Guide to Gods
Gods, goddesses, nymphs, heroes, places; the list goes on and only gets more complicated. This page is designed to try and boil them down to a quick summary and provide you with pages they feature in for ease!
As you’ll notice scrolling through this page, there are a lot of characters to keep track of in Greek mythology. Since Substack has a length limit on pages, you can find the human characters of myth (such as Perseus, Theseus, Arachne, Sisyphus and more) on the Guide to Mortals page below:
You can also find any locations that have been explored so far on Mythologia on the Guide to Locations below:
For this page, follow the links below or find the contents bar to the left of the screen if you’re looking for a particular group, alternatively use Ctrl + F to find something specific.
Main Gods
Olympians
Beginning with the children of Kronos and Rhea, the Olympians are the current gods ruling from Mount Olympus. There are generally always twelve Olympians in the pantheon, though it does undergo a slight change when Dionysus is born.
Aphrodite
Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite is the stunning crown jewel of the Olympians.
Domains: Beauty, love, desire, sex, fertility
Symbols: Doves, swans, myrtle trees
Parents: Ouranos
Husband: Hephaestus
Lovers: Ares, Hermes, Dionysus, Adonis
Children:
By Ares: Harmonia, Eros, Anteros, Deimos, Phobos
By Adonis: Beroe, Golgos
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Apollo
God of music, healing and the sun, Apollo loves fiercely and protects his mother and twin sister. He glows with a godly golden light, illuminating the darkness for his worshippers and providing them with prophecies through his oracles.
Domains: The sun, healing, music, prophecy, archery, the arts
Symbols: Wolves, ravens, dolphins
Siblings: Artemis
Lovers: Coronis
Children: Asclepius (by Coronis)
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Ares
God of war and rage, Ares is the god of soldiers and warriors. He would take their prayers before a battle and stalk the battlefields with his terrifying sons, Deimos and Phobos.
Domains: War, violence, bloodshed, rage, courage
Symbols: Vultures, dogs
Siblings: Eileithyia, Hebe, Hephaestus
Lovers: Aphrodite, Otrera, Cyrene, Pyrene, Harpina
Children:
By Aphrodite: Harmonia, Eros, Anteros, Deimos, Phobos
By Otrera: Hippolyte, Antiope, Penthesilea
By Cyrene: Diomedes
By Pyrene: Cycnus
By Harpina: Oenomaus
By unknown mothers: Ismenian Dragon
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Artemis
Goddess of the hunt and the moon, Artemis has sworn off sex after helping her mother give birth to her twin brother, Apollo. She is calm and swift, darting between the trees of the forests she patrols on her hunts.
Domains: The hunt, the moon, wild animals, archery, childbirth, maidenhood
Symbols: Deer, hunting dogs, bears, game birds
Siblings: Apollo
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Athena
Goddess of wisdom and strategy, Athena’s cool and collected demeanour intimidates her enemies and makes her the staunch ally of intelligent fighters and scholars.
Domains: Wisdom, strategic warfare, mathematics, needlework, the arts
Symbols: Owls, olive trees, the city of Athens
Violator: Hephaestus
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Demeter
Goddess of the harvest, Demeter is a fierce mother to both her offspring and her mortal worshippers, protecting them with a bountiful spring before allowing the winter to come as she grieves for the yearly departure of Persephone to the Underworld.
Domains: Agriculture, harvest, fertility
Symbols: Wheat ears, the cornucopia
Siblings: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia
Lovers: Zeus, Poseidon
Children: Persephone, formerly known as Kore (by Zeus)
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Dionysus
God of revelry and the creator of wine, Dionysus took Hestia’s place on Olympus when she descended back to the sanity of the mortal world.
Domains: Wine, revelry, theatre, madness, religious ecstasy
Symbols: Grapes, wine, ivy, thyrsus, grapevines, theatre masks, phalluses
Wife: Ariadne
Lovers: Ampelos, Adonis, Aphrodite
Children: Oenopian, Staphylus, Ceramus, Peparethus, Thoas (all by Ariadne)
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Hephaestus
God of the forge, Hephaestus toils in his workshops to create armour, weapons and items worthy of the gods, such as Zeus’ thunderbolts.
Domains: Blacksmiths, the forge, craftsmen, fire, volcanoes
Symbols: Anvil, hammer, tongs, donkeys
Siblings: Eileithyia, Hebe, Ares
Wife: Aphrodite
Lovers: Anticleia
Violated: Athena
Children:
By Anticleia: Periphetes
By Gaia: Erichthonius
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Hera
Hera, Queen of the Gods, is known to be a jealous wife to Zeus, though not without reason. She nurtures her family, though she is often at odds with her husband’s many children from other women.
Domains: Marriage, women, childbirth, family
Symbols: Peacocks, cows
Siblings: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia
Husband: Zeus
Children: Eileithyia, Hebe, Ares, Hephaestus (all by Zeus)
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Hermes
God of mischief and messenger to the gods, Hermes is rarely seen without his winged sandals on his many trips around the world. He transports the souls of the important and the honoured to the Underworld, as well as causing chaos of his own when he gets too bored.
Domains: Messengers, mischief, trade, travel, shepherds, luck, thieves
Symbols: Hare, hawk, tortoise, the two-snaked caduceus staff, rooster, the winged helmet and sandals
Lovers: Aphrodite, Theobule
Children: Myrtilus (by Theobule)
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Hestia
Goddess of the hearth and home, Hestia cherishes family connection and a comfortable refuge away from the business of the everyday life. Leaving her Olympian siblings to get closer to her people and make way for Dionysus, she is able to love the mortals more fully while staying out of the way of the exaggerated pride, jealousy and drama on Olympus.
Domains: Hearth, home, family
Symbols: Fireplace, kettle
Siblings: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter
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Poseidon
King of the oceans, Poseidon rules the waves and all of their inhabitants. Using his wrath to terrify sailors, he makes his wills and displeasures known whether on land or water.
Domains: The sea, earthquakes, horses
Symbols: The trident, horses, dolphins
Siblings: Zeus, Hades, Hera, Demeter, Hestia
Wife: Amphitrite
Lovers: Gaia, Aethra, Lysianassa, Alope, Pelops
Violated: Medusa
Children:
By Medusa: Pegasus, Chrysaor
By Gaia: Antaeus
By Lysianassa: Busiris
By Aethra and Aegeus: Theseus
By Alope: Hippothoon
By unknown mothers: Eryx, Dercynos, Ialebion, Cercyon, Procrustes
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Zeus
King of the gods, seated on the throne of Olympus, Zeus rules the world. He loves a good party, a good time, and anyone he can lure into bed who isn’t his wife. Often hiding the objects of his affection from his jealous wife Hera — usually unsuccessfully — Zeus is otherwise used to getting his own way, as well as needing to play mediator between the other gods, nymphs and mortals within his realm.
