Dionysus, Bacchus, Bacchus. God of wine, winemaking and viticulture

God Loki, the most cunning liar, the god of mischief and deceit, the most charming of all the gods in Norse mythology. He is cunning and cunning, he had the rarest quality for a mythological character - a change in character. Once, at the dawn of time, he helped in the creation of the world and countless times helped other gods. Later, his pranks became more malevolent, such as when he cut off the hair of the goddess Siv. And then anger finally took possession of him, which manifested itself, for example, in the murder of Baldur, which Loki himself arranged.

Loki was married three times. His first wife's name was Glut, and she bore him two children, Einmuria and Eise; all three names are associated with fire and its warmth, because Loki was also considered the god of the hearth, tranquility and relaxation, which is why the peasants revered him as the greatest of the gods. The children from his second marriage were less likeable. The giantess Angbroda bore Loki three children. The first daughter is Hel, goddess of death; one son is Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, and the other is Fenrir, a dire wolf that threatened the very existence of the gods. The third wife of Loki was the beautiful Sigyn. Her children were named Narvi and Vali.

Children of Loki and Angrbod: Hel, Jörmungandr and Fenrir

There are many more stories about the Scandinavian god Loki than about other gods. He could be kind, helped many, entertained them. One day, the giantess Skadi ascended to Asgard to avenge the murder of her father Thiassi. Loki began to distract her, telling various obscene stories, and Skadi changed her anger to mercy.

Sometimes Loki was extremely cruel. One day, while walking with Odin and Hoenir along the river bank, Loki noticed an otter that was about to eat a salmon. God threw a stone at her and killed her. But it was no ordinary otter, but Otter, one of the sons of the troll king Hreidmar. Thus began the infamous story of Andvari's gold and the ruin of Hreidmar's family.

As you know, the children of Loki and the giantess Angrboda were Hel, Jörmungandr and Fenrir. It was a marriage forbidden by the gods, in a cave, but they grew so fast that Odin knew of their existence. He ordered Loki to destroy them before they grew large enough to become a threat to the entire world. One cast Hel into Niflheim, and in this gloomy realm she became the goddess of death. He threw the Serpent Jörmungandr into the deep sea, and so the World Serpent appeared, which, lying in the middle of the sea, girded the seabed and biting its own tail.

The third son of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, the wolf Fenrir. One brought him in in order to cultivate kindness in him. But Fenrir was rapidly growing in size, and at the same time, ferocity grew in him. Then the gods decided to make the strongest chain and bind him so that he could no longer threaten them. After Fenrir broke the two chains, the dwarves wove the thinnest fetters - Gleipnir. Fenrir allowed her strength to be tested on himself, but only on the condition that one of the gods put his hand in his mouth as a guarantee that no magic would be used against him. None of the gods dared. Tyr invested right hand into the mouth of a wolf and immediately lost it. Then the wolf was put in the underworld, where he howled wildly. To silence him, the aces thrust a sword into his mouth: the hilt rested under the tongue, and the tip against the palate, and blood flowed from his throat in a huge river.

The gods of Scandinavian myths captivate Loki

Loki's pranks became more and more vicious. With his love of lies and other people's secrets, he constantly quarreled with the gods with each other. One of the most disgusting tricks he did was to cut off Sif's magnificent golden hair. As a result of this and his subsequent bet with Brokk and Sindri, Loki was in pain because his lips had been stitched together.

Soon Loki abandoned petty villainy and he was seized by a vengeful passion for destruction. He began with Balder, and then appeared to the gods for a farewell dinner and insulted them in the most caustic terms. The gods considered that enough was enough for them, and decided to bind the villain. Loki could shape-shift and turned into a fish. The gods of Scandinavian myths: , and Kvasir still managed to catch him. They led him to a deep cave, forced Loki's son Vali to turn into a wolf and tear his brother Narvi's throat. The aces took out his intestines and tied Loki to three huge stones. The fetters have turned to iron. The giantess Skadi took a poisonous snake and hung it over Loki's head so that the poison dripped onto his face until the end of days. Each drop of poison caused unbearable pain to the overthrown god. During great battle in an hour, the gods will have to regret very much that they treated Loki so cruelly.

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The names of most of the gods are arranged as hyperlinks, where you can go to a detailed article about each of them.

