T H E 1 2 O L Y M P I A N S Mythology

What is “Olympia?” In Greek/ Roman Mythology, Mount Olympus is the meeting place and “home” of the major players. It is unsure of whether or not Mt. Olympus is in heaven or somewhere on earth.

Mt. Olympus The Greeks also named the highest peek in the mountains (between Thessalonica and Macedonia) Mt. Olympus.

Why “Olympians?” These 12 gods and goddesses are considered “Olympians” because they reside on Mt. Olympus. The 12 Olympians were the major gods and goddesses with prominent roles in Greek mythology. Some of the major Olympians spent most of their time elsewhere. Poseidon lived in the sea and Hades in the Underworld.

(Hades?)  in underworld So, who are the 12? Various sources report up to 20 different names, but the majority of texts concur that these are the 12: gods goddesses Zeus Hera Poseidon Demeter Apollo Artemis Ares Athena Hermes Aphrodite Hephaestus Hestia (Hades?)  in underworld

Zeus King of the gods, mortals, and weather Roman Name: Jupiter Symbol: Thunder Bolt Either raped or married numerous goddesses and mortals

Hera Queen of gods, marriage and birth Daughter of Cronus and Rhea (Zeus’ sister and wife) Roman Name: Juno Zeus constantly cheated on her, and she was always jealous

Poseidon God of the sea, earthquakes, horses Brother to Zeus and Hera Roman Name: Neptune Symbols: dolphins, tridents, fish spears

Hermes Messenger of the gods (guides souls of the dead to the underworld) God of land travel, literature and poetry  he’s swift and athletic Son of Zeus and a nymph Roman Name: Mercury

Hestia Goddess of hearth and home Zeus’ oldest sister Wooed by Poseidon but swore to remain a virgin Roman Name: Vesta (temple built for her in the Forum)

Athena Goddess of wisdom, war, arts and justice Zeus’ favorite child Companion: goddess of victory, Nike Symbol: owl Roman Name: Minerva

Ares God of war and battle Son of Zeus and Hera Merciless and bloody; not liked by even his father (he supported the Trojans in the Trojan war?) Accompanied on battlefield by: Phobos (fear) and Deimos (terror)  sons? Roman Name: Mars

Demeter Goddess of fertility and agriculture (fruit, grains) and seasons Zeus’ sister Mother of Persephone Roman Name: Ceres

Apollo God of sun, archery, healing medicine, music (lyre), and dance Son of Zeus and twin brother of Artemis Father of Asclepius (god of healing and medicine) whose symbol is the wand Roman Name: Apollo

Artemis Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, fertility, and moon Often identified with Selene (goddess of the moon) Roman Name: Diana Symbols: crescent moon above her head

Hephaestus God of fire and blacksmiths Son of Zeus and Hera (yet Zeus wasn’t involved) Roman Name: Vulcan (god of volcanoes) Born weak and crippled Husband of Aphrodite who cheated on him with Ares

Aphrodite Goddess of love, beauty and sex When Cronus castrated his father Uranus, he threw his genitals into the sea and thus Aphrodite was born of the “foam” Aphrodisiac Festival: sex and libido increasers Son: Eros Roman Name: Venus Symbols: dolphin, swan, pomegranate