Greek and Norse Goddesses Power to Rival any Male God

  Throughout history, humans have looked to their Goddesses for guidance, protection, knowledge and beauty.  Here is a small sampling of some of the most powerful of the Norse and Greek Goddesses. For a more complete description of each goddess and her powers check the link below each one's name.

Athena Knowledge

World Historyprof: Athena-Minerva

Queen Frigg

World Historyprof: Yes, Friday is Named for ME

Artemis the Hunt

World Historyprof: Goddess of the Hunt

Skadi the Hunt

World Historyprof: Skadi, Hunting her Passion, Revenge Her Goal

Aphrodite Love

World Historyprof: Aphrodite Goddess of Love

Frejya Passion

World Historyprof: Frejya Mistress of Love, Fertility, Wealth, Seidr and WAR

Hekate Magic

World Historyprof: Need Magic, Call Hekate

Idunn Youth

World Historyprof: My Golden Apples Restore Youth

Queen Hera the Family

World Historyprof: Hera Queen of Revenge

Angrboda "Mother of Ragnarök Monsters"

World Historyprof: Mother of Monsters of Ragnarok

Echidna "Mother of Greek Monsters"

World Historyprof: Echidna Greek Mother of Monsters

Gaia Mother Earth
World Historyprof: Never Mess with an Irate Gaia

Hel Ruler of the Dead

World Historyprof: Welcome to Hel, Helheim that is!

              All are plastic pieces from Monolith that I have painted over the years.

All Crows are White, Right?

 

The God Apollo used his white crows (ravens) to give messages to and spy on humans.  When Apollo fell in love with the Thessalian Princess Coronis and made her pregnant he had his crows watch over her. 

 

Unfortunately for all, the crow witnessed Coronis have an affair with Ischys a mere MORTAL!

When informed of this infidelity Apollo flew into a god like rage and had his sister Artemis shower plague arrows on Coronis' palace, dooming her and her retainers to horrible deaths. 

He sent a white crow to see the result. When the crow retuned, he gleefully reported on Coronis' suffering, her begging Apollo's forgiveness and asking the god to save their child.  The crow ended his report with a laughing HA, HA, HA. Apollo was so angry with the glee the crow had for the pleas of Coronis that he cursed all white crows and turned them black. Apollo then raised Coronis into the heavens where she became the constellation "Corvus the Crow."

Since that day all ravens/crows have been black, and their once melodic voices turned into harsh cry's. Apollo did save his child, a son Asclepius who was a great healer, but that is another story.

I painted these two plastic pieces in 2022.

Hera, Queen of the Gods-and Revenge

 

Hera Queen of Revenge

Hera, Queen of the Gods, Daughter of Kronus and Rhea, wife of Zeus, Goddess of Women, Childbirth and Marriage and one very, very jealous wife.

Nothing angered her more than catching her over sexed husband having his way with humans, gods, immortals or any female period (seeing as Zeus had over 100 children that were not Hera's, she had a very busy time getting her revenge).

Even heroes like Herakles were victims of Hera's anger towards Zeus' philandering. 

Hera is a large plastic piece from Mystic Battles that I painted last July.

Prometheus, the Giver of Fire

 

The Titan Prometheus, son of Iapetus & Clymeme, was one of the few titans to support the Olympian Gods in the massive and terrible conflict, the "Titanomachy.  The "Titanomachy" was a ten-year war between the Olympians under Zeus vs the majority of the Titans led by Kronos (as well as loads of monsters) for the control of the World.

With the aid of Prometheus, his brother Epimetheus, the Gigantes and the Cyclopes, Zeus and the Olympians won the war. As the Titan of forethought and crafty advice, Prometheus was given the task of molding mankind out of clay. From this time on he referred to mankind as his children and took particular care of them.

Zeus initially rewarded Prometheus for his loyalty and support, but when Zeus learned that Prometheus had given mankind the gift of fire, against Zeus's expressed orders, Zeus feared that with fire mankind would eventually rise up to challenge the gods themselves! Zeus went into a fierce rage at this betrayal by his favored Titan. Zeus's revenge was to be both complex and painful, the complex part included Pandora and a Jar (not a box), but that is another story. 

 

The everlasting pain Zeus ordered for Prometheus involved a hungry eagle, a Titans liver and eternal suffering. Prometheus was bound to Mount Kaukasos/Caucasus where an eagle came to daily tear out and eat the Titans liver, which would regrow overnight so the pain and suffering could continue forever.  Eventually Prometheus was rescued by Zeus' son Herakles/Hercules when the rage of Zeus had finally subsided.

This is a plastic model of Prometheus in all his "Titanomachy" warlike majesty that I painted in July of 2022. 

