In ancient Greece, there are numerous stories involving gods and goddesses that were an important part of day to day life of common people. The stories explained almost everything related to religious rituals and more.
Unlike information provided in the Holy Bible, the mythology surrounding Greek gods, goddesses and their narrative were not available to the ancient Greeks through a singular compilation of texts. During the Mycenaean Bronze Age, the many characters and their stories in Greek mythology were borne by oral traditions.
Top 13 Ancient Greek Goddesses: Check them out below
Considering these historical factors, we have tried to compile a list of the Top 13 Ancient Greek Goddesses in our article. Scroll down for all details!
1. Athena
Athena is an ancient Greek goddess known for her wisdom, handicraft, and warfare. She is ferocious on the battlefield who always trusts in fighting for justice and righteousness and does not display hotheadedness.
Athena is a unique deity that is very popular among gods and mortals. Her birth was extraordinary given the fact that her mother, Metis did not give birth to her. When her mother was pregnant she was swallowed by Zeus. There was a prediction that Metis’s child will become the lord of the heavens.
At the time of Athena’s birth, Zeus was feeling a severe headache and Athena then jumped suddenly from his head. She was fully grown and covered with armor when she came out. Given her influence in Greece mythology, you will be surprised to know that Athens city is named after her.
2. Hera
Hera is the most beautiful Goddess among all and is known to be the Goddess of marriage and childbirth. Hera is the wife of the supreme God of the universe, Zeus. As per Greek mythology, she rules the skies from the top of her throne that is made of gold.
Cronus, the ancient supreme God is her father who swallowed her fearing that she will be overthrown. Zeus then liberated Hera from her father’s stomach. Zeus was impressed with her beauty and fell in love with her. Hera resisted Zeus’s intentions who tried all tricks to seduce her and later fell into Zeus’s trap and in spite of being his sister she married Zeus.
3. Artemis
Artemis goddess is one of the most honored goddesses among ancient Greek deities. She is considered to be the protector of young girls. She is the goddess of hunting, the moon, virginity, childbirth, and the wilderness of wild animals.
She is popularly known by her Roman name Diana. She is the daughter of Zeus, the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek. Leto, Artemis mother is a Titan goddess, who was the favorite of Lord Zeus. While Zeus was still married to Hera, Leto got pregnant with Artemis along with her brother, Apollo.
4. Demeter
Demeter is the goddess of harvest and grain. She is the daughter of Kronos and Rhea who is considered to be prominent titans in ancient Greece. She took a different path in spite of being the first Olympian god by refusing to be confined to the realms of Mount Olympus. It is believed that she lived close to her devotees who worship her and depended on her.
She has the power to bless people with rich harvest and according to Greek mythology, she created different seasons for the planting of crops. She was in a state of gloom and doom when her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades that caused the plants to wither and die.
5. Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Olympian goddess of love, beauty, and sexual pleasure. For people who worship her she is ‘smile loving’, and the ‘one who postpones old age’ whereas for others who do not believe in her she is ‘the unholy one’, ‘the dark one’, ‘the doom of men’, ‘the killer of men.’
She is referred to as Venus by the Romans and according to the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, Aphrodite was born from the castrated genitals of Uranus. At the time of her birth, she was the most beautiful lady in the universe. However, according to repute author Homer, she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
6. Rhea
Rhea is a goddess associated with motherhood and fertility. Rhea’s name implies ease and flow that is akin to the eternal flow of generations and time. She is married to Cronus, the Titan god of time and they became the God and Goddess of the heavens.
She was a child of Uranus and Gaia. She was not that popular across ancient greek but was worshipped by many in Arcadia and Crete, the birthplace of Zeus. She is the mother of six splendid children who are also known as the original Olympians. She is described as a Goddess wearing a turret crown and accompanied by lions on either side of her throne.
7. Leto
Leto is also popularly referred to as the Goddess of motherhood. She is the daughter of Phoebe, Goddess of oracular intelligence, and the Titan Coeus, God of intellect. She is the mother of Apollo and Artemis.
As per ancient Greek mythology, Leto lived on the island of Kos. Zeus was seduced by Leto’s beauty and impregnated her, giving birth to the twin’s Apollo and Artemis. Zeus’s wife Hera was upset and annoyed at Zeus and out of jealousy she forbids Leto to give birth. Leto was filled with fear, anxiety and was in a rush to pursue around the land to deliver her twin’s post which she took refuge on the island of Delos.
8. Nemesis
Nemesis is Goddess of Revenge and Divine Retribution. In the history of the ancient world, her role is pivotal. The name of the goddess implies: “She Who Distributes What is Due”.
Nemesis inflicts punishment on people who commit arrogance before the Gods as vengeance. Her other names are Rhamnusia and Adrasteia. She is symbolized for the idea of righteous anger.
9. Hebe
Hebe is considered the Goddess of youth or the prime of life. She is the youngest daughter of Zeus and his wife Hera. Most often she is seen alongside her father, who guises himself as an eagle. The depiction of an eagle drinking from the cup Hebe holds with her means the rejuvenation of the eagle with the elixir of youth.
Hebe is very popular both in the ancient Greek period and post-classical art period. For many years she was seen painted numerous times with the same iconic eagle and a hurling cup.
10. Hestia
Hestia is the Goddess of home and hearth. Hestia plays a prominent role in ancient Greece. As per historians, she was the first child of Cronus and Rhea and hence, the first one to be swallowed by Cronus.
Both Poseidon and Apollo wanted to marry Hestia when the Olympians rose to power. However, Hestia took a vow to remain a virgin for eternity and declined their offer. Hestia is also popular as the Goddess of domestic life. Therefore all the domestic happiness and blessings are attributed to Hestia. Few people believe that she taught a man how to construct houses therefore a small part of Hestia dwells in every household.
11. Eileithyia
Eileithyia was the greek goddess of birth and labor pains. She is known to assist women to deliver babies and withstand the pains caused during the process. She is very caring for newborns. As many pregnant women died during childbirth she is often referred to as the goddess that causes death to women at childbirth.
Eileithyia had many shrines dedicated to her in many parts of Ancient Greece that imply she was very important among pregnant women and their families
12. Eris
Eris is considered to be the Greek goddess of strife and discord. She is the elder daughter of dark Night (Nyx). She is known to cause divisions, squabbles, and quarrels among people. She was also a sister of God Ares as per Greek mythology.
Eris is generally shown gossiping or humming and at times she beautifies her appearance to involve herself in making secret and underhand plans to achieve success.
13. Persephone
Persephone is the goddess of agriculture and fertility and she is the daughter of goddess Demeter. Hades was madly in love with Persephone and abducted her to the Underworld.
Goddess Demeter started searching for her daughter throughout the day and night but could not find her. She was in a state of gloom and doom that caused the plants to wither and die. Zeus then ordered his brother Hades to release Persephone as he feared the decrease in mortals’ sacrifices to the Gods.
Before she returned to the world of the living, Hades offered 6 seeds of Pomegranate to Persephone that would bind her to the Underworld for six months each year.
Hope you found our article on the Top 13 Ancient Greek Goddesses informative. Feel free to share with us if we missed mentioning any facts, by heading to our comments section below.