The main deities of Ancient Greece: 12 Olympic gods, their helpers and companions

The main gods in Ancient Hellas were those that belonged to the younger generation of celestials. Once it took power over the world from the older generation, personifying the main universal forces and elements (see about this in the article The Origin of the Gods of Ancient Greece). The gods of the older generation are usually called titans. Having defeated the titans, the younger gods, led by Zeus, settled on Mount Olympus. The ancient Greeks honored 12 Olympian gods. Their list usually included Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hephaestus, Apollo, Artemis, Poseidon, Ares, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hermes, Hestia. Hades is also close to the Olympian gods, but he does not live on Olympus, but in his underworld.

Legends and myths of Ancient Greece. Cartoon

Goddess Artemis. Statue in the Louvre

Statue of Athena the Virgin in the Parthenon. Ancient Greek sculptor Phidias

Hermes with caduceus. Statue from the Vatican Museum

Venus (Aphrodite) de Milo. Statue ca. 130-100 BC

God Eros. Red-figure dish, ca. 340-320 BC e.

Hymen Companion of Aphrodite, god of marriage. According to his name, wedding hymns were also called hymens in ancient Greece.

Daughter of Demeter, kidnapped by the god Hades. The inconsolable mother, after a long search, found Persephone in the underworld. Hades, who made her his wife, agreed that she would spend part of the year on earth with her mother, and the other with him in the bowels of the earth. Persephone was the personification of the grain, which, being "dead" sown in the ground, then "comes to life" and comes out of it into the light.

The Abduction of Persephone. Antique jug, ca. 330-320 BC

Amphitrite Poseidon's wife, one of the Nereids

Proteus One of the Greek sea deities. The son of Poseidon, who had the gift to predict the future and change his appearance

Triton- son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, messenger sea ​​depths blowing into the sink. In appearance - a mixture of man, horse and fish. Close to the eastern god Dagon.

Eirene- the goddess of the world, standing at the throne of Zeus on Olympus. In ancient Rome, the goddess Pax.

Nika- goddess of victory. Constant companion of Zeus. In Roman mythology - Victoria

Dike- in ancient Greece - the personification of divine truth, a goddess hostile to deceit

Tyukhe- Goddess of good luck and luck. The Romans - Fortune

Morpheus- the ancient Greek god of dreams, the son of the god of sleep Hypnos

Plutus- god of wealth

Phobos("Fear") - the son and companion of Ares

Deimos("Horror") - the son and companion of Ares

Enyo- among the ancient Greeks - the goddess of violent war, which causes rage in the fighters and brings confusion to the battle. In Ancient Rome - Bellona

Titans

The Titans are the second generation of the gods of Ancient Greece, born of the elements of nature. The first titans were six sons and six daughters, descended from the connection of Gaia-Earth with Uranus-Sky. Six sons: Kron (Time. for the Romans - Saturn), Ocean (father of all rivers), Hyperion, Kay, Crius, Iapetus. Six daughters: Tethys(Water), Theia(Shine), Rhea(Mother Mountain?), Themis (Justice), Mnemosyne(Memory), Phoebe.

Uranus and Gaia. Ancient Roman mosaic 200-250 A.D.

In addition to the titans, Gaia gave birth to Cyclopes and Hecatoncheirs from marriage with Uranus.

cyclops- three giants with a large, round, fiery eye in the middle of the forehead. In ancient times - the personification of the clouds, from which lightning sparkles

Hecatoncheires- "hundred-armed" giants, against whose terrible power nothing can resist. Embodiments of terrible earthquakes and floods.

The Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires were so strong that Uranus himself was horrified by their power. He tied them up and threw them into the depths of the earth, where they still rage, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The stay of these giants in the womb of the earth began to cause her terrible suffering. Gaia persuaded her youngest son, Kronos, to take revenge on his father, Ouranos.

The Scandinavian god Loki is very popular, this is a bright, pretentious character who usually causes a smile and the most positive emotions, despite the fact that aces and people have suffered a lot because of his antics. Loki is a god in many ways unique. He lives with the Aesir in Asgard, but he himself comes from the Jotun family, his father is Farbauti (“hard-hitting”), and his mother is Lauveya (“island of larches”). Ases knew Laufey under the name Nal, which means "needle". Nal brought little Loki to Asgard after the death of Farbauti and soon died herself, presumably from grief.

