There's much more to know about the gods and goddesses, but here is a quick rundown.
______________________________________
The Twelve Olympians and Other Gods and Goddesses
The Twelve Olympians (with Roman names in parentheses)
Zeus (Jupiter): Chief god, ruler of the sky. Son of Kronos and Rhea. His breastplate is the "aegis"; his weapon is the thunderbolt.
The two brothers of Zeus:
Poseidon (Neptune): Ruler of the sea. Also known as "Earth-shaker."
Hades (Pluto): Ruler of the underworld. Married to Persephone (whom he abducted).
The sisters of Zeus:
Hestia: Goddess of the hearth.
Hera (Juno): Married to Zeus. Protectress of marriage
The children of Zeus:
Ares (Mars): son of Zeus and Hera. God of war.
Pallas Athena
(Minerva): born from the head of Zeus. Patron goddess of Athens.
Protectress of the city, handicrafts, agriculture. Carries the aegis of
Zeus. Goddess of wisdom.
Phoebus Apollo ("Phoebus"
="brilliant" or "shining"): son of Zeus and Leto. Musician (plays the
lyre); Archer; Healer; God of light. Has oracle at Delphi. Called
"Pythian" because he killed the serpent Python, "Delian" because born
on island of Delos, and "Sminthian" (the Mouse-God).
Artemis (Diana): daughter of Zeus and Leto. Goddess of the woods, the hunt, the moon.
Aphrodite (Venus): daughter of Zeus and Dione; or born from sea foam (Aphros =
foam). Sometimes married to Hephaestus. Goddess of love and beauty.
Called "Cytherea" or "the Cyprian" ("lady of Kypros") because born near
Cythera and floated to Cyprus.
Hermes (Mercury): son
of Zeus and Maia. Messenger-god. Shrewd, cunning, "Master Thief." God
of commerce and traders. Guides the dead down to the underworld
Hephaestus
(Vulcan): son of Hera and perhaps also of Zeus (varies). Said to be
ugh’ and lame. Blacksmith; makes armor for the gods in his forge.
Sometimes husband of Aphrodite.
A Few Other Gods and Goddesses
Demeter (Ceres): daughter of Kronos and Rhea. Goddess of grain.
Persephone (Prosperina): daughter of Demeter, wife of Hades, Queen of Underworld.
Dionysus (Bacchus): son of Zeus and Semele. God of wine.
Iris: Goddess of the Rainbow; messenger of the gods.
Nereus: the Old Man of the Sea. Father of sea nymphs, including Thetis (Achilles’ mother).
The Erinyes (the Furies): Usually called Tisiphone, Megaera, Alecto. Their role is to punish and pursue those who commit evil deeds.
The Graces: Aglaia (Splendor);
Euphrosyne (Mirth); Thalia (Good Cheer). Daughters of Zeus and
Eurynome. Represent grace and beauty. They dance to Apollo’s lyre.
The Muses: Clio
(history); Urania (astronomy); Melpomene (tragedy); Thalia (comedy);
Terpsichore (dance); Calliope (epic poetry); Erato (love poetry);
Polyhymnia (songs to the gods); Euterpe (lyric poetry). Daughters of
Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory)
Recent Comments