Ancient Greece-Mount Olympus, Greece-Archaeological Sites of Mount Olympus Facts on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus, a divine place to be! Mount Olympus was the lightest and most worshipped mountain of Greece. A magnificent place with numerous forests and gorges and summits of different heights, blessed with mild climate, and surrounded by Uranus , the heaven. It never rained on Mount Olympus nor was it ever windy, only some clouds were appearing from time to time to isolate the god's kingdom from the outside world and bless the world with water. The Life of the Gods on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus was the divine kingdom of the Olympian gods .It was in the summits of Mount Olympus where the Olympian Gods once overthrew the Titans during the legendary Battle of the Titans("Titanomachy") and then placed their divine kingdom there. Every Olympian God had his own palace, which was mostly used as a dormitory. The gods were living their lives with a similar rhythm to the mortals, obeying to rules, abiding to customs and gathering from time to time in the main palace, the palace of Zeus, for small conferences.

The Olympian Gods used to socialize during dining time, where they were taking decisions on the fate of the world and the mortals while eating ambrosia and drinking nectar. The Olympians had a whole staff at their service, like doctors, servants, preachers and doorkeepers, the Horae , who had the mission to open and close the gates of Mount Olympus to the outside world. However, should a god break an oath, he would be cursed to live nine years away from Mount Olympus and not be able to take part in any of the gods' gatherings. [2] Facts on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus is the highest mountain of Greece and the second highest in the Balkans. - It is raised close to the village of Litochoron in Northern Thessaly, in the borders of the prefectures of Pieria and Larissa.

-Its tallest point is called "Mytika" or "Pantheon" (2.917 m.) Search 1000+ images about Greek mountain on Pinterest | Skiing, Goddesses and Friend photos Forward /// OLYMPUS /// is the highest mountain in Greece, located in the Olympus Range on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 80 km (50 mi) southwest from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks.[2] The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres (9,570 ft).[3] It is one of the highest peaks in Europe in terms of topographic prominence. See More The sacred mountains of Greek mythology | protothemanews.com The sacred mountains of Greek mythology Feb, 03 2015 Author: newsroom A list of the most beautiful Greek mountains featured in Greek mythology The imposing mountains of the Greek nature have always played an important part in the life of Greeks, who incorporated them in their myths and legends as sacred places full of spiritual energy.

Since ancient times, the mysterious rocky peaks of the Greek landscape were thought of as the abode of Gods and mythical creatures that drew their power from the clear sky, the rocks and the lush vegetation covering them. Nowadays, the Greek mountains are popular destinations among outdoor enthusiasts, as they offer the ideal environment for hiking, fishing, four wheeling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, climbing and camping. However, their spiritual energy can still be felt by those who visit them with an open mind and a desire to escape from the hectic life of the city. See below a list of the most beautiful Greek mountains featured in Greek mythology Mount Olympus The highest mountain peak in Greece, it was regarded in ancient times as the home of the Greek Gods. It was also considered the site of the War of the Titans, where Zeus and his siblings defeated the Titans. Mount Othrys This beautiful mountain in Central Greece was believed to be the home of the Titans during the ten-year war with the Gods of Mount Olympus.

Mount Ida Located in the Rethymno regional unit in Crete, this mountain was sacred to the Greek Titaness Rhea, and on its slopes lies one of the caves, Idaion Andron, in which, according to legend, Zeus was born. Mount Parnassus This mountain of limestone in central Greece towers above Delphi, north of the Gulf of Corinth, and offers stunning views of the surrounding olive groves. According to Greek mythology, this mountain was sacred to Dionysus and the Dionysian mysteries; it was also sacred to Apollo and the Corycian nymphs, and it was the home of the Muses. Mount Pelion Located at the southeastern part of Thessaly in central Greece, it forms a hook-like peninsula between the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea. In Greek mythology, Mount Pelion was the homeland of Chiron the Centaur, tutor of many ancient Greek heroes, such as Jason, Achilles, Theseus and Heracles. Ancient Greek Myth for Kids: Mount Olympus - Ancient Greek & Roman Gods for Kids Ancient Greek Gods for Kids Mount Olympus Is Mount Olympus a real place? Yes. Mount Olympus is Greece's highest mountain.