Loki is a god, but you need to understand that he is fundamentally different from those with whom he lives, from the aces and vans of Asgard. In general, this is a classic trickster, that is, a "deceiver", "cunning". Actually, the aces took him for an incredibly dodgy mind and the ability to find a way out of any situation. Thus, Loki is the god of deceit, witchcraft, volatility, cunning, deceit, intrigue, lobbies. Also, Loki is the god of mankind, in the sense that among all the inhabitants of Asgard, he most of all resembles a mere mortal. He is in constant search, he is interested in the secrets of the universe, he asks questions that others simply do not think about. But far from always his thoughts are sublime. Loki is a vengeful, envious, dishonest god. However, he is not so bad, because he knows compassion and sacrifice (even if forced). Suffice it to recall the corresponding episode of the “Younger Edda”, which tells how Loki, in the form of a mare, distracts the magical stallion Svadilfari, due to which the master jotun was not able to build an impregnable wall around Midgard in one winter. So Loki saved Freya from a terrible marriage and helped the aces maintain their dignity.

Another Eddic song tells how Loki (the god of mischief, among other things) once again saves the honor of Asgard, becoming the only one who managed to make Skadi, the daughter of the giant Thiazzi, who kidnapped Idunn and her golden apples that gave immortality to the gods, laugh. In addition, it is Loki who, in the Song of Sigurd, goes to the Brisings for gold, which should be a ransom for the killed otter, thus saving Odin and Hoenir. Of course, Loki is an ambiguous god, in the sense that, unlike other heroes of Scandinavian legends, his actions are ambivalent, sometimes he helps aces and people, and sometimes his actions harm them. In addition, we must not forget that during Ragnarok, Loki will fight on the side of Hel against the Aesir and will meet in a deadly battle with Heimdal.

Scandinavian god Loki: etymology, origin, family

The god Loki plays one of the key roles in Scandinavian mythology, but the question of the origin of his name is still open. One of the main versions (which confirms the idea that Loki is the god of fire, an element with a changeable disposition) is based on the assumption that the word "loki" comes from the more ancient "log", which means "fire" in Old Norse. It is also suggested that Loki is derived from the Old Norse "lúka", which means "lock, complete". There are other versions according to which the Scandinavian god Loki is close to the cult of the bear (from the Lithuanian "lokys" - "bear") or the cult of the wolf (from the Greek "Λύκος" - "wolf").

Above was a myth that says that Loki is a god from the genus of jotuns, not aces. But there are other legends that contradict this version. Some researchers believe that the Scandinavian god Loki was the son of the primordial frost giant Ymir, probably his firstborn, who appeared long before Odin. According to this version, his brothers and sisters are Hler (water), Ran (sea), Kari (air), and then the idea that Loki himself is the god of fire looks quite logical.

The Scandinavian god Loki is not alone, in the sense that he has a family, and what a family! His first wife is a mighty giantess warrior, and his children are known to all of us - this is the goddess of Helheim named Hel, the chthonic serpent Jörmungandr, the infernal wolf Fenrir. From his second wife, Sigyn (her origin is unclear), the Scandinavian god Loki has two children - Vali and Narvi. The fate of this couple is very sad. After the god Loki (in Scandinavian mythology, this plot is an exception in many ways) finally “got” the aces with his antics, his eldest son (apparently, Vali) was turned into a wolf and set on the younger (Narvi). The intestines of the slain Narvi Loki were tied to a rock, over which a huge poisonous snake was placed. The poison drips onto Loki's face and he writhes in unbearable pain (the Scandinavians believed that this was the cause of earthquakes). However, this does not happen often, since Sigyn (an allegory of a faithful wife and inconsolable mother) holds a bowl over Loki's face, thus protecting him from poison. But when the cup overflows, Sigyn steps back to pour out the poison, then the poison dripping from the snake's mouth falls on Loki's face.

God Loki in Scandinavian mythology: (un)fairly condemned?

The god Loki in Scandinavian mythology plays an important plot-forming role. As we have already found out, he often interfered with the aces, but also helped them to the same extent. Such things as Gungnir (Odin's spear), Mjolnir (Thor's hammer), Skidbladnir (Freyr's ship), Draupnir (Baldr's ring), Gullinbursti (Freyr's boar) appeared among the lords of Asgard precisely thanks to the cunning and wisdom of the god Loki. In Scandinavian mythology, it is difficult to find a more successful "getter" of magical artifacts! Nevertheless, the god Loki (pictures with his image can be found in ancient Icelandic lists) was condemned to eternal torment. Strictly speaking, in the context of this story, it is not surprising that in the last battle he fights the aces on the side of his daughter.

