greek mythology

[sweetnpetite]

It doesn't bother me at all that this topic has veered off from "story ideas" in fact, I quite enjoy the debate about the various mythologies, this is wonderfully fascinating and educational.

That said, I bet it would make a great story (erotic or otherwise) to explore these differences of perspective deeper. For instance, a story that starts with the assumption that the norse gods are all about honor and so forth =the good guys= and then an encounter with an outsider challenges this assumption. (some star crossed love maybe?) Since we always think that we are on the side of good until someone else disagrees, there are many variations of this idea, and each would create a new and interesting story

You could literally do this with any culture or religion that ever was. I think the best take would be in the end if the characters (at least one) realized that although we like to view the world (and everyone in it) in terms of good and evil (with us being good and our so-called-enimies always being evil) we are really all just imperfect human beings with good and bad traits making good and bad choices and acting sometimes selfishly and sometimes ultruisticly, sometimes hurting and sometimes helping.

Which is quite true and the way that I view the world. And what I was going to say about the vikings. Sometimes the good or the bad outweighs the other (lets say, Hitler and Thomas Jeferson) but it is never the entirety of any person. Jeferson had his faults and I'm certain that Hitler had positive qualities as well. (Lets say charisma and leadership though sadly misdirected)

But I didn't intend to derail the conversation entirely, so back to mythology. I'll just restate the story idea of what I wrote and leave you all with that:

I bet it would make a great story (erotic or otherwise) to explore these differences of perspective deeper. For instance, a story that starts with the assumption that the norse gods are all about honor and so forth =the good guys= and then an encounter with an outsider challenges this assumption. (some star crossed love maybe?) Since we always think that we are on the side of good until someone else disagrees, there are many variations of this idea, and each would create a new and interesting story

Anyone care to expand on the possiblilies?

Ah, AA, how could I let you down?! I couldn't! So, I'll dispute....

Norse honour had sod-all to do with romantic or Bushido-like concepts - I call as my witness the Icelandic Saga of the Confederates, which is a long story about greedy bastards bribing each other and perverting justice for financial gain - and "honor" in the Sagas has more to do with gaining respect through victory than standing up for what is right. The heroes were also often morally bankrupt - e.g. the Norwegian Arrow-Odd - though there are also historical/semi-historical heroes (e.g. the more historical Thorstein and Thorarin from the Thorstein Staff-Struck story) who are genuinely heroic and honourable as we'd understand it.

Happy with that?

Vaguely back onto topic -

The Norse can't be written off as uncivilised just because they didn't build marble monuments like the Classical tyrants, and it isn't fair to reduce their achievements to going Viking (especially since the Slavs, Saxons, Picts and everyone else in N/W/Central Europe did the same thing, just not as well!) The Icelanders, for example gave us the Thing and the Kvidur - which were probably closer to a democratic assembly or a reasonable jury than the Athenians ever managed, and better than Europe would see for hundreds of years thereafter.

And their mythology gives LOADS of ideas of erotic fiction - from the romantic (I'm thinking: virgin couple elope/sail off together only to drift into the Sea of Worms, and realising that they'll die they throw themselves into ech others' arms) to the outright perverse (I think it's Eirik the Red's Saga that has the luscivious zombie-woman who rises from the dead and tries to molest a guest at her oild farm)....

 

[sweetnpetite]

Disney's "Hercules"...

Am I the only one who cringes when I hear the muses sing "And that's the Gospel Truth?"

I do enjoy the music thoough. Especially "I won't say I'm in Love"
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if every Disney cartoon came with a disclaimer!!!!!!!!

WARNING: THIS MOVIE IS JUST FOR FUN. IT BEARS LITTLE OR NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE ACTUAL MYTHOLOGY, FOLKLORE, OR FAIRYTAILS FROM WHICH IT WAS INSPIRED. IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES AND CHARACTERS, WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. DESPITE INTERNET REPORTS TO THE CONTRARY, LIBRARIES STILL EXIST IN NEARLY EVERY TOWN AND CITY.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Re: Beardsley

now THERE is a brush with fame!

Was that your grandfather in the Beadsley illustration (attachment) by any chance??? heehee!

The one to the right is my boyfriend, the other guy is his grandfather.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Though please understand, Beardsley drew that pic after my Hubby had been swimming in ice cold water...

