the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece (Meet the Family)

MOUNT OLYMPUS Home of the Gods (or most of them) Originally Thought to be a Real Mountain Finally Came to be Thought of as a Floating Mountain in the Sky Palace of Zeus There are 12 Olympian Gods

ZEUS (Roman Name: Jupiter) Lord of the Skies, Rain-Gatherer, and Cloud-Gatherer Supreme Ruler of the Gods His weapon was the mighty THUNDERBOLT© He is NOT omniscient He falls in love frequently and often acts on it (even though he is married) His bird is the EAGLE

HERA (Roman Name: Juno) Zeus’ Wife and Sister Protector of Marriage and Married Women Very Jealous of Zeus’ Numerous Lovers To Hera the Cow and Peacock are Sacred She is the Stereotype of Jealous Greek Wives

HADES (Roman Name: Pluto) Lord of the Underworld Ruler of the Dead NOT Evil, But should be Feared NOT Death Himself Husband of Persephone

POSEIDON (Roman Name: Neptune) Ruler of the Seas and Oceans Married to the Daughter of Ocean, the Titan Gave the Horse to Man Carries a Trident (a three-pronged spear)

DEMETER (Roman Name: Ceres) Goddess of Corn and Agriculture Mother of Persephone Her Moods Affect the Seasons Lives on Earth

APHRODITE (Roman Name: Venus) Goddess of Love and Beauty Was not Born, Sprang from the Sea Foam Wife of Hephaestus

HESTIA (Roman Name: Vesta) Goddess of the Hearth Protector of the Home One of the Virgin Goddesses In Rome: the Vestal Virgins

ZEUS’ CHILDREN BY HERA

ARES (Roman Name: Mars) God of War None of the Other Gods Like Him Much He’s Ruthless, Yet a Coward Had NO Temples in Greece

ATHENA (Roman Name: Minerva) Battle Maiden and Goddess of Wisdom Protector of the City Invented the Horse Bridle While Adopted by Hera, She is the Daughter of Zeus Only (Sprang from his Head) Her City is Athens Her Bird is the Owl Leader of the Virgin Goddesses

HEPHAESTUS (Roman Name: Vulcan) God of Fire and the Forge He is the Only Ugly God Husband of Aphrodite He was Lame As a Newborn, He was Cast Out of Olympus, But Returned He has a Forge Under the Mountain Peace-Loving God

HEBE (Roman Name: None) Cupbearer of the Gods Goddess of Youth Later Married Off to Heracles

ZEUS’ CHILDREN BY LETO (Daughter of the Titans, Coeus and Phoebe)

APOLLO (Roman Name: Apollo) Twin Brother of Artemis Most Greek of All the Gods Master Musician and Poet God of Light and Truth No False Words (Never Told a Lie) His Tree is the Laurel His Oracle at Delphi was the Most Popular

ARTEMIS (Roman Name: Diana) Twin Sister of Apollo Virgin Goddess Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt Lady of the Wild Things Protector of Maidens Huntsman-in-Chief of Olympus

PERSEPHONE (Roman Name: Proserpine) Daughter of Zeus by Demeter Goddess of Spring She was Kidnapped by Hades Later Made the Queen of the Underworld Spends Half the Year in Hades, Half on Earth Demeter is Heartbroken When She is Away

HERMES (Roman Name: Mercury) Son of Zeus by Maia Messenger of the Gods Has Wings on Sandals and Cap The Master Thief: He Stole Apollo’s Cattle on the First Day of his Life Appears the Most Often of All the Gods Also Leads Souls Down into the Underworld