Domains: Thunder and lightning, honour, justice, Xenia (hospitality), oaths, prophecy
Symbols: Thunderbolts, eagles, oak trees
Siblings: Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, Hestia
Wife: Hera
Lovers: Metis, Demeter, Maia, Elara, Semele, Danae, Europa, Alcmene, Pluto, Themis
Violated: Leto
Children:
By Hera: Eileithyia, Hebe, Ares, Hephaestus
By Metis: Athena
By Demeter: Persephone
By Maia: Hermes
By Elara: Tityos
By Semele: Dionysus
By Danae: Perseus
By Europa: Minos, Rhadamanthus, Sarpedon
By Alcmene: Hercules
By Pluto: Tantalus
By Themis: The Fates
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Dwellers of the Underworld
The gods who dwell in the Underworld aren’t technically part of the Olympians, distanced by mortal boundaries as they are from the other gods. The Underworld plays host to the shades and spirits of the dead, and these souls need a lot of guidance from the deities who preside over and monitor it.
Charon
The gaunt, silent ferryman of the dead, Charon collects the obols of the dead souls on the banks of the Styx and rows those who have paid across to the underworld.
Siblings: Aether, Hemera, Thanatos, Hypnos, Eleos
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Hades
King of the Underworld, Hades rules over the spirits of the dead and the underworld’s realms, Tartarus, the Fields of Asphodel and Tartarus.
Domains: The dead, the underworld, wealth
Symbols: Helm of darkness, the sceptre, the cornucopia
Siblings: Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Hestia
Wife: Persephone
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Hecate
The goddess of magic and the night, Hecate patrols the underworld in accompaniment of Persephone during the queen’s winter ruling months. Hecate has her own retinue of lampades, torch-bearing nymphs to light the way ahead of her. As the goddess of crossroads too, those liminal spaces between choices, Hecate often presents as three-faced, one facing each direction of the crossroads.
Domains: The night, magic, witchcraft, the moon, crossroads, necromancy, ghosts
Symbols: A pair of torches, keys, dogs
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Persephone
Queen of the Underworld, Persephone rules alongside Hades over the shades who enter the underworld. Formerly known as Kore, Persephone is the much-cherished daughter of Demeter, who mourns her loss for six months of the year since she married Hades; Persephone spends six months in the underworld and six months with her mother after she consumed six pomegranate seeds from the land of the dead, tying her to it forever.
Domains: The dead, the underworld, spring
Symbols: Pomegranate, flowers, grain, deer
Husband: Hades
Lovers: Adonis
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Notable Olympian Offspring
Antaeus
Antaeus was a son of Poseidon who challenged Hercules, and all passers-by, to a fight. He was almost unbeatable while he was in contact with the earth, so Hercules had to lift him in order to defeat him.
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Anteros
God of requited love, Anteros accompanies his twin brother Eros and their mother Aphrodite around the world as they spread love, passion and affection.
Domains: Requited love
Symbols: Golden club, lead arrows
Siblings: Harmonia, Eros, Deimos, Phobos
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Asclepius
The god of healing, Asclepius paved the way for the whole medical profession. So proficient was he at healing others, Hades lobbied Zeus to strike him down as he was stealing so many souls that the underworld had claimed. His caduceus staff, given to him by Zeus when he deified him, is still used today in medical fields.
Domains: Medicine, healing
Symbols: Caduceus staff
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Busiris
King Busiris of Egypt was notorious for capturing travellers in his lands and sacrificing them to the gods. This came to a swift end when their last victim, Hercules, managed to escape and overcome Busiris and his men.
Parents: Lysianassa and Poseidon
Children: Amphidamas
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Cycnus
Cycnus was a son of Ares who challenged Hercules to a fight, resulting in disastrous and unfortunate consequences for him. When his end came, Zeus raised Cycnus to the skies as the constellation of Cygnus as consolation for Ares.
Parents: Pyrene and Ares
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Deimos
God of fear, Deimos spreads terror and dread alongside his twin brother Phobos and their father Ares. Together, they tread the battlefields and spread their fear and panic to the soldiers, Ares breathing in his favourite scents of war and blood.
Domains: Fear, dread
Siblings: Harmonia, Eros, Anteros, Phobos
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Dercynos
One of two kings of Liguria, Dercynos made the unfortunate mistake of attempting to steal from the mighty Hercules and paid for it with his life.
Parents: Poseidon
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Eileithyia
Goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia watches over the labours and birth of mothers and their babies. She will usually be summoned by midwives and village women to assist in births to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Hera has often been known to hold her daughter away from the births of Zeus’ mistresses to spite or kill them or their infants.
Domains: Pregnancy, childbirth, labour
Symbols: Torch, outstretched arms
Siblings: Hebe, Ares, Hephaestus
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Erichthonius
Born of an attempted assault by Hephaestus, Athena adopted Erichthonius as a newborn and raised him to become a formidable king of the city she was the patron of, Athens. During his reign, Erichthonius built the Erechtheion, a dual temple for both his mother and her uncle Poseidon in honour of their contest of patronage for the city.
Parents: Gaia and Hephaestus
Wife: Praxithea
Children: Pandion (by Praxithea)
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Eros
God of love and sexual desire, Eros travels the world with his twin brother Anteros and their mother Aphrodite, spreading lust and affection with his bow and special arrows; just one prick from Eros’ arrow will send the recipient into a deep love for the next person they see.
Domains: Love, desire, erotic connection
Symbols: Bow and arrows
Siblings: Harmonia, Anteros, Deimos, Phobos
Wife: Psyche
Children: Hedone (by Psyche)
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Eryx
King Eryx of Sicily found a stray cow the colour of sunset on his beaches and took it into his stables. Hercules, seeking out his lost cow, requested the return of the animal but Eryx demanded that to have it back, Hercules must wrestle him. Unable to accept his losses, Eryx was beaten to death when he kept challenging Hercules over and over.
Parents: Poseidon
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The Fates
The Fates, or the Moirai, were some of the most powerful gods on Olympus. The three sisters would spin a human life at their birth, determining the events that life would see and determining at what point their life-thread would be cut short. They observed and noted the whims of fate, remaining impassive and impartial to it in their duty as keepers of the future. They also instruct the Furies, the goddesses of punishment, to carry out their duties in bringing reckoning to those who committed crimes, as well as often consorting with Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth.
