The Olympian Pantheon

in Pantheons of the World(s)

THE IMMORTALS of the Olympian pantheon can be divided into roughly eight classes.

 

THE FIRST

were the PROTOGENOI or First Born gods. These were the primeval beings who emerged at creation to form the very fabric of universe: Earth, Sea, Sky, Night, Day, etc. Although they were divinities they were purely elemental in form: Gaea was the literal Earth, Pontos the Sea, and Ouranos the Dome of Heaven. However they were sometimes represented assuming andromorphic shape, albeit ones that were indivisible from their native element. Gaia the earth, for example, might manifest herself as a matronly woman half-risen from the ground ; and Thalassa the sea might lift her head above the waves in the shape of a sea-formed woman.  

THE SECOND

were the nature DAIMONES (Spirits) and NYMPHAI who nurtured life in the four elements. E.g. fresh-water Naiades, forest Dryades, beast-loving Satyroi, marine Tritones, etc.  

THE THIRD

were the body- and mind-affecting DAIMONES (Spirits). E.g. Sleep (Hypnos), Love (Eros), Joy (Euphrosyne), Hate (Eris), Fear (Phobos), Death (Thanatos), Old Age (Geras), etc.  

THE FOURTH

class consisted of the TITANS who controlled the forces of nature and bestowed civilised arts upon mankind.

• Oceanus: Father of the Waters and Titan of the Oceans and Water.
• Koios: Lord of the North and Titan of Farsight, Intellect and Knowledge.
• Krios: Lord of the South and Titan of the Stars and Constellations.
• Hyperion: Lord of the East and Titan of the Sun, Light and Power.
• Iapetus: Lord of the West and Titan of Mortality and Pain.
• Theia: Consort of Hyperion and Titaness of Splendor.
• Rhea: Queen of Mount Othrys and Titaness of Earthly Elements and Motherhood.
• Themis: Lady of Conduct and Titaness of Divine Law, Justice and fairness.
• Mnemosyne: Lady of Remembrance and Titaness of Memory.
• Phoebe: Wife of Koios and Titaness of Prophecy and Mystery.
• Tethys: Wife of Oceanus and Titaness of the Seas, Freshwater, and nursing mothers.
• Kronos: King of Mount Othrys and Titan of Time and Agriculture.

 

THE FIFTH

were the 12 OLYMPIAN GODS who governed the universe and commanded the legions of lesser gods and spirits.

• Zeus, God of the Sky
• Hera, goddess of Marriage
• Poseidon, God of the Seas
• Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest
• Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt
• Apollo, God of Light
• Ares, God of War
• Athena, Goddess of Wisdom
• Aphrodite, Goddess of Love
• Hephaistos, God of the Forge
• Hermes, God of Travel
• Dionysus, God of Wine
• Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth

 

THE SIXTH

were the spirits of the CONSTELLATIONS which circed the heavenly night sky. Every constellation, including the twelve signs of the Zodiac, was possessed of one or more spirits EG Saggitarius was the centaur Kheiron, Gemini the Dioskouroi Twins, etc.  

THE SEVENTH

consisted of the fabulous MONSTERS, BEASTS, GIANTS of myth. They were semi-divine creatures, closely related to the gods.E.g.GIGANTES (Giants), DRAKONES (Dragons), Kentauroi (Centaurs), Kerberos (Cerberus), Sphinx, Sirens, etc.  

THE EIGHTH

were the DEMIGODS who were worshipped after death as minor divinities. They included great heroes like Akhilleus, Theseus and Perseus; heroines such as Alkmene, Helene and Baubo; and founding kings like Erikhthonios, Kadmos and Pelops.