Today, Mount Olympus is one of Greece's national parks. Thousands of years ago, this real mountain was believed by the ancient Greek people to be the mountain top home of some pretty powerful gods. According to ancient Greek mythology, when things had to be decided in the mystical world, a council of 12 gods called the Olympians met on Mount Olympus to discuss things. The 12 Olympian gods all kept a home on Mount Olympus. Hades was rarely in residence. He preferred his home in the Underworld. Poseidon preferred his palace under the sea. But the rest of the Olympians could be found on Mount Olympus year around unless they were off traveling, causing trouble somewhere. Perseus Perseus See More Perseus Pictures > According to the myth, there once was a king named Acrisius , who had a beautiful daughter named Danae . The Oracle of Apollo told Acrisius that there would come a day when Danae 's son would kill him; so he locked Danae in a bronze tower so that she would never marry or have children. The tower had no doors, except for one very small window.

Danae was very sad, until one day, a bright golden light came through the small window; a man appeared holding a thunderbolt in his hand and although Danae knew he was a god, she didn't know which one. The man said, "Yes, I am a god and I wish to make you my wife. I can turn this dark prison into a wonderful, sunny and blooming land." Indeed, the horrible prison turned into fields as beautiful as the Elysian Fields themselves, but one day Acrisius saw light coming out of the small window. He told his men to tear down one of the walls. When he entered, he saw Danae smiling and holding a baby on her lap. This was Perseus . Acrisius was furious, so he locked Danae and baby Perseus in a large chest and cast them out to sea. Somehow, they managed to arrive safely to the island of Seriphos, where Polydectes ruled. The king's brother, Dictys, who was a fisherman, caught the chest in his net and pulled it to shore, freeing Danae and her son. Perseus grew up to become a strong young man.

Polydectes heard about Danae and asked her in marriage, but she rejected him. If it wasn't for Perseus , Polydectes would have married Danae by force; so the king decided to create a plan to get rid of the young man. Polydectes pretended to marry the daughter of his friend. Everybody had to bring a wedding present, including Perseus . However, Perseus , being poor, had not brought anything, and Polydectes pretended to be furious. After a heated discussion, Perseus said he would bring him anything the king would ask; so Polydectes asked for the head of the Gorgon Medusa . Perseus set forth on his adventure; he wandered for days, searching for the Gorgons lair. One night, in an unknown country he realized how hopeless things were. Medusa was a horrible creature, who had snakes growing out of her head instead of hair, and a terrifying gaze that literary petrified anyone who would look into her eyes. In his despair, a tall woman and a young man with winged sandals appeared and introduced themselves as goddess Athena and god Hermes .

Hermes said that they were all siblings as Perseus was in fact the son of Zeus , so they would help him in his quest; so Hermes offered him his winged sandals and the sickle that was used by Cronus to castrate Uranus ; while Athena gave him her shield, so that Perseus would not have to look straight into Medusa 's eyes. They also gave him further information on how to find the lair of Medusa . So Perseus went to the cave of the Graeae , who would lead him further in his adventure. The Graeae were three women who shared a single eye among them. So, when one of them was about to give the eye to one of the others, Perseus grabbed it and blackmailed them to aid him. So, the Graeae informed him that he should find the Nymphs of the North to get the Cap of Darkness which would make him invisible, as well as a magic bag. After getting these two items, Perseus eventually went to the lair of Medusa and her sisters, whom he found sleeping.

He wore the Cap of Darkness, and unseen managed to kill Medusa using the sickle; he then used the shield to carry the head and place it into the magic bag, for even though it was dead, the head still have the potential to turn someone into stone. Medusa 's sisters woke up and attacked Perseus , but he flew away using his winged sandals. On his way back to Seriphus, he had many adventures; in one of them, he came across the Titan Atlas , who was condemned to carry the heavens on his shoulders. To release him of his pain, Perseus turned him into stone using Medusa 's head, so that he would no longer feel the weight of his burden. Later on, he saw what looked like a statue chained to a rock, so he went to investigate. He saw that it was not a statue, but a woman, and asked her why she was chained to the rock. "My name is Andromeda", she replied, "and I have been punished because of my vain mother. She boasted that I was more beautiful than the Nereids . Poseidon was angered and said that I must be sacrificed to a sea monster," she said.

