreath. Her sacred animals include doves and sparrows. Her Roman counterpart is Venus. |
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Apollo (Ἀπόλλων, Apóllōn)
God of music, arts, knowledge, healing, plague, prophecy, poetry, manly beauty, and archery. He is the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. Both Apollo and Artemis use a bow and arrow. Apollo is often incorrectly identified as the god of the sun. Although Apollo is the god of the sun in Roman mythology, Helios is the god of the sun in Greek mythology. In sculpture, Apollo is depicted as a very handsome, beardless young man with long hair and an ideal physique. As the embodiment of perfectionism, he could be cruel and destructive, and his love affairs were rarely happy. He often appears in the company of the Muses. His attributes include the laurel wreath and lyre. His sacred animals include roe deer, swans, cicadas, hawks, ravens, crows, foxes, mice, and snakes. His Roman counterpart is also named Apollo. |
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Ares (Ἄρης, Árēs)
God of war, bloodshed, and violence. The son of Zeus and Hera, he was depicted as a beardless youth, either nude with a helmet and spear or sword, or as an armed warrior. Homer portrays him as moody and unreliable, and he generally represents the chaos of war in contrast to Athena, a goddess of military strategy and skill. Ares is known for cuckolding his brother Hephaestus and conducting an affair with Aphrodite. His sacred animals include vultures, venomous snakes, dogs, and boars. His Roman counterpart Mars by contrast was regarded as the dignified ancestor of the Roman people. |
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Artemis (Ἄρτεμις, Ártemis)
Virgin goddess of the hunt, wilderness, animals, young girls, childbirth, and plague. In later times Artemis became associated with bows and arrows. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin sister of Apollo. In art she is often depicted as a young woman dressed in a short knee-length chiton and equipped with a hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. Her attributes include hunting spears, animal pelts, deer and other wild animals. Her sacred animals include deer, bears, and wild boars. Her Roman counterpart is Diana. |
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Athena (Ἀθηνᾶ, Athēnâ)
Goddess of reason, wisdom, intelligence, skill, peace, warfare, battle strategy, and handicrafts. According to most traditions, she was born from Zeus's forehead, fully formed and armored. She is depicted as being crowned with a crested helm, armed with shield and spear, and wearing the aegis over a long dress. Poets describe her as "grey-eyed" or having especially bright, keen eyes. She is a special patron of heroes such as Odysseus. She is the patron of the city Athens (which was named after her) and is attributed to various inventions in arts and literature. Her symbol is the olive tree. She is commonly shown as being accompanied by her sacred animal, the owl. Her Roman counterpart is Minerva. |
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Demeter (Δημήτηρ, Dēmētēr)
Goddess of grain, agriculture, harvest, growth, and nourishment. Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and a sister of Zeus, by whom she bore Persephone. Demeter is one of the main deities of the Eleusinian Mysteries, in which her power over the life cycle of plants symbolizes the passage of the human soul through life and into the afterlife. She is depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and a torch. Her symbols are the cornucopia, wheat-ears, the winged serpent, and the lotus staff. Her sacred animals include pigs and snakes. Her Roman counterpart is Ceres. |
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Dionysus (Διόνυσος, Diónysos)/Bacchus (Βάκχος, Bákkhos)
God of wine, fruitfulness, parties, festivals, madness, chaos, drunkenness, vegetation, and ecstasy. In art he is depicted as either an older bearded god or an effeminate, long-haired youth. His attributes include the thyrsus, a drinking cup, the grape vine, and a crown of ivy. He is often in the company of his thiasos, a group of attendants including satyrs, maenads, and his old tutor Silenus. The consort of Dionysus was Ariadne. His sacred animals include dolphins, serpents, tigers, and donkeys. A later addition to the Olympians, in some accounts he replaced Hestia. Bacchus was another name for him in Greek, and came into common usage among the Romans. |
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Hades (ᾍδης, Hádēs)/Pluto (Πλούτων, Ploutōn)
God of the underworld and the dead. His consort is Persephone. His attributes are the drinking horn or cornucopia, key, sceptre, and the three-headed dog Cerberus. His sacred animals include the screech owl. He was one of three sons of Cronus and Rhea, and thus sovereign over one of the three realms of the universe, the underworld. As a chthonic god, however, his place among the Olympians is ambiguous. In the mystery religions and Athenian literature, Pluto ("the Rich") was his preferred name, with Hades referring to the underworld itself. The Romans translated Plouton as Dis Pater ("the Rich Father") or Pluto. |
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Hephaestus (Ἥφαιστος, Hḗphaistos)
God of fire, metalworking, and crafts. Either the son of Zeus and Hera or Hera alone, he is the smith of the gods and the husband of the adulterous Aphrodite. He was usually depicted as a bearded, crippled man with hammer, tongs, and anvil, and sometimes riding a donkey. His sacred animals include the donkey, the guard dog, and the crane. Among his creations was the armor of Achilles. Hephaestus used the fire of the forge as a creative force, but his Roman counterpart Vulcan was feared for his destructive potential and associated with the volcanic power of the earth. |
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Hera (Ἥρα, Hḗra)
Queen of the gods, and goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, heirs, kings, and empires. She is the wife and sister of Zeus, and the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was usually depicted as a regal woman in the prime of her life, wearing a diadem and veil and holding a lotus-tipped staff. Although she is the goddess of marriage, Zeus's many infidelities drive her to jealousy and vengefulness. Her sacred animals include the heifer, the peacock, and the cuckoo. Her Roman counterpart is Juno. |
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Hermes (Ἑρμῆς, Hērmēs)
God of boundaries, travel, communication, trade, language, and writing. The son of Zeus and Maia, Hermes is the messenger of the gods, and a psychopomp who leads the souls of the dead into the afterlife. He was depicted either as a handsome and athletic beardless youth, or as an older bearded man. His attributes include the herald's wand or caduceus, winged sandals, and a traveler's cap. His sacred animals include the tortoise. His Roman counterpart is Mercury. |
Hestia (Ἑστία, Hestía)
Virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and chastity. She is a daughter of Rhea and Cronus, and a sister of Zeus. Not often identifiable in Greek art, she appeared as a modestly veiled woman. Her symbols are the hearth and kettle. In some accounts, she gave up her seat as one of the Twelve Olympians in favor of Dionysus, and she plays little role in Greek myths. Her Roman counterpart Vesta, however, was a major deity of the Roman state. |
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Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν, Poseidōn)
God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, and earthquakes. He is a son of Cronus and Rhea, and the brother of Zeus and Hades. He rules one of the three realms of the universe, as king of the sea and the waters. In art he is depicted as a mature man of sturdy build, often with a luxuriant beard, and holding a trident. His sacred animals include the horse and the dolphin. His wedding with Amphitrite is often presented as a triumphal procession. In some stories he rapes Medusa, leading to her transformation into a hideous Gorgon and also to the birth of their two children, Pegasus and Chrysaor. His Roman counterpart is Neptune. |
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Zeus (Ζεύς, Zeus)
King of the gods, ruler of Mount Olympus, and god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, law, order, and justice. He is the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea. He overthrew Cronus and gained the sovereignty of heaven for himself. In art he is depicted as a regal, mature man with a sturdy figure and dark beard. His usual attributes are the royal scepter and the lightning bolt. His sacred animals include the eagle and the bull. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter, also known as Jove. |
Primordial deities[edit]
Ancient Greek name | English name | Description |
---|---|---|
Αἰών (Aiôn) | Aion | The god of eternity, personifying cyclical and unbounded time. Sometimes equated with Chronos. |
Αἰθήρ (Aithḗr) | Aether | The god of the upper atmosphere and light. |
Ἀνάγκη (Anánkē) | Ananke | The goddess of inevitability, compulsion, and necessity. |
Χάος (Cháos) | Chaos | The personification of nothingness from which all of existence sprang. Depicted as a void. Initially genderless, later on described as female. |
Χρόνος (Chrónos) | Chronos | The god of empirical time, sometimes equated with Aion. Not to be confused with the Titan Cronus (Kronos), the father of Zeus. |
Ἔρεβος (Érebos) | Erebus | The god of darkness and shadow. |
Ἔρως (Eros) | Eros | The god of love and attraction. |
Ὕπνος (Hypnos) | Hypnos | The personification of sleep. |
Nῆσοι (Nē̂soi) | The Nesoi | The goddesses of the islands and sea. |
Οὐρανός (Ouranós) | Uranus | The god of the heavens (Father Sky); father of the Titans. |
Γαῖα (Gaîa) | Gaia (Gaea) | Personification of the Earth (Mother Earth); mother of the Titans. |
Οὔρεα (Oúrea) | The Ourea | The gods of mountains. |
Φάνης (Phánēs) | Phanes | The god of procreation in the Orphic tradition. |
Πόντος (Póntos) | Pontus | The god of the sea, father of the fish and other sea creatures. |
Τάρταρος (Tártaros) | Tartarus | The god of the deepest, darkest part of the underworld, the Tartarean pit (which is also referred to as Tartarus itself). |
Θάλασσα (Thálassa) | Thalassa | Personification of the sea and consort of Pontus. |
Θάνατος ("Thánatos") | Thanatos | God of Death. Brother to Hypnos (Sleep) and in some cases Moros (Doom) |
Ἡμέρα (Hēméra) | Hemera | The goddess of day. |
Νύξ (Nýx) | Nyx | The goddess of night. |
Νέμεσις (Némesis) | Nemesis | The goddess of retribution. |
Titans and Titanesses[edit]
The Titans and Titanesses are depicted in Greek art less commonly than the Olympians.