Domains: Prophecy, fate, birth, death
Symbols: A spindle or roll (Clotho), a staff pointed to a horoscope (Lachesis), a scroll, tablet, sundial, scales or a knife (Atropus), shears or scissors, a roll of thread, a turtle dove (all three)
Names: Clotho, Lachesis, Atropus
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Harmonia
Goddess of harmony, Harmonia was the firstborn child of Aphrodite’s affair with Ares. Hephaestus crafted a cursed necklace for Harmonia’s wedding day, and since then her line had suffered great losses.
Domains: Harmony, balance, easing of discord
Symbols: Dove, olive branch
Siblings: Eros, Anteros, Deimos, Phobos
Husband: Cadmus
Children: Polydorus, Agave, Autonoë, Ino, Semele (all by Cadmus)
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Hebe
Goddess of youth and cupbearer to the gods, Hebe is young and demure, serving nectar and ambrosia to them to restore their youth and immortality. When the mighty hero Hercules ascended to godhood, Hera and Zeus blessed his marriage to their beloved Hebe.
Domains: Youth, vitality, young brides, forgiveness
Symbols: Pitchers, cups, the Fountain of Youth, ivy
Siblings: Eileithyia, Ares, Hephaestus
Husband: Hercules
Children: Alexiares, Anicetus
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Hercules
Arguably the most famous hero in Greek myth, Hercules (previously named Alcides) was a man bred to fight by the frequent attempts of Hera, Queen of the Gods, to kill, maim or humiliate him. His life was scarred by instance after instance of tragedy and horror, crafting him into a skilled warrior and a man of brusque character.
Wives: Megara, Omphale, Deianeira, Hebe
Children:
By Megara: Therimachus, Creontiades, Deicoon, Deion
By Omphale: Agelaus, Alcaeus, Tyrsenus
By Deianeira: Hyllus, Onites, Ctesippus, Glenus, Macaria
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Ialebion
One of two kings of Liguria, Ialebion made the unfortunate mistake of attempting to steal from the mighty Hercules and paid for it with his life.
Parents: Poseidon
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Phobos
God of panic, Phobos spreads panic alongside his twin brother Deimos and their father Ares. Together, they tread the battlefields and spread their fear and panic to the soldiers, Ares breathing in his favourite scents of war and blood.
Domains: Panic
Siblings: Harmonia, Eros, Anteros, Deimos
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Tantalus
A son of one of Zeus’ many affairs, Tantalus was well-loved by his father and was given the kingdom of Mount Sipylus and its surrounding area, Lydia, to rule as his own. Tantalus used and abused Zeus’ favour, however, leading to him trying to test the gods at the expense of his own son’s life. Horrified by the heinous trick Tantalus had tried to pull, Zeus personally escorted his son to Tartarus and the hand-designed punishment that awaited him there.
Wife: Dione
Children: Niobe, Pelops and Broteas (by Dione)
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Tityos
A giant at 900ft, Tityos was so large that he split his mother apart while he grew inside her. Since Elara was underground at the time, Gaia took over the responsibility of bringing Tityos to term.
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Notable Titan Offspring
Achelous
One of the Potomoi, Achelous was a suitor of the princess Deianeira and fought Hercules to win her hand, but was defeated when Hercules snapped off one of Achelous’ horns.
Siblings: Asopus, Styx, the Oceanids, the Potomoi
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Asopus
Asopus is a river god in the regions of Boeotia, Philasia, and Sicyonia, with his daughters as the nymphs of the springs and lakes contributing to his rivers.
Domains: Rivers
Siblings: the Oceanids, Asopus, Achelous, the Potomoi
Wife: Metope
Children: Aegina (by Metope)
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Asteria
Goddess of the stars and prophecy, Asteria and her sister Leto grew up together. When Asteria was pursued across the sky in quail form by Zeus, desperate to seduce her, Asteria transformed herself into the floating island of Delos
Domains: Constellations, oracles and divination, falling and shooting stars, the island of Delos
Symbols: Stars
Siblings: Leto
Husband: Perses
Children: Hecate (by Perses)
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Atlas
Atlas, fierce and legendary leader of the Titan forces in the war between the Titans and the Olympians, was punished after the war by Zeus, who made him hold up the sky for eternity.
Domains: Astronomy, geography, mathematics, navigation
Symbols: The globe
Siblings: Prometheus, Menoetius, Epimetheus
Wife: Pleione
Lovers: Aethra, Hesperis
Children:
The Pleiades by Pleione: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Taygete
The Hesperides by Hesperis: Aegle, Arethusa, Asterope, Chrysothemis, Hespererthusa, Hesperia, Lipara
By Aethra: Hyas, the Nysiades (Cisseis, Nysa, Erato, Eriphia, Bromis, Polyhymno), the Hyades (Ambrosia, Eudora, Pedile, Coronis, Polyxo, Phyto, Dione)
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The Cercopes
The Cercopes were a pair of mischievous, monkey-like gnome thieves who frequented the forests of Lydia in western Anatolia. They were captured by Hercules but managed to endear themselves to him with their japes, convincing him to let them go.
Names: Akmon, Passalos
Parents: Theia and Oceanus
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Chiron
Chiron was a learned, scholarly centaur who raised and taught many of Greece’s greatest heroes in medicine and strategy, as well as sharing his wisdom and knowledge in many other worldly subjects. Even his death was noble; while Chiron was immortal, he gave up that gift to release Prometheus from the Caucasus mountains.
Symbols: A key
Wife: Chariclo
Children: Melanippe, Endeïs, Ocyrhoe, Carystus (all by Chariclo)
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Epimetheus
Epimetheus and his brother Prometheus fought with the Olympians against their family. In return, Zeus rewarded them with lives among the mortals, as well as asking Epimetheus to create animals to populate the world. Later still, Zeus gifted Epimetheus with his wife and the first mortal woman, Pandora.
Domains: Afterthought, hindsight
Siblings: Atlas, Prometheus, Menoetius
Wife: Pandora
Children: Pyrrha (by Pandora)
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Helios
Helios, Titan god of the sun, sided with Zeus against the Titans and so was left to continue riding across the sky after the war. Helios would draw his chariot out from the gates of dawn and would race across the sky, setting the sun by pulling into the gates of twilight.
Domains: The sun, the sky
Symbols: The sun, white horses, chariots
Siblings: Eos, Selene
Wife: Perse
Children: Perses, Pasiphaë, Circe, Aeëtes (all by Perse)
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Leto
Goddess of motherhood, Leto was impregnated by her best friend’s husband, Zeus, but Hera only felt betrayed and made her childbirth as painful and drawn out as possible. She loves her twins, Artemis and Apollo, and the three of them are a tight family unit.
Domains: Motherhood, childbirth, fertility, protection of the young
Symbols: Veils, dates, palm trees
Siblings: Asteria
Violator: Zeus
Children: Artemis, Apollo (both by Zeus)
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Menoetius
Menoetius joined his brother Atlas in the Titan army, fighting their brothers Prometheus and Epimetheus, who joined the Olympians.
