Chthonic

Chthonic gods or Chthonioi (Greek Χθόνιοι θεοί, Χθόνιοι belonging chtonios of the earth) are in Greek mythology both all representing the underworld, death-dealing gods as well as those who donate life and fertility.

Use of the term

Male deities often wear the nickname Chthonios ( Χθόνιος ) (eg Zeus Chthonios, so Hades is also known), is a female Chthonia ( Χθονία ) readjusted. The latter first and foremost a part of Persephone, wife of Hades, lord of the underworld. Similarly, the Furies, and also isolated the nymphs, which often represent a certain landscape, classified here.

Hesiod uses the collective noun Chthonioi as a term for the Titans. Even with the tragedians of the term appears in connection with appeals to the Chthonoi Tyrannoi or separate from other collectives, such as the gods of the sea, or air - such as for Hermes, in parodic form in Aristophanes. Often, however, it is not clear whether the invocation addressed to the gods or to the community of the dead. Because these are also referred to as Chthonios.

Especially in the Roman Empire appear dedications to chthonic deities on grave inscriptions and curse tablets.

As a chthonic god Hades was called first of all, already the Iliad calls him God as complementary to the Olympian Zeus the " underground " Zeus, Zeus Katachthonios.

Often, however, can not be decided at such designation whether it is a synonym for Hades, or whether Zeus himself was addressed in a chthonic expression under the double name. Thus, on Mykonos, worshiped in Corinth and Olympia Zeus Chthonios together with Ge Chthonia and Dionysus Lenaios.

For Gaia, the name Chtonia is attested only in this cult. Under her nickname Hermione Demeter is revered as Chthonia Thea. From the fifth century also increasingly Hecate Chthonia is encountered, the goddess of the crossroads and guardian of the gates between the worlds. Furthermore, Typhon is called Chthonios Daimon, Chthonion is especially Dionysus as the god of vegetation and as Chthonia apply Phama, the Gorgon and Brimo, and this can be another name for Persephone and an epithet of Hecate as well as Ceres and Cybele. For information on names of mythical people Chthonios or Chtonia is needed to highlight their lineage from the earth. Examples include the Theban division Chthonios and the daughter of Erechtheus.

As proper names occur Chthonios and Chthonia since Hellenism especially in mythographers and lexicographers on.

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