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Eos (Dawn) and the hero Memnon (490–480 BC)
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Helios in his four-horse chariot (3rd century BC)
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Oceanus wearing crab-claw horns, with Tethys (Roman-era mosaic)
Greek name | English name | Description |
---|---|---|
The Twelve Titans | ||
Κοῖος (Koîos) | Coeus | Titan of intellect and the axis of heaven around which the constellations revolved. |
Κρεῖος (Kreîos) | Crius | The least individualized of the Twelve Titans, he is the father of Astraeus, Pallas, and Perses. Implied to be the Titan of constellations. |
Κρόνος (Kronos) | Cronus | Titan of harvests and personification of destructive time. The leader of the Titans, who overthrew his father Uranus only to be overthrown in turn by his son, Zeus. Not to be confused with Chronos. |
Ὑπερίων (Hyperíōn) | Hyperion | Titan of light. With Theia, he is the father of Helios (the sun), Selene (the moon), and Eos (the dawn). |
Ἰαπετός (Iapetós) | Iapetus | Titan of mortality and father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, Menoetius, and Atlas. |
Mνημοσύνη (Mnēmosýnē) | Mnemosyne | Titaness of memory and remembrance, and mother of the Nine Muses. |
Ὠκεανός (Ōceanós) | Oceanus | Titan of the all-encircling river Oceans around the earth, the fount of all the Earth's fresh-water. |
Φοίβη (Phoíbē) | Phoebe | Titaness of the "bright" intellect and prophecy, and consort of Koios. |
Ῥέα (Rhéa) | Rhea | Titaness of fertility, motherhood and the mountain wilds. She is the sister and consort of Cronus, and mother of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. |
Τηθύς (Tēthýs) | Tethys | Titaness of fresh-water, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains, and clouds. |
Θεία (Theía) | Theia | Titaness of sight and the shining light of the clear blue sky. She is the consort of Hyperion, and mother of Helios, Selene, and Eos. |
Θέμις (Thémis) | Themis | Titaness of divine law and order. |
Other Titans | ||
Ἀστερία (Astería) | Asteria | Titaness of nocturnal oracles and falling stars. |
Ἀστραῖος (Astraîos) | Astraeus | Titan of dusk, stars, and planets, and the art of astrology. |
Ἄτλας (Átlas) | Atlas | Titan forced to carry the heavens upon his shoulders by Zeus. Also Son of Iapetus. |
Αὔρα (Aúra) | Aura | Titaness of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning. |
Κλυμένη (Clyménē) | Clymene | Titaness of renown, fame, and infamy, and wife of Iapetus. |
Διώνη (Diṓnē) | Dione | Titaness of the oracle of Dodona. |
Ἥλιος (Hḗlios) | Helios | Titan of the sun and guardian of oaths. |
Σελήνη (Selḗnē) | Selene | Titaness of the moon. |
Ἠώς (Ēṓs) | Eos | Titaness of the dawn. |
Ἐπιμηθεύς (Epimētheús) | Epimetheus | Titan of afterthought and the father of excuses. |
Εὐρυβία (Eurybía) | Eurybia | Titaness of the mastery of the seas and consort of Krios. |
Εὐρυνόμη (Eurynómē) | Eurynome | Titaness of water-meadows and pasturelands, and mother of the three Charites by Zeus. |
Λήλαντος (Lēlantos) | Lelantos | Titan of air and the hunter's skill of stalking prey. He is the male counterpart of Leto. |
Λητώ (Lētṓ) | Leto | Titaness of motherhood and mother of the twin Olympians, Artemis and Apollo. |
Μενοίτιος (Menoítios) | Menoetius | Titan of violent anger, rash action, and human mortality. Killed by Zeus. |
Μῆτις (Mē̂tis) | Metis | Titaness of good counsel, advice, planning, cunning, craftiness, and wisdom. Mother of Athena. |
Ὀφίων (Ophíōn) | Ophion | An elder Titan, in some versions of the myth he ruled the Earth with his consort Eurynome before Cronus overthrew him. Another account describes him as a snake, born from the "World Egg" |
Πάλλας (Pállas) | Pallas | Titan of warcraft. He was killed by Athena during the Titanomachy. |
Πέρσης (Pérsēs) | Perses | Titan of destruction. |
Προμηθεύς (Promētheús) | Prometheus | Titan of forethought and crafty counsel, and creator of mankind. |
Στύξ (Stýx) | Styx | Titaness of the Underworld river Styx and personification of hatred. |
Gigantes and other "giants"[edit]
Gigantes[edit]
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20161222163524im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Athena_Enkelados_Louvre_CA3662.jpg/220px-Athena_Enkelados_Louvre_CA3662.jpg)
The Gigantes were the offspring of Gaia (Earth), born from the blood that fell when Uranus (Sky) was castrated by their Titan son Cronus, who fought the Gigantomachy, their war with the Olympian gods for supremecy of the cosmos, they include:
- Agrius (Ἄγριος), he was killed by the Moirai.
- Alcyoneus (Ἀλκυονεύς), a giant usually considered to be one of the Gigantes, slain by Heracles.
- Chthonius (Χθονιος).
- Clytius (Κλυτίος), killed by Hecate with her torches.
- Enceladus (Ἐγκέλαδος), typically slain by Athena, said to be buried under Mount Etna in Sicily.
- Ephialtes (Ἐφιάλτης), according to Apollodorus, he was blinded by arrows from Apollo and Heracles.
- Eurymedon (Ευρυμέδων), he was a king of the Giants and father of Periboea.
- Eurytus (Εὔρυτος), he was killed by Dionysus with his thyrsus.
- Gration (Γρατίων), he was killed by Artemis.
- Hippolytus (Ἱππόλυτος), he was killed by Hermes, who was wearing Hades' helmet, which made its wearer invisible.
- Leon (Λεων), possibly one of the Gigantes, killed by Heracles.
- Mimas (Μίμας), according to Apollodorus, he was killed by Hephaestus, or by others Zeus or Ares.
- Pallas (Πάλλας), according to Apollodorus, he was flayed by Athena, who used his skin as a shield.
- Polybotes (Πολυβώτης), typically slain by Poseidon.
- Porphyrion (Πορφυρίων), one of the leaders of the Gigantes, typically slain by Zeus.
- Thoas/Thoon (Θοων), he was killed by the Moirai.
Other "giants"[edit]
- Aloadae (Ἀλῳάδαι), twin giants who attempted to climb to Olympus by piling mountains on top of each other.
- Otus or Otos (Ότος)
- Ephialtes (Εφιάλτης)
- Anax (Αναξ) was a giant of the island of Lade near Miletos in Lydia, Anatolia.
- Antaeus (Ἀνταῖος), a Libyan giant who wrestled all visitors to the death until he was slain by Heracles
- Antiphates (Ἀντιφάτης), the king of the man-eating giants known as Laestrygones which were encountered by Odysseus on his travels.
- Argus Panoptes (Ἄργος Πανόπτης), a hundred-eyed giant tasked with guarding over Io
- Asterius (Αστεριος), a Lydian giant.
- Cacus (Κακος), a fire-breathing Latin giant slain by Heracles.
- Cyclopes (Elder), three one-eyed giants who forged the lightning-bolts of Zeus, Trident of Poseidon and Helmet of Hades
- Arges (Ἄργης)
- Brontes (Βρόντης)
- Steropes (Στερόπης)
- Cyclopes (Younger), a tribe of one-eyed, man-eating giants who herded flocks of sheep on the island of Sicily
- Polyphemus (Πολύφημος), a cyclops who briefly captured Odysseus and his men, only to be overcome and blinded by the hero
- The Gegenees (Γηγενέες), a tribe of six-armed giants fought by the Argonauts on Bear Mountain in Mysia
- Geryon (Γηρυων), a three-bodied giant who dwelt on the sunset isle at the ends of the earth. He was slain by Heracles when the hero arrived to fetch the giant's cattle as one of his twelve labours.
