ZEUS

Zeus

• Supreme ruler, Lord of the Sky,• Symbols the thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree• Mightier than any other member of his family,

but not omniscient or omnipotent• Had many loves and lovers, although he was

married to HERA

HERA

HERA (Juno)

• Zeus’s wife and sister, supposedly very beautiful

• Protector of marriage• Punished all the women with whom Zeus had

affaris• She was honored in every Greek home• Symbols are the cow and the peacock

POSEIDON

Poseidon (Neptune)

• Ruler of the sea• Zeus’s brother, 2nd to Zeus• Gave the horse to mankind• Storms and calm were under his control, as

were earthquakes• Symbol was the trident

HADES

HADES (Pluto)

• 3rd brother, ruled over the Underworld and the dead• God of precious metals hidden within the earth• Had an invisibility helmet• Mostly stayed in the Underworld, rarely left• He was a just (like justice), but terrible god• Wife was Persephone• He was King of the Dead, but not actually death

himself

Hades -2-

• The river Styx flowed around the Underworld- • Charon was the ferryman who would take

souls across but only if they paid him, if they didn’t the soul was left to wander until they could find money to go across (that’s why people were buried with a coin under their tongues)

• Cerberus, three-headed dog was the watchdog of the underworld

ATHENA

ATHENA (Minerva)

• Daughter of Zeus alone, full grown and in full armor she burst forth from his head (ouch!)

• Fierce battle goddess• Protector of civilized life, handicrafts and agriculture,

first tamed horses for men to use• Zeus’s favorite child, trusted her to carry his weapons• Embodies wisdom, reason, purity• Athens was her special city, the olive tree was her

symbol, as was the owl

APOLLO

APOLLO

• Son of Zeus, most Greek of all the gods• Beautiful, musician (lyre)• Silver bow and arrow (archer)• Taught men the healing arts• God of Light, God of Truth, (often the Sun God)• Famous oracle at Delphi = direct link to the Gods• Laurel tree was his symbol

ARTEMIS

ARTEMIS (Diana)

• Apollo’s twin sister (he was sun, she was the moon)

• Protector of the young, wanted to stay young and never marry

• She was the Lady of Wild Things, Huntsman-in-Chief to the Olympians

• Symbols= cypress tree, all wild animals (especially the deer)

APHRODITE

APHRODITE (Venus)

• Goddess of Love and Beauty• Supposedly born from the foam of the sea• Often characterized as the wife of Hephaestus• Symbols- the myrtle tree, dove

HERMES

HERMES (Mercury)

• Messenger god• Known for winged sandals, hat and Caduceus• He was shrewd and cunning (a master thief!)• Gave Apollo his lyre for stealing his cattle• Led souls to the Underworld

ARES

ARES (Mars)

• God of War• Other gods can’t stand him• Little more than a symbol of war in Greek

mythology• His bird was the vulture, the dog was his

animal

HEPHAESTUS

HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan)

• God of Fire• Born of Hera alone, supposedly cast out of

Olympus by her also BUT later becomes highly esteemed by the gods of Olympus

• The only god who is ugly, he is also lame• Married to Aphrodite• Kind and peace loving

HESTIA

HESTIA (Vesta)

• Not married- like Athena and Artemis• Goddess of the Hearth and Home