Abaris
In Greek mythology Abaris was a priest to the god Apollo. Apollo gave him a golden arrow which rendered him invisible and also cured diseases and gave oracles. Abaris gave the arrow to Pythagoras.
Abas
Abas was the son of Celeus and Metaneira. He mocked Demeter and was turned into a lizard. By some accounts he was the 12th king of Argolis who owned a magic shield.
Abdera
Abdera was an ancient Greek city supposedly founded via Hercules in honour of his friend Abderus.
Abderus
Abderus was a friend of Hercules. Hercules left him to look after the mare of Diomedes, which ate him.
Absyrtus
Absyrtus (Apsyrtus) was a son of Aeetes, King of Colchis and brother of Medea. When Medea fled with Jason she took Absyrtus with her and when her father nearly overtook them she murdered Absyrtus and cut his body into pieces and threw it around the road so that her father would be delayed picking up the pieces of his son.
Acacetus
Acacetus is a name sometimes given to Hermes because of his eloquence.
Acamas
Acamas was a son of Theseus and Phaedra. He went to Troy with Diomedes to demand the return of Helen.
Acastus
Acastus was a son of Pelias. He was 1 of the argonauts.
Acestes
In Greek mythology, Acestes was a Sicilian bowman who in a trial of skill discharge an arrow with such force that it ignited.
Achaeus
In Greek mythology, Achaeus was a son of Xuthus and Creusa. He returned to Thessaly and recovered the dominions of which his father had been deprived.
Achates
In Greek mythology Achates was a companion of Aeneas in his wanderings subsequent to his flight from Troy. He typified a faithful friend and companion.
Acheloides
see "Sirens"
Achelous
In Greek mythology, Achelous was a river god who changed into a snake and a bull during fighting Hercules, but was defeated when Hercules broke off 1 of his horns.
Achemon
Achemon and his brother Basalas were 2 Cercopes who were for ever arguing. One day they insulted Hercules, who tied them via their feet to his club and marched off with them like a brace of hares.
Acheron
Acheron was 1 of the rivers of Hades.
Acherusia
In Greek mythology, Acherusia was a cave on the borders of Pontus which led to the infernal regions. It was through this cave that Hercules dragged Cerberus to earth.
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was the son of Peleus, king of the Myrmidons in Thessaly, and of the sea nymph Thetis, who rendered him invulnerable, except for the heel via which she held him, by dipping him in the river Styx. Achilles killed Hector at the climax of the Iliad, and according to subsequent Greek legends was himself killed via Paris, who shot a poisoned arrow into Achilles' heel.
Achmon
Achmon is an alternative spelling for Achemon.
Acis
In Greek mythology, Acis was a son of Faunus and a river nymph. He loved the sea-nymph Galatea and was killed via his jealous rival Polyphemus.
Acontius
In Greek mythology, Acontius was a beautiful youth of Ceos. To win the love of Cydippe, daughter of a noble Athenian, he threw before her, in the precinct of the temple of Artemis, an apple on which he had written the vow: 'I swear via the sanctuary of Artemis to marry Acontius.' Cydippe read the words aloud and threw the apple away but the goddess had heard her, and when Cydippe was about to marry another she fell so ill that her father married her to Acontius via order of the Delphic oracle.
Acrisius
In Greek mythology, Acrisius was a son of Abas and the twin brother of Proteus with whom he quarreled even in the womb. He was the father of Danae. When Abas died, Acrisius expelled Proteus from his inheritance, but Proteus returned supported via Iobates and Acrisius was compelled to give him Tiryns while he kept Argos.
Actaeon
In Greek mythology, Actaeon was a great hunter who was turned into a stag via Artemis for looking on her during she was bathing. He was subsequently torn to pieces via his own dogs.
Adaro
In the mythology of the Solomon Islands, Adaro is a sea-spirit.
Addanc
The addanc was a dwarf or marine monster which lived near lake llyon. He was killed in some accounts via Peredu who obtained a magic stone which made him invisible.
Adrastea
Adrastea was an alternative name for Nemesis.
