Some time ago I was confused by the epithets of Greek gods and goddesses. It started when I was searching for the origin of the sports brand "Nike." The only association with the Greek mythology was with Athena, as in Athena Nike. Athena Nike was the "form" of Athena that the Athenians worshipped in their prayers for victory over the Spartans.
I never understood that concept, even though it dawned on me the other day that Christians have a similar belief system with regard to the trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Christians invoke different "forms" of their God depending on the circumstances.
The whole multi-form concept became clearer while reading Keld Zeruneith's The Wooden Horse. While discussing the Aeschylus trilogy, Oresteia, Zeruneith writes about the numerous ways the Greeks worshipped Zeus. These are the "forms" of Zeus:
Zeus Kolastes: castigator of hubris (hubris was violation against the gods through human arrogance); "kolastes" is Greek for "punisher"; it is interesting -- I am unable to think of an English word that comes from "kolastes" in connection with punishment
Zeus the Defender: Alexeterios (in Seven Against Thebes), protector of mortals
Zeus Hikesious: god of the suppliants
Zeus Chthonios: connected to the realm of the dead
Zeus Xenios: protector of guest friendship
Zeus the Savior: Soter
Zeus Agoraios: god of social order, divinity of assembly
Zeus Teleios: Zeus himself -- his nature, actions and ways; all of these qualities amalgamated n Zeus Teleios
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