What does the god Loki look like? The image of this cunning is given in the "Younger Edda" by Snoria Sturlusson, where Loki is short and handsome, probably, he has long hair and beard. This description corresponds to the famous depiction of the god Loki in the pages of the Edda Oblongata, a seventeenth-century Icelandic manuscript. In general, images of the god Loki are widely represented by European painters of the 18th-19th centuries, but it is difficult to say how objective they are. Much more curious are the English paintings of the 11th century, but there the emphasis is more on his wife Sigiyun, and not on the god Loki himself. Pictures of modern origin often have nothing to do with historical originals, especially when it comes to Hiddleston as a charismatic Marvel villain.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the god Loki (images from the original Icelandic sources are presented above, they are not difficult to distinguish from later ones by their characteristic technique) is indeed the most controversial character in Scandinavian mythology. In this sense, one cannot fail to recall the famous "Harley of Loki" from the Elder Edda. In that episode, the trickster accuses the gods and goddesses of Asgard of cowardice, lies, dishonor and unchastity, and all his accusations are fair. In addition, Loki admits his guilt for the death of Baldur. We often forget this episode, although, in all likelihood, it is in it that the true image of the hero is revealed.

Vina Dionysus has always been unusually eccentric. When modern researchers studied his cult in detail, they were sincerely surprised that the Hellenes, with their sober worldview, could tolerate such a celestial with his frantic dances, exciting music and immoderate drunkenness. Even the barbarians who lived nearby were suspected - whether he appeared from their lands. However, the Greeks had to recognize in him their brother and agree that Dionysus is the god of anything, but not boredom and despondency.

The illegitimate son of a thunderer

Even the history of his birth, he stands out from the general mass of swarthy and loud-mouthed babies who were born on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It is known that his father, Zeus, in secret from his lawful wife Hera, had a secret passion for a young goddess named Semele. Upon learning of this, the legitimate half, filled with anger, decided to destroy her rival and, with the help of magic, inspired her with a crazy idea to ask Zeus to hug her the way he does with her - his legal wife.

Semele chose the moment when Zeus was ready for any promises, and whispered her desire to him. The poor thing didn't know what she was asking for. No wonder he earned a reputation as a thunderer. When he pressed his beloved to his chest, he was immediately enveloped in fire and lightning lit up. Hera, the wife, probably liked it, but poor Semele could not bear such a passion and instantly burned out. An excessively ardent lover managed to snatch a premature fetus from her womb and, placing it in his own thigh, reported the remaining term. This is how the baby Dionysus was born in an unusual way.

New intrigues of Hera

Such a happy event happened, according to various sources, either on the island of Naxos, or on Crete, now no one remembers for sure, but it is known that the first educators of the young deity were nymphs, of whom a great many lived in those places. So the young Dionysus would have frolicked between them, but suddenly the matter was complicated by the fact that Zeus found out about Hera's desire to destroy his illegitimate son. To stop her, he gives the young man to his mother's sister Ino and her husband Afamant.

But Zeus underestimated his jealous wife. Hera learned the whereabouts of Dionysus and sent madness on Afaman, wanting him to kill the child she hated in a fit of violence. But it turned out differently: his own son became the victim of the unfortunate madman, and the future god of wine escaped safely by jumping into the sea with Ino, where they were embraced by the Nereids - the Greek sisters of the mermaids well known to us.

satyr's apprentice

In order to protect his son from his evil wife in the future, Zeus turned him into a goat and in this guise, transferred him to be raised by kind and caring nymphs from Nisa, a city on the territory of present-day Israel. The legend says that they hid their ward in a cave, hiding the entrance to it with branches. But it just so happened that one old, but very frivolous satyr, a demon, a student of the drunkard Bacchus, chose the same place as his home. It was he who taught Dionysus the first lessons in winemaking and introduced him to immoderate libations.