 

[Guest]

shrinkage

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Honest to God, I swear it's the absolute truth! My Hubby DOES look like that! Only slightly darker...



















Why, no, I'm not Christian, how did you know?

 

[Sabledrake]

Bringing this thread back to the top, because my Greek myth story, "Pasiphae," is now posted!
http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=98590

Fair warning, it's about the wife of Minos and the mythic white bull, conception of the Minotaur, and all that

Sabledrake

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Bestiality? And that was accepted? I thought such things got shipped into Extreme straight away? Ah, well, I know one of my enemies will be thrilled...

 

[Akito01]

Bringing this thread back to the top, because my Greek myth story, "Pasiphae," is now posted!
http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=98590

Fair warning, it's about the wife of Minos and the mythic white bull, conception of the Minotaur, and all that

Sabledrake

Completely brilliant story. Gave it a Five. My favourite bit had less to do with the bull, than the exchange of the servant girl. I actually thought it all played out really well. Exactly the kind of erotica that I enjoy reading, and on rare occasion, writing.

 

[lustforlife74]

Am I the only one who cringes when I hear the muses sing "And that's the Gospel Truth?"

I do enjoy the music thoough. Especially "I won't say I'm in Love"
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if every Disney cartoon came with a disclaimer!!!!!!!!

WARNING: THIS MOVIE IS JUST FOR FUN. IT BEARS LITTLE OR NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE ACTUAL MYTHOLOGY, FOLKLORE, OR FAIRYTAILS FROM WHICH IT WAS INSPIRED. IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES AND CHARACTERS, WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. DESPITE INTERNET REPORTS TO THE CONTRARY, LIBRARIES STILL EXIST IN NEARLY EVERY TOWN AND CITY. QUOTE]

That sounds horrible. Why would the muses sing gospel? Have you ever seen Sirens?

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Padfoot... *sigh*

 

[Sabledrake]

Re: the Pasiphae story. I knew when I wrote it that I'd be risking the Extreme category. But maybe since it's vague whether the bull is a real bull or a god-in-disguise bull, it got by. Or because it's from a myth. Dunno. Either way, I'm glad to see it posted and even more glad by the votes and feedback!

Akito > thank you!

Sabledrake

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I've created a little test on Greek mythology, called Which Greek Goddess Are You. You can find a link to it in the thread "Try this test" in AH. I'm working on a similar test for gods too, it will up shortly.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Padfoot... *sigh*

So have you finished the new book yet?

ps. don't give anything away, I'm just starting on it.

 

[Guest]

Pasiphae/Sabledrake

 

[Svenskaflicka]

So have you finished the new book yet?

ps. don't give anything away, I'm just starting on it.

I'm just about to start reading it for the third time... OK, I won't tell you who dies, except for that I wish JKR hadn't killed this person! It's just so... oooooooooohh!!!

 

[Guest]

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Firenze rocks!

Hmmm... if I wrote a story about Firenze and Hermione, would that be labelled Celebrity, Bestiality, or Fantasy?

 

[Guest]

 

[Sabledrake]

Rhinoguy > that's what I'm planning, too. At the end of "Pasiphae," I announced that the sequel ("Ariadne") will soon be on the way

Sabledrake

 

[Guest]

difference

 

[Guest]

HOWEVER

 

[destinie21]

okay , here goes below I'm going to type a breif list and synopsis of greek mythological characters that would and in some cases have produced great stories (IMHO) I especially love the Story of Zeus and Io also the Story of Hades and Persephone(which would make a great non consent piece).



Apollon ah PAHL lon
also known as Apollo or Phoibos Apollon
The immortal son of Zeus and Leto
The name usually appears in the Greek texts as Apollon, or Phoibos Apollon, Phoibos meaning ’shining’ or ’bright’. Leto traveled far and wide to find the suitable birthplace for Apollon. She finally came to the rocky island of Delos and knew that this would be the birthplace of her glorious son. Delos made Leto swear a great oath on the river Styx that her new son, Phoibos, would not abandon his birthplace and that he would always keep his temple on the humble island. Leto agreed, Apollon was soon to be born on Delos.
After nine days and nights of travail, Phoibos was born with Rhea, Dione, Themis, Ichnaian and Aphrodite attending. He did not nurse at his mothers breast, instead, he was given nectar and ambrosia. He burst from the crib and announced his intentions: to play the lyre and carry the curved bow. Known as the twin of Artemis and also referred to as the Striker from Afar.(Hymn to Apollon). The seventh day of each month is holy to Apollon. (The Works and Days)