- The Hekatonkheires (Ἑκατόγχειρες), or Centimanes (Latin), the Hundred-Handed Ones, giant gods of violent storms and hurricanes. Three sons of Uranus and Gaia, each with their own distinct characters.[2]
- Briareus (Βριάρεως) or Aigaion (Αἰγαίων), The Vigorous
- Cottus (Κόττος), The Furious
- Gyges (Γύγης), The Big-Limbed
- The Laestrygonians (Λαιστρυγόνες), a tribe of man-eating giants encountered by Odysseus on his travels
- Orion (Ὠρίων), a giant huntsman whom Zeus placed among the stars as the constellation of Orion
- Talos (Τάλως), a giant forged from bronze by Hephaestus, and given by Zeus to his lover Europa as her personal protector
- Tityos (Τίτυος), a giant slain by Apollo and Artemis when he attempted to violate their mother Leto.
- Typhon (Τυφῶν), a monstrous immortal storm-giant who attempted to launch an attack on Mt. Olympus but was defeated by the Olympians and imprisoned in the pits of Tartarus
Personified concepts[edit]
- Achlys (Ἀχλύς), spirit of the death-mist, personification of sadness, misery and poison
- Adephagia (Ἀδηφαγία), spirit of satiety and gluttony
- Adikia (Ἀδικία), spirit of injustice and wrongdoing
- Aergia (Ἀεργία), spirit of idleness, laziness, indolence and sloth
- Agon (Ἀγών), spirit of contest, who possessed an altar at Olympia, site of the Olympic Games.
- Aidos (Αἰδώς), spirit of modesty, reverence and respect
- Aisa (Αἴσα), personification of lot and fate
- Alala (Ἀλαλά), spirit of the war cry
- Alastor (Ἀλάστωρ), spirit of blood feuds and vengeance
- Aletheia (Ἀλήθεια), spirit of truth, truthfulness and sincerity
- The Algea (Ἄλγεα), spirits of pain and suffering
- Achos (Ἄχος) "trouble, distress"
- Ania (Ἀνία) "ache, anguish"
- Lupe (Λύπη) "pain, grief, sadness"
- Alke (Ἀλκή), spirit of prowess and courage
- Amechania (Ἀμηχανία), spirit of helplessness and want of means
- The Amphilogiai (Ἀμφιλογίαι), spirits of disputes, debate, and contention
- Anaideia (Ἀναίδεια), spirit of ruthlessness, shamelessness, and unforgivingness
- The Androktasiai (Ἀνδροκτασίαι), spirits of battlefield slaughter
- Angelia (Ἀγγελία), spirit of messages, tidings and proclamations
- Apate (Ἀπάτη), spirit of deceit, guile, fraud and deception
- Apheleia (Ἀφέλεια), spirit of simplicity
- Aporia (Ἀπορία), spirit of difficulty, perplexity, powerlessness, and want of means
- The Arae (Ἀραί), spirits of curses
- Arete (Ἀρετή), spirit of virtue, excellence, goodness, and valour
- Atë (Ἄτη), spirit of delusion, infatuation, blind folly, recklessness, and ruin
- Bia (Βία "Violence"), the personification of force and raw energy
- Caerus (Καιρός), spirit of opportunity
- Corus (Κόρος), spirit of surfeit
- Deimos (Δεῖμος), spirit of fear, dread, and terror
- Dikaiosyne (Δικαιοσύνη), spirit of justice and righteousness
- Dike (Δίκη), spirit of justice, fair judgement, and the rights established by custom and law
- Dolos (Δόλος), spirit of trickery, cunning deception, craftiness, treachery, and guile
- Dysnomia (Δυσνομία), spirit of lawlessness and poor civil constitution
- Dyssebeia (Δυσσέβεια), spirit of impiety
- Eirene (Εἰρήνη), goddess of peace
- Ekecheiria (Ἐκεχειρία), spirit of truce, armistice, and the cessation of all hostilities; honoured at the Olympic Games
- Eleos (Ἔλεος), spirit of mercy, pity, and compassion
- Elpis (Ἐλπίς), spirit of hope and expectation
- Epiphron (Ἐπίφρων), spirit of prudence, shrewdness, thoughtfulness, carefulness, and sagacity
- Eris (Ἔρις), spirit of strife, discord, contention, and rivalry
- The Erotes (ἔρωτες)
- Anteros (Ἀντέρως), god of requited love
- Eros (Ἔρως), god of love and sexual intercourse
- Hedylogos (Ἡδύλογος), god of sweet talk and flattery
- Hermaphroditus (Ἑρμαφρόδιτος), god of hermaphrodites, effeminate men and androgyny
- Himeros (Ἵμερος), god of sexual desire
- Hymen (Ὑμήν) or Hymenaeus (Ὑμεναιος), god of marriage ceremonies, inspiring feasts and song
- Pothos (Πόθος), god of sexual longing, yearning, and desire
- Eucleia (Εὔκλεια), spirit of good repute and glory
- Eulabeia (Εὐλάβεια), spirit of discretion, caution, and circumspection
- Eunomia (Εὐνομία), goddess of good order and lawful conduct
- Eupheme (Εὐφήμη), spirit of words of good omen, acclamation, praise, applause, and shouts of triumph
- Eupraxia (Eὐπραξία), spirit of well-being
- Eusebeia (Eὐσέβεια), spirit of piety, loyalty, duty, and filial respect
- Euthenia (Εὐθενία), spirit of prosperity, abundance, and plenty
- Gelos (Γέλως), spirit of laughter
- Geras (Γῆρας), spirit of old age
- Harmonia (Ἁρμονία), goddess of harmony and concord
- Hebe (Ήβη), goddess of youth
- Hedone (Ἡδονή), spirit of pleasure, enjoyment, and delight
- Heimarmene (Εἵμαρμένη), personification of share destined by fate
- Homados (Ὅμαδος), spirit of the din of battle
- Homonoia (Ὁμόνοια), spirit of concord, unanimity, and oneness of mind
- Horkos (Ὅρκος), spirit of oaths
- Horme (Ὁρμή), spirit of impulse or effort (to do a thing), eagerness, setting oneself in motion, and starting an action
- Hybris (Ὕβρις), spirit of outrageous behaviour
- Hypnos (Ὕπνος), god of sleep
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20161222163524im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Hermes_e_Sarpedon.jpg/300px-Hermes_e_Sarpedon.jpg)
- The Hysminai (Ὑσμῖναι), spirits of fighting and combat
- Ioke (Ἰωκή), spirit of pursuit in battle
- Kakia (Kακία), spirit of vice and moral badness
- Kalokagathia (Καλοκαγαθία), spirit of nobility
- The Keres (Κῆρες), spirit of violent or cruel death
- Koalemos (Κοάλεμος), spirit of stupidity and foolishness
- Kratos (Κράτος), spirit of strength, might, power, and sovereign rule
- Kydoimos (Κυδοιμός), spirit of the din of battle, confusion, uproar, and hubbub
- Lethe (Λήθη), spirit of forgetfulness and oblivion, and of the river of the same name
- Limos (Λιμός), spirit of hunger and starvation
- The Litae (Λιταί), spirits of prayer
- Lyssa (Λύσσα), spirit of rage, fury and rabies in animals
- The Machai (Μάχαι), spirits of fighting and combat
- Mania (Μανία), spirit or spirits of madness, insanity, and frenzy
- The Moirai, or "Fates" (Μοίραι)
- Momus (Μῶμος), spirit of mockery, blame, censure and stinging criticism
- Moros (Μόρος), spirit of doom
- The Neikea (τὰ Νείκη), spirits of quarrels, feuds and grievances
- Nemesis (Νέμεσις), goddess of revenge, balance, righteous indignation, and retribution
- Nike (Νίκη), goddess of victory
- Nomos (Νόμος), spirit of law
- Oizys (Ὀϊζύς), spirit of woe and misery
- The Oneiroi (Ὄνειροι), spirits of dreams
- Palioxis (Παλίωξις), spirit of backrush, flight and retreat from battle
- Peitharchia (Πειθαρχία), spirit of obedience
- Peitho (Πειθώ), spirit of persuasion and seduction
- Penia (Πενία), spirit of poverty and need
- Penthus (Πένθος), spirit of grief, mourning, and lamentation
- Pepromene (Πεπρωμένη), personification of the destined share, similar to Heimarmene
- Pheme (Φήμη), spirit of rumour, report, and gossip
- Philophrosyne (Φιλοφροσύνη), spirit of friendliness, kindness, and welcome
- Philotes (Φιλότης), spirit of friendship, affection, and sexual intercourse
- Phobos (Φόβος), spirit of panic fear, flight, and battlefield rout
- The Phonoi (Φόνοι), spirits of murder, killing, and slaughter
- Phrike (Φρίκη), spirit of horror and trembling fear
- Phthonus (Φθόνος), spirit of envy and jealousy
- Pistis (Πίστις), spirit of trust, honesty, and good faith
- Poine (Ποίνη), spirit of retribution, vengeance, recompense, punishment, and penalty for the crime of murder and manslaughter
- Polemos (Πόλεμος), personification of war
- Ponos (Πόνος), spirit of hard labour and toil
- Poros (Πόρος), spirit of expediency, the means of accomplishing or providing, contrivance and device
- Praxidike (Πραξιδίκη), spirit of exacting justice
- Proioxis (Προίωξις), spirit of onrush and battlefield pursuit
- Prophasis (Πρόφασις), spirit of excuses and pleas
- Ptocheia (Πτωχεία), spirit of beggary
- Soter (Σωτήρ), male spirit of safety, preservation, and deliverance from harm
- Soteria (Σωτηρία), female personification of safety, preservation, and deliverance from harm
- Sophrosyne (Σωφροσύνη), spirit of moderation, self-control, temperance, restraint, and discretion
- Techne (Τέχνη), personification of art and skill
- Thanatos (Θάνατος), spirit of death and mortality
- Thrasos (Θράσος), spirit of boldness
- Tyche (Τύχη), goddess of fortune, chance, providence, and fate
- Zelos ( Ζῆλος), spirit of eager rivalry, emulation, envy, jealousy, and zeal
Chthonic deities[edit]
- Amphiaraus (Ἀμφιάραος), a hero of the war of the Seven Against Thebes who became an oracular spirit of the Underworld after his death
- Angelos (Ἄγγελος), a daughter of Zeus and Hera who became an underworld goddess
- Askalaphos (Ἀσκάλαφος), the son of Acheron and Orphne who tended the Underworld orchards before being transformed into a screech owl by Demeter
- Cerberus (Κέρβερος), the three-headed hound who guarded the gates of Hades
- Charon (Χάρων), ferryman of Hades
- Empusa (Ἔμπουσα), a monstrous underworld spirit or spirits with flaming hair, the leg of a goat and a leg of bronze. They are also servants of Hecate.
