gods and goddesses (role in the trojan war)
TRANSCRIPT
Apollo Greek God of the Sun, the
Light, the Music and the Prophecy
the son of Zeus and the Titan Leto
According to Homer’s Illiad, Apollo played a major part in the Trojan War. He infected the Greek encampment with a plague and aided Paris in killing Achilles.
Ares Greek God of War
The son of Zeus and Hera
Ares always took the side of Aphrodite in the Trojan War. He fought for Hector (a Trojan) until a Greek warrior pierced him with a spear that was guided by Athena. He then departed the battlefield in order to complain to Zeusabout Athena’s violence.
Dionysus Greek God of Wine & the
Grape Harvest
the son of Zeus and the mortal Semele
worshipped as early as 1500-100BC by Mycenean Greeks
Hades Greek God of the Dead and
King of the Underworld
the oldest male child of Cronus and Rhea, brother of Zeus and Poseidon
Hades is described by some sources as the god of the earth’s fertility.
Hephaestus Greek God of Fire and
Metalworking
the son of Zeus and Hera and married to Aphrodite
Hephaestus crafted the armor that Achilles wore in the Trojan War. The same arms, despite their connection to divinity, brought about the death of Ajax.
Hermes Greek God of Trade,
Eloquence and Messenger of the Gods
the son of Zeus and Maia, one of the seven Pleiades and daughter of the Titan Atlas
Both Homer and Hesiod portrayed Hermes as the author of skilled or deceptive acts, and also as a benefactor of mortals.
Poseidon Greek God of the Sea
the son of Cronus and Rhea, brother of Zeus and Hades
Poseidon assisted the Greeks in the Trojan war. However, Zeuscommanded him to withdraw from the battlefield, and he reluctantly obeyed.
His grudge against Odysseus is one theme in the Odyssey.
Zeus Greek God of the Sky and King
of the Gods
Zeus was the last child of the titans Cronus and Rhea
Hesiod calls Zeus the “the lord of justice.” Perhaps because of this, he was reluctant to join a side in the Trojan War. He preferred the Trojans, but he wanted to stay neutral because Hera preferred the Greeks. She was insufferable when he opposed her openly.
Aphrodite Greek Goddess of Love, Beauty
& Eternal Youth
the daughter of Zeus and Dione
During the Trojan War, Aphrodite fought on the side of Paris.
Aphrodite rescued Paris from Menelaus by enveloping him in a cloud and taking him back to Troy.
Artemis Greek Goddess of the Hunt,
Forests and Hills, the Moon, Archery
the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods, and the Titaness Leto and she has a twin brother, the god Apollo
She punished Agamemnon, for example, when he killed a stag in her sacred grove.
Athena Greek Goddess of Wisdom and
War
was born from Zeus and no mother
Hera and Athena fought against Paris in the Trojan War since he had awarded the Golden Apple to Aphrodite.
The sacred image of Athena, a wood statue called the Palladium, protected the Trojans as long as they had it.
Odysseus and Diomedes executed a plan to steal the image, greatly encouraging the Greeks in their hopes to end the long-suffering war.
Demeter Greek Goddess of Agriculture,
Fertility, Sacred Law and the Harvest
the daughter of Cronos and Rhea
She had one daughter, Persephone; Zeus was Persephone’s father.
Cronus had previously swallowed Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Hadesand Poseidon
Hera Greek Goddess of Marriage
and Queen of Olympus
the Queen of the Gods and is the wife and sister of Zeus
The Trojan War would have ended in peace, but Hera had a vested interest in its outcome and influenced Zeus to either switch sides or remain neutral.
Hestia Greek Goddess of the Heart
and Domestic Life
Eldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister to Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter and Hera
Although Hestia appeared in a few stories, she was not overly significant in Greek mythology.
Hestia is completely omitted from the works of Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.