Ares AIR eez
God of War
The son of Zeus and Hera, Ares embodied, not just the act, but also the spirit of War.
Disliked by most Olympians but loved by Aphrodite, Ares was a god of action and determination. When he was fighting on the side of the Trojans he was wounded by Pallas Athene. She donned the helm of Death and, after deflecting his spear, hurled a bolder, knocking Ares senseless. He had to be assisted from the field of battle by Aphrodite. When Ares retreated to Mount Olympus his father, Zeus, said (before commanding Paieon to heal his wounded son) "To me you are most hateful of all gods who hold Olympos", (The Iliad 5.889).
Ares was sometimes accompanied into battle by his sister, Eris (Goddess of Discord) and Hades (Lord of the Dead). Ares was the father of Deimos (Fear) and Phobos (Terror), among others. His son Kyknos was killed by Herakles (Theogony 421) but Ares was unable to avenge the death because Zeus would not permit his least favorite son, Ares, to harm Herakles, his favorite son. Although hated and feared, Ares was honored by all great warriors, even Herakles.
Ares rode into battle on the side of the Trojans with his horses, Flame and Terror, pulling his war chariot. He swooped down to help Aphrodite defend her son Aineias (The Iliad 5.355) and saved him from sure death at the hands of the Achaians. While Ares protected Aineias with his shield, Aphrodite made her escape to Mount Olympus to tend her wounds.



Artemis AHR tuh mihs
The Virgin Goddess of the Moon, twin sister of Apollo.
The children of Zeus and Leto, she and Apollo were born on the Island of Delos. Both are associated with the bow. Apollo is said to use the curved bow and Artemis uses the silver bow. She is one of only three who are immune to the enchantments of Aphrodite (the other two are Hestia and Athene).
She is a friend to mortals, and dances through the countryside in her silver sandals giving her divine protection to the wild beasts, particularly the very young. She rides her silver chariot across the sky and shoots her arrows of silver Moonlight to the earth below.
She, like the other Olympians, has favorites among the mortals but she could not protect the fine huntsman, Skamandros, from the spear of Menelaos at the battle for Troy.
Unlike her brother Apollo, Artemis is not skilled in warcraft but she can punish and kill as the will of Zeus dictates. In The Iliad (24.603), her mother, Leto, was insulted by a woman named Niobe. Niobe boasted that she had twelve children and Leto only had two. As punishment, Apollo killed Niobe’s six sons and Artemis killed her six daughters.
In The Odyssey (15.403), Odysseus was told the story of a wonderful island, Syria, where hunger and grim old age have no dominion. When the Fates determined that the noble inhabitants of this island were at the end of their lives, Artemis and Apollo would swoop down and painlessly kill them with their silver bows.


Athene uh THEE nee
Goddess of Wisdom
There is always a degree of uncertainty when we try to be specific as to the names and origins of the Greek gods. This is especially true of Athene. She is called Athene in The Iliad but after 500 B.C.E. she is referred to as Athena. Her various other names are of uncertain meaning: Pallas Athene (the ’young woman’ Athene?), Tritogeneia (?) and Glaukopis (blue eyed?) are a few examples.
Her mother, Metis, was the first wife of Zeus and her name (Metis) might mean ’wisdom’. If this is true, then it would be more proper to call Athene ’The Daughter of Wisdom’ instead of ’The Goddess of Wisdom’.
When Zeus saw that Metis was pregnant, he was afraid that the child, if allowed to live, would be his doom. He swallowed Metis to prevent the birth. It didn’t work. Athene sprang, fully armed and armored, from the head of Zeus but Metis was never seen again.
Athene is the virgin goddess of intellect and invention. She is one of only three who can resist the charms and spells of Aphrodite. Hestia and Artemis are the other two.
At the battle of Troy Pallas Athene, descended Olympus and strode between the two armies, only to inspire the Trojan, Pandaros, to a supreme act of cowardice. Pandaros, against all oaths, loosed the arrow that broke the fragile peace. The arrow injured Menelaos and the bloody war was resumed to the delight and horror of the Olympians.
To avenge Aphrodite’s meddling, Athene gave Diomedes the ability to see the immortals on the battlefield and advised him to avoid them, but she suggested that if he sees Aphrodite, to attack her (The Iliad 5.129). Diomedes obeyed, and Aphrodite was the first immortal to be wounded on that bloody day (ibid., 5.337).
Athene is called the grim goddess because the snaky head of The Gorgon, Medusa is on her aegis, but Athene’s gift of the olive tree made her ’grimness’ tolerable. The city, Athens, was named in her honor.


