Greek MythologyGreek Gods and Goddesses

The Pantheon of Greek Gods

pan·the·on ˈpanTHēˌän, ˈpanTHēən/

Noun all the gods of a people or religion collectively.

"the deities of the Hindu and Shinto pantheons"

(especially in ancient Greece and Rome) a temple dedicated to all the gods.

noun: Pantheon

a building in which the illustrious dead of a nation are buried or honored.

In t

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beg

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ing… Mother

Earth, the Sky & Seas

The Titans

The Gods

THE GREEK GODS

(D’Aulaire 22)

MOUNT OLYMPUS

◈ All of the Greek gods, except one, live high on a mountaintop in Greece.

◈ The name of the mountain is Mount Olympus.

◈ Because they all live on this mountain, the gods are often referred to as the Olympians.

THE BROTHERS

◈ After the earth was created, three brothers, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, drew straws to determine who would rule over the elements of the universe.

◈ With these three brothers and their three sisters, all 13 of the Greek Gods are derived.

ZEUS

◈ His Roman name is Jupiter.

◈ The God of all gods.

◈ He drew the longest straw and was made the god of the sky.

◈ His symbol is the lightning bolt.

◈ He has a problem with fidelity which causes him to father many children.

POSEIDON

◈ His Roman name is Neptune.

◈ He drew the second longest straw and was given the seas to rule.

◈ He is considered the grumpiest of all the Olympians.

◈ He is said to have created horses.

◈ His symbol is the trident.

HADES◈ His Roman name is Pluto.

◈ Of the three brothers, he drew the shortest straw and was given domain over the Underworld.

◈ The Underworld is where all dead people reside.

◈ There are three areas of Hades: ◈ Elysian Fields (where there was peace,

tranquility and happiness),

◈ Fields of Asphodel (which was boring but not painful), and

◈ Hades itself (where souls wandered lost and hopeless).

HERA

◈ Her Roman name is Juno.

◈ She is wife and sister to Zeus.

◈ She is the goddess of marriage.

◈ Even though Zeus has many affairs, they remained married.

◈ Her symbol is feathers and birds.

DEMETER

◈ Her Roman name is Ceres.

◈ She is sister to Zeus.

◈ She is the goddess of the earth (and the seasons).

◈ Her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by Hades causing the seasons.

◈ Her symbol is grain.

HESTIA◈ Her Roman name is Vesta.

◈ She is oldest sister to Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hera.

◈ She is the goddess of the hearth and home.

◈ An offering was made to her before and after every meal.

◈ She gave up her throne to Dionysis and took a place in front of the other Olympians, tending the fire.

◈ Her symbol is the fire.

2nd Generation Greek Gods

◈ These Gods and Goddesses are all children of one or more of the first generation of gods.

ATHENA

◈ Her Roman name is Minerva.◈ She was born from her father,

Zeus’, head.◈ She is the goddess of wisdom.◈ Her symbol is the owl.◈ The city of Athens is named for

her.

ARES

◈ His Roman name is Mars.

◈ He is the god of war.

◈ He was much more important to the Romans than to the Greeks.

◈ His throne was said to be covered with skulls.

◈ His symbol is the bloody spear.

APHRODITE◈ Her Roman name is Venus.◈ Some say she is the daughter of

Zeus while others contend she was born of sea-foam.

◈ She is the goddess of love and fertility.

◈ Her symbol is the dove.◈ Her son, Eros (Greek) or Cupid

(Roman) causes people to fall in love.

APOLLO

◈ His Roman name is Apollo.

◈ His one of Zeus’ many illegitimate children. (His twin sister is Artemis.)

◈ He is the god of music, healing, and prophecy.

◈ He pulls the sun across the sky each morning behind his chariot.

◈ His symbol is the lyre.

ARTEMIS

◈ Her Roman name is Diana.

◈ She is another is Zeus’ illegitimate children. (Her twin brother is Apollo.)

◈ She is the goddess of the hunt.

◈ Her symbol is the bow and arrow.

HEPHAESTUS

◈ His Roman name is Vulcan.◈ He is the son of Zeus and Hera.

◈ However, he was born with a lame foot and Hera threw him from Mt. Olympus.

◈ Because he lived inside the mountain, he is known for working with fire.

◈ He is the god of blacksmithing.

◈ His symbol is pottery.

◈ He created the first human woman named Pandora.

HERMES

◈ His Roman name is Mercury.

◈ He is another of Zeus’ illegitimate children.

◈ He is the messenger god, delivering everything from notes to the souls of the dead.

◈ His symbol is his winged shoes.

DIONYSUS

◈ His Roman name is Bacchus.

◈ He is another of Zeus’ illegitimate children.

◈ He is the god of wine.

◈ It was for him that Greek theatre was originated.

◈ His symbol is grapes.