Worshipping Olympus

This volume contains all the prayers included in Devotion: Prayers to the Gods of the Greeks and In Praise of Olympus: Prayers to the Greek Gods. There are a very few additional pieces, which are also available online at Underflow: Prayers to the Greek Gods at http: //greekpagan.wordpress.com. I say this to let you know that if you've already read what I've already written, there won't be much new here for you; the main reason I decided to combine them into a single volume is for my own convenience.

Chronicles the transformations of the Greek gods throughout history, evaluating their changing characters, stories and symbolic relevance in a variety of cultures spanning the ancient world through the Renaissance era.

Prayers to the Greek gods by a modern devotee.

An elegant and entertaining account of the transformations of the Greek gods across the ages, from antiquity to the Renaissance and the present day The gods of Olympus are the most colorful characters of Greek civilization: even in antiquity, they were said to be cruel, oversexed, mad, or just plain silly. Yet for all their foibles and flaws, they proved to be tough survivors, far outlasting classical Greece itself. In Egypt, the Olympian gods claimed to have given birth to pharaohs; in Rome, they led respectable citizens into orgiastic rituals of drink and sex. Under Christianity and Islam they survived as demons, allegories, and planets; and in the Renaissance, they triumphantly emerged as ambassadors of a new, secular belief in humanity. Their geographic range, too, has been little short of astounding: in their exile, the gods and goddesses of Olympus have traveled east to the walls of cave temples in China and west to colonize the Americas. They snuck into Italian cathedrals, haunted Nietzsche, and visited Borges in his restless dreams. In a lively, original history, Barbara Graziosi offers the first account to trace the wanderings of these protean deities through the millennia. Drawing on a wide range of literary and archaeological sources, The Gods of Olympus opens a new window on the ancient world, religion, mythology, and its lasting influence.

“A useful and entertaining guide . . . can be enjoyed by any reader with an interest in mythology, whether they have read The Heroes of Olympus or not.” —Blogcritics In the ancient world, the gods and their heroic half-blood children were legendary. Now in the modern world, they regain their glory in the pages of Rick Riordan’s captivating novels. Providing everything you’ll need to become a Hero of Olympus, the book looks back at the stories of Percy Jackson while exploring how Riordan hints at but keeps readers guessing what’s in store for Jason, Piper and Leo. In this handy companion, the Olympic gods are fully detailed, from origin and family relationships to famous tales and an expressive illustration, including: Zeus • Hera • Poseidon • Athena • Apollo • Aphrodite The vast array of other gods and fantastical creatures are also cataloged: Atlas—who literally carries the weight of the world on his shoulders Kronos—a Titan who swallows his newborn children Persephone—a kidnapped goddess who becomes queen of the Underworld Minotaur—a half-bull, half-man imprisoned in a labyrinth Hydra—a poisonous serpent who grows two heads when one is severed Sirens—deadly nymphs whose irresistibly beautiful singing lures sailors to their doom IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS: This book is an independent and unauthorized fan publication.

Children's version of the popular Greek myth, filled with humour, drama and adventure.

The number of Greek Gods is huge since the ancient Greeks believed in many deities and spirits. Because knowledge of the world was limited in antiquity, the Ancients were attributing natural phenomena to higher powers. Gods and goddesses could be found everywhere and defined the lives of the people. The twelve gods of Olympus are the most famous ones and were indeed at the centre of the ancient Greek religion. The Olympians were a race of deities, primarily consisting of a third and fourth generation of immortal beings, worshipped as the principal gods of the Greek pantheon and so named because of their residency atop Mount Olympus.