Cheiron KY ron
The most righteous of the Centaurs
The son of Philyra and Kronos, noted to be of high moral and intellectual abilities, Cheiron was the powerful master of many arts and sciences. His death was a tragic loss to mortals and immortals alike. He was the tutor of Jason, Herakles and other heros.
When Herakles was pursuing the Erymanthian Boar, he took hospitality from the centaur Pholos. When the other centaurs gathered around, a fight ensued and Herakles injured Cheiron. To escape the pain of Herakles’ Hydra-poisoned arrow, Cheiron surrendered his immortality and died. The needless death of his teacher and friend was another sad burden that Herakles’ had to bear.


Circe KIR kee
The Dread Goddess
Circe or (Kirke) is the daughter of Helios (The Sun) and Perseis (the daughter of Okeanos).
On her island... in her palace... Circe waits for lost sailors to come wandering to her door as supplicants. Normally, a traveler is treated as a special guest but with Circe, travelers are drugged and then served as dinner

Dawn or Eos
Eos, (Erigeneia) the Dawn
The beautiful goddess of the dawn rides her fire chariot across the sky turning it’s colors from night to day for her brother Helios. Aphrodite tells the story of Eos and her abducted lover Tithonos. When Eos went to Zeus to request immortality for her mortal lover, Zeus nodded and made it so... however, Eos did not ask for perpetual youth for Tithonos. As the years passed, he aged and, finally, lost all strength in his limbs. Eos, with love and pity, put him in a private room and shut the shining doors. We can only assume that he is still there though some say he turned into a cicada and chirps for all time.



Demeter duh MEE tur
Goddess of the Harvest
The Titans, Kronos and Rhea, had six children: Demeter, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia and Zeus.
Demeter is the fair haired earth goddess who blesses all phases of the harvest. She walks the furrowed fields dressed in green and displays her moods with feast and famine.
Demeter and the Abduction of Persephone
The story of the adduction of Persephone is best told in the Hymn to Demeter. The story begins in the middle, i.e., Persephone is kidnapped as part of a secret agreement between Zeus and Hades. Although Demeter is one of the six Olympians and brother to Zeus and Hades, she was not told of the fate of her beloved daughter until it was (almost) too late.
While at play with the beautiful daughters of Okeanos, Persephone was picking flowers... but these weren’t earthly flowers... these flowers were the work of Zeus and put there for "a girl with a flower’s beauty". The flowers were there to guide Persephone to The Trap. A beautiful, divine trap... the trigger for the trap was an irresistible flower with one hundred stems of fragrant blossoms. When Persephone reached out with both hands to pluck the flower the earth opened at her feet. Hades roared forth in his golden chariot and seized her before the alarm could be raised.
No mortal on the earth heard Persephone’s pleas for help before she vanished into The Underworld. Of the immortals, only two heard the faint cries of the abducted girl: Hekate and Helios.
Demeter began searching in vain for her daughter. Her sorrow was so great that she denied herself all food, drink, and comfort for nine days. When Dawn arrived on the tenth day, Hekate came to Demeter and told her that she had heard a voice but had not seen the abduction of poor Persephone. The two goddesses went to Helios because he sees all mortal and immortal actions. Helios, indeed knew the plot and the players. He told Demeter that the blame was that of Zeus, Zeus and Hades. He further advised her to accept the situation because Hades was Lord of Many and "not an unseemly bridegroom". Demeter did not like his advice and choose a long, brooding path to regain her precious daughter.
In a strange act of revenge, Demeter, disguised as a mature woman, became the servant and nanny for the infant son of Keleos, and his wife Metaneira. The boy, Demophoon, was raised to be noble and pure but Demeter was surely ’stealing’ the boys affection and loyalty away from his parents (just as her daughter had been stolen from her). But before Demeter (still in disguise) could make Demophoon immortal, Metaneira recognized Demeter for the goddess she was and stopped the ceremony.
Keleos, and the other nobles were glad to oblige when Demeter demanded that a temple be built in her honor. After it was completed, she retreated into the temple and her brooding took on a deadly turn. The following year, no seed sprouted. No barley grew in the plowed fields. The mortals were doomed to famine and eventual destruction if Demeter did not lift her curse.
Zeus sent Iris to dissuade Demeter from her destructive course but Demeter was unmoved. In turn, all the immortals came to Demeter’s temple and begged the blond goddess to change her mind and give life back to the earth. She refused them all.
Zeus now sent Hermes to the underworld to speak with Hades and Persephone. Hermes explained the situation and suggested, with gentle words, that Persephone be returned to her mother. Hades was filled with compassion but he was also intent on keeping his bride. He offered Persephone a honey-sweet pomegranate seed as she departed. By tasting the seed she became eternally bound to Hades and The Underworld.
Demeter was joyous when she saw her darling Persephone again but her joy was tempered with the fact that Hades had tricked the innocent Persephone and she must eventually return to him.
Now, in an effort to save the earth and appease his sister, Zeus sent Rhea, mother of the Olympians, and offered Demeter honors if she would only return to Olympos and lift the curse that was killing the earth. Zeus promised that Persephone could spend two thirds of the year with her mother but the remaining third of the year would be spent with her husband, Hades.
Demeter was moved by her mother’s plea. The earth began to swiftly recover it’s vitality and became fertile again. Demeter and Persephone ascended to Olympos and it is said that those on earth whom they gladly love are thrice blessed. It’s interesting to note that the year was divided onto thirds, just as the three brothers, Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, divided creation into thirds after the overthrow of Kronos.
When Persephone is with Hades the earth is wracked by the sorrow of her mother. But, when Persephone returns from The Underworld to walk the earth again, Demeter pours forth the blessings of Spring to welcome her beloved daughter home.
Her age old feud with her brother, Poseidon, might serve to explain why the edge of the sea is barren of crops. The origin of this feud is vague.
(sorry that one got a bit long)

