Grecian and Roman Gods
It’s probable that no mythology has been as influential on Western culture as that of the ancient Greeks, and by extension, the ancient Romans. Words like nemesis, fury, fate and muse, are all founded in Greek mythology. The constellations are almost all connected to Greek myths. From architecture, to music and politics, Rome and Greece have influenced us in profound ways. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the gods worshipped by the Greeks and Romans and ponder their influence upon us.
Before going on, it’s important to note the difference between the gods of Greece and those of Rome. Even though their deities were essentially the same, with different names, each culture had a different way of looking at their gods.
The Greeks viewed their deities as possessing all the personality flaws we mortals are burdened with, and also with some that only unlimited power could bring. For example, Hera and Zeus were not a happy couple.
They bickered and exacted revenge on each other, most often due to Zeus’ philandering with anyone he chose and his many illegitimate children. Poseidon, after being disrespected, caused a king’s wife to become amorously obsessed with a bull, the consequences of that infatuation being less than beneficial.
The gods of Rome, although capable of human failings, were more dignified and generally acted superior to mortals. The Roman gods were part of a state religion, and as such were imbued with an appropriate, dignified persona. Jupiter was a regal and less volatile king than his Greek counterpart, Zeus.
Zeus
AKA Jupiter
For Zeus, the king of the gods, there was never any doubt as to whom was in charge. Zeus ruled over everything above the ground, excepting the seas, which were ruled by Poseidon.
Zeus was the sole wielder of the lightning bolt, which made him incredibly powerful and gave him a reputation for being fickle. This is a common characteristic of lightning gods. They have immense power at their fingertips, but don’t always seem to have any rhyme or reason as to their choice of victims. This random factor may have added to Zeus’ and Jupiter’s association with fortune and luck, but there’s more to it, if we look beneath the surface of the myths.
Zeus took whatever he wanted and he wanted a lot. If he saw a mortal that he found attractive, he forced himself upon that poor person. He fathered many illegitimate children, some of them quite heroic, Hercules being an example. When he was in the mood for taking love by force, he assumed the form of a bull, a bolt of lightning, masqueraded as a woman’s husband, appeared as a swan and even a shower of gold. Most of these assaults were disastrous to the recipient of his affections and almost always drew the attention and wrath of Hera, his divine wife.
Although there’s no way to justify any of his actions, even in mythic form, it may have been a way to explain why some people seem to be physically or intellectually superior to others. It may also have served to remind us of the unexpected nature of natural phenomena. For me, it exemplifies what happens when we don’t think through situations and only follow our impulses. I view Zeus as an example of poor desire control, leading to some horrid outcomes. Lasting trouble often arrived through Hera, who horribly tormented the family of victims for generations.
Jupiter, his Roman counterpart, was more regal, viewing humans as more than simple playthings and objects of whims.
Zeus has always served as an example of what can happen when unchallenged power resides with one individual.
Yes, that person or god may face retaliation, but those beneath him/her will always suffer the most dire consequences.
Ares
AKA Mars
Ares, the Greek god of war, wasn’t generally liked. He was considered to be conniving, unprincipled, at times cowardly, and unwilling to go into battle without an entire entourage. I’ve always thought that this viewpoint was an interesting one. It understood the necessity of war, but didn’t glorify it.
On the other hand, Mars, the Roman god of war, was respected, feared and considered to be vital to the health and welfare of the Roman Empire. like Ares, he never went into battle alone, but his was a strategy that made great sense and served him well. In battle, he first sent in Deimos and Phobos, their names meaning panic and fear. Once they had impacted the battlefield, infecting it with terror and a lack of logic, Mars moved in and finished up the job.
It’s interesting to note that Deimos and Phobos were sometimes depicted as ravens. Odin, another warrior God, also had two ravens that went with him everywhere, but instead of instilling fear, they gathered information and brought it back to the Norse God.
