1. Mythology The Major Players & Places

2. Cronus Cronus was the ruling Titan who came to power by harming his Father Uranus. Cronus was the ruling Titan who came to power by harming his Father Uranus. His wife was Rhea. Their offspring were the first of the Olympians. His wife was Rhea. Their offspring were the first of the Olympians. To insure his safety, Cronus ate each of the children as they were born. To insure his safety, Cronus ate each of the children as they were born. This worked until Rhea, unhappy at the loss of her children, tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock, instead of Zeus. This worked until Rhea, unhappy at the loss of her children, tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock, instead of Zeus. When he grew up Zeus would revolt against Cronus and the other Titans, defeat them, and banish them to Tartarus in the underworld. When he grew up Zeus would revolt against Cronus and the other Titans, defeat them, and banish them to Tartarus in the underworld.

3. Zeus (Jupiter) Zeus overthew his Father Cronus. Zeus overthew his Father Cronus. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. He is married to Hera but is famous for his many affairs. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths. He is married to Hera but is famous for his many affairs. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths.

4. Poseidon (Neptune) Poseidon is the brother of Zeus. Poseidon is the brother of Zeus. He became lord of the sea. He became lord of the sea. His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth, and shatter any object. His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth, and shatter any object. He is second only to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He is second only to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality.

5. Hades (Pluto) Hades is the brother of Zeus. Hades is the brother of Zeus. He was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He is a greedy god who is greatly concerned with increasing his subjects and rarely allows any of his subjects leave. He is a greedy god who is greatly concerned with increasing his subjects and rarely allows any of his subjects leave. He is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible. He is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible. His wife is Persephone whom he abducted. He is the King of the dead but death itself is another god, Thanatos. His wife is Persephone whom he abducted. He is the King of the dead but death itself is another god, Thanatos.

6. Hestia (Vesta) Hestia is Zeus’s sister. Hestia is Zeus’s sister. She is the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. She is the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out.

7. Hera(Juno) Hera is Zeus’s wife and sister. Hera is Zeus’s wife and sister. She is the protector of marriage and takes special care of married women. She is the protector of marriage and takes special care of married women. Most stories concerning Hera have to do with her jealous revenge for Zeus's infidelities. Most stories concerning Hera have to do with her jealous revenge for Zeus's infidelities. Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Her favorite city is Argos. Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Her favorite city is Argos.

8. Ares (Mars) Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He is the god of war. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but also a coward. He is the god of war. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but also a coward. His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog. His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog.

9. Athena(Minerva) Athena is the daughter of Zeus. Athena is the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armor from his forehead, thus has no mother. She sprang full grown in armor from his forehead, thus has no mother. She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeus's favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. She was Zeus's favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. She is a virgin goddess. Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. She is a virgin goddess.

10. Apollo (Apollo) Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is Artemis. His twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music, healing, light, and truth. He is the god of music, healing, light, and truth. One of Apollo's more important daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. One of Apollo's more important daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the Greek world to divine the future. He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the Greek world to divine the future. His tree was the laurel and the dolphin was his animal. His tree was the laurel and the dolphin was his animal.

11. Artemis (Diana) Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Her twin brother is Apollo. Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Her twin brother is Apollo. She is the goddess of the hunt and the protector of the young. She is the goddess of the hunt and the protector of the young. She is also the goddess of chastity. She is also the goddess of chastity. The cypress is her tree. All wild animals are sacred to her, especially the deer. The cypress is her tree. All wild animals are sacred to her, especially the deer.

12. Aphrodite (Venus) Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire, and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire, and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. She is the wife of Hephaestus. She is the wife of Hephaestus. The myrtle is her tree. The dove, the swan, and the sparrow her birds. The myrtle is her tree. The dove, the swan, and the sparrow her birds.

13. Hermes (Mercury) Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is Zeus’s messenger and is the fastest of the gods. He is Zeus’s messenger and is the fastest of the gods. He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He is the god of thieves and god of commerce and serves as the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. He is the god of thieves and god of commerce and serves as the guide for the dead to go to the underworld.

14. Hephaestus (Vulcan) Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. He is the only god to be physically ugly, and he is also lame. He is the only god to be physically ugly, and he is also lame. He is the god of fire and the forge. He is the smith and armorer of the gods. He is the god of fire and the forge. He is the smith and armorer of the gods. He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. He is kind and peace loving. His wife is Aphrodite. He is kind and peace loving. His wife is Aphrodite.

15. Demeter (Ceres) Demeter is the godess of corn, grain, and the harvest. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. Demeter is the godess of corn, grain, and the harvest. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. Demeter is intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter, Persephone, is forced to spend part of the year in Hades, and during these months Demeter grieves her daughter’s absence and withdraws her gifts from the world, creating winter. Spring marks her daughter’s return. Demeter is intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter, Persephone, is forced to spend part of the year in Hades, and during these months Demeter grieves her daughter’s absence and withdraws her gifts from the world, creating winter. Spring marks her daughter’s return.

16. Persephone(Proserpina) Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. After her abduction by Hades, she became his wife and Queen of the underworld. After her abduction by Hades, she became his wife and Queen of the underworld.

17. Eros (Cupid) Eros is the son of Aphrodite. Eros is the son of Aphrodite. He is the god of romantic love. He is the god of romantic love. He is often represented blindfolded because love is often blind. He is often represented blindfolded because love is often blind. His "weapons" are darts or arrows. In either case the tips have been magically treated to produce either uncontrollable love or insurmountable disinterest in the first person seen by Eros's victim after wounding. His "weapons" are darts or arrows. In either case the tips have been magically treated to produce either uncontrollable love or insurmountable disinterest in the first person seen by Eros's victim after wounding.

18. Pan (Faunus) Pan is the son of Hermes and is the god of goatherds and shepherds. Pan is the son of Hermes and is the god of goatherds and shepherds. He is mostly human in appearance but has goat horns and goat feet. He is mostly human in appearance but has goat horns and goat feet. He is an excellent musician and plays the pipes. He is merry and playful frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He is an excellent musician and plays the pipes. He is merry and playful frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He is always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but is always rejected because he is ugly. He is always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but is always rejected because he is ugly. His name is the basis for the word "panic.” His name is the basis for the word "panic.”

19. The Major Places Mount Olympus, which towers up from the center of the earth. Here the major gods live and hold court. Mount Olympus, which towers up from the center of the earth. Here the major gods live and hold court. The Underworld is hidden in the earth. It is the kingdom of the dead and ruled over by Hades. The Underworld is hidden in the earth. It is the kingdom of the dead and ruled over by Hades. – Geographically, the underworld is surrounded by a series of rivers: The Acheron (Woe), The Cocytus (Lamentation), The Phlegethon (Fire), The Styx (Unbreakable oath), and The Lethe (Forgetfulness). Once across the river, a gate, guarded by Cerberus, a three- headed dog, forms the entrance to the kingdom. Tartarus lies far deeper than Hades. It is used as the ultimate of prisons, unpleasant and inaccessible. Tartarus lies far deeper than Hades. It is used as the ultimate of prisons, unpleasant and inaccessible.