The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece

MOUNT OLYMPUS Home of the Gods Originally Thought to be a Real Mountain Finally Came to be Thought of as a Floating Mountain in the Sky

ZEUS (Roman Name: Jupiter) SYMBOLS His weapon was the mighty FACTS Realm: Supreme Ruler of the Gods; Lord of the Sky; Rain God. SYMBOLS His weapon was the mighty THUNDERBOLT or lightening; eagle; and scepter (rod). FACTS Dominating, powerful, and had a soft spot for pretty women.

HERA Symbol: Peacock Facts (Roman Name: Juno) Realm Zeus’ Wife & Queen of the Gods Protector of Marriage and Married Women Symbol: Peacock S Facts Well loved by the Greeks, often jealous of husband’s girlfriends, but could be tender and loving.

POSEIDON (Roman Name: Neptune) Realm Symbol Facts God of the oceans, seas & earthquakes Symbol Trident (three pronged spear), dolphins, & horse. Facts Did not like people and was Anti-social.

God of the Underworld & Ruler HADES (Roman Name: Pluto) Realm God of the Underworld & Ruler Of the Dead. Symbol CERBERUS (3 headed dog) JEWELS/METALS Facts Very wealthy; rarely Visited Olympus; Married to Persephone.

Goddess of wisdom and war. ATHENA (Roman Name: Minerva) Realm Goddess of wisdom and war. Symbols Shield, helmet and spear. Facts While Adopted by Hera, She is the Daughter of Zeus Only (Sprang from his Head)

APOLLO (Roman Name: Apollo) Realm Symbols Facts God of Music, Medicine & Poetry God of Light and Truth Symbols Gold bows & Arrows Facts Famous for his oracles & was the Most Popular Twin Brother of Artemis. No False Words (Never Told a Lie)

Three hunting hounds, bow and fawn. ARTEMIS (Roman Name: Diana) Realm Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt Symbols Three hunting hounds, bow and fawn. Facts Protects women and small Children. Fiercely independent. Twin Sister of Apollo

APHRODITE (Roman Name: Venus) Realm Symbols Facts Goddess of Love and Beauty Symbols Girdle & Mirror Facts Wife of Hephaestus; born out Of sea foam, mother of Eros, Charming, vain & competitive.

HERMES Facts (Roman Name: Mercury) Realm Symbols Messenger of the Gods God of Science and Invention. Symbols Helmut and Winged Feet Facts Appears the Most Often of All the Gods. Invented the alphabet, boxing and gymnastics.

ARES (Roman Name: Mars) Realm Symbols Facts God of War Spear and Helmet Facts Would fight on both sides. Young, strong, and likes to dress in battle clothes.

HEPHAESTUS (Roman Name: Vulcan) Realm Symbols Facts God of Fire and the Forge Symbols Fire and Hammer Facts Husband of Aphrodite He is the Only Ugly God and is handicapped.

Protector of hearth and home. HESTIA (Roman Name: Vesta) Realm Goddess of Hearth & Home Symbols Hearth and its Fire Facts Zeus’ sister, Protector of hearth and home. Very popular.

Scepter and stalks of grain DEMETER (Roman Name: Ceres) Realm Goddess of Earth and Crops Symbols Torch, crown Scepter and stalks of grain Facts Her Moods Affect the Seasons. Daughter is Persephone who spends 3 months in the underworld (winter).

God of wine and vegetation pinecone-headed staff called a Dionysus Roman name: Bacchus Realm God of wine and vegetation Symbols Grapes, wine, a pinecone-headed staff called a Thyrsus. Facts Maker of wine and fun.

Greek Monsters & Beings

Centaur Minor God Description: Male human head & body of a horse Facts: Ability to teach riding, shoot bow and arrows & give advice

Cerberus:Sir-ba-rus Monster Description: Dog with 3 heads Facts: Guard the fates of the Underworld to prevent dead from leaving

Griffin Creature Description: Body, tail and back legs of a lion. Head and wings of an eagle. Front legs eagles talons. Facts: King of the creatures. Guardians of treasures and priceless possessions.

Hydra Monster Characteristics: doglike body, head of Serpents Facts: Heads grow again when cut off. Can be prevented by sealing the severed neck with fire.

Cyclops Minor God Description: Giant with one eye in the center of forehead Facts: Long life. Enormous strength

Chimaera: (ky-meera) Monster Description: Head of a lion, body of a goat, tail is a snake. Facts: Fire breathing she monster. Considered a bad omen. Appeared in disasters.

Fates Old Goddesses Description: 3 old goddesses Facts: determined how long a man or woman would live. Are present at each birth of a child.

Scylla: Sill-a Monster Description: Female, six heads, ring of snarling dogs around waist. Facts: found near Charybdis, the whirlpool.

Minotaur Monster Description: Head and shoulders of a bull, body of a man Facts: Fantastic strength and devouring ability. Imprisoned in a Labyrinth.

Gorgon Monster Description: Female with snakes in her hair, bat wings. Facts: Face is so ugly that any person who sees it turns to stone. Immortal except for Medusa who was human first before turning into a Gorgon.

Harpy Monster Description: Bird with a female head. Facts: Pesters humans by stealing their food and screeching so that cannot sleep. Hideous and foul smelling.

Pegasus Creature Description: Loyal horse with shining white coat and wings. Facts: offspring of Poseidon and Medusa. Served Perseus until his death.

Sirens Monsters Description: Female faces and voices, bird like bodies with wings and claws Facts: Humans cannot resist their voices. Sing to lure sailors to crash & wreck their ships onto the rocks

Stymphalian Birds Monsters Description: Bronze beaks, metalic wings and claws. Facts: Dangerous man eating birds. Pets of Ares.

Sphinx Monster Description: Winged creature. Head of a woman and body of a lion. Facts: Noted for killing those who cannot answer its riddle.

Satyr: Say-ter Minor god/creature Description: Young man with tail and ears of a horse and horns and legs of a goat. Facts: Loves to party with the god Dionysus.

Furies 3 Minor Goddesses Description: Head of a dog, snakes for hair & bat wings. Facts: Ability to inflict mental torture on victims.