Greek myths about gods, goddesses and heroes date back to the Bronze Age, the time of oral tradition. They were first recorded at the beginning of the 6th century. BC. and have continued to live in Western literature ever since. The myths were closely associated with the beliefs of the ancient Greeks and interpreted the secrets of nature. They narrated about the creation of the world about the deeds of deities, about the golden age of ancient Greek society, about the age of heroic demigods such as Theseus and Hercules, whose exploits inspired ordinary people. The Greeks represented the gods in the form ideal peoplewho had all the senses inherent in man. The gods lived on Mount Olympus. The supreme god Zeus was considered the father of many Olympians. Each member of the Olympic family was assigned a divine role.

Zeus - the father of gods and people, ruled them from Mount Olympus.
Eris goddess of discord.
Klymene, mother Prometheuswho gave people fire.
Hera Zeus's wife was very jealous.
Athena came out of the head of Zeus in full military attire, in greek mythology was the goddess of wisdom, strategy and war.
Poseidon, god of the seas, one of the brothers of Zeus. The symbol of his power is the trident. Myths bring to us stories about Poseidon's betrayal of his wife, sea goddess Amphitritewho was the goddess of the sea in Greek mythology. This statue is kept in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Paris must award a golden apple to the fairest of the goddesses. Paris's dog helped him herd herds on Mount Ida, where the prince grew up.
Dionysus, the god of viticulture and wine, Zeus gave birth from his thigh.
Hades and Persephone ruled the kingdoms of the dead and the souls and the dead. Hades kidnapped Persephone of her mother Demeter, the goddess of fertility. Enraged, Demeter sent hunger to earth, and then Zeus decided that Persephone would live with her mother for part of the year.
Artemis, maiden-goddess of the hunt, daughter of Zeus and sister of Apollo. She is armed with a bow and arrow. The eternally young goddess is surrounded by dogs and nymphs. Having taken a vow of chastity, she was nevertheless also the goddess of childbirth.
Hermes was the messenger of the gods.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was born from the foam of the sea.
Apollo, son of Zeus and brother of Artemis, god-healer and diviner, patron of the arts, was unusually handsome.

Feats of Hercules. Hercules (among the Romans - Hercules) - the greatest of the Greek heroes, the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene. Endowed with superhuman strength, he achieved success and immortality by completing 12 tasks of the Mycenaean king Eurystheus, which seemed impossible.
First, he defeated the Nemean lion, the skin of which he has always worn on himself since then.
The second feat of Hercules was the victory over the Lernean Hydra. The severed heads of this poisonous monster, raised by the Hero, immediately grew back. As in his other exploits, Athena helped Hercules.
Then you had to catch the huge boar that ravaged Mount Erimanth. Hercules delivered him to King Eurystheus alive. The king was so frightened that he hid in a large jug.
The sixth feat was the extermination of the Stymphalian birds. Hercules saved Lake Stymphalia from man-eating birds with copper beaks: having scared the birds with bronze rattles, on interrupted them with stones released from a sling.

Ancient Greece is one of the richest sources of myths about gods, common people and
mortal heroes who protected them. Over the centuries, these stories have been created
poets, historians and simply "eyewitnesses" of the legendary feats of fearless heroes,
with the powers of the demigods.

1

Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal woman, was famous for special honor among the heroes.
Alcmene. The most famous myths of all, a cycle of 12 exploits can be considered,
which the son of Zeus alone committed, while in the service of King Eurystheus. Even
in the celestial constellation you can see the constellation Hercules.

2

Achilles is one of the bravest Greek heroes who undertook a campaign against
Troy led by Agamemnon. The stories about him are always full of courage and
courage. No wonder he is one of the key figures in the writings of the Iliad, where he
more honors than any other warrior.

3

He was described not only as an intelligent and brave king, but also as
a great speaker. He was the main key figure in the Odyssey story.
His adventures and return to his wife Penelope found an echo in the hearts
of many people.

4

Perseus was no less a key figure in ancient Greek mythology. It
described as the conqueror of the gorgon monster Medusa, and the savior of the beautiful
princess Andromeda.

