Mythology

  • Metope fragment showing Heracles and the Ceryneian Hind

    Heracles (Hercules)

    Heracles (Hercules)

    Heracles [Ἡρακλῆς, also transliterated as Herakles, later romanised as Hercules], the most renowned hero of antiquity, was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus. The Birth of Heracles At the time of his…

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  • Scene from amphora depicting the blinding of Polyphemus.

    Greek Mythology

    Greek Mythology

    Introduction The ancient Greek spiritual beliefs, religion, and oral tradition are all reflected and formulated through rich myths and legends that besides entertainment provided an articulation of Greek culture’s moral fiber. Above all, mythology is a bunch of…

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  • Alcmene

    Alcmene

    ALCMENE, the daughter of Electryon, king of Mycenae, was betrothed to her cousin Amphytrion; but, during his absence on a perilous undertaking, Zeus assumed his form, and obtained her affections. Heracles (whoseworld-renowned exploits will be related among the…

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  • Relief sculpture depicting Theseus and Antiope

    Antiope

    Antiope

    Antiope ANTIOPE, to whom Zeus appeared under the form of a satyr, was the daughter of Nicteus, king of Thebes. To escape the anger of her father she fled to Sicyon, where king Epopeus, enraptured with her wonderful…

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  • Lely's Venus (Aphrodite) statue.

    Aphrodite (Venus)

    Aphrodite (Venus)

    Aphrodite (from aphros, sea-foam, and dite, issued), the daughter of Zeus and a sea-nymph called Dione, was the goddess of Love and Beauty. Dione, being a sea-nymph, gave birth to her daughter beneath the waves; but the child…

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  • Apollo Belvedere

    Apollo

    Apollo

    Phoebus-Apollo, the god of Light, Prophecy, Music, Poetry, and the Arts and Sciences, is by far the noblest conception within the whole range of Greek mythology, and his worship, which not only extended to all the states of…

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  • Detail of sculptures from the north frieze with warriors fighting over a fallen body

    Ares (Mars)

    Ares (Mars)

    As the God of War, Ares was surprisingly not so revered by the ancient Greeks.  God of War He was said to have juxtaposing qualities of cowardice and ruthlessness on the battlefield as opposed to bravery. Even the…

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  • Artemis

    Apollo’s twin sister and counterpart: Artemis was to the moon what Apollo was to the sun. She held other religious facets like goddess of the hunt and the wilderness as well as protector of youth everywhere. She was…

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  • Ate

    Ate

    Ate was a mythological deity who induced both gods and men alike into rash decisions.  She was even able to deceive Zeus. On the day of Heracles’ expected birth (Zeus’ son by Alcmene), Ate convinced Zeus to take…

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  • The Piraeus (Peiraeus) Athena. Head with inlaid eyes.

    Athena

    Athena

    There is speculation as to whether Pallas Athena had a mother, but Zeus is undoubtedly her father as every account of her birth depicts her springing fully-grown and adorned in armour from his head. If she did have…

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