- Erebos (Ἔρεβος), the primeval god of darkness, his mists encircled the underworld and filled the hollows of the earth
- The Erinyes (Ἐρινύες), the Furies, goddesses of retribution, known as "The Kindly Ones"
- Hecate (Ἑκάτη), goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy
- Judges of the Dead
- Aiakos (Αἰακός), former mortal king of Aegina, guardian of the keys of Hades and judge of the men of Europe
- Minos (Μίνως), former mortal king of Crete and judge of the final vote
- Rhadamanthys (Ῥαδάμανθυς), former mortal lawmaker and judge of the men of Asia
- Keuthonymos (Κευθόνυμος), an Underworld spirit and father of Menoetes
- Cronus (Κρόνος), deposed king of the Titans; after his release from Tartarus he was appointed king of the Island of the Blessed
- Lamia (Λάμια), a vampiric Underworld spirit or spirits in the train of Hecate
- Lampades (Λαμπάδες), torch-bearing Underworld nymphs
- Macaria (Μακαρία), daughter of Hades and goddess of blessed death (not to be confused with the daughter of Heracles)
- Melinoe (Μελινόη), daughter of Persephone and Zeus who presided over the propitiations offered to the ghosts of the dead
- Menoetes (Μενοίτης), an Underworld spirit who herded the cattle of Hades
- Mormo (Μορμώ), a fearsome Underworld spirit or spirits in the train of Hecate
- Nyx (Νύξ), the primeval goddess of night
- Hades (¨Αδης) God of underworld and all things beneath the earth
- Persephone (Περσεφόνη), queen of the underworld, wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth
- Rivers of the Underworld
- Acheron (Αχέρων), the river of woe
- Kokytos (Kωκυτός), the river of wailing
- Lethe (Λήθη), the river of forgetfulness
- Phlegethon (Φλεγέθων), the river of fire
- Styx (Στύξ), the river of hatred and oaths
- Tartarus (Τάρταρος), the primeval god of the dark, stormy pit of Hades
- Thanatos (Θάνατος), spirit of death and minister of Hades
Sea deities[edit]
- Aegaeon (Αιγαίων), god of violent sea storms and ally of the Titans
- Achelous (Αχελώος), shark-shaped sea spirit[citation needed]
- Amphitrite (Αμφιτρίτη), sea goddess and consort of Poseidon
- Benthesikyme (Βενθεσικύμη), daughter of Poseidon, who resided in Ethiopia
- Brizo (Βριζώ), patron goddess of sailors, who sent prophetic dreams
- Ceto (Κῆτώ), goddess of the dangers of the ocean and of sea monsters
- Charybdis (Χάρυβδις), a sea monster and spirit of whirlpools and the tide
- Cymopoleia (Κυμοπόλεια), a daughter of Poseidon married to the Giant Briareus
- Delphin (Δέλφιν), the leader of the dolphins, Poseidon placed him in the sky as the constellation Delphin
- Eidothea (Ειδοθέα), prophetic sea nymph and daughter of Proteus
- Glaucus (Γλαῦκος), the fisherman's sea god
- Gorgons (Γοργόνες), three monstrous sea spirits
- The Graeae (Γραῖαι), three ancient sea spirits who personified the white foam of the sea; they shared one eye and one tooth between them
- Deino (Δεινώ)
- Enyo (Ενυώ)
- Pemphredo (Πεμφρεδώ)
- The Harpies (Ηάρπυιαι), winged spirits of sudden, sharp gusts of wind
- Hippocampi (´Ιππόκαμπος), horses of the sea that have the upper-body of a horse and the lower-body of a fish
- The Ichthyocentaurs (Ιχθυοκένταυροι), a race of centaurine sea-gods with the upper bodies of men, the lower fore-parts of horses, ending in the serpentine tails of fish
- Bythos (Βύθος) "sea depth"
- Aphros (Άφρος) "sea foam"
- Karkinos (Καρκίνος), a giant crab who allied itself with the Hydra against Heracles. When it died, Hera placed it in the sky as the constellation Cancer.
- Ladon (Λάδων), a hundred-headed sea serpent who guarded the western reaches of the sea, and the island and golden apples of the Hesperides
- Leucothea (Λευκοθέα), a sea goddess who aided sailors in distress
- Nereides (Νηρηίδες), sea nymphs
- Nereus (Νηρέας), the old man of the sea, and the god of the sea's rich bounty of fish
- Nerites (Νερίτης), a sea spirit who was transformed into a shell-fish by Aphrodite
- Oceanus (Ὠκεανός), Titan god of the Earth-encircling river Oceanus, the font of all the Earth's fresh-water
- Palaemon (Παλαίμων), a young sea god who aided sailors in distress
- Phorcys (Φόρκυς), god of the hidden dangers of the deep
- Pontos (Πόντος), primeval god of the sea, father of the fish and other sea creatures
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20161222163524im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Neptune_et_Amphitrite.jpg/220px-Neptune_et_Amphitrite.jpg)
- Proteus (Πρωτεύς), a shape-shifting, prophetic old sea god, and the herdsman of Poseidon's seals
- Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν), king of the sea and lord of the sea gods; also god of rivers, flood and drought, earthquakes, and horses
- Scylla (Σκύλλα), monstrous sea goddess
- The Sirens (Σειρῆνες), sea nymphs who lured sailors to their death with their song
- Aglaope (Αγλαόπη) or Aglaophonos (Αγλαόφωνος) or Aglaopheme (Αγλαοφήμη)
- Himerope (Ίμερόπη)
- Leucosia (Λευκοσία)
- Ligeia (Λιγεία)
- Molpe (Μολπή)
- Parthenope (Παρθενόπη)
- Peisinoe (Πεισινόη) or Peisithoe (Πεισιθόη)
- Raidne (Ραίδνη)
- Teles (Τέλης)
- Thelchtereia (Θελχτήρεια)
- Thelxiope (Θελξιόπη) or Thelxiepeia (Θελξιέπεια)
- The Telchines (Τελχινες), sea spirits native to the island of Rhodes; the gods killed them when they turned to evil magic
- Actaeus (Ακταίος)
- Argyron (Αργυρών)
- Atabyrius (Αταβύριος)
- Chalcon (Χαλκών)
- Chryson (Χρυσών)
- Damon (Δαμων) or Demonax (Δημώναξ)
- Damnameneus (Δαμναμενεύς)
- Dexithea (Δεξιθέα), mother of Euxanthios by Minos
- Lycos (Λύκος) or Lyktos (Λύκτος)
- Lysagora (Λυσαγόρα)?
- Makelo (Μακελώ)
- Megalesius (Μεγαλήσιος)
- Mylas (Μύλας)
- Nikon (Νίκων)
- Ormenos (Ορμενος)
- Simon (Σίμων)
- Skelmis (Σκελμις)
- Tethys (Τηθύς), Titan goddess of the sources fresh water, and the mother of the rivers, springs, streams, fountains, and clouds
- Thalassa (Θάλασσα), primeval goddess of the sea and consort of Pontos
- Thaumas (Θαῦμας), god of the wonders of the sea
- Thoosa (Θόοσα), goddess of swift currents
- Triteia (Τριτεια), daughter of Triton and companion of Ares
- Triton (Τρίτων), fish-tailed son and herald of Poseidon
- Tritones (Τρίτωνες), fish-tailed spirits in Poseidon's retinue
Sky deities[edit]
- Achelois (Ἀχελωΐς), "she who washes pain away", a minor moon goddess
- Aeolus (Aiolos) (Αίολος), god of the winds.