Even as she spoke a monster rose from the sea. Perseus pulled Medusa 's head out of the bag; the sea monster turned to stone and crumbled to pieces. Perseus cut Andromeda 's chains and took her to her father, King Cepheus of Phoenicia. When Perseus asked Andromeda 's hand in marriage, Cepheus gladly agreed. So, Perseus and Andromeda set off for Seriphus. On the way they stopped at Larisa, so Perseus could compete in some games that were held at that time; however, when he threw a discus, it hit an old man who instantly died. The man was Acrisius and therefore, the prophecy became true; after mourning, Perseus and Andromeda set off again. When they arrived at Seriphus, the first person they met was Dictys, the fisherman who had brought Danae and Perseus ashore many years ago. Dictys told them how Polydectes had never really married, but since Danae wouldn't marry Polydectes , he forced her to be his handmaiden.

Perseus was furious, so he asked Dictys to take care of Andromeda , in order to avenge for his mother's mistreatment. Perseus stormed to the palace, walked in and said, "Let all who are my friends shield their eyes!" So saying he raised Medusa 's head and Polydectes and his courtiers were immediately turned to stone. Perseus and Andromeda lived happily for many years and their descendants became great kings, the greatest of them all being Heracles , the strongest man in the world. Eventually, Perseus was killed by Dionysus . To be immortalised, Perseus and Andromeda were turned into stars and would live together in the sky. Clash of the Titans (the movie) Clash of the Titans is a 2010 fantasy film (remake of the 1981 film of the same name), loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus . (CAREFUL, SPOILERS FOLLOW!!!) The film begins with a narration describing how the Olympians managed to overthrow their own creators, the Titans , through the aid of the Kraken , Zeus 's creation.

After their fierce struggle, Zeus (Liam Neeson) became the King of the Gods, his brother, Poseidon (Danny Huston), the Lord of the Seas, and their brother, Hades (Ralph Fiennes), tricked by Zeus to rule the sickening Underworld in chaos and terror. A coffin is then seen drifting through the sea before it is rescued by a fisherman, Spyros (Pete Postlethwaite). When Spyros opens it, he discovers the baby Perseus and his mother, Danae , inside and raises the boy as his own. Perseus does not know who his real father and mother are, and worries that he will be neglected when his adoptive parents have a child of their own, but Spyros reassures him of his love. Years later, Perseus (Sam Worthington) and his family are fishing when they witness a group of soldiers from Argos destroying a massive statue of Zeus , effectively declaring war on the gods. Immediately following the fall of the statue, Zeus rises from the ocean, killing most of the soldiers and then destroying the boat Perseus and his family are on.

Perseus attempts to save his family from the sinking boat, but is unable to, and passes out on driftwood from the wreckage. The surviving soldiers find him and take him back to Argos . When King Cepheus (Vincent Regan) and Queen Cassiopeia (Polly Walker) of Argos , at a feast for the returning soldiers, compare themselves to the gods and compare the beauty of their daughter, Andromeda (Alexa Davalos), to that of Aphrodite , Zeus appears again, killing the remaining soldiers. When Perseus is unaffected by his attack, Zeus realizes he is a demigod, and tells him of his true father, himself. Zeus kills the queen, and demands that Argos further pay for its insolence and vanity; in 10 days, the Kraken will be released, and if the princess Andromeda is not sacrificed, then Argos will be destroyed. Zeus then seeks out the gods on Mount Olympus and convinces Zeus to agree to his plan in order to punish mankind for their lack of love. Initially, the Argives see Perseus as an agent of the gods and imprison him, but the king later seeks his help.

A woman named Io (Gemma Arterton), who has been watching over Perseus his entire life, advises him that the only way to avenge the death of his family is to agree to the king's wishes and attempt to defeat the Kraken . He is sent out with a small group of soldiers, led by Draco (Mads Mikkelsen), along with Io to seek the Stygian Witches, while Zeus visits Acrisius (Jason Flemyng), a disfigured man who was married to Danae when Zeus impregnated her with Perseus . When Acrisius planned to kill his wife and the newborn Perseus , Zeus sent down a thunderbolt from Olympus, badly scarring and disfiguring Acrisius ' entire body. To help him achieve his goals, Zeus imbues him with superhuman powers to enable him to kill Perseus . Acrisius attacks the Argive group, killing several, and even when his hand is severed in the fight, his blood falling on the sand causes giant scorpions to rise from the desert and continue the attack.

