Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology
Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, desire and beauty: birth from seafoam, attributes, major myths and ancient cult.
Eastern Mediterranean, the ancient Greek world
Greek mythology
Introduction to Greek mythology: the Olympian pantheon, ancient sources, heroes and major narrative cycles.
- Period
- 8th century BCE – 4th century CE
- Original languages
- Ancient Greek
- Main sources
-
- Homer, Iliad and Odyssey
- Hesiod, Theogony and Works and Days
- Attic tragedians (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides)
- Apollodorus, Bibliotheca
- Ovid, Metamorphoses (Latin relay)
Gods & goddesses
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Apollo, god of light, arts and prophecy in Greek mythology
Apollo, Greek god of light, music, poetry and prophecy: attributes, birth, the Oracle of Delphi and his major myths.
Ares, god of war in Greek mythology
Ares, Greek god of war and battle fury: attributes, genealogy, major myths, his opposition to Athena and his cult in antiquity.
Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the wilderness
Artemis, virgin goddess of the hunt, the moon, and wild animals: attributes, birth, key myths and cult in Greek mythology.
Heroes & mortals
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Achilles, hero of the Trojan War in Greek mythology
Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis: near-invulnerability, the quarrel with Agamemnon, the death of Patroclus and the fatal heel. Central figure of the Iliad.
Bellerophon, tamer of Pegasus and slayer of the Chimera
Bellerophon, Greek hero of Corinth: false accusation, capture of Pegasus, victory over the Chimera, exploits in Lycia, and the fall that punishes his hubris against the gods.
Hector, prince of Troy and champion of the Trojans in Greek mythology
Hector, son of Priam, defender of Troy, his fatal duel with Achilles, and why Homer's most human hero embodies duty, love, and tragic fate.
Heracles, the hero of the Twelve Labors
Heracles, demigod son of Zeus and Alcmene: birth, Twelve Labors, major exploits, and the apotheosis of the greatest hero in Greek mythology.
Creatures
See all →Centaurs, half-man half-horse creatures of Greek mythology
Greek Centaurs: half-man half-horse, their origin, the Centauromachy against the Lapiths, wise Chiron as teacher to heroes, and their place between nature and civilization.
Cerberus, guardian of the Underworld in Greek mythology
Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the realm of Hades: origin, role in the underworld, the twelfth labor of Heracles, and other mortal intrusions.
The Chimera, fire-breathing hybrid monster of Greek mythology
The Chimera, Greek hybrid monster with a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail: divine origin, devastation of Lycia, and death at the hands of Bellerophon riding Pegasus.
The Cyclops in Greek mythology: Polyphemus and the sons of Poseidon
The Cyclops in Greek mythology: Hesiod's divine smiths who forged Zeus's thunderbolt, and Homer's giant sons of Poseidon — above all Polyphemus, blinded by Odysseus.
Mythical places
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Delphi: Apollo's Oracle and the Navel of the Ancient World
Delphi in Greek mythology: sanctuary of Apollo, seat of the Pythia, and the most influential oracle of antiquity. Mythological role, cult, and enduring legacy.
Elysium: the paradise of heroes in Greek mythology
Elysium in Greek mythology: the blessed realm of virtuous souls and glorious heroes, the luminous counterpart to Tartarus and the Underworld's dark plain.
Mount Olympus: home of the gods in Greek mythology
Mount Olympus in Greek mythology: the sacred mountain of the twelve Olympian gods, its cosmic role in Homer and Hesiod, and its place at the heart of the Greek universe.
Tartarus: the primordial abyss and Titan prison in Greek mythology
Tartarus in Greek mythology: the primordial void born before the gods, prison of the Titans after the Titanomachy, and place of eternal punishment distinct from Hades' kingdom.
Mythical objects
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The Golden Fleece: royal symbol and prize of the Argonauts' quest
The Golden Fleece in Greek mythology: the hide of the divine ram Chrysomallus, treasure of Colchis guarded by a dragon, and the legendary prize of Jason and the Argonauts.
The Thunderbolt of Zeus: divine weapon and symbol of supreme power
The Thunderbolt of Zeus in Greek mythology: forged by the Cyclopes, weapon of the Titanomachy, and the ultimate symbol of Zeus's supreme sovereignty over gods and mortals.
The Trident of Poseidon: weapon of the seas and symbol of oceanic power
The Trident of Poseidon in Greek mythology: forged by the Cyclopes, weapon and sceptre of the god of the seas, symbol of his dominion over waters, earthquakes, and horses.
Stories
See all → Journeys & quests
Jason and the Golden Fleece: the quest of the Argonauts in Greek mythology
Jason assembles the Argonauts to seize the Golden Fleece from Colchis: the Clashing Rocks, Medea's magic, fire-breathing bulls, and the sleepless dragon.
Mythical wars
The Judgement of Paris: the apple of discord and the Trojan War
The Judgement of Paris: the apple of discord, the three goddesses' rival offers, Paris's fatal choice of Aphrodite, and the abduction of Helen that triggers the Trojan War.
Journeys & quests
The Twelve Labors of Heracles: the cycle of impossible trials
The Twelve Labors of Heracles: the origin of the cycle, the twelve impossible tasks imposed by Eurystheus, and the meaning of this founding heroic journey.
Metamorphoses
The Myth of Narcissus: Fatal Love of One's Own Reflection in Greek Mythology
The myth of Narcissus: Echo's punishment by Hera, the beautiful hunter's fatal obsession with his own reflection, and his transformation into a flower in Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Comparisons
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Gods of death across 8 world mythologies
A comparison of death deities and underworld rulers in Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Roman, Japanese, Hindu, Aztec, and Celtic mythologies.
Gods of Love in World Mythologies
A comparison of love deities in Greek, Roman, Norse and Egyptian mythology: Aphrodite, Venus, Freya, Hathor, Eros and Cupid compared across traditions.
War gods in 8 world mythologies
A comparison of war deities in Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Japanese, Hindu, Aztec, and Celtic mythologies.