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

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. (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

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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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)

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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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