Siblings: Atlas, Prometheus, Epimetheus
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Perses
God of destruction, Perses and his cousin had a daughter, Hecate, who became the goddess of witchcraft.
Domains: Destruction
Symbols: Dogs
Siblings: Astraeus, Pallas
Wife: Asteria
Children: Hecate (by Asteria)
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Prometheus
Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus fought with the Olympians against their family, Prometheus as a valuable general to Zeus. In return, Zeus rewarded them with lives among the mortals, as well as asking them to create animals to populate the world; Prometheus made the first generation of mankind, then going on to steal fire for them against Zeus’ instruction. Zeus then imprisoned him by chaining him to the Caucasus mountains and having an eagle tear his liver out every day, something remedied after an eternity by Chiron and Hercules.
Domains: Foresight, mischief, fire
Symbols: Fire, chains
Siblings: Atlas, Menoetius, Epimetheus
Wife: Clymene
Children: Deucalion (by Clymene)
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Notable Primordial Offspring
Cecrops
Cecrops was the earth-born half-man, half-snake chthonic king of Attica who founded Cecropia, the city that would become Athens. It was Cecrops who presided over the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the privilege of becoming the patron of Cecropia.
Parents: Gaia
Wife: Agraulos
Children: Erysichthon, Aglaurus, Herse, Pandrosus
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Ceto
Ceto was half woman from the waist up, but below her female-looking features were six dog heads and twelve dog feet. With her husband Phorcys, Ceto gave birth to several monsters, including the iconic Gorgons.
Siblings: Nereus, Eurybia, Phorcys, Thaumas
Husband: Phorcys
Children: Ladon, Echidna, the Graeae, the Gorgons, Cetus
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The Cyclopes
Giant, single-eyed sons of Gaia and Ouranos, the Cyclopes were imprisoned in Tartarus until the Titan war, after which they were recruited into the forges of Hephaestus, where they could use their considerable strength and power to assist the craftsman at his work.
Names: Brontes, Steropes, Arges
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires
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Eleos
Eleos was the goddess of mercy and compassion. Her shrines and altars served as sanctuaries for those requiring her aid. Notably, the children of Hercules threw themselves upon the mercy of Eleos at Athens, an act honoured by the king who protected them against their pursuers.
Siblings: Aether, Hemera, Thanatos, Hypnos, Charon
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Eurybia
The cool-hearted Titan goddess of the power over the sea, Eurybia wielded the power to change weather patterns, winds and controlled the rising and setting of the constellations, which was believed to be linked to the tides.
Domains: Power over the sea; seasonal weather, constellation movements, winds
Siblings: Nereus, Phorcys, Ceto, Thaumas
Husband: Krios
Children: Astraeus, Pallas, Perses (all by Krios)
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The Hecatoncheires
The fifty-headed, hundred-handed sons of Gaia and Ouranos, the Hecatoncheires were imprisoned in Tartarus until the Titan war. After the Olympians’ victory, they threw the Titan gods into Tartarus in their siblings’ place, stationing the Hecatoncheires on guard to ensure the Titans remained in the pit for eternity.
Names: Cottus, Aegaeon, Gyges
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Cyclopes
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Hypnos
The twin brother of Thanatos, Hypnos was the god of sleep who ushered both gods and mortals into their dreams. He was accompanied by the dark-winged Oneiroi, the gods of dreams and led by their leader Morpheus, on his travels across the world in the darkness of the night.
Domains: Sleep, relaxation, the transition to death
Symbols: Poppies, the River Lethe, the horn of sleep
Siblings: Aether, Hemera, Thanatos, Charon, Eleos
Wife: Pasithea
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Nereus
The great sea god Nereus, the old man of the sea, was the father of the fifty Nereids with his wife Doris.
Siblings: Eurybia, Phorcys, Ceto, Thaumas
Wife: Doris
Children: the Nereids
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Phorcys
The fish-tailed, crab-clawed father of several of the Greek world’s most iconic monsters, Phorcys and his sister-wife Ceto were sea god children of Gaia and Pontus.
Siblings: Nereus, Eurybia, Ceto, Thaumas
Wife: Ceto
Children: Ladon, Echidna, the Graeae, the Gorgons, Cetus
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Thalassa
The personification of sea foam and the surface of the ocean, Thalassa is a sea goddess and consort of the ocean himself, Pontus. Together, Thalassa and Pontus created and birthed the fish and sea creatures of the oceans.
Domains: The sea, sea foam, the surface and body of the ocean, sea creatures
Symbols: Seaweed, dolphins, oars
Husband: Pontus
Children: Halia
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Thanatos
The twin brother of Hypnos, Thanatos was the personification of death, peacefully ushering mortals to the underworld to greet their eternities in his role as a soul guide.
Domains: Death, peaceful death
Symbols: Wings, poppies, a sword, an inverted or extinguished torch
Siblings: Aether, Hemera, Hypnos, Charon, Eleos
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Typhon
The son of Gaia and Tartarus, the dark abyss of the underworld, Typhon was known for his children with Echidna, the snake-woman sister of the Gorgons.
Wife: Echidna
Children: Cerberus, the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, Orthrus, Phaea, the Chimera, the Sphinx
Further Generation Gods
Gods who are the children of second-generation gods, these gods are a large part of the Greek pantheon but aren’t necessarily directly the result of a duel-Olympian/Titan/Primordial partnership.
Ate
The goddess of delusion, folly and recklessness, Ate loved to sow seeds of chaos throughout both the mortal and godly realms. She was born to Eris, the goddess of strife, without a father, following in Eris’ mother’s stead, the primordial goddess of night, Nyx.
Domain: Delusion, recklessness
Parents: Eris
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Emathion
King Emathion of Arabia took it upon himself to try and stop Hercules from trying to reach the golden apples during his eleventh labour, unfortunately for him.
Parents: Eos and Tithonus
Siblings: Memnon
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Hedone
The daughter of love and the soul, Hedone spread pleasure around the world, often accompanying her mother, father or both on their journeys.
Domain: Pleasure
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Leucothea
Formerly the mortal Ino, the sea goddess Leucothea was born from the sea when she jumped from a cliff with her son, Melicertes, in an attempt to save both of their lives. She became known as a saviour and protector of those who spent their lives on the sea.
Domain: The sea, sailors, fishermen
Siblings: Polydorus, Agave, Autonoë, Semele
Husband: Athamas
Children: Learchus, Melicertes (by Athamas)
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Palaemon
Formerly the mortal Melicertes, the sea god Palaemon was born from the sea when his mother Ino launched them both from the cliffs of Boeotia in an attempt to save their lives. Like his mother, Palaemon was known as a saviour and protector of sailors and fishermen.
