The Ourea were the Protogenoi* (primeval gods) or rustic Daimones** (spirits) of the mountains. They are children of Gaea. .
Each and every Mountain was said to have its own ancient bearded god.
Mountains were occasionally depicted in classical art as bearded old men rising up from between their craggy peaks.
There are 10 total and each mountain has its own god:
Aitna: The volcano of Sikelia (Sicily in Italy) and its goddess.
Athos: A Mountain of Thrake (North of Greece) and its god.
Helikon: A Mountain of Boiotia (in Central Greece) and its god. He entered a singing contest with the neighbouring Mount Kithairon.
Kithairon: A Mountain of Boiotia (in Central Greece) and its god. He entered a singing contest with the neighbouring Mount Helikon.
Nysos: A Mountain of Boiotia? (in Central Greece) and its god. He was the nurse of the god Dionysos.
Olympos1: A mountain in Thessalia (northern Greece), the home of the gods, and its god.
Olympos 2: A Mountain of Phrygia (in Anatolia) and its god.
Oreios: The Mountain-God of Mount Othrys in Malis (central Greece).
Parnes: A Mountain of Boiotia and Attika (in Centra Greece) and its god.
Tmolos: A Mountain of Lydia (in Anatolia) and its god. He was the judge of a musical contest between Apollon and Pan.
"And she brought forth long hills, graceful haunts
of the goddess Nymphs who dwell amongst the glens of the hills..."
Hesiod, Theogony, 129–131; Argonautica, 1.498.
*Protogenoi:
The primeval gods or "Protogenoi" of Greek mythology were the basic components of the universe which were emerged at creation.
They included Earth, Air, Sea, Sky, Fresh Water, Underworld, Darkness, Night, Light, Day, Procreation and Time.
**Daimones:
The "Theoi Nomioi" were the gods of the countryside, the pastures and wild forests.
They fell under the dominion of three gods : Hermes the lord of the herds, Dionysos the god of wild vegetation, and Artemis queen of the beasts.
Bonus:
Tmolos and the Musical Contest between Apollo and Marsyas; A Punishment Story
The Satyr Marsyas was a famous flutist from Phrygia, in today's Central Turkey, who boasted that he could play the double flute better than Apollo.
When Apollo found out, he challenged the Satyr to a musical contest.
The victor of the contest would do whatever he wished with the loser and the judges of the contest would be the Muses.
First played Marsyas on his flute and the melody was wonderful. Then it was Apollo's turn. Apollo played notes full of harmony with his lyre and his voice was heavenly spellbinding everything around him.
Then Apollo played with his lyre upside down and told Marsyas to do the same, but Marsyas was unable to.
So Apollo was declared as the winner of the contest... and the punishment he chose for Marsyas was harsh: Apollo hang Marsyas over a pine tree and flayed him alive...
It is said that Tmolos was supposedly the judge of the musical contest between Apollo and the satyr...
See Gaea:
See Dionysus:
See Apollon:
See Satyr:
Resources:
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