How can I write not so curgusly?
Beautiful, smart, fast, foldable -
I tormented poetry, I Muse ...
And he beat her up a lot.
Akaky Schweik, "Shabby Muse"
More than once or twice, you probably heard such phrases as “the muse visited me”, “the muse of tragedy”, “there is no inspiration”. Who are the muses and how are they related to creativity and inspiration?
The term "muse" is rooted in ancient Greek mythology and literally means "thinkers". Nine sisters, patronesses of sciences and arts, were named Aonides, Pierides, Parnasids. They had many more names that would not say anything to the layman, so we will not dwell on them.
All 9 Muses of Ancient Greece are the daughters of Zeus the Thunderer, and each of them has its own unique ability. Most often, 9 muses of ancient Greece are depicted in the guise of young beautiful women. These ladies had a prophetic gift and favored people with a creative mindset, encouraging and helping artists, artists, poets, and sculptors in every possible way. However, woe to a talented writer if he angers his muse. A capricious lady can leave him without her patronage and deprive him of inspiration. The ancient Greeks appreciated inspiration and, in order not to be “overboard”, erected special temples for the muses, called museions. From museyon and takes roots modern word"museum". The patron of the Muses themselves was the god Apollo.
Let's take a closer look at who these 9 muses of Ancient Greece were and what arts enjoyed their attention.
Calliope - muse of epic poetry
From the ancient Greek "Calliope" is translated as "having a beautiful voice." This is the eldest of the sisters. She is the muse of eloquence and heroic ballads. Beauty Kaliope encourages a person to overcome his egoism and fear of fate, she awakens in him a sense of sacrifice.
On the head of Calliope is a golden crown - the fact that she is the main one among other muses, thanks to her talent to introduce a person to the first steps along the path of his liberation.
Artists depict calliope with a waxed tablet or scroll and a slate stick with a stylus in their hands, which looked like a bronze rod with a pointed end, used to write letters on a tablet covered with wax. opposite end the stylus was made flat to wipe what was written.
Muse Clio - patroness of history
The name Clio comes from "glory", the ancient Greek "Cleos". Clio, bestowing glory, reminded of what a person can achieve in life, helped him find his true destiny. Clio's attributes were a scroll of parchment or a tablet. Sometimes its attributes complement sundial, because the muse keeps order in time.
Muse of Melpomene - muse of tragedy
The muse of the tragic genre was described as a woman with a bandage, grape or ivy wreath on her head. The Greek muse Melpomene is "a melody that delights the listeners." Melpomene is armed with a sword or club. Her weapon symbolizes the inevitability of divine punishment. Also among its attributes is a tragic mask.
From Melpomene, siren sea creatures appeared, sinking many ships, luring sailors to reefs and rocks with their divine singing.
Muse Thalia - muse of comedy
Cutie Thalia (Falia, according to other versions) was portrayed by artists as a young girl with a wand in her hand, a comic mask, an ivy wreath on her head, and also sometimes in “furry” clothes. The muse got its name from prosperity (thallein), glorified in poetic works for many centuries.
Thalia was the wife of Zeus. The Thunderer kidnapped the muse, turning into a kite. Fearing the wrath of Hera, Thalia hid in the bowels of the earth.
Muse Polyhymnia - muse of solemn hymns
In Greek mythology, Polyhymnia was "responsible" for solemn hymns. The name given to her comes from the phrase "creating by many praises" fame to those who have been immortalized through the ages by poetry. Poets who write hymns are under the patronage of Polyhymnia. According to ancient Greek legends, Polyhymnia has a more than phenomenal memory, she keeps in it all the ever written hymns, songs and ritual dances in which people glorified the gods of the Olympians. It is believed that Polyhymnia was the inventor of the lyre.
The patroness of hymns is often depicted in a thoughtful pose with a scroll in her hands. She also helps people in the study of rhetoric and oratory, which becomes an instrument of truth in the hands of a skilled broadcaster.
Polyhymnia makes it possible to realize the mystery of the word as a real power with which you can revive and kill, inspire and injure.
Muse Terpsichore - muse of dance
Terpsichore is the graceful muse of dancing. Terpsichore got her name from the enjoyment (terpein) of the audience by the blessings bestowed by art. Terpsichore is considered the patroness of dancing and choral singing. The artists portray the graceful lady as a young woman. Sometimes she takes the pose of a dancer, but more often she sits and plays the lyre with an indispensable smile on her face. This muse is associated with Dionysus, attributing to her his attribute ivy, in addition to his own lyre and plectrum.
Muse Urania - muse of astronomy
Urania is the wise muse of astronomy. The attributes of this muse were a celestial globe and a compass. According to one version, the muse of astronomy is the mother of Hymen. She received her name from the desire for the sky (“uranos”) of those who comprehended the art of astronomy.
Urania is a living contemplative force, it calls on a person to leave the external chaos in which he resides and indulge in the contemplation of the majestic and calm course of celestial bodies and stars, which are the essence of the reflection of the destinies of the world. Urania personifies the power of knowledge and craving for the mysterious and unknown, high and beautiful, for the starry sky.
