The Dirty DozenThe Dirty Dozen

The Greek Gods & Goddesses The Greek Gods & Goddesses of Mount Olympusof Mount Olympus

Zeus

• ALIAS: Jupiter• BIO: King of the Gods.

He is sometimes angry at the behaviour of gods and people, but he can also be a gentle and caring ruler. He has a weakness for beautiful women.

• SYMBOLS: thunderbolt, shield, oak tree

Poseidon

• ALIAS: Neptune• BIO: Zeus’s brother,

he is God of the ocean and earthquakes. He is most often associated with his trident in art – the famous three-pronged spear.

• SYMBOLS: trident, horse, bull

Hera

• ALIAS: Juno• BIO: Zeus’s wife.

Queen of the Gods, guardian of marriage. She is a great woman and diplomat. She is often jealous and nags her husband, but she is an excellent wife and teacher.

• SYMBOLS: peacock, cow

Athena

• ALIAS: Minerva• BIO: Daughter of

Zeus, she is the Goddess of war, wisdom, patriotism and good citizenship. She is the protector of her namesake city of Athens.

• SYMBOLS: owl, shield, olive tree

Apollo

• ALIAS: Apollo• BIO: Son of Zeus,

God of poetry, music, medicine and light. He is often associated with the sun. His chariot creates the sunrise everyday.

• SYMBOLS: crow, laurel, dolphin, lyre

Artemis

• ALIAS: Diana• BIO: Apollo’s twin

sister. Goddess of hunting and wild things. She is associated with the moon. She is sometimes called Cynthia.

• SYMBOLS: stag, crescent, moon, cypress tree

Hades

• ALIAS: Pluto• BIO: God of the

Underworld and brother of Zeus.

• SYMBOLS: helmet, metal jewels

Ares

• ALIAS: Mars• BIO: Son of Zeus.

Terrible God of War.

• SYMBOLS: vulture, dog

Hephaestus

• ALIAS: Vulcan• BIO: Son of Zeus

and Hera, the lame blacksmith and God of fire.

• SYMBOLS: fire, the blacksmith’s hammer

Aphrodite

• ALIAS: Venus• BIO: Wife of

Hephaestus, she is the Goddess of love and beauty. She is said to have been born in sea foam. Her sons are Eros (Cupid) and Aeneas, a mortal man.

• SYMBOLS: dove, goose, sparrow, myrtle

Hermes

• ALIAS: Mercury• BIO: Son of Zeus

and messenger of the Gods. He is also the God of science and invention.

• SYMBOLS: wand, winged sandals, winged helmet

Hestia

• ALIAS: Vesta• BIO: Zeus’s sister.

She is the Goddess of home and hearth.

• SYMBOLS: hearth or fireplace

Demeter

• ALIAS: Ceres• BIO: Zeus’s sister.

She is the very important Goddess of agriculture and grain. She is a kind of bond between Heaven and Earth.

• SYMBOLS: wheat