Obscure greek mythology

Though lesser-known, each of these Greek deities possessed a unique role within Greek mythology. Amid the grandeur of the Olympian deities lies a captivating world obscure greek mythology lesser-known gods, often overshadowed by their more-known counterparts. These deities may lack equal recognition, but they embody powerful concepts, forces of nature, and universal themes that resonate deeply with the human experience.

Greek mythology is famous for its bizarre and fascinating creatures. Nearly everyone has heard of the serpent-haired Gorgon Medusa with her stony gaze, the bull-headed Minotaur in its Labyrinth, the malicious harpies with the heads of women and bodies of birds, and so forth. This list, however, is not about any of those creatures. The familiar creatures that everyone knows are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the strange beings that haunt the much broader world of ancient Greek folklore. Even more bizarre and fascinating creatures can be found mentioned in obscure passages of Greek and Roman literature. The Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto famously invented the hippogryph, a creature with the front half of an eagle and the back half of a horse, for his epic poem Orlando Furioso , which he composed between and The hippogryph, however, has a much more obscure and much more ancient cousin: the hippalektryon, which has the front end of a horse and the back end of a rooster.

Obscure greek mythology

Tv shows, movies, books, and other entertainment have popularized these characters. Classic Greek literature has kept the mythology of major Greek gods and goddesses alive for centuries. These gods and goddesses are popular because of their prominent roles in traditional Greek stories. However, many minor gods are also important to the understanding of Greek mythology. Their characteristics and stories are extremely interesting and reveal much about ancient Greek society and knowledge. The following are 15 lesser-known or obscure gods from Greek mythology. Some are primordial, or extremely ancient figures, while others live secluded in the Underworld. Regardless of their positions, these gods are interesting characters who assist the major gods in important ways. Aether is the god of light and the sky. He is the son of Nyx and is a primordial god. This means that he was one of the first gods to appear from empty space. This ancient god has no real personification in ancient Greek mythology. Instead, Aether takes the form of his literal element. Aether inspired the concept of ether, which is the fifth element.

This ancient god has no real personification in ancient Greek mythology. The creepy half-goat half-man followed her, chasing her through the woods.

When it comes to Greek mythology, some of the stories you'll find out there are pretty strange. Goddesses being birthed from clam shells, women being kidnapped by Hades, and plenty of stories of cheating god husbands we're looking at you here, Zeus. But if you go past the more well-known myths, things start to get even weirder. Yes, those wacky gods on Mount Olympus have a serious strange streak that would shock even the most open-minded historian. This is not to say that that these Greek myths aren't entertaining. I mean, come on, hearing about gods impregnating clouds or mortals being cursed for eternity is just oodles of fun, right?

This list contains persons named in ancient Greek religion and mythology of minor notability , about whom either nothing or very little is known, aside from any family connections. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. This literature-related list is incomplete ; you can help by adding missing items. October

Obscure greek mythology

Tv shows, movies, books, and other entertainment have popularized these characters. Classic Greek literature has kept the mythology of major Greek gods and goddesses alive for centuries. These gods and goddesses are popular because of their prominent roles in traditional Greek stories. However, many minor gods are also important to the understanding of Greek mythology. Their characteristics and stories are extremely interesting and reveal much about ancient Greek society and knowledge. The following are 15 lesser-known or obscure gods from Greek mythology. Some are primordial, or extremely ancient figures, while others live secluded in the Underworld. Regardless of their positions, these gods are interesting characters who assist the major gods in important ways. Aether is the god of light and the sky. He is the son of Nyx and is a primordial god.

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She personifies misery and distress, embodying the inevitable adversities faced by mortals and immortals alike. Orphism , as it was called, was an early Dionysian religion that focused on life after death. Here are 10 lesser-known Greek Gods and Goddesses you should know. Upon reaching the home of the deities, however, Trygaios discovers that the gods are all gone and they have given the rule of the cosmos over to War. Great article! In punishment for being such a sneaky guy, the gods condemned him to roll a boulder uphill for all eternity. He was birthed of a god called Ouranos , also called The Sky, and married to a goddess called Rhea. Amphitrite is a minor sea goddess and the wife of Poseidon. The Kerkopes were two mischievous monkey-like creatures who were said to inhabit Lydia and western Anatolia and were known for stealing things and causing trouble. The myths surrounding Oizys are sparse, her narrative largely overshadowed by the more prominent figures of Greek mythology. They inhabit the mountains as far as the river Indos. Of course, not only the gods were jerks. This narrative, though not as vividly chronicled as others, offers a unique perspective on the darker shades of existence. All the Gods on Mount Olympus.

By Andy Watkins. Updated on December 9, Everyone knows the Olympian gods Zeus, Poseidon and Apollo but in the vastness of Greek mythology there are many more random, obscure and sometimes completely unknown Greek gods and goddesses.

The Greek pantheon of Olympian gods and goddesses is well known to most of us. Often depicted as a triple goddess with three heads or bodies, Hecate encompassed aspects of the earth, the underworld, and the heavens. Regardless of her foreboding reputation, she was revered by many, particularly women, who turned to her in times of need seeking her protective powers and guidance. After Persephone became the queen of the underworld, Hecate joined her as a loyal companion. Although Herodotos was probably skeptical of the existence of the Akephaloi, they are widely referenced in later ancient works on anthropology and ethnography. All Rights Reserved. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It's said that when he did find Sciron, he threw him off the cliff, which I think most people would consider a pretty reasonable thing to do given the circumstances. As the daughter of Thaumas and Electra, she held a crucial role in bridging the mortal and divine realms. The few artistic renditions available portray Oizys with a demeanor of desolation and sorrow. Herakles chased them to the city of Ephesos in Asia Minor, where he caught them and tied them by their feet to a yoke, which he carried over his shoulders, leaving them dangling upside-down behind him. Orphism , as it was called, was an early Dionysian religion that focused on life after death. This mysterious goddess lives in the underworld of Hades. On the theme of "never piss off the gods," let's have a look at Erysichthon. The unfortunate tendency to divide people between the haves and the have-nots.