With Kronos overthrown, most of the Gods moved to Mount Olympus, where Zeus became the king of the Gods with Hera as his queen. Rhea decided to stay on the island of Crete, where she had given birth to Zeus. She would sometimes journey to Mount Olympus for celebrations in a chariot pulled by two lions, one of her sacred animals. When the cult of the Phrygian Mother Goddess Cybele spread to Greece, the Greeks saw her as Rhea, who they said had fled to Phrygia to escape from Kronos’s wrath over her tricking him with Zeus. Rhea’s name, which means “flow,” is also seen as Rheia, and her epithets include Meter Megale (great mother), Meter Theon (mother of the Gods), and Meter Panton (mother of all).

The Erinyes also act on the earth and were called on by those who had been wronged to come and take vengeance on murderers and oath-breakers. They could punish an individual by chasing him and driving him mad, and they could also punish a kingdom that harbored criminals by causing droughts and famine. The name Erinyes (singular Erinys) is derived from a Greek word meaning “I hunt up,” and they were also known as the Praxidikai (”exacters of justice”), the Poinai (”the retributions”), the Maniai (”the madnesses”), the Arai (”the curses”), the Dasplêtai (”the horrid ones”), the Aei Parthenous (”the eternal virgins”), and the Kynês Enkotoi (”the hounds of wrath”). Those who hoped to soothe them called them by euphemisms such as the Eumenides (”the kindly ones”), the Semnai (”the revered ones”), and the Meilikhioi (”the mild ones”).

Persephone (pronounced per-SEF-uh-nee) is the Greek Goddess of the Underworld and of the growth of plants in spring. She is the daughter of Demeter, Goddess of the Earth, and Zeus, King of the Gods. The name Kore is also used for Persephone, originating from the belief that it was taboo to utter the name of the Queen of the Underworld, but that it was acceptable to use the name of her maiden persona (Kore literally means “maiden”). The most famous myth involving Persephone is that of her abduction by and marriage to Hades, God of the Underworld. (Many retellings of the story refer to it as rape, but others see it as a true consensual marriage, and there are elements of the story that support both interpretations.) When Hades decided to take a wife, he wanted one who would be worthy of him, and he asked his brother Zeus for one of his daughters. Persephone was very beautiful and unmarried, so Zeus agreed that Hades should take her as his wife. However, Zeus knew that Demeter was very protective of her daughter and would likely not agree to the marriage, since it would take Persephone away from her and to the Underworld. Zeus told Hades that he would have to catch Persephone unaware and take her to his kingdom by force.

One fine spring day, Persephone was out picking flowers with a group of nymphs and the other virgin Goddesses, Artemis and Athena. (In the versions where the marriage was consensual, this outing was actually the preparation for the wedding–Persephone’s bachelorette party, so to speak.) Persephone wandered away from her companions, and when she leaned down to pick a narcissus, the earth opened up at her feet and Hades took her to the Underworld. The only witness to the abduction was Helios, God of the Sun.

Back in the meadow, the nymphs realized that Persephone has disappeared and ran to tell Demeter. Demeter started searching for her daughter, but she couldn’t find her. Finally, she asked Helios if he had seen her, for she knew that could see all from his place in the sky. Helios told her that he had indeed seen Persephone, and that he had been taken by Hades to be his bride. He also told Demeter that it was Zeus who had given Persephone to Hades and had told him to take her by force.

In grief and anger, Demeter hid herself away from the Gods and, after wandering the world as an old mortal woman, she took refuge in one of her temples. She had stopped doing her job as Goddess of the Earth–all across the world, plants withered and died. This caught the attention of the other Gods, because the mortals could no longer offer them gifts and sacrifices. Zeus sent Iris, Goddess of the rainbow, to persuade Demeter to return to Mount Olympus and her duties, but Demeter refused. One by one, the other Gods went to her, offering gifts and favors, but Demeter would listen to no one, saying that she would remain there until she saw her daughter.

Zeus sent Hermes, messenger of the Gods, to the Underworld to ask Hades to release Persephone. Persephone had been well-treated in the Underworld, acknowledged as its Queen, but she still wanted to go back to her mother. Before she left, Hades gave her the seeds of a pomegranate to eat (the “rape” versions say he tricked her into eating them, and the “consensual” versions say she ate them on purpose). The pomegranate seeds complicated matters, since anyone who had eaten the food of the Underworld would not be able to leave it. Hermes, who was not only a messenger but the God of cunning and contracts, negotiated a deal between Hades and Demeter where Persephone would spend a portion of the year with each of them. This explains the seasons of the year, with spring beginning when Persephone returns to the world above and everything begins to grow, and autumn beginning when she return to the Underworld and her mother grieves for her absence.

