Hermes in Greek mythology the patron of wanderers, a conductor of souls died was the bulletin of gods. In last quality, he "... Carries out one of the most ancient functions of a conductor of souls died in Hades, "psyhopomp" or the assistant for a way to an empire dead (Hom. Od. 24 1 - 5). Hermes belongs to both worlds - lives and death; he is mediator meanwhile and another, as well as the mediator between gods and people. <...> His guidance on lives and death it is reinterpreted in epoch of classical mythology as protection heroes. <...> During late antiquity there was Hermes-trismegist image ("three times the greatest One") in connection with affinity Hermes to the Otherworld; with this image occult sciences and Hermetic (secret, closed, accessible only devoted) compositions" (Myths of nations of the world, 1998. т. 1, 292 - 293). Hermes has also function of the patron of herds. The given image has come and in mythology of Etruscans where existed at once relatives of the character - Herme and Turms. As if to Roman Mercury it is considered, that he originally was the god of trade and has enriched the symbolics after merge of the cult to cult Hermes.

 Becoming the lord of the world, Zeus was compelled to assert the superiority. The mother - Earth of the Gaia dissatisfied sad destiny of the sons of titans, has caused monstrous Tiphon, surpassing all alive essences growth and force. He had hundred heads, all body of him was covered with feathers. Tiphon rushed with awful a roar. But Zeus has thrown in monster the lightnings. Tiphon has trembled, having started running. Then king of gods has pressed down him mountain Etna (in Sicily), from under which languages of a flame till now are pulled out.

Despite of respect with which was surrounded Zeus, he sometimes rendered insults of the spouse. Once king of gods has grown fond of a beauty Leto and from this marriage divine twins - gold-haired Apollo and Artemis were born. Jealous Hera set on the competitor monstrous snake Pithon, causing those is a lot of sufferings. But when the Leto's son has grown, he from the wonderful bow has struck a fright. Apollo became one of the most esteemed gods of Greece, embodying harmony of the world. He perfectly plays on lyre and has gift of a prediction. His sacred animal griffin (as a winged lion with an eagle head) is a favourite ornament of old buildings of Saint Petersburg. Sister Apollona, Artemis became the goddess of hunting and the patroness of domestic cattle.

Another time Zeus has taken a great interest Maia, the daughter great Atlanta and at them son Germes was born. He became the patron of travellers and dealers, the god of eloquence and a cartridge of gymnastic competitions (from which and the word "grammar school" went). In duties of Hermes entered also to accompany with souls died in empire Hades. Represented this god unbearded young men, in a helmet with pair small wings, in winged sandals. In hands Hermes usually held a staff - caduzeus twisted with snakes (by means of which but immersed people in dream).

Before a marriage with the Hero, Zeus has taken in wife Methida ("idea"), the daughter of Ocean. But Moiraes talked that the son given birth from her will take away authority from the father. Zeus then has swallowed Methida and she became a part of his reason. Soon at the lord of gods the head has terribly ached. Then Zeus has asked that Prometheus has struck him on a head an axe. The head of king of gods was left by his daughter, Athena in a helmet and full fighting arms. Ancient Greeks very much esteemed her as the goddess of wisdom and fair war. In her honour the greatest Greek city was named. Symbols of the goddess were the snake and an owl, and also her aegis - a skin with the head of Jellyfish Gorges attached in the middle (which with two wings and snakes instead of hair can be seen as ornaments of the Petersburg facades).

To the Last on time of an origin began Dionysus son Zeus and Semela - the mortal woman. Artful Hera has persuaded Semela to ask Zeus be before her in all the divinity greatness. But from lightnings and fire of the god the mortal woman was lost. Zeus has picked up and has sewed up newborn Dionysus in a hip from which that as though was born again. In due course, Dionysus became the great god of fructifying forces of the Earth, fault and violent fun during which fell down links, imposed by customs on the person. In this respect he was opposite harmonious Apollo. Symbol Dionysus was tirs, him accompanied goal-footed with satires and wild creatures.

Hermes and Argus. (A. Fantalov, water-colour, 2001).

Hermes is the Greek embodiment of the Cultural Hero. But unlike Heracles, Hermes personifies the functions of a keeper of mastery knowledge and mediator. The analogous characters are Etruscan Turms, Roman Mercury, Celtic Lugh, and Scandinavian Odin. In this water-colour we can see the Hermes's exploit. The god set free Zeus's ladylove Io (who was turned into cow) from giant Argus with 100 eyes (!). Argus looked after Io according to order of jealous Hera. Hermes put Argus to sleep by means baton-caduceus and chop giant's head. Then Hera turned Argus into peacock. There is Zeus on the third plan this water-colour.

Athena and Hecate. (A. Fantalov, water-colour, 2001).

Athena (on the second plan of water-colour) is goddess-virgin, personify a power of mind and Hecate (on the first plan), who was an embodiment of dark venerated by sorceress (for instance: Medea). There they opposed an each other. But at the same time we can consider them as two aspects of Great Goddess. This consideration is confirmed with tradition of ancient art: Hecate consist of three body and Athena has got triple helmet.

About Hecate we can see , creature of the Underworld, that like dog-headed dragon. It turned into women and destroied men.

Apollo defeats cyclops. (A. Fantalov, water-colour, 2001).

Three great cyclops were given birth be Gaia and Uranus together with the hundred-handed giants and the titans. The cyclops forged lightning for Zeus. But Asclepius, the son of Apollo began rise people from the dead and Zeus, to save natural order of things, has defeated him by means lightning. Then Apollo, who was Asclepius's father, has shot cyclops in his turn.

Greek mythology 3

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