Muse of lyric poetry Euterpe
The merry muse of Euterpe, whose name literally translates as "rejoicing", received the name from the pleasure (terpein) of listeners who appreciated the benefit of knowledge and education. The muse of lyrical music and poetry is most often depicted with a flute or lyre in her hands.
Romantic Erato - muse of love poetry
The name Erato is derived from the name of the ancient Greek god of love Eros. Erato was named after the ability to be desired, loved. This muse patronizes lyrics and poets who write about high feelings. In his images, Erato appears with a cithara. Its symbolism is often used in literature, including Virgil and Apollonius of Rhodes.
The romantic muse has the gift of inspiring love for the whole universe into the soul. She skillfully transforms the life of physical reality into beauty and harmony.
How to attract the muse?
So, we got acquainted with the ancient Greek muses, and everyone chose whom to invite to his place in the evening for tea and cookies. But let's find out what the muses are interested in?
Creative people, as you know, cannot live without their favorite pastime. This is their outlet and their little modest joy. Someone writes pictures or novels, someone paints graffiti on walls and fences with a can, someone cross-stitches or designs. However, the ability to do one's work alone is sometimes not enough - some kind of creative impulse, impetus, inspiration is needed. To create even a small masterpiece, you need a soul, and not just monotonous, machine labor.
Alas, the muse is mademoiselle capricious and windy. She does not sit with a single person from morning to night. She does not express a desire to come when called. So, as a result, the poor fellow sits as a poet all day long with a notebook or, which is more likely today, with an open Word and hypnotizes with a look of reddened tired eyes a single line. And it doesn't stick at all! He looks this way and that, and drinks his third mug of tea, but still the muse does not go to him, does not carry that spiritual spark, so necessary in order to touch the strings of someone else's soul.
Stubborn lady! Here you are already thinking about whether to master the profession of a shaman - well, what if dancing with a tambourine helps not only programmers and other computer scientists? What does this cursed muse need?
Learn from children! Have you ever wondered why children get so excited when they see beautiful butterfly, unusual shape a cloud, a funny disheveled sparrow on a rickety fence? Think back to when you were young! Alas, the older we get, the less often we manage to find a moment to notice something amazing in our daily life.
After all, no one thinks and appreciates those little joys that surround each of us. So the one who has never experienced suffocation is not able to appreciate how wonderful it is - Fresh air. Or a gardener, constantly digging and digging in his garden, will only shrug his shoulders at the blissful expression on the faces of residents of megacities who have come for a picnic after a long dull winter.
Pay attention to the little things, leave your misanthropy and sarcasm at home, stir up romance in yourself, enough for him to sleep in a lethargic dream - let him also work for you. Are you already filled with happiness and pleasure? Wait, the muse has already flown to you!
Muse loves to treat herself to something tasty. Pamper both of you, but do not overfeed her - the full muse is leisurely, and your laziness will gladly collude with her, and together they will break off all your creative impulses.
But you can shame your muse by walking with her through exhibitions and expositions. Shame on this bum, your work isn't there yet, is it?
To the note of the amateur "creative mess" in the workplace. Not a question, we are not talking about pedantic wiping of dust particles in the morning and evening. And you can put a cup of coffee, and some trinket, pleasing to the eye, the muse will also approve. But mountains of dirty dishes, an unmade bed or heaps of rubbish on the table will not attract an inspirer. " Creative mess"- perhaps, but you should not turn into a pig.
With all her whims, the muse is not a mercantile fifa. She doesn't need an expensive closet, or a Parker pen, or a laptop of the latest model. First of all, she appreciates the comfort, in which there is everything to create a masterpiece.
If you need space for something you love, organize it! Yes, and just to make some castling of furniture can be useful. And it's funny to watch how the family, out of habit, goes around the closet, or rather, the empty place where it used to stand. Nothing, 21 days - and they will stop doing it.
Did you find time to rest? And now, according to the principle of Baron Munchausen, you have a feat on schedule! We put things in order in the house, life and head, now we catch the muse, we plant it nearby - and forward, to the stars!
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9 Muses of Ancient Greece. Whom to invite?
How can I write not so curgusly? Beautifully, cleverly, quickly, smoothly - I tormented the poetry of Muse ... And patted her fairly. Akaky Schweik, “Shabby Muse” More than once or twice, you have probably heard such phrases as “the muse visited me”, “the muse of tragedy”, “there is no inspiration”. Who are the muses and how are they related to creativity and inspiration? Concept...
The work of almost every great artist is unthinkable without the presence of an inspiring woman - a muse.
The immortal works of Raphael were written using images that his beloved model Fornarina helped create, Michelangelo enjoyed a Platonic connection with the famous Italian poetess Vittoria Colonna. The beauty of Simonetta Vespucci was immortalized by Sandro Botticelli, and the famous Gala inspired the great Salvador Dali.
Who are the Muses?
The ancient Greeks believed that each area of their life, which they considered the most important, had its patroness, the muse. In accordance with their ideas, the list of muses of ancient Greece was as follows:Calliope is the muse of epic poetry;
Clio is the muse of history;
Melpomene is the muse of tragedy;
Thalia is the muse of comedy;
Polyhymnia is the muse of sacred hymns;
Terpsichore - the muse of dance;
Euterpe is the muse of poetry and lyrics;
Erato is the muse of love and wedding poetry;
Urania is the muse of science.
