Mar 23, 2023 · Lamia was a vicious child-eating spirit from Greek popular religion. She was usually imagined as an ugly monster with removable eyes, though in some later traditions she became a beautiful succubus-like creature who seduced and destroyed young men.

Mar 22, 2023 · Empusa was a kind of spirit, often likened to a phantom or ghost, with the ability to assume different shapes. Sometimes she transformed into a terrifying creature to frighten travelers; other times she appeared as a beautiful woman …

Mar 8, 2023 · The Gorgons were three monstrous sisters who lived at the edge of the world; they are perhaps best remembered for their snake hair and fearsome appearance. Two of the Gorgons were immortal, but the third—Medusa—was mortal and eventually slain by the hero Perseus.

Mar 8, 2023 · In the comedies of Aristophanes (ca. 450–ca. 385 BCE), we encounter colorful phantoms of popular belief such as Lamia and Empusa. In philosophical texts, especially those of Plato (ca. 429–347 BCE) and his successors, daemons are reimagined as personal divinities and intermediaries between gods and humans.

Mythopedia is the ultimate online resource for exploring ancient mythology; from the Greeks and Romans, to Celtic, Norse, Egyptian and more.

Feb 27, 2023 · Mormo was a female spirit or phantom, a ghostly being known for inspiring fear. Like Lamia or Gello, Mormo was used above all to frighten children; in fact, she was sometimes considered interchangeable with Lamia, Gello, or the strix, a vampire-like bird of the night that fed on the blood of children.

Sep 21, 2023 · Overview. Zeus was the supreme god of the Greeks, a mighty deity who meted out justice from atop Mount Olympus. Hailed as the father of both mortals and immortals, Zeus was the god of the sky and weather, but was also connected with …

Jul 31, 2023 · Etymology. The name Achilles (“Achilleus” is the Greek pronunciation) is an old one, found on tablets from the Mycenaean Period (ca. 1700–1100 BCE).

Mar 8, 2023 · Freya was the arrestingly beautiful Norse goddess of blessings, love, and fertility. A member of the Vanir tribe known for her skill in divination, she could be both a gentle ruler and a fierce warrior.

Nov 29, 2022 · Thoth was the vitally important Egyptian god of the moon, medicine, science, wisdom, and magic. Depicted with the head of an ibis, he invented writing, was the divine healer, and acted as advisor to the rest of the pantheon.