- Aether (Αιθήρ), primeval god of the upper air
- Alectrona (Αλεκτρονα), solar goddess of the morning or waking up
- Aparctias (Απαρκτίας), another name for the north wind (not identified with Boreas)
- Apheliotes (Αφηλιώτης), god of the east wind (when Eurus is considered southeast)
- Argestes (Αργέστης), another name for the west or northwest wind
- Caicias (Καικίας), god of the northeast wind
- Circios (Κίρκιος) or Thraskias (Θρασκίας), god of the north-northwest wind
- Euronotus (Ευρονότος), god of the southeast wind
- Lips (Λίψ), god of the southwest wind
- Skeiron (Σκείρων), god of the northwest wind
- Zeus (Ζεύς), King of Heaven and god of the sky, clouds, thunder, and lightning
- Hera (Ήρα), Queen of Heaven and goddess of the air and starry constellations
- Apollo, (Απόλλων), Olympian God of the sun, light, knowledge, music, healing, and the arts
- Artemis, (´Αρτεμις), Olympian Goddess of virgins and young women, of the moon, nature, hunt and the wild animals
- Arke (Άρκη), messenger of the Titans and twin sister of Iris
- Astraios (Ἀστραῖος), Titan god of stars and planets, and the art of astrology
- The Astra Planeti (Αστρα Πλανετοι), gods of the five wandering stars or planets
- Stilbon (Στιλβών), god of Hermaon, the planet Mercury
- Eosphorus (Ηωσφόρος), god of Venus the morning star
- Hesperus (Ἓσπερος), god of Venus the evening star
- Pyroeis (Πυρόεις), god of Areios, the planet Mars
- Phaethon (Φαέθων), god of Dios, the planet Jupiter
- Phaenon (Φαίνων), god of Kronion, the planet Saturn
- Aurai (Αὖραι), nymphs of the cooling breeze
- Aura (Αὖρα), goddess of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning
- Chaos (Χάος), the nothingness from which all else sprang, she also represented the lower atmosphere which surrounded the earth
- Chione (Χιόνη), goddess of snow and daughter of Boreas
- Uranus (Ουρανός), primeval god of the heavens
- Helios (Ἥλιος), Titan god of the sun and guardian of oaths
- Selene (Σελήνη), Titan goddess of the moon
- Eos (Ἠώς), Titan goddess of the dawn
- Hemera (Ημέρα), primeval goddess of the day
- Nyx, (Νύξ), goddess of the night
- The Hesperides, (´Εσπερίδες), nymphs that represented a star cluster in the constellation Taurus (Pleiades) and were associated with rain
- Iris (Ίρις), goddess of the rainbow and divine messenger
- Nephelai (Νεφέλαι), cloud nymphs
- Pandia (Πανδία), daughter of Selene and Zeus
- Ersa (Ἕρση), goddess of the morning dew
- Anemoi, (Άνεμοι), gods of the winds
- The Pleiades (Πλειάδες), goddesses of the constellation Pleiades and were associated with rain
Rustic deities[edit]
- Aetna (Αἴτνη), goddess of the volcanic Mount Etna in Sicily
- Amphictyonis (Αμφικτυονίς), goddess of wine and friendship between nations, a local form of Demeter
- Anthousai (Ανθούσαι), flower nymphs
- Aristaeus (Ἀρισταῖος), god of bee-keeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing, and hunting
- Attis (Άττις), vegetation god and consort of Cybele
- Britomartis (Βριτόμαρτις), Cretan goddess of hunting and nets used for fishing, fowling and the hunting of small game
- Cabeiri (Κάβειροι), gods or spirits who presided over the Mysteries of the islands of Lemnos and Samothrace
- Aitnaios (Αιτναιος)
- Alkon (Αλκων)
- Eurymedon (Ευρυμεδών)
- Onnes (Όννης)
- Tonnes (Τόννης)
- Centaurs (Κένταυροι), a race of half-man, half-horse beings
- The Cercopes (Κέρκοπες), a pair of monkey-like thieves who plagued the land of Lydia in western Anatolia
- Akmon (Ακμών)
- Passalos (Πάσσαλος)
- Chloris (Χλωρίς), goddess of flowers and wife of Zephyrus
- Comus (Κόμος), god of revelry, merrymaking, and festivity
- Corymbus (Κόρυμβος), god of the fruit of the ivy
- The Curetes (Κουρέτες), guardians of infant Zeus on Mount Ida, barely distinguished from the Dactyls and the Corybantes
- Cybele (Κυβέλη), a Phrygian mountain goddess associated with Rhea
- The Dactyls (Δάκτυλοι) "fingers", minor deities originally representing fingers of a hand
- Dionysus (Διόνυσος), god of wine, drunken orgies, and wild vegetation
- Dryades (Δρυάδες), tree and forest nymphs
- Gaia (Γαία), primeval goddess of the earth
- Epimeliades (Επιμελίδες), nymphs of highland pastures and protectors of sheep flocks
- Hamadryades (Αμαδρυάδες), oak tree dryades
- Hecaterus (Ηεκατερος), minor god of the hekateris — a rustic dance of quickly moving hands — and perhaps of the skill of hands in general
- Hephaestus (Ήφαιστος), god of metalworking
- Hermes (Ερμής), god of herds and flocks, of roads and boundary stones, and the god of thieves.
- The Horae (Ώρες), The Hours
- The goddesses of natural order
- The goddesses of springtime growth
- The goddesses of welfare
- The goddesses of the natural portions of time and the times of day
- Auge (Αυγή), first light of the morning
- Anatole (Ανατολή) or Anatolia (Ανατολία), sunrise
- Mousika or Musica (Μουσική), the morning hour of music and study
- Gymnastika, Gymnastica (Γυμναστίκή) or Gymnasia (Γυμνασία), the morning hour of gymnastics/exercise
- Nymphe (Νυμφή), the morning hour of ablutions (bathing, washing)
- Mesembria (Μεσημβρία), noon
- Sponde (Σπονδή), libations poured after lunch
- Elete, prayer, the first of the afternoon work hours
- Akte, Acte (Ακτή) or Cypris (Κυπρίς), eating and pleasure, the second of the afternoon work hours
- Hesperis (Έσπερίς), evening
- Dysis (Δύσις), sunset
- Arktos (Άρκτος), night sky, constellation
- The goddesses of seasons of the year
- Eiar (Είαρ), spring
- Theros (Θέρος), summer
- Pthinoporon (Φθινόπωρον), autumn
- Cheimon (Χειμών), winter
- Korybantes (Κορύβαντες), the crested dancers who worshipped Cybele
- Damneus (Δαμνεύς) "the one who tames(?)"
- Idaios (Ιδαίος) "of Mount Ida"
- Kyrbas (Κύρβας), whose name is probably a variant of Korybas, singular for "Korybantes"
- Okythoos (Ωκύθοος) "the one running swiftly"
- Prymneus (Πρυμνεύς) "of lower areas(?)"