Ravens and other carrion eaters were naturally associated with war deities, due to their presence upon the battlefield. It was said that following crows would always lead the traveler to a place of misfortune. Luckily, this point of view has not persisted and ravens are now recognized as incredibly intelligent creatures who have the ability to communicate, if only we take the time to listen.
The 2 moons of the planet Mars are named Deimos and Phobos.
Hermes
AKA Mercury
Hermes was a complicated god. He was multifaceted and represented many aspects of nature, as well as the human experience. As one of the three gods eventually linked to ancient wisdom, Mercury and Thoth being the other two, he brings a rich tradition of knowledge and initiation with him.
Hermes was the god of the mind, thought, intelligence or lack thereof, technical skills that require abstract thinking, the healing arts, many metaphysical disciplines, fish, merchants and merchandising, certain aspects of the libido, mathematics, and many other subjects. Much more than being the messenger of the gods, Hermes represented the gifts given to us at birth, as well as the ability to develop those gifts during our lifetime. Hermes was also the Psychopomp, leading the deceased from the world of the living into the realm beyond. We might be tempted to see a thread of connection between Hermes and Anubis, and that would be a correct thread to follow.
Hermes also had a mischievous side, as well as one that could be relatively negative, depending upon the myth involved. Generally speaking, Hermes functioned as a messenger, magician and facilitator to those that relied upon him. At one time, most metaphysics were known as the Hermetic Arts. This implies that the great mysteries could be connected to Hermes, as he knew the way in and out of the underworld and could walk between both realms. This makes perfect sense. His understanding of mathematics, medicine and other arcane subjects made him one of the most respected of all deities.
The Roman god, Mercury, shared many of the same attributes as his Greek counterpart. The wand of Mercury was the Caduceus. Although this wand was mistakenly attributed to medical doctors, it really is a tool of magic and the key to understanding many mysteries. Although not antithetical to the medical profession, the staff of Asclepius is certainly more appropriate, being a walking stick with the serpent wrapped around it, a common motif for healers in the ancient world.
Mercury had a reputation for cleverness, merchandising, deceit and thievery and was the patron god of thieves.
It’s fascinating to note that neither good nor bad was necessarily attached to many of the gods. They simply ruled the area they were in charge of. As is often true, it appears that conscience is a personal matter, and decidedly a human one.
Poseidon
AKA Neptune
Poseidon was the brother of Zeus and Hades. When the cosmos was being divided up, his was the realm of the seas and oceans.
My favorite story of Poseidon has to do with King Minos being given a gift of a snow-white bull from Poseidon, bestowing Minos the kingship of Minoa (Crete) over his brothers. Poseidon’s only demand was that Minos sacrifice the bull back to him after he’d been crowned monarch. Instead, Minos kept the bull and sacrificed another, thinking he could fool the god of the sea. Angered, Poseidon caused Minos’ wife, Pasiphae, to fall madly in love with the bull, the gift from the sea god. Making a long story short, her passion led to her giving birth to a terrible monster, the Minotaur, who became a huge burden upon the king and his country.
Such stories, although bizarre and disturbing, highlight the fact that we owe an allegiance to nature and have an obligation to follow through with our trust to the earth and the creatures upon it.
Ignoring this trust, whether it be for selfish reasons or out of ignorance, must always lead to the creation of monsters that threaten our existence. The burden of the Minotaur, a scourge upon the people of Minoa, lay not upon the obsessed wife of Minos, but upon the king’s greed and his arrogance in thinking that just because he was the king, he could get away with anything. Some lessons need to be learned over and over again.
Hades
AKA Pluto
Hades was the other brother of Zeus and essentially drew the short stick. His was the realm of the underworld and darkness. Not able to get out often, he pulled a page out of Zeus’s playbook and erupted out of the bowels of the earth one day, his chariot drawn by his team of midnight, black horses and abducted a beautiful young maiden, taking her back into the realm of darkness, where he made her his queen. She became known as Persephone and grew to love her husband and be feared in her own right, but the beginnings to her new life were less than ideal. It seemed to run in the family.
