Greek Creatures
Creatures and beings within Greek Mythology
Amazons
Pronounced: Am-a-zon-z
Origin: Greek
Also Known as " Antianeirai- Those who go to war like men" and " Androktones- Killer of males"
Description: A race of extremely Beautiful and larger than average human sized woman, who live with only woman and train to be fierce Warriors.
Weapons: Bows and arrows (Main), Sword, Double Axe, Crescent shield called a "pelta"
Cloths: Short tunic with a girdle, or animal skins
Gods:
Reproduction: took prisoners ( the most handsome men) and used for sexual pleasure, then they either killed or enslaved them.
Children:
Pronounced: Am-a-zon-z
Origin: Greek
Also Known as " Antianeirai- Those who go to war like men" and " Androktones- Killer of males"
Description: A race of extremely Beautiful and larger than average human sized woman, who live with only woman and train to be fierce Warriors.
Weapons: Bows and arrows (Main), Sword, Double Axe, Crescent shield called a "pelta"
Cloths: Short tunic with a girdle, or animal skins
Gods:
- Artemis: Virgin goddess of the hunt
- Ares: God of war
Reproduction: took prisoners ( the most handsome men) and used for sexual pleasure, then they either killed or enslaved them.
Children:
- boy: killed, blinded, crippled, or returned to father
- girls: Taught agriculture, hunting, and the art of war
Angel of Death
Origin: Judaism and Greek
Description: Azrael, The archangel of death. 4 faces, four thousand wings, whole body of eyes and tongues the number of which correspondences with the number of people on the planet. He will be the last to die.
Archangel Samael, Grim reaper skeletal figure carrying large scythe in cloak and hood. Can cause death which lead to myth that he could be tricked, bribed, or outwitted to retain life or just guide those who die to the next world.
Greek (Hellenic): Bearded and winged man or young boy ( thantos- death is male, life is female) His brother twin hypnos, and sister keres spirits of violent death. they are evil and feed of the blood of bodies. they have fangs, talons and bloody garments.
Origin: Judaism and Greek
Description: Azrael, The archangel of death. 4 faces, four thousand wings, whole body of eyes and tongues the number of which correspondences with the number of people on the planet. He will be the last to die.
Archangel Samael, Grim reaper skeletal figure carrying large scythe in cloak and hood. Can cause death which lead to myth that he could be tricked, bribed, or outwitted to retain life or just guide those who die to the next world.
Greek (Hellenic): Bearded and winged man or young boy ( thantos- death is male, life is female) His brother twin hypnos, and sister keres spirits of violent death. they are evil and feed of the blood of bodies. they have fangs, talons and bloody garments.
Arachne
Pronounced:
Origin: Greek
Becomes the first spider, skilled in weaving beautiful fabrics that had a complicated design. Spiders called arachnids after her.
Versions:There are three versions of this story, two in which Arachne wins and one in which Athena wins.
Ovid's version:
In this version, Arachne was a shepherd's daughter who began weaving at an early age. She became a great weaver, boasted that her skill was greater than that of Athena, and refused to acknowledge that her skill came, in part at least, from the goddess. Athena took offense and set up a contest between them. Presenting herself as an old lady, she approached the boasting girl and warned: "You can never compare to any of the gods. Plead for forgiveness and Athena might spare your soul."
"Ha, I only speak the truth and if Athena thinks otherwise then let her come down and challenge me herself," Arachne replied. Athena removed her disguise and appeared in shimmering glory, clad in a sparkling white chiton. The two began weaving straight away. Athena's weaving represented four separate contests between mortals and the gods in which the gods punished mortals for setting themselves as equals of the gods. Arachne's weaving depicted ways that the gods had misled and abused mortals, particularly Zeus, tricking and seducing many women. When Athena saw that Arachne had not only insulted the gods, but done so with a work far more beautiful than Athena's own, she was enraged. She ripped Arachne's work into shreds, and sprinkled her with Hecate's potion, turning her into a spider and cursing her and her descendants to weave for all time. This showed how goddesses punished those human for wanting to be equals.