- Pyrrhichos (Πυρῥιχος), god of the rustic dance
- Maenades (μαινάδες), crazed nymphs in the retinue of Dionysus
- Methe (Μέθη), nymph of drunkenness
- Meliae (Μελίαι), nymphs of honey and the ash tree
- Naiades (Ναιάδες), fresh water nymphs
- The Nymphai Hyperboreioi (Νύμφαι Υπερβόρειοι), who presided over aspects of archery
- Hekaerge (Εκαέργη), represented distancing
- Loxo (Λοξώ), represented trajectory
- Oupis (Ουπις), represented aim
- Oreades (Ὀρεάδες), mountain nymphs
- Oceanides (Ωκεανίδες), fresh water nymphs
- The Ourea (Ούρος), primeval gods of mountains
- The Palici (Παλικοί), a pair of rustic gods who presided over the geysers and thermal springs in Sicily
- Pan (Πάν), god of shepherds, pastures, and fertility
- Potamoi (Ποταμοί), river gods
- Priapus (Πρίαπος), god of garden fertility
- Rhea (Ῥέα), the great mother and queen of the mountain wilds
- Satyrs (Σάτυροι), rustic fertility spirits
- Krotos (Κρότος), a great hunter and musician who kept the company of the Muses on Mount Helicon
- Silenus (Σειληνός), an old rustic god of the dance of the wine-press
- Telete (Τελέτη), goddess of initiation into the Bacchic orgies
- Zagreus (Ζαγρεύς), in the Orphic mysteries, the first incarnation of Dionysus
Agricultural deities[edit]
- Adonis (Άδωνις), a life-death-rebirth deity
- Aphaea (Αφαία), minor goddess of agriculture and fertility
- Carme (Κάρμη), a Cretan spirit who presided over the harvest festival
- Carmanor (Καρμάνωρ), a Cretan harvest god
- Chrysothemis (Χρυσόθεμις), goddess of the "Golden Custom", a harvest festival, daughter of Demeter and Carmanor
- Cyamites (Κυαμίτης), demi-god of the bean
- Demeter (Δημήτηρ), goddess of fertility, agriculture, grain, and harvest
- Despoina (Δέσποινη), daughter of Poseidon and Demeter, goddess of mysteries in Arcadia
- Dionysus (Διόνυσος), god of viticulture and wine
- Eunostus (Εύνοστος), goddess of the flour mill
- Hestia (Ἑστία), maiden goddess of the hearth who presided over the baking of bread, mankind's stable food
- Persephone (Περσεφόνη), queen of the underworld, wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth
- Philomelus (Φιλόμελος), agricultural demi-god inventor of the wagon and the plough
- Plutus (Πλοῦτος), god of wealth, including agricultural wealth, son of Demeter
- Triptolemus (Τριπτόλεμος), god of farming and agriculture, he brought agriculture to Greece
Health deities[edit]
- Apollo, god of healing and medicine
- Asclepius (Ασκληπιός), god of healing
- Aceso (Ἀκεσώ), goddess of the healing of wounds and the curing of illnesses
- Aegle(Αἴγλη), goddess of radiant good health
- Epione (Ἠπιόνη), goddess of the soothing of pain
- Hygieia (Ὑγεία), goddess of cleanliness and good health
- Iaso (Ἰασώ), goddess of cures, remedies, and modes of healing
- Panacea (Πανάκεια), goddess of healing
- Telesphorus (Τελεσφόρος), demi-god of convalescence, who "brought to fulfillment" recuperation from illness or injury
- Asclepius (Ασκληπιός), god of healing
Other deities[edit]
- Acratopotes (Ἀκρατοπότης), god of unmixed wine
- Adrastea (Αδράστεια), a daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, or an epithet of Nemesis
- Agdistis (Ἄγδιστις), Phrygian hermaphroditic deity
- Alexiares and Anicetus (Αλεξιαρης and Ανικητος), twin sons of Heracles who presided over the defence of fortified towns and citadels
- Aphroditus (Ἀφρόδιτος), Cyprian hermaphroditic Aphrodite
- Astraea (Αστραία), virgin goddess of justice
- Auxesia (Αυξησία) and Damia (Δαμία), two local fertility goddesses
- Charites (Χάριτες), goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, and fertility
- Aglaea (Αγλαΐα), goddess of beauty, adornment, splendor and glory
- Euphrosyne (Εὐφροσύνη), goddess of good cheer, joy, mirth, and merriment
- Thalia (Θάλεια), goddess of festive celebrations and rich and luxurious banquets
- Hegemone (Ηγεμόνη) "mastery"
- Antheia (Άνθεια), goddess of flowers and flowery wreaths
- Pasithea (Πασιθέα), goddess of rest and relaxation
- Cleta (Κλήτα) "the glorious"
- Phaenna (Φαέννα) "the shining"
- Eudaimonia (Ευδαιμονία) "happiness"
- Euthymia (Ευθυμία) "good mood"
- Calleis (Καλλείς) "beauty"
- Paidia (Παιδία) "play, amusement"
- Pandaisia (Πανδαισία) "banquet for everyone"
- Pannychis (Παννυχίς) "all-night (festivity)"
- Ceraon (Κεραων), demi-god of the meal, specifically the mixing of wine
- Chrysus (Χρύσος), spirit of gold
- Circe (Κίρκη), goddess-witch of Aeaea
- Daemones Ceramici (Δαίμονες Κεραμικοί), five malevolent spirits who plagued the craftsman potter
- Syntribos (Σύντριβος), the shatterer
- Smaragos (Σμάραγος), the smasher
- Asbetos (Ασβετος), the charrer
- Sabaktes (Σαβάκτης), the destroyer
- Omodamos (Ωμόδαμος), crudebake
- Deipneus (Δειπνεύς), demi-god of the preparation of meals, specifically the making of bread
- Eiresione (Ειρεσιώνη), personification of the olive branch
- Eileithyia (Εἰλείθυια), goddess of childbirth
- Enyalius (Ενυάλιος), minor god of war
- Enyo (Ἐνυώ), goddess of destructive war
- Harpocrates (Ἁρποκράτης), god of silence
- Hermaphroditus (Ἑρμάφρόδιτός), god of hermaphrodites and effeminate men
- Hymenaios (Ὑμέναιος), god of marriage and marriage feasts
- Ichnaea (Ιχναία), goddess of tracking
- Iynx (Ιύνξ), goddess of the love charm
- Matton (Μάττων), demi-god of the meal, specifically the kneading of dough
- Muses (Μούσαι), goddesses of music, song and dance, and the source of inspiration to poets
- Titan Muses, daughters of Uranus and Gaia
- Olympian Muses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne
- Calliope (Καλλιόπη), muse of epic poetry
- Clio (Κλειώ), muse of history
- Euterpe (Ευτέρπη), muse of musical poetry
- Erato (Ερατώ), muse of lyric poetry
- Melpomene (Μελπομένη), muse of tragedy
- Polyhymnia (Πολυμνία) or (Πολύμνια), muse of sacred poetry
- Terpsichore (Τερψιχόρη), muse of dance and choral poetry
- Thalia (Θάλεια), muse of comedy and bucolic poetry
- Urania (Ουρανία), muse of astronomy
- Younger Muses, daughters of Apollo
- Polymatheia (Πολυμάθεια), muse of knowledge
- Palaestra (Παλαίστρα), goddess of wrestling
- Rhapso (Ραψώ), minor goddess or nymph whose name apparently refers to sewing
Mortals[edit]
Deified mortals[edit]
- Achilles (Ἀχιλλεύς), hero of the Trojan War
- Aiakos (Αἰακός), a king of Aegina, appointed as a Judge of the Dead in the Underworld after his death
- Aeolus (Αἴολος), a king of Thessaly, made the immortal king of the winds by Zeus
- Alabandus (Ἀλάβανδος), he was the founder of the town of Alabanda
- Amphiaraus (Ἀμφιάραος), a hero of the war of the Seven Against Thebes who became an oracular spirit of the Underworld after his death
- Ariadne (Αριάδνη), a Cretan princess who became the immortal wife of Dionysus
- Aristaeus (Ἀρισταῖος), a Thessalian hero, his inventions saw him immortalised as the god of bee-keeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing, and hunting
- Asclepius (Ἀσκληπιός), a Thessalian physician who was struck down by Zeus, to be later recovered by his father Apollo
- Attis (Ἄττις), a consort of Cybele, granted immortality as one of her attendants
- Bolina (Βολίνα), a mortal woman transformed into an immortal nymph by Apollo
- The Dioscuri (Διόσκουροι), divine twins
- Endymion (Ἐνδυμίων), lover of Selene, granted eternal sleep so as never to age or die
- Ganymede (Γανυμήδης), a handsome Trojan prince, abducted by Zeus and made cup-bearer of the gods
- Glaucus (Γλαῦκος), the fisherman's sea god, made immortal after eating a magical herb
- Hemithea (Ἡμιθέα) and Parthenos (Παρθένος), princesses of the Island of Naxos who leapt into the sea to escape their father's wrath; Apollo transformed them into demi-goddesses
- Heracles (Ἡρακλῆς), ascended hero
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20161222163524im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Athena_Herakles_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2648.jpg/220px-Athena_Herakles_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_2648.jpg)
- Lampsace (Λαμψάκη), a semi-historical Bebrycian princess honored as goddess for her assistance to the Greeks
- Minos (Μίνως), a king of Crete, appointed as a Judge of the Dead in the Underworld after his death
- Ino (Ἰνώ), a Theban princess who became the sea goddess Leucothea
- Tenes (Τέννης), was a hero of the island of Tenedos
- The Leucippides (Λευκιππίδες), wives of the Dioscuri
- Phoebe (Φοίβη), wife of Pollux
- Hilaera (Ἱλάειρα), wife of Castor
- Orithyia (Ὠρείθυια), an Athenian princess abducted by Boreas and made the goddess of cold, gusty mountain winds
- Palaemon (Παλαίμων), a Theban prince, made into a sea god along with his mother, Ino
- Phylonoe (Φυλονόη), daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, made immortal by Artemis
- Psyche (Ψυχή), goddess of the soul
- Semele (Σεμελη), mortal mother of Dionysus, who later was made the goddess Thyone (Θυωνη)
Heroes[edit]
- Abderus, aided Heracles during his eighth labour and was killed by the Mares of Diomedes
- Achilles (Αχιλλεύς or Αχιλλέας), hero of the Trojan War and a central character in Homer's Iliad
- Aeneas (Αινείας), a hero of the Trojan War and progenitor of the Roman people
- Ajax the Great (Αίας ο Μέγας), a hero of the Trojan War and king of Salamis
- Ajax the Lesser (Αίας ο Μικρός), a hero of the Trojan War and leader of the Locrian army
- Amphitryon (Αμφιτρύων), Theban general who rescued Thebes from the Teumessian fox; his wife was Alcmene, mother of Heracles
- Antilochus (Ἀντίλοχος), Son of Nestor sacrificed himself to save his father in the Trojan War along with other deeds of valor
- Bellerophon, hero who slew the Chimera
- Castor, the mortal Dioscuri twin; after Castor's death, his immortal brother Pollux shared his divinity with him in order that they might remain together
- Chrysippus, a divine hero of Elis
- Daedalus, creator of the labyrinth and great inventor, until King Minos trapped him in his own creation.
