Without certain gods, the ancient Greeks believed that various everyday activities would cease to exist. The morning sky would not benefit from the illumination of the sun and rain would not fall upon crops if the gods did not make it so. In this article, you will learn who the Greeks believed was behind some of the important factors of everyday life.
Helios , Titan god of the sun
Not only was Helios the Titan god of the sun, but he also represented the guardian of oaths. The personification of this god was the sun and he was often portrayed as a handsome deity that wore a shining crown made from a part of the sun. His method of transportation was a chariot of the sun, which he drove across the sky each day. At night, he returned to the East after circling the Earth and visiting the “world-ocean.”
Horses connected to the sun drew Helios’ chariot. Sometimes, they were described as being able to emit fire (as Pindar claims) or said to have a solar connection (as Homer mentions in the Iliad). In some myths, the horses are called by names linked to fire , Aeos, Aethon, Pyrois, and Phlegon.
Over time, Helios was often linked with the god of light, Apollo. However, the two gods were quite different with Helios being a Titan and Apollo enjoying the status of an Olympian.
A well-known story dealing with the god involves his son Phaeton, who made an attempt to drive his father’s chariot. As a result, he lost control and the earth became set on fire. In the Odyssey, Helios is mentioned once again. Odysseus and the surviving members of his crew reach an island called Thrinacia, which is sacred to the sun god. It is at this location that the sacred red cattle and flocks of sheep of the sun are kept. Odysseus tells his men not to touch the sacred animals, but his men kill and eat some of the cattle. The guardians of the island are daughters of Helios and they alert their father to this misdeed. Helios asks Zeus to react and in return, Odysseus’ ship is destroyed. All of his men are killed, except for Odysseus , who survives.
Zeus , King of Heaven and god of the sky
When it comes to the ultimate god of the sky, Zeus holds one of the most recognizable positions. Aside from ruling the Olympians, the god is also responsible for the clouds, rain, thunder and lightning. In fact, the thunderbolt served as one of his symbols , along with the eagle, bull and oak. Zeus was the son of Cronus and Rhea. For being the most powerful god, he was also the youngest out of all his siblings, which included Poseidon , god of the sea and Hades , god of the underworld.
While he took Hera as his wife, he was unfaithful numerous times, which ended up in many different offspring and mistresses. With Hera, he had Ares (god of war), Hebe, and Hephaestus (who was despised because of his deformity). Other children of Zeus included Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, and the Muses.
Bila miungu fulani, Wagiriki wa kale waliamini kwamba shughuli mbalimbali za kila siku zingeacha kuwepo. Mbingu ya asubuhi haingepata faida kutokana na mwangaza wa jua na mvua haingeshuka juu ya mazao kama miungu haingefanya hivyo. Katika makala hii, utajifunza kuhusu mambo muhimu ambayo Wagiriki waliamini yalikuwa yanahusika katika maisha yao ya kila siku. Helios, mungu wa jua wa Titan Helios hakuwa tu mungu wa jua wa Titan, lakini pia aliwakilisha mlinzi wa kiapo. Mungu huyo alikuwa jua, na mara nyingi alifanikiwa kuwa mungu mrembo aliyevaa taji lenye kung'aa lililotengenezwa kutokana na sehemu ya jua. Njia yake ya kusafiri ilikuwa gari la jua, ambalo aliendesha angani kila siku. Usiku, alirudi Mashariki baada ya kuzunguka Dunia na kutembelea "bahari ya ulimwengu". Farasi waliohusishwa na jua walivuta gari la Helios. Wakati mwingine, walielezwa kuwa na uwezo wa kutokeza moto (kama Pindar anavyosema) au walisema kuwa na uhusiano wa jua (kama Homer anavyotaja katika Iliad). Katika hekaya fulani, farasi hao huitwa kwa majina yanayohusiana na moto, Aeos, Aethon, Pyrois, na Phlegon. Baada ya muda, mara nyingi Helios alihusianishwa na mungu wa nuru, Apollo. Hata hivyo, miungu hiyo miwili ilikuwa tofauti sana na Helios akiwa Titan na Apollo akiwa na cheo cha Mholimpiko. Hadithi inayojulikana sana inayohusu mungu huyo inahusu mwana wake Phaeton, ambaye alijaribu kuendesha gari la baba yake. Kwa sababu hiyo, alishindwa kudhibiti hali yake na dunia ikawaka moto. Katika Odyssey, Helios anatajwa tena. Odysseus na wanajeshi wake waliosalia wanafika kisiwa kinachoitwa Thrinacia, ambacho ni takatifu kwa mungu wa jua. Ni katika mahali hapa ambapo ng'ombe mtakatifu mwekundu na makundi ya kondoo wa jua huhifadhiwa. Odysseus anawaambia watu wake wasiguse wanyama watakatifu, lakini watu wake wanaua na kula baadhi ya ng'ombe. Walinzi wa kisiwa hicho ni binti za Helios na wanamwonya baba yao juu ya kosa hili. Helios anamwomba Zeus atende na kwa kubadilishana, meli ya Odysseus inaharibiwa. Wanaume wake wote wanauawa, isipokuwa Odysseus, ambaye anaokoka. Zeus, Mfalme wa Mbingu na mungu wa anga, ni mungu wa anga, na ni mmoja wa miungu ya mbinguni. Mbali na kutawala Waolimpio, mungu huyo pia anasimamia mawingu, mvua, ngurumo na umeme. Kwa kweli, umeme ulikuwa mojawapo ya alama zake, pamoja na tai, ng'ombe-dume, na mwaloni. Zeus alikuwa mwana wa Cronus na Rhea. Kwa kuwa alikuwa mungu mwenye nguvu zaidi, alikuwa pia mdogo zaidi kati ya ndugu zake wote, ambao walitia ndani Poseidon, mungu wa bahari na Hades, mungu wa ulimwengu wa chini. Alipokuwa na Hera, alimwasi mara nyingi, na hivyo akawa na watoto na bibi-arusi wengi. Pamoja na Hera, alikuwa na Ares (mungu wa vita), Hebe, na Hephaestus (aliyedharauliwa kwa sababu ya kasoro yake). Watoto wengine wa Zeu walitia ndani Athena, Apollo, Artemi, Hermes, na Muses.