The Greek Gods

The Ancient Greeks had many strange views, and a vivid imagination. Their religion was polytheistic, with many gods complexly entwined by stories and legends, embedded within a rich, colorful mythology. In short, they paid homage to a great number of gods.

In appearance the Greek gods were said to resemble mortals, but far surpassing in beauty, grace, and strength, as well as more imposing in stature. (Height was considered by Greeks attribute of beauty in men and women.) Yet the gods could also disguise and transform themselves with magic, so they could deceive the eyes of mortals whenever they wished. (Exactly like the Vedic gods with the power of Maya, and the Celtic gods too.)

They resembled humans in feelings and habits, intermarrying and having children, requiring food and sleep. Their blood (which was believed to be a bright and ethereal fluid which they called iilkor?) never became diseased, and produced new life when shed. [1]

Greeks believed gods were more intelligent than mortals, although they were not exempt from human passions. They were frequently revengeful, deceitful, and jealous — a fundamental impetus and theme in many of the ancient tales of the gods. The evildoer was always punished, and any mortal who neglected the worship of the Gods would be visited with harm.

They often visited mankind and partook of hospitality. Not infrequently would gods or goddesses fall in love with mortals and bear children together. These offspring were known as great heroes, or demigods, usually renowned for their great strength and courage. Great Achilles, hero of the Trojan War, had divine parentage. His mother was a goddess (a sea nymph) named Thetis. Just as Perseus was the son of Zeus, by his mother Danae.

Although Gods and Man resemble one another in many ways, one great distinction exists: immortality. The gods lived forever. However, they were not invulnerable. We often hear of them being wounded, suffer in consequence exuisite torture they have cried for mortality.

No limitation of time or space, transport distance speed of thought. Render invisible, assume form of man or animal of any description. Their magic also allows them to transform humans to trees, animals, or stone as punishment or protection for individual.

Their robes like those of mortals, perfect in form, finer in texture. Weapons resemble those of mankind. Spears, shields, helmets, bows and arrows employed by gods. Each deity possessed chariot drawn by horses or other celestial animals which could convey them over land and sea fast. Most lived summit Mt. Olympus possessing indiviual habitation, meeting in council chamber of gods on festival occaisons. Apollos lyre and muses voices made beautiful music. Magnifiscent temples erected in their honor, worshipped solemly. Rich gifts presented, and animals, and sometimes people sacrificed on their altars.

In study of Greek myth, we encounter some unnaccountable notions. Great giants heave rocks, upheave mountains, and earthquakes engulfing armies, which can be accounted for by nature. [1] Daily recurrning phenomena were to early Greeks matters of grave specualtion and alarm, such as thunder and lightning, they believed god of heaven angry and were afraid of wrath, if the sea broiled the sea god, Poseidon was supposed to be in range. When skies of dawn came, the goddess of dawn drew away night to allow her brother, the sun god to light the world. Highly imaginative. Personifying pwoers of nature. They “beheld a divinity in every tree that grew, in every stream that flowed, in the bright beams of the glorious sun, and the clear cold rays of the silvery moon. For them [the ancient Greeks] the whole universe lived and breathed, peopled by a thousand forms of grace and beauty.” [1]

The most important of these divinities may have been nothing more than a figment of the imagination to explain a force of nature. Yet there is possibly literal historical truth to these tales, being in origin tales and rememberences of men and women in great antiquity, who had distinguished themselves beyond others in what the Greeks remembered as a “Golden Age”. Probably that reputed aactions were commemorated by bards travelling one state to another singing songs of praise. Impossible (nearly) to separate bare facts from fictional additions.

Lets suppose Orpheus, son of Apollo, renowned for musical prowess, may have been a remarkable musician who then was associated with their deities. Attributing to his music supernatural powers, in that he could tame wild beasts, halt rivers, and move mountains with his voice. Yet today he may have been illustrious, or “famous”.

//The Religious System of the Romans// The religious beliefs of the Romans. When the Greeks first settled the Italian peninsula, the found an already existing religious traditions of the Celts, which according to Greek custom of paying reverence to all gods, they adopted, selected and appropriate all gods and goddesses that was similar enough to their own to blend with it, or else which resonated with them, or had greatest affinity to their own, thus religious belief formed with impress of source, according to Berens anyways. Berens goes on to say that the Celts were “primitive” and “less civilized” than the Greeks, their mythology more “barbarous”. Romans allegedly not as vividly imaginative, deficient in fairy-like stories and poetic ideas of Greeks.

The Origin of World :: First Dynasty Uranus and Gaia :: Colis and Terra

The ancient Greeks had several origin of world theories. Generally though, before the existence of the world was a confused mass of amorphous and unmanifested shapes “shapeless elements” called chaos. These elements which over time became consolidated (by a method unknown or unsaid) blended to create two different elements. The lighter of which formed the sky or firmament, consisting in vass overarching vault, protecting the firm and solid mass beneath. Thus came into being the first two primeval deities of the Greeks, Uranus and Gaia. Uranus, more refined, represented light of heaven, distinguishing qualities of light, heat, purity, and omnipresence. While Gaia was worshipped as great all-nourishing mother. Many titles refer to her more or less in this way, appears to be universally worshiped by Greeks. Scarcely a city without temple of Gaia. Her name was always invoked when gods took oath, declared, or impored assistance. Uranus, heaven, believed to been married to Earth.

