Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece

Cronus King of the Titans Had the following children with his wife, Rhea Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon Swallowed his children after they born to protect himself against a prophecy When son Zeus was born, Rhea tricked him into swallowing a rock Zeus grew up and forced his father to remove his siblings Zeus and his siblings, along with Giants and Cyclopes, overthrew Cronus and the other Titans. Was sent to Tartarus

Atlas Prometheus The Kraken Titan that was punished by having to hold up the sky Prometheus Titan that punished for stealing fire from Zeus to give to mortals He was bound to a rock, where every day an eagle would eat his liver. The next day it would grow back and the process would begin again The Kraken Titan feared by all of the Olympians Was caged by Poseidon Only could do Zeus’ bidding

Zeus split the world with his brothers Zeus got the sky and air Poseidon got the waters Hades got the world of the dead Zeus (Jupiter) King of the gods Ruler of Mt. Olympus God of sky, weather, thunder, lightning Husband to Hera Pictured as a mature man Shown with a royal scepter and lightning bolt Sacred animals Eagle and bull

Eris Nemesis Tyche Orion Greek goddess of strife and discord Spirit of divine retribution Goddess of revenge Tyche God the governed the fortune and success of a city Orion Giant huntsman Became a constellation

Castor and Pollux Minos Twin sons of Zeus Became the constellation of Gemini Minos King of Crete Every 9 years he would make King Aegeus pick 7 men and 7 women to go into the labyrinth to be eaten by the Minotaur After his death became a judge of the dead in Hades

Hera (Juno) Aphrodite (Venus) Queen of the gods Goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, and kings Wife of Zeus Shown as a beautiful woman wearing a crown and carrying a lotus-tipped staff Sacred animals Lion, peacock, and cuckoo Aphrodite (Venus) Goddess of love and beauty Married to Hephaestus, but wasn’t faithful Shown as a beautiful woman

Apollo (Apollo) Her symbols Rose, scallop shell, pomegranate, and myrtle wreath Sacred animal Dove Apollo (Apollo) God of music, healing, poetry, and archery Twin brother of Artemis Son of Zeus Shown as a handsome, beardless youth with long hair. Symbols Laurel wreath, bow and quiver, and lyre

Ares (Mars) Sacred animals Dolphins, swans, cicadas, hawks, ravens, crows Ares (Mars) God of war, violence, manly courage, and civil order Son of Zeus and Hera Pictured as dressed in battle gear; golden armor and bronze-tipped spear Vulture, venomous snakes, alligators, and dogs

Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto) God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and creator of horses Known as “Earth Shaker” Brother to Zeus Pictured as older man holding a trident Sacred animals Horse and dolphin Hades (Pluto) King of the Underworld God of the dead Brother of Zeus Husband to Persephone

Artemis (Diana) Symbols Key of Hades and Cerberus (three-headed dog) Sacred animal Screech owl Artemis (Diana) Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, animals, and young girls Associated with the moon Twin sister of Apollo Pictured as a young woman with a hunting bow and quiver of arrows. Hunting spears, animal pelts, wild animals

Athena (Minerva) Sacred animals Deer, bears, and wild boars Goddess of wisdom, warfare, battle strategy, and crafts Was born from Zeus’ head fully formed Pictured with a crested helmet, shield, and spear Symbol Olive tree Sacred animal Owl

Demeter (Ceres) Dionysus (Bacchus) Goddess of agriculture and the harvest Mother of Persephone Pictured as a mature woman crowned holding wheat Symbols Cornucopia and winged serpent Sacred animals Pigs and snakes Dionysus (Bacchus) God of wine and parties Son of Zeus Pictured as an older man drinking from a cup

Hephaestus (Vulcan) Sacred animals Dolphins, tigers, and donkeys God of metalworking, sculpture, stonemasonry, and volcanism Son of Hera Smith of the gods Husband of Aphrodite Pictured as a bearded man holding a hammer and tongs Symbols Hammer and anvil Donkey, guard dog, and crane

Hermes God of travel, messengers, trade, and thievery Messenger of the gods Leads souls of the dead into Hades Son of Zeus Pictured as a handsome, athletic man Symbols Winged sandals and traveler’s cap Sacred animals Tortoise, ram, and hawk

Hestia (Vesta) Goddess of hearth, home, and cooking Sister of Zeus Symbols Hearth and kettle Some stories say that she gave up her seat as an Olympian to Dionysus