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The mythology of Greece tells the story of five Goddesses who ruled along with seven Gods from Mt. Olympus. Hera was both wife and sister to Zeus and is regarded as the queen of the Gods. Greek mythology cast the goddesses as protectors and stewards of the feminine aspect. They control love, fertility and the fruit of the Earth. Like their male counterparts, they can possess great wisdom and be prone to rash decisions.
Hera
The Goddess Hera was wife to Zeus, both born to Cronus and Rhea. She is viewed as the Goddess of women, marriage and childbirth. Greek
mythology is ripe with the stories of the envy, distrust and vengeance
Hera plotted against the deities and mortals romanced by Zeus and the
offspring who were fathered by her powerful, but unfaithful husband. Hercules,
the child of Alceme fathered by Zeus, was just one of dozens of deities and
mortals who were punished by the vengeful goddess. Juno is the Roman representation of Hera.
Demeter
The second child of Rhea and Cronus, Demeter was goddess of the lands who nourished the soil. She as seen as the "bringer" of the seasons.
The most recognized myth of Demeter involved her daughter Persephone,
who was stolen away by Hades and made to become his queen. Demeter was grievous and life came to a halt as her sorrow held in wait the turn of the seasons. Zeus was swayed by the suffering people and the other deities and he sent Hermes to return Persephone from the underworld. Although
she was returned to her mother, Hades had tricked her, and by the rule
of fates Persephone was bound to spend four months of each year as
punishment for eating the pomegranate seeds that Hades had offered.
Aphrodite
The most beautiful of all the goddesses, she was the deity of lust, sensuality and love. In
Greek, her name translates to "risen from the foam" and legend
suggests she was created after Cronus severed Ouranos' genitals and
discarded them in the ocean. Other variations on her mythology suggest she was daughter to Zeus or Dione. Her
unbelievable beauty was a danger in the eyes of the Gods, who believed
it was inevitable that they would be plunged into all out war in order
to gain her favor. Zeus resolved this by making the
beautiful goddess marry Hephaestus, God to the blacksmiths who was
lame and unattractive according to Greek mythology. This did little to deter her desire to use her physical perfection to toy with the hearts of Gods and mortals. In Rome, Aphrodite was referred to as Venus.
Artemis
Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and the mortal woman Leto. She is the God Apollo's twin. Artemis was one of the three Virgin Goddesses in Greek mythology. Artemis
the Virgin Huntress' rule over nature was absolute and it was believed
that she delivered fertility to the lands of all who sought her favor
through worship. The sister of Apollo, God of the Sun, she became connected to the Moon. She is identified with the Roman goddess Diana.
Ahena
While there are varying tales of how Athena became
a goddess, it's agreed that she is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, a
Titan consort of the king of Gods. In the predominant
origin tale; Zeus, fearing the prophecy that claimed Metis' offspring
may be more powerful than himself, swallowed the Titan goddess whole. Metis
birthed and raised her child inside Zeus and sent her forth, springing
from Zeus' head, a fully-formed woman armed for battle. She
was the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom who taught men and women the
skills to cloth their families, tend the lands and prepare for battle. Along with Hestia and Artemis, she is one of the three Virgin Goddesses. Athenians buit the Parthenon in honor of Athena, their patron God.
Hestia
First born daughter of Rhea and Cronus, she was a virgin goddess like Hera and Athena. She
was pursued by both Poseidon and Apollo who wished her hand in
marriage, but she remained faithful to the vow of chastity she made to
Zeus. Hestia was a favorite goddess of the Greek people who loved her kind spirit and virtue. Hestia
spent her entire life at Mt. Olympus, never participating in the heroic
acts and petty grievances of the other Gods and Goddesses. Hestia was the only deity to be worshipped in all temples regardless of their affiliation to a specific god.
Wondering where you can find a Greek Goddess Statue that speaks to your own individual personality and taste? Visit Your Museum Store where your satisfaction is guaranteed and shipping is free in the continental US. Rob Mabry is an author and entrepreneur and owner of Your Museum Store. |
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