Persephone’s name, which means “to bring death,” is also seen as Persephoneia, Persephassa, Phersephassa, Phersephatta, and Pherrephatta. Epithets associated with her include:
Persephone Agaue (noble)
Persephone Azesia (one who is sought)
Persephone Brimo (terrifying)
Persephone Daeira (knowing one)
Persephone Deoine (daughter of Demeter)
Persephone Despoina (mistress)
Persephone Eleusinia (from Eleusis)
Persephone Epaine (awesome)
Persephone Hagne (pure)
Persephone Herkyna (of the stone enclosure)
Persephone Kallisphyros (trim-ankled)
Persephone Karpophorus (bringer of fruit)
Persephone Khthonia (of the earth)
Persephone Leptynis (destroyer)
Persephone Megala Thea (great Goddess)
Persephone Melitodes (sweet as honey)
Persephone Praxidike (exacter of justice)
Persephone Protogone (first-born)
Persephone Soteira (savior)
Persephone Thesmia (of the laws)

Nyx is the Greek Goddess of the night. She is the daughter of Khaos and sister/wife to Erebos, God of darkness. Some sources list Nyx and Erebos as the parents of Hemera, Goddess of the day, and Aither, God of light, while others portray them as her siblings. Nyx has many children, including Hypnos (God of sleep), Morpheus (God of dreams), Eris (Goddess of strife), Nemesis (Goddess of retribution), Eros (God of procreation), Apate (Goddess of deceit), Thanatos (God of non-violent death), Moros (God of doom), Momos (God of ridicule), Dolos (God of trickery), Oizys (Goddess of misery), Hybris (Goddess of insolence), Geras (God of old age), Philotes (Goddess of friendship), Sophrosyne (Goddess of moderation), Epiphron (God of prudence), Eleos (Goddess of mercy), and Kharon (the ferryman of the dead). She also gave birth to several groups of spirits, such as the Moirai (the Fates), the Erinyes (the Furies), the Keres (Goddesses of violent death), the Oneiroi (spirits of dreams), and the Hesperides (Goddesses of the evening).

Nyx is usually depicted either as a woman with wings or as a charioteer, enveloped in dark mist. She is said to reside in a gloomy house far to the west, where she and her sister or daughter Hemera pass each other at sunrise and sunset.

Artemis is the Greek Goddess of the hunt, forests, and childbirth. While she herself was a virgin Goddess, Artemis was closely associated with the birth process from a very young age—immediately after she was born, she assisted her mother Leto, Goddess of motherhood, in the birth of her twin brother, Apollo. The births were painless for Leto, and thereafter Artemis was called on by women in labor to ease their pain. She also watched over infants, both human and animal, until they were weaned. She then became the protector of female children, as Apollo was the protector of male children. In an apparent contradiction, it was also Artemis who brought sudden death to infants, girls, and women, just as Apollo did the same with boys and men, and while she protected infant animals, she was also the Goddess of hunting.

As a young girl, Artemis asked her father Zeus to grant her several wishes: that she could remain a virgin forever; that she have more names than her brother, Apollo (see her epithets below); that she could carry a bow and arrows; that she be attended by nymphs; that she should rule over the mountains; and that she have hounds to hunt with and deer to pull her chariot. Zeus granted all of her wishes, and also gave her dominion over harbors. Other areas of life that came to be ruled by Artemis include the dawn, frost, virginity, healing, the Amazons, and rabies.

Artemis was known for having quite a temper, and for guarding those she loved with great zeal. When Queen Niobe boasted that she was a better mother than Artemis and Apollo’s mother Leto because she had seven times as many children, the twins shot down all of her children with their arrows. Actaeon, a hunter, was unfortunate enough to happen on Artemis while she was bathing. She turned him into a stag and caused his hounds to turn on and eat him.

Artemis was later seen as part of a trinity with Selene, Goddess of the moon, and Hecate, Goddess of magic. This may be due to the introduction to Greece of the Thracian Goddess Bendis, who ruled over wild animals, the moon, and magic. She was also identified with various Goddess from other parts of the world, including the Egyptian Bast and the Phrygian Cybele. It is through her identification with this last Goddess that the most famous temple to Artemis, the temple at Ephesus, came to be built. The statue, Lady of Ephesus, often identified as Artemis, is more likely to be a depiction of Cybele. The objects hanging around her neck have long been thought to be breasts or even bull testes, but they have recently been identified as representing amber beads.

