Types of Beings and Theoi in HelPol
In Hellenic Polytheism, due to the large amount of Gods (Or Theoi) we have, we often sort them into categories to be able to easier find what type of God we are looking for and which deity can aid us in what we need right now.
The first were the Protogenoi or First Born gods. These were the primeval beings who emerged at creation to form the very fabric of universe: Earth, Sea, Sky, Night, Day, etc. Although being the personification of things we can see in Nature. Gaea being the literal Earth etc. they are also viewed in an anthropomorphised view, and continuing on with Gaea, Gaea is often seen as a motherly figure embedded in the earth or with vines and plants growing on her symbolising her connection to the Earth.
The second are the nature Daimones (Spirits) and Nymphai who nurtured life in the four elements. E.g. fresh-water Naiades, forest Dryades, beast-loving Satyroi, marine Tritones, etc.
The third were the body- and mind-affecting Daimones (Spirits). E.g. Sleep (Hypnos), Love (Eros), Joy (Euphrosyne), Hate (Eris), Fear (Phobos), Death (Thanatos), Old Age (Geras), etc.
The fourth of the immortals were the spirits of the constellations, which circed the heavenly night sky. Every constellation, including the twelve signs of the Zodiac, was possessed of one or more spirits EG Saggitarius was the centaur Kheiron, Gemini the Dioskouroi Twins, etc.
The fifth class consisted of the fabulous Monster, Beast and Giants of myth. They were semi-divine creatures, closely related to the gods. E.g. Gigantes (Giants), Drakones (Dragons), Sphinx, Sirens, etc.
The sixth were the Heroi Hemitheoi (Semi-Divine Heroes) who were worshipped after death as minor divinities. They included great heroes like Achilles, Theseus and Perseus
Then the Olympian Gods, despite being a category of Theoi on their own, but due to the large amount of Olympian Gods there is we split them Down even Further. These further categories consist of:
These are the Gods of the agora, the marketplace. Athena, as Goddess of wise counsel, Dike (Justice), Themis (Custom) and Calliope (Eloquence). The Gods of the marketplace, on the other hand, were and are led by Hermes, the God of commerce, along with Hephaistos and Athena, the patron Gods of artisans: weavers, potters, metalworkers etc. They presided over money, transactions and bartering due to their position over the Marketplace.
These are the Gods of feasts and banquets. Dionysus, the God of wine, and Hestia, Goddess of feasting, preside over these. They are accompanied by festive Gods such as Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, Beauty and her much forgotten aspect of war all also proside over feasts and banquets. These are often invoked during rituals and offerings as per the custom in Antiquity
These are the Gods of marriage. The first of these are Zeus, Hera, and Aphrodite, but others included Hymenaios (Wedding Song) and the Erotes (Loves). These Gods were most commonly evokes during weddings and when performing Love magic.
These are the Gods of agriculture. Demeter is their leader, but for the most part these were non-Olympian Khthonic Gods, due to the Kthonic deities association with the dirt and ground. These include Gaea, Hades, Hekate, and Persephone, among a variety of others.
The Gods of the gymnasium, athletics and the Games. They include Hermes, Heracles and the Dioscuri. Nike (Victory) and Agon (Contest) were also counted. Eros, as the God of comradeship, was also frequently worshipped in the gymnasia. Athena was also occasionally worshipped at the Gymnasia due to her ties to the Agora and the Olympic Games.
These are the Gods of the sea led by Poseidon. Several of the other Olympian Gods had minor maritime roles including Artemis, Aphrodite and the Dioscuri, who preside over embarkations, harbours, safe voyage, and salvation from storms. Most of this class of God, however, were non-Olympian marine divinities. These include: Amphitrite, Leucothea, Nereus, and Tethys.
The Gods of medicine and healing. These belong to the train of Apollon and included his son the medicine-God Asklepios, and His family: Epione (Soothing), Hygeia (Good Health), Panaceia (Curative) and Aegle (Radiance), Iaso (Healing), Aceso (Cure)
The Gods of house and home. They are led by Zeus protector of the home (Kthesios) and of the family courtyard (Herkeios) along with Hestia, the Goddess of the hearth. Hekate, Apollon and Hermes were also important household Gods who protected the gates and entranceways. These Gods are the main Gods worshipped at Noumenia and Hekates Depinon.
These are the Gods of oracles, divination and prophecy. These are led by Apollon, the God or oracles and seers, and Zeus, the God of fate. Other oracular Gods included the Titanesses Phoeibe (at Delphi) Themis (at Delphi and Dodona), Dione (at Dodona) and Mnemosyne (at Lebadeia). The God Hermes presides over certain primitive forms of divination including the casting of stones, coin-throwing oracles, and astrology. Lastly Pan and the Nymphs inspire(d) the rustic prophets.
The Gods of the countryside and country pursuits, including hunting, fowling, fishing, and the herding of cattle and sheep. They are led by the Olympians Artemis (for hunting), Hermes (for herding) and Dionysus. The rest of the rustic gods are mostly non-Olympian divinities. These include the Ourea (as Gods of the Mountains) and the Potam (as Gods of the Rivers)
Gods of music, dance and education in the arts. They are led by the Olympian twins Apollon and Artemis, the former presiding over music and poetry, and the latter over the choirs and dances of girls. Other important musical Gods include the nine Muses, the dancing Kharites or Graces, and the musical demi-Gods Hymenaeus and Linos. Dionysus, Hermes and Aphrodite are also Gods of music and the arts.
The Gods of war. These are led by Ares and Athena, and included Gods such as Enyo, Eris (Strife), Nike (Victory), Deimos (Terror) and Bia. Zeus, as the God of fate, and Apollon, as God of archery, also had wartime functions.
The Gods of divine law and custom. These are led by Zeus Nomius (of the Laws) and Demeter Thesmophorus (the Law Bringer). Lesser Gods in this sphere included the Horae, specifically Dike (Justice), Eunomia (Good Order), and Irene (Peace), their mother Themis (Custom), and Apollon.
Most of the Gods are split into these groups and identified with Epithets such as Athena Ariea and Aphrodite Ariea as Goddesses of War. This list of Epithets and categories the Theoi are and can be sorted into is not an exhaustive list, they’re are many more and we could break each one of these labels up further if we really wanted to, these are just the most commonly used ones.
