Greek Mythology and Enneagram: Intersection of Myth and Mind

The Enneagram and Greek mythology are fundamentally different, yet drawing connections between them feels natural, as both are deeply intuitive and comprehensive.

While the Enneagram is a personality theory with rules, classifications, and concepts, Greek mythology is based on ancient stories and legends. Nevertheless, both portray the complexity of human nature and help us understand its depths.

In this article, we’ll explore the connection between the Enneagram and Greek mythology and try to add another layer to our understanding of Enneagram types.

What Is the Enneagram, and How Does It Work?

The Enneagram is a personality theory that supports self-discovery and serves as a personal growth and development tool. Blending different intercultural influences, from ancient wisdom to modern psychology and philosophy, the Enneagram offers a multilayered approach to understanding human psychology.

Furthermore, the Enneagram divides people into nine personality types and focuses on the inner forces that shape each type rather than their behavioral characteristics.

As a result, the Enneagram is very flexible and holistic. For instance, each Enneagram type can come in two variations, which is explained by the concept of Enneagram wings. It also considers how personality changes depending on the development phase, and these changes are covered by the concept of Enneagram arrows.

So, by taking an Enneagram test and determining your Enneagram type, you can gain a deep insight into all the crucial elements that shape your personality. These can help you understand yourself better, overcome the typical patterns that hinder your growth, and use your talents to your advantage.

Now, let’s explore the connections between the personality archetypes of the Enneagram and Greek mythology!

Enneagram Types as Greek Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes

Exploring Enneagram types as Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes is amusing but also rewarding in the sense that it provides a new perspective for understanding each of them.

Let’s see what roles Enneagram types would play in ancient Greek mythology!

Enneagram Type 1—The Perfectionist as the Bright and Wise Athena

The rational, self-conscious, and righteous Type One embodies all the key traits of the Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, and strategy, Athena. Intense and resolute, Ones always seek the most effective, rational, and ethical path to their goals, just like Athena, who is known for her calculated decisions and great sense of strategy.

Moreover, Athena is portrayed as the protector of justice, order, and ethics. This perfectly aligns with One’s need to improve the world and live in alignment with the highest moral principles.

Athena is never reckless, and thanks to a strong sense of self-control, she transforms her anger into a passion for justice, perfectly depicting how healthy Ones manage their rage. While she may be portrayed as rigid and too strict at times, Athena is ultimately led by altruistic ideals, just like Type One.

Enneagram Type 2—The Helper as the Nurturing Demeter

Demeter is the Greek goddess of harvest and agriculture. She was very respected in ancient Greece, as it was believed that crops, grains, food, and the overall fertility of the earth depended on her power. She symbolically represents everything that feeds and nurtures humans.

Twos, whose trademarks are generosity and compassion, embody all the key traits of Demeter. Just like her, Twos are caring, nurturing, and devoted to others’ needs. They empower others and help them grow and thrive, asking for nothing but respect in return.

Even the unhealthy version of Type Two matches Demeter’s behavior when she feels betrayed. A resentful version of Demeter withdraws from the harvest, withholding the food like unhealthy Twos use emotional manipulation when they feel let down.

Enneagram Type 3—The Achiever as the Multitalented Apollo

The versatile Greek god of art, music, light, prophecy, and medicine embodies the Three’s enthusiastic pursuit of success and achievements. Known as one of the most charismatic and seductive Greek gods, Apollo enjoys showing off by driving his golden chariot across the sky, figuratively mirroring Three’s focus on public image and appearance.

Both Apollo and Threes unapologetically use their charm and talents to impress others. At his best, Apollo inspires and heals others by bringing them joy with his skills, which also aligns with healthy Threes who use their competence to the benefit of everyone.

An important connection between Apollo and the Achiever can also be made by comparing their unhealthy reactions. Both react strongly to rejection, as they depend a lot on external validation, revealing their core fear of not being valued.

Enneagram Type 4—The Individualist as the Delicate Persephone

Persephone, the gentle and enigmatic queen of the Underworld and the goddess of spring, beautifully captures the ambiguous, delicate nature of Enneagram Type Four.

Persephone’s life between light and dark mirrors the Fours’ inner journey and search for meaning, beauty, and purpose. Persephone is the very intuitive, perceptive, delicate, and fragile goddess of spring, yet paradoxically, she is also the powerful ruler of the underworld.

This duality corresponds to the Fours' capacity for both joy and deep sorrow and their courage to explore their inner depths.

Probably the most crucial correlation between these two is that both are on the quest to find their identities. Persephone juggles her roles as Demeter’s daughter, Hades’ wife, goddess of spring, and queen of the underworld, which can be connected to the Fours’ search for a way to both belong and stand out as unique individuals.

Enneagram Type 5: The Investigator as the Wise and Enigmatic Hades

The introverted, self-sufficient, and wise Enneagram Type Five embodies many characteristics of the Greek god of the underworld, Hades. Hades highlights Five’s need to explore unseen realms and understand the world and life on a deep level.

Unlike most other Olympian gods, Hades doesn’t live surrounded by luxury and abundance and rarely takes part in conflicts among gods or between gods and humans. He lives a secluded life, governing the underworld, detached from the everyday indulgences and weaknesses of other gods.

