People in ancient and medieval were over religious and god fearing. Ancient Greek religious hierarchy principally demonstrated the collection of rituals and beliefs practiced in the nation in a well customized manner. Even in ancient Greece, the religious hierarchy encompasses all such elements in the form of both cult practices as well as the public religion. The Greek religion was not just limited to the Greece but extended out of Greece and out to other islands.
The major gods and goddesses of the Greece incorporate Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Apollo, Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Airtimes, Heracles, Ares and Hephaestus. Same deities were worshipped by different cities. The Greek religious hierarchy is being described below in brief manner. Following are the major Greek gods and goddesses in the hierarchical format:
- Zeus
- Poseidon
- Hades
- Hera
- Apollo
- Helios
- Athena
- Artemis
- Hermes
Zeus – There was a well settled hierarchy of deities in ancient Greek religious hierarchy. The Zeus was at the top of this hierarchy since he was considered the king of the deities. Zeus was having a level of control and ultimate top most power all over the deities. The king of the deities was though not omnipotent. Further Zeus was the sky – god and was supposed to be sending lightning and thunder.
Poseidon – Poseidon was called the “God of the Sea” and ruled the sea. Moreover he was also referred to as “Earth-Shaker” due to his role in causing earthquakes. He was considered a brother of both Zeus and Hades.
Hades – This god projected his remarkable power throughout the realms of death and the Underworld. He was also brother of Zeus. Hades was also called “Plouton” and was a son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
Hera – Hera was considered to be the wife as well as the sister of Zeus. She was the Goddess of childbirth & marriage and was symbolized by peacock.
Apollo – Apollo was considered to be the God of music and healing (medicine). Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto. It was believed that she gave birth to Apollo with her twin sister Artemis on a place known as Delos Island.
Helios – Helios was the deity of sun and was imagined as a handsome god crowned with the shining aureole of the Sun.
Athena – One of the quite famous goddess and well known as the goddess of mathematics, wisdom, inspiration, courage, civilization, just warfare, strength, law and justice, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.
Artemis – Artemis was the daughter of Leto and Zeus and the sister of Apollo. She was supposed to hunt with silver arrows and was also considered as the protector of the young.
Hermes – Hermes was also an Olympian god but was at the lowest level in the ancient Greek religious hierarchy since the duty assigned to Hermes was of a messenger. He was considered to be son of Zeus and Maia.