The Roman God of the underworld, Pluto, seems much colder to me. It’s fitting that the icy body at the edge of our solar system, one that has created such controversy, should be named Pluto.
He is not the source of the word plutocracy. That word actually comes from the Greek God Plutus, the deity of wealth. A case could be made, however, that since Pluto could lay claim to everything beneath the earth: gold, silver, gems and all other minerals, that this cold, unfeeling entity was in control of most the world’s wealth. It seems that very little has changed.
I think there is an excellent lesson here. We don’t truly own anything and must always remember that what we have will eventually be returned to the earth, from which it came.
Hephaestus
AKA Vulcan
One of my favorite deities is Hephaestus, or Vulcan. Hephaestus was the blacksmith of the gods and forged the bolts of lightning that Zeus hurled.
He ruled controlled fire and the working of metals and machinery.
He was the only God to be deemed ugly and had physical infirmities, yet he was brilliant and could make almost anything out of metal.
In an incredible act of mischief, Zeus declared that Aphrodite and Hephaestus be a wedded couple. In putting together the most beautiful of all the deities with the most physically unappealing, he created a miserable arrangement, filled with infidelities by Aphrodite and attempts by Hephaestus to prove her affairs.
This exemplifies a glorification and valuing of beauty over almost everything else. Thank goodness so many mythological ideals of that time have been overcome, or have they? At times it seems obvious that we have a long way to go. Only when we stop objectifying each other and begin seeing and appreciating the real value within, can we truly be free.
Until next time, I wish you all peace and love.
About the Author
The Story of Atlantis, the Lost City
The history of Atlantis, with its sophisticated society and its tragic disappearance, has been the subject of study and fascination for centuries. In the series Initiation, Matias De Stefano offers a detailed and in-depth look at the evolution and impact of this lost city. In this article we explore the origins, structure, beliefs and fall of Atlantis, based on the accounts and knowledge shared by Matias.
Table of Contents
- The Origins of Atlantis
- The Structure of Atlantis
- Their Spiritual and Religious Beliefs
- The Heyday of the Atlantean Empire
- The Fall of Atlantis
- Khem: The New Atlantis
- The Legacy of Atlantis
The Origins of Atlantis
The story of Atlantis begins with the arrival of the Anunnaki, giant beings from the Middle East, who settled on Earth to help their species survive while their own planet was dying. These extraterrestrial beings had children with humans, creating a new civilization that would eventually become the Atlanteans. This mixing of races allowed the Atlanteans to inherit advanced knowledge and skills from the Anunnaki.
The Greek god Poseidon, known to the Atlanteans as Talyn, was one of these Anunnaki. Talyn protected and guided twelve of these mixed-race children, leading them from their isolated civilization in the Middle East to the Atlantic Ocean, away from the dominating influence of other Anunnaki. This established the twelve families of Atlantis, each charged with preserving and transmitting the star information they possessed.
The twelve families of Atlantis divided the main island into twelve small regions, each controlled by a family. These were not traditional rulers, but guardians of cosmic information. Through their connection to the stars, the Atlanteans developed a civilization that valued both spiritual knowledge and technological advancement.
The purpose of Atlantis was to be an experiment in human evolution, run by star beings such as the Arcturians and Pleiadians. These beings taught the Atlanteans to use sacred geometry and cosmic energies to build structures that were not only architecturally impressive, but also spiritually potent. These practices enabled the Atlanteans to achieve high levels of consciousness and wisdom.
In the series Initiation, available on Gaia, Matias De Stefano explores these origins in depth, revealing how ancestral knowledge and connection with beings from other dimensions shaped the advanced civilization of Atlantis.
