The gods of ancient Greece a list and description of what the sons of Zeus were. Zeus (Dius), supreme god of the ancient Greeks
In ancient Greece, people were pagans and believed in the existence of a large number of gods and their assistants. So, the main god of the ancient pantheon was Zeus, nicknamed the Thunderer. He was credited with controlling thunder, lightning and the entire sky.
Zeus and the other 12 major gods lived on top of Mount Olympus, which is why they were also called "Olympians". Many ancient Greek kings and military commanders claimed that they were descendants of the god Zeus. This god was fair and always sought to keep the balance of things in the world. In addition, Zeus controlled the weather and created it depending on his mood. When he was in high spirits, he blessed the world with good weather. In a bad spirit, he arranged rains, winds, lightning and could even cause some kind of climatic disaster.
Zeus was the supreme god of all Greeks. In Roman culture, he received the name Jupiter. His symbols were an eagle, an oak, a royal scepter, and also a thunder. He was originally the god of the sky and heavenly powers. People in those days believed that Zeus was the only god who was engaged in the well-being of the entire universe constantly throughout the day. Later, the Greeks began to associate Zeus with justice. He severely punished evil people and ill-wishers and rewarded people who do good.
Zeus was the sixth child born to the titans Kronos and Rhea. Since his father Kron at one time was afraid that one of his own children would take away his power, he simply swallowed them immediately after birth. But Zeus's mother saved him by hiding him from his father on the island of Crete, where baby Zeus grew up and overthrew his father's power, freeing his older five brothers and sisters. The supreme god of thunder was considered the most powerful of all the Olympians. Zeus could not control only the goddesses of Fate. In addition, Zeus was a very loving man and had many extramarital affairs, from which demigod children appeared, who later became the heroes of Hellas. These novels provoked conflicts between Zeus and his wife, the goddess Hera.
The ancient Greeks depicted Zeus as a strong, handsome, mature man with wavy curls falling to his shoulders, sitting on a golden throne with a scepter in one hand and striking lightning bolts in the other. Zeus' lightning bolts were a gift from the Cyclopes, whom he freed from captivity after defeating his father. The sacred animal of Zeus was the eagle. In addition, if the Thunderer was depicted in battle attire, instead of a scepter, he had a powerful shield, which was called Aegis.
Option 2
In the mythology of ancient Greece, the main god of Olympus was Zeus. He was rightfully considered the father of all gods and people, because he was the most powerful of them. He was called the Thunderer, because his weapons were thunder and lightning. During wars, he sent storms, supporting the army of troops by instilling confidence and courage in their souls. The enemy army, on the contrary, experienced horror and depression, and therefore lost. For this god was nicknamed Zeus the Victorious.
Birth of Zeus
The genealogy of the supreme god leads to the god Kronos and the titanide Rhea. According to mythology, Zeus' father Kronos ate all his children because of a prediction that the god would be defeated by his own child. But at some point, the mother of Zeus, Rhea, deceived her husband by giving him a stone instead of a child, and she herself hid her son on the island of Crete, giving him to be raised by the Curetes and Corybantes.
Rise to power
As time went on, Zeus grew up and decided to oppose his father. First of all, he forced Kronos to spit out his brothers and sisters: Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia, Demeter. In gratitude for their freedom, they gave Zeus thunder and lightning. And then it started Great War, which lasted 10 years and ended with the victory of Zeus over his father. All together, the gods cast him into Tartarus.
Separation of spheres of influence
After defeating their father, the three brothers, after conferring, decided to divide their spheres of influence. Zeus chose to rule the sky, Poseidon - the sea, Hades - the kingdom of the dead.
Helpers of the Supreme God
Zeus had three assistants who maintained order in the world of people and gods:
- Themis punished lawbreakers.
- Dike did justice if it was violated.
- Nemesis wrought retribution and punished criminals.
Thanks to such control, the rulers wisely and reasonably disposed of their power, and crafts, agriculture and art developed on earth.
Zeus husband
Zeus had three wives:
- Metis is the first wife of the supreme god. It was she who helped Zeus free his brothers and sisters by making a potion for Kronos. Unfortunately, she suffered a sad fate. There was a prophecy according to which their son would outshine Zeus in everything. Upon learning of his wife's pregnancy, Zeus swallowed her.
- Themis - the goddess of justice, was the 2nd wife of the supreme god. They had 3 daughters and 3 sons.
- Hera is the goddess who patronizes marriage and motherhood, 3rd wife.