5

Theseus can be called the most famous character in all of Greek mythology. It
most often appears not only in the Iliad but also in the Odyssey.

6

Jason is the leader of the Argonauts who went in search of the golden fleece to Colchis.
This task was given to him by his father's brother Pelius in order to destroy him, but it
brought him eternal glory.

7

Hector in ancient Greek mythology appears before us not only as a prince
Troy, but also a great commander who died at the hands of Achilles. He is put on a par with
many heroes of that time.

8

Ergin is the son of Poseidon, and one of the Argonauts who went after the Golden Fleece.

9

Talai is another of the Argonauts. Honest, fair, smart and reliable -
this is how Homer described him in his Odyssey.

10

Orpheus was not so much a hero as a singer and musician. However, his
the image can be "found" in many paintings of that time.

Before talking about the Heroes of Greece, it is necessary to determine who they are and how they differ from Genghis Khan, Napoleon and other heroes known in different historical eras. In addition to strength, resourcefulness, and intelligence, one of the differences between ancient Greek heroes is duality from birth. One of the parents was a deity, and the other was mortal.

Famous heroes of the myths of Ancient Greece

Description of Heroes Ancient Greece you should start with Hercules (Hercules), who was born from the love affair of the mortal Alcmene and the main god of the ancient Greek pantheon Zeus. According to myths that have come down from time immemorial, for the perfect dozen feats, Hercules was lifted by the goddess Athena - Pallas to Olympus, where his father, Zeus, bestowed immortality on his son. The exploits of Hercules are widely known and many were included in sayings and sayings. This hero cleared the stables of Avgius from the manure, defeated the Nemean lion, and killed the hydra. In honor of Zeus, the Strait of Gibraltar was named in ancient times - the Pillars of Hercules. According to one of the legends, Hercules was too lazy to overcome the Atlas Mountains, and he punched a passage through them, connecting the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic.
Another bastard is Perseus. Perseus's mother is Princess Danae, daughter of the Argos king Acrisius. The feats of Perseus would have been impossible without the victory over Medusa Gorgon. This mythical monster turned all living things into stone with its gaze. After killing the Gorgon, Perseus attached her head to his shield. Wanting to win the favor of Andromeda - the Ethiopian princess, daughter of Cassiopeia and king Kefei, this hero killed her fiancé and snatched from the clutches of the sea monster, which was going to satisfy Andromeda's hunger.
Famous for killing the Minotaur and finding a way out of the Cretan labyrinth, Theseus, was born of the god of the seas, Poseidon. In mythology, he is revered as the founder of Athens.
The ancient Greek heroes Odysseus and Jason cannot boast of their divine origin. The king of Ithaca Odysseus is famous for the invention of the Trojan horse, thanks to which the Greeks destroyed it. Returning to his homeland, he deprived the only eye of the Cyclops Polyphemus, held his ship between the rocks on which the monsters Scylla and Charybdis lived, and did not succumb to the magical charm of sweet-voiced sirens. However, a significant share of Odysseus' fame was given by his wife, Penelope, who, while waiting for her husband, remained faithful to him, refusing 108 suitors.
Most feats ancient greek heroes survived to this day in the presentation of the poet-narrator Homer, who wrote the famous epic poems "The Odyssey and the Iliad".

Olympic heroes of ancient Greece

The ribbon for the winner of the Olympic Games has been issued since 752 BC. The heroes wore purple ribbons and were revered in society. Those who won the Games three times received a statue in Altis as a gift.
From the history of Ancient Greece, the names of Korab of Elis, who won the race in 776 BC, became known.
The strongest for the entire period of the festival in ancient times was Milon of Croton, he won six competitions in strength. He is believed to have been a student

Agamemnon - one of the main heroes of the ancient Greek national epic, the son of the Mycenaean king Atreus and Aeropa, the leader of the Greek army during the Trojan War.

Amphitryon - the son of the king of Tiryns Alkeus and the daughter of Pelopus Astidamia, the grandson of Perseus. Amphitryon took part in the war against the TV fighters living on the island of Taphos, which was waged by his uncle the Mycenaean king Electrion.

Achilles - in Greek mythology, one of greatest heroes, son of king Peleus, king of the Myrmidons and the sea goddess Thetis, grandson of Eacus, the protagonist Iliad.

