If you have heard about the Greek goddesses worshiped by the people who live in Greece and admired all over the world, you already have some notion about Greek Mythology. Present in movies, series, books and even poems, it is characterized by a set of narratives that bring divine beings as protagonists. It is these stories that explained nature phenomena, for example, for the ancient Greeks.

It is important to emphasize that Greek Mythology is not a religion, although it involves divine figures. It is like legend - or folklore. These are stories told by a people that spread throughout the world, capturing everyone's attention. If you want to know more about this incredible world of Greek Mythology, come with us!

A fundamental part of Greek Mythology are its goddesses. It is common for a very beautiful person to be called a Greek goddess, since their image was built from standards of beauty in force at the time. Incredibly, this standard of beauty is still in force: white, thin, hairless women with smooth skin.

Nevertheless, the Greek goddesses are much more than just their appearance. The story behind each one and the virtues they display are much more interesting than their physical form. Below, get to know the most important goddesses of Greek Mythology!

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Goddess Athena

Goddess of wisdom, art, and war, Athena is one of the most popular names when talking about Greek goddesses. She is known for being a great strategist, which gives her an advantage in any battle, even if she is not so physically strong. This is where the goddess's main distinguishing feature lies.

According to mythology, she is the daughter of Zeus, the most powerful god. When her mother was pregnant, Zeus knew from an oracle that his daughter would be more powerful than he. Afraid of losing his hegemony, he devoured his wife and, consequently, Athena. However, after some time, he felt a strong headache. Out of her came Athena, already adult, with all the strength she needed toaccompany his father.

Goddess Aphrodite

Goddess of love, beauty, and sex, Aphrodite is the name of the one who is always associated with beauty. Because she was so beautiful, she attracted the looks of other gods, and even of mortals, which caused, in a patriarchal society, rivalry with other goddesses. There are even stories that she was a rival of Hera, who you will meet soon.

Greek mythology tells us that Aphrodite was born from the meeting of heaven and sea, when Uranus (god of heaven) had his reproductive system thrown into the sea by Kronos (god of time). The foam that formed from this act brought Aphrodite to life, and her name means "from the foam". For the Romans, she receives the name Venus.

Goddess Persephone

Goddess of agriculture, of the seasons, and of the mysteries of the underworld, Persephone is the goddess that can surprise anyone. Even though she is the daughter of Demeter - a goddess that will soon appear - she caught the attention of Hades, god of the underworld. Fascinated by the charms of the young girl, he felt he should kidnap her to have a companion in the world of the dead.

According to legend, when Hades kidnapped her, Demeter fell into a deep sadness, which caused the whole earth to become infertile and the days to become dark. With an agreement, Persephone could return to her mother for a period of the year, when it would be sunny and warm and the lands would become fertile again. Thus the seasons came into being!

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Goddess Artemis

Goddess of hunting, wildlife, and the moon, Artemis is an example of strength and selflessness. In addition, she is also the goddess of childbirth and children. The explanation for this second function of Artemis is in her story, which will make your heart beat faster.

When Artemis was born, her mother was facing a very complicated birth. Artemis, new to the world, identified her mother's suffering and helped her give birth to Apollo, her brother. To thank her, the goddess's father asked her what she would like to do. Artemis asked to walk freely in the forest and never marry. And that's what she did!

Goddess Demeter

Goddess of fertile lands, agriculture, and the seasons, Demeter is Persephone's mother and was of utmost importance to mortals. According to Greek Mythology, she is said to have taught people to collect the food they planted. Even wheat is a plant associated with and dedicated to her.

The myth of Demeter is joined to that of Persephone, since it was she who suffered from the abduction of her daughter. If it were not for Zeus' agreement with Hades, asking Persephone to return to the world of the living for a period of the year, all the lands would have remained infertile, due to Demeter's sadness.

Goddess Hera

Goddess of marriage, of monogamy, of all goddesses and queen of Olympus, Hera is one of the most important names in Greek Mythology. It is believed that until the birth of Aphrodite, she was the most beautiful goddess of all, which caused her to marry Zeus, god of all gods.

As it is known, Zeus had a series of extramarital relationships, having children with many other goddesses. Because of this, Hera was insecure about the relationship, which showed itself in the form of jealousy and plans of revenge against Zeus' mistresses. This is also why it is said that Aphrodite was his great rival.

Goddess Hestia

Goddess of the home, fire, and construction, Hestia is what you might call a simple woman, even though she was divine. She did not excel in battle and did not want to marry or get romantically involved with men, even though Poseidon and Apollo tried to seduce her. The goddess' greatest talent was construction.

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Because she was the daughter of Kronos and Reia, she was swallowed by her father, as he did with the other children, until Zeus was born and freed them all. Hestia was the last to be freed and lived as a sweet, gentle divine woman, distant from any kind of conflict. Thus, she is most often depicted with a bouquet of flowers in one hand.

Learning more about the Greek goddesses is a way to understand how the mentality of a people worked long ago and what ideas have remained over time. Having gotten to know each of the goddesses we have selected, you must have already realized that beauty is just one of the attributes of these divine women, right? So awaken the goddess in you and value your qualities!