Children of Zeus
Hera gave birth to Zeus the son of Hephaestus, the titanides Leto - Apollo. Athena, according to mythology, was created by Zeus himself, since she appeared from his head. The gods Hermes, Persephone, Dionysus and Eros are also children of the supreme god. On earth, Zeus also had beloved women who gave birth to such heroes as Hercules, Harmony, Elena, Perseus.
Zeus is known for his wise rule. Majestic temples were erected in his honor. All of them were roofless. It was believed that since Zeus is the god of the sky, this is how he will hear and see the asking person during prayer or sacrifice.
Report of Zeus - the god of ancient Greece and his history
Zeus is the ancient Greek mythological immortal supreme god over all gods and people, mortal and immortal, the lord of the sky, thunder and lightning, living on Olympus.
The requisites of Zeus were a shield, a scepter, a chariot drawn by eagles, a double-sided ax, referred to in Greek as a labrys, the eagle itself, but in most mythology Zeus reincarnated into him, as well as into many other animals.
Zeus was always with his three servants - Power, Strength and Victory (Nika).
The most powerful god was so strong that all the gods together, united, could not overthrow him.
Commanding people and gods, Zeus distributed good and evil with the help of two bowls standing near his throne, founded shame and conscience, punished people, could look into the future, founded legislation, established kings, guarded the poor and sick, honored traditions and followed, for people to follow the rules. In addition, thanks to Zeus, people and gods began to live better than ever before. Zeus ate for the prayers and worship of people.
Zeus was born in the third generation of gods, from the titans Kronos and Rhea. According to the prediction, Kronos should be killed by his own child, and fearing this, he swallowed newborn babies. But Rhea, wanting to deceive her husband, secretly gave birth to another child and named him Zeus, while Kronos was given to swallow a stone in a diaper. According to the legends, Zeus was raised in the deepest secret and protected in every possible way so that Kronos would not find out about him.
Having matured, Zeus took out a potion that made Kronos spit out his children. Thus, Zeus had two brothers - Hades and Paseidon, and two sisters - Hestia and Demeter. After a long war that lasted 10 years, Zeus won over the titans, becoming the main one among all.
Having played the lot, Zeus had dominance in the sky, Paseidon got the sea, Hades went into the kingdom of the dead underground. Hestia became the goddess of the family hearth and sacrificial fire, Demeter gained honor among the gods in the person of the goddess of fertility and agriculture.
Zeus was popular among women, of whom he had quite a few, and therefore had many children. The first wife was Metis, the goddess of wisdom, whom Zeus, in order not to repeat the mistakes of his father, swallowed in a pregnant state due to a prophecy according to which the child born by her was to overthrow Zeus. The second is the goddess of justice Themis, the third official wife was Hera, she is also the goddess of marriage, in other words, his sister Hestia.
Zeus did not recognize his equals, however, from different women he was born: Hephaestus, a miracle blacksmith; Apollo (the most beautiful of men) and Artemis (the goddess of hunting and chastity); Athena - the goddess of courage and wisdom; Hermes is the god of trade; Dionsis - the god of winemaking; Eros is the god of love, the heroes are Hercules, Perseus, Elena, etc.
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And people.
With a blow of the scepter, he caused storms and hurricanes, but he could also calm the forces of nature and clear the sky of clouds.
The attributes of Zeus were: a shield and a double-sided ax (labrys), sometimes an eagle.
Zeus is thought of as "fire", "hot substance", living in the ether, owning the sky, organizing the focus of cosmic and social life.
Zeus distributes good and evil on earth, he put shame and conscience into people.
Zeus is a formidable punishing force, sometimes associated with fate.
Zeus proclaims the fate of fate through dreams, as well as thunder and lightning.
The whole social order was built by Zeus, he protects the family and home, the defender of the offended and the patron of those who pray, the patron of city life, he gave people laws, established the power of kings, monitors the observance of traditions and customs.
Other gods obey him.
Changeable, like the sky over which he rules, he constantly shows His other face.
He wraps the earth in ermine snows, he sends rain.
In a storm and a thunderstorm, the power of the ruler is manifested, who, like a hurricane, raises the leaden waves of the sea, piles up black swirling clouds, throws up the sand of earthly roads and, opening the outlets of heavenly waters, lights long-maned fires on the tops of the mountains.
At the bottom of smoking volcanoes, day and night, the Cyclopes forge lightning for Zeus.
This is truly a powerful god. If a golden rope were attached to the top of heaven, and all the gods and goddesses pulled on it, they could not drag Zeus to earth. But if Zeus had grabbed the rope, he would have lifted up all the gods along with the earth and the sea and tied them to the rocks of Olympus. At least that's how he boasted.