Domain: The sea, dolphins
Siblings: Learchus
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Psyche
Eros’ previously mortal wife Psyche was the envy of Aphrodite, jealous both for her son’s attention and for the praise other mortals mounted on Psyche when they mistook her for the goddess of beauty. Having become a goddess, she travels with her husband and child around the world, the essence of the soul.
Domain: The soul
Symbols: Butterfly wings
Husband: Eros
Children: Hedone (by Eros)
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Thyone
Formerly the mortal Semele, Thyone is the mother of Dionysus who he deified when he retrieved her soul from the underworld. As Thyone, she supports her son in his revelry as the goddess of Bacchic frenzy.
Domain: Bacchic frenzy, female ecstasy
Siblings: Polydorus, Agave, Autonoë, Ino
Lovers: Zeus
Children: Dionysus (by Zeus)
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Zephyrus
The great West Wind, Zephyrus was both powerful and tender, able to bring with him the scent of the flowers of spring. He would occasionally be summoned to bear mortals or gods aloft, allowing them to soar on his breezes.
Parents: Eos and Astraeus
Siblings: Boreas, Eurus, Notus
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Nymphs
Minor divinities within the Greek world, nymphs are common within myth, usually the offspring of gods. Not quite god but not quite mortal, they are often associated with natural elements such as water and trees, frequenting both the mortal world and Olympus.
Adrastea
A nymph daughter of King Melisseus of Crete entrusted by Rhea to raise Zeus on Mount Ida away from Mount Othrys, along with her sister nymphs Ida and Melissa a and the goat Amalthea.
Parents: Melisseus
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Aegina
A nymph daughter of the river god Asopus, Zeus kidnapped Aegina and transported her to the island of Oenone.
Parents: Metope and Asopus
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Danais
A water nymph daughter of the river god Alpheus, Danais was a lover of King Pelops of the Peloponnese and begat him his favourite son, Chrysippus.
Parents: Alpheus
Lovers: Pelops
Children: Chrysippus (by Pelops)
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The Hesperides
The Hesperides were nymphs of the sunset and the golden light of the setting sun, charged with guarding the treasures of the Olympians in their garden at the end of the world.
Names: Aegle, Arethusa, Asterope, Chrysothemis, Hespererthusa, Hesperia, Lipara
Parents: Hesperis and Atlas
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The Hyades
The daughters of Aethra and Atlas and sisters of the Nysiades, the Hyades were placed among the stars in their grief after the death of their brother, Hyas, when he was attacked by a lion.
Names: Ambrosia, Eudora, Pedile, Coronis, Polyxo, Phyto, Dione
Siblings: The Nysiades, Hyas
Husbands: Tantalus (husband of Dione)
Children: Niobe, Pelops, Broteas (children of Dione by Tantalus)
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Ida
A nymph daughter of King Melisseus of Crete entrusted by Rhea to raise Zeus on Mount Ida away from Mount Othrys, along with her sister nymphs Melissa and Adrastea and the goat Amalthea.
Parents: Melisseus
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Melissa
A nymph daughter of King Melisseus of Crete entrusted by Rhea to raise Zeus on Mount Ida away from Mount Othrys, along with her sister nymphs Ida and Adrastea and the goat Amalthea. While Amalthea fed Zeus her milk, Melissa fed him honey and is largely associated with beekeeping
Symbols: Bees
Parents: Melisseus
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The Nysiades
The sister nymphs of Mount Nysa, the Nysiades were the children of Atlas and an Oceanid named Aethra. The Nysiades were entrusted by Zeus with the care of his son, Dionysus, after Hera arranged unfortunate incidents to befall his mother and aunt. For their help in raising Dionysus, Zeus thanked them by raising them to the heavens as the Hyades constellation.
Names: Cisseis, Nysa, Erato, Eriphia, Bromis, Polyhymno
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Pluto
Pluto was a nymph daughter of Kronos who lived on Mount Sipylus and was the mother of the infamous Tantalus after a triste with Zeus.
Parents: Kronos
Lovers: Zeus
Children: Tantalus
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Oceanids
The Oceanids were the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys who resided in the freshwater of the earth.
Aethra
A lover of Atlas, Aethra was the mother of several important nymphs, including the Nysiades and the Hyades.
Lovers: Atlas
Children: Hyas, the Nysiades, the Hyades (all by Atlas)
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Chariclo
The most beloved of Athena’s attendants, the Oceanid Chariclo was rarely seen apart from her goddess. She was the mother of the famed seer Tiresias, who was struck blind by Athena in a moment of haste.
Lovers: Everes
Children: Tiresias (by Everes)
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Chariclo
The beloved wife of the mentor centaur Chiron, Chariclo was the foster mother of some of the Greek world’s most celebrated heroes.
Husband: Chiron
Children: Melanippe, Endeïs, Ocyrhoe, Carystus (all by Chiron)
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Clymene
Married to the Titan Iapetus, Clymene birthed some of the most significant warriors on both sides of the Titan war.
Husband: Iapetus
Children: Atlas, Prometheus, Menoetius, Epimetheus (all by Iapetus)
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Clymene
Clymene is married to Prometheus, long-imprisoned Titan general of Zeus, and has a son with him, Deucalion, who is married to Pyrrha, the first baby born on Gaia’s earth.
Husband: Prometheus
Children: Deucalion (by Prometheus)
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Eurynome
Alongside the Nereid Thetis, Eurynome found and rescued the baby Hephaestus after he was thrown from Olympus by Hera following his birth.
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Metis
The personification of wisdom, Metis is nonetheless tricked into being consumed by Zeus in his attempt to prevent a prophecy. Despite her position trapped inside him, Metis uses her wits and is still able to give birth to Athena, forcing Zeus to split his own head open to let her out.
Domains: Intelligence, strategy, creation through wisdom
Symbols: Owls
Lovers: Zeus
Children: Athena (by Zeus)
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Philyra
The Oceanid lover of the Titan king Kronos, Philyra gave him a son, Chiron, who would grow up to be loved and respected by the gods and heroes of the mortal world alike.
Lovers: Kronos
Children: Chiron (by Kronos)
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Pleione
Pleione and her Titan husband Atlas had seven children known as the Pleiades. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Husband: Atlas
Children: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Taygete (all by Atlas)
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Nereids
The Nereids are a group of fifty sea nymphs who are all the offspring of the sea god Nereus and his Oceanid wife Doris.
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Thetis
Thetis is the leader of the Nereids, though not the eldest. Alongside the Oceanid Eurynome, Thetis found and rescued the baby Hephaestus after he was thrown from Olympus by Hera following his birth.