Hekate, Goddess of Magic

 

Well known as the goddess of magic and witchcraft, Hekate also held sway over the night, Moon, necromancy and ghosts. While she claimed Perses and Asteria as her parent's, rumors abounded that Zeus, Nyx, Demeter and Aristaios might actually have been her true parents. Known as a virgin goddess, rumors also suggested that Shylla, Kirke, Medea, and Aigialeus were her "secret" offspring. Well, what do you expect from the goddess of witchcraft! As a Master of Plant lore Hekate, knew those that could save life, as well as those that are deadly poison.

With three faces to better see the workings of the World, it was natural that Hekate was also the goddess of city walls, doorways, gates and roads. Hekate remained a popular goddess in the Pre-Christian Era of the Mediterranean for her benevolent relationship with her human followers.

Hekate is a plastic piece that I recently painted.

Beware Charybdis

 

Charybdis-Ships Doom

A threat to unwary sailors, the sea monster Charybdis, was one of the most fearsome beasts of Greek mythos. As an offspring of Gaia and Poseidon, Charybdis was caught in a quarrel between Poseidon and Zeus. Zeus cursed her, dooming her to becoming a monster that created giant whirlpools that sucked in ships and crews to their doom. Charybdis and fellow sea monster Scylla worked in tandem to make the Straits of Messina a mortal danger to shipping.

 This Charybdis is a plastic piece that I painted in June 2022.

Apollo, Protector-Poet-Oracle

 

Apollo is about to demonstrate why you don't want to anger the god of divine distance (retribution).

One of the most popular gods of the Greeks and Romans, Apollo had many aspects of power and responsibility. He was seen as the god of both religious and secular law, divine retribution, purification from quilt, crops, domesticated animals and protection from disease to name a few of his major responsibilities. As time marched on, Apollo was thought of as the Sun god, Helos, by the Greeks. A relationship that was not duplicated by the Romans and their Sun god Sol.

A lover of the lyre, Apollo was also the god of music, dance and poetry. 

His twin sister was Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. On the Isle of Pytho (Delphi) he killed the dreaded monster Python (World Historyprof: Python the Fearsome) and established the Oracle of Delphi

His byname, Phoebus, means "pure" or "bright" which inferred his connection with the Sun. He was also called Lyceius, for his protection of farmers herds from wolves (lykoi being the Greek word for wolves) as well as Nomios " herdsman."

I painted this plastic model of Apolo in the Spring of 2022.

Nature Time With Pan

 

Pan the Greek God of Nature, Mountains, Shepherds and Nymphs. Pan was known to use his wild nature inspired music to induce humans to lose their inhibitions and enjoy all the aspects of natural urges.

Pan and his fauns are plastic pieces from  Monolith, Mystic Battles that I painted in 2019.

Goddess of the Hunt

 

The Greek Goddess, Artemis, the huntress, goddess of wild animals, plants, childbirth and (as a virgin) chastity; takes aim at her latest quarry.

She and her twin Apollo were the children of Zeus and Leto. Artimes was a popular goddess among the common people, especially those who lived off the land.

To the Romans she was Diana with most of the same traits as the Greek Goddess with the addition of her being a patron of the people of the lower classes.

           This is a large plastic model that I painted in March 2021.

Herald of the Gods - Hermes

 

Messenger of the Gods

Hermes, herald to the Greek Gods, was also the patron of travelers, merchants, commerce, public speakers and thieves.

As the son of Zeus and Maia, his status as the messenger of the Olympian gods was enhanced. He also relayed messages from the gods to their human worshipers. 

As with all messengers, not all of his news was popular with the recipients, especial as he was often the guide to the entry of the underworld.

Regardless, Hermes delivered his communications professionally, speedily and with as little emotion as possible. To the Romans he was Mercury (Mercurius) with much of the same responsibilities.

Hermes is a large plastic miniature from Mystic Battles that I finished in November of 2021.

Athena

                                                 

Athena (Minerva to the Romans) Goddess of Wisdom and War.

Sprouting full grown from the head of her father Zeus (Jupiter to the Romans) with armor, shield and spear, Athena became one of the main gods of the Greek-Roman pantheon.

With her owl as symbol of her wisdom, Athena soon became the both the goddess of wisdom and military tactics.

Patron goddess of the city of Athens, Athena was also the half-sister of the hero Herakles (Hercules to the Romans).

She was a great supporter of many Greek hero's such as Jason, Perseus and of course her sibling Herakles.

She was especially helpful with Herakles' 12 tasks and Perseus' attempt to save his love Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus.

When Perseus beheaded the gorgon Medusa, he presented the head to Athena a thanks for her assistance in his quest. She placed the head upon her aegis (shield).

Be it wisdom, war or handcrafts, Athena was seen in the Greek World as one of the best of the 12 Olympian Gods.

I painted this model of Athena in 2020.