Perseus and the Argives manage to kill the first two scorpions, but are surrounded by three more, even larger than the first. As they are about to attack, the scorpions are suddenly calmed by a group of Djinn, gentle and benevolent Sand-Demons with magical powers. There is initially mistrust between the two groups, until the chief heals Perseus of grave injuries sustained during the fight, and the two sides agree to cooperate. Perseus and his group, via the scorpions, arrive at the barren, rocky "Garden of Stygia", the site where the Gods ended the Great War and defeated the Titans . They find the three Stygian Witches, who are hideous and share one eye. They tell Perseus , after he threatens to throw their eye off the mountain, that Medusa 's head will be able to kill the Kraken , but that he will die in the process. The soldiers go to the Underworld, where Medusa lives in seclusion in a temple, and only the soldiers enter (Io cannot because she is a woman).

Medusa turns all the remaining soldiers into stone, the Djinn destroys himself with his heart, weakening Medusa , and Draco, who is gravely injured by one of Medusa 's arrows early in the fight, rescues a cornered Perseus by skewering Medusa with a stone pillar from the ceiling and allows himself to be turned to stone in order to give Perseus a clear shot at Medusa 's head. Perseus , eyes shut, kills Medusa . As he exits the temple, Acrisius returns and stabs Io . Perseus fights him again and, this time, successfully kills him, which turns Acrisius back to human form. Io dies, telling Perseus "this is the part of the journey you do alone..." Perseus finds Pegasus and flies back to Argos as the Kraken is being released, thus destroying the city. As a priest is about to sacrifice Andromeda , Zeus appears, and has his creatures attack Perseus and steal Medusa 's head. Perseus defeats the creatures and regains the head, as well as successfully turning the Kraken to stone before it consumes Andromeda .

Zeus appears once more and boasts that he cannot die because he is immortal; but Perseus throws his sword, charged together with Zeus 's lightning at him which banishes him to the Underworld. Perseus then saves Andromeda from drowning when the apparatus used to restrain her falls into the ocean, but refuses to become king of Argos . In the final scene, Perseus stands at the broken statue of Zeus seen at the beginning. Zeus appears and offers to make Perseus a god on Olympus; but he refuses. Zeus notes that Zeus will return one day for revenge when mankind is in fear. Zeus states that if Perseus is still intent to stay on earth then he might give him a gift since he is the son of Zeus after all. A resurrected Io appears before Perseus , and the two begin to embrace while Pegasus flies above them. Greece, A History of Ancient Greece, Mythology A History of Ancient Greece, Mythology Greek Mythology, are the beliefs and ritual observances of the ancient Greeks, who became the first Western civilization about 2000 BC. It consists mainly of a body of diverse stories and legends about a variety of gods.

Greek mythology had become fully developed by about the 700s BC. Three classic collections of myths�Theogony by the poet Hesiod and the Iliad and the Odyssey by the poet Homer�appeared at about that time. Greek mythology has several distinguishing characteristics. The Greek gods resembled humans in form and showed human feelings. Unlike ancient religions such as Hinduism or Judaism, Greek mythology did not involve special revelations or spiritual teachings. It also varied widely in practice and belief, with no formal structure, such as a church government, and no written code, such as a sacred book. PRINCIPAL GODS The Greeks believed that the gods chose Mount Olympus, in a region of Greece called Thessaly (Thessalia), as their home. On Olympus, the gods formed a society that ranked them in terms of authority and powers. However, the gods could roam freely, and individual gods became associated with three main domains�the sky or heaven, the sea, and earth. The 12 chief gods, usually called the Olympians, were Zeus, Hera, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hestia, Hermes, Demeter, and Poseidon.

Zeus was the head of the gods, and the spiritual father of gods and people. His wife, Hera, was the queen of heaven and the guardian of marriage. Other gods associated with heaven were Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworkers; Athena, goddess of wisdom and war; and Apollo, god of light, poetry, and music. Artemis, goddess of wildlife and the moon; Ares, god of war; and Aphrodite, goddess of love, were other gods of heaven. They were joined by Hestia, goddess of the hearth; and Hermes, messenger of the gods and ruler of science and invention. Poseidon was the ruler of the sea who, with his wife Amphitrite, led a group of less important sea gods, such as the Nereids and Tritons. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, was associated with the earth. Hades, an important god but not generally considered an Olympian, ruled the underworld, where he lived with his wife, Persephone. The underworld was a dark and mournful place located at the center of the earth. It was populated by the souls of people who had died.