Parents: Doris and Nereus
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Pleiades
A group of sisters, the children of Atlas and Pleiades. Mountain nymphs who roam the slopes of Mount Cyllene.
Alcyone
Alcyone, the fourth-born Pleiad, was associated with the sea and the calm of the weather, bringing halcyon days to the world. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Domain: Calmness, the sea
Siblings: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Celaeno, Asterope, Merope
Asterope
Asterope was the sixth-born Pleiad, living her early life on Mount Cyllene with her mother and sisters. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Siblings: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Merope
Husband: Oenomaus
Children: Hippodameia (by Oenomaus)
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Celaeno
Celaeno was the fifth-born Pleiad, living her early life on Mount Cyllene with her mother and sisters. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Siblings: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Asterope, Merope
Electra
Electra was the second-born Pleiad, living her early life on Mount Cyllene with her mother and sisters. She then relocated to the Samothracian Mount Saos, where she was entrusted to raise Aphrodite and Ares’ illegitimate daughter, Harmonia. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Siblings: Maia, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Asterope, Merope
Maia
Maia was the firstborn Pleiad, living her early life on Mount Cyllene with her mother and sisters. She was then seduced by Zeus and as a result, gave birth to her son, Hermes. Additionally, she was trained to hunt by Artemis, so she is often associated with this too. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Domains: The fields, hunting
Siblings: Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Asterope, Merope
Lovers: Zeus
Children: Hermes (by Zeus)
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Merope
Merope was the seventh-born and youngest Pleiad, living her early life on Mount Cyllene with her mother and sisters. She then married Sisyphus, the king of Corinth, and was tricked into helping him evade death and angering the gods. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Siblings: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Asterope
Husband: Sisyphus
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Taygete
Taygete was the third-born Pleiad, living her early life on Mount Cyllene with her mother and sisters. She then became a companion of Artemis, showing her love for animals just as she did. Eventually pursued by the hunter Orion, Pleione and her daughters were transformed into the Pleiades constellation to keep them safe.
Domain: Animals
Siblings: Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Celaeno, Asterope, Merope
Spirits and Creatures
Some spirits and even animals have key roles throughout mythology, covering a large range of purposes from lover to nurse.
Animals
Amalthea
A goat on Crete entrusted by Rhea to raise Zeus on Mount Ida away from Mount Othrys, along with the nymphs Melissa, Ida and Adrastea. While Amalthea fed Zeus her milk, Melissa fed him honey, keeping him healthy and strong until he could eat food.
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Lycius
Once the son of a rich man, Lycius and his family were turned into birds by the gods to escape the mad donkeys sent by Apollo as punishment for disobeying him. Now in bird form, Lycius serves Apollo as his eyes and ears, as well as becoming the first black raven when he delivered unpleasant news, having his wings singed black.
Parents: Clinis
Siblings: Harpasus
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Mythical Beings
Ampelos
The satyr Ampelos was barely ever seen without his godly lover, Dionysus, until his tragic and unfortunate demise; he became quite literally the roots of the wine Dionysus would create.
Lovers: Dionysus
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Eurytus
Eurytus was the aggressive leader of the centaurs of Mount Pelion and half brother of King Pirithous, born of a trick of Zeus, who invaded Pirithous’ wedding and attempted to take the women and boys captive but was killed in Theseus and Pirithous’ counterattack.
Parents: Nephele and Ixion
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Nessus
Nessus resided along the banks of the Evenus river and served travellers as a ferryman, offering them rides on his back across the strong currents of the river. His life was brought to an end when he began to violate Hercules’ new bride when he reached the shore with her before the hero.
Parents: Nephele and Ixion
Violated: Deianeira
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Pholus
Pholus was a centaur friend of Hercules who the hero visited on the way to his fourth labour. It was during this visit that many centaurs were slain, including Pholus himself.
Parents: Melia and Silenus
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Monsters
Carcinus
A giant crab who made the swamps and springs of Lerna its home, Carcinus was recruited by Hera to assist the Hydra during Hercules’ second labour. Though Hercules dispatched Carcinus fairly quickly and easily, Hera bestowed her thanks upon Carcinus for his efforts by raising him to the heavens as the constellation of Cancer.
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Cerberus
The infamous three-headed canine guardian of the underworld, Cerberus protects his king and queen as well as playing a role in several other lives too.
Siblings: Orthrus, the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, Phaea, the Chimera, the Sphinx
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The Ceryneian Hind
The Ceryneian Hind was one of five hinds belonging to Artemis; while the other four pulled the goddess’ chariot, the Ceryneian Hind was the feature of Hercules’ third labour. The Hind was known for terrorising the nearby lands of Arcadia with its fiery breath, and for its breathtaking beauty with golden antlers and bronze hooves.
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Cetus
A whale-serpent sea monster sent by Poseidon, the Cetus ravaged the waters and shores of Aethiopia until its meeting with Perseus and Andromeda.
Siblings: Ladon, Echidna, the Graeae, the Gorgons
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The Cretan Bull
Also known as the Marathonian Bull, the Cretan Bull ran amok over the island of Crete at the behest of Poseidon until it was wrestled into submission and later released by Hercules on his seventh labour, where it later rampaged through the city of Marathon and met its final match against Theseus.
Lovers: Pasiphaë
Children: the Minotaur
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Echidna
The woman with a snake body below her waist, Echidna was the monstrous child of Ceto and Phorcys and sister to the legendary Medusa. With her husband, Typhon, she became the mother of some of the most feared monsters in the ancient Greek world.
Siblings: Ladon, the Graeae, the Gorgons, Cetus
Husband: Typhon
Children: Cerberus, the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, Orthrus, Phaea, the Chimera, the Sphinx
The Erymanthian Boar
The Erymanthian Boar was a particularly feisty and violent pig found on the slopes of Mount Erymanthus and was the subject of Hercules’ fourth labour.
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Geryon
The giant Geryon had three heads and six arms and resided on the island of Erytheia with his faithful two-headed guard dog Orthrus and his herd of sunset stained cattle. Retrieving those cattle was Hercules’ tenth labour, when Geryon crossed the hero’s path.
Parents: Callirrhoe and Chrysaor
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The Gorgons
The Gorgons were three sisters strangely split; while Stheno and Euryale were immortal and had the same gold wings, fangs, scaly skin and claws, Medusa was a mortal who appeared as a beautiful human woman. She was transformed to look like her sisters by Athena, and her previously beautiful hair changed to the Gorgons’ signature writhing snakes. Medusa also developed her sisters’ ability to turn anyone who looked at her to stone, her most infamous of powers. Medusa’s head would be used to create several more victims even after her death, wielded by the goddess Athena and the hero Perseus. Her blood was also given to Asclepius and used to resurrect or poison those it was used upon.