Ajax - the name of two participants in the Trojan War; both fought at Troy as applicants for the hand of Elena. In the Iliad, they often appear hand in hand and are compared to two mighty lions or bulls.

Bellerophon - one of the main characters of the older generation, the son of the Corinthian king Glaucus (according to other sources, the god Poseidon), the grandson of Sisyphus. Bellerophon's original name was Hippo.

Hector - one of the main heroes of the Trojan War. The hero was the son of Hecuba and Priam, the king of Troy. According to legend, he killed the first Greek who set foot on the land of Troy.

Hercules - the national hero of the Greeks. Son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene. Gifted with mighty strength, he performed the hardest work on earth and accomplished great feats. Having atoned for his sins, he ascended Olympus and achieved immortality.

Diomedes - the son of the Aetolian king Tydeus and the daughter of Adrast Deipila. Together with Adrastus he took part in the campaign and the destruction of Thebes. As one of Elena's suitors, Diomedes later fought at Troy, leading a militia on 80 ships.

Meleager - the hero of Aetolia, the son of the Calydonian king Oineus and Alfea, the husband of Cleopatra. Member of the Argonauts' campaign. Meleager's greatest fame came from her participation in the Calydonian hunt.

Menelaus - King of Sparta, son of Atreus and Aeropa, husband of Elena, younger brother of Agamemnon. Menelaus, with the help of Agamemnon, gathered friendly kings on the Ilion campaign, and he himself put out sixty ships.

Odysseus - "angry", king of the island of Ithaca, son of Laertes and Anticlea, husband of Penelope. Odysseus is a famous hero of the Trojan War, also famous for his wanderings and adventures.

Orpheus - the famous singer of the Thracians, the son of the river god Eagra and the muse Calliope, the husband of the nymph Eurydice, who set trees and rocks in motion with his songs.

Patroclus - the son of one of the Argonauts Menetius, a relative and ally of Achilles in the Trojan War. As a boy, he killed his comrade while playing dice, for which his father sent him to Peleus in Phthia, where he was raised together with Achilles.

Peleus - the son of the Aeginian king Eak and Endeida, the husband of Antigone. For the murder of his half-brother Fock, who defeated Peleus in athletic exercises, he was banished by his father and retired to Phthia.

Pelope - the king and national hero of Phrygia, and then the Peloponnese. Son of Tantalus and the nymph Euryanassa. Pelop grew up on Olympus in the company of the gods and was a favorite of Poseidon.

Perseus - the son of Zeus and Danae, daughter of the Argos king Acrisius. The winner of Medusa the Gorgon and the savior of Andromeda from the claims of the dragon.

Talfibius - a messenger, a Spartan, together with Eurybates was a herald for Agamemnon, carrying out his instructions. Talphibius, together with Odysseus and Menelaus, gathered an army for the Trojan War.

Tevkr - the son of Telamon and daughter of the Trojan king Hesiona. The best archer in the Greek army near Troy, where more than thirty defenders of Ilion fell from his hand.

Theseus- the son of the Athenian king Aeneas and Ether. He became famous for a number of feats, like Hercules; kidnapped Elena with Peyrifoy.

Trophonius - originally a chthonic deity, identical with Zeus the Underground. According to popular belief, Trophonius was the son of Apollo or Zeus, the brother of Agamedes, the pet of the goddess of the earth - Demeter.

Foronei- the founder of the Argos state, the son of the river god Inach and the hamadryad Melia. He was revered as a national hero; sacrifices were performed on his grave.

Phrasimed - the son of the Pilian king Nestor, who arrived with his father and brother Antilochus near Ilion. He commanded fifteen ships and took part in many battles.

Oedipus - the son of the Finnish king Lai and Jocasta. He killed his father and married his mother without knowing it. When the crime was revealed, Jocasta hanged herself, and Oedipus blinded himself. He died, pursued by the Erinyes.

Aeneas - the son of Anchises and Aphrodite, a relative of Priam, a hero of the Trojan War. Aeneas, like Achilles among the Greeks, is the son of a beautiful goddess, a favorite of the gods; in battles he was protected by Aphrodite and Apollo.