Artemis’ name means “uninjured” or “healthy,” and since she is one of the oldest known and most widely worshipped of the Greek Goddesses, she had many epithets associated with her. Some were commonly used; others were used only in particular areas. In general, the epithets refer to her rule over animals or childbirth:
Artemis Admetus (untamed)
Artemis Aegenetes (immortal)
Artemis Aegina (wielder of the javelin)
Artemis Aetole (the stormy one)
Artemis Aglauros (from the heroine Aglauros)
Artemis Agoraea (of the market place)
Artemis Agraea (of uncultivated land)
Artemis Agroletera (who wastes the land)
Artemis Agrotera (of the hunt)
Artemis Aguieos (leader on the path)
Artemis Aigeira (from the town of Aigeira)
Artemis Aithiopia (dark-faced)
Artemis Akalanthis (goldfinch)
Artemis Akontistera (hurler of javelins)
Artemis Akontixo (hits with a javelin)
Artemis Akraea (of the hills)
Artemis Alexeteira (champion)
Artemis Alexiares (who keeps off a curse)
Artemis Alexibelemnos (who keeps off arrows)
Artemis Aleximbrotos (who protects mortals)
Artemis Alpheaea (from the river God Alpheius)
Artemis Alpheosia (from the river God Alpheius)
Artemis Alpheusa (from the river God Alpheius)
Artemis Amarynthia (unwithering)
Artemis Amarysia (who brings rain to the channels)
Artemis Ambulia (who delays death)
Artemis Ameilichas (relentless)
Artemis Amnius (protecting before birth)
Artemis Amphiktyonis (who dwells nearby)
Artemis Amphipyros (holding a torch in each hand)
Artemis Anaetis (similar to Anat)
Artemis Anaxophormige (queen of the lyre)
Artemis Angelos (messenger)
Artemis Apanchomene (the strangled)
Artemis Apaturos (guardian of secrets)
Artemis Aphaea (vanisher)
Artemis Aphesia (releaser)
Artemis Aphetura (archer)
Artemis Apobaterios (protector of those who disembark)
Artemis Aptera (wingless)
Artemis Areia (warlike)
Artemis Argelos (hard)
Artemis Argennis (of the difficult birth)
Artemis Aria (of the oaks)
Artemis Arikina (from the town of Aricia)
Artemis Arista (the best)
Artemis Aristoboulia (the best counsellor)
Artemis Aristobule (the best adviser)
Artemis Arkadia (mountainous)
Artemis Arktocheira (who has bear paws for hands)
Artemis Artio (bearlike)
Artemis Asia (of the lyre)
Artemis Astateia (who stayed the advance)
Artemis Astias (leaving no sign)
Artemis Astrateia (of the host of stars)
Artemis Astynome (possessor of the city)
Artemis Astyoche (possessor of the city)
Artemis Astyrene (from the town of Astyra)
Artemis Asulos (who protects from marriage)
Artemis Basileis (princess)
Artemis Berekynthia (bringer of wisdom)
Artemis Blaganitis (of the frogs)
Artemis Boulaea (counsellor)
Artemis Boulephoros (bringer of advice)
Artemis Bousbatos (powerful as a bull)
Artemis Brauronia (from the town of Brauron)
Artemis Britomartis (good maiden)
Artemis Chitone (with her clothing tied back)
Artemis Chrysaor (of the golden sword)
Artemis Chryselakatus (of the golden shafts)
Artemis Chrysenius (of the golden reins)
Artemis Chrysothronus (of the golden throne)
Artemis Damnoyone (who tames)
Artemis Daphnaea (of the laurel)
Artemis Delia (the brilliant)
Artemis Delphinia (of the womb)
Artemis Dereatis (from the town of Dereion)
Artemis Derrhiatis (wearing leather armor)
Artemis Despoena (mistress)
Artemis Diktynna (of the hunting nets)
Artemis Dreneia (holy one)
Artemis Drumenios (haunting the woods)
Artemis Dynatera (all powerful)
Artemis Eidothea (divinely shaped)
Artemis Eileithyia (who brings relief in labor)
Artemis Ekbateria (who provides a means of climbing out)
Artemis Elapheaea (of the deer)
Artemis Elaphebolia (deer shooting)
Artemis Elaphios (deerlike)
Artemis Elasippos (horse driving)
Artemis Elateira (driver of horses)
