Other Grecian Gods

Asclepius is a God of healing. His symbol is a snake. His parents were Apollo and Coronis. While carrying him Coronis slept with Ischys. This was considered an horrible act and an insult to Apollo. A crow brought the news of the  act to Apollo. Apollo turned all crows, until then white, to black to mark that they were not worthy of trust. Apollo then slayed Coronis with his arrows. He rescued Asclepius from her funeral pyre.

Asclepius was raised by Chiron who taught him healing. Athena gave him two vials of the blood of the Gorgon's. Certain types of blood from the Gorgon revived life. Other types from them killed. Asclepius started using the blood to raise dead mortals. For this offense Zeus struck him with a thunderbolt killing him.


Apollo could not seek revenge against Zeus the King of the Gods, so he killed the Cyclops that forged the thunderbolts.


Demeter is the  Olympian goddess of the Earth; corn, grain, and the harvest. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. The first loaf of bread from the harvest is sacrificed to her. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea.


Demeter is associated with the seasons because of her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the Underworld. In her anger at her daughter's loss Demeter laid a curse on the world that the plants would wither and die and all the land of the Earth would become desolate. Zeus intervened and ordered Hades to return Persephone's return. But because she had eaten while in the Underworld Hades had a claim on her. And because of this it was decreed that Persephone would spend four months each year in the Underworld. During these months Demeter grieves her absence of her daughter, and denies the fruits of the Earth, creating winter. When she returns she brings about Springtime.


Demeter is also founded the Eleusinian Mysteriess. These huge festivals were held every five years. They were important events for many centuries, those attending were sworn to secrecy so that little is known. It is believed that as grain returns every spring after its harvest and death during the winter, the human soul would be reborn after the death of the body.