Jason - the son of Aison, on behalf of Pelias, set out from Thessaly for the golden fleece to Colchis, for which he equipped a campaign of the Argonauts.

Kronos, in ancient Greek mythology, was one of the titans born of the marriage of the sky god Uranus and the earth goddess Gaia. He succumbed to the persuasion of his mother and emasculated his father Uranus in order to stop the endless birth of his children.

To avoid repeating the fate of his father, Kronos began to swallow all his offspring. But in the end, his wife could not stand such an attitude towards their offspring and gave him a stone to swallow instead of a newborn.

Rhea hid her son, Zeus, on the island of Crete, where he grew up, fed by the divine goat Amalthea. He was guarded by kurets - warriors who drowned out the cry of Zeus with blows to the shields so that Kronos would not hear.

Having matured, Zeus overthrew his father from the throne, forced him to pluck his brothers and sisters from the womb and after a long war took his place on the bright Olympus, among the host of gods. So Kronos was punished for his betrayal.

In Roman mythology, Kronos (Chroos - "time") is known as Saturn - a symbol of unforgiving time. IN Ancient Rome festivities were dedicated to the god Kronos - saturnalia, during which all rich people changed duties with their servants and fun began, accompanied by abundant libations. In Roman mythology, Kronos (Chroos - "time") is known as Saturn - a symbol of unforgiving time. In ancient Rome, the god Kronos was dedicated to festivities - saturnalia, during which all rich people changed their duties with their servants and fun began, accompanied by abundant libations.

Rhea ("Ρέα), in ancient myth-making, the Greek goddess, one of the Titanids, the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the wife of Kronos and the mother of the Olympic deities: Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter and Hera (Hesiod, Theogony, 135). Kronos, fearing, that he would be deprived of power by any of his children, devoured them immediately after birth. Rhea, on the advice of her parents, saved Zeus. Instead of the son she was born, she placed a swaddled stone, which Kronos swallowed, and sent her son in secret from his father Rhea, to the mountain Dict. When Zeus grew up, Rhea attached her son as a cupbearer to Kronos and he was able to mix an emetic potion into his father's cup, freeing his brothers and sisters. According to one of the versions of the myth, Rhea deceived Kronos at the birth of Poseidon. She hid her son among the grazing sheep, and She gave Kronos a foal to swallow, referring to the fact that it was she who gave birth to (Pausanias, VIII 8, 2).

The cult of Rhea was considered one of the most ancient, but was not widespread in Greece itself. In Crete and in Asia Minor, she mingled with the Asian goddess of nature and fertility, Cybele, and her worship came to a more prominent plane. Especially in Crete, the legend about the birth of Zeus in the grotto of Mount Ida, which enjoyed special veneration, was localized, which is proved by a large number of initiations, partly very ancient, found in it. The tomb of Zeus was also shown in Crete. The priests of Rhea were called here Kuretes and were identified with the Koribants, the priests of the great Phrygian mother Cybele. They were entrusted by Rhea to preserve the baby Zeus; knocking with their weapons, the kuretes drowned out his cry so that Kronos could not hear the child. Rhea was portrayed in a matronly type, usually with a crown from the city walls on her head, or in a veil, mostly sitting on a throne, near which the lions dedicated to her sit. Its attribute was a tympanum (ancient musical percussion instrument, predecessor of the timpani). In the period of late antiquity, Rhea was identified with the Phrygian Great Mother of the Gods and received the name Rhea-Cybele, whose cult was distinguished by an orgiastic character.

Zeus, Diy ("bright sky"), in Greek mythology, the supreme deity, the son of the titans Kronos and Rhea. The almighty father of the gods, the lord of the winds and clouds, rain, thunder and lightning with a blow of the scepter caused storms and hurricanes, but he could also calm the forces of nature and clear the sky from clouds. Kronos, fearing to be overthrown by his children, swallowed all the older brothers and sisters of Zeus immediately after their birth, but Rhea, instead of her youngest son, gave Kropos a stone wrapped in diapers, and the baby was secretly taken out and brought up on the island of Crete.