Since Kronos once overthrew his father Uranus, he was afraid that one of his children would do the same, so he swallowed all the babies born. Rhea-mother suffered greatly from this. When the sixth child was born, she instead wrapped a stone in diapers and gave it to her husband. Unsuspecting Kronos swallowed the stone, thinking it was his next child.
Rhea with the child descended to the ground. She wanted to wash her son, but she did not find a source anywhere. The Mother Goddess prayed to Gaia and hit the rock with her wand. A clear stream of water spurted from the hard stone. Rhea, having redeemed the child, named him Zeus. She went to Crete and laid her son's golden cradle in the Idai Grotto. Glittering shoots of ivy curled along its walls, and the entrance was blocked by a dense forest. Nursed by the milk of the goat Amalthea, Zeus grew up under the supervision of mountain nymphs. The boy was very fond of the goat. When she broke the horn, Zeus took the horn into his divine hands and blessed it. This is how the cornucopia appeared, which, to anyone who had it in their hands, gave everything they wanted.
All nature surrounded the golden cradle of the new god with love. From the shores of the ocean, pigeons brought him ambrosia; bees collected the sweetest honey for him, an eagle flew every evening, carrying a goblet of nectar in its claws. In order not to reach the ears of the sensitive Kronos, the cry of the baby Zeus, near his cradle, the priests of Rhea performed military dances to the sounds of tambourines and squeakers.
power struggle
Finally, Zeus grew up. To live on, he had to fight with his father. First of all, it was necessary to return the swallowed brothers and sisters. He persuaded his mother to give Kronos an emetic. In terrible agony, the titan spewed out all his swallowed children - Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia and Demeter. From the skin of the goat Amalthea, who died at that time, he made for himself an invincible defense - a shield, which was called the aegis. No weapon could pierce the aegis, and Zeus never parted with it. So a popular expression appeared from the myths of Ancient Greece: to be " under the auspices" means to be under the protection of someone or something.
Most of the titans were on the side of Kronos. Next to Zeus were his brothers and sisters. The war lasted ten years and was called "titanomachy". Zeus won it only with the help of hundred-armed giants - hecantocheirs and one-eyed cyclops.
Then Zeus had yet another war - already with the giants - the sons of Gaia - the Earth. It was also a terrible battle. And its outcome was decided by a mortal hero - the son of Zeus Hercules. It was he who defeated the last of the remaining giants - Alcyoneus.
Nothing took this giant. Being the son of Gaia, that is, a product of the earth, he instantly healed any wounds as soon as he touched the earth. Touching the ground gave him new and new strength. To defeat Alcyoneus, Hercules tore him off the ground, took him outside his country and killed him there.
To take revenge on the young gods for their children, the ruined giants, the goddess Gaia gave birth to the most terrible monster that the sun has ever seen. They called him Typhon.
When the gods saw this monster at the gates of heaven, they were seized with panic. They fled to Egypt, where they turned into so that Typhon could not recognize them. One Zeus entered the fight with Typhon and defeated him.
Battle of Zeus with Typhon
Hundred-headed monster - Typhon,
Born of the earth For all the gods
He rose: a thorn and a whistle from the jaws
Threatened the throne of Zeus, and from the eyes
The fire of the furious Gorgon sparkled,
But Zeus's vigilant arrow -
Blazing lightning struck
Him for this boast. to the heart
He was incinerated and the thunder killed
All the power is in it. Now a powerless body
It is stretched out under the roots of Etna,
Not far from the blue strait,
And the mountains crush his chest; on them
Hephaestus sits, forging his iron,
But break out of the black depth
A devouring flame
And destroy the wide fields
Sicily beautiful...
Wives of Zeas
The first wife of Zeus was the oceanid Metis. It was she who at one time helped Zeus to return to the world the children swallowed by Kronos. The goddess Gaia predicted that Metis would give birth to his daughter, Athena, and after that, a son who would deprive his father of power. Therefore, Zeus, following the persuasion of Gaia and Uranus, swallowed Metis.
The result of such a transgression was the miraculous birth of the daughter of Zeus - Athena. Athena appeared directly from the "sacred" head of the "wise" Zeus.
Finally, Zeus enters into a third legal marriage with his own sister Hera, the goddess who guards the foundations of a monogamous patriarchal family, who vigilantly monitors the fidelity of a man and the correctness of the relationship between parents and children.
Lovers and children of Zeus
Zeus often cheats on his wife Hera. He passionately falls in love with both goddesses and earthly beauties. A long list of Zeus' lovers is given by the poet Hesiod. Zeus has more beautiful lovers and illustrious descendants than any of the Greek gods. And this should not be surprising. Each clan, each city tried to bring its origin as close as possible to the highest god. Zeus is a great inventor and prankster in love affairs. So he seduced Leda, turning into a swan, Danae - a golden rain, Hera - a cuckoo, Europe - a snow-white bull, Persephone - a snake, Antiope - a satyr. For the beautiful Io, he turned into a misty cloud.
