Identification of the item
Hera is a goddess who symbolizes marriage and femininity; she is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. This deity is often associated with the peacock and the cow. Allegedly, this goddess protects such an island as Samos as well as the city of Argos.
Hades is the god of the underworld, and he is the son of Cronus and Rhea. This deity governs and sometimes punishes the souls of deceased people. This deity is often accompanied by the three-headed dog, Cerberus.
Dionysus is the god who represents wine-making, the fertility of the soil, drinking, and even theater; he is the son of Semele and Zeus. This god grew up in the kingdom Phrygia located in Anatolia. He usually wears the skin of a leopard.
Prometheus is the Titan who gave the fire to human beings and taught them various skills and arts such as medicine. He is the son of Iapetus and Clymene. Prometheus was punished for his theft of fire, and he was chained to a mountain in Caucuses.
Titans are the children of primordial deities, namely, Uranus and Gaea. They are the opponents of Olympian gods. Titans are not associated with any geographic region. There are several generations of Titans, and these divine entities can perform several functions; for instance, Atlas is supposed to hold up the sky.
Gaea is one of the primordial deities, and she can be viewed as the personification of the entire Earth. Gaea is a self-borne deity; so, she does not have any parents, unlike Olympian Gods. The name of Gaea is sometimes linked with such a region as Delphi because she guided the oracles serving in the local temple.
Primary sources
Hera is mentioned in different primary sources such as Homer’s Iliad (2006) and Hesiod’s (2004) Theogony. These authors depict the birth of Hera and her interactions with gods as well as heroes.
Hades is depicted in Theogony by Hesiod (2004) and Homer’s Odyssey (2006). For instance, Homer (2006) writes about Odysseus’ travel through the underworld governed by Hades.
Dionysius is described by various ancient authors. For example, one can refer to Hesiod’s (2004) works and Ovid’s Metamorphoses (2010).
One can refer to Hesiod’s (2004) books to learn about Prometheus and his conflicts with Olympian gods.
Titans are mentioned by Hesiod (2004).
The story of Gaea and other primordial deities is told by Hesiod (2004).
Discussion of critical points
The presence of such a deity as Hera shows that the family was one of the key values for ancient Greeks. Moreover, this goddess illustrates the responsibilities of a wife.
The representation of Hades and his underworld in ancient myths suggest that Greeks did not have an optimistic view of the afterlife. In their opinion, these experiences were deprived of any joy.
Dionysus challenges the rules and values established by Olympian gods. For instance, he does not value power that is one of the top priorities for his father, Zeus.
Prometheus is a cultural hero who enables human beings to build their civilization. One should bear in mind that this myth is present in various ancient cultures. For instance, it is possible to consider the Georgian epic character named Amirani, who is also renowned for giving fire to people.
Titans succeeded in overthrowing primordial deities, but they could not retain their power. However, they were subdued by Olympian gods. To some degree, this example indicates that brutal force is eventually conquered by rationality.
Gaea and other primordial deities represent the uncontrolled forces of nature. In contrast, Olympian gods symbolize various qualities of human beings, such as rationality.
Reference List
Hesiod. (2004). Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, Shield. (A. Athanassakis, Trans.). Baltimore, MD: JHU Press.
Homer. (2006). Homer – the Iliad and the Odyssey. (S. Butler, Trans.). New York, NY: El Paso Norte Press.
Ovid. (2010). Metamorphoses. (W. Johnson, Trans.). New York, NY: Hackett Publishing.