MercuriusTJ's Photobucket Olympians album media

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MercuriusTJ — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:11:15 MDT

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Hades

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 5 Jun 2009 12:20:53 MDT

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Athena

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 5 Jun 2009 10:32:23 MDT

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MercuriusTJ — Mon, 2 Mar 2009 11:36:07 MST

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Mount Olympus

MercuriusTJ — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:34:02 MST

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Hades

MercuriusTJ — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:37:49 MST

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Athena

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:45:45 MST

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Athena - Athena-3.jpg

Poseidon

MercuriusTJ — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:46:45 MST

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Apollo

MercuriusTJ — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:43:04 MST

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Ares

MercuriusTJ — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:41:30 MST

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Aphrodite

MercuriusTJ — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:09:23 MST

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Hestia (Vesta)

MercuriusTJ — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:04:22 MST

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Hestia (Vesta) - hestia1.jpg

Hestia, Greek Goddess of the sacred fire, was once known as "Chief of the Goddesses" and "Hestia, First and Last". She was the most influential and widely revered of the Greek goddesses. Though the goddess Hestia was once the most important of the Greek goddesses, she (like her counterpart, the Roman goddess Vesta) is virtually unknown today. Her name means “the essence”, the true nature of things.

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MercuriusTJ — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:03:18 MST

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Athena

MercuriusTJ — Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:34:31 MST

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Athena (Minerva)

MercuriusTJ — Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:26:32 MST

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Athena (Minerva) - Athena-2.png

Athena is the ultimate career woman. As goddess of war, the Goddess Athena is a superb warrior; her presence on your side assured a bit win. The goddess Minerva is her counterpart in Roman mythology. The goddess Athena is a superb strategist and many of the Greek myths recount tales of her help given to various gods, goddesses, and heroes as they went into battle or faced seemingly impossible tests. But the goddess Athena liked using her wisdom in the role of judge, much preferring to negotiate and problem-solve to keep the peace. Talk about multi-talented! She is also known as Athena Goddess of Crafts". The Goddess Athena is celebrated as the Patron of Arts and horsemen. She ias also credited with the inventing the first sailing ship, the yoke and the bridle, as well as the flute and trumpet. Associated with the city and an urbane lifestyle, during peacetime the Greek goddess Athena utilized her talents overseeing the progress of civilization, including being the patroness of literature and the arts. The myths of Athena remind us that thoughtful planning and the marshalling of our resources can help us reach our goals.

Artemis

MercuriusTJ — Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:12:34 MST

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Artemis - Ode_to_Artemis_by_3qu1n0x.jpg

Aphrodite

MercuriusTJ — Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:11:37 MST

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Aphrodite - Birth_of_Aphrodite_by_nidhi_rathish.jpg

Artemis (Diana)

MercuriusTJ — Sun, 8 Feb 2009 16:00:59 MST

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MercuriusTJ — Sun, 8 Feb 2009 15:43:42 MST

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Hephaestus

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 6 Feb 2009 12:55:36 MST

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Hera

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:41:01 MST

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Hera

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:28:29 MST

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Hera

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:25:14 MST

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MercuriusTJ — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:14:34 MST

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Hera

MercuriusTJ — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:08:31 MST

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MercuriusTJ — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:04:06 MST

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MercuriusTJ — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:03:08 MST

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MercuriusTJ — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:48:54 MST

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MercuriusTJ — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:42:58 MST