Firstborn child was Oceanus, ocean-stream, vast expanse of ever flowing water which always circled the Earth. Ocean formed from rains of heaven and streams of Earth. Combined influence produces a result, the ocean, thus is their child. But uruanus, heaven (light, heat, and life – therefore the sun) produced other children of much less material nature than oceanus. Other children supposed occupy intermediate space between him and Gaia.

Nearest to Uranus and just beneath can be found Aether, bright creation representing highlu rariefied atmosphere only immortals could breathe. Then came Air, close to Gaia, represented close atmosphere surounding the Earth. Aether and Air separated by Nefili, restless and wandering sisters which floated in form of clouds. Gaia also produced mountains, and Pontus, the sea. She united with Puntus and offspring where the sea deities Nereas, Thelmus, Porsus, Seto and Uribiya.

Coexistent with Uranus and gai existed two mighty powers who were also formed out of Chaos. These were Erebus (“darkness”) and Nix (“night”) who formed contrast to cheerful light of heaven and bright smiles of Earth. Erebus reigned where no ray of sunshine could reach. Nix, sister of Erebus, was worshiped solemnly by ancient. Uranus was said to be united with Nix, only in capacity as god of light, considered source of all light, and their children were Eos, Aurara (dawn), Hemera (daylight). Nix again was also married to erebus for some period.

In addition to these already numerated, Uranus and Gaia produced two distinct races of beings called Giants and Titans. Giants personifed brute strength, but the Titans united strength and intellect. There were three Titans – Brereaus, Cuttis, and Gigis – eaach possessed 100 hands and 50 heads known collectively as Hecateoncheris. Could shake universe and produce earthquakes. Represented active subterranean forces.

Titans were 12. Oceanus, Sayos, Creos, Hyperiodm, Yapidos, Cronus, Thea Rhea, Themis, mnemisiny, Phebe and Tethys. Uranus the light of heaven held in abbhorence crude rough and turbulent offspring, giants, feared their great pwoer could eventually hurt him. He hurled them in Tartarus, lower world, sub-terranean dongeon of Gods. Gaia instigated conspiracy on part of Titans against Uranus, carried to fruition by Cronos. Wounded father, frm blood sprange race monsters called giants. Assisted by his brother Titans, Cronos dethroned father, who enraged at defeat cursed rebellious son with similar fate. Cronos had supreme power, assigned to brothers officers of distinction sub- to only him.

However, when secure of position he repaid former service with treachery making war on brothers and allies completely defeating them sending them to the lowest depths of Tartarus.

//Second Dynasty//

Cronos (Saturn). Cronos was god of time, sense of eternal duration. Married Rhea, daughter of Uranus and Gaea, their children were 3 sons: Aedus (Pluto), Poseidon (Neptune), and  Zeus (Jupiter). As well as three daughters: Hestia (Vesta), Demeter (Ceres), and Hera (Juno). Chronos had an uneasy conscience afraid children might one day rise up, verifying prediciton of father, Uranus. In order to render prophicy, he swalled each child as it was born.

When it came to Zeus, Rhea resolved to save one child. She went to Uranus and Gaia for assistance, who told her to swallow stone in baby clothers and Cronos swalled it. He eventually grew to dethrone Cronos, became supreme god, universally venerated among the hellenes. Anxious to presever existence, sent Zeus to Crete. raised and nourished and protected and educated. Sacred goat Amothea provided him with milk, in place of his mother. Nymphs called Melisae fed him honey, eagles and doves brough nectar and ambrosia.

Kept concealed in cave in heart of Mt. Ida. Priests of Rhea beat shields day and night, constantly at entrance, drowning cries of child and frightening away intruders. Under the care of the nymphs, Zeus developed great physical powers. Grew rapidly, comined with great wisdom and intelligence. t manhood determined to compel father to allow sisters and brothers light of day, said to have been assisted by Metis who persuaded Cronos to drink potion causing him to throw up his children. The stone that took place of Zeus was placed at Delphi, long exhibited as a sacred relic.

Cronos was so enraged at being thwarted that war with Zeus grew to be inevitable. Rival forces arranged themselves on two separate high mountains in Thessaly. Zeus with brothers and sisters tok stand on Mt. Olympus where he was joined by Oceanus and other Titans who had forsaken Cronos on account of his oppressions. Cronos and his brother Titans took possession of Mt. Othrus [KT] and prepared for battle. Struggle long and fierce. At length, Zeus dejected while making little progress, his mind turned to the imprisoned giants, whose might may just be enough to turn the tides of battle in their favor.

He hurried to free them, calling along his way to the Cyclopes for aid, who were the sons of Poseidon and Amphitrite, who had only 1 eye each in the center of their heads, whose names were: Brontus (Thunder), Sterops (Lightning) and Pirikman (Fire Anvil). The responded, bringing thunderbolts which the Hecatankeres hurled down upon enemy, raining mighty earthquakes, which swallowed up all who opposed. With these allies, all nature is said to have throbbed with mighty effort. Sea rose mountains high, angry billows foam, earth shurker, heaven shook with thunder and lighting. Mist envoloped Cronus and allies, fortunes turned, victory smiling upon Zeus. Cronos and army overthrown, brothers dispathced to lower world, Cronos banished from kingdom and deprived foreover of supreme power vested now in Zeus.

War called Titanamakia, garphically described by old classic poets. With defeat of Cronos and banishment from dominions, his career as ruling great divinity ceases. But immortal, but no authority or influence. Cronos often represented as old man leaning on scythe, with hourglass in hand. Hourglass symbolizing the unceasing flow of time, while the scythe symbolizes time itself, which destroys all in its grasp. [1]

Resources

1. Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | By E. M. Berens |