Matured Zeus sought to settle accounts with his father. His first wife, wise Metis ("thought"), the daughter of Ocean, advised him to give his father a potion, from which he would vomit all the children swallowed. Having defeated Kronos, who gave birth to them, Zeus and the brothers divided the world among themselves. Zeus chose the sky, Hades - the underworld of the dead, and Poseidon - the sea. The land and Mount Olympus, where the palace of the gods was located, was decided to be considered common. Over time, the Olympians' world changes and becomes less violent. Ora, daughters of Zeus from Themis, his second wife, brought order to the life of gods and people, and the charites, daughters from Eurynome, the former mistress of Olympus, brought joy and grace; the goddess Mnemosyne gave birth to Zeus 9 muses. Thus, in human society, law, science, art and moral norms took their place. Zeus was also the father of famous heroes - Hercules, Dioscuri, Perseus, Sarpedon, glorious kings and sages - Minos, Radamanthus and Eacus. True, the love affairs of Zeus with both mortal women and immortal goddesses, which formed the basis of many myths, caused constant antagonism between him and his third wife, Hero, the goddess of legal marriage. Some children of Zeus who were born out of wedlock, for example Hercules, were cruelly persecuted by the goddess. In Roman mythology, Zeus corresponds to the almighty Jupiter.

Hera (Hera), in Greek mythology, the queen of the gods, the goddess of the air, the patroness of family and marriage. Hera, the eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea, brought up in the house of Ocean and Tethys, sister and wife of Zeus, with whom, according to the Samos legend, she lived in secret marriage for 300 years, until he openly declared her to be his wife and queen of the gods. Zeus honors her highly and informs her of his plans, although he keeps her on occasion within her subservient position. Hera, mother of Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus, Ilithia. Differs in imperiousness, cruelty and jealous disposition. Especially in the Iliad, Hera shows quarrelsomeness, stubbornness and jealousy - traits that have passed into the Iliad, probably from the oldest songs that glorified Hercules. Hera hates and persecutes Hercules, as well as all the favorites and children of Zeus from other goddesses, nymphs and mortal women. When Hercules was returning by ship from Troy, she, with the help of the god of sleep, Hypnos, put Zeus to sleep and, through the storm she raised, almost killed the hero. As punishment, Zeus tied the insidious goddess with strong golden chains to the ether and hung two heavy anvils at her feet. But this does not prevent the goddess from constantly resorting to cunning when she needs to get something from Zeus, against whom she cannot do anything by force.

In the struggle for Ilion, she patronizes her beloved Achaeans; the Achaean cities of Argos, Mycenae, Sparta - her favorite places; She hates Trojans for the judgment of Paris. The marriage of Hera with Zeus, which originally had a spontaneous meaning - the connection between heaven and earth, then receives a relation to the civil institution of marriage. As the only legitimate wife on Olympus, Hera is the patroness of marriage and childbirth. She was dedicated to the pomegranate, the symbol of marriage love, and the cuckoo, the messenger of spring, the time of love. In addition, a peacock and a crow were considered its birds.

Her main place of worship was Argos, where her colossal statue, made by Polycletus from gold and ivory, stood, and where the so-called Gerei were celebrated in her honor every five years. In addition to Argos, Hera was also honored in Mycenae, Corinth, Sparta, Samos, Plataea, Sikion and other cities. Art presents Hera as a tall, slender woman, with a stately posture, mature beauty, a rounded face, wearing important expression, a beautiful forehead, thick hair, large, strongly open "ox" eyes. The most remarkable image of it was the above-mentioned statue of Polycletus in Argos: here Hera sat on a throne with a crown on her head, with a pomegranate apple in one hand, with a scepter in the other; at the top of the scepter is a cuckoo. Over the long tunic, which left only the neck and arms uncovered, a himation was thrown around the camp. In Roman mythology, Hera corresponds to Juno.

