Seven Greek Goddesses- Granddaughters of the Titans

The Seven Goddesses that most people think of are the Olympian goddesses are here described by Agapi Stassinopoulos, born and raised in Athens, Greece. My commets are in italics. Most of these goddesses can be traced to pre-Greek origins and were married off as convenient when the culture shifted to a patriarchal model.

Aphrodite, goddess of sex and death to any who crossed her unto the third generation.

Aphrodite Goddess of love, beauty and passion. She is also the goddess of jealousy, and many of the stories of the gods center around someone that Aphrodite wanted to punish, including the Minotaur, the Trojan War and Cupid & Psyche.

Her lesson: “It is what I am, not what I do, that is valuable about me.” Modern day counterparts: Sophia Loren, Uma Thurman, Faith Hill.

Athena, goddess of wisdom, war, and most of the artisan crafts

Athena Goddess of wisdom, justice, the arts, mercy and compassion. Born from the head of Zeus after he killed or imprisoned her mother, Metis, she carried the aegis of power that belonged to Zeus, and her totems were the snake and the owl, both symbols of wisdom.

Her lesson: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Modern day counterparts include Judge Judy, Gloria Steinem, Marcia Clarke.

Artemis, goddes of the hunt, and of childbirth.

Artemis Goddess of independence, power and strength. Artemis did not marry, one of th every few who remained single, though she had her girlfriends. She was a patroness of children and childbirth, however, and a protectore of animals, even though she hunted them. A prince who saw her bathing was turned into a stag and torn to bits by his own hunting dogs.

Her lesson: “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” Modern day counterparts: Jane Goodall, Venus Williams.

Persephone goddess of the underworld, of weath and rebirth

Persephone Goddess of death, rebirth and transformation. Few people know much about Persephone other than that she was abducted by Hades, lord of th eUnderworld without her mother Demeter’s concent, but with consent of her father Zeus.  She was in her own right goddess of wealth that comes from the earth, metals and jewels. She was able to help the shades or ghosts of people in the afterlife to forget who they had been, which helped them be at peace.

Her lesson: “If you admit and own your negative feelings, you can have authority over them.” Madonna, Cher, Angelina Jolie, Winona Ryder.

Demeter, the nurturing mother goddess of grain

Demeter Goddess of fertility and nurturing. Demeter managed all the growing of crops and reproduction of animals, which she cut off when her daughter was abducted, out of anger or depression, depending on the story you read. The other gods didn’t much care until they stopped getting sacrifices, then they were willing to negotiate. 

Her lesson: “Nurturing and generosity to all of humanity, including our families, encircles our lives with love.” Modern

Hera, goddess of marriage and of civilization

Hera Goddess of marriage. Hera’s crown was a circlet of cities, so she was more than a goddess of marriage, and her husband, Zeus, was a dog, doing anything he could chase, seduce, rape or chat up. Hera spent much of her time persecuting Zeus’s lovers. But the extreme patriarchy of Greek society did not allow for her divorce or take vengenence on the king of the gods. 

Her lesson: “Maintaining your power, even in a difficult marriage.” Modern day counterparts: Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton.

day counterparts: Rosie O’Donnel, Oprah, Maya Angelou.

Hestia

Hestia Goddess of the hearth and home. The other single goddess was the center of the home, and newly married brides brought a bit of the fire from their mother’s hearth to their new homes. 

Her lesson: “The power of being centered; the power of service to others.” Modern day counterpart: Mother Teresa.