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Artemis

MercuriusTJ — Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:29:42 MST

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Artemis - Artemis-2.jpg

Artemis (also known as the Roman goddess Diana) was the daughter of Zeus, the mighty ruler of the Olympian gods. Artemis' mother, Leto, gave birth to Artemis after a short and painless labor. But then Leto's labor continued, with her contractions growing weak and painful. Moved to compassion, the infant goddess Artemis, born only a few minutes earlier, became her mother's midwife and delivered her twin brother Apollo. You could say that, of all the Greek goddesses, the goddess Artemis was literally born to serve as a nurturer and protector! The Greek goddess Artemis was frequently called upon to nurture her needy and somewhat ineffectual mother. All too often she felt compelled to come to her rescue even though Artemis received little from her mother in return. As a result of her having caused her mother no pain in childbirth, and her successful role as midwife in her brother's birth, Artemis naturally became the patron saint of childbirth, the protector of children, and the goddess who especially heard the appeals of women. The goddess Artemis was always responsive to the needs of the vulnerable and the suffering. She was quick to defend the powerless from unjust treatment at the hands of the Olympian patriarchy; it is not surprising that in current times Artemis is seen as the "feminist" goddess. Even as a small child the Greek goddess Artemis was decisive. When Zeus asked Artemis what presents she wanted for her third birthday she responded without hesitation that she wanted six things: ~ to be allowed to live without having to be distracted by love and marriage, ~ a bow and arrow just like her brother's, ~ a hunting costume and freedom from having to dress up like a lady, ~ the job of bringing light into the world, ~sixty young nymphs to be her companions and to help care for her hunting dogs, and ~all the mountains on the earth to live on. Zeus was amused by her precociousness and happily granted the little goddess Artemis her wishes. Even at this tender age it was clear that Artemis was going to be the most independent of the goddesses, one who thrived on challenges! Artemis' association with the natural world, the wilderness, symbolizes her own untamed spirit. The most independent of the goddesses, she roamed the forests in her role as huntress. The Greek goddess Artemis was famous for her hunting skills, for the sharp focus of her attention and her unerring aim. She was known as a fearless and responsible hunter, willing and able to bring down the most terrifying beasts. But Artemis was especially fierce in her protection of the gentle animals that were usually preyed upon. As the protector of animals and the young, the goddess Artemis was angered because a group of Greek sailors had slaughtered a hare and its young. She delayed them from sailing to join the Battle of Troy. Artemis was not the least interested in cultivating the land or in harnessing the forces of nature to benefit mankind (she left those responsibilities to Demeter and Athena, respectfully). Artemis could easily be described as an early environmentalist. Artemis seemed to be more comfortable with the companionship of women friends. Often depicted by artists while hunting or bathing with her band of nymphs, the goddess Artemis valued her freedom and personal space and protected them with ferociousness. Indeed, those who restricted her freedom, those who tried to thwart her commitment to reaching her goals, or simply invaded her privacy, paid dearly. When the hunter Actaeon accidentally came upon Artemis while she was bathing, she turned him into a stag, whereupon his own hunting dogs attacked and tore him to pieces. Artemis could be both vengeful and impulsive. When she discovered that Callisto, one of the nymphs in her band of companions, had violated her vows of chastity and become pregnant as a result of an affair with Zeus, Artemis, without a moment's hesitation, Artemis changed her into a bear. Had Zeus not intervened to place her in the stars as the constellation Callisto (The Bear), the young nymph would have died quickly as the victim of a hunt. With the exception of her brother Apollo, who was a frequent ally and companion, Artemis was not known to have had very satisfying relationships with men. Her one great love affair, with the handsome and respected mortal Orion, ended very badly. Upset that his sister's time and attentions had been diverted away from him, the jealous Apollo tricked Artemis into killing Orion. Knowing that Orion was swimming in the ocean, Apollo bet Artemis that she could not hit "that distant object on the horizon" with an arrow. Filled with confidence in her skills as an archer, Artemis accepted the challenge. Successful as always, Artemis discovered that her competitiveness and unerring aim had killed the only man she had ever loved. In her abject grief, the goddess Artemis turned her dead lover into stars and shot him into the night sky where he remains as the constellation Orion. Never again did she allow herself to become vulnerable to romantic love. The Greek goddess Artemis was often associated with the moon, especially the crescent or "new" moon. Phoebe was one of the many names she was called. The name Phoebe means the "light one" or "bright one". Artemis "Goddess of Light" had the divine duty of illuminating the darkness. Artemis was often depicted carrying a candle or torch, lighting the way for others, leading them through territories yet uncharted. In Greek mythology Artemis, despite her "wildness" (her refusal to conform to conventional ways or tradition) and her fierce independence, was depicted as one of the compassionate, healing goddesses. Of all the Greek goddesses, she was the most self-sufficient, living life on her own terms, comfortable both in solitude and in holding the reins of leadership. The Greek goddess Artemis gives us courage. Like her counterpart, the Roman goddess Diana, she illuminates those places that terrify us and lends us her strength to bring us safely through our fears.

Artemis

MercuriusTJ — Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:20:01 MST

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Artemis - artemis-1.jpg

Ares

MercuriusTJ — Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:09:49 MST

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Ares - ares_2.jpg

Ares is God of battle. Son of Zeus and Hera. Brother of Aphrodite (in some later accounts), Arge, Eileithyia, Eris and Hebe. By Aphrodite, he was the father of Anteros, Enyo, Deimos, Harmonia, Pallor and Phobos. Ares was generally less popular and less successful in his endeavours than the other Olympian gods. It was Athena who personified the nobler aspects of warfare, glory, honour and victory, while Ares personified the more brutal aspects of warfare. Ares was said to be accompanied in battle by his children Deimos (terror), Phobos (fear), Eris (strife) and Enyo (horror). Ares was considered to have been native to Thrace, from which he may have emerged historically, and his worship was prominent only in northern Greece. His worship was also important at Sparta, where prisoners of war were sacrificed to him. At Athens, there was a temple dedicated to Ares at the foot of the Areopagus (Ares'Hill). Ares was depicted wearing typical military cloths and armour.

Hades

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:02:30 MST

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Hades - image_1_.jpg

Poseidon

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:57:50 MST

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Poseidon - Poseidon.jpg

Throne of Zeus

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:56:35 MST

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Throne of Zeus - zeusthrone.jpg

Demeter

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:46:32 MST

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Demeter - Demeter_by_redheaded_step_child.jpg

Athena

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:55:45 MST

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Athena - athena-1.jpg

Ares

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:54:05 MST

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Ares - ares1.jpg

Ares is the great Olympian God of War, Battlelust, Civil Order and Manly Courage. Ares, who became the Greek god of war, had a miserable childhood. The only son of the mighty Zeus, ruler of the Olympians, and his wife Hera, Ares was disliked by his father from the moment he was born and was barely tolerated from then on. Perhaps Zeus just couldn't warm up to the little guy because he hadn't had a part in Ares' conception or his birth. Hera, with the help of a magical herb, had managed to "get herself pregnant" with the help of Zeus or any man, a process called parthenogenesis. (Note: Most myths name Ares as the son who was born as a result of this immaculate conception, but in some versions the son was Hephaestus.) Hera had done this to even the score with her husband for having given birth to Dionysus by himself. A short version of that story: Semele, one of Zeus' many lovers, lay dying while pregnant with Zeus' son Dionysus. With the help of Hermes, Zeus removed the unborn child and implanted him under the skin of his thigh where he remained until he was ready to be born. For whatever reason, Zeus failed to bond with his infant son Ares. Zeus was not even particularly concerned when the young boy went missing a few years later and didn't expend much effort looking for the poor lad. As it turns out, the young Ares had been abducted by two playmates, the giant Aloadai twins, who had caught him and locked him in a bronze jar. Ares stayed captive in the bronze jar, almost losing his mind in captivity, until the stepmother of the unruly twins figured out what had happened and told Zeus' assistant, Hermes, who was able to release Ares from the jar. After this incident Hera decided that Ares' might be better off living somewhere else and arranged for him to live with Priapus, one of the minor deities. Priapus trained the young Ares in the art of dancing, and, later, in the martial arts. Even though he was well-trained and served as the god of war, Ares wasn't a great fighter and lost many of his battles, especially those involving his half-sister and arch-enemy Athena, who was the goddess of wisdom as well as the goddess of war (not to mention being Daddy's favorite). Ares represented war conducted "up close and personal", hand to hand combat, and the frenzy of battle and bloodlust. Athena and Zeus, superbly rational, favored "war at a distance", strategic planning, playing according to the "rules of the game", cold and calculating by comparison. Ares style was instinctual, passionate, and primitive...not destined to make him appear heroic in the eyes of a culture that valued reason and moderation. There were other reasons as well: The Greek god Ares, the god least favored by the citizens of Greece and by his parents (Zeus and his wife Hera) was seen by the ancient Greeks as a mercenary warrior, filled with a bloodlust that could not be appeased, and a fickle god as well . . . one who would fight for either side just to have a chance to vent his rage. Ares' unpopularity was probably inevitable, given that the Greeks of that time were mostly involved in petty wars amongst themselves, wars where allegiances were unclear and shifted frequently. Any god of war would have found it very difficult to please everyone in that situation! It's easy to see why Ares' other incarnation, as Mars, the Roman God of War, fared much better -- the Roman viewpoint was no doubt influenced by the fact that Rome was usually at war with foreign powers so that a god of war could be someone that could be worshipped and viewed as heroic, one always battling for a just cause (i.e., their side). During the Trojan War Ares fought on the side of the Trojans against the Greeks, as a show of support for his lover Aphrodite who had set the war in motion. This did not win him any points with the other Olympians who, except for Apollo, supported the Greeks. He charged at Athena who was taunting him about it and she calmly reached down and picked up a rock and smashed him over the head with it, stopping his advance. Athena also convinced one of the Greek warriors, to wound Ares in the side during the battle and Ares bellowed so loudly in pain and rage that the earth shook. He complained to Zeus about Athena's humiliating him on the battlefield, and Zeus dismissively called him a whine who enjoyed nothing but brawling. Ares, rarely went out of his way to come to the aid of his fellow Olympians. But once, bored with the endless petty wars of the Greeks, he decided to rescue Hades who was being held captive by King Sisyphus. Ares came to his assistance, threatening to decapitate Sisyphus if he didn’t release him and turn himself in as Hades’ prisoner. Trembling with fear, Sisyphus surrendered to Hades. Ares may not have matched the Olympian ideal of rationality and moderation, but he was not without his followers. Unfortunately they were mostly a band of malevolent minor deities and mortals, including several of his sons, most of whom ended with unhappy fates. Ares usually rode into battle accompanied by his two sons Phobos (Fear) and Daiemos (Panic). Although the Greek god Ares was heavily criticized for reacting emotionally rather than rationally, and for not always "following the rules", he was quick to jump to the defense of those with whom he felt a kinship, including his large brood of offspring. Unfortunately, his feelings often propelled him into battles that he could not win. When one of his sons was killed during the Trojan War, Ares, leapt onto the battlefield, defying Zeus' orders that the gods and goddesses not take part in the battle. And Ares felt strongly about his daughters as well. When his daughter Alcippe was raped by one of Poseidon's sons, Ares promptly killed him. This lead to the first murder trial in recorded history. The trial was held on a hill in Athens that was subsequently named the Aeropagus (Ares' Hill). Ares was acquitted of the crime. Sometimes Ares' loyalties led him astray. One of his sons, Cycnus, was a thief who fell upon travelers, murdering them for their bones which he was using to construct a gruesome temple to his father. Cycnus picked the wrong victim when he tried to assault Heracles (Hercules). As they fought, Areas rushed to fight on his son's side, but they were no march for Heracles, who killed Cycnus and wounded Ares. Little is written about Ares in his aspect as Lord of the Dance, but much can be inferred. Just as in many tribal cultures, warriors drum and dance before doing battle, the passion and intensity of the ecstatic dance, the sheer physicality of it, is closely associated with the masculine energy, the forceful and aggressive impulse that can bring courage in its wake. And no one every doubted that Ares had courage! But what of his loves? Ares never married, although he had over twenty lovers who bore him children. And apparently his love affairs weren't "overnighters" but were long lasting relationships because many of them bore him several children. Being deceptive, or even indirect, could not be listed among his shortcomings. Unlike the other Greek gods, Ares did not rely on trickery, abduction, or rape to establish his love affairs. Ares is best known for his long-term love affair with the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of romance and beauty. His lengthy love affair with Aphrodite led to the birth of four children--their daughter, Harmonia (Harmony) later became the mother of the Amazons, a tribe of fearsome warrior women. The tabloids were probably invented for the sole purpose of keeping up with the latest gossip about what the couple were up to! Be sure to read the story of Hephaestus for an account of how Aphrodite's husband managed to "catch them in the act" and haul them into court for the "Trial of the Century". . . which ended in their acquittal, of course. So important was Aphrodite to Ares that, when she fell in love with the beautiful Adonis (who was, some say, effeminate, Ares' polar opposite), Ares' was overcome with such jealousy that he turned himself into a wild boar (in some accounts it was a bear) and killed his rival -- the only time he was known to battle disguised in another form. The union of Ares and Aphrodite, the original macho-man and the ultra-feminine sex kitten, seemed unlikely to survive for long, but it certainly did. Ares contributed the passionate intensity and Aphrodite taught him to accept and enjoy the vulnerable, unprotected parts of himself, the loving and tender feelings he otherwise would never have displayed.

Throne of Ares

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:53:27 MST

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Throne of Ares - godofwarart09.jpg

Ares

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:50:33 MST

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Ares - AresGodofWar.jpg

Artemis

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:44:38 MST

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Artemis - EPCMAI.jpg

Artemis

MercuriusTJ — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:43:32 MST

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Artemis - JanthruApril2008265.jpg

Aphrodite

MercuriusTJ — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:18:52 MST

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Aphrodite - Aphrodite.jpg

Venus

MercuriusTJ — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:18:16 MST

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Venus - venus.jpg

Athena

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:16:14 MST

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Athena - AthenaI.jpg

Goddess of Military Victory

Athena

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:15:56 MST

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Athena - Athena.jpg

Goddess of War and Wisdom.

Ares

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:14:29 MST

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Ares - AresII.jpg

Ares represented war conducted "up close and personal", hand to hand combat, and the frenzy of battle and bloodlust. Athena and Zeus, superbly rational, favored "war at a distance", strategic planning, playing according to the "rules of the game", cold and calculating by comparison. Ares style was instinctual, passionate, and primitive...not destined to make him appear heroic in the eyes of a culture that valued reason and moderation. There were other reasons as well:

Ares

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:14:25 MST

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Ares - AresIII.jpg

Ares, Father of Victory, Known by Many Names, Leader of Men, Lord of the Dance, And Ares of the Mighty Heart. Ares, the Greek God of War who is better known as the Roman god named Mars.

Ares

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:59:18 MST

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Ares - AresI.jpg

God of War

Aphrodite

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:53:04 MST

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Aphrodite - AphroditeI.jpg

Aphrodite is the winner of the Judgement of Paris.

Aphrodite

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:53:02 MST

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Aphrodite - AphroditeII.jpg

APHRODITE is the Goddess of Beauty, Love, Pleasure and and Procreation. She is depicted as a beautiful woman usually accompanied by the winged God Eros (Love). Her attributes included a dove, apple, scallop shell and mirror.

Demeter

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:49:39 MST

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Demeter - DemeterI.jpg

Demeter

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:49:36 MST

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Demeter - DemeterII.jpg

Demeter is the great Olympian Goddess of Agriculture, Grain, and Bread, the prime sustenance of mankind. She also presided over the foremost of the Mystery Cults which promised its intiates the path to a blessed afterlife. Demeter is depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheafs of wheat and and a torch. In Greek mythology Demeter was the most generous of the great Olympian goddesses. The Greek goddess Demeter was an ancient goddess beloved for her service to mankind in giving them the gift of the harvest, the reward for cultivation of the soil. Also known as the Roman goddess Ceres, Demeter was the goddess of the harvest and was credited with teaching humans how to grow, preserve, and prepare grain. Demeter was thought to be responsible for the fertility of the land. She was the only one of the Greek goddesses who was involved on a day-to-day basis in the lives of the common folk. While others occasionally "dabbled" in human affairs when it suited their personal interests, or came to the aid of "special" mortals they favored, the goddess Demeter was truly the nurturer of mankind. Demeter also was the only one of the Greek goddesses who could truly empathize with the human experience of suffering and grief, having experienced it fully herself. The goddess Demeter is best known for her fierce defense of her daughter, Persephone, who was also known as the child, Kore (or Cora). Persephone's father was Zeus, the mighty ruler of the Olympians. The goddess Demeter had been one of his early consorts, long before his marriage to Hera. Persephone was an obedient, cheerful girl who had a happy childhood, playing with her cousins, Artemis and Athena. Reaching adolescence, she was carefree and spirited, often dancing playfully and picking wildflowers in the meadow near her home. Persephone's youthful beauty drew the attention of Hades, the god of the underworld, and he could not help falling in love with her. One day as Persephone reached over to pick a flower, the earth opened and the arm of Hades reached up from the underworld. And so Hades abducted her, dragging her back to his kingdom. Hearing Persephone's screams, the goddess Demeter rushes to the meadow, but cannot find Persephone. Carrying a torch, Demeter traveled the world day and night, never eating or resting, searching futilely for her daughter. Poseidon, god of the sea, noticed the goddess Demeter as she traveled and pursued her with amorous intent. Then Demeter tried to fool him by changing herself into a mare and hiding herself in the middle of a herd of horses, but he was not fooled. Poseidon saw through Demeter's disguise, turned himself into a stallion, and took her at his will. When Demeter continued her journey in search of her daughter, she met an old and poor man who was gathering firewood who invited her to return to his home to eat supper with his family and to rest on her journey. When she told him that she was searching for her daughter, he wished her success and told her that he understood her suffering since his son lay dying at home. Demeter, goddess of compasion, changed her mind and went with the kindly man, stopping only once to gather some poppies by the path. Entering his humble home, Demeter went straight away to the boy's bedside and kissed the boy lovingly on the cheek. Immediately the pallor left his face and his breathing eased, as Demeter's love had restored the son to full health. Although it was the custom of the Greek goddesses and gods to become very vindictive toward anyone who failed to honor them in a dignified fashion, Demeter was such a kind goddess that she seldom utilized this privilege. One of the few times was when she stopped on her travels to quench her thirst by drinking from a spring and heard a man named Ascaelabus laughing at the sound of her gulping the fresh water. Embarrassed, and angry at the man for being so rude, Demeter turned him into a lizard. Resuming her search, she soon encountered Hecate, goddess of the crossroads, who advised her to speak with Helio, goddess of the sun . . . reasoning that, since she had been riding her chariot (the sun) through the sky that day, she had surely seen what had happened to Persephone. Helio told the goddess Demeter what she had seen and that Persephone was now ensconced as Hades' wife and Queen of the