Artemis Eleusinios (of the place of coming)
Artemis Eleuthera (mother of the bear)
Artemis Eleutho (liberator)
Artemis Emmenaos (the measurer)
Artemis Endendros (of the trees)
Artemis Endiagros (living in a cavernous place)
Artemis Ennodia (gatekeeper)
Artemis Epaulios (camping outdoors)
Artemis Ephesia (from the town of Ephesos)
Artemis Epimelidios (who protects the sheep)
Artemis Epimylidos (of the mill)
Artemis Epoichomai (who visits with death)
Artemis Erithos (day laborer)
Artemis Eukleia (of good repute)
Artemis Eulinos (good spinner)
Artemis Eulochia (who aids in childbirth)
Artemis Euonumos (protector of women in childbirth)
Artemis Euploea (who brings good weather)
Artemis Euplokames (with beautiful locks)
Artemis Eupraxia (of great deeds)
Artemis Eupylios (of the gate)
Artemis Eurynome (of the broad pastures)
Artemis Euskopos (keen sighted)
Artemis Eustephanus (well-girdled)
Artemis Gaeeochus (holder of the earth)
Artemis Gamelii (presiding over marriage)
Artemis Genetaira (who aids in childbirth)
Artemis Genetyllis (protectress of births)
Artemis Geometres (measuring land)
Artemis Gorgopis (the face of death)
Artemis Hagne (chaste)
Artemis Hekaerge (hitting at a distance)
Artemis Hekatebolus (far shooting)
Artemis Hegemone (the leader of the dance)
Artemis Heleia (of the marsh)
Artemis Hellophonos (fawn slaying)
Artemis Hemera (of the evening)
Artemis Hemeresia (the soothing)
Artemis Hemihippos (half horse)
Artemis Hemikynos (half dog)
Artemis Heurippe (the finder of horses)
Artemis Hiereia (priestess)
Artemis Hippolaitis (horse priestess)
Artemis Hipposoa (driving horses)
Artemis Hyakinthropus (nurse of the flower priestesses)
Artemis Hylebatidos (who haunts the wood)
Artemis Hymnia (of the hymns)
Artemis Iasoria (healer)
Artemis Imbraia (from the river Imbrasus)
Artemis Iokheaira (of the showering arrows)
Artemis Iolcia (from the town of Iolcus)
Artemis Iphianassa (strength of the people)
Artemis Iphigenea (from the heroine Iphigeneia)
Artemis Issoria (from Mount Issorion)
Artemis Istria (of the river Ister)
Artemis Kalkaea (the wearer of high boots)
Artemis Kalliste (the fairest)
Artemis Kaprophonos (killer of wild boars)
Artemis Karya (of the walnut tree)
Artemis Karyatis (of the walnut tree)
Artemis Katagogis (leading to the underworld)
Artemis Kaukasis (burning sister)
Artemis Kedreatis (keeper of the oil of the coast)
Artemis Kedrinos (of the cedars)
Artemis Keladeina (strong-voiced)
Artemis Keladodromos (running amid the sounds of the hunt)
Artemis Kindyas (from the town of Kindye)
Artemis Kleito (the invoked)
Artemis Knakeatis (one who works with the carpenter’s ax)
Artemis Knakalesia (of Mount Knakalos)
Artemis Knagia (burning one)
Artemis Kolaenis (punisher)
Artemis Kondyleates (bare-fisted)
Artemis Kordaea (of the rope dance)
Artemis Koryphaea (of the peak)
Artemis Koryphasia (light maiden)
Artemis Korythaleia (festive maiden)
Artemis Kudros (most esteemed)
Artemis Kurotrophos (accomplished nurse)
Artemis Kynagetis (hunter)
Artemis Kynagon (leader of the dogs)
Artemis Kynthia (from Mount Kynthus)
Artemis Kypharissa (queen of the cypress)
Artemis Kytherea (the hidden one)
Artemis Lakone (of the lake)
Artemis Laphria (despoiling)
Artemis Lathrios (who works in secret)
Artemis Latoea (daughter of Leto)
Artemis Latone (harsh and stony one)
Artemis Lemnos (of the earth)
Artemis Leon (the lion)
Artemis Letogeneia (daughter of Leto)
Artemis Leukione (gleaming white)
Artemis Leukophryne (white toad)
Artemis Leukophrys (white browed)
Artemis Limenia (protectress of the harbor)
Artemis Limnaea (born in a lake or marsh)
Artemis Limnatides (born in a lake or marsh)
Artemis Limnatis (born in a lake or marsh)