- Diomedes, a king of Argos and hero of the Trojan War
- Eleusis, eponymous hero of the town of Eleusis
- Eunostus, a Boeotian hero
- Ganymede, Trojan hero and lover of Zeus, who was given immortality and appointed cup-bearer to the gods
- Hector, hero of the Trojan War and champion of the Trojan people
- Icarus, the son of the master craftsman Daedalus
- Iolaus, nephew of Heracles who aided his uncle in one of his Labors
- Jason, leader of the Argonauts
- Meleager, a hero who sailed with the Argonauts and killed the Calydonian Boar
- Odysseus, a hero and king of Ithaca whose adventures are the subject of Homer's Odyssey; he also played a key role during the Trojan War
- Orpheus, a legendary musician and poet who attempted to retrieve his dead wife from the Underworld
- Pandion, the eponymous hero of the Attic tribe Pandionis, usually assumed to be one of the legendary Athenian kings Pandion I or Pandion II.
- Perseus (Περσεύς), son of Zeus and the founder-king of Mycenae and slayer of the Gorgon Medusa
- Theseus, son of Poseidon and a king of Athens and slayer of the Minotaur
Notable women[edit]
- Alcestis (Άλκηστις), daughter of Pelias and wife of Admetus, who was known for her devotion to her husband
- Amymone, the one daughter of Danaus who refused to murder her husband, thus escaping her sisters' punishment
- Andromache (Ανδρομάχη), wife of Hector
- Andromeda (Ανδρομέδα), wife of Perseus, who was placed among the constellations after her death
- Antigone (Αντιγόνη), daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta
- Arachne (Αράχνη), a skilled weaver, transformed by Athena into a spider for her blasphemy
- Ariadne (Αριάδνη), daughter of Minos, king of Crete, who aided Theseus in overcoming the Minotaur and became the wife of Dionysus
- Atalanta (Αταλάντη), fleet-footed heroine who participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt
- Briseis, a princess of Lyrnessus, taken by Achilles as a war prize
- Caeneus, formerly Caenis, a woman who was transformed into a man and became a mighty warrior
- Cassandra, a princess of Troy cursed to see the future but never to be believed
- Cassiopeia (Κασσιόπεια), queen of Æthiopia and mother of Andromeda
- Clytemnestra, sister of Helen and unfaithful wife of Agamemnon
- Danaë, the mother of Perseus by Zeus
- Deianeira, the third wife and unwitting killer of Heracles
- Electra, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, she aided her brother Orestes in plotting revenge against their mother for the murder of their father
- Europa, a Phoenician woman, abducted by Zeus
- Hecuba (Ἑκάβη), wife of Priam, king of Troy, and mother of nineteen of his children
- Helen, daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction brought about the Trojan War
- Hermione (Ἑρμιόνη), daughter of Menelaus and Helen; wife of Neoptolemus, and later Orestes
- Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra; Agamemnon sacrificed her to Artemis in order to appease the goddess
- Ismene, sister of Antigone
- Jocasta, mother and wife of Oedipus
- Medea, a sorceress and wife of Jason, who killed her own children to punish Jason for his infidelity
- Medusa, a mortal woman transformed into a hideous gorgon by Athena
- Niobe, a daughter of Tantalus who declared herself to be superior to Leto, causing Artemis and Apollo to kill her fourteen children
- Pandora, the first woman
- Penelope, loyal wife of Odysseus
- Phaedra, daughter of Minos and wife of Theseus
- Polyxena, the youngest daughter of Priam, sacrificed to the ghost of Achilles
- Semele, mortal mother of Dionysus
- Thrace, the daughter of Oceanus and Parthenope, and sister of Europa
Kings[edit]
- Abas, a king of Argos
- Acastus, a king of Iolcus who sailed with the Argonauts and participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt
- Acrisius, a king of Argos
- Actaeus, first king of Attica
- Admetus (Άδμητος), a king of Pherae who sailed with the Argonauts and participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt
- Adrastus (Άδραστος), a king of Argos and one of the Seven Against Thebes
- Aeacus (Αιακός), a king of the island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf; after he died, he became one of the three judges of the dead in the Underworld
- Aeëtes, a king of Colchis and father of Medea
- Aegeus (Αιγεύς), a king of Athens and father of Theseus
- Aegimius, a king of Thessaly and progenitor of the Dorians
- Aegisthus (Αίγισθος), lover of Clytemnestra, with whom he plotted to murder Agamemnon and seized the kingship of Mycenae
- Aegyptus (Αίγυπτος), a king of Egypt
- Aeson, father of Jason and rightful king of Iolcus, whose throne was usurped by his half-brother Pelias
- Aëthlius, first king of Elis
- Aetolus (Αιτωλός), a king of Elis
- Agamemnon (Ἀγαμέμνων), a king of Mycenae and commander of the Greek armies during the Trojan War
- Agasthenes, a king of Elis
- Agenor (Αγήνωρ), a king of Phoenicia
- Alcinous (Αλκίνους or Ἀλκίνοος), a king of Phaeacia
- Alcmaeon, a king of Argos and one of the Epigoni
- Aleus, a king of Tegea
- Amphiaraus (Ἀμφιάραος), a seer and king of Argos who participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt and the war of the Seven Against Thebes
- Amphictyon (Ἀμφικτύων), a king of Athens
- Amphion and Zethus, twin sons of Zeus and kings of Thebes, who constructed the city's walls
- Amycus, son of Poseidon and king of the Bebryces
- Anaxagoras (Ἀναξαγόρας), a king of Argos
- Anchises (Αγχίσης), a king of Dardania and father of Aeneas
- Arcesius, a king of Ithaca and father of Laertes
- Argeus, a king of Argos
- Argus, a son of Zeus and king of Argos after Phoroneus
- Assaracus, a king of Dardania
- Asterion, a king of Crete
- Athamas (Ἀθάμας), a king of Orchomenus
- Atreus (Ἀτρεύς), a king of Mycenae and father of Agamemnon and Menelaus
- Augeas (Αυγείας), a king of Elis
- Autesion, a king of Thebes
- Bias, a king of Argos
- Busiris, a king of Egypt
- Cadmus, founder-king of Thebes
- Car, a king of Megara
- Catreus, a king of Crete, prophesied to die at the hands of his own son
- Cecrops, an autochthonous king of Athens
- Ceisus, a king of Argos
- Celeus, a king of Eleusis
- Cephalus, a king of Phocis who accidentally killed his own wife
- Cepheus, a king of Ethiopia
- Cepheus, a king of Tegea and an Argonaut
- Charnabon, a king of the Getae
- Cinyras, a king of Cyprus and father of Adonis
- Codrus, a king of Athens
- Corinthus, founder-king of Corinth
- Cranaus, a king of Athens
- Creon, a king of Thebes, brother of Jocasta and uncle of Oedipus
- Creon, a king of Corinth who was hospitable towards Jason and Medea
- Cres, an early Cretan king
- Cresphontes, a king of Messene and descendent of Heracles
- Cretheus, founder-king of Iolcus
- Criasus, a king of Argos
- Cylarabes, a king of Argos
- Cynortas, a king of Sparta
- Cyzicus, king of the Dolionians, mistakenly killed by the Argonauts
- Danaus, a king of Egypt and father of the Danaides
- Dardanus, founder-king of Dardania, and son of Zeus and Electra
- Deiphontes, a king of Argos
- Demophon of Athens, a king of Athens
- Diomedes, a king of Argos and hero of the Trojan War
- Echemus, a king of Arcadia
- Echetus, a king of Epirus
- Eetion, a king of Cilician Thebe and father of Andromache
- Electryon, a king of Tiryns and Mycenae; son of Perseus and Andromeda
- Elephenor, a king of the Abantes of Euboea
- Eleusis, eponym and king of Eleusis, Attica
- Epaphus, a king of Egypt and founder of Memphis, Egypt
- Epopeus, a king of Sicyon
- Erechtheus, a king of Athens
- Erginus, a king of Minyean Orchomenus in Boeotia
- Erichthonius, a king of Athens, born of Hephaestus' attempt to rape Athena
- Eteocles, a king of Thebes and son of Oedipus; he and his brother Polynices killed each other
- Eteocles, son of Andreus, a king of Orchomenus
- Eurotas, a king of Sparta
- Eurystheus, a king of Tiryns
- Euxantius, a king of Ceos, son of Minos and Dexithea
- Gelanor, a king of Argos
- Haemus, a king of Thrace
- Helenus, seer and twin brother of Cassandra, who later became king of Epirus
- Hippothoön, a king of Eleusis
- Hyrieus, a king of Boeotia
- Ilus, founder-king of Troy
- Ixion, a king of the Lapiths who attempted to rape Hera and was bound to a flaming wheel in Tartarus
- Laërtes, father of Odysseus and king of the Cephallenians; he sailed with the Argonauts and participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt
- Laomedon, a king of Troy and father of Priam
- Lycaon of Arcadia, a deceitful Arcadian king who was transformed by Zeus into a wolf
- Lycurgus of Arcadia, a king of Arcadia
- Lycurgus of Nemea, a king of Nemea
- Makedon, a king of Macedon
- Megareus of Onchestus, a king of Onchestus in Boeotia
- Megareus of Thebes, a king of Thebes
- Melampus, a legendary soothsayer and healer, and king of Argos
- Melanthus, a king of Messenia
- Memnon, a king of Ethiopia who fought on the side of Troy during the Trojan War
- Menelaus, a king of Sparta and the husband of Helen
- Menestheus, a king of Athens who fought on the side of the Greeks during the Trojan War
- Midas, a king of Phrygia granted the power to turn anything to gold with a touch
- Minos, a king of Crete; after his death, became one of the judges of the dead in the Underworld
- Myles, a king of Laconia
- Nestor, a king of Pylos who sailed with the Argonauts, participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt and fought with the Greek armies in the Trojan War
- Nycteus, a king of Thebes
- Odysseus, a hero and king of Ithaca whose adventures are the subject of Homer's Odyssey; he also played a key role during the Trojan War
- Oebalus, a king of Sparta
- Oedipus, a king of Thebes fated to kill his father and marry his mother
- Oeneus, a king of Calydon
- Oenomaus, a king of Pisa
- Oenopion, a king of Chios
- Ogygus, a king of Thebes
- Oicles, a king of Argos
- Oileus, a king of Locris
- Orestes, a king of Argos and a son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon; he killed his mother in revenge for her murder of his father
- Oxyntes, a king of Athens
- Pandion I, a king of Athens
- Pandion II, a king of Athens
- Peleus, king of the Myrmidons and father of Achilles; he sailed with the Argonauts and participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt
- Pelias, a king of Iolcus and usurper of Aeson's rightful throne
- Pelops, a king of Pisa and founder of the House of Atreus
- Pentheus, a king of Thebes who banned the worship of Dionysus and was torn apart by Maenads
- Periphas, legendary king of Attica who Zeus turned into an eagle.
