Minos was the great king of Ancient Crete, which was the center of the Greek world before Athens. He reigned during the time now known as the Minoan Civilization, and Greek mythology describes him as a son of Zeus, reckless and angry. He had created The Great Labyrinth to imprison his son, The Minotaur, and …
As recognizable as Zeus’s thunderbolt, or Hermes’ winged boots, Poseidon’s Trident is one of those key symbols of Greek mythology. The legendary weapon was seen in the hands of the sea god from the very beginning of Greek civilization and was passed on to his Roman counterpart, Neptune. Now a symbol found throughout art and literature, …
Of all gods revered in ancient Greece, none held as much influence as the great mother goddess herself, Gaia. Known most famously as Mother Earth, Gaia goddess is the origin of all life on Earth and was the first god to have existed in Greek cosmology. It is undeniable that Gaia is a vital god …
The name Prometheus has become synonymous with fire-thief, although there is much more to the young Titan than his infamous theft. He was notably cunning and had rebelled against his fellow Titans in the Titanomachy in favor of the victorious Olympian gods. In fact, Prometheus was believed to be a pretty good guy until he …
From Nammu and An to Nanna and Utu, the Sumerians, who lived in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 4,000 to 2,000 BCE, had a rich pantheon of gods and goddesses that played important roles in their religious beliefs and daily life. The Most Important Ancient Sumerian Gods With more than 3,000 Sumerian gods and goddesses, …
Apollo was one of the most influential and revered of all the Olympian gods. Temples were built for him all over the ancient world, and he was worshiped by Greeks in major cities such as Athens and Sparta. Today, he lives on as the god of the sun, light, and music. What is Apollo the …