Dionysus, god of wine and pleasure, was among the most popular gods. The Greeks devoted many festivals to this earthly god, and in some regions he became as important as Zeus. He often was accompanied by a host of fanciful gods, including satyrs, centaurs, and nymphs. Satyrs were creatures with the legs of a goat and the upper body of a monkey or human. Centaurs had the head and torso of a man and the body of a horse. The beautiful and charming nymphs haunted woods and forests. WORSHIP AND BELIEFS Greek mythology emphasized the weakness of humans in contrast to the great and terrifying powers of nature. The Greeks believed that their gods, who were immortal, controlled all aspects of nature. So the Greeks acknowledged that their lives were completely dependent on the good will of the gods. In general, the relations between people and gods were considered friendly. But the gods delivered severe punishment to mortals who showed unacceptable behavior, such as indulgent pride, extreme ambition, or even excessive prosperity. The mythology was interwoven with every aspect of Greek life. Each city devoted itself to a particular god or group of gods, for whom the citizens often built temples of worship.

They regularly honored the gods in festivals, which high officials supervised. At festivals and other official gatherings, poets recited or sang great legends and stories. Many Greeks learned about the gods through the words of poets. Greeks also learned about the gods by word of mouth at home, where worship was common. Different parts of the home were dedicated to certain gods, and people offered prayers to those gods at regular times. An altar of Zeus, for example, might be placed in the courtyard, while Hestia was ritually honored at the hearth. Although the Greeks had no official church organization, they universally honored certain holy places. Delphi, for example, was a holy site dedicated to Apollo. A temple built at Delphi contained an oracle, or prophet, whom brave travelers questioned about the future. A group of priests represented each of the holy sites. These priests, who also might be community officials, interpreted the words of the gods but did not possess any special knowledge or power. In addition to prayers, the Greeks often offered sacrifices to the gods, usually of a domestic animal such as a goat.

ORIGINS Greek mythology probably developed from the primitive religions of the people of Crete (Kr�ti), an island in the Aegean Sea where the region�s first civilization arose about 3000 BC. These people believed that all natural objects had spirits, and that certain objects, or fetishes, had special magical powers. Over time, these beliefs developed into a set of legends involving natural objects, animals, and gods with a human form. Some of these legends survived as part of classical Greek mythology. The ancient Greeks themselves offered some explanations for the development of their mythology. In Sacred History, Euhemerus, a mythographer from the 300s BC, recorded the widespread belief that myths were distortions of history and the gods were heroes who had been glorified over time. The philosopher Prodicus of Ceos taught during the 400s BC that the gods were personifications of natural phenomena, such as the sun, moon, winds, and water. Herodotus, a Greek historian who lived during the 400s BC, believed that many Greek rituals were inherited from the Egyptians.

As Greek civilization developed, particularly during the Hellenistic period, which began about 323 BC, the mythology also changed. New philosophies and the influence of neighboring civilizations caused a gradual modification of Greek beliefs. However, the essential characteristics of the Greek gods and their legends remain unchanged Greek Gods Greek Gods Greek Gods - The Historical Background Greek gods are an integral part of Greek mythology. Our formal knowledge of the ancient Greek gods can be traced back to the writings of Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey (8th century BC). In addition, many scholars believe that the myths were heavily influenced by the Mycenaean culture that existed in Greece between 1700 and 1100 BC. Remarkably, there is evidence that the beginnings of Greek mythology can be traced back to the ancient Middle Eastern cultures of Mesopotamia and Anatolia. There are many similarities between the mythology of these ancient Middle Eastern cultures and the ancient Greeks. Greek Gods - The Religious & Social Background The Greek gods were created by man to explain the world around them, act as a means of exploration, provide legitimacy and authority to ancient Greek aristocracy, and provide entertainment for the masses.