According to classical Greek mythology, the supreme god Zeus and Mnemosyne, daughter of the titans Uranus and Gaia, had nine daughters. Since Mnemosyne was the goddess of memory, it is not surprising that her daughters began to be called muses, in Greek it means “thinking”.
It was assumed that the favorite habitat of the Muses was the mountains of Parnassus and Helikon, where in shady groves, to the sound of transparent sources, they made up the retinue of Apollo. To the sound of his lyre they sang and danced.
This story was loved by many Renaissance artists. Raphael used it in his famous paintings of the halls of the Vatican. The work of Andrea Montaigny "Parnassus", which depicts Apollo surrounded by muses dancing for the gods of the supreme Olympus, can be seen in the Louvre.
The famous sarcophagus of the Muses is also located there. It was found in the 18th century in Roman excavations, its lower bas-relief is decorated with an excellent image of all 9 muses.
From left to right: Calliope (with a scroll), Thalia (with a mask in her hand), Erato, Euterpe (with a wind musical instrument), Polyhymnia, Clio, Terpsichore (with a cithara), Urania (with a rod and a globe), Melpomene (with a theatrical mask on his head)
Mouseions
In honor of the Muses, special temples were built - museyons, which were the center of the cultural and artistic life of Hellas. The Museion of Alexandria was the most famous. This name formed the basis of the well-known word "museum".
Alexander the Great founded Alexandria as the center of Hellenistic culture in the Egypt he conquered. After his death, his body was brought here, to a tomb specially built for him. But, unfortunately, then the remains of the great king disappeared, and have not yet been found.
One of the associates of Alexander the Great - Ptolemy I Soter, who laid the foundation for the Ptolemaic dynasty, founded a museion in Alexandria, which combined a research center, an observatory, a botanical garden, a menagerie, a museum, famous library. Archimedes, Euclid, Eratosthenes, Herophilus, Plotinus and other great minds of Hellas worked under its arches. For successful work the most favorable conditions were created, scientists could meet with each other, have long conversations, as a result, greatest discoveries which have not lost their significance even today.
The Muses have always been portrayed as young beautiful women, they had the ability to see the past and predict the future. Singers, poets, artists enjoyed the greatest favor of these beautiful creatures, the muses encouraged them in their work and served as a source of inspiration.
Clio, the "glory-giving" muse of history
Her constant attribute is a parchment scroll or a board with letters, where she wrote down all the events in order to keep them in the memory of her descendants. As the ancient Greek historian Diodorus said about her: "The greatest of the muses inspires love for the past." According to mythology, Clio was friends with Calliope. The surviving sculptures and paintings of these muses are very similar, often made by the same master.There is a myth about a quarrel that arose between Aphrodite and Clio. Possessing strict morals, the goddess of history did not know love and condemned Aphrodite, who was the wife of the god Hephaestus, for her tender feelings for the young god Dionysus. Aphrodite ordered her son Eros to shoot two arrows, inciting love hit Clio, and Pieron got the one that killed her. Suffering from unrequited love convinced the strict muse to no longer condemn anyone for emerging feelings.
Melpomene, muse of tragedy
Her two daughters had magical voices and decided to challenge the muses, but lost, and in order to punish them for their pride, Zeus or Poseidon (opinions differ here), turned them into sirens. The very ones that almost killed the Argonauts. Melpomene vowed to forever regret their fate and all those who defy the will of heaven.She is always wrapped in a theatrical robe, and her symbol is a mournful mask, which she keeps in right hand. In her left hand is a sword, symbolizing punishment for insolence.
Thalia, muse of comedy
Melpomene's sister, but never accepted her sister's unconditional belief that punishment was inevitable, this often became the cause of their quarrels. She is always depicted with a comedic mask in her hands, her head is decorated with an ivy wreath, she has a cheerful disposition and optimism.Both sisters symbolize life experience and reflect the way of thinking, characteristic of the inhabitants of ancient Greece, that the whole world is a theater of the gods, and people in it only play their prescribed roles.
Polyhymnia, muse of sacred hymns and faith expressed in music
The patroness of speakers, the fieryness of their speeches and the interest of the audience depended on her favor. On the eve of the performance, one should ask the muse for help, then she condescended to the one asking and inspired him with the gift of eloquence, the ability to penetrate into every soul. The permanent attribute of Polyhymnia is the lyre.
Euterpe - the muse of poetry and lyrics
She stood out among the rest of the muses with a special, sensual perception of poetry.To the quiet accompaniment of the harp of Orpheus, her poems delighted the ears of the gods on the Olympic hill. Considered the most beautiful and feminine of the muses, she became for him, who lost Eurydice, the savior of the soul. The attribute of Euterpe is a double flute and a wreath of fresh flowers. As a rule, she was depicted surrounded by forest nymphs.
