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Greek Gods, Goddesses, and Figures. Greek gods - Family Tree. ZEUS : King of the gods and the sky. Roman name: Jupiter Symbol: Thunderbolts He married Hera, his sister, which became a family habit Youngest of the Olympians. Poseidon : god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses.
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ZEUS: King of the gods and the sky • Roman name: Jupiter • Symbol:Thunderbolts He married Hera, his sister, which became a family habit Youngest of the Olympians
Poseidon:god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses Roman Name: Neptune • Symbol: Trident and dolphin Created the horse for his sister Demeter, who he loved Often very difficult and quarrelsome Chose the beautiful water nymph Thetis as his wife, but was “wandering” like his brother, Zeus
HADES: god of the underworld • Roman Name: Pluto • Symbol: Helmet and jewels • Very jealous of his brothers • Violent and possessive of new souls, so he rarely left his throne in the Underworld
HERA: Queen of the gods, goddess of marriage • Roman Name: Juno • Symbol: Peacock, pomegranate • Associated with the peacock because of her great beauty • She was called the queen of intriguers, a vindictive and jealous wife, who frequently outwitted her husband, Zeus.
HESTIA:goddess of home and hearth • Zeus’ virgin sister • Roman Name: Vesta • Symbol: Sacred Fire, circle • Thought of as the kindest and mildest of the gods • Represents personal security and happiness
DEMETER:goddess of grain and harvest • Responsible for the creation of seasons • Also known for fertility • Roman Name: Ceres • Symbol: Rake, bundle of grain • Mother of Persephone
ATHENA:goddess of wisdom, war and justice • Daughter of Zeus - born full grown out of his head • Roman Name: Minerva • Symbol: Owl and Olive Branch • Taught man to use tools and women how to spin and weave • Most-loved god • Enemies with Ares • The Greek city of Athens is named for her
APOLLO: god of the sun, music, and healing • Son of Zeus, twin brother of Artemis • Roman Name: Apollo • Symbol: Golden Chariot and Harp • The most handsome of the gods • Drove his chariot across the sky each morning to pull the sun
ARTEMIS:goddess of the hunt and moon • Daughter of Zeus and twin sister of Apollo • Roman Name: Diana • Symbol: Silver bow and arrow • Chaste goddess who aided women in childbirth
APHRODITE:goddess of Beauty and Love • Daughter of Zeus • Roman Name: Venus • Symbol: Roses, Doves, Girdles • Known for her striking beauty Paris, the Trojan prince was asked to vote on the beauty of the goddesses (Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera). Aphrodite bribed him with offering the love of the most beautiful woman, Helen of Troy
ARES: god of War • Son of Zeus and Hera • Roman Name: Mars • Symbol: Spear and vulture • Often shown carrying bloodstained spear • Throne on Mt. Olympus was said to be covered in human skin
HEPHAESTUS:god of fire and forge (the blacksmith god) • Son of Hera; married Aphrodite • Roman Name: Vulcan • Symbol: Anvil and Hammer • Ugliest of the gods; was rejected by his mother, who threw him off a cliff and crippled him • He fashioned the armor and tools of the gods, and also beautiful jewelry
HERMES:Messenger of the gods • Son of Zeus • Responsible for guiding souls to the underworld • Roman Name: Mercury • Symbol: Winged Sandals • He carried Apollo’s staff and traveled the heavens and earth with winged sandals
DIONYSUS:god of wine and festivity Son of Zeus Only Olympian with a mortal parent, Semele • Saved his mother from the Underworld after she was consumed by Zeus’ lightning • Roman Name: Bacchus • Symbol: wine • Ancient poetry written in his honor
PERSEPHONE: goddess of the Underworld • Roman Name: Porsepina • Symbol: Torch, Wheat, and Pomegranate • Daughter of Demeter • Was kidnapped by Hades when picking a flower, and was taken to the Underworld to be his Queen. Demeter was so sad she caused a drought and death on earth (winter/ fall). • Zeus ruled ½ the year she can be with her mother
PAN: god of flocks and nature • Roman Name: Faunus • Symbol: Pan Flute • Half goat, half human • Protected shepherds, woods, and pastures • Was wild and unpredictable, could fill human and animals with inexplicable terror
EROS: god of love and passion • Roman Name: Cupid • Symbol: Bow and Arrow • Son of Aphrodite and Ares • Possibly two: the elder who created light and day and immortal gods, and the younger, child-like with wings • Word: “erotic”
THE FATES: Three white robed representations of destiny • Greek: Moirae, Roman: Parcae • Symbols: Spindle, Thread, Scissors (forbidding) • Clotho – spins thread onto spindle (appears at ninth month of pregnancy) • Lachesis – measures thread (allotting life to the person) