Aphrodite - (aphrós "Born from the foam," anadyomene "Emerged from the waters"). The goddess of love and beauty, identified with the Roman Venus, one of the principal deities of the Greek pantheon. Certain characteristics of Aphrodite indicate her Eastern origins. Aphrodite protects lovers and embodies the sensual beauty to which everyone must succumb. According to one version, she was born from sea foam drenched in the blood of the mutilated sky god, Uranus (Aphrodite-Urania); according to another, she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione, the goddess of sensual, common love (Aphrodite-Pandemia). According to another version, she was the daughter of Uranus and Hemera. Aphrodite was the wife of Hephaestus. From other relationships, she was the mother of Harmonia and Eros (with Ares) and Aeneas (with Anchises). Along with the feminine, there is also a masculine aspect to Aphrodite. Aphrodite's attributes include a girdle (given to her by the Charites, thanks to which everyone fell in love with her), a mirror, a rose, and myrtle. Animals sacred to her include the dove, the sparrow, the swan, the hare, and the goat. Her retinue included Potos, the god of governance, and Himeros, the god of longing, who traveled before the goddess's chariot, as well as Hymen, the god of wedding songs, and Peitho, the goddess of love. She was worshiped primarily in Cyprus, Asia Minor, Athens, southern Italy, and Sicily.
Ananke – meaning "necessity," the goddess of irreversible destiny, governing the fate of gods and humans. According to one version, she was the mother of Moir. Ananke played an important role in Orphic theological speculations.
Artemis – the virgin goddess of forests and hunting, identified with the Roman Diana, daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin sister of Apollo, equally beautiful. One of the twelve Olympian deities. At the age of three, sitting on her father's lap, she requested a bow and arrows, which were her attributes. Her retinue included 50 Oceanids and 20 river nymphs. Her epithets included Tauropolos – slayer of bulls; Hippopolos – horse rider; Locheia – power to inflict pain. Mistress of wild animals, protector of fishermen and travelers at sea. Patroness of women in labor, newborns, and adolescents until they reached adulthood. A goddess both benevolent and vengeful – she was credited with causing sudden death, especially in young women (e.g., Niobe and her children). Depicted as a beautiful girl in a tunic and sandals. From the 5th century BC, she was considered the goddess of the Moon. Among animals, the doe was sacred to her, and among plants, the laurel.
Astraea - also called Astrea-Dike. Daughter of Zeus and Themis (in another version, Astraeus and Eos). Goddess of justice. After her death, she was transformed into the constellation Virgo.
Ate – goddess of blindness and error. According to Hesiod's mythology, the eldest daughter of Zeus from his union with Eris. The myth of Heracles' birth is associated with Ate: Hera persuaded Eileithyia to delay the hero's birth. She returned to Olympus and began boasting of her cunning. Then, enraged, Zeus seized Ate, who had cunningly concealed Hera's deception, and swore that from then on she would never again be allowed on Olympus. Holding her golden hair and swinging her, he threw Ate to the ground.
Athena – The beloved daughter of Zeus (she had the right to wear the aegis and hurl thunderbolts), from whose head she sprang in full armor at the moment of birth. Her mother was Metis, whom Zeus swallowed. She was the chief deity of Athens, which she won in competition with Poseidon. Festivals were celebrated in her honor: the Plynteria, the Arreforia, and, most magnificently, the Panathenaia. Her epithets included Pallas – the Spear-Bearer, Parthenos – the Virgin, Nike Apteros – the Wingless Nike, Athena Polias – the protector of the city, Promachos – the warrior, and Hippia – the tamer of horses. One of the twelve Olympian deities. Goddess of rulers and their palaces located on city acropolises. Later known as the protector of marriage, identified with the Roman Minerva. She rejected the advances of Hephaestus and blinded Tiresias, who saw her bathing. She also transformed Arachne into a spider. Unlike Ares, she was the patroness of just war, strategy, tactics, and military trickery. Her birthplace was the Tritonia River, nicknamed Tritogeneia. She favored all arts and crafts. She invented the potter's wheel, the set square, the yoke, the coulter, and olive cultivation. She was considered the patroness of all activities typical of human civilization. Attributes: shield, helmet, spear, olive tree. Animals: owl. Protector of heroes. In Rome, Pallas.
Bia - "Power", daughter of Pallas and Styx, sister of Nike, Zelus, and Kratos.
Briotomartis - daughter of Leto, invented hunting nets, kept Artemis' dogs on a leash.
Brizo - moon goddess of Delos.
Chloris – goddess of flowers, personification of spring. Beloved of Zephyrus. Chloris was the wife of Neleus, but all twelve children from this marriage, except Nestor, were later killed by Heracles.
Demeter, meaning "Mother of Barley," is one of the oldest deities of the arable land and, above all, the goddess of grain. In Roman mythology, she was called Ceres. One of the twelve Olympian deities. Demeter is unmarried. The daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Unlike the virgin Artemis, she is a female being tamed by Poseidon, who took the form of a stallion. She is the mother of Plutos, Iacchus, and Kore (Persephone), who was kidnapped by Hades, the ruler of the underworld. Demeter was the protector of settled life and matters related to it. She was depicted as a serious woman with a wreath of ears of grain on her head, carrying a sickle and a torch or a basket of fruit in her hand. She showed people how to bake bread. The following were sacred to her: the ear of grain, the poppy, asphodel, and honey. Among the animals: the crane and the cow. Demeter was, after Hestia, the gentlest deity of the Greek pantheon. It was rare for a mortal to die or be harmed by her. The center of her cult was Eleusis. Her main festivals were the Thesmophoria (celebrated only by married women) and the Thalisia (harvest festival).
Eirene – goddess of peace, one of the Hora. Daughter of Zeus and Themis. She was most often depicted with infant Plutus in her arms and a cornucopia. In Roman mythology, Eirene was personified by Pax
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