THE OLYMPIANS

Zeus: king of the gods

As we have seen Zeus was the son of Cronos and Rhea.

He led the uprising against Cronos.

He was king of the gods.

God of the sky He married his

sister Hera.

Poseidon: God of the Sea

Poseidon was the god of the Sea and storms.

Famous for carrying a Trident.

Zeus’s Brother. Son of Cronos and

Rhea.

Hades: God of the Underworld

The oldest Male of Cronos and Rhea.

Helmet of invisibility. Married to Persephone. Because of his dark and morbid

personality, he was not especially liked by either the gods or the mortals.

He was not, however, an evil god, for although he was stern, cruel, and unpitying, he was still just.

he was not Death itself — the actual embodiment of Death was Thanatos.

Hera: God of women and Marriage

Queen of the Gods. wife and one of

three sisters of Zeus.

The cow, and later, the peacock were sacred to her.

Aphrodite: Goddess of Love

Born when a drop of Cronos’s Blood fell into the sea.

the Greek goddess of love, beauty and sexuality.

Zeus married her to Hephaestus

Had many affairs, Ares was her lover.

Magic Girdle made her irresistibly attractive.

Hephaestos: The Smith God

Son of Zeus and Hera.

Hephaestus was lame, which gave him a grotesque appearance in Greek eyes.

He served as the blacksmith of the gods.

Married to Aphrodite.

Ares: God of War

Son of Zeus and Hera.

Lover of Aphrodite. the god of blood

thirst, or slaughter personified.

Demeter: goddess of the Harvest

Daughter of Cronos and Rhea.

Mother of Persephone (Hades wife)

Controlled the seasons.

Artemis: Goddess of the Moon and Hunting

Twin of Apollo. Daughter of Zeus

and Leto. Chariot drawn by

silver stags said to draw the moon across the sky.

Apollo: God of Light and the Sun

Son of Zeus and Leto.

Twin brother of Artemis.

Patron of the oracle of Delphi.

could bring ill-health and deadly plague.

Athene: Goddess of wisdom and war

Sometimes called Pallas Athena.

Daughter of Zeus and Metis.

Sometimes associated with Owls.

Hermes: Messenger of the Gods.

Son of Zeus and Maia. Recognisable by

winged sandals. Hermes often helped

travelers have a safe and easy journey. Many Greeks would sacrifice to Hermes before any trip.

Reputation for mischief.

Invented the Lyre.

Dionysus: God of wine

The god who inspires ritual madness, joyful worship, and ecstasy, carnivals, celebration.

Son of Zeus and Semele.