Thus, not surprisingly, Dionysus was one of the most beloved deities for Ancient Greeks.ĭionysus was especially popular on the island of Naxos. As you might expect from the god of good times, he is seldom depicted without a crowd of fellow partygoers. Portrayed as both young and old, Dionysus often bragged about being born from Zeus’ thigh. Dionysus was the god of wine, intoxication, revelry, frenzy, and madness. At the same time, Delos emerged as a thriving commercial port. Delos served as the symbolic heart of Ancient Greek shared identity. It also boasts the best-preserved residential quarter of Ancient Greece. Part sanctuary part ancient equivalent of the Federal Reserve, Delos is home to the great temple of Apollo. However, the rise of Athens eventually set the course for war against (This is!) Sparta in the Peloponnesian War of 431-404 BCE. The league’s vast treasury was also based on the island for many years. Indeed, at Delos, the Athenians seized on Greek city-state solidarity against the Persian Empire to forge the Delian League in 477 BCE. Delos is only reached via a brief ferry ride from neighboring Mykonos.įor historian David Abulafia, Apollo’s cult at Delos was the most influential religious cult in the Aegean. Without question, the most significant of these can still be visited today on the island of Delos. Moreover, you’ll rarely see him in artistic renderings without a bow or lyre.Ī beloved god among Ancient Greeks, Apollo had many temples and shrines dedicated in his honor. Apollo often appears as a youthful figure. He was at once the god of music, the arts, prophecy, and medicine. Son of Zeus | Popular | Patron of the ArtsĪpollo certainly ranks as one of the more versatile of the Greek gods. And with that, let’s take a quick tour of Mount Olympus and the Greek islands favored by the gods. Whether you’re planning an island-hopping trip or just here to live it up in Mykonos, plenty of ruins and artifacts connected to the Greek gods await discovery.
With all the love affairs, rivalries, and fights, the gods also produced enough drama to keep any reality tv show running for eternity. From there, they held power to ensure harmony or havoc in Classical Greece. Archaeologists Christopher Mee and Anthony Spawforth tell us the main gods (called the Twelve Olympians) lived on Mount Olympus. So, who are the famous gods, and why were they so important to Ancient Greeks?įor starters, Ancient Greeks looked to a host of gods and goddesses in all aspects of daily life. At the same time, others are said to have lived in one of Greece’s hundreds of islands. In fact, according to myth, many gods call an island their birthplace. But like you, the Greek gods were huge fans of the Greek islands. You have something in common with the Greek gods of mythology. Famous Greek Gods & Goddesses and Where to Find Them Today
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