Artemis Locheia (of the blood of childbirth)
Artemis Loxo (ambiguous)
Artemis Lygodesma (surrounded by willows)
Artemis Lykaena (she-wolf)
Artemis Lykaeus (wolfish)
Artemis Lykoatis (winnower of the coast)
Artemis Lykomeda (cunning like a wolf)
Artemis Lykotharses (bold as a wolf)
Artemis Lysizona (who loosens the girdle)
Artemis Megale (great)
Artemis Meleagria (wild dark one)
Artemis Melissa (honey bee)
Artemis Mesopolitis (inside the city wall)
Artemis Metapontina (guide at life’s changes)
Artemis Mogostokia (helping with birth pains)
Artemis Molpadia (death song)
Artemis Monogisene (unparalleled)
Artemis Munychia (from the town of Mounykhia)
Artemis Myrine (swiftly bounding)
Artemis Mysia (from the region of Mysia)
Artemis Neleus (relentless)
Artemis Neptunis (of the sea)
Artemis Nikephoros (bringing victory)
Artemis Niktiphoitos (night roaming)
Artemis Oenoatis (from the town of Oenoe)
Artemis Opheltes (wound round with snakes)
Artemis Opis (silent)
Artemis Opitais (who brings up the rear)
Artemis Oraia (protects infants in the womb)
Artemis Orsilochia (helper of childbirth)
Artemis Orthia (from Mount Orthium)
Artemis Orthosia (upright)
Artemis Ortygia (from the island of Ortygia, the ancient name of Delos)
Artemis Oulios (deadly)
Artemis Paedotrophus (nurse of children)
Artemis Paeonia (healer)
Artemis Pamphylaia (provider)
Artemis Panaghia Arkousdiotissa (holy Goddess of all the bears)
Artemis Paralia (of the sea coast)
Artemis Parthenia (the maiden)
Artemis Pasikrateia (famous strong one)
Artemis Patroea (of the fathers)
Artemis Peitheros (persuader of animals)
Artemis Peitho (persuasive)
Artemis Pergaea (from the town of Perge)
Artemis Pheraea (of the beasts)
Artemis Philomeirax (friend of young girls)
Artemis Phoebe (bright one)
Artemis Phosphoros (light bringer)
Artemis Phthia (the waning moon)
Artemis Pitanatis (from the town of Pitana)
Artemis Polo (foal)
Artemis Polymastis (many breasted)
Artemis Polytheros (of many beasts)
Artemis Potamia (of the rivers)
Artemis Potamene (strength of the river)
Artemis Potnia Theron (lady of the beasts)
Artemis Progoneia (ancestral one)
Artemis Prokathegemon (pioneer)
Artemis Propylaea (of the gate)
Artemis Proseoa (facing the dawn)
Artemis Prostateria (who stands before)
Artemis Prothuraea (who is before the door)
Artemis Protothronia (of the first throne)
Artemis Pyronia (of the fire)
Artemis Pythia (serpent)
Artemis Rhokkaea (from the town of Rhokkha)
Artemis Saronia (of the old hollow oak)
Artemis Sarpedonia (from Cape Sarpedon)
Artemis Selasia (from the town of Selasia)
Artemis Selasphoros (light bringer)
Artemis Skiaditis (maker of shadows)
Artemis Skiatis (of the shadows)
Artemis Skiris (of the shadows)
Artemis Skulakitis (protector of dogs)
Artemis Skythia (from the region of Skythia)
Artemis Soodina (saving during labor)
Artemis Soteira (the savior)
Artemis Stymphalia (of Lake Stymphalos)
Artemis Tainarios (of the strip of land)
Artemis Taurica (of the bulls)
Artemis Taurione (to whom bulls are sacrificed)
Artemis Tauropolos (slayer of bulls)
Artemis Tauropos (riding on bulls)
Artemis Tektone (the carpenter)
Artemis Tharsenike (who is confident of victory)
Artemis Thekla (the famous)
Artemis Themisto (oracular)
Artemis Thermaia (healing fever)
Artemis Theroktonos (killer of wild beasts)
Artemis Theroskopos (hunter of wild beasts)
Artemis Thoantea (from King Thoas of Tauris)
Artemis Throsia (who is murmuring)
Artemis Toxophoreo (bearer of the bow)
Artemis Toxotis (archer)
Artemis Trideria (of three lots)
Artemis Triklaria (of three couches)
Artemis Trivia (of three ways)
Artemis Upis (watcher)
Artemis Xena (stranger)
Artemis Zea (from the harbor of Zea)