B

Bacchae
An epithet of the Maenads, the frenzied, ecstatic women in the train of Dionysus

Balius
One of two immortal horses that Poseidon gave to Peleus as a wedding present. See: Xanth

Basileus
"King". An epithet of multiple Greek gods, specifically Zeus, Neptune, and Apollo.

Bassarids
Bassarids, from bassaris ("foxskin"), worn by Dionysus in his Thracian mysteries. Hence the Thracian Dionysus was sometimes called Bassareus, and his Maenads were called Bassarides.

Baucis
The wife of Philemon, which see.

Beltis
Greek rendering of Belit, the feminine of Bel and an appellation of Ninlin/Ninhursag

Belus
1. The son of Poseidon by Libya, daughter of Epaphus, who was the son of Io and Zeus. Belus's most famous sons were Aegyptus and Danaus. 2. The king of Sidon and father of Dido 3. The Latin name for the Semitic god Baal

Bia
Bia ("force") is the personification of power and force, daughter of Pallas and Styx. She is the sister of Nike, Cratos, and Zelus. Bia was made to bind Prometheus as punishment from stealing fire from the gods

Bistonians
The Thracians; after Biston, son of Ares, who allegedly built Bistonia on Lake Bistonis.

Boreads
Calais and Zetes were the sons of Boreas by Oreithyia. They were winged heroes who accompanied Jason on the voyage of the Argo.

Boreas
The Greek god of the North Wind who lived in Thrace. He is depicted as being winged, extremely strong, bearded and normally clad in a short pleated tunic. He is the son of Eos and Astraeus, and the brother of Zephyrus, Eurus and Notus. Boreas has two sons, two daughters and twelve mares which can race over the ground without destroying the grain. When the Persian navy of Xerxes threatened the city of Athens, the Athenians begged his assistance. The Great Wind of the Wintery North blew his anger at the Persians and 400 Persian ships sank immediately. Among other violent acts he abducted Oreithyia, the daughter of the king of Athens, when she was playing on the banks of the Ilissus. In Latin, he is called Aquilo.

Briareus
Briareus was one of the Hecatonchires, the hundred-handed ones with fifty heads. His mother, Gaia, was the most ancient Greek goddess and was known as mother earth. He also had two brothers. One of his brothers was Gyes; the king of Cydia and the other was Coltus. Briareus was thrown into Tartarus by Uranus, but was then rescued by Zeus, whom he then urged to help him struggle against the Titans. During that battle, the Hecatoncheires took advantage of their one hundred hands by throwing rocks at the Titans.

Britomartis
Britomartis- Diktynna - Aphaea Britomartis was the Minoan goddess of the mountains and hunting, in close relation to Diktynna and Aphaea, forerunner of Potnia theron (Mistress of Animals) and Artemis, partly identified with them. The name Sweet Maid or Sweet Virgin is connected with the mythical story of Britomartis, the same as her later names - Diktynna in Crete and Aphaea (Aphaia) in Aegina (Aigina). According to a late myth, (1) Britomartis was the daughter of Zeus and Carme, daughter of Euboulos. A virgin was pursued by Minos, she was running away from him, finally she threw herself into the nets. Artemis made her a goddess with the name Diktynna. She became the goddess of the mountains and the shores and ports, sometimes she is called the goddess of nets. In another version of the myth Britomartis escaped into the island Aegina, where she was worshipped as Aphaea, the protectoress of the island . On the Minoan seals and rings the goddess of mountains and hunting is depicted with demonic features, wearing a typical local cloth, often accompanied by animals and divine symbols - double axes and snakes. From some sources it is known, that the Archaic cult wooden statue (xoanon) of Britomartis, made by the great Minoan craftsman Daedalus, existed in the temple of Olous.(2) In the Greek Classical period Britomartis was represented on the coins of the cities Chersonesos and Olous (Elounda) , where she became the main divinity. Also as Diktynna she was portrayed on the Cretan coins of the cities Kydonia, Polyrrhenia and perhaps Phalasarna. She represented a mountain mother, connected with the Mount Dikte, where, according one version of the myth, Zeus was born. Most of the time she was depicted as a nurse of Zeus. It may be that the goddess of mountains was worshipped during the Minoan times at the peak sanctuaries, which are visible at the relief of some stone vases. Later the temples of Britomartis were built at Chersonesos and at Olous, where the festival Britomarpeia were performed for her. In many cities, including Athens and Sparta, temples and altars were built and dedicated to Diktynna, but she was venerated mainly in Western Crete at Lisos and west of Kydonia, at Diktynnaion. (3) The sanctuary was a major center of Diktynna worship in the Classical period and the cult continued during the Roman times too. According to a story, the place was guarded by hounds, stronger as bears. The temple stood inside a large court, surrounded by porticoes. Several Ionian and Corinthian columns and marble sima are visible until today. The sanctuary dedicated to Aphaea existed during the Mycenaean times on a hill, on the island Aegina , where later on the important Archaic temple "Athena Aphaea" was constructed. From the first shrine only the foundations of the altar survived, the temple we see today was built between 515-480 BC. Another small temple of Aphaea at Aspropirgos in the outskirts of Athens, not far a way from Aegina, demonstrates, that the cult of Aphaea was known in the Mainland too. Some authors suggest that the cults of Britomartis and Diktynne were related to each other in the same way as the later Demeter and Persephone.(4) I think we can see some development of this myth during the centuries and its transfer to a local theme. The Minoan goddess of mountains , Britomartis was worshipped in Crete, as Aphaea in Aegina, during the Archaic period as Potnia theron in the Greek Mainland, and during the Classical age as Diktynna in Western Crete and somewhere else too. Later the cult was local , because the main role took over Artemis, while Diktynna turned into one of the nymphs accompanying her . Aphaea was called by second name Athena, because this goddess became the most important deity in Attica and also in Aegina

Brizo
Brizo is known as a charmer, and a soother. In Greek mythology, she is a goddess worshipped at Delos and honored by women as the protector of mariners. Food offerings were set before the goddess in little boats (no fish). Brizo presided over an oracle that was consulted on matters relating to navigation and fishing. Her answers were given in dreams.

Bromios
"The thunderer" or "he of the loud shout", an epithet of Dionysus.

Brontes
One of three Cyclopes, a fierce giant with one eyes in the center of his forehead, in Greek Mythology . In Hesiad, a the brother of Arges and Steropes and child of Uranus of Gaia . Brontes was thrown into the lower world by his other brother, Cronus, a first (after Cronus dethroned Uranus) he was released by Zeus and in gratitude, he gave Zeus the gifts of thunder and lighting. He always possessed the weapon of thunder. He was a very powerful and destructive creature.

Byzas
A son of Poseidon, and the legendary founder of Byzantium.

-