Dione di OH nee
Dione is one of the more mysterious Greek goddesses. Some believe that she is the personification of a more ancient Mother Goddess (Goddess of the Oak, from Asia Minor) and that the Greeks simply adopted her into their pantheon.
If that’s not vague enough, Dione is also said to be the feminine name of Zeus. When Aphrodite greets Dione as ‘mother’ we can only guess at what that actually means.


Erida er E da
The Goddess Hate
The wearisome goddess, Erida, or Hate, can best be invoked by reading the opening lines of Book 11 of The Iliad. After Dawn sheds her gentle light on mortals and immortals alike, Zeus sends Hate to the encampment of the Achaians. She stands on the centermost of the beached vessels and SCREAMS!!! The hearts of the soldiers are hardened as they awaken. They no longer remember their fathers or their wives and children. They rise from their beds with Hate ringing in their ears. In their hearts, they long for the sweetness of battle. Only blood will dispel the sanguine thrust of Hate.
Hate entered into the battle, small at first, but as she strode forward, she grew and grew, until her head reached the heavens. She cast down bitterness and vile hatred on both armies as she moved through the fighting. Sister and companion of the brutal war god, Ares, her wrath is unyielding


Erinyes ee RIHN ih eez
The Punisher of the Unfaithful
Originally called Erinys... later called, Erinyes. Referred to as, "the mist-walking..." and, with fear and respect, "the kindly one". She would harass and injure her prey but not kill them. Homer refers to her in the singular (The Odyssey, 15.234) but, much later (circa 450 B.C.E.), Euripides used the number ’three’ and eventually ’they’ assumed the names: Tisiphone, Megaera and Alecto. Their brass wings made escape impossible, their ripping claws made their torment relentless and horrible.


Eris AIR ihss
Goddess of Discord
Sister of Ares, daughter of Zeus and Hera, the hand of Eris can be seen in every quarrel, feud and disagreement. Her eternal and unforgiving rage was the cause of fear and respect on Olympus, though despised by the Olympians they dared not confront her.
She rode into battle with her brother and companion, Aries, but she was more generally known for the less deadly forms of conflict; political strife, personal contention, rivalry and wrangling.


