The Greek Gods and The Greek Gods and Goddesses Goddesses

ZeusZeus

ZeusZeus The youngest Son of Cronus and RheaThe youngest Son of Cronus and Rhea Supreme ruler of Mt. Olympus Supreme ruler of Mt. Olympus He upheld the law, justice and morals; spiritual He upheld the law, justice and morals; spiritual

leader of both gods and menleader of both gods and men He controlled thunderbolts and rainHe controlled thunderbolts and rain Symbols: thunderbolt, eagle, bull, scepterSymbols: thunderbolt, eagle, bull, scepter Famous for overthrowing his father, CronusFamous for overthrowing his father, Cronus Married to HeraMarried to Hera Had many children-from all his children Zeus Had many children-from all his children Zeus

gave man all he needed to live life in an ordered, gave man all he needed to live life in an ordered, moral waymoral way

HeraHera

HeraHera

The queen of Olympian deities The queen of Olympian deities Mainly worshiped as the goddess of Mainly worshiped as the goddess of

marriage and birthmarriage and birth Very jealous of all of Zeus’s affairsVery jealous of all of Zeus’s affairs She punished her rivals and their She punished her rivals and their

childrenchildren Zeus was afraid of her wrathZeus was afraid of her wrath Her symbol is the peacock, cow, Her symbol is the peacock, cow,

crow, pomegranatecrow, pomegranate

AresAres

AresAres God of war and battle, the instigator of violenceGod of war and battle, the instigator of violence Because of his cruel and war-like nature, all the Because of his cruel and war-like nature, all the

gods despised himgods despised him Had a giant stature, and loud voice, and Had a giant stature, and loud voice, and

surpassed all gods in speedsurpassed all gods in speed In love with AphroditeIn love with Aphrodite Ares had a Ares had a quadriga – a chariot drawn by four – a chariot drawn by four

gold-bridled (gold-bridled (IliadIliad v.352) fire-emitting immortal v.352) fire-emitting immortal stallions. stallions.

Ares was recognized by his bronze armor; he Ares was recognized by his bronze armor; he brandished a spear in battle. brandished a spear in battle.

ApolloApollo

ApolloApollo

Twin brother of ArtemisTwin brother of Artemis God of music, prophecy, medicine, God of music, prophecy, medicine,

poetry, dance, carer of herds, and poetry, dance, carer of herds, and lightlight

Symbols are bow and arrow, laurel Symbols are bow and arrow, laurel crown, lyrecrown, lyre

Had lots of love afairsHad lots of love afairs

ArtemisArtemis

ArtemisArtemis

Twin of ApolloTwin of Apollo Goddess of the wilderness and the hunt, Goddess of the wilderness and the hunt,

wild animals, fertility wild animals, fertility Was a virgin goddess and spent her time Was a virgin goddess and spent her time

hunting in the mountainshunting in the mountains Always carried a bow and arrowAlways carried a bow and arrow Killed anyone who tried to take away her Killed anyone who tried to take away her

puritypurity Symbols were the bow and arrow, crescent Symbols were the bow and arrow, crescent

moon, and cypress treemoon, and cypress tree

HephaestusHephaestus God of fire, blacksmithing, craftsmen, metalsGod of fire, blacksmithing, craftsmen, metals Was born weak and crippled-one of his parents Was born weak and crippled-one of his parents

threw him off Mt. Olympusthrew him off Mt. Olympus Given Aphrodite as his bride-she cheated on him Given Aphrodite as his bride-she cheated on him

all the timeall the time Hephaestus split open Zeus’s head with an axe Hephaestus split open Zeus’s head with an axe

and out sprang Athenaand out sprang Athena Made tons of metal equipment for all the GodsMade tons of metal equipment for all the Gods Made thunderbolts for ZeusMade thunderbolts for Zeus Hephaestus even helped create the first woman Hephaestus even helped create the first woman

out of clayout of clay His symbols are smith’s hammer, anvil, axe, cainHis symbols are smith’s hammer, anvil, axe, cain

