January 16, 2009 at 8 pm in the domed hall of the library of Bregenz – the capital of the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg – a very interesting event took place, which the press aptly dubbed “Das Ende eine Sisiphosarbeit” – “The End of Sisyphean Labor”.
Dieter Macek, not a philologist or historian, at the age of 33, came to the conclusion that the genealogy of the Greek gods was in a terrible mess, and decided to systematize it slightly. In 1975, he began to compile tables in his spare time from service at the railway station in Dornbirn, drawing data from ancient Greek literature dating back to about 800 BC. and ending with 500 AD, some ancient Roman authors, 84 volumes of the “Real-Encyclopädie der classischen Alterthumswissenschaft” (in the vernacular of Pauli-Wissov), as well as some of modern literature (e.g. Goethe).
To begin with, he trained on Io, creating her first personal genealogy. The work went on, and Machek plunged into it with his head – the next tree was dedicated to the Tantalids. The whole Greek pantheon went on course. Machek retired in 1998, but continued to pursue this gigantic “tree of life.” And now, at 66, he completed this work and presented it to the public.
One and a half meter high pieces of paper with a total length of almost 45 meters include a total of 7686 names (of which 5639 are actually gods and heroes). Genealogy tables accompany explanatory text.
Prof. Raimund Wünsche (this is the director of the Munich Glyptothek and the State Ant. Assembly) called the manual “a work of art” and admitted that he saw many names in it for the first time, and Robert Rollinger (from Uni Innsbruck) honestly admitted that such work would be in academic circles impossible: “the author would be laughed at!”
And now a little about the genealogy of the Greek gods.
The inhabitants of Olympia were the gods who ruled after Zeus. They lived on the top of Mount Olympus, thanks to which they received the nickname “Olympians”. Many of them were children of Chronos and Rhea, but most of them were children of Zeus. The very first Olympic gods were Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis and Hephaestus. Demeter and Dionysus were also assigned to their number. Let’s try to understand the genealogy of the heavenly inhabitants of the ancient world.
Children of Chronos and Rhea
Chronos is a titan, the youngest son of Uranus (heaven) and Gaia (earth). Initially, he was the god of agriculture, later, in the Hellenistic period, he was identified with the god who personified time. Rhea is a titanide in ancient Greek mythology, the mother of the gods. Wife and sister of Chronos. Chronos married Ray, who bore him children. All six were counted among the Olympic gods.
However, Chronos was afraid of the prediction of his mother, Gaia, according to which one of his children, born to him by Rhea, would overthrow him. And therefore swallowed them one by one. So he swallowed Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon, until Rhea secretly gave birth to Zeus, slipping a stone in his diapers instead of Chronos. Zeus grew up and then overthrew and killed his father, after which he released his sisters and brothers languishing in his father’s womb.
After the overthrow of his father and other titans, Poseidon, Hades and Zeus for a long time could not divide the world between themselves. The trident became the symbol of Poseidon’s power. He became the ruler of the seas. He married Amphitrite, the daughter of Nereus and Dorida. Hades during the redistribution of the world went to the kingdom of the dead, into which the rays of the sun never penetrate. He is also known as the god of underground wealth and fertility. He married Persephone. Zeus, the youngest son of Chronos and Rhea, became the head of the family of Olympic gods. His attributes were a shield and a scepter (sometimes also an eagle).
He became the god of heaven, thunder and lightning. And thanks to many children and a large number of connections, he is still considered the god of fertility or fertility. Hestia, the eldest daughter of Chronos. Has gained fame as the keeper of the hearth. Her hands were sought by Poseidon and Apollo, but she decided to remain a virgin. Hera is the third daughter in the family of Chronos and Rhea, who is an example of marital fidelity, the patroness of marriage. She was the wife of her brother, Zeus. She was worshiped throughout Greece, especially in the city of Argos. Demeter is the Greek goddess of fertility and agriculture.
Flesh from the flesh
God Zeus married his sister Hera. He conquered her through deception. Zeus courted her for a long time, but everything was unsuccessful. Then he turned into a cuckoo, which Hera gently pressed to her chest. But at that very moment he took on his real guise and took possession of it. In general, Zeus became famous for his infidelity, so many of his children were born from alliances with other goddesses and mortal women.
Children of Zeus and Hera
Ares is the god of war.
Hephaestus – the god of fire and the patron saint of blacksmithing. Some chronicles mention that Hera allegedly gave birth to Hephaestus not from Zeus in revenge for the fact that he had a daughter, Athena, from another woman.
Children of Zeus from the Immortal Summer
Artemis – the twin sister of handsome Apollo, the virgin, always young goddess of hunting, wild animals, fertility and procreation.
Apollo – the god of the sun, music, medicine and poetry.
Children of Zeus from Dione
Aphrodite – the goddess of love, passion and beauty.
Children of Zeus from Maya
Hermes – the god of commerce, profits and travelers.
Children of Zeus from his first wife Metis
Athena is the goddess of wisdom and just war.
Children of Zeus from Semela
Dionysus. It is said that his mother died before his birth, but Zeus pulled a premature fetus from Semela’s womb, sewn it in his thigh and successfully carried it out. Traditionally considered the god of winemaking.
Genealogical relationships of the ancient Greek gods
Good luck in finding.