Terpsichore, muse of dance, which is performed in the same rhythm with heartbeats
The perfect art of Terpsichore dance expressed the complete harmony of the natural principle, the movements of the human body and emotional emotions. The muse was depicted in a simple tunic, with a wreath of ivy on her head and with a lyre in her hands.
Erato, muse of love and wedding poetry
Her song is that there is no force that can separate loving hearts.Songwriters called on the muse to inspire them to create new beautiful works. Erato's attribute is a lyre or tambourine, her head is decorated with wonderful roses as a symbol of eternal love.
Calliope (Greek "beautiful voice") - the muse of epic poetry
The eldest of the children of Zeus and Mnemosyne and, in addition, the mother of Orpheus, her son inherited a subtle understanding of music from her. Always depicted in the pose of a beautiful dreamer, who held a wax tablet in her hands and wooden stick- stylus, so it appeared famous expression"write high style". The ancient poet Dionysius Medny called poetry "Cry of Calliope".
Urania - the ninth muse of astronomy, the wisest of the daughters of Zeus
He holds in his hands a symbol of the celestial sphere - a globe and a compass, which helps to determine the distances between celestial bodies. The name was given to the muse in honor of the god of heaven Uranus, who existed even before Zeus. Interestingly, Urania, the goddess of science, is among the muses associated with different types arts. Why? According to the teachings of Pythagoras about the "harmony of the celestial spheres", the dimensional ratios musical sounds comparable to the distances between heavenly bodies. Without knowing one, it is impossible to achieve harmony in the other. As the goddess of science, Urania is revered today.
So if you want, let one of the muses of ancient Greece smile and turn to you!
In ancient Greece, not only the gods who made up the host were revered, but also their children, the deities of the third generation of Olympians. Greece was an enlightened country: the sages, scientists, philosophers of antiquity left a deep mark on the history of the whole world. It is noteworthy that the muses in Greece did not always mean a symbol of inspiration for the beautiful: music, love, poetry.
The nine daughters of the father of the gods Zeus clearly demonstrate the triad: a symbol of absolute harmony. They combined three types: science, handicraft and real art. The triad is symbolic in Greece, where poetry was as highly valued as the ability to read the stars.
Sages and philosophers rightly believed that each of the muses is necessary for prosperity.
Calliope was the mother of Orpheus, from her son inherited the ability to feel music. The mother taught her son that every word in poetry should bring the soul of the fallen hero back to life, inspire faith and nurture nobility. The scroll and slate in her hands were not just symbols. Young warriors leaving for battle could swear that they could hear Calliope writing a new work.
The Greeks considered Calliope the queen of all the muses, No wonder she has a crowned crown or a laurel wreath on her head. Apollo himself did not dare to interrupt the Queen of the Muses when she spoke fiery speeches about the honor, nobility, courage and purity of the soul of a true warrior. The muse can be considered a symbol of love for one's Motherland, one's land. Therefore, at one time the Greeks ordered miniature images of Calliope before distant wanderings. They say that Pallas herself gave such a miniature to her beloved Odysseus so that his heart would always be filled with purity of thoughts and the desire to return to his native shores.
The ancient Greek historian and keeper of mythology Diodorus wrote about her: “The greatest of muses inspires love for the past”. History is priceless for any nation, and especially for the people of Greece. Clio, it was believed, wrote down on her scrolls every, even an insignificant event, so that none of the descendants would forget their past.
The mythology describes the conflict between the muse and the beautiful Aphrodite. The muse of history had strict morals, but she never knew love. Aphrodite, being the wife of the god Hephaestus, had tender feelings for the young Dionysus. The implacable muse condemned the goddess for her love for a mortal. Aphrodite ordered little son Eros to shoot two arrows: one, kindling love, in Clio, and the second, killing feelings, in Pieron. Suffering from unrequited love enlightened the muse; Clio no longer dared to judge anyone for feelings.
Being engaged in the study of history, we compiled, in which we tried to take into account all the features of each of the gods.
According to the myths, Clio was friendly with Calliope, which is understandable: the muse of patriotism is inseparable from the muse of history. They were portrayed in almost the same way, often the Greeks ordered busts of these muses from only one master.
Melpomene is not only the muse of tragedy, as symbolized by the mournful mask in her right hand. Muse is the mother of the fatal sirens who almost killed the Argonauts. Although according to another version, Terpsichore was the mother of the sirens.
It is interesting that the origin of the sirens is described extremely poorly, as if they appeared from the air. The two daughters of Melpomene had marvelous voices from birth, but pride destroyed them: in the absence of their mother, they challenged the muses and lost. They were punished for this: according to one version, the Thunderer himself turned them into sirens, according to another, turning into birds was the work of Poseidon.
Melpomene vowed to grieve forever for the fate of her daughters and those who dare to go against the will of heaven. He is always depicted in the robes of theatre-goers, with the same mask in his hands. But in the second hand there can be either a sword as a symbol of punishment for disobedience and insolence, or a scroll of parchment. The mantle on it exactly reflects the spirit of Greece of that era: people are toys in the hands of the gods and only take part in the theater of the gods.