- Perseus (Περσεύς), founder-king of Mycenae and slayer of the Gorgon Medusa
- Phineus, a king of Thrace
- Phlegyas, a king of the Lapiths
- Phoenix, son of Agenor, founder-king of Phoenicia
- Phoroneus, a king of Argos
- Phyleus, a king of Elis
- Pirithoös, king of the Lapiths and husband of Hippodamia, at whose wedding the Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs occurred
- Pittheus, a king of Troezen and grandfather of Theseus
- Polybus of Corinth, a king of Corinth
- Polybus of Sicyon, a king of Sicyon and son of Hermes
- Polybus of Thebes, a king of Thebes
- Polynices, a king of Thebes and son of Oedipus; he and his brother Eteocles killed each other
- Priam, king of Troy during the Trojan War
- Proetus, a king of Argos and Tiryns
- Pylades, a king of Phocis and friend of Orestes
- Rhadamanthys, a king of Crete; after his death, he became a judge of the dead in the Underworld
- Rhesus, a king of Thrace who sided with Troy in the Trojan War
- Sarpedon, a king of Lycia and son of Zeus who fought on the side of the Greeks during the Trojan War
- Sisyphus, a king of Thessaly who attempted to cheat death and was sentenced to an eternity of rolling a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down
- Sithon, a king of Thrace
- Talaus, a king of Argos who sailed with the Argonauts
- Tegyrios, a king of Thrace
- Telamon, a king of Salamis and father of Ajax; he sailed with the Argonauts and participated in the Calydonian Boar hunt
- Telephus, a king of Mysia and son of Heracles
- Temenus, a king of Argos and descendent of Heracles
- Teucer, founder-king of Salamis who fought alongside the Greeks in the Trojan War
- Teutamides, a king of Larissa
- Teuthras, a king of Mysia
- Thersander, a king of Thebes and one of the Epigoni
- Theseus, a king of Athens and slayer of the Minotaur
- Thyestes, a king of Mycenae and brother of Atreus
- Tisamenus, a king of Argos, Mycenae, and Sparta
- Tyndareus, a king of Sparta
Seers/Oracles[edit]
- Amphilochus (Αμφίλοχος), a seer and brother of Alcmaeon who died in the war of the Seven Against Thebes
- Anius, son of Apollo who prophesied that the Trojan War would be won in its tenth year
- Asbolus, a seer Centaur
- Bakis
- Branchus, a seer and son of Apollo
- Calchas, an Argive seer who aided the Greeks during the Trojan War
- Carnus, an Acarnanian seer and lover of Apollo
- Carya, a seer and lover of Dionysus
- Cassandra, a princess of Troy cursed to see the future but never to be believed
- Ennomus, a Mysian seer, killed by Achilles during the Trojan War
- Halitherses, an Ithacan seer who warned Penelope's suitors of Odysseus' return
- Helenus, seer and twin brother of Cassandra, who later became king of Epirus
- Iamus, a son of Apollo possessing the gift of prophecy, he founded the Iamidai
- Idmon, a seer who sailed with the Argonauts
- Manto, seer and daughter of Tiresias
- Melampus, a legendary soothsayer and healer, and king of Argos
- Mopsus, the name of two legendary seers
- Polyeidos, a Corinthian seer who saved the life of Glaucus
- Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi
- Telemus, a seer who foresaw that the Cyclops Polyphemus would be blinded by Odysseus
- Theoclymenus, an Argive seer
- Tiresias, blind prophet of Thebes
Amazons[edit]
- Aegea, a queen of the Amazons
- Aella (Ἄελλα), an Amazon who was killed by Heracles
- Alcibie (Ἀλκιβίη), an Amazonian warrior, killed by Diomedes at Troy
- Antandre (Ἀντάνδρη), an Amazonian warrior, killed by Achilles at Troy
- Antiope (Ἀντιόπη), a daughter of Ares and sister of Hippolyta
- Areto (Ἀρετώ), an Amazon
- Asteria (Ἀστερία), an Amazon who was killed by Heracles
- Bremusa (Βρέμουσα), an Amazonian warrior, killed by Idomeneus at Troy
- Celaeno (Κελαινώ), an Amazonian warrior, killed by Heracles
- Eurypyle (Εὐρυπύλη), an Amazon leader who invaded Ninus and Babylonia
- Hippolyta (Ἱππολύτη), a queen of Amazons and daughter of Ares
- Hippothoe (Ἱπποθόη), an Amazonian warrior, killed by Achilles at Troy
- Iphito (Ἰφιτώ), an Amazon who served under Hippolyta
- Lampedo (Λαμπεδώ), an Amazon queen who ruled with her sister Marpesia
- Marpesia (Μαρπεσία), an Amazon queen who ruled with her sister Lampedo
- Melanippe (Μελανίππη), a daughter of Ares and sister of Hippolyta and Antiope
- Molpadia (Μολπαδία), an Amazon who killed Antiope
- Myrina (Μύρινα), a queen of the Amazons
- Orithyia (Ὠρείθυια), an Amazon queen
- Otrera (Ὀτρήρα), an Amazon queen, consort of Ares and mother of Hippolyta
- Pantariste (Πανταρίστη), an Amazon who fought with Hippolyta against Heracles
- Penthesilea (Πενθεσίλεια), an Amazon queen who fought in the Trojan War on the side of Troy
- Thalestris (Θάληστρις), a queen of the Amazons
Inmates of Tartarus[edit]
- The Danaides, forty-nine daughters of Danaus who murdered their husbands and were condemned to an eternity of carrying water in leaky jugs
- Ixion, a king of the Lapiths who attempted to rape Hera and was bound to a flaming wheel in Tartarus
- Sisyphus, a king of Thessaly who attempted to cheat death and was sentenced to an eternity of rolling a boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down
- Tantalus, a king of Anatolia who butchered his son Pelops and served him as a meal to the gods; he was punished with the torment of starvation, food and drink eternally dangling just out of reach
Minor figures[edit]
See also[edit]
- Classical mythology
- Family tree of the Greek gods
- List of deities
- List of Greek mythological creatures
- List of Trojan War characters
- List of Roman deities
References[edit]
- ^ Beazley Archive 200059, LIMC Gigantes 342.
- ^ Guirand, Felix, ed. (16 December 1987). New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology. Crescent Books. ISBN 978-0-517-00404-3.
External links[edit]
-
Media related to Mythology of Greece at Wikimedia Commons
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