ORIGIN Greco-Roman, perhaps preceded by Etruscan. God of fire and smithies.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 1500 BC until Christianization (circa AD 400).
SYNONYMS Hephaestus (Roman).
CENTER(S) OF CULT sanctuaries on Lemnos and, from circa 450 BC, in Athens opposite the Acropolis on the hill above the Agora. Also a significant shrine at Ephesus.
Local tutelary god. Greco-Roman. Known from the region of the Bosphorus circa 150 BC until AD As late as the fourth century AD there are mentions in texts of hypsistarii in Cappadocia, who seem to have been unorthodox, Greek-speaking, Jewish fringe sectarians. The word hypsistos occurs in the Septuagint version of the Vetus Testamentum and means “almighty.”
Chthonic underworld god. Greco-Roman. One of three judges of Hades assessing the souls of the dead entering the underworld (see also MINOS and RHADAMANTHOS). Identified by Plato as the son of ZEUS and Aigina. In the Theogony (Hesiod), Aeacos is also the consort of Psamathe and father of Phocos. Also Aiakos.
God of fortune. Greco-Roman. Known locally from Alexandria and depicted in the form of a snake. May have originated as an androgynous fertility spirit, but later becomes identified as the consort of Agathe Tyche (see TYCHE). Libations were made regularly to this deity after meals and he was regarded as a friendly household guardian.
Local god of uncertain affinities. Egyptian (Nubian). Probably significant circa 700 BC to AD 400 as an attendant of ISIS. He appeared in Egyptian sanctuaries during the Greco-Roman period and seems to have been of benevolent nature. There is also a sanctuary known from Philae in Greece where he is linked with Isis.
The unknown god(s) usually addressed in the plural form. Greco-Roman. They were the subject of altar inscriptions, particularly in Athens, probably out of concern lest certain less popular deities be neglected or forgotten.
Primordial deity. Greco-Roman. One of the children of AETHER and Hemera in the pre-Homeric cosmos. Listed in Hesiod’s Theogony as one of three archetypal beings with CHAOS and GAIA.
Primordial deity. Greco-Roman. Engendered by CHAOS and NYX, he formed an incestuous liaison with his mother to create the first elements of the cosmos, AETHER (light) and Hemera (day), in pre-Homeric mythology.
Witch's Well 