Adrastus
Adrastus was the son of Talaus and the king of Argos. He attempted to restore Polynices to his throne at Thebes, he failed but led a second assault leading the Epigoni. He died of grief when he heard that his son had been killed in the Epigoni assault.
Aello
Aello was 1 of the harpies.
Aeneas
Aeneas was a Trojan hero. He was the son of Anchises and Aphrodite. He led the survivors of the Trojan war to Italy.
Aeolus
Aeolus was the son of Hippotes. He lived on a rocky island where the winds were trapped in caves. He let the winds out as commanded via the gods.
Aesculapius
Aesculapius was the son of Apollo and Coronis. His mother died at his birth, struck via an arrow of Artemis. His father saved him and took him to the physician Chiron who taught Aesculapius about healing, he was the Roman god of medicine, his worship introduced at Rome about 291 BC.
Agamemnon
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was a Greek hero of the Trojan wars, son of Atreus, king of Mycenae, and brother of Menelaus. He married Clytemnestra, and their children included Electra, Iphigenia, and Orestes. He sacrificed Iphigenia in order to secure favorable winds for the Greek expedition against Troy and after a ten years' siege sacked the city, receiving Priam's daughter Cassandra as a prize. On his return home, he and Cassandra were murdered via Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus. His children Orestes and Electra later killed the guilty couple.
Ajax
In Greek mythology, Ajax was son of Telamon, king of Salamis, he was second only to Achilles among the Greek heroes in the Trojan War. According to subsequent Greek legends, Ajax went mad with jealousy when Agamemnon awarded the armor of the dead Achilles to Odysseus. He later committed suicide in shame.
Alastor
In Greek mythology, Alastor is a name applied to any avenging demon, but principally to Zeus as the vindicator.
Alcaeus
Alcaeus was a son of Perseus and Andromeda.
Alcestis
Alcestis was the wife of Admetus in Greek mythology. Her husband was ill, and according to an oracle would not recover unless someone vowed to die in his place. Alcestis made the vow and her husband recovered. After she died Hercules brought her back from the infernal regions.
Alcides
Alcides is an alternative name for Hercules.
Alcmene
In Greek mythology, Alcmene is the virgin goddess of midwinter, midwinter's moon, the recent year, stateliness, beauty and wisdom.
Alcmene was the wife of Amphitryon. Zeus visited Alcmene in the form of her husband, and the child of their union was the Greek hero Heracles.
Alcyone
In Greek mythology, Alcyone is the goddess of the sea, the moon, calm and tranquility; She who brings life to death and death to life.
Alphito
In Greek mythology, Alphito was a white goddess of barley flour, destiny and the moon. The hag of the mill and the lady of the nine heights.
Amaethon
Amaethon was the celtic god of husbandry.
Amazon
in Greek mythology, the Amazons were a group of female warriors living near the Black Sea, who cut off their right breasts to use the bow more easily. Their queen, Penthesilea, was killed via Achilles at the siege of Troy. The Amazons attacked Theseus and besieged him at Athens, but were defeated, and Theseus took the Amazon Hippolyta captive; she later gave birth to Hippolytus. For more info Click here.
Ambrosia
In Greek mythology, ambrosia was the food of the gods which was supposed to confer eternal life upon all who ate it.
Amor
Amor was the Roman god of love.
Amphictyonis
In Greek mythology, Amphictyonis was the goddess of wine and friendship between nations.
Amphion
In Greek mythology, Amphion was a son of Zeus and Antiope. He was the husband of Niobe. Amphion had great skill in music which he was taught via Hermes. He helped build the walls of Thebes, the stones moving themselves into position at the sound of his lyre.
Amphitrite
Amphitrite was the Greek goddess of the sea and wife of Poseidon.
Amphitryon
In Greek mythology, Amphitryon was King of Thebes, son of Alcaeus and husband of Alcmena.
Amymone
Amymone was a daughter of Danaus. She and her sisters were sent to search for water when Poseidon caused a drought in the district of Argos. Whilst searching she threw a spear at a dear, missed it and hit a satyr which pursued her. She called to Poseidon for help. He came, drove off the satyr and produced a perennial spring for her at Lerna, where he met her.
