Alexiares
Guard of the Gates of Olympus
Domains:
Olympian - Demigod
Category:
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Greek Name | Transliteration | Latin Spelling | Translation |
Αλεξιαρης | Alexiarês | Alexiares | Warding-Off-War |
ANIKETOS (Anicetus) and ALEXIARES were two Olympian demigods who presided over the defence and fortification of towns and citadels. Their names mean "the unconquerable one" from the Greek anikêtos and "he who wards off war" from alexis and arês. They were sons of Herakles (Heracles) and Hebe who were born after the hero's ascension to Olympos. The pair were probably the gatekeepers of Olympos, a role which was also assigned to their immortal father.
Aniketos and Alexiares were probably the same as the "Princes"--two boy-god sons of Herakles worshipped in Thebes. In Aiskhylos' (Aeschylus') play the Seven Against Thebes, Zeus is invoked as Alexeterios by the defending Thebans.