Names: Stheno, Euryale, Medusa
Siblings: Ladon, Echidna, the Graeae, Cetus
Children: Pegasus, Chrysaor (born from Medusa by Poseidon)
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The Graeae
The Graeae were sea foam crones who inhabited a cave on the Plain of Cisthene. Together they shared one tooth and one eye, which they would share to see their few visitors.
Names: Deino, Enyo, Pemphredo
Siblings: Ladon, Echidna, the Gorgons, Cetus
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The Hydra
The Hydra was a terrifying, many-headed snake. Originally found by Hercules with nine heads in his second labour, it became quickly apparent that every time a head was cut off, two more grew back in its place.
Siblings: Cerberus, the Nemean Lion, Orthrus, Phaea, the Chimera, the Sphinx
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The Ismenian Dragon
The Ismenian Dragon lived in the Ismene Spring and hunted those who came to its clear, refreshing waters. The dragon’s final meal was comprised of Cadmus’ followers, prompting the hero himself to slay the spring’s resident monster.
Parents: Ares
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Ladon
A hundred-headed dragon son of Ceto and Phorcys, Ladon was charged with guarding the Garden of the Hesperides at the end of the world, as well as the treasures and nymphs who lived there.
Siblings: the Gorgons, Echidna, the Graeae, Cetus
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The Mares of Diomedes
The Mares of Diomedes were four vicious, man-eating, fire-breathing horses that belonged to King Diomedes. It was capturing these mares that was the subject of Hercules’ eighth labour.
Names: Podargos, Lampon, Xanthos, Deinos
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The Minotaur
The Minotaur, also known as Asterion, was one of the most feared monsters in the Ancient Greek world. Born as a result of Poseidon’s spite for King Minos, the Minotaur was kept imprisoned in a vast labyrinth under Knossos Palace, being fed the enemies of the king. In addition, Athens was duty-bound to send fourteen youths every nine years to serve as sacrifices to the mighty Minotaur’s rabid appetite and the king’s voracious need for vengeance.
Parents: Pasiphaë and the Cretan Bull
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The Nemean Lion
Though a largely normal lion, the Nemean Lion was the son of a primordial and was therefore largely invulnerable. No weapon could penetrate the lion’s hide, which meant that every hunting party ever sent to deal with the lion that menaced Nemea was bested, often being the prey themselves. The lion’s reign of terror ended when Hercules, in the first of his labours, found a way to kill the lion without his usual swords and spears.
Siblings: Cerberus, the Hydra, Orthrus, Phaea, the Chimera, the Sphinx
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Orthrus
The two-headed dog Orthrus served the giant Geryon as a guard dog for his herd of sunset stained cattle, living with him on the island of Erytheia.
Siblings: Cerberus, the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, Phaea, the Chimera, the Sphinx
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Phaea
Phaea the Crommyonian Sow was a pig who resided along the road from Corinth to Megara and was faced by Theseus, who ended her terrorising of the locals in the area by killing her.
Siblings: Cerberus, the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, Orthrus, the Chimera, the Sphinx
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Python
The murky, swampy son of Gaia, Python was the serpentine dragon who guarded the Oracle of Delphi during Gaia’s residence there. Slain when Apollo took over the oracle for himself, he was buried near the sacred cave where his essence could be absorbed into the ground and enrich the vapours inhaled by the oracle.
Parents: Gaia (by herself)
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The Stymphalian Birds
The warring birds of the Stymphalian marshes, these man-eating monsters were raised by Ares to be vicious and ruthless as pets for Artemis. The birds were almost invulnerable due to their bronze beaks and metallic feathers, which they could also fling at enemies as weapons.
Parents: Ornis and Stymphalus
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Old Gods
Titans
The Titans were the children of the primordials Gaia and Ouranos, the set of gods and goddesses between the elemental protogenoi and the Olympians.
Hyperion
The Titan god of light, Hyperion sets the sky blazing and cooling at different times of the day. Through his children, Eos brings the dawn, Helios the day and Selene the night.
Domains: Heavenly brilliance; the light of the sun, the moon, and the dawn
Siblings: Oceanus, Koios, Krios, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Wife: Theia
Children: Helios, Eos, Selene (all by Theia)
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Iapetus
The Titan god of mortality, Iapetus was seen as the arbiter on life and death, determining lifespans.
Domains: Mortality, time, the allocation of lifespans
Siblings: Oceanus, Koios, Krios, Hyperion, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Wife: Clymene
Children: Atlas, Prometheus, Menoetius, Epimetheus (all by Clymene)
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Koios
The Titan god of intelligence and the northern axis, Koios had a rapt intellect.
Domains: Intelligence, farsight, the North Pole
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Wife: Phoebe
Children: Asteria, Leto (both by Phoebe)
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Krios
The Titan god of constellations, Krios was often linked to the Aries constellation.
Domains: Constellations, the South Pole
Siblings: Oceanus, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Wife: Eurybia
Children: Astraeus, Pallas, Perses (all by Eurybia)
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Kronos
The king of the Titans, Kronos was in charge of the cycles of time as it passed over the world. He monitored his other domain, the harvest and abundance that came in harmony with a well-handled cycle. Thanks to a prophecy from his father, Kronos consumed all of his children until Rhea tricked him into saving their last child, Zeus.
Domains: The harvest, agriculture, the cyclical nature of time
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Wife: Rhea
Lovers: Philyra
Children:
By Rhea: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hera, Hestia
By Philyra: Chiron
By unknown mothers: Pluto
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Mnemosyne
The Titan goddess of memory, time and remembered knowledge, Mnemosyne would regale the gods with stories, tenderly keeping them preserved in her mind for the future generations to hear anew.
Domains: Memory, remembrance, preservation of knowledge, oracles, time
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
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Oceanus
The Titan god of freshwater, Oceanus was originally the god of the world-encircling River Oceanus, the source of the all of the world’s freshwater. Since then, Oceanus has become the god of the freshwater on the globe, ruling any nymphs and spirits in those fresh waters.
Domains: Freshwater, celestial bodies
Siblings: Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Wife: Tethys
Lovers: Theia
Children:
By Tethys: Asopus, Styx, the Oceanids, the Potomoi, Achelous
By Theia: the Cercopes
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Phoebe
The Titan goddess of intellect and prophecy, Phoebe truly was the forebear of her grandson Apollo, god of the most famous oracle in the Greek World, the Oracle of Delphi.
Domains: Intellect, prophecy, oracles
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Husband: Koios
Children: Asteria, Leto (both by Koios)
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Rhea
The queen of the Titans, Rhea was a loving mother and tried to be a loving wife. Seeing her children eaten before her, she hatched a plan to keep her remaining baby safe and spark a rebellion that would free her other children too.