The Structure of Atlantis
The structure of Atlantis stood out for its advanced organization and the integration of spiritual and technological principles in its urban and social design. The following are the most relevant aspects of this civilization:
- Regional distribution: Atlantis was divided into twelve regions, each governed by one of the twelve families. These regions represented not only administrative divisions, but also areas of spiritual and technological responsibility.
- Spiritual rule: The twelve families that ruled Atlantis were not monarchs in the traditional sense, but guardians of cosmic wisdom. Their leadership was based on spiritual knowledge and ethical guidance rather than authoritarian control.
- Circular city: The capital of Atlantis was a circular city located on the main island. This layout reflected the harmony and balance that the Atlanteans sought in all aspects of their lives.
- Resonance technology: The Atlanteans used vibration and sound technology for building and healing. This technology allowed the construction of pyramids and temples that acted as resonance points for communication and energy transfer over great distances.
- Sacred geometry: Atlantean architecture incorporated principles of sacred geometry, using shapes and patterns such as the Flower of Life to align their structures with cosmic energies, facilitating meditation and spiritual connection.
- Portal network: Atlantis had a network of natural and artificial portals that allowed the connection with other dimensions and the transfer of cosmic information. This network was fundamental for its spiritual and technological evolution.
- Wisdom centers: Temples in Atlantis served as places of knowledge and energy. They were designed to optimize energetic resonance, facilitating advanced spiritual practices and connection with cosmic forces.
- Stellar influence: The knowledge and skills of the Atlanteans came from their interaction with beings from other worlds, such as the Arcturians and Pleiadians. This interaction profoundly shaped their culture, religion and technology, integrating cosmic knowledge into their daily lives.
- Strategic expansion: During their heyday, the Atlanteans established settlements in key regions such as Egypt and the Mediterranean. These settlements not only expanded their territorial influence, but also allowed them access to important energy portals around the world.
Their Spiritual and Religious Beliefs
The spiritual beliefs of the Atlanteans were deeply rooted in an understanding of the connection between the cosmos and life on Earth. They believed that all divinities were different expressions of a single universal consciousness. This approach allowed the Atlanteans to see every aspect of nature and the cosmos as a divine manifestation. Natural elements such as water, fire, earth and air were considered sacred, and each had its own gods and guardian spirits. This worldview fostered a deep respect for nature and the interconnectedness of all life.
One of the pillars of Atlantean spiritual beliefs was the practice of sacred geometry. Atlanteans used specific shapes and patterns, such as the Flower of Life, to align their structures with cosmic energies. They believed that these geometric shapes were the key to understanding and manipulating the energies of the universe. Temples and other important buildings were built according to these principles, allowing the Atlanteans to create spaces that facilitated meditation and spiritual connection.
Atlantean rituals and ceremonies were designed to maintain balance and harmony at both the individual and collective levels. They used vibration and sound to heal and elevate their consciousness, integrating practices such as chanting and harmonic resonance. These ceremonies not only strengthened the community, but also served as a means to align with cosmic forces and receive spiritual guidance. This holistic approach to spirituality allowed Atlanteans to live in harmony with the universe and foster continued spiritual growth.
The Heyday of the Atlantean Empire
At its peak, Atlantis had a population of approximately 300,000 people distributed in several villages along three main islands. This distribution reflected the advanced organization and planning of the Atlantean civilization.
The Atlantean empire reached its greatest expansion by establishing settlements in the Mediterranean and beyond. Following Earth’s energetic patterns, the Atlanteans founded colonies in regions such as Egypt, Asia Minor and the Middle East. These settlements not only extended their territorial influence, but also allowed them access to important energetic portals that strengthened their connection to cosmic energies. Atlantean expansion was both a territorial conquest and an effort to unify the planetary energies under their control.
Atlantean technology played a crucial role in their heyday. They used vibration and sound to build and heal, developing a network of pyramids and temples that functioned as resonance points. This network allowed the Atlanteans to communicate and transfer energy over great distances. In addition, this technology was used for cell regeneration and life extension, demonstrating their mastery over natural forces and their ability to manipulate physical reality.