So from a harmless-looking kid, the god of wine turned out. Further, disagreements begin in the legends - either Hera instilled madness in him, or alcohol had such an effect, but Dionysus scattered the branches that hid the entrance to his shelter, and went wherever his eyes looked. He was seen idly wandering in Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor and even in India. And everywhere he taught people how to make wine. But a strange thing, wherever he held festivities, everywhere they ended in madness and violence. As if there was something demonic in the juicy grapes.

The further life of Dionysus was full of adventures. He spent three years on a military campaign against India, and in memory of this, the ancient Greeks established a noisy Bacchic festival. It was he - the god of wine and fun - who built the first bridge across the great river Euphrates, using a rope made of vine and ivy. After that, Dionysus descended into the realm of the dead and safely brought out of it his mother, Semele, who entered later mythology under the name of Fiona.

A story has also been preserved about how the god of wine was once captured by pirates. Sea robbers captured him during one of his sea voyages. But apparently they had little idea who they were dealing with. The fetters of their own accord fell from his hands, and Dionysus turned the masts of the ship into snakes. To top it off, he appeared on deck in the form of a bear, which caused the frightened pirates to jump into the sea, turning into dolphins there.

Marriage of Dionysus and Ariadne

Before finally settling on Olympus, the god of wine got married. Ariadne became his chosen one, the very daughter of the Cretan who managed with the help of her thread to help the legendary Theseus get out of the labyrinth. But the fact is that, being safe, the villain treacherously abandoned the girl, which is why she was ready to commit suicide. Dionysus saved her, and the grateful Ariadne agreed to become his wife. To celebrate, her new father-in-law - Zeus - granted her immortality and a rightful place on Olympus. Many other adventures of this hero are described in Greek legends, because Dionysus is the god of what? Wine, but it’s only worth tasting, and whatever happens ...

Kwasuraknown as slavic god Joy and Moderation. His name is consonant with the names of two drinks "kvass" and "surya". Surya or otherwise suritsa is a magical Slavic drink. It is believed that this drink was available only to the Gods, but God Kitovras, brother of Kvasura, simplified the preparation of the drink and it became available to people. Sometimes Kwasura is considered the God of intoxicating drinks, but, most likely, such an idea is erroneous. Although you can really get drunk from kvass or surya, Kvasura is precisely the God of Moderation, the ability to stop in time during fun.

The story of Kvasura's birth is the same as that of his brother, the centaur Kitovras. Both Gods appeared from the spray of the source of living water. The source was opened when Semargl, the God of Fire, struck a stone with his fiery sword to make Maya-Zlatogorka drink, who had just given birth to Kolyada and Avsenya.

Kvasura, like Kitovras, combines physical strength and wisdom. Unlike his brother, who took up the study of magic, Kvasura received worldly, worldly wisdom, which he teaches people.

Legends and myths about God Kwasur

Few legends about God Kwasur have survived, we know almost nothing about his participation in the exploits of other Gods. Kwasura is represented as a tall red-haired and red-bearded man who appears at feasts where they drink surya or intoxicated honey. Kvasura laughs contagiously, loves to joke, involves other people in his amusements, from which people drink a lot at the feast and quickly get drunk. However, Kvasura himself noticed that if a person drinks a lot of suritsa, his joy is only temporary, and in his soul such a person is often sad. Therefore, Kvasura began to be revered as the God of Moderation, who teaches people to see the true joy of life, and not to waste time in idleness and festivities.

Amulet - a symbol of God Kvasura

The symbol of God Kwasura is called Oberezhnik. This pattern is similar to four "G"s that intersect in the center, forming a diamond.

This amulet protects against uncertainty, which pushes a person to rash acts and idle fun, but instead brings sincere joy. In addition, the Guardian symbol helps to cope with diseases, but not of the body, but of the spirit: from addiction to addictions, despondency, longing.

God Kwasura in the northern tradition of divination and magic

The symbol of the God Kvasura Oberezhnik is depicted on one of the Slavic Res of the Rod.

Reza number – 29.

Reza of God Kwasuraappears in the alignment when the questioner tries to hide from his problems, tries not to notice the lack of sincere joy in life and replaces it with idle fun. Kwasura warns that such behavior harms relationships with loved ones, business, and health. The appearance of the Reza of the God of Moderation is an advice to change your lifestyle, to admit that not everything is good now, to believe in yourself and start looking for a way out of the situation.

Read more about the meaning of Reza God Kwasura in divination in the article "