Let's start the story about the lovers of Zeus with this funny poem, the author of which, unfortunately, I did not find.
Zeus has perhaps a hundred wives.
Jealous Hera, like no one else.
All other hating wives,
Raging in rage. smitten
With that passion of the wild god-husband:
Zeus is omnipotent, but if suddenly
Jealous, Hera destroys everything,
And the Almighty will tremble.
But how to overcome nature.
How much power is there? What is day, what is night
And the wives of Zeus are introduced into sin.
And he has strength for everyone ...
During Antiquity, mythology had a huge impact on people, closely fitting into everyday life and religious customs. The main religion of this period is pagan polytheism, which was based on a large pantheon of gods. The gods of ancient Greece had a special meaning and each performed its role. IN different regions there was a cult of one or another god, which was largely determined by the peculiarity of life and way of life. This article provides a list and description of the gods.
The gods were humanized, endowing them with anthropomorphic demeanor. Ancient Greek mythology had a clear hierarchy - the titans, titanides and the younger generation of gods stood out, which gave rise to the Olympians. The Olympic gods are the supreme celestials who lived on Mount Olympus. It was they who had the greatest influence on the ancient Greeks.
The ancient Greek gods of the first generation - ancient entities that gave rise to everything living and inanimate, are considered the creators of the world. They entered into a relationship, thanks to which other gods were born, who also belong to the first generation, as well as the titans. The progenitors of all ancient Greek gods were Skotos (Mist) and Chaos. It was these two entities that gave rise to the entire primary pantheon of Ancient Greece.
The primary pantheon of the gods of ancient Greece:
- Nyukta (Nikta);
- Erebus (Darkness);
- Eros (Love);
- Gaia (Earth);
- Tartarus (Abyss);
- Uranus (Sky).
Virtually no description of each of these deities has been preserved, since subsequently the Olympians became key to the mythology of Ancient Greece.
The gods, unlike humans, were allowed to enter into family ties, so the children were often the fruits of incest.
The deities of the second generation are the titans, thanks to whom the Olympian gods were born. These are 6 sisters and 6 brothers who actively married among themselves and fought for power. The most revered titans are Kronos and Rhea.
Olympian Gods of Greece
These are the children and descendants of the children of Kronos and his wife Rhea. The titan Kronos was originally considered the god of agriculture, and later of time. He had a stern disposition and a thirst for power, for which he was overthrown, castrated and sent to Tartarus. His reign was replaced by the Olympian gods, led by Zeus. The life and relationships of the Olympians are described in detail in ancient Greek legends and myths, they were worshiped, respected and brought gifts. There are 12 main gods.
Zeus
The younger son of Rhea and Kronos, is considered the father and patron of people and gods, personified good and evil. He opposed his father, overthrowing him in Tartarus. After that, power on earth was divided between him and his brothers - Poseidon and Hades. He is the patron of lightning and thunder. Its attributes were a shield and an ax, later an eagle began to be depicted next to it. Zeus was loved, but they were also afraid of his punishment, so they brought valuable gifts.
People represented Zeus as a strong and robust middle-aged man. He had noble features, thick hair and a beard. In the myths, Zeus was portrayed as a character in love stories that deceived earthly women, as a result of which he gave rise to many demigods.
Hades
The eldest son of Kronos and Rhea, after the overthrow of the reign of the titans, became the god of the underworld of the dead. He was personified by people as a man over 40 years old, who moved on a golden chariot drawn by golden horses. He is credited with a terrible environment, for example, Cerberus - a dog with three heads. It was believed that he owns the untold riches of the underworld, so they feared and respected him, sometimes more than Zeus. Married to Persephone, whom he kidnapped, thereby causing the wrath of Zeus and the inconsolable grief of Demeter.
Among people, they were afraid to pronounce his name aloud, replacing it with various epithets. One of the few gods whose cult was practically not widespread. During rituals, cattle with black skins, most often bulls, were sacrificed to him.
Poseidon
The middle son of Kronos and Rhea, after defeating the titans, took possession of the water element. According to myths, he lives in a majestic palace in the underwater depths, along with his wife Amphitrite and his son Triton. Moves by sea on a chariot drawn by sea horses. Wields a trident with great power. His blows led to the formation of springs and underwater springs. In ancient drawings, he is depicted as a powerful man with blue eyes, like the color of the sea.
The Greeks believed that he had a heavy temper and a quick temper, which was opposed to the calmness of Zeus. The cult of Poseidon was widespread in many coastal cities of ancient Greece, where rich gifts were brought to him, including girls.
Hera
One of the most revered goddesses of Ancient Greece. She was the patroness of marriage and matrimony. She had a tough character, jealousy and a great love for power. She is the wife and sister of her brother Zeus.
In the myths, Hera is depicted as a power-hungry woman who sends disasters and curses on the numerous mistresses of Zeus and their children, which leads to grins and funny antics from her husband. Every year she bathes in the Kanaf spring, after which she again becomes a virgin.
In Greece, the cult of Hera was widespread, she was the protector of women, she was worshiped and brought gifts to help during childbirth. One of the first deities to whom a sanctuary was built.
Demeter
Second daughter of Kronos and Rhea, sister of Hera. The goddess of fertility and the patroness of agriculture, therefore, was highly respected by the Greeks. There were large cults on the territory of the country, it was believed that it was impossible to get a harvest without bringing a gift to Demeter. It was she who taught people how to cultivate the land. She appeared as a young woman of beautiful appearance with curls the color of ripe wheat. The most famous myth is about the abduction of her daughter by Hades.
Descendants and children of Zeus
In the mythology of ancient Greece great importance have begotten sons of Zeus. These are gods of the second order, each of which was the patron of one or another activity of people. According to the legends, they often came into contact with the inhabitants of the earth, where they weaved intrigues and built relationships. Key ones:
Apollo
The people called him "radiant" or "shining". He presented himself as a golden-haired young man, endowed with an extraterrestrial beauty of appearance. He was a patron of the arts, a patron of new settlements and a healer. Widely revered by the Greeks, large cults and sanctuaries have been found at Delos and Delphi. He is the patron and mentor of music.
Ares (Arey)
The god of a bloody and tough war, which is why he was often opposed to Athena. The Greeks represented him as a mighty warrior with a sword in his hand. In later sources, he is depicted next to a griffin and two companions - Eris and Enyo, who sowed discord and anger among people. In myths, he is described as the lover of Aphrodite, in whose relationship many deities and demigods were born.
Artemis
The patroness of hunting and female chastity. It was believed that bringing gifts to Artemis would bring happiness in marriage and facilitate childbirth. Often depicted next to a deer and a bear. The most famous temple was in Ephesus, later she was the patroness of the Amazons.
Athena (Pallas)
Highly revered goddess in Ancient Greece. She was the patroness of organized warfare, wisdom and strategy. Later it became a symbol of knowledge and crafts. She was portrayed by the ancient Greeks as a tall and well-coordinated woman, with a spear in her hand. Temples to Athena were erected everywhere, the cult of veneration was widespread.
Aphrodite
The ancient Greek goddess of beauty and love, later considered the patron of fertility and life. It had a huge influence on the entire pantheon, both people and gods were in its power (except for Athens, Artemis and Hestia). She was the wife of Hephaestus, but she is credited with love affairs with Ares and Dionysus. Depicted with flowers of roses, myrtle or poppy, apple. Her retinue included doves, sparrows and dolphins, and Eros and numerous nymphs were her companions. The largest cult was located in the city of Paphos, located on the territory of modern Cyprus.
Hermes
Extremely controversial god of the ancient Greek pantheon. He patronized trade, eloquence and dexterity. He was depicted with a winged rod, around which two snakes were entwined. According to the legends, he was able to reconcile them, wake up and put people to sleep. Hermes is often depicted wearing sandals and a wide-brimmed hat, as well as with a lamb on his shoulder. Often, not only helped the inhabitants of the earth, but also weaved intrigues, bringing citizens together.
Hephaestus
The blacksmith god, who is the patron of blacksmithing and construction. It was he who made the attributes of most of the gods, and also made lightning for Zeus. According to legend, Hera gave birth to him without the participation of her husband, from her thigh in revenge for the birth of Athena. Often depicted as a broad-shouldered and ugly man, lame in both legs. He was the legal husband of Aphrodite.
Dionysus
The youngest Olympian god, widely loved by the ancient Greeks. He is the patron of winemaking, vegetation, fun and madness. His mother is an earthly woman, Semele, who was killed by Hera. Zeus personally carried the child from 6 months, giving birth to him from the thigh. According to myths, this son of Zeus invented wine and beer. Dionysus was revered not only by the Greeks, but also by the Arabs. Often depicted with a staff tipped with hops and a bunch of grapes in his hand. The main retinue is satyrs.
The ancient Greek pantheon is represented by several dozen major gods, deities, mythical creatures, monsters and demigods. The legends and myths of Antiquity have many interpretations, since they used different sources. The ancient Greeks loved and respected all the gods, they were worshiped, brought gifts and turned for blessing and cursing. Ancient Greek mythology was expounded in detail by Homer, who described all major events and the appearance of the gods.
The ancient Greeks loved to fight and considered the battle to be difficult, in connection with this they had different gods responsible for her. True, they invented a special god for each type of war (offensive, defensive, fair, unfair). But Athena ruled over the fighting, conducted wisely and ending in victory, and Ares, the son of Zeus, led the blind, furious battle with an incomprehensible outcome.
Introduction
This god ruled over a bloodthirsty war, engulfed in fury, where people killed each other on the battlefield with particular cruelty. The son of Zeus and Hera adored the process itself and the action itself, he was not interested in the causes and ending of the battle. Ares was brought joy by the cries of warriors, the sounds of weapons, and he received true pleasure both from the courage of the fighters and from their death. All these characteristics of his did not cause positive emotions either in people or in other gods. He is the unloved son of Zeus, whom he wanted to throw into Tartarus, but could not because of family ties.
Alas, the facts about Ares are fragmentary and inconsistent. For most historians and other scientists, the son of Zeus was not of particular interest, since the ancient Greeks were not inclined to revere this god, they were simply afraid of him. But the poets of Ancient Greece sang of Ares in their poems and odes. In the presented article, we will try to collect a holistic image of a strong and aggressive god of war.
Who is this Ares?
The son of Zeus personifies fierce militancy, original savagery and ferocious cruelty. A fiery torch belongs to the attributes of Ares, and such weapons as a spear or animals (a dog or a kite). On the Mount of Olympia, from time to time there was a council of the twelve gods, and the son of Zeus, Ares, was the third in it.
God's childhood years
Ares had little resemblance to other inhabitants of Olympus, distinguished by wisdom and prudence. The origin of the god was shrouded in mystery and controversy. It was believed that the son of Zeus and Hera was born in Thrace, where a harsh climate prevailed and harsh people lived. He spent his childhood in this country. Young Ares was not as handsome and charming as Apollo. The son of Zeus had his own special beauty. Dark hair, fair skin, a burning look, the correct oval of the face - all this created an image of severity and equanimity.
Ares character
The son of the god (Zeus) looked after his appearance, elegantly dressed in elegant outfits. Hera's capricious pet did not know refusal, he was allowed everything or almost everything. Such improper maternal upbringing influenced the fact that they manifested themselves in full.
Bragging, aggressiveness, authoritarianism, rudeness, intemperance, cruelty to human weaknesses and defenselessness, fear of pain - all these qualities were possessed by the unloved son of Zeus. You can draw an analogy of this god with a furious dog, whose hair stands on end, has a terrible grin, loud barking and is ready to instantly bite the victim, but as soon as he feels a rebuff, he immediately tucks his tail and runs away.
The story of the shameful flight of Ares
As victims, the most unloved son of Zeus preferred birds. When he was a child, he lay in wait for his father's eagle or mother's peacock, Apollo's raven, Athena's owl or Aphrodite's dove and wanted to shoot a bird with a slingshot. And the other sons of Zeus came up with a punishment for Ares. The names of Apollo, Dionysus and Hephaestus made the supreme god proud.
Apollo offered the young Ares a bet that he could not climb the western slope of Mount Olympus and break at least one egg of the gulls nesting there. The martial god accepted the bet, because the slope, in his opinion, was not very steep and difficult to climb, and the gulls seemed cute and not at all aggressive. Ares quickly climbed to the top, but the cute and calm seagulls were not so defenseless. Hearing the cry of one bird whose egg was stolen by Ares, the whole flock flocked around the young god. Seagulls screamed piercingly and threw white sparse droppings at the kidnapper. Ares was choking on the foul smell, blinded by the beating of thousands of bird wings. There was nothing he could do, and so running away was shameful, but the only option. Apollo accompanied the escape with sharp ridicule.
Zeus could not think of anything to do with such a bully son who did not have any talents and did not want to study at all. The boy's mother stood up for her beloved son and asked the ruler of Olympus for the position of Minister of Military Affairs, because her son was ideal candidate. So Ares (the son of Zeus) became the god of war, cutting through space on a shiny chariot with a couple of magnificent horses that breathed fire.
Maturity of the Warrior God
The ferocious Ares only rejoices when cruelty flourishes on the battlefield. Rumor has it that he is in sparkling clothes and with a huge shield with great fury rushes in the thick of the battle, where the air is filled with screams, groans, the roar of weapons.
