ZEUS: God of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods | Respected and awed by Gods and mortals. He was responsible for the weather whether in a bad or good mood. Although he had his limits because he could not mettle with the fates.
*Relationships – last child of Cronus and Rhea, sibling of Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Demeter & husband to his own sister Hera and had many children with other women
*Relationships – last child of Cronus and Rhea, sibling of Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Demeter & husband to his own sister Hera and had many children with other women
HERA: Goddess of Marriage | Married to Zeus and faces troubles with their marriage because Zeus has affairs with many other women but Hera is dedicated and hopes her husband will stay loyal
POSIEDAN: God of the Ocean and Seas | Known to be greedy and bad-tempered; he was the God responsible for natural disasters. He had two palaces, one on Mount Olympus and one in the pits of the seas with his wife Amphitrite.
*Relationships – son of Cronus and Rhea, sibling of Zeus, Hades, Hestia, Hera, and Demeter, and father to Triton
*Relationships – son of Cronus and Rhea, sibling of Zeus, Hades, Hestia, Hera, and Demeter, and father to Triton
HADES: God of the Underworld/Dead; he almost always is within the underworld and four out of the twelve months of the year, Persephone accompanies him. | Hades once fell in love with Persephone but the feelings weren’t mutual so he stole her from her mother Demeter (found under Major Gods – Demeter) and she then ate four pomegranate seeds. The seeds indicate the number of months in which she would be trapped in the Underworld with Hades.
*Relationships – son of Cronus and Rhea & sibling of Zeus, Poseidon, Hestia, Hera, and Demeter & forced husband
of Persephone
*Relationships – son of Cronus and Rhea & sibling of Zeus, Poseidon, Hestia, Hera, and Demeter & forced husband
of Persephone
ARES: God of war and the son of Zeus and Hera. His symbol is a
spear.
*Relationships – secret affair with Aphrodite (found under Major Gods – Aphrodite) and had many children, one being Eros (found under Major Gods – Aphrodite). Brother of Hephaestus (found under Major Gods – Hephaestus)
spear.
*Relationships – secret affair with Aphrodite (found under Major Gods – Aphrodite) and had many children, one being Eros (found under Major Gods – Aphrodite). Brother of Hephaestus (found under Major Gods – Hephaestus)
ATHENA: Goddess of wisdom and battle strategy | Thought to have been born from Zeus’s head. She protected heroes on their journeys to and from war. The city of Athens was dedicated to her after she contributed the
olive tree to society. She became known as Athena Nike/Athena the Victorious after giving the Athenians a victory in the Persian War
olive tree to society. She became known as Athena Nike/Athena the Victorious after giving the Athenians a victory in the Persian War
ARTEMIS: Goddess of the hunt | agreed to remain an eternal virgin an became one of the only three virgin goddesses. She had sovereignty over nature and brought fertility to places where she was worshiped. She is thought to be associated with the Moon.
*Relationships – Daughter of Zeus and Leto and was the sibling of Apollo (found under Major Gods – Apollo). Never married
*Relationships – Daughter of Zeus and Leto and was the sibling of Apollo (found under Major Gods – Apollo). Never married
APOLLO: God of music; born on the island of Delos & is the son of Zeus (found
under Major Gods – Zeus) and Leto (mortal woman) – has a twin sister named Artemis (found under Major Gods – Artemis). Thought to be associated with the Sun.
*Relationships – in love with Nymph Daphne (Daphne wasn’t interested so she asked her Father, the River God, to turn her into a tree) | Orpheus (legendary musician) is one of Apollo’s sons
under Major Gods – Zeus) and Leto (mortal woman) – has a twin sister named Artemis (found under Major Gods – Artemis). Thought to be associated with the Sun.
*Relationships – in love with Nymph Daphne (Daphne wasn’t interested so she asked her Father, the River God, to turn her into a tree) | Orpheus (legendary musician) is one of Apollo’s sons
HEPHEASTUS:God of Metalwork | It is thought that Hephaestus was so ugly that his mother, Hera, was so disgusted by his appearance so she threw him into the seas and he is rescued and raised by two Nereids. | Known for
constructing Zeus’s lightning bolts and Pandora.
*Relationships – son of Zeus and Hera & the husband of Aphrodite even though she does not love him (found under Major Gods – Aphrodite)
constructing Zeus’s lightning bolts and Pandora.
*Relationships – son of Zeus and Hera & the husband of Aphrodite even though she does not love him (found under Major Gods – Aphrodite)
APHRODITE:
Goddess of love, beauty, and
eternal youth;
created in the foam of the crystal waters of Paphos in the island of Cyprus.
*Relationships – married to the God Hephaestus (found under Major Gods – Hephaestus) but
unfortunately for Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s hear belongs to Ares (found
under Major Gods – Ares) and she has a “secret” love affair. | It is thought that that Aphrodite gave birth to
Eros (winged
cupid).
eternal youth;
created in the foam of the crystal waters of Paphos in the island of Cyprus.
*Relationships – married to the God Hephaestus (found under Major Gods – Hephaestus) but
unfortunately for Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s hear belongs to Ares (found
under Major Gods – Ares) and she has a “secret” love affair. | It is thought that that Aphrodite gave birth to
Eros (winged
cupid).
HERMES: God of Thieves | Hermes is a messenger for the Gods; he had wings on his sandal so he was the speediest god and he was the only God who could travel from Earth to Heaven to the Underworld
*Relationships – son of Zeus and father to the Satyr Pan
*Relationships – son of Zeus and father to the Satyr Pan
DEMETER: Goddess of the Harvest | Thought to have caused the seasons because of the four months Persephone (her daughter) spends in the underworld. During the four months Persephone spends with Hades and away from
Demeter, Demeter mourns.
*Relationships – daughter of Cronus and Rhea, sibling of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Hera & mother of
Persephone
Demeter, Demeter mourns.
*Relationships – daughter of Cronus and Rhea, sibling of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Hera & mother of
Persephone
DIONYSYS: God of wine and parties | was not always one of the 12 Olympian gods (explanation under Major Gods – Hestia). Known for lightheartedness and constant help to others in need of help
*Relationships – son of Zeus and mortal princess Semele (caused disruption and uncertainty whether or not he should be immortal) | husband to Ariadne the princess of Crete
*Relationships – son of Zeus and mortal princess Semele (caused disruption and uncertainty whether or not he should be immortal) | husband to Ariadne the princess of Crete
HESTIA: Goddess of the Hearth | Hestia was a kind forgiving goddess which is why she gave up her seat for Dionysus on Mount Olympus. People poured sweet wine in her name but did not have any religious temples for her but she was still greatly respected
*Relationships – oldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea& sibling of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon,
Hera, and Demeter
*Relationships – oldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea& sibling of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon,
Hera, and Demeter