User:Bporkola/Ourea

[In Greek mythology, the Ourea (Ancient Greek: Oὔρεα "mountains," plural of Oὖρος) were progeny of Gaia, members of the Greek primordial deities, who were the first-born elemental gods and goddesses.] The ourea are also referred to by their Roman name, Montes. They were produced alongside Ouranos, the sky, and Pontos, the sea. [According to Hesiod: The ten ourea, Aitna, Athos, Helikon, Kithairon, Nysos, Olympus I, Olympus II (Mount Uludağ), Oreios, Parnes, and Tmolus, like Uranus and Pontus, were parthenogenetic offspring of Gaia alone. The Greeks rarely personified an individual mountain; an exception might be Tmolus, both a king and a mountain in Lydia.] However, in classical art, they were depicted as bearded male faces appearing from the sides of the mountains. [Each mountain was said to have its own local nymph, an oread.

Peak sanctuaries, a feature of Minoan civilization on Crete, are also identified in some archaic sites in mainland Greece. They are not thought to be dedicated to the mountain itself.]

Aitna

Aitna is the ourea who is said to have inhabited the physical space of Mount Etna. In mythology, Aitna is said to be home to the forges of Hephaestus, which lies underneath the mountain, and is where Zeus' bolts of lightning were crafted. It is also said that during the battle against the Titans, Zeus trapped the monster Typhon underneath Aitna after defeating him. It is also said that this was the home of the nymph Etna.

Athos

Athos is said to be tied mythologically in some way to the giant of the same name. One story claims that during the battle against the Titans, Poseidon buried the giant Athos underneath the mountain that bears the same name after defeating him. Another version of the story claims that the giant Athos hurled a massive stone as Poseidon during the heat of battle that formed the mountain which bears his name.

Helikon

Helikon is the home of the Muses. In mythology, Pegasus uses his hoof to create a stream on the mountain. Helikon is also the site of the myth involving Tiresias seeing Athena bathing which loses him his eyesight but grants him prophetic gifts.

Kithairon

The Mountain Kithairon is said to be sacred to the god Dionysus, who performed rituals and celebrations there. It is also said to be the site of multiple mythological events, such as the slaying of the Lion of Cithaeron by the hero Heracles, and the dismemberment of the Theban heroes Actaeon and Pentheus. There are mentions of local villagers referring to the ourea Kithairon as their king, and the mountain is personified in several mythological stories. In one tale, Kithairon was said to have engaged in a singing contest against Helikon, which was judged by the Muses. Kithairon won the contest and was adorned with garlands by the Muses, and Helikon became so angry due to his defeat that he smashed one of the large rocks on his slopes. Another tale references Kithairon giving relationship advice to Zeus after he angers Hera, which turns out to be successful after the couple reconciles.

Nysos

Nysos is said to be the birthplace of the god Dionysus. Many myths and classical writings mention Nysos being a caregiver to Dionysus as he grew up, taking on almost a parental role and helping to raise the young god.

Olympus I

Probably the most famous of the Ourea, Olympus I is the home of the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses. The god Hermes was born on Mount Olympus, which pleased the ourea so much that the mountain is said to have smiled.

Olympus II

Olympus II is said to have been the father of a satyr by the name of Marsys, who would go on to be the first flute player. In mythology, Marsys angers the god Apollo by challenging him to a musical contest.

Oreios

In mythology, Oreios is the headquarters for the Titans during their battle with the Olympian gods and goddesses. It is also the birthplace of several Olympian gods and goddesses, including Hestia, Hera, Hades, Demeter, and Poseidon. Oreios is also said to have fathered the first oak tree nymphs, named Hamadryads, and Oxylus, a forest demigod.

Parnes

Parnes is located in Attica, and the mountain itself is said to be sacred to Zeus.

Tmolus

The ourea Tmolus was said to have judged a musical contest between the gods Pan and Apollo, and he declared Apollo the victor. There is also a mythological figure by the same name who was said to have been the son of Ares and a king of Lydia.