The Atlantean system of government was based on wisdom and spiritual guidance. The twelve families that ruled Atlantis were not tyrants, but guardians of cosmic wisdom. Their leadership was focused on maintaining balance and harmony in society, using their knowledge of the stars and sacred geometry to guide the civilization toward sustainable and spiritually advanced development. This approach allowed Atlantis to flourish as a prosperous and balanced civilization, capable of integrating advanced technology with deep spirituality.
The Fall of Atlantis
The fall of Atlantis is one of the most tragic and fascinating stories of antiquity. The Atlantean civilization began to disintegrate during the Age of Scorpio. This period was marked by an abuse of the knowledge and technology possessed by the Atlanteans. The leaders of Atlantis, once guardians of cosmic wisdom, began to use their abilities to exert power and control over others, deviating from their spiritual and ethical principles.
This abuse of power led to a series of natural catastrophes that contributed to the destruction of Atlantis. The Atlanteans had developed advanced technologies that used frequencies and resonances for multiple purposes. However, these same technologies were employed for war and domination, resulting in devastating energy waves that caused the disappearance of entire cities and turned fertile regions into barren deserts.
Internal tensions and conflicts with other civilizations also played a crucial role in the fall of Atlantis. The war with the civilization of Mu was especially destructive, leading to a series of battles that depleted Atlantean resources and morale. Finally, a combination of natural disasters and internal social collapse culminated in the complete destruction of the Atlantean civilization, with the main island sinking into the ocean in a single night of misfortune.
Khem: The New Atlantis
Khem, known as the new Atlantis, emerged after the collapse of the Atlantean civilization. This transition occurred during the Age of Virgo, when the remaining Atlanteans migrated and established new bases in Egypt and other regions of the Mediterranean. Khem inherited much of Atlantean knowledge and practices, including the use of sacred geometry and vibrational resonance in their constructions. The temples and pyramids of Egypt bear witness to this transfer of wisdom, which continued to influence the spiritual and technological development of the region.
The new civilization of Khem focused on maintaining and expanding Atlantean knowledge, adapting it to its new environment. This integration allowed Khem to flourish as a center of learning and spiritual evolution. Khem’s leaders, many of them descendants of the ancient Atlantean guardians, worked to preserve the harmony and balance that once characterized Atlantis. Thus, Khem became a bridge between the legacy of Atlantis and future civilizations, ensuring that the lessons learned would not be lost to time.
The Legacy of Atlantis
Despite its destruction, the legacy of Atlantis lives on in numerous cultures and traditions around the world. The teachings and technologies of the Atlanteans were carried to new lands by their survivors, influencing regions such as Egypt, Greece and Central America in their mythology, architecture and spiritual practices. These cultures reflect Atlantean knowledge of sacred geometry and cosmic alignment in their monuments and temples.
The spiritual impact of Atlantis is also evident in many religions and esoteric philosophies. The principles of connection to the cosmos, the importance of energetic alignment, and the use of vibration and sound for healing and evolution are concepts that have endured throughout the centuries. These teachings continue to inspire spiritual seekers and modern practitioners who seek to integrate these principles into their daily lives.
In addition, the story of Atlantis has been a catalyst for exploration and the search for lost civilizations. Archaeologists, historians and explorers have dedicated their lives to unearthing the remains of this ancient civilization, searching for evidence to corroborate the accounts of Plato and others. These efforts have led to numerous important discoveries that have enriched our understanding of ancient cultures and their connection to Atlantis.
The story of Atlantis continues to be a source of inspiration and reflection on human potential and our capabilities. It reminds us that while we can reach great heights of knowledge and technology, we must do so with a sense of responsibility and ethics. The legacy of Atlantis urges us to learn from its mistakes and use our abilities to create a more harmonious and balanced world, avoiding the paths that led to its downfall.