Thalia was closest to Melpomene, the muse of tragedies, but she never understood her unconditional faith in the inevitability of punishment. According to Cicero, the Muses often quarreled because of this.
In contrast to her sister, Thalia was portrayed with a comedy mask in her hands and wearing a wreath of plain ivy. The muse never claimed to Special attention, but had a cheerful disposition, was distinguished by optimism. According to mythology, it was believed that the comedy mask in her hands was a symbol of laughter, but according to another version, the mask meant about the same as the mask in the hands of Melpomene: the life of people is just a play for the gods.
Thalia was the wife of Apollo, but, according to the myth, she was kidnapped by the Thunderer to make his wife. But the muse knew Hera, the wife of Zeus, and understood what awaited her. Horror made her seek refuge from the lord of the dead world of Hades. The gloomy god hid the muse deep underground.
Euterpe stood out among other muses with a special refinement in the perception of poetry. Her poems could be listened to for hours by the whole host of Olympians, to the quiet accompaniment of the harp of Orpheus. Her attribute is a double flute and a wreath of fresh flowers. She could be depicted surrounded by forest nymphs, according to the records, she became the comforter of the soul of the unfortunate Orpheus after he lost his Eurydice twice.
She was considered the most beautiful of the muses, possessing a special sensuality and femininity.
Erato is always depicted with some kind of cheerful and perky musical instrument: lyre, tambourine. She was glorified by songwriters, calling to inspire inspiration. The head of the muse is decorated with beautiful roses as a symbol of the eternity of love.
Erato has become a symbol of the struggle of true love for their rights. The muse sang that even the dark kingdom of Hades could not separate loving hearts, they were forever connected by a strong thread. Muse became the creator of a new direction in the music of Greece - wedding. Legend has it that charming Erato got bored at one of the weddings. She held out her lyre to the blind musician and whispered something to him.
Magical music sounded in the huge hall, all the lovers present felt an irresistible desire to be together before and after death. The wondrous music spread further and further, and now the muse of Terpsichore is listening to the music, and her chiseled legs are beating a new rhythm of the dance.
Terpsichore is not just the muse of dances, including wedding ones. Dance should express not just emotions, but a special connection with nature, show unity with the culture of their homeland. The dance of Terpsichore is the absolute perfection of the movements of the soul and body. Since ancient times, the Greeks, learning to dance, learned to listen to music and dance to the rhythm of heartbeats. Each dancer wanted to learn the perfect movements of the muse, but this was not given to everyone.
Terpsichore, according to legend, accompanied the god Dionysus everywhere. The god himself was distinguished by the simplicity of the image, so his environment also did not stand out for pomp and pretentiousness. Muse appears in a simple tunic with a lyre in her hands, on her head a wreath of ivy.
Polyhymnia, muse of hymns
Polyhymnia was the patroness of speakers, it was in her will to make the speech fiery and life-giving, or people not to hear the speaker's voice at all. It was believed that it was worth pronouncing the name of the muse before an important performance, Polyhymnia would go down to the supplicant and spend the whole night instructing and inspiring the gift of voice. Without the patronage of the muse of oratory, it is impossible to reach the hearts, none of the Greeks doubted this at all.
Muse of hymns to the gods. This should be understood as the muse of the prayers that people send daily higher powers and their ardor also depends on the will of the daughter of Zeus.
The ninth and wisest of all the daughters of the Thunderer, not counting Athena. It is believed that her name was given to her by her father in honor of Uranus, the god of heaven, long before the appearance of Zeus.
The muse always holds a globe and a compass in her hands. The latter helps her determine the distances between stars. It was she who stood near Piazzi, suggesting to him the discovery of the first asteroid. The Roman did not immediately hear the muse, but the daughter of Zeus always got her way from her ward scientists. The Greeks considered her the patroness of even those sciences that were far from heavenly.
This muse is revered to this day, and everywhere. Even in Russia there is a museum of Urania and in some cities there are full-fledged statues.The religion of ancient Greece is amazing. It is strikingly different from other religions, causing a growing interest in itself. A journey into their world always leaves a mark in the memory of a person, no matter if he is Greek by origin.
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Classmates
The main gods in Ancient Hellas were those that belonged to the younger generation of celestials. Once upon a time, it took power over the world from the older generation, which personified the main universal forces and elements (see about this in the article The Origin of the Gods of Ancient Greece). The gods of the older generation are usually called titans. Having defeated the titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored 12 Olympian gods. Their list usually included Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hephaestus, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hermes, Hestia. Hades is also close to the Olympian gods, but he does not live on Olympus, but in his underworld.
Gods of Ancient Greece. video film
God Poseidon (Neptune). Antique statue of the 2nd century. according to R.H.
Olympian goddess Artemis. Statue in the Louvre
Statue of Athena the Virgin in the Parthenon. Ancient Greek sculptor Phidias
Venus (Aphrodite) de Milo. Statue ca. 130-100 BC
Eros Earthly and Heavenly. Artist G. Baglione, 1602
Hymen Companion of Aphrodite, god of marriage. According to his name, wedding hymns were also called hymens in ancient Greece.