Eros EE rohs (he is the roman god cupid)
Archer of Love
In Theogony (116), Eros is listed as one of the primal gods of the generation after Khaos, the originator. He is the most handsome of the immortals and can break the will of the wisest god or the strongest mortal when scratched by one of his arrows.
With arrows of gold and lead, he would wound the hearts of mortals and Olympians alike. The golden arrows inspired love and the lead arrows caused distaste. In Theogony (120), it’s said emphatically that ’Eros is love’. The negative aspect, with the lead arrows, was added at a later date.
The Trojan War began when the daughter of Zeus, Helen, was smitten by Eros’ arrow. In the blind madness of love, she abandoned her husband, took her bridal dowry and sailed off to Troy with her lover, Alexandros. I assume that Eros’s enchantment can wear off because after the sack of Troy we find Helen at home with her rightful husband Menelaos, very much in love. She blamed her folly on Zeus, who, we can assume, now commands Eros.


Eurynome yu RIN ome
Mother of the Graces
There are two goddesses known as Eurynome: One is an ancient moon goddess that gave birth to the earth and stars. Sorry, I have no details on her at the moment. The other, more recent, Eurynome, is one of the many daughters of Ocean. She and Zeus mated to produce the beautiful and love dispelling Graces: Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia


The Fates
The Daughters of Necessity
The Goddess of Necessity, Themis, brought forth three lovely daughters, known as The Fates. All living things must eventually submit to these divine daughters of Zeus and Themis. Their names are: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos.
Life is woven by Clotho, measured by Lachesis and finally, in a very literal sense, the thread of life is cut by Atropos. They laugh at our feeble attempts to cheat them because they always prevail.


Hades HAY deez
King of the Underworld
Hades is one of the six Olympians. He and his brothers divided creation into thirds and each took a portion for their own. Hades chose, as his dominion, The Underworld.
When mortals kneel before the cold hearted Hades, he metes out somber justice and no one, once there, can ever leave his domain (except, of course, Herakles and Odysseus).
The story of the abduction of Persephone is a touching explanation for the harshness of Winter and the sweetness of Spring. Hades was so overwhelmed by Persephone’s sweet charms that, instead of wooing her, he abducted her against her will and dragged her to The Underworld.
He and Zeus had plotted to abduct the young girl away in secret but their plans were foiled when Helios saw the evil act and told Demeter the fate of her missing child. Persephone was helpless against the wiles of Zeus and remained the unwilling captive of Hades. After several years Demeter found a way to force Zeus’ hand and free her daughter.
Demeter sat in her new temple at Eleusis and cursed the earth with famine. Seeds would not grow. Plowed fields remained empty. Zeus and the other immortals were worried that this would be the end of mortal life on earth and thus, their worshipers would die. One by one, the immortals begged her to forgive and forget but Demeter was unmoved.
Zeus sent Hermes to speak gentle words to Hades and persuade him to let Persephone return to her brooding mother. Hades was sympathetic but he was also intent on keeping his bride. He tricked Persephone into eating a pomegranate seed and by doing so she was forever bound to him. Persephone returned to the world of light to see her mother but her stay was only temporary.
Demeter was joyous when Persephone came to her temple and roused herslf from her destructive brooding. But her joy was tempered by the trickery of Hades and the honey-sweet pomegranate seed. The only one who could change Demeter’s heart was her mother. After pleas from Rhea, Demeter lifted her curse and allowed the earth to blossom and be fruitful again.
It was decreed by Zeus that Persephone would spend two thirds of the year with her mother and the remaining third with her husband, Hades. Each year when Persephone returns from the underworld, Demeter showers the earth with gentle rain and sweet breezes. Each time Persephone returns to Hades, Demeter hardens her heart and the earth is wracked with bitter cold and harsh winds.

Helios HE le ohs
The Sun
he is the sun and sees everything his light touches


Hera HEE ruh
The Most Beautiful Goddess
One of the six Olympians, the daughter of Kronos and Rheia, Hera is the beautiful and powerful wife of Zeus.
She is the most beautiful of the immortals, even more beautiful than Aphrodite. Her beauty is renewed each spring as she magically washes away the ware and worry of her immortal lifestyle. Her name appears in many stories and she is often regarded as petty and unforgiving.

Hestia HE est tuh
The Goddess of Home and Hearth
Hestia is the eldest sister of Zeus but she chose to spend her time, not on Olympus, but on earth with the mortals. She has never wed but she protects orphans and missing children. She is the goddess of humble domestic joy. She is also one of only three who are immune to the spells of Aphrodite, the other two are Athene and Artemis.