Athena wins:
In this version, someone asked Arachne how she learned to weave so well and suggested that Athena taught her and she didn't know it. Arachne dismissed this and boasted that she could teach Athena a thing or two in weaving. Athena then appeared in the doorway, wrapped in a long cloak, and asked if she really didn't believe that Athena had taught her to weave. Arachne repeated her boast and Athena challenged her to a contest in which Jupiter (Zeus) was to be the judge. Whoever lost must promise never to touch spindle or loom again. Arachne wove a web thin yet strong with many colours. This was no match for Athena's weaving, made up of the gods and their glory, shining with their beauty.
Arachne acknowledged Athena's triumph, but despaired at the loss of her craft. Athena saw that Arachne could not live if she could not weave, so she touched Arachne with the tip of her spear, turning her into a spider so she could weave without spindle or loom.
Arachne hangs herself:
In this version of the myth, Arachne was a blessed weaver of Greece. People asked her if she had been taught weaving by Athena herself, the goddess of wisdom. Although this was meant as a compliment, Arachne became angry. She thought that her skill was greater than the goddess's. Hearing of her attitude, Athena appeared on her doorway disguised as an old woman in a dark cloak. She asked her to respect the gods and goddesses, but Arachne just laughed, and said that even if Athena herself challenged her, it would be an easy win. Athena then revealed herself and challenged Arachne to a competition. The loser would promise never to weave again.
Athena wove a tapestry of the people of Greece, with Poseidon and Athena over them, deciding whose name should be given to the city of Athens. Arachne wove a tapestry about Zeus, and his seduction of Europa and others. Athena saw that although Arachne had insulted the gods, her work was so beautiful that Athena herself was awed. She realized that Arachne couldn't live without weaving. To make Arachne realize her mistake and also to teach her to respect the gods and their works, she touched Arachne's forehead with the tip of her hand. The magic worked only partially, filling Arachne with guilt for her insolence, and she hung herself. Out of pity, Athena brought Arachne back to life as a spider, so that she and her descendants could weave all their lives
Pronounced:
Origin: Greek
Becomes the first spider, skilled in weaving beautiful fabrics that had a complicated design. Spiders called arachnids after her.
Versions:There are three versions of this story, two in which Arachne wins and one in which Athena wins.
Ovid's version:
In this version, Arachne was a shepherd's daughter who began weaving at an early age. She became a great weaver, boasted that her skill was greater than that of Athena, and refused to acknowledge that her skill came, in part at least, from the goddess. Athena took offense and set up a contest between them. Presenting herself as an old lady, she approached the boasting girl and warned: "You can never compare to any of the gods. Plead for forgiveness and Athena might spare your soul."
"Ha, I only speak the truth and if Athena thinks otherwise then let her come down and challenge me herself," Arachne replied. Athena removed her disguise and appeared in shimmering glory, clad in a sparkling white chiton. The two began weaving straight away. Athena's weaving represented four separate contests between mortals and the gods in which the gods punished mortals for setting themselves as equals of the gods. Arachne's weaving depicted ways that the gods had misled and abused mortals, particularly Zeus, tricking and seducing many women. When Athena saw that Arachne had not only insulted the gods, but done so with a work far more beautiful than Athena's own, she was enraged. She ripped Arachne's work into shreds, and sprinkled her with Hecate's potion, turning her into a spider and cursing her and her descendants to weave for all time. This showed how goddesses punished those human for wanting to be equals.
Athena wins:
In this version, someone asked Arachne how she learned to weave so well and suggested that Athena taught her and she didn't know it. Arachne dismissed this and boasted that she could teach Athena a thing or two in weaving. Athena then appeared in the doorway, wrapped in a long cloak, and asked if she really didn't believe that Athena had taught her to weave. Arachne repeated her boast and Athena challenged her to a contest in which Jupiter (Zeus) was to be the judge. Whoever lost must promise never to touch spindle or loom again. Arachne wove a web thin yet strong with many colours. This was no match for Athena's weaving, made up of the gods and their glory, shining with their beauty.
Arachne acknowledged Athena's triumph, but despaired at the loss of her craft. Athena saw that Arachne could not live if she could not weave, so she touched Arachne with the tip of her spear, turning her into a spider so she could weave without spindle or loom.