Daughter of Demeter, kidnapped by the god Hades. The inconsolable mother, after a long search, found Persephone in the underworld. Hades, who made her his wife, agreed that she would spend part of the year on earth with her mother, and the other with him in the bowels of the earth. Persephone was the personification of the grain, which, being "dead" sown in the ground, then "comes to life" and comes out of it into the light.
The Abduction of Persephone. Antique jug, ca. 330-320 BC
Amphitrite Poseidon's wife, one of the Nereids
Proteus One of the Greek sea deities. The son of Poseidon, who had the gift to predict the future and change his appearance
Triton- the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, the messenger of the deep sea, trumpeting the shell. By appearance- a mixture of man, horse and fish. Close to the eastern god Dagon.
Eirene- the goddess of the world, standing at the throne of Zeus on Olympus. AT Ancient Rome- Goddess Pax.
Nika- goddess of victory. Constant companion of Zeus. In Roman mythology - Victoria
Dike- in ancient Greece - the personification of divine truth, a goddess hostile to deceit
Tyukhe- Goddess of good luck and luck. The Romans - Fortuna
Morpheus- the ancient Greek god of dreams, the son of the god of sleep Hypnos
Plutus- god of wealth
Phobos("Fear") - the son and companion of Ares
Deimos("Horror") - the son and companion of Ares
Enyo- among the ancient Greeks - the goddess of violent war, which causes rage in the fighters and brings confusion to the battle. In Ancient Rome - Bellona
Titans
The Titans are the second generation of the gods of Ancient Greece, born of the elements of nature. The first titans were six sons and six daughters, descended from the connection of Gaia-Earth with Uranus-Sky. Six sons: Kron (Time. for the Romans - Saturn), Ocean (father of all rivers), Hyperion, Kay, Crius, Iapetus. Six daughters: Tethys(Water), Theia(Shine), Rhea(Mother Mountain?), Themis (Justice), Mnemosyne(Memory), Phoebe.
Uranus and Gaia. Ancient Roman mosaic 200-250 A.D.
In addition to the titans, Gaia gave birth to Cyclopes and Hecatoncheirs from marriage with Uranus.
cyclops- three giants with a large, round, fiery eye in the middle of the forehead. In ancient times - the personification of the clouds, from which lightning sparkles
Hecatoncheires- "hundred-armed" giants, against whose terrible power nothing can resist. Embodiments of terrible earthquakes and floods.
The Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires were so strong that Uranus himself was horrified by their power. He tied them up and threw them into the depths of the earth, where they still rage, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The stay of these giants in the womb of the earth began to cause her terrible suffering. Gaia persuaded her younger son, Krona, to take revenge on his father, Uranus, by castrating him.
Kron made it with a sickle. From the drops of blood of Uranus shed at the same time, Gaia conceived and gave birth to three Erinyes - goddesses of vengeance with snakes on their heads instead of hair. Erinnia's names are Tisiphone (killing avenger), Alecto (tireless pursuer) and Megara (terrible). From that part of the seed and blood of castrated Uranus that fell not on the ground, but in the sea, the goddess of love Aphrodite was born.
Night-Nyukta, in anger at the iniquity of Krona, gave birth to terrible creatures and deities of Tanata (Death), Eridu(Discord) Apatou(Deceit), goddesses of violent death Ker, Hypnos(Dream-Nightmare) Nemesis(Revenge), Gerasa(Old age), Charon(carrier of the dead to the underworld).
Power over the world has now passed from Uranus to the Titans. They divided the universe among themselves. Kron instead of the father became the supreme god. The ocean received power over a huge river, which, according to the ideas of the ancient Greeks, flows around the whole earth. Four other Kron brothers reigned in four sides light: Hyperion - in the East, Crius - in the south, Iapetus - in the West, Kay - in the North.
Four of the six Elder Titans married their sisters. From them came the younger generation of titans and elemental deities. From the marriage of Oceanus with his sister Tethys (Water), all earthly rivers and water nymphs-Oceanids were born. The titan Hyperion - ("high-walking") took his sister Teia (Shine) as his wife. From them were born Helios (Sun), Selene(moon) and Eos(Dawn). From Eos were born the stars and the four gods of the winds: Boreas(North wind), Note(South wind), Zephyr(west wind) and Evre(Eastern wind). The titans Kay (Celestial Axis?) and Phoebe gave birth to Leto (Night Silence, mother of Apollo and Artemis) and Asteria (Starlight). Kron himself married Rhea (Mother Mountain, the personification of the productive forces of mountains and forests). Their children are the Olympic gods Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus.
The titan Crius married the daughter of Pontus Eurybia, and the titan Iapetus married the oceanid Clymene, who gave birth from him to the titans Atlanta (he holds the sky on his shoulders), the arrogant Menetius, the cunning Prometheus (“thinking before, foreseeing”) and the feeble-minded Epimetheus (“thinking after").
From these titans came others:
Hesperus- god of the evening and the evening star. His daughters from the night, Nyukta, are the nymphs of the Hesperides, who guard a garden with golden apples on the western edge of the earth, once presented by Gaia-Earth to the goddess Hera during her marriage to Zeus
Ory- goddesses of parts of the day, seasons and periods of human life.
