The most complete
information guide about Athens, Greece
Greek Gods
and Mythology
The Ancient Greek divinities can be divided into six classes.
The
first of these were the protogonoi or first born, consisting
of those elemental beings that made up the fabric of the universe
(earth, sea, sky, night, day etc.) As well as being their element
they could also appear simultaneously in an anthropomorphic
form. For example Gaia was always the earth itself but would
also manifest herself as a comely woman in her dealings with
the younger gods.
The
second were the nature daimones (spirits) and nymphai (Naiades,
Dryades, Satyroi, etc)
The
third were the human-affecting daimons (spirits) like sleep,
death, love, hate, etc.
The
fourth were the divine theoi (gods) like Pan, Nereus, Persephone,
Eos, Hekate, Triton, etc. There were:
Theoi
Ouranioi or sky gods.
Theoi
Einalioi or sea gods.
Theoi
Khthoinioi or underworld gods
Theoi
Georgikoi or agricultural gods
Theoi
Nomioi or pastural and rustic gods
Theoi
Titanes & Theai Titanides or Titan gods
Theoi
Olympioi or Olympian gods
Apotheothenai
or Deified mortals
The
fifth were the twelve great Olympian gods who ruled and were
served by all of the other lesser divinities (Zeus, Hera, Poseidon,
Demeter, etc.)
The
sixth were the heroes, monsters & beasts - gigantes (giants),
drakones (dragons), theres (beasts), etc.)
Amongst
the Pantheon there were many divinities who fell into more than
one of these categories. Tykhe is a good example, she was worshipped
as a goddess and therefore could be classed as one of the lesser
gods, she was also a spirit of the third category who walked
the earth unseen dispensing good fortune. She was one of the
Okeanides (clouds) and so belonging to the first or second categories
as well.