Arachne hangs herself:
In this version of the myth, Arachne was a blessed weaver of Greece. People asked her if she had been taught weaving by Athena herself, the goddess of wisdom. Although this was meant as a compliment, Arachne became angry. She thought that her skill was greater than the goddess's. Hearing of her attitude, Athena appeared on her doorway disguised as an old woman in a dark cloak. She asked her to respect the gods and goddesses, but Arachne just laughed, and said that even if Athena herself challenged her, it would be an easy win. Athena then revealed herself and challenged Arachne to a competition. The loser would promise never to weave again.
Athena wove a tapestry of the people of Greece, with Poseidon and Athena over them, deciding whose name should be given to the city of Athens. Arachne wove a tapestry about Zeus, and his seduction of Europa and others. Athena saw that although Arachne had insulted the gods, her work was so beautiful that Athena herself was awed. She realized that Arachne couldn't live without weaving. To make Arachne realize her mistake and also to teach her to respect the gods and their works, she touched Arachne's forehead with the tip of her hand. The magic worked only partially, filling Arachne with guilt for her insolence, and she hung herself. Out of pity, Athena brought Arachne back to life as a spider, so that she and her descendants could weave all their lives
Basilisk
Origin: Greek
Pronounced: Bass- eh-Lis-K
Name Meaning: Little King
Enemy: The Weasel (From the story of the cobra and Mongoose)
Description: A legendary Reptile thought to be king of serpents and said to have the power to cause death with a single glance. On top of head has a crown shaped crest, Giving it a kingly feature. In some forms it is believed to be hard to distinguish from a Cockatrice. It is said to have poisonous breath/Venom. Also said Basilisk ashes turn silver into gold.
Origin: Greek
Pronounced: Bass- eh-Lis-K
Name Meaning: Little King
Enemy: The Weasel (From the story of the cobra and Mongoose)
Description: A legendary Reptile thought to be king of serpents and said to have the power to cause death with a single glance. On top of head has a crown shaped crest, Giving it a kingly feature. In some forms it is believed to be hard to distinguish from a Cockatrice. It is said to have poisonous breath/Venom. Also said Basilisk ashes turn silver into gold.
Chimera
Origin: Greek
Pronounced: Ki- Mare-ah
Name Meaning: She Goat
Father: Typhon
Mother: Echidna
Symbolized: Female Evil
Description: A lion with a goat head sprouting from it's back and a snake for a tail. A fire breathing creature with goat utters and was always female.
Other: The term "Chimera" is used to describe orthrus, any mythical creature or fictional animal with parts of various animals. Once was identified with the constellation Capricorn (The serpent tailed goat). It was said seeing chimera was an omen of bad luck and was often seen before disasters such as shipwrecks, violent storms, and volcanic eruptions.
The chimera of legend was killed by Bellerophon on Pegasus, He shot lead from the air that melted and killed her.
Origin: Greek
Pronounced: Ki- Mare-ah
Name Meaning: She Goat
Father: Typhon
Mother: Echidna
Symbolized: Female Evil
Description: A lion with a goat head sprouting from it's back and a snake for a tail. A fire breathing creature with goat utters and was always female.
Other: The term "Chimera" is used to describe orthrus, any mythical creature or fictional animal with parts of various animals. Once was identified with the constellation Capricorn (The serpent tailed goat). It was said seeing chimera was an omen of bad luck and was often seen before disasters such as shipwrecks, violent storms, and volcanic eruptions.
The chimera of legend was killed by Bellerophon on Pegasus, He shot lead from the air that melted and killed her.
Clotho
Origin: Greek
Pronounced: K-Low- Th- Oh
Roman Counter part: Nona
Other: the youngest of the three fates. She spinned the thread of human life , and made major decisions such as when one was born or died. The length of the thread determined how long you lived. Along with Hermes she was given credit for creating the alphabet. Their essence is part of the universe and even gods can't disturb or go against them.
Origin: Greek
Pronounced: K-Low- Th- Oh
Roman Counter part: Nona
Other: the youngest of the three fates. She spinned the thread of human life , and made major decisions such as when one was born or died. The length of the thread determined how long you lived. Along with Hermes she was given credit for creating the alphabet. Their essence is part of the universe and even gods can't disturb or go against them.