DionysusDionysus

DionysusDionysus

God of wine, agriculture, Greek God of wine, agriculture, Greek stage, ecstasy, intoxicationstage, ecstasy, intoxication

Dionysus was born from one of Dionysus was born from one of Zeus’s affairs, and Hera almost killed Zeus’s affairs, and Hera almost killed himhim

Arrived late in Greek mythologyArrived late in Greek mythology Symbols- bull, serpent, wine, ivySymbols- bull, serpent, wine, ivy

AthenaAthena

AthenaAthena

Goddess of wisdom, war, art, Goddess of wisdom, war, art, industry, justice, and skillindustry, justice, and skill

She was the favorite child of Zeus, She was the favorite child of Zeus, and she sprang from fully grown his and she sprang from fully grown his headhead

Virgin patron of Athens, giving the Virgin patron of Athens, giving the city the gift of the olive treecity the gift of the olive tree

Symbols: breast plate, shield, owl, Symbols: breast plate, shield, owl, helmet, the goddess Nike (victory)helmet, the goddess Nike (victory)

PoseidonPoseidon

PoseidonPoseidon

God of the sea, earthquakes, horsesGod of the sea, earthquakes, horses Symbols: dolphins, tridents, and three Symbols: dolphins, tridents, and three

pronged fish spearspronged fish spears Had many love-affairs, fathered many Had many love-affairs, fathered many

childrenchildren He lived on the ocean floor in a palace He lived on the ocean floor in a palace

made of coral and gems. made of coral and gems. He was moody and could be violentHe was moody and could be violent He could strike his spear and cause earth-He could strike his spear and cause earth-

quakesquakes

DemeterDemeter

DemeterDemeter

Brings forth the fruits of the Earth and Brings forth the fruits of the Earth and grainsgrains

She taught man-kind the art of sowing and She taught man-kind the art of sowing and ploughing so that they could end their ploughing so that they could end their nomadic livesnomadic lives

Because of her daughter, Persephone’s Because of her daughter, Persephone’s abduction, she controls the seasonsabduction, she controls the seasons

Symbols: braided corn, fruit, torch, pigSymbols: braided corn, fruit, torch, pig

AphroditeAphrodite

AphroditeAphrodite

Goddess of love, beauty, and sexual Goddess of love, beauty, and sexual rapturerapture

She was born from the male parts of She was born from the male parts of Uranus, father of the Gods, (or Zeus) and Uranus, father of the Gods, (or Zeus) and she arose out of the sea from sea foamshe arose out of the sea from sea foam

Married to HephaestusMarried to Hephaestus Obviously had many loversObviously had many lovers Her symbols are: the dolphin, dove, swan Her symbols are: the dolphin, dove, swan

and lime treeand lime tree

HestiaHestia

HestiaHestia

Goddess of the hearth, domesticity, Goddess of the hearth, domesticity, familyfamily

To honor her the hearth fire in a To honor her the hearth fire in a Greek household could not go out Greek household could not go out unless ritually extinguishedunless ritually extinguished

She sat on a plain wooden throne She sat on a plain wooden throne with a white woolen cushionwith a white woolen cushion

Symbols were the hearth and the pigSymbols were the hearth and the pig

Hermes Hermes

HermesHermes God of shepherds, land travel, merchants, God of shepherds, land travel, merchants,

weights and measures, oratory, literature, weights and measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves, and known for his cunning athletics and thieves, and known for his cunning and shrewdness. Most importantly, he is the and shrewdness. Most importantly, he is the messenger of the gods.messenger of the gods.

Being the herald (messenger of the gods), it was Being the herald (messenger of the gods), it was his duty to guide the souls of the dead down to his duty to guide the souls of the dead down to the underworld, which is known as a the underworld, which is known as a psychopomp. psychopomp.

He was also closely connected with bringing He was also closely connected with bringing dreams to mortals. dreams to mortals.

Symbols: winged cap, winged sandals and the Symbols: winged cap, winged sandals and the heralds staff heralds staff