| |
Goddesses of Ancient Greece - F & G
Fates,
the
The popular name of the Moirae, who controlled the destiny of everyone
from the time they were born to the time they died. They were: Clotho,
the spinner, who spun the thread of a person's life, Lachesis, the apportioner,
who decided how much time was to be allowed each person, and Atropos,
the inevitable, who cut the thread when you were supposed to die.
The gods were immortal, but even Hera had reason to fear the Moirae: all
were subject to the whims of the Fates. Ministers of the Fates were always
oracles or soothsayers (seers of the future).
There is some speculation that they might be the daughters of Zeus, however,
this is debatable. The Fates were often depicted as ugly hags, cold and
unmerciful. But the Fates were not always deaf to the pleading of others.
When Atropos cut the thread of King Admetus, who happened to be Apollo's
friend, Apollo begged the Fates to undo their work. It was not in their
power to do so, but they promised that if someone took Admetus' place
in the gloomy world of Hades' domain, he would live. The king's wife,
Alcetis, said she would take his place. But Hercules, who happened to
be Admetus' guest, rescued her from the underworld, thus Admetus and Alcetis
were reunited.
|
|
Gaia
According to Hesiod, Gaia was born from Chaos and gave birth to all aspects
of Nature. As the Earth herself, Gaia was regarded by the ancients as
the mother of all and, as such, was the first "Pythia" or Oracle
at Delphi. Her daughter Themis was known as the Queen of the Oracles and
thus began the long line of priestesses, or Pythias, at Delphi, lasting
more than 1000 years. The priestess, Oracle of Earth, was called Pythia
after Pytho, the serpent who guarded the sacred divinatory Castalian Spring.
It was said that she sat on a tripod in the cave, inhaling fumes from
a fissure in the earth, or from burning laurel leaves and, falling into
a trance, delivered her oracle. The serpent or dragon symbolized the chthonic
energy of the earth, hence the term "dragon lines" denoting
the lay lines or earth currents between places of high sacred energy,
Delphi being the geographical center, omphalos or navel of Earth. The
omphalos is said to be the tomb of Pytho who was slain by Apollo.
The symbolism in the myths of Apollo slaying Pytho, or St. George slaying
the dragon, reflects patriarchal attempts to conquer the energies of Earth.
The Mother Goddess archetype throne-seated and giving birth to all creation,
dates to at least 6500 BCE. The Greeks venerated her as Gaia, "the
Deep-Breasted One, Oldest of the Old," and dedicated the Erechtheion,
a temple adjoining the Parthenon at Athens, to this regal image. Gaia
was the primordial element from which all the gods originated and was
worshiped throughout Greece, but her worship later went into decline and
was supplanted by that of other gods. In Roman mythology she was known
as Tellus or Terra.
Galatea
One of the Nereids, and the beloved of Acis, a Sicilian shepherd. She
was also loved by Polyphemus, who killed Acis with a boulder in jealousy.
From his blood, Galatea created the river Acis on Sicily.
Glauce
Glauce is one of the Nereids.
Gorgons
In Greek mythology a Gorgon is a monstrous feminine creature whose appearance
would turn anyone who laid eyes upon it to stone.
They are the three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto. Euryale ("far-roaming"),
Sthenno ("forceful"), and Medusa ("ruler"), the latter
being the only one of them who was mortal. The Gorgons are monstrous creatures
covered with impenetrable scales, with hair of living snakes, hands made
of brass, sharp fangs and a beard. They live in the ultimate west, near
the ocean, and guard the entrance to the underworld. A stone head or picture
of a Gorgon was often placed or drawn on temples and graves to avert the
dark forces of evil, but also on the shields of soldiers. Such a head
(called a gorgoneion) could also be found on the older coins of Athens.
Artists portrayed a Gorgon head with snake hair, and occasionally with
a protruding tongue and wings.
|
Graces
Greek goddesses of gracefulness and the charms of beauty. They were the
daughters of Zeus and Eurynome. The gods were delighted when they danced
to Apollo's lyre. They were constant attendants of Aphrodite. They were
young, beautiful, modest, and perfectionists of gracefulness. They were
named Aglaea (splendor), Euphrosyne (mirth), and Thalia (good cheer).
Also known as the Charites.
|
Graeae
The three "old women" or "gray ones" from Greek mythology.
They are the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, sisters and guardians of the
Gorgons. They were gray-haired from birth and have only one eye and one
tooth, which they share among them. They are Enyo ("horror"),
Deino ("dread") and Pemphredo ("alarm").
|
| |