The above description is pretty much how a typical Five imagines a perfect life. They like to spend time alone, pursuing their interests, and they are uninterested in everyday joys or any kind of luxury.

Enneagram Type 6: The Loyalist as the Humble and Selfless Hestia

Hestia is the Greek goddess of hearth and home whose role was to serve both gods and mortals and provide a sense of home and security to all. She is silent and modest but also steadfast and relentless in protecting family values, morals, and harmony.

This perfectly matches the description of a typical Six, who would do anything to protect their family, tradition, and ethics. At their best, they are calm, reliable, and responsible individuals with a strong sense of community.

However, a less healthy Six aligns more with the Greek goddess of marriage and family, Hera. Hera becomes anxious and defensive when she feels betrayed, tying her identity to her husband. This reflects the unhealthy need of Sixes to depend on others too much, as well as their tendency to let their fears take the best of them.

Enneagram Type 7: The Enthusiast as the Witty and Flighty Hermes

Hermes is the Greek god of travel, communication, trade, and mischief, known for his quick wit, charisma, and playfulness. His restless spirit thrives on novelty, and he is the quickest and most resourceful of all the gods, mirroring Sevens’ adventurous spirit and creativity.

Just like Hermes, Sevens have a great sense of humor and enjoy solving problems in creative ways. They are also great at making connections, which is one of Hermes’s talents, too. Serving as the messenger of the gods, Hermes is an exceptional communicator who knows how to win every debate, which is similar to Sevens' sharp intellect and love for stimulating discussions.

In addition, Hermes is also a great illustration of Sevens’ tendency to bend rules and sidestep boundaries. Sevens can’t stand being restricted and feeling confined or bored, so they are always on the move, just like Hermes.

Enneagram Type 8: The Challenger as the Almighty Zeus

Eights have a commanding presence and radiate charisma and authority, which aligns with the highest deity among the Olympian gods, Zeus. He is recognized for his strength of character, wisdom, and courage, and his divine role is to protect both gods and mortals. Plus, he is the guardian of rules and order, corresponding to Eight's need for power and control.

The similarities between Zeus and the Eights don’t stop here; they also share a strong sense of adventure and hedonism and tend to consider themselves exceptions to their own rules.

For instance, Zeus is known for his many extramarital affairs, yet he is enraged with others’ disloyalty. This perfectly aligns with the unhealthy version of Eights, who struggle with control and anger issues and have no trouble crossing a few lines to get what they want.

Enneagram Type 9: The Peacemaker as the Dreamy Poseidon

In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the ruler of the oceans, who is associated both with the deep, serene, crystal-clear waters and the stormy, unpredictable seas. His nature captures Nines at their best and at their worst.

Moreover, a healthy Peacemaker is just as calm, wise, and comforting as Poseidon, while their unhealthy version aligns with Poseidon’s tendency to erupt, causing waves and sea storms. Just like him, Nines are also prone to unpredictable anger outbursts after bottling up their emotions for too long.

Furthermore, the chasms of Poseidon’s waters beautifully depict the richness of the Nines’ inner world and the depths of their emotions. Just like Poseidon controls the waters to prevent flooding the earth, the Nines control their emotions and balance their environment to protect the peace.

Similarities Between the Enneagram and Greek Mythology

The Enneagram and Greek mythology are similar in the way that both rely heavily on symbols and draw inspiration from the collective unconscious. As illustrated in previous sections, personality types can be seen as Greek mythology characters and psychological archetypes representing universal human strengths and weaknesses.

Furthermore, both the Enneagram and Greek mythology can be interpreted as a journey of personal growth, self-discovery, and transformation through challenges. That’s because both concepts explore ever-relevant issues of identity, connection, purpose, love, and power.

However, let’s not forget that the Enneagram and Greek mythology are fundamentally different. The Enneagram is a personality system in which a test determines a personality type. It is an intentionally developed theory that helps people understand themselves and develop in the direction they want to grow.

Meanwhile, Greek mythology is a collection of myths and legends from ancient Greece that is not the result of the purposeful action of an individual or a group of individuals. It is based on stories that were passed on for generations as a collective effort by the people to explain the nature of human existence and natural phenomena.

Discover the Power of the Enneagram!

If Greek myths inspire you to explore yourself, the Enneagram will take you at least one step further!

Take our free Enneagram test, determine your Enneagram type, and embrace the wisdom that comes from increased self-awareness! The Enneagram can help you navigate your relationships more effectively, improve your professional competencies, find balance in life, and unlock your inherent potential!

Key Takeaways

We hope this journey through the Enneagram and Greek mythology encourages you to embark on the adventure of getting to know yourself better. Just as Greek mythology boosts our morals through stories about heroes and gods, The Enneagram supports your efforts to raise your self-awareness and improve your life.

Many other personality archetypes from Greek mythology can also be compared with Enneagram types, but we wanted to focus on those that align the most closely.

So, if questions like ‘What Enneagram is Dionysus?’ or ‘What Enneagram is Hephaestus?’ are left unanswered, we encourage you to draw connections between the Enneagram and Greek mythology by yourself and see where such exploration takes you!

Besides that, you can also use the insights this article gave you to discover which type you’re most similar to, understand yourself and others better, and face any challenge that comes your way with courage and hope!