Classics Unveiled Home
Olympian Gods
Titans
Lesser Gods
Other Notable Characters
The Creation
Early Heroes
Great Heroes
Quest of the Golden Fleece
Story of Lovers
Trojan War
Genealogical Charts
Picture Gallery
Writers of Myths
Other Myth Links
Myth Game
Recognition
Feedback
Help

     

Lesser Gods

Muses

The Muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. They were known for the music of their song, which brought joy to any who hear it. There are nine Muses, each with her own specialty: Clio (History), Urania (Astronomy), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato (Love Poetry), Polyhymnia (Songs to the Gods), Euterpe (Lyric Poetry).

Return to Top

Nereus

Nereus was an early god of the sea. He was often refered to as "The Old Man of the Sea." He had the ability to foretell the future and to alter himself into various shapes. He married Doris and had fifty daughters called the Nereids. Among these 50 included Amphitrite, the mother of Triton and Thetis, the mother of Achilles.

Return to Top

Nemesis

Nemesis meant righteous anger, due enactment, or divine vengeance. This god helped to avenge those who were wronged.

Return to Top

Pan

Pan was the son of Hermes. He was the god of goatherds and shepherds. He was mostly human in appearance but, with goat horns and goat feet. He was an excellent musician and played the pipes. He is merry and playful frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He was at home in any wild place but, his favorite was Arcady, where he was born. He was always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but, always rejected because he is ugly.

His name was the basis for the word "panic". There are two differing explanations for this. The first was that he was present when Zeus defeated the Titans and claimed that it has his yelling that caused the Titans to flee. However, this seems at odds with his being Hermes' son. The second was that he created the noises in the woods at night the scared travelers.

Return to Top

Persephone

Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. After her abduction by Hades, she became his wife and Queen of the underworld.

Return to Top

Pollux

Pollux was the brother of Castor and Helen. Leda was their mother. Castor and Pollux lived half of their time on earth and half of the time in heaven. Both Castor and Pollux were the protectors of sailors. They were also very powerful in battle.

It was said that only Pollux was divine but because of his love for Castor, the Gods allowed them to spend alternate days on Mount Olympus and in the underworld.

Return to Top

Selene

Selene was the goddess of the moon. She bore Zeus a daughter - Pandia and allowed herself to be seduced by Pan for a good piece of fleece. Her great love was Endymion and handsome king of Elis. She bore him 50 daughters. Still love struck, she offered to grant him a wish. He asked to sleep forever without aging, thus retaining his good looks for all time.

Return to Top

Thanatos

Thanatos was the Greek god of death. He may be thought of as a personification of death. He played little role in the myths. He became rather overshadowed by Hades the lord of the underworld.

Return to Top

Thetis

Thetis was a sea goddess who was the daughter of Nereus and Doris. She was a beautiful goddess who was to have a son greatest than the father. Both Poseidon and Zeus persued her but they shunned her upon discovering that a child bore by her would be greater than themselves. She later married Peleus and bore a son, Achilles who was much greater than Peleus.

Return to Top

Triton

Triton was the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. He was a sea god who conveyed his father's edicts to all the inhabitants of the ocean by blowing a shell.

Return to Top