Demeter (Δημήτηρ), in Greek mythology, the goddess of fertility and agriculture, civil organization and marriage, daughter of Kronos and Rhea, sister and wife of Zeus, from whom she gave birth to Persephone (Hesiod, Theogony, 453, 912-914). One of the most revered Olympic deities. The ancient chthonic origin of Demeter is attested by her name (literally, "earth-mother"). Cult references to Demeter: Chloe ("greenery", "sowing"), Karpophora ("giver of fruits"), Thesmophora ("legislator", "organizer"), Sito ("bread", "flour") indicate the functions of Demeter as goddess of fertility. She is a benevolent goddess to people, of a beautiful appearance with hair the color of ripe wheat, an assistant in peasant labors (Homer, Iliad, V 499-501). She fills the farmer's barns with supplies (Hesiod, Opp. 300, 465). They call out to Demeter that the grains come out full and that the plowing succeeds. Demeter taught people to plow and sow, uniting in a sacred marriage on the thrice-plowed field of the island of Crete with the Cretan god of agriculture, Yason, and the fruit of this marriage was Plutos - the god of wealth and abundance (Hesiod, Theogonia, 969-974).

Hestia-the virgin goddess of the hearth, the eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea, the patroness of the inextinguishable fire, uniting gods and people. Hestia never responded to courtship. Apollo and Poseidon asked for her hands, but she vowed to remain a virgin forever. Once the drunken god of gardens and fields Priapus tried to dishonor her, asleep, at a holiday where all the gods were present. However, at that moment when the patron saint of sensuality and sensual pleasures Priapus prepared to do his dirty deed, the donkey screamed loudly, Hestia woke up, called for the help of the gods, and Priapus, in fear, turned and fled.

Poseidon, in ancient Greek mythology, the god of the underwater kingdom. Poseidon was considered the lord of the seas and oceans. The underwater king was born from the marriage of the earth goddess Rhea and the titan Kronos, and immediately after birth, he was swallowed by his father, who was afraid that they would take away his power over the world, together with his brothers and sisters. All of them were subsequently freed by Zeus.

Poseidon lived in an underwater palace, among the host of gods obedient to him. Among them were his son Triton, the Nereids, the sisters of Amphitrite and many others. The god of the seas was equal in beauty to Zeus himself. On the sea, he moved in a chariot, which was harnessed with wonderful horses.

With the help of a magic trident, Poseidon controlled the depths of the sea: if there was a storm on the sea, then as soon as he stretched out the trident in front of him, the enraged sea calmed down.

The ancient Greeks revered this deity very much and, in order to achieve his location, brought many sacrifices to the underwater ruler, throwing them into the sea. This was very important for the inhabitants of Greece, since their well-being depended on whether merchant ships would pass by sea. Therefore, before going to sea, the travelers threw a sacrifice into the water to Poseidon. In Roman mythology, Neptune corresponds to it.

Hades, Hades, Pluto ("invisible", "terrible"), in Greek mythology, the god of the kingdom of the dead, as well as the kingdom itself. Son of Kronos and Rhea, brother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter and Hestia. When the world was divided after the overthrow of his father, Zeus took the sky for himself, Poseidon - the sea, and Hades - the underworld; the brothers agreed to rule the land together. The second name of Hades was Polydegmon ("recipient of many gifts"), which is associated with the countless shadows of the dead living in his domain.

The messenger of the gods, Hermes, conveyed the souls of the dead to the ferryman Charon, who transported only those who could pay for the crossing through the underground river Styx. The entrance to the underworld of the dead was guarded by the three-headed dog Cerberus (Cerberus), who did not allow anyone to return to the world of the living.

Like the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks believed that the kingdom of the dead was located in the bowels of the earth, and the entrance to it was in the far west (west, sunset - symbols of dying), across the Ocean River, washing the earth. The most popular myth about Hades is associated with his abduction of Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of fertility, Demeter. Zeus promised him his beautiful daughter, without asking her mother's consent. When Hades took the bride away by force, Demeter almost lost her mind from grief, forgot about her duties, and hunger seized the earth.

The dispute between Hades and Demeter over the fate of Persephone was resolved by Zeus. She is obliged to spend two thirds of the year with her mother and one third with her husband. This is how the alternation of the seasons arose. One day Hades fell in love with the nymph Mint or Mint, who was associated with the water of the kingdom of the dead. Upon learning of this, Persephone, in a fit of jealousy, turned the nymph into a fragrant plant.