The religion of the ancient Greeks did not have a single source of written scripture such as the Bible or the Qur'an. Furthermore, the ancient Greeks did not believe in absolute truth as practiced by modern faiths such as Christianity and Judaism. Generally, a Greek city-state would devote itself to a particular god or a set of gods, and depending on the location of the city-state, the characteristics of the gods could vary widely. Many city-states erected temples to their particular gods, and these gods were honored in festivals and animal sacrifices. The ancient Greek gods normally took on human form and lived in a society similar to human society. They exhibited all the emotions of human beings and frequently intervened in human history. The most significant difference between the Greek gods and humans was that the gods were immortal and human beings were not. Greek Gods - The Creation Myths It is difficult to trace the ancestry of the ancient Greek gods since there are several creation myths. A combination of the account put together by the Greek Poet Hesiod in the 8th century BC and an account written by the mythographer (compiler of myths) Apollodrous would have been recognized by most ancient Greeks. It was as follows: The god Chaos (gaping void) was the foundation of all creation.

Out of this god arose Gaea (earth), Tartarus (underworld) and Eros (love). The god Eros was necessary to draw Chaos and Gaea together so that they would produce offspring. Chaos then created night and the first born of Gaea was Uranus (god of the heavens). The union of Chaos and Gaea also resulted in the creation of the mountains, seas, and gods known as Titans. The interaction of these early gods resulted in the creation of several other gods. These included well-known figures such as Aphrodite, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus. Zeus eventually waged war on his father (Cronus) and the Titans. As a result of this conflict, Zeus established a new regime on Mt. Olympus. Zeus ruled the sky, his bother Poseidon ruled the seas, and his brother Hades ruled the underworld. The creation of human beings is the result of conflicting myths. Many creation stories held that human beings sprang directly from the ground. In some cases, separate Greek societies had their own unique creation events. This is true for the Arcadians and Thebans, which both trace their beginnings to different earth-born men created in different areas.

One myth states that humans were created out of earth and water, aided by the Titan, Prometheus, with his gift of fire. Greek Gods - The Great Flood The ancient Greeks believed in a flood that destroyed all mankind similar to the account described in the Bible. In the Greek myth, the flood took place during the age of Deucalion 1 (1450 BC). Deucalion 1 and his wife, Pyrrah 1, were warned in advance of the coming deluge and told to construct a chest and fill it with provisions. The source of the coming deluge was the anger of Zeus towards mankind. Zeus had become disgusted at the degeneration of humans, and in particular, the practice of human sacrifice. Zeus assembled the gods and decided to wipe out mankind by water. Deucalion and Pyrrah survived the flood by floating in the chest they built. They floated in the chest for nine days and nine nights and came to rest on a mountain in Phocis. Once Zeus realized that the world was a stagnant pool of water survived only by Deucalion and Pyrrah, he stopped the rains and restored the land.

In order to repopulate the world, the gods instructed the survivors to cast stones over their heads. The stones cast by Deucalion became men and the stones cast by Pyrrah became women. This recreation by stone was used to explain the hardness of the human race. There are a great number of differences between the Greek myth and the account of the flood described in the Bible. For example, there is evidence that the biblical flood took place closer to 2500 BC. Furthermore, unlike the Greek myth, Noah and his family were saved along with sufficient animal life to repopulate the planet. However, both accounts maintain that the world was destroyed as the result of mankind's sin, and the human race was saved as a result of a few individuals leading a righteous life. Read Greek Gods Page 2 Now! WHAT DO YOU THINK? - We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God , the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus , the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried , and rose from the dead according to the Bible .

If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior , declaring, " Jesus is Lord ," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven. What is your response? Greek Mythology: Priapus Greek Mythology Priapus In Greek mythology Priapus or Priapos was described as the son of Aphrodite (the goddess of love) by Dionysus (the wine god). According to legend, Hera cursed him with impotence, ugliness and foul-mindedness while he was still in Aphrodite's womb, in revenge for the Paris having the temerity to judge Aphrodite more beautiful than Hera ( the judgement of Paris ). According to some version, Aphrodite had an affair with Zeus , so jealous Hera cursed Arisedite to core a deformed son (Priapus). The other gods refused to allow Priapus to live on Mt Olympus, and threw him down to Earth, leaving him on a hillside. He was eventually found by shepherds and was brought up by them. Priapus joined Pan and the satyrs as a spirit of fertility.Priapus was the god of the bounty of the vegetable garden.