Kalypso ka LIP so
The Queenly Nymph
In The Odyssey by Homer, Kalypso is said to be the daughter of Atlas. Yet Kalypso is also said to be the daughter of Tethys, who brought forth a separate race of Okeanids. Kalypso is one of Tethys’ three thousand daughters... Styx, Metis and Eurynome are her sisters, just to name a few. (Theogony, 360)
The nymph Kalypso was in love with Odysseus and caused him much sadness. After his ship was smashed and all his shipmates drowned, Odysseus was washed ashore on Kalypso’s island, Ogygia. She loved Odysseus and wanted to keep him as her immortal husband but Odysseus was determined to return to his home. She tried to charm him but, as the years passed, poor Odysseus still wept for his lonely wife and his son.


Muses MUZE
Daughters of Wit and Charm
The Muses or Mousai are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (sister of Hyperion and Rheia). They are often referred to as Heliconian and Pierian, to mark the seats of their earliest worship (Pieria, near Olympos and Mount Helicon in Boeotia).
They are listed by name (Theogony 77) but the specific attributes of each goddess were added by later poets:
· Kleio, history
· Euterpe, flute playing
· Thaleia, comedy
· Melpomene, tragedy
· Terpsichore, dance
· Erato, love poems
· Polymnia, sacred music
· Ourania, astrology
· Kalliope, epic poetry (she holds the highest rank of the Muses)


Persephone pur SEF oh ne
The Wife of Hades
The beautiful daughter of Demeter and Zeus, Persephone is the focus of the story resulting in the division of the seasons, giving us the sweetness of Spring and the bitterness of Winter. Hades did not woo the beautiful Persephone, he abducted her and took her to his underground kingdom. After much protest, Persephone came to love the cold blooded king of the underworld .


Poseidon poh SY duhn
God of the Sea
Son of Kronos and Rheia, brother of Zeus, Ares, Hestia, Demeter and Hera, Poseidon is one of the six original Olympians. His mission is to give voice to the earth. Poseidon was commonly called the earth shaker and the earth encircler in The Iliad and The Odyssey of Homer. He pounds and shakes the earth and sea with his wrath and pleasure and answers to no one, except Zeus.
His kingdom is the vast sea which he has populated with creatures of his own design. He rides the waves in a chariot drawn by dolphins but, curiously enough, his most honored creation is the horse.
One story tells of some very clever mortals who devised a competition between the divine Athene, daughter of Zeus, and Poseidon, brother of Zeus. The contest would be for the two immortals to devise cunning gifts for the mortals, they, in turn, promised to show eternal gratitude to the victor. Poseidon devised the horse and Athene created the olive tree. Athens was named after the contest winner but Poseidon’s gift of the horse literally change the shape of the ancient Greek world.


Prometheus pro ME thee us
The Rebel
Prometheus was a not a fool, but why else would he rebel against Zeus? He tried to trick Zeus (who knows all and sees all) with a false sacrifice. How foolish can you get? Prometheus also stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the primitive mortals on the earth. Zeus did not punish Prometheus alone, he punished the entire world for the effrontery of this rebel god.
Prometheus was the son of Iapetos and Klymene. His name means ’Forethought’.
(there is a long an involved story to go with this that brings about the legendary Pandora pm me if you are interested)


and finally here’s a little story involving Zeus the alpha god but it is centered mostly around his most beautiful wife Hera and his mistress Io

The story of Zeus and Io is the sad story of infidelity and revenge. Zeus changed his beautiful lover, Io, into a black and white heifer to hide her from Hera. Hera saw through the ruse and sent Argos Panoptes (all seeing) to keep watch on Io and keep Zeus away. Hermes, doing the will of Zeus, killed Argos and thus received the name Argeiphontes (the murderer of Argos). Hera would not be deterred from her vengeance. She sent a gad fly to torment and constantly prod the poor cow-woman so that she might never rest or find comfort. Finally, Io was driven to the ends of the earth (i.e. Egypt) where she found peace. The eyes of Argos can still be seen in the tail of the peacock.


hopefully this is quite enough and I’ve prattled on for ages now forgive the length of my post . As you can see Greek Mythology is of great interest to me. As I stated before This is just a partial list and the stories have been edited to bareness . enjoy

 

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YIKES!

 

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