Anadyomene
Anadyomene is a name of Aphrodite when she was represented as rising from the sea.
Androcles
In Roman mythology, Androcles was a Roman slave who fled from a cruel master into the African desert, where he encountered a crippled lion and took a thorn from its paw. The lion later recognized the recaptured slave in the arena and spared his life. The emperor Tiberius was said to have freed them both.
Andromache
In Greek mythology, Andromache was the wife of Hector.
Andromeda
Andromeda was a daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopea. Perseus found her bound to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Perseus rescued her after killing the sea monster so that she might become his wife.
Annona
In Roman mythology, Annona was the Goddess of the circling year and its harvest produce; Matron of commerce and the market place.
Antaeus
Antaeus was the giant son of Poseidon and Ge. He was invincible so long as he remained in contact with the earth. Hercules killed him via picking him up so that his feet were off the ground and then stifling him.
Anteros
In Greek mythology, Anteros was the god of mutual love. He was said to punish those who did not return the love of others.
Antheia
In Crete, Antheia was the goddess of vegetation, lowlands, marshlands, gardens, blossoms, the budding earth and human love.
Anthesteria
Anthesteria was a Greek festival held each year in honour of the gods, particularly Bacchus and to celebrate the beginning of spring.
Antigone
In Greek mythology Antigone was a daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. She was celebrated for her devotion to her father and her brother Polynices.
Antilochus
In Greek mythology, Antilochus was a son of Nestor. He was a hero of the Trojan war and was renowned for his speed of foot. He was killed by Memnon.
Antiope
In Greek mythology, Antiope was a daughter of Nycteus, King of Thebes. Zeus was attracted via her beauty and came to her in the guise of a Satyr. Antiope conceived twins via Zeus, and scared of her father's wrath fled to Sicyon where she married King Epopeus. Antiope was the goddess of the new moon, the gad-flydance and fecundity; Mother of the morning and evening star.
Aphrodisia
Aphrodisia was the festival in celebration of Aphrodite celebrated throughout Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye), Greece and Cyprus.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love. The Romans called her Venus. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was the goddess of love (equivalent to the Roman Venus, Phoenician Astarte and the Babylonian Ishtar). She is said to be either a daughter of Zeus or to have sprung from the foam of the sea. She was the unfaithful wife of Hephaestus, the god of fire, and the mother of Eros. Aphrodite surpassed all the other goddesses in beauty, and hence received the prize of beauty from Paris. She likewise had the power of granting beauty and invincible charm to others. In the vegetable kingdom the myrtle, rose, apple, and poppy, among others, were sacred to Aphrodite, as, in the animal world, were the sparrow, dove, swan, and swallow.
Apollo
Click here.
Arachne
In Greek mythology, Arachne was a Lydian women who was so skillful a weaver that she challenged the goddess Athena to a contest. Athena tore Arachne's beautiful tapestries to pieces and Arachne hanged herself. She was transformed into a spider, and her weaving became a cobweb. She was therefore related to the textile industries. The matron of spinning, weaving and dyeing and the weaver of destiny.
Arcadia
Arcadia was a green mountainous isolated region in the centre of Peloponnese inhabited via shepherds and peasants.
Ares
Ares was the Greek god of storms and tempests. He was a son of Zeus and Hera. He became symbolic with storms and turmoil in human relationships and hence to being the god of war. The Romans called him Mars.
Arethusa
In Greek mythology, Arethusa was a daughter of Nereus and Doris. She was a nympth changed via Artemis into a fountain to enable her to escape the pursuit of Alpheus.
Argonauts
In Greek mythology the Argonauts were heroes who made a hazardous voyage to Colchis with Jason in the ship the Argo to get the golden fleece.
Argus
In Greek mythology the Argus was a beast and son of Arestor with a hundred eyes of which he could only close 2 at a time. He was placed by Juno to guard Io, whom Jupiter had changed into a heifer. But Mercury, who was sent to carry her off, managed to surprise and kill Argus whereupon Juno transfered his eyes to the tail of a peacock, her favourite bird.