Domains: Motherhood, fertility, childbirth, the earth
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Husband: Kronos
Children: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hera, Hestia (all by Kronos)
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Tethys
The Titan goddess of both freshwater and nursing, Tethys is a protector of the font of primal freshwater. She joins her husband, Oceanus, in ruling the freshwater in the world, as well as any nymphs and spirits in those fresh waters.
Domains: Freshwater, nursing mothers
Siblings: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Husband: Oceanus
Children: Asopus, Styx, the Oceanids, the Potomoi, Achelous (all by Oceanus)
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Theia
The Titan goddess of sight and light, Theia is intrinsically linked to her children’s domains of the dawn, the sun and the moon. From this, praise is also bestowed upon her for providing the brilliance and shine that comes from precious metals and gemstones.
Domains: Sight, vision, wisdom, prophecy, the sky’s light
Siblings: Oceanus, Koios, Krios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
Husband: Hyperion
Children: Helios, Eos, Selene (all by Hyperion)
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Themis
The Titan goddess of justice and order, Themis was close with Zeus and advised him in his role as king. During the Titan war, she abandoned her family and fought with Zeus, believing him to be the rightful victor.
Domains: Justice, law, customs, oracles, prophecy, divine rule
Symbols: Scales, blindfold, sword
Siblings: Oceanus, Koios, Krios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
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Primordials
Primordials, or protogenoi, were the first elemental gods at the beginning of the universe. Not only gods, but forces and elements personified, they set the world into motion.
Ananke
Ananke, primordial force of necessity, drives the world and its inevitabilities through fate and the circumstances it weaves.
Domains: Inevitability, necessity, compulsion, fate
Symbols: Spindle
Husband: Chronos
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Aether
Aether, primordial entity of light, exists in the space between Ouranos’ solid sky and the air of Gaia’s earth, filling that space with his ethereal mists.
Domains: Light, the upper atmosphere in which the gods dwell
Siblings: Hemera, Hypnos, Thanatos, Charon, Eleos
Wife: Hemera
Children: Thalassa (by Hemera)
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Chronos
Chronos, the primordial essence of time, is a never-ceasing being that travels in his cyclical nature, causing the constant flow of linear time.
Domains: Time
Symbols: Hourglass, scythe
Wife: Ananke
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Erebus
Erebus, primordial entity of darkness, winds himself around Hades, forcing souls to pass through him on their way to the underworld.
Domains: Darkness, shadow
Symbols: Crows
Wife: Nyx
Children: Aether, Hemera, Thanatos, Hypnos, Charon, Eleos, Geras, Moros, Nemesis, Apate, Oizys, Philotes (by Nyx)
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Gaia
First appearing in the universe as Mud, Gaia quickly solidified and became the earth. Known as Mother Earth or Mother Nature, Gaia supports motherhood and childbirth, as well as the nurturing of the animals, harvests and mortals on her land.
Domains: The earth, land, living things, motherhood, fertility, childbirth
Symbols: Fruit, grain
Husband: Ouranos
Lovers: Hydros, Pontus, Tartarus, Poseidon
Children:
By herself: Pontus, Ouranos, the Gigantes, Python, Cecrops
By Ouranos: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
By Ouranos’ blood: The Erinyes, the Gigantes, the Meliae
By Pontus: Nereus, Eurybia, Phorcys, Ceto, Thaumas
By Tartarus: Typhon
By Poseidon: Antaeus
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Hemera
Hemera was the primordial entity of light, coupled with her husband Aether. She brought the daylight to the world during the day, travelling leisurely across it with the sun.
Domains: The day, light, transition from day to night
Siblings: Aether, Hypnos, Thanatos, Charon, Eleos
Husband: Aether
Children: Thalassa (by Aether)
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Hydros
One of the very first roiling elements in the universe, Hydros was the primordial source of all water. He then drew the water from Mud, creating Gaia, the earth itself, where he could dwell in her chasms.
Domains: Water
Wife: Thesis
Lovers: Gaia
Children: Chronos, Ananke (by Gaia)
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Khaos
Before Gaia, before Thesis and before Phanes, there was only Khaos, a beingless void of potential. While Khaos didn’t have children, it did have those who emerged from it.
Emergents: Phanes, Thesis, Hydros, Gaia, Nyx, Tartarus, Erebus
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Nyx
Nyx, the personification of the night, was the mother of many and varied beings, from the goddess of discord to the ferryman of the dead to the heavenly air breathed by the gods. Nyx is felt everywhere, even during the day, either in her own night wrapping the earth in her shawls or through her many children.
Domains: The night, prophecy, the underworld
Symbols: Owls, the moon, stars, mist
Husband: Erebus
Children:
By herself: Eris, the Oneiroi, the Keres, Momus
By Erebus: Aether, Hemera, Thanatos, Hypnos, Charon, Eleos, Geras, Moros, Nemesis, Apate, Oizys, Philotes (by Erebus)
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Ouranos
Ouranos was born from Gaia and quickly became her husband. When he angered Gaia by imprisoning their sons within her, she became instrumental in his downfall; when his son, Kronos, cut off his genitalia and threw it into the sea, the blood that fell became new children, adding to his already prolific family.
Domains: The sky, the heavens, the air
Wife: Gaia
Children:
By Gaia: Oceanus, Krios, Koios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, Kronos, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes
By Gaia and Ouranos’ blood: The Erinyes, the Gigantes, the Meliae
By himself: Aphrodite
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Phanes
Life itself, Phanes was the first primordial; they ushered the others out, helping Khaos to push new elements into being.
Domain: Life
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Pontus
The embodiment of the sea itself, Pontus personified the rages and ebbs of the oceans. With Gaia he produced several children, though with his sea foam wife, Thalassa, Pontus fathered the fish and sea creatures inhabiting the sea.
Domains: The sea, sea creatures
Symbols: Tridents, flowing robes
Wife: Thalassa
Lovers: Gaia
Children: Nereus, Eurybia, Phorcys, Ceto, Thaumas (all by Gaia)
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Tartarus
The deepest, darkest, most chaotic parts of the underworld, Tartarus plays host to the most blackened, sinning souls of the dead, acting as both their prison and their torment chambers.
Domains: The abyss, absence of matter
Lovers: Gaia
Children: Typhon (by Gaia)
Notable Prisoners: The Titans, Sisyphus, Tityos
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Thesis
One of the most elusive goddesses, Thesis is the primordial force of creation, helping Phanes in ushering forward the creation of the elemental beginnings of the universe.
Domains: Creation
Husband: Hydros
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