On the battlefield, the god of war is accompanied by Deimos and Phobos. These are the two sons of Ares. Deimos personifies horror, and Phobos - fear. Also in the retinue of this god you can see Eris (the goddess of discord) and Enyo (the goddess who sows murder). Here such brethren fly among the warriors, they fall, perish, and the god of war rejoices and rejoices. Ares receives ecstasy when a warrior hit by his weapon dies, and blood flows from the wound to the ground. Fear, horror, disgust - all these emotions were evoked by God among the ancient Greeks.
Terrible was the hatred of Ares for the goddess of the world - Eirene. But friendship with Eris was also not smooth, because he rejected that part of the goddess, which was revered by people as a force that makes them compete in peaceful labor. Even the son of Zeus and Leda, Polydeuces, succumbed to the influence of Ares on the battlefield. The gods loved to watch the lives of mortals, the battles, and when they were bored, they themselves could organize the causes for wars. Some of them even descended from Mount Olympus to help their pets. But for Ares, war was the main meaning of life, he did not think about its causes, about whether it was fair or not. The sight of blood made the god insane, and he began to kill fighters on both sides, not understanding who was right and who was wrong.
It happened that Ares, hiding in a crowd of warriors, let out a terrible cry, as if several thousand people were shouting. This cry made an indelible impression on the fighters, and with great fury they began to kill everyone in a row, regardless of gender and age. Warriors did not even take into account the value of the lives of people from the enemy side who could become slaves. Even the animals were not spared. Warriors simply turned into killers.
Is it any wonder that the ancient Greeks considered the god Ares to blame for all their troubles and misfortunes? Then they came up with a solution. They wanted to get rid of the bloodthirsty god so that happiness and peace would finally come to the mortal world. But ordinary people was unable to cope with the deity. The giants Ephialtes and Otos agreed to help. They captured Ares and put him in a copper prison. For thirteen months, the bloodthirsty god was imprisoned in terrible chains and probably could have died there, but the stepmother of the giants, Eribeya, gave the news to Hermes, and he released the half-dead Ares. All this time there was peace and tranquility on earth. Thirteen months were the happiest and most fruitful for mortals.
No less than the devastated people, Pallas Athena hated Ares. The goddess helped the Greek heroes, for example, Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, received her attention. She personified an honest and just war, was a craftswoman and skillfully mastered military affairs, because she defeated Ares twice in battle.
The ancient Greek hero Hercules - the son of Zeus - also fought with the god of war, and he fled in fear to the celestials.
War and Love - Ares and Aphrodite
The beautiful Aphrodite was the wife of the lame blacksmith god Hephaestus. But she gave birth to four children (Phobos, Deimos, Harmony, Eros) from Ares, a passionate, pugnacious and violent god. An explosive mixture that is unlikely to bring anything good - crazy love and crazy war.
The secretive and hardworking Hephaestus did not suspect Aphrodite's betrayal. But once a couple in love stayed in bed and met together the appearance of the sun (Helios), who told the blacksmith about the betrayal. Offended and angry, Hephaestus forged a strange little thing in his forge - the thinnest and at the same time very strong web, which he attached to the family bed. When the satisfied Aphrodite returned home, her husband informed her of his journey to the island of Lemnos. The wife did not want to go with him, and as soon as Hephaestus left the threshold, she called Ares to her, who appeared very quickly in the halls of Aphrodite.
The lovers enjoyed each other the whole night, and in the morning they saw that the bed and they themselves were under the thinnest web. Naked and helpless, they were caught by Hephaestus, who set it all up. He called all the gods to show the betrayal of Aphrodite and Ares. The goddesses remained at home, and the gods decided to look at such an action. The blacksmith god gave an ultimatum to Zeus (her father) to return all the wedding gifts, and only then will he let his wife go. Many gods - both Apollo and Hermes - would like to be in the place of Ares even in such a web, but next to Aphrodite. This is the conversation conducted by the sons of Zeus, whose names were mentioned. But the supreme god was angered by such conversations, he refused to return the wedding gifts of Hephaestus and said that it was not good to interfere in a family conflict. Still present at this demonstration, Poseidon, seeing the naked body of Aphrodite, immediately fell in love with the charming goddess and burned with sharp envy for Ares. The sea god pretended to sympathize with Hephaestus and offered to help. He claimed that he would do everything to ensure that Ares paid for his freedom a price no less than the wedding gifts of Hephaestus. If the god of war does not do this, then Poseidon himself will give the required amount and marry the beautiful goddess.