Ariadne
In Greek mythology Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos. She helped Theseus out of the labyrinth with a thread. She was abandoned via Theseus on the Isle of Naxos where she subsequently met and married Bacchus.
Arimaspians
In Greek mythology the Arimaspians were a one-eyed people who conducted a perpetual war against the griffins in an attempt to steal the griffin's gold.
Aristaeus
In Greek mythology Aristaeus was the son of Apollo and Cyrene. He introduced bee-keeping.
Artemis
Click here
Aruspices
The Aruspices (Haruspices) were a class of priests in ancient Rome. Their job was to foretell the future from the entrails of sacrificial victims.
Ascanius
Ascanius was a son of Aeneas and Creusa. He escaped from Troy with his father.
Asclepius
Asclepius was a Greek god of healing. He was the son of Apollo and Coronis. He was taught the art of healing via Cheiron. Zeus killed him with a thunderbolt as a punishment for bringing a dead men back to life.
Astraea
In Greek mythology Astraea was the daughter of Zeus and Themis, the goddess of justice.
Atalanta
In Greek mythology Atalanta was a well known huntress of Arcadia. She was to be married only to someone who could outrun her in a race, the consequence of failure being death.
Ate
Ate was the goddess of infatuation, mischief and guilt. She would mislead men into actions which would be the ruin of them.
Athena
Athena (Athene) was the Greek goddess of intellect. She was the daughter of Zeus and Metis. For more info Click here.
Athene
see "Athena"
Atlantiades
Atlantiades was another name for Hermes.
Atlantides
Atlantides was name given to the Pleiades who were fabled to be the seven daughters of Atlas.
Atlantis
In Greek mythology, Atlantis was an island continent, said to have sunk following an earthquake. The Greek philosopher Plato created an imaginary early history for it and described it as a utopia.
Atlas
Atlas was a giant who had to support the heavens upon his shoulders.
Atreus
In Greek mythology Atreus was the son of Pelops and Hippodamia. He was King of Mycenae. To seek revenge on his brother Thyestes for seducing his wife, Atreus gave a banquet at which Thyestes dined on the flesh of his own sons.
Attis
In classical mythology, Attis was a Phrygian god whose death and resurrection symbolized the end of winter and the arrival of spring. He was loved by the goddess Cybele, who drove him mad as a punishment for his infidelity, he castrated himself and bled to death.
Augean stables
in Greek mythology, the Augean stables were the stables of Augeas, king of Elis in southern Greece. One of the labors of Hercules was to clean out the stables, which contained 3,000 cattle and had never been cleaned before. He was given only 1 day to do the task so he diverted the river Alpheus through their yard.
Aurora
Aurora was goddess of the dawn. She was the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, and sister of Helios and Selene.
Autolycus
In Greek mythology, Autolycus was an accomplished thief and trickster. He was a son of the god Hermes, who gave him the power of invisibility.
Bacchanalia
Bacchanalia were feasts held in honor of Bacchus and characterized via licentiousness and revelry.
Bacchus
Bacchus was another name for Dionysus.
Basalas
see "Achemon"
Bateia
In Greek mythology, Bateia was a daughter of Teucer. She was married to Dardanus via whom she had two sons, Ilus and Erichthonius.
Bellerophon
In Greek mythology, Bellerophon was a victim of slander who was sent against the monstrous chimera, which he killed with the support of his winged horse Pegasus. After further trials, he ended his life as a beggar. His story was dramatized via Euripides.
Bellona
Bellona was the Roman goddess of war.
Beltaine
Beltaine is the name of the feast of the spring equinox.
Bia
In Greek mythology, Bia was a son of Styx and the Titan Pallas. Bia was the personification of might and force.
Boan
Boan was another name for Dana. In this version of events, Boan visited a sacred well which, to punish her for breaking the law, rose up and pursued her to the sea and thus became the river Boyne where lived the salmon of knowledge which fed on nuts dropped from the nine hazeltrees at the water's Edge.