He was also honoured as the protector of sheep, goats, bees, the vine, gardens, fruit plants and male genitalia. Priapus was described to have lustful nature and permanent erected penis. Priapus is marked by his absurdly over sized, permanent erected penis, which gave rise to the medical term priapism.The ass was sacrificed in his honour, probably because the ass symbolized lecherousness and was associated with the god’s sexual potency. Mount Olympus *** Mount Olympus What was Mount Olympus? Was Mount Olympus real and did it really exist? A very high mountain, called Mount Olympus, is the highest point in Greece and nearly 10,000 feet high. Mount Olympus is located in the northern part of Greece as can be seen on the map of Greece: Location of Mount Olympus shown on the Map of Greece Ancient Greeks and Mount Olympus - Beliefs The Ancient Greeks believed that there were many gods and goddesses who lived above specially protected golden clouds on top of Mount Olympus. During most of the year the mountain top was covered with snow and often shrouded in clouds. The sides of Mount Olympus were very steep, and covered with thick forests of oak and beech trees.

The mountain was so high that mere mortals would not attempt to climb it. The Greeks thought that the palaces of their gods were above the top of Mount Olympus, far out of the reach of men, and hidden from their sight by the protection of the clouds. The Ancient Greeks could easily believe that the gods lived in the secluded domain of Mount Olympus. Greek Gods on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus and the Olympian gods and goddesses A gate of clouds were guarded by the minor goddesses and ministers of Zeus named the Seasons. They would open the gates to permit the passage of the deities to earth, and receive them on their return. There were twelve major gods and goddesses who resided in the magnificent palaces on Mount Olympus, referred to as the Olympian gods or Olympians. They used to meet together in their grand council hall which was presided over by Zeus, the king of the gods. His wife, Hera , was the queen of the gods. The Ancient Greeks believed that the gods met together in a grand council hall on Mount Olympus, and held great feasts, at which they talked over the affairs of the world.

The names of the Greek Olympian gods were Zeus, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, Hestia or Dionysus, Apollo, Ares, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Hephaestus and Hermes. The Greeks believed that the Olympians were a family, and just like mortal families there jealousies, quarrels and arguments. The relationships between the Olympian gods and goddess can be seen from their genealogy, or Family Tree. Life of the Mount Olympus Gods In Greek Mythology the principle Greek gods, were referred to as the Twelve Olympians. They inhabited the area far above the clouds that were visible to men. The home of the gods was described by ancient Greek authors such as Homer who wrote: "No wind ever shakes the untroubled peace of Olympus; no rain ever falls there or snow; but the cloudless firmament stretches around it on all sides and the white glory of sunshine is diffused upon its walls." The entrance to the home of the gods, was a great gate of clouds, which was guarded by minor deities called 'the Seasons' or ' Horae ', the goddesses of time.

Their role was to open the gates to allow the Olympians to visit earth and to receive them on their safe return. Mount Olympus - The Food of the Gods The 12 Olympians attended sumptuous banquets in the council-chamber of the gods and feasted on ambrosia (the food of the gods) and nectar (the drink of the gods). What was nectar? Nectar was a sweet drink made from fermented honey What was ambrosia? Ambrosia was said to be an uncooked mixture of honey, water, fruit, cheese, olive oil and barley The feasts on Mount Olympus were accompanied by music of the lyre which was played by Apollo who was accompanied by the beautiful Muses and Graces. The Muses were the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. The Muses all had wonderful gifts that allowed them to entertain the gods: music, song, poetry, tragedy and comedy. The three Graces were goddesses who presided over the banquet, the dance, and all social enjoyments. Gods on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus - The Hall of the Gods The home of the gods on Mount Olympus was described as a beautiful, heavenly abode, untouched by cold, wind, rains or snow.

The beautiful golden palaces of the gods, built by Hephaestus , were luxurious. Myth and legend tell of the mighty Hall of the Gods where Zeus and Hera held court. The magnificent thrones of Zeus and Hera faced down the Council Hall towards the door leading into the open courtyard. There were seven steps leading up to the throne of Zeus that were enamelled with each of the colors of the rainbow. Three crystal steps led to the throne of Hera. Along the sides of the hall stood ten other golden thrones, five on each side, each one belonging to the other ten Olympians. Mount Olympus - The Thrones of the Gods Zeus has an enormous throne of shiny black marble that was adorned with gold with a bright blue canopy symbolizing that the whole sky belonged to Zeus alone. A ruby-eyed golden eagle perched on the right arm of his throne and a purple ram's fleece covered the cold seat. Zeus used this fleece for magical rain-making in times of drought. The throne of Hera was made of ivory, the back of which was decorated with willow leaves and golden cuckoos. A full moon hung above it, as a canopy.

