About this belief system
The ancient Greek belief system represents a collection of cultural myths and stories that date back to circa 1300-1200 BCE. Its pantheon of deities were widely known and written about in Greek texts. The Romans adopted many Greek beliefs and renamed the deities according to the Latin language. In contemporary times, there are countless vestages of Greek culture in popular culture and practice.
Top myths
 |  |  |  | |
| The Iliad | Hesiod's Theogony | The Odyssey | Hippocratic Oath | |
| Hero myth | Creation myth | Hero myth | General myth | |
| Homer | Hesiod | Homer | Hippocrates of Kos | |
| Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | |
| More myths | ||||
Top deities
Background
Much of what we know about the spiritual belief system of ancient Greece comes from two attributed authors: Homer and Hesiod.
Ancient Greek myths: A-Z
- Hesiod's Theogony Creation myth
Nuthsell
The world was created by the first deities out of a void where nothing existed. The oldest deities were Chasm (chaos), Gaia (Earth), Tartarus, and Eros (desire). These deities gave birth to the other Greek figures in a genealogical succession. Much of the rest of creation came from bodily fluids, like semen or blood.
- Hippocratic Oath General myth
Nuthsell
Hippicrates is largely considered the father of Western medicine because of his contributions to the development of modern, rational medical practices. Many of his attributed works, survived to us through a series of books called the Hippocratic Corpus, outline a foundation for the kind of medicine that is familiar in the 21st century. The historical accuracy of Hippocrates as a person is not well understood, and his background is largely considered a mystery.
- The Iliad Hero myth
Nuthsell
Achilles, half man-half deity, fought in the Trojan war for King Agamemnon and quarreled with him over a mistress, among other things. The war featured the Trojans against the Greeks and had lots of action where Achilles was the star. Achilles' close friend Patroclus died at the hands of Hector; consequently, Achilles slaughtered him in order to get his revenge. While not listed in the Iliad, sources say that Achilles suffered his tragic fate at the end of the war by Paris when he was shot with an arrow through the achilles heel. Achilles fulfilled the hero motif of living a short life of glory.
- The Odyssey Hero myth
Nuthsell
After the Trojan war, Odysseus sails home with his men. During his long journey, he faces challenges such as the "cyclops," the Sirens, and other fantastical creatures. He hurries home because suitors are trying to take his wife's hand in marriage. When Odysseus gets home, he wins a challenge, reclaims his life, and kills all the suitors.
Ancient Greek deities: A-Z
Achilles Ancient Greek · 1 mythAchilles (Greek: Ἀχιλλεύς) was a Trojan war hero who was half man, half deity. Achilles is best known for his fighting skills during the Trojan war where he slayed Hector.
Aphrodite Ancient GreekAphrodite (Greek Ἀφροδίτη) was said to be born from the foam in the sea, and was the goddess of beauty, reproduction, and gardens.
Apollo Ancient Greek · 1 mythApollo (Greek: Ἀπόλλων) was the son of Zeus and one of the most important deities in ancient Greek mythology.
Ares Ancient GreekAres (Greek Ἄρης) was the Greek deity associated with war and brutality, and was one of the twelve original Olympians.
Artemis Ancient GreekArtemis (Greek Ἄρτεμις) was the daughter of Zeus and goddess of chastity, hunting, and the moon.
Asclepius Ancient GreekAsclepius (Greek: Ἀσκληπιός) was a Greek deity associated with medicine and healing. His father was said to be Apollo.
Athena Ancient GreekAthena (Greek: Αθηνά) was a Greek deity associated with war and strategy, often assisting humans.
Cronus Ancient GreekCronus (Greek: Κρόνος) was the leader of the Titans, the first generation of Greek deities. He gave birth to Zeus, Hades, and others. He was also associated with the harvest.
Demeter Ancient GreekDemeter (Greek Δημήτηρ) was the ancient Greek goddess of grain, seasons, and the harvest, among other roles.
Dionysus Ancient GreekDionysus (Greek Διόνυσος) was the Greek deity associated with wine-making, grapes, and ecstasy.
- Gaia Ancient Greek
Gaia (Ancient Greek: Γαια) was one of the oldest Greek deities and a personification of the earth. Together with Uranus (sky), they gave birth to the Titans.
Hades Ancient GreekHades (Greek Ἅιδης) was the Greek deity associated with the underworld. Hades was also the brother of Zeus and Poseidon and a member of the core pantheon of deities.
Hephaestus Ancient GreekHephaestus (Greek Ἥφαιστος) is the Greek deity associated with metallurgy, craft, and fire. He was banished by his mother (Hera) at birth because of his appearance.
Hera Ancient GreekHera (Greek Ἥρα) is the ancient Greek goddess of family and marriage, and the wife-sister of Zeus.
- Heracles Ancient Greek
Heracles was an ancient Greek half-deity known for being a brutal warrior. He is said to be the equivalent of the Roman Hercules.
Hermes Ancient GreekHermes (Greek Ἑρμῆς) was a Greek deity associated with being a messenger between gods and mortals. He was known for moving swiftly.
- Panacea Ancient Greek
Panacea (Greek: Πανάκεια) was an ancient Greek deity associated with healing and medicine. She is explicitly mentioned at the start of the Hippocratic Oath, along with Apollo.
Poseidon Ancient GreekPoseidon (Greek: Ποσειδῶν) was an ancient Greek deity often depicted carrying a trident and associated with the sea. He was one of the twelve original Greek Olympians deities.
- Thetis Ancient Greek
Thetis was the mother of Achilles, the warrior from the Iliad.
- Uranus Ancient Greek
Uranus (Greek Ουρανος) was birthed by Gaia (earth) and the sky deity who served as father to the Titans. He was castrated and overthrown by Zeus, his son.
Zeus Ancient Greek · 2 mythsZeus (Greek: Ζεύς) was the sixth child of Kronos and Rhea, the original Titan deities in the Greek pantheon. Zeus ruled Mount Olympus and was said to control thunder.
Cite this page
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Ancient Greek." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 07 Aug. 2019, omnika.org/stable/250. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
OMNIKA (2019, August 07). Ancient Greek. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/250
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Ancient Greek." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created August 07, 2019. Accessed May 4, 2024. https://omnika.org/stable/250.
