2. The Greeks believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses
who were associated with specific aspects of life. For example,
Aphrodite was the goddess of love, while Ares was the god of
war and Hades the dead. Some deities such as Apollo and
Dionysus, revealed complex personalities and mixtures of
functions, while others, such as Hestia (literally "hearth ','
fireplace ') and Helios (literally" sun ") were little more than
personifications. There was also a place of specific deities:
gods of rivers, nymphs of springs, caves and forests. Local
heroes and heroines were often revered in their graves by
residents of the nearby areas.
Information
3. Many beings described in the Greek myths could be considered
"gods" or "heroes". Some were recognized only in folklore or
worshiped locally in certain places (eg Trophonius) or during
specific festivals (eg Adonis). The most impressive temples
tended to be dedicated to a limited number of gods, the twelve
Olympians, Heracles, Asclepius and occasionally Helios. These
gods were the focus of large pan-Hellenic cults. It was however
common that many regions and villages to devote their own
cults to the nymphs, minor local gods and heroes. Many cities
also honored the more well-known gods with unusual local rites
and associated strange unknown myths them elsewhere.
