Gods and Goddesses The Immortals

Mount Olympus Highest mountain in Greece Not heaven Place where gods live Ocean – river that encircled the Earth

Gods – 12 Olympians Jupiter Supreme Ruler Brother – Poseidon, Hades Lord of the sky, Rain- god, Cloud-gatherer Carries thunderbolt Many infidelities Zeus

Hera Juno Zeus’s wife, some say sister too Protector of marriage Punished Zeus’s mistresses & children Never forgot an injury

Poseidon Neptune Ruler of the Sea Gave man first horse Had a home under the sea, had golden chariot that drove on water Carried trident Shape shifter

Hades Pluto Ruler over underworld and the dead God of wealth (metals in the earth) Owned helmet, made him invisible Terrible, not evil

Athena Minerva Virgin goddess Daughter of Zeus alone* Goddess of the City – defender of homeland, protector of civilized life, agriculture, & handicrafts Inventor of the bridle Parthenon Embodiment of wisdom, reason, purity Zeus’s favorite – thunderbolt*

Apollo Apollo Son of Zeus & Leto “most Greek of all the gods” God of Light & Truth Master musician, Archer- god, healer Showed men divine will & how to keep peace

Artemis Diana Virgin goddess Apollo’s twin sister Goddess of the Hunt Lady of Wild Things Helped women with child birth Anyone’s sudden death caused by her arrows – Orion’s head* Goddess of chastity

Hermes Mercury Son of Zeus & Maia God of Commerce & the Market Protector of Traders Zeus’s messenger Wings on helmet & sandals* Master Thief – Apollo* Prankster / helper of mankind Guide of the dead

Dionysus God of Wine Son of Zeus and Semele* Loved by many for his bravery and the fun he offered Hated by many because he shouldn’t have been a god and he caused trouble

Ares Mars Son of Zeus & Hera* God of War Murderous, bloodstained, incarnate curse of mortals Coward who bellows in pain & runs away when wounded Skin-covered throne Bloodstained spear Possible affair with Aprhodite

Aphrodite Venus Goddess of Love & Beauty Beguiled gods and men – power / magical girdle Daughter of Zeus & Dione /sprung from sea foam Protectress of sailors Without her no joy or loveliness Exerts deadly & destructive power over men Some say wife of Hephaestus

Hephaestus Vulcan God of Fire Born of Hera alone* Only ugly god – lame* Armorer & smith for mortals Popular, kindly, peace-loving Built palaces on Mt. Olympus Gold handmaidens Created Pandora at Zeus’s request

Hestia Vesta Zeus’s sister Goddess of the Hearth Every meal began and ended with offering to her Each city had public hearth sacred to her – carried coals away to start new cities*

Extra Info Centaurs – half man, half horse Gorgons – dragon like – look turned men to stone Sirens – songs lured sailors to their death Fates – gave good & evil at birth Graces – 3 sisters, incarnation of grace & beauty, “queens of song” Muses – 9 sisters, sing & people forget troubles

Pan God of shepherds and flocks Son of Hermes and a nymph Born with legs and horns of a goat Cause of sudden fear that comes over someone, panic

Demeter Goddess of Agriculture Sister of Zeus Mother of Persephone