After the release of the captives, Ares did not even think to repay the debt, because if he does not pay supreme god why should he do it. No one paid the ransom to Hephaestus, but he was not very upset, because he loved his wife and did not want to let her go anywhere, let alone get divorced.
After this adventure, Ares returned to his homeland, and Aphrodite settled in Cyprus, where she became virgin again after swimming in the sea. The situation described did not affect the goddess in any way, because she continued to feel a strong passionate attraction to the warlike god and always defended him, because of which Athena constantly joked and mocked Aphrodite. Ares also experienced insane jealousy and love.
Jealousy of Ares
In the myths of the ancient Greeks, one story is described when the windy Aphrodite fell in love with the wonderful young man Adonis. He also liked Persephone, the wife of the underground patron - Hades. The dispute between the two goddesses was supposed to be decided by Zeus, but he refused to administer such an obscene trial and entrusted the matter to the muses. They decided that two seasons of the year Adonis would live with Aphrodite, one season - with Persephone, and one - as he himself wanted. But the intelligent one, by hook or by crook, convinced Adonis to spend the season intended for the young man himself with her. Thus, the young lover spent more time with Aphrodite. It turns out that the muses did not adhere to the decision of the court. Persephone, having learned about this, became indignant and went to talk to Ares. She told the god of war about Aphrodite's love affairs. Blinded by jealousy, Ares turned into a wild boar and killed Adonis while hunting right in front of the goddess of love. That's what Ares was all about! The son of Zeus and Callisto also felt the wrath of the god of war.
Children of the warlike god
Ares became the father of four offspring, whose mother was Aphrodite. they were constantly with their father on the battlefield, in the thick of the battle. Daughter Harmony was somewhat similar to her mother and brought happiness to people even more than the goddess of love. Son Eros had a father's character and was engaged in his mother's specialization in kindling love. This boy with shiny wings, a golden bow and arrows was distinguished by playfulness, deceit and sometimes even cruelty. It was light as a summer breeze. No one could hide from his arrows of love. Eros is very dexterous and is not inferior in the art of shooting to the god Apollo himself. The arrows of a cute boy bring people not only love and joy, but often suffering, perhaps even death. After the birth, Zeus wanted to kill the baby, knowing about the troubles and sorrows that Eros would bring to the gods and people.
Mother Aphrodite did not give offense to her son and hid him in a dense forest, where he was raised by lionesses. And Eros remained unharmed. Now he flies around the world and brings peace and love, and sorrow, and good, and evil, conquering with his arrows both very young and even old people. The son of Aphrodite and Ares activates the force that attracts people, gods or gods to people to each other. It's not so important anymore.
Historians attribute the goddess of bloody revenge Erinia and the terrible dragon to the offspring of Ares. Cadmus met with him in a duel, whose sister was kidnapped. He and several other young men gathered to search. On the way, they lost each other, and Cadmus ended up in Delphi, where the oracle advised him to follow the cow and build a city where she stops. With only a few servants, he was unable to fulfill this prediction. But then it got even worse, because a dragon crawled out of the cave and ate all the servants.
Seeing all this, the young man began an unbearable battle with the dragon and, thanks to incredible efforts, defeated him. Lying on the grass, without any strength, Cadmus heard the authoritative voice of a woman. He helped the young man to get up and pull out the teeth of the dragon, with which Cadmus then littered the field. From the teeth grew warriors who fought with each other, some of them died, and with those that remained, the young man laid the city. It was named after the hero - Cadmeus.
After Cadmus killed the dragon, he was to become the servant of the bloodthirsty god Ares for many years. At the end of the service, the young man married the daughter of Ares and the goddess of love Aphrodite - Harmony.
Conclusion
In the presented article, an attempt was made to collect a holistic image of the warlike. Born in harsh Thrace, he was ferocious and cruel. This is the favorite son of Hera's mother, but hated by his own father. Ares inspired fear in mortal people and disgusted the immortal gods. The meaning of the life of this god was war, its very process, battles and battles, the cries of warriors, the clang of weapons, the cries of victims. But in front of a greater force, Ares gave in and walked away, although, of course, he did not like this at all.
Another element in which Ares completely immersed himself was love for the incredibly beautiful and feminine goddess Aphrodite. Jealousy for her incinerated God, and he, captivated by this violent feeling, swept away everything in his path. Rage, deceit, cruelty are the qualities of the bloodthirsty Ares, who will stop at nothing. The god of war is most attracted to blood and death.
It is simply impossible to list all the sons of Zeus, even historians cannot do it. Let's name the most famous of them. These are Ammon, Hercules, Dardanus, Dodon, Karius, Lokr, Meliteus, Perseus, Tantalus, Epaphus, etc.
