Ate

Ate

In Greek mythology, Ate was the goddess or spirit of delusion, infatuation, blind folly, rash action and reckless impulse who led men down the path to ruin. According to some version, Ate was called eldest daughter of Zeus with no mother mentioned. Other described her as daughter of Eris.

                                     Ate once even induced Zeus, shortly before his son Hercules was born, to take an oath, that the next-born descendant of Perseus should get the kingdom. Hera immediately arranged to delay the birth of Hercules and to bring forth Eurystheus prematurely, so Eurystheus got the power which had been destined for Hercules.  
                             When Zeus discovered his rashness, he threw Ate down to earth forever, forbidding that she ever return to heaven or to Mt Olympus. Ate then wandered about, treading on the heads of men rather than on the earth, wreaking havoc on mortals. Ate power was countered by Litai (prayers) which followed in her wake.  In some version Peitho was described as Ate daughter.

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Peitho

 

Peitho

Peitho was the goddess or spirit of persuasion, seduction and charming speech. In combination with force (Bia) she also represented forceful inducement and rape (including bridal abduction). Pietho was usually depicted as a woman with her hand lifted in persuasion or fleeing from the scene of a rape. 

Leda, Zeus as swam, Hypos (sleep) and Peitho

                                       Peitho was described as daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. In some versions, Peitho was described as daughter of Aphrodite or Ate or Prometheus.  Peitho was also described in some version as one of the Charites (Grace). Peitho was a close companion of the goddess Aphrodite. According to some version, Peitho was described as wife of Hermes. Other versions described her as the wife of Phoronens, and the mother of Aegialeus and Apia. Also Hygeia was described as the daughter of Eros and Peitho. 

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Omphale

Omphale, queen of Lydia

In Greek mythology, Omphale was the daughter of Iardanus, (either the king of Lydia, or a river god) and wife of Tmolus, king of Lydia. When Tmolus was killed by the bull on the mountain that bears his name, Omphale became queen of Lydia.

Hercules, as slave of Omphale 

      When Hercules, in consequence of the murder of Iphitus, was ill of a serious disease, and received the oracle that he could not be relesed unless he served some one for wage for three years. Hermes, accordingly, sold Hercules to Omphale. Omphale owned Hercules, as a slave and forced him to do women's work and even wear women's clothing and hold a basket of wool while Omphale and her maidens did their spinning. Omphale even wore the skin of the Nemean Lion and carried Heracles' olive-wood club.  

Hercules, as a slave, forced to do women's work. 

                  But it was also during his stay in Lydia that Heracles captured the city of the Itones and enslaved them, killed Syleus who forced passersby to hoe his vineyard, and captured the Cercopes. He took part in the Calydonian Boar Hunt and the Argonautica.

Hercules and Omphale

                  After some time, Omphale freed Heracles and took him as her husband.

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Music contest between Apollo and Pan

 

Music contest between Apollo and Pan

In Greek mythology, Pan, the Greek god of shepherds and nature, was a great musician who is known for his invention of the syrinx, or Greek pan flute. The sound of his pipes was so sweet that he grew proud, and believing himself greater than the chief musician of the gods, Apollo, he challenged Apollo to a musical duel. Apollo consented to the test, for he wished to punish Pan's vanity, while overlooking his own well-known arrogance. Pan and Apollo chose the mountain Tmolus to be the judge of the contest, since no one is so old and wise as the mountain.

Pan ,Apollo, and Tmolus

    When Pan and Apollo came before Tmolus for the duel, their followers came with them, to hear, and one of those who came with Pan was a mortal named Midas. First Pan played; he blew on his reed pipes, and out came a tune so wild and yet so coaxing that the birds hopped from the trees to get near; the squirrels came running from their holes; and the very trees swayed as if they wanted to dance. The fauns laughed aloud for joy as the melody tickled their furry little ears, and Midas thought it was the sweetest music in the world.
    Then Apollo rose, and in his hands he held his golden lyre. When he touched the strings of the lyre, such music stole upon the air as never god nor mortal heard before. The wild creatures of the wood crouched still as stone; the trees kept every leaf from rustling; earth and air were as silent as a dream. When Apollo stopped playing, it was like bidding farewell to one's father and mother.

Apollo, Tmolus, Pan, and Midas

    When the spell of Apollo's music was broken, the hearers fell at Apollo's feet and proclaimed him the winner. All but Midas, who alone would not admit that the music was better than Pan's. ‘You will have ears to match the mind you have in judging,’ said Apollo, and with these words Apollo caused Midas to have ass's ears.

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Dionysus

Dionysus

In Greek mythology, Dionysus was described as god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, and festivity. Dionysus invented wine and spread the art of tending grapes. He had dual nature, bringing joy and divine ecstasy , and on other hand, brutal and unthinking rage, reflecting two sides of wine nature. Dionysus was usually accompanied by a troop of Satyrs and Mainades (female devotees or nymphs). Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele, the daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. Dionysus was depicted as either an older ceased god or a pretty effeminate, loop haired youth. (update soon)

Dionysus love

  Althaea : Ariadne : Aura : Beroe : Erigone2 : Nicaea (update soon) 

Related
   The Twelve Olympians :  : 

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