Greek Dieties

The Morrighan, Goddess of War and Sovereignty

The Morrighan is known as a Celtic war Goddess, but there’s a lot more to her than that. She’s associated with rightful kingship, and the sovereignty of the land. The Morrighan appears in the form of a crow or raven, or seen accompanied by a group of them. In the stories of the Ulster cycle, she is shown as a cow and a wolf as well. The connection with these animals suggest in some areas, she may have been connected to fertility and land.

Rhiannon, Horse Goddess of Wales

In Welsh mythological cycle, the Mabinogion, Rhiannon is known as Goddess of the horse. However, she plays a crucial role in the kingship of Wales. The horse appears prominently in Welsh and Irish mythology. Many parts of the Celtic world used horses in warfare, and it is no surprise that these animals turn up in myths and legends or Ireland and Wales.

Taliesin, Chief of the Bards

Although Taliesin is a documented historical figure in Welsh history, he has managed to become elevated to the status of a minor God.

His mythologized story has elevated him to the status of a Today, many modern Pagans honor Taliesin as a patron of bards and poets, since he is known as the greatest poet of all.

https://www.learnreligions.com/gods-of-the-celts-2561711

Greek Dieties

The ancient Greeks honored a wide variety of Gods, and many are still worshiped today by Hellenic Pagans. For the Greeks, like many other ancient cultures, the Deities were a part of daily life, not merely something to be chatted with in times of need. Here are some of the best-known Gods and Goddesses of the Greek pantheon.

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love

Aphrodite was a Goddess of love and romance. She was honored by the ancient Greeks, and is still celebrated by many modern Pagans. According to legend, she was born fully formed from the white sea form that arose when the God Uranus was castrated. She came ashore on the island of Cyprus, and later was married off by Zeus to Hephaistos, the deformed craftsman of Olympus. A festival was held regularly to honor Aphrodite, appropriately called the Aphrodisiac.

Ares, God of War

Ares was a Greek God of war, and son of Zeus by his wife Hera. He was known not only for his own exploits in battle, but also for getting involved in disputes between others.

Artemis, the Huntress

Artemis was a Greek Goddess of the hunt, and like her twin brother Apollo possessed a wide variety of attributes. Some Pagans still honor her today because of her connection to times of female transition.

Artemis was the Greek Goddess of hunting and childbirth. She protected women in labor, but also brought them death and sickness. Numerous cults dedicated to Artemis sprouted up around the Greek world, most of which were connected to women’s mysteries.

Athena, the Warrior Goddess

As a Goddess of war, Athena often shows up in Greek legend to assist various heroes -- Heracles, Odysseus and Jason all got a helping hand from Athena.

In classical myth, Athena never took any lovers, and was often revered as Athena the Virgin, or Athena Parthenos. Although technically, Athena is a warrior Goddess, she is not the same sort of war God that Ares is. While Ares goes to war with frenzy and chaos, Athena is the Goddess who helps warriors make wise choices that will eventually lead to victory.

Demeter, Dark Mother of the Harvest

Perhaps the best known of the harvest mythologies is the story of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter was a Goddess of the harvest in ancient Greece. Her daughter, Persephone, caught the eye of Hades, God of the underworld.By the time she finally recovered her daughter, Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, and was doomed to spend six months of the year in the underworld.

Ever wonder where the word “erotic” comes from? Well, it has a lot to do with Eros, the Greek God of and lust. Often described as a son of Aphrodite by her lover Ares, the God of war, Eros was a Greek God of lust and primal sexual desire. In fact, the word erotic comes from his name. He is personified in all kinds of love and lust and was worshipped at the center of a fertility cult that honored both Eros and Aphrodite together.

Gaia, the Earth Mother

Gaia was known as the life force from which all other beings sprang, including the earth, the sea and the mountains. A prominent figure in Greek mythology, Gaia is also honored by many Wiccans and Pagans today. Gaia herself caused life to spring forth from the earth, and is also the name given to the magical energy that makes certain locations sacred.

Hades, Ruler of the Underworld

Hades was the Greek God of the underworld. Because he’s unable to get out, and doesn’t get to spend time with those who are still living, Hades focuses on increasing the underworld’s population whenever he can.

Hecate, Goddess of Magic and Sorcery

Hecate has a long history as a Goddess, from her days in preOlympian times to the present. As a Goddess of childbirth, she was invoked for rites of puberty, and in some cases watched over maidens who were beginning to menstruate. Eventually, Hecate evolved to become a Goddess of magic and sorcery. She was venerated as a mother Goddess, and during the Ptolemaic period in Alexandria was elevated to her position as Goddess of ghosts and the spirit world.

Hera, Goddess of Marriage

Hera is known as the first of Greek Goddesses. As wife of Zeus, she’s the leading lady of all the Olympians. Despite her husband’s philandering ways -- or perhaps because of them -- she is the guardian of marriage and the sanctity of the home. She was known to fly into jealous tirades, and wasn’t above using her husband’s illegitimate offspring as weapons against their own mothers. Hera also played a crucial role in the story of the Trojan War.

Hestia, Guardian of Hearth and Home

Many cultures have a Goddess of hearth and domesticity, and the Greeks were no exception. Hestia was the Deity who watched over the home fires, and offered sanctuary and protection to strangers. She was honored with the first offering at any sacrifice made in the home. On a public level, Hestia’s flame was never allowed to burn out. The local town hall served as a shrine for her -- and any time a new settlement was formed, settlers would take a flame from their old village to the new one.

Nemesis, Goddess of Retribution

Nemesis was a Greek Goddess of revenge and retribution. In particular, she was invoked