Underworld. She also gave her the shocking news that Zeus himself had sanctioned the marriage, giving Hades permission to abduct Persephone. Understandably, the goddess Demeter felt betrayed. Renouncing her divine duties that included bringing fertility to the land, Demeter left Mount Olympus swearing that the earth would remain barren until her daughter was returned to her. She took refuge in the city of Eleusis. Disguised as an old woman, the goddess Demeter was met the city rulers two young daughters at the well, and they, liking her immensely, invited her to return to their home to meet their mother. There she met their mother who was cuddling her infant son. This must have stirred Demeter's longing for her abducted daughter horribly. Demeter became profoundly depressed, almost catatonic, eyes gazing off into the distance and unwilling or unable to even speak. Everyone tried to all that they knew to cheer their guest; but it was to no avail. Eventually one of the household servants, a middle-aged maid named Baubo, came and sat in front of Demeter and started talking, mostly making humorous comments (most likely of the "male-bashing" sort), some of them quite risque. Encouraged when she saw the beginnings of a smile forming on Demeter's grief stricken face, Baubo hiked up her skirt and "mooned" the goddess. Demeter responded with a deep belly laugh that brought her out of the deep depression. Her good nature now restored, Demeter was soon hired to work as a nursemaid to the infant son of the city's ruler. Caring for him lovingly, feeding him on the nectar and ambrosia of the gods, Demeter grew very attached to the young Demophoon and decided to make him immortal. But, just as Demeter was holding his feet over the fire (the ritual which would transform him into an Olympian god, Demophoon's mother entered the room. Mistakenly believing that Demeter was about to burn her son, she began to scream. The goddess Demeter then dropped her disguise, revealing the beautiful goddess that she truly was, and berated the mother for her stupidity in stopping the ritual that would have given her son immortality. In addition, Demeter demanded that a temple be built in her honor. This was done, and the goddess Demeter remained there, sitting alone in the darkness, once again depressed and grieving for her lost daughter. All this time, with the goddess Demeter refusing to function, the land grew barren and the harvests ceased . . . the earth saw a winter that did not end. Zeus finally opens his eyes to what was happening and sent messengers to apologize and coax the goddess Demeter to return. Demeter, however, remained adamant that she would not return until Persephone was rescued. Finally, Zeus gave in and sent Hermes to command Hades to release Persephone. Persephone, upon hearing the news, rejoiced for she had missed her mother sorely. As she was leaving, Hades offered her a pomegranate to eat. Persephone had refused all food while she had been in the underworld, and was surely hungry. Although she undoubtedly knew that those who ate anything in the underworld were not allowed to return to the earth, Persephone accepted Hades' gift, eating only the seeds. Hermes borrowed Hades chariot and stallions and flew Persephone home to her mother as Zeus had ordered. Demeter was not pleased that Persephone had eaten the pomegranate seeds and would have to return to the underworld for four months during each year, but was otherwise overjoyed to be reunited with her daughter. Happily, Demeter resumed her divine duties and restored the fertility of the earth. Each year the goddess Demeter longs for her absent daughter and withdraws her favors from the earth for a period we know as winter, but Persephone returns each spring to end her desolation. Once Persephone was safely returned, albeit for only a third of a year, the Greek goddess Demeter decided to reside in her temple in Eleusis where she had enjoyed the welcome and support of her friends during her long search for Persephone. There she developed the Eleusian mysteries, a series of profound religious ceremonies that taught her initiates how to live joyfully and how to die without fear. The story of Greek goddess Demeter illustrates the tremendous capacity of a woman to love and nurture, within her own family and the world at large. It also reminds us to stand firm for what is good and right, even in the face of adversity, when powerful forces are aligned against us. T he goddess Demeter's message also reminds us of the seasons of a woman's life, that even though there are times of great sorrow there is also great joy to be found.

Zeus

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:49:01 MST

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Zeus - Zeus_by_Varges.jpg

Hera

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:48:24 MST

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Hera - hera.jpg

Hera, the Greek goddess called the Queen of Heaven, was a powerful queen in her own right, long before her marriage to Zeus, the mighty king of the Olympian gods. The goddess Hera ruled over the heavens and the earth, responsible for every aspect of existence, including the seasons and the weather. Honoring her great capacity to nurture the world, her very name translates as the "Great Lady". Our word galaxy comes from the Greek word gala meaning "mother's milk" . . . legend has it that the Milky Way was formed from the milk spurting from the breasts of the Greek goddess Hera, Queen of Heaven. Where drops fell to earth, fields of lilies sprung forth. She was also worshipped as the Roman goddess Juno, and the month of June (which is the most popular month for weddings) is named in her honor. It is partly on account of Hera's great beauty, and particularly her beautiful, large eyes, that she is linked to her sacred animal, the cow, and also the peacock with its iridescent feathers having "eyes". The cow symbolizes the goddess Hera's nurturing watchfulness over her subjects, while the peacock symbolizes her luxury, beauty, and immortality. In ancient times Hera was revered as being the only one the Greek goddesses who accompanied a woman through every step of her life. The goddess Hera blessed and protected a woman's marriage, bringing her fertility, protecting her children, and helping her find financial security. Hera was, in short, a complete woman, overseeing both private and public affairs. But it was Hera's uncommon beauty that attracted the attention of her future husband, the lusty Zeus, who tricked Hera into taking him to her breast by changing himself into a small, frightened and wounded bird that elicited her pity. Once cradled in Hera's bosom, Zeus changed back into his manly form and tried to take her . . . but she resisted his advances, putting him off until he promised to marry her. The delay only increased his desire for Hera and, once married, they had the longest honeymoon on record, lasting over 300 years! nfortunately, the goddess Hera's life was not to remain so enviable. Once the honeymoon was over, Zeus reverted to his earlier "playboy" lifestyle, married or not, compulsively seducing or raping whichever of the Greek goddesses or mortal women caught his wandering eye. His amorous exploits left the regal goddess Hera feeling betrayed and humiliated on numerous occasions. To make matters even worse, Zeus often showed more favor towards the offspring of his illicit liaisons than he did to the children Hera bore him. In Greek mythology Hera, although wounded, remained faithful and steadfast in her loyalty to Zeus, electing instead to vent her fury on "the other women" rather than Zeus himself even though it was usually Zeus who had deceived, seduced or raped the innocent women. This wasn't always Hera's reaction, however. On one occasion she decided to give Zeus a "taste of his own medicine" by conceiving and delivering a child by herself, proving that she really didn't need him anyway. It didn't work out quite as she'd hoped. She gave birth, as the sole parent, to Hephaestus (God of the Forge) who was born with a deformity that made him lame. Zeus was not impressed, and Hera rejected her son, sending him away from Mount Olympus to grow up among the mortals. At other times, in reaction to his continuing infidelities, the goddess Hera simply withdrew from Zeus and the other Olympian gods and goddesses and wandered around the earth, often in darkness, always eventually ending up back at the home where she'd spend her happy youth. In spite of how he had mistreated her, Zeus did love Hera and, more than that, felt as if part of himself was missing when she was not there for him. Once, panicked that Hera didn't seem to be in any hurry to return this time, he invited her to a "mock" marriage ceremony that he'd arranged to a princess near her home. She couldn't help but be amused to discover him making his vows, not to a princess, but a statue! Hera's laughter broke the ice, and she forgave him and returned to Mount Olympus to resume her role as wife and queen. It is unfortunate that it is not the goddess Hera's nurturing or her steadfastness in the face of adversity that are remembered today, but mostly the stories of her jealousy and vindictiveness. Some historians argue that the goddess Hera was unjustly portrayed in the famous stories of Homer, probably because he was himself victimized by a mean and shrewish wife. More than any of the other Greek goddesses, the goddess Hera reminds us that there is both light and dark within each of us and that joy and pain are inextricably linked in life. The Greek goddess Hera represents the fullness of life and affirms that we can use our own wisdom in the pursuit of any goal we choose.

Apollo

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:47:48 MST

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Apollo - Apollo.jpg

Poseidon

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:46:51 MST

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Poseidon - Poseidon-6.jpg

Artemis

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:46:04 MST

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Artemis - Artemis.jpg

Apollo

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:45:33 MST

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Apollo - ApolloII.jpg

God of Light and Archecy

Hephaestus

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:45:11 MST

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Hephaestus - hephaestus.jpg

Hephaestus is the Blacksmith of Heaven. He is also Patron of Craftmen, God of Volcanoes, Metalmorking and Technology

Hades

MercuriusTJ — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:44:05 MST

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Hades - MYth__God_of_Underworld_by_zelda994.jpg

Hades (also known as Aides) is Zeus' brother and ruler of the Underworld and the dead. He was also called Pluto - God of Wealth - because the precious metals buried deep in the earth were in his kingdom. Another reason that the people called him Pluto is because they did not like to pronounce the dreaded name of Hades or Aides. The name Pluto was used by both the Greeks and the Romans, and it translates into Latin as Dis - "Rich". The Romans also substituted Orcus and Tartarus as synonymous to Pluto. Although he was an Olympian, he spent most of the time in his dark castle in the Underworld. This Lord of Hell, who was formidable in battle, proved his ferociousness in the famous battle of the Olympians versus the Titans, which established the rule of Zeus.Because of his dark and morbid personality he was not especially liked by neither the gods nor the mortals. His character is described as "fierce and inexorable", and by far of all the gods he was most hated by mortals. He was not however an evil god, for although he was stern, cruel and unpitying, still he was just. Hades ruled the Underworld and therefore most often associated with death and was feared by men, but he was not Death itself - The actual embodiment of Death was another god, Thanatos.Hades is always represented as a stern, dark, bearded man, with tightly closed lips, a crown on his head, a sceptre and a key in hand, to show how carefully he guards those who enter his domains, and how vain are their hopes to escape. No temples were dedicated to him, and his statues are very rare.