Why Greek Goddesses Make Excellent Archetypes

The Greek Goddesses make such good archetypal figures because of their exaggerated personalities. They can be viewed as being similar to the modern day super heroes as they have a human form and super human abilities. Despite these super powers and their immortality they are still plagued by the destructive force of negative emotions.

One figure that illustrates this is Aphrodite , who despite her legendary beauty and seductiveness, still suffered from insecurity and jealousy.

Each of the Greek Goddesses is also considered to have a specific area of influence and expertise. Hestia for example ruled over domestic life and the hearth. She can be called upon to bring peace, harmony and happiness to the family home.

Unfortunately the qualities and themes for different mythological figures are not always as clear cut because the stories often contradict each other.

If you want to find a brief description of any of the female Greek Deities please follow the link to the Greek Goddess list


All of the Greek Goddesses can trace their ancestory, although once again there are variations in the creation myths. My favorite creation myth explains the genealogy of the females of the Greek Pantheon.

In this tale Eurynome makes order out of choas by coupling with Ophion The snake. She gave birth to Eros, Gaia, Uranus and Tartarus. With a distinct lack of choice of other suitable partners Gaia and Uranus marry, their off spring are the giants known as the Titans. The Titans included an especially proud giant named Cronus who was angered by the prediction that one of his children would become more powerful than him. So when his wife Rhea gave birth, he swallowed the newborn infants whole.

Grandmother Gaia is upset with Cronus and when Zeus is born she tells her daughter to trick Cronus, by wrapping up a stone in swaddling cloths.

Zeus is taken away to be brought up in safety, he returns as a young man to seek his revenge. Zeus tricks his father into taking an emetic which causes him to throw up his children including Hestia, and Hera. Together the children banish Cronus to the underworld.

Zeus in true style of a victorious warload declared himself the supreme God and ruled from the top of Mount Olympus with his Favourites.

Artemis , Aphrodite, Athena ,

Demeter , Hera and Hestia.

This ability to trace their family trees also meant that like humans the Greek Goddesses often exhibited heridetary patterns of behaviour. These patterns help explain how they reacted or more revealingly reinacted the past, by either following in their parents footsteps or going to the opposite extreme. By understanding these tendancies we can try to carve out a middle, more balanced way of responding to situations in our own lives.

In addition to studying the main Greek Goddesses I also want to include some of the less well known Goddesses like Eirene Eos Hebe Hekate Iris Nike Persephone Selene and Themis


Discover the myths of Zeus and the other Greek Gods.

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