Observer : Dr Mohamadi By : Atefeh Shiri Aida Hoseinzadeh

WHO WERE THE DEMIGODS ?

Demigods were the offspring of a deity and mortal, half-gods, who were invariably renown for their courage and great strength.

Many of the ancient gods, like Zeus, had children as a result of their
romantic involvement with mortals. Demigods, being part god and part mortal, had great powers and abilities

and often featured in the mythology of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
The Demigods were fabulous famous heroes such as Achilles, Hercules, Theseus and Perseus.

HELEN
Helen is the daughter of Zeus And Leda, queen of Sparta, wife of Meneleus, and sister of Castor,Polydeuces, and clytemnestra. Her abduction by Paris brought about the trojan war. HELEN is also said to be the most beautiful woman in the world.

ZEUS
Zeus was allotted the dominion of the sky, having waged war against Cronos and the TITANS . This supreme god surpasses all others in spirit, wisdom, and justice, and prevails upon good men by persuasion,

intimidating the evil by punishment.

Zeus got the thunderbolt, his ultimate weapon, from the CYCLOPES, and an eagle brings back the thunderbolts which he has flung.

LEDA
Zeus in the form of a swan consorted with Leda, and on the

same night Tyndareus, king of

Sparta, also made love to her; This is why four children were later born from the same mother but from different fathers; Leda is

said to have died of shame

because of the deeds committed by Helen.

BIRTH OF HELEN
Helen, so unbelievable as it may sound, was born from an egg
laid by Leda, or Nemesis. Four children were born that day from the same mother but from different fathers: Castor 1 and Polydeuces, called the DIOSCURI, and Clytaemnestra and Helen.

Of all four Helen and Polydeuces, being the children of Zeus,

were immortal, but Castor 1 and Clytaemnestra, being those of King Tyndareus of Sparta, were mortal.

Some say that the egg from which Helen sprang fell from the moon; but he has already been refuted by others, who argue that even though the moon-women lay eggs, their offspring are fifteen times larger than ours.

Those who say that Nemesis was Helen's mother tell that she, trying to escape Zeus, changed into a fish and other dread creatures.

Others say that Nemesis changed into a goose, but was nevertheless conquered by Zeus, who in turn took the likeness of a swan, and lay with her. As the fruit of their love Nemesis laid an egg that was found by a shepherd, and given to Leda. And when Helen was hatched in due time, Leda brought her up as her own daughter.

HELEN WAS THE GODDESS OF WHAT?

Helen was not a goddess, she
was incredibly beautiful and was married to King Menelaus. Her abduction by Paris caused the Trojan War.

What set off the Trojan war ?

When the Athena, HERA and Aphrodite appeared to paris and asked him to make a decision on who was the most beautiful

goddess.
As paris was unable to decide, the goddess each offered him a gift in return if he chose them. Athena offered all the wisdom in the world as well as good swordsmanship.

Hera offered him power over the nations; APHRODITE offered

to give him the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen.

After listening to that, paris immediately chose Aphrodite; So after an extencive affair with Paris she was taken to Troy which enraged Sparta. This is what set off the Trojan war.

Does greek god Helen has children?

AEOLUS In Greek Mythological History, A Son Of Hellen, Who, In The Division By The Latter Of The Government Of The Hellenes Or Greeks Between Him And His Brothers Dorus And Xuthus, Received The Throne Of Thessaly And Named His Subjects Theaeolians. He Was The Progenitor Of Agreatrace Of Heroes, The Aeolids, From Whom In Turn Sprang Many Of The Most Famous Personages Of The Greek Legends. Other Genealogies Were Also Given By The Greeks To Aeolus, But The Above, That Of The Hesiodic Catalogue, Is That Which Grote Believes To Have Been Generally Received.

AEOLUS

ORPHEUS, GOD OF MUSIC

Orpheus -The wise and talented god of music- is said to be the son of a muse- Calliope- and Apollo, a versatile god. Calliope -the goddess of music, song, dance and also Eloquencewas the mother of Orpheus. In classical times, the portray of Calliope were drawn on artistic spheres. In this guise, she was holding a tablet and stylus or a scroll.

But in older art, she holds a lyre.

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APOLLO
Apollo was the great Olympian god of prophecy and
oracles, healing, music, song and poetry, archery, and sometimes the sun. Apollo is depicted as a handsome, beardless youth with long hair and various attributes including- a wreath and

branch of laurel; bow and quiver; raven; and lyre.

Orpheus, the greatest of all musicians, had a wide variety of songs.

His songs were so enchanting that would charm even rocks and rivers as well as humans and animals.
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Once Orpheus was invited to accompany Jason and Argonauts in search of Golden Fleece, he proved to be a great help.

ORPHEUS FALLS IN LOVE WITH EURYDICE

After the Argonauts returned to Greece, Orpheus fell in love with

Eurydice.

On their wedding day, as Eurydice

was walking through a nearby field, a

poisonous snake bit her and she died.

Orpheus decided to go to Hades to ask for his lost wife.

 Getting to the king of the underworld, Hades and his queen, Persephone,
Orpheus sang his sad, sweet song and pleaded to have his bride back.

The gods of Hades agreed only on condition that Orpheus must not look at Eurydice until they got to the world of living.

Eurydice came limping from the wound.

Orpheus began walking up the long steep path leading to the upper world

with Eurydice behind him.

At last Orpheus saw the sunlight and looked back at Eurydice, at this time she

immediately faded away.

DEATH OF ORPHEUS
After the death of Eurydice, Orpheus was not interested in a second marriage. There are many discrepant stories over Orpheus death: Torn in pieces by the Maenads Committed suicide Being struck by Zeus thunderbolt After his death, Orpheus head floated down the Hebrus river, singing a beautiful song of lost love.

The End