The seat cushion of her throne was a white cow skin, which she used to make rain to end droughts. Mount Olympus - The Servants of the Gods Hephaestus, the architect of the gods, possessed magical skills as a metal worker that allowed him to make astonishing mechanical devices using gold, silver and bronze. These included fantastic metal robots that served the gods and acted as torch bearers so that the Hall of the gods on Mount Olympus was always bathed with a golden light. These 'robotics' were gold statues that looked like young men and could think and speak. The tripods (chairs and tables) were also magical and could move of themselves in and out of the celestial hall. 20 Facts about Mount Olympus in Greek Mythology Discover interesting information and facts about Mount Olympus. The facts about Mount Olympus provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Mount Olympus in Greek Mythology. 20 Facts about Mount Olympus Fact 1 about Mount Olympus: The height of the mountain is 9570 feet. It is a massive cone-shaped mountain, with eight distinct peaks, the highest being Mytikas.

Fact 2 about Mount Olympus: Mountain Range: Macedonia and Thessaly, near the Gulf of Salonika in North Greece. The mountain was so high that people did not dare to climb it, so the ancient Greeks could literally believe that the gods lived there.

Fact 3 about Mount Olympus: The gods home came into existence following the defeat of the Titans Fact 4 about Mount Olympus: The mountain is snow-capped and often has cloud cover Fact 5 about Mount Olympus: The ancient primordial gods named Ophion and Eurynome ruled over Olympus until they were dethroned by Saturn and Rhea Fact 6 about Mount Olympus: The Titans were then dethroned by Zeus and his brothers and sisters Fact 7 about Mount Olympus: The entrance to Mount Olympus, the home of the gods, was a great gate of clouds, kept by the Seasons Fact 8 about Mount Olympus: In the great hall of the gods they feasted on on ambrosia (the food of the gods) and nectar (the drink of the gods) Fact 9 about Mount Olympus: The minor goddess Hebe is described as being the cupbearer of the gods and she served the gods with nectar and ambrosia until she married Fact 10 about Mount Olympus: The Olympian gods and goddesses were entertained by Apolloï¿½s lyre, the Graces and the Muses.

Worshipping the gods who lived on Mount Olympus Fact 11 about Mount Olympus: No Olympic Games were ever held on the slopes of Mount Olympus! Fact 12 about Mount Olympus: In 1937 Greece declared Mount Olympus, and its surrounding area, as its first National Park Fact 13 about Mount Olympus: The Romans adopted the belief of many aspects of the ancient Greek religion. They also had Olympian gods who were the counterparts of the Greek gods and goddesses but were given Latin names Fact 14 about Mount Olympus: When the sun was set, the Olympian gods retired to sleep in their respective dwellings on Mount Olympus, the earth, the sea or the underworld Fact 15 about Mount Olympus: The Greek God Hephaestus, god of fire and the forge and patron of all craftsmen and metal workers.

He built the golden palaces for all of the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus and fitted them with locks that others could not open Fact 16 about Mount Olympus: Hephaestus also made the weapons, chariots and thrones of the Olympian gods Fact 17 about Mount Olympus: The names of the main Greek Olympian gods were Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hestia or Dionysus, Apollo, Ares, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Hephaestus and Hermes. Fact 18 about Mount Olympus: The names of the main Roman Olympians were Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Minerva, Neptune, Vesta, Apollo, Venus, Ceres and Diana Fact 19 about Mount Olympus: The name 'Olympus' was given to the palace of the gods. Fact 20 about Mount Olympus: The Greek cult of the 12 Olympians can be traced to 6th-century BC Athens Mount Olympus Interesting information and Facts about Mount Olympus Mount Olympus Legends in Greek Mythology associated with Mount Olympus Facts and information about the Ancient World for schools and kids Mount Olympus

Question: According to legend, what mountain was the home of the Greek gods?
Answer: Mount Olympus