Charites- the goddess of grace, fun and joy of life. There are three of them - Aglaya ("Glee"), Euphrosyne ("Joy") and Thalia ("Abundance"). A number of Greek writers have charites with other names. In ancient Rome, they corresponded graces
Goddesses of ancient Greece
Artemis- Goddess of the moon and hunting, forests, animals, fertility and childbearing. She had never been married, diligently guarded her chastity, and if she took revenge, she did not know pity. Her silver arrows spread plague and death, but she also had the ability to heal. Protected young girls and pregnant women. Her symbols are cypress, fallow deer and bears.
Atropos- one of the three moira, cutting the thread of fate and cutting off human life.
Athena(Pallas, Parthenos) - the daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full combat weapons. One of the most revered Greek goddesses, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge.
Athena. A statue. Hermitage. Hall of Athena.
Description:
Athena is the goddess of wisdom, just war and the patroness of crafts.
Statue of Athena by Roman craftsmen of the 2nd c. According to a Greek original from the end of the 5th c. BC e. Entered the Hermitage in 1862. Previously, it was in the collection of the Marquis Campana in Rome. It is one of the most interesting exhibits of the Hall of Athena.
Everything about Athena, from the moment she was born, was amazing. Other goddesses had divine mothers, Athena - one father, Zeus, who met with the daughter of the Ocean Metis. Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife, as she predicted that after her daughter she would give birth to a son who would become the ruler of heaven and deprive him of power. Soon Zeus had an unbearable headache. He grew gloomy, and seeing this, the gods hurried away, for they knew from experience what Zeus is like when he is in a bad mood. The pain didn't go away. The Lord of Olympus did not find a place for himself. Zeus asked Hephaestus to hit him on the head with a blacksmith's hammer. From the split head of Zeus, announcing Olympus with a war cry, an adult maiden jumped out in full warrior clothes and with a spear in her hand and stood next to her parent. The eyes of the young, beautiful and majestic goddess shone with wisdom.
Aphrodite(Kyferei, Urania) - the goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of the sea foam)
Aphrodite (Venus Taurida)
Description:
According to Hesiod's Theogony, Aphrodite was born near the island of Cythera from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed snow-white foam (hence the nickname "foam-born"). The breeze brought her to the island of Cyprus (or she herself sailed there, because she did not like Kiefer), where she, who came out of sea waves, and met Ora.
The statue of Aphrodite (Venus Tauride) dates back to the 3rd century BC. e., now it is in the Hermitage and is considered its most famous statue. The sculpture became the first antique statue of a naked woman in Russia. Life-size marble statue of Venus bathing (height 167 cm), modeled after Aphrodite of Cnidus or Venus Capitoline. The arms of the statue and a fragment of the nose are missing. Before entering the State Hermitage, she decorated the garden of the Tauride Palace, hence the name. In the past, "Venus Tauride" was intended to decorate the park. However, the statue was delivered to Russia much earlier, even under Peter I and thanks to his efforts. The inscription on the bronze ring of the pedestal recalls that Venus was donated by Clement XI to Peter I (as a result of an exchange for the relics of St. Brigid sent to Pope Peter I). The statue was discovered in 1718 during excavations in Rome. Unknown sculptor of the 3rd century. BC. portrayed the naked goddess of love and beauty Venus. A slender figure, rounded, smooth silhouette lines, softly modeled body shapes - everything speaks of a healthy and chaste perception. female beauty. Along with a calm restraint (posture, facial expression), a generalized manner, alien to fragmentation and fine detail, as well as a number of other features characteristic of the art of the classics (5th - 4th centuries BC), the creator of Venus embodied in her his idea of beauty, associated with the ideals of the III century BC. e. (graceful proportions - high waist, somewhat elongated legs, thin neck, small head, tilt of the figure, rotation of the body and head).
Aphrodite (Venus). A statue. Hermitage
Description:
Statue of Aphrodite - goddess of beauty and love
Roman copy after a Greek original of the 3rd - 2nd centuries. BC.
In 1851, through the Venetian antiquarian A. Sanquirico, the Hermitage received a beautiful statue of Aphrodite, which had previously been part of the collection of the Venetian Nani family. In a rare edition of the era of the Napoleonic wars - "Collection of all antiquities kept in the Venetian museum of Nani" - we read about this sculpture: his famous museum, presenting it to the judgment of the famous Canova, who greatly praised the new acquisition. The statue of Aphrodite is distinguished by the complexity of the movement of the body and the exquisite harmony of proportions. It reflects the tendencies of Hellenistic art, characteristic of the art of the time of the Antonin dynasty (96-193).
Aphrodite (Venus) and Cupid
Description:
Aphrodite (Venus) and Cupid.
The sculpture perhaps tells of a tragic moment. The rose, the sacred flower of Venus, was originally white, but according to one traditional view, at the moment when Venus hurried to her beloved, a thorn dug into her leg and drops of blood fell on the white petals, reddening them. While the splinter was being pulled out, the wild boar killed her beloved Adonis, the young beautiful god of spring, personifying the annual dying and revival of nature .. Venus is usually depicted sitting, she is trying to remove the splinter from her leg, Cupid helps her.
Aphrodite on a dolphin. Sculpture. Hermitage
Description:
Aphrodite, as the goddess of love, was dedicated to myrtle, rose, poppy and apple; as the goddess of fertility - a sparrow and a dove; as a sea goddess - a dolphin; the swallow and the linden were also dedicated to her. According to legend, the secret of her charm was hidden in a magic belt.
Venus in the shell Sculpture. Hermitage.
Description:
Venus in the shell
Sculpture Carlo Finelli (Finelli, 1782-1853) - Italian sculptor, one of the most gifted followers of the classical direction.
Aphrodite (Greek) - Venus (Roman)
Classical Aphrodite arose naked from the airy sea foam. The breeze on the shell brought her to the shores of Cyprus.
Hebe- daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithyia. She served the Olympian gods at feasts.
Hecate- the goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, the patroness of sorcerers.
Hemera- goddess daylight, the personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. Often identified with Eos.
Hera- the supreme Olympic goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage.
Hestia- goddess hearth and fire.
Gaia- mother earth, mother of all gods and people.
Demeter- Goddess of fertility and agriculture.
Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.
Ilithyia- patron goddess of childbirth.
Irida- winged goddess, assistant to Hera, messenger of the gods.
calliope- the muse of epic poetry and science.
Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing misfortune and death to people.
Clio- one of the nine muses, the muse of history.
Clio. Muse of history
Description:
Clio is the muse of history in ancient Greek mythology. Depicted with a papyrus scroll or a scroll case. The daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. According to Diodorus, she got her name from the fact that chanting in poetry gives great glory to those who are praised (cleos)
Clotho("spinning") - one of the moira, spinning the thread of human life.
Lachesis- one of the three moira sisters, who determines the fate of each person even before birth.
Summer- Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
Mayan- a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven pleiades - the daughters of Atlanta, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born to her.
Melpomene- muse of tragedy.
Melpomene (Muse of Tragedy)
Description:
Statue of Melpomene. Roman copy after a Greek model of the 2nd century BC. BC e.
In ancient Greek mythology, the muse of tragedy (Greek "singing"). At first, Melpomene was considered the muse of the song, then the sad song, and later she becomes the patroness of the theater in general, the personification of the tragic stage art. Daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, mother of the terrible sirens.
She was depicted as a woman with a bandage on her head and in a wreath of grape or ivy leaves, in a theatrical robe, with a tragic mask in one hand and a sword or club in the other (a symbol of the inevitability of punishing a person who violates the will of the gods).
Metis- the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him.
Mnemosyne- mother of nine muses, goddess of memory.
moira- the goddess of fate, the daughter of Zeus and Themis.
Muses- patron goddess of the arts and sciences.
naiads- nymphs-guardians of waters.
Nemesis- the daughter of Nikta, the goddess, personifying fate and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.
Nereids- fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanides of Dorida, sea deities.
Nika- the personification of victory. Often she was depicted with a wreath, a common symbol of triumph in Greece.
nymphs- the lowest deities in the hierarchy of the Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature.
Nikta- one of the first Greek deities, the goddess is the personification of the primordial Night.
Orestiades- mountain nymphs.
Ory- the goddess of the seasons, tranquility and order, the daughter of Zeus and Themis.
Peyto- the goddess of persuasion, the companion of Aphrodite, often identified with her patroness.
Persephone- daughter of Demeter and Zeus, goddess of fertility. The wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death.
polyhymnia- the muse of serious hymn poetry.
Tethys- the daughter of Gaia and Uranus, the wife of the Ocean and the mother of the Nereids and Oceanids.
Rhea- the mother of the Olympian gods.
Sirens- female demons, half-woman half-birds, capable of changing the weather at sea.
Waist- muse of comedy.
Terpsichore- Muse of dance art.
Terpsichore. Muse of dance
Description:
The statue of "Terpsichore" is a Roman copy after a Greek original of the 3rd - 2nd centuries. BC.
Terpsichore was considered the muse of choral singing and dance, portrayed as a young woman in the pose of a dancer, with a smile on her face. She had a wreath on her head, in one hand she held a lyre, and in the other a plectrum. She is "enjoying round dances".
Tisiphone- one of the Erinyes.
quiet- the goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, companion of Persephone. She was depicted as a winged woman standing on a wheel and holding a cornucopia and ship's steering wheel in her hands.
Urania- one of the nine muses, the patroness of astronomy.
Themis- Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moira.
Charites- the goddess of female beauty, the embodiment of a kind, joyful and eternally young beginning of life.
Eumenides- another hypostasis of the Erinyes, revered as goddesses of benevolence, preventing misfortunes.
Eris- daughter of Nikta, sister of Ares, goddess of discord.
Erinyes- goddesses of vengeance, creatures of the underworld, who punished injustice and crimes.
Erato- Muse of lyrical and erotic poetry.
Eos- Goddess of the dawn, sister of Helios and Selena. The Greeks called it "pink-fingered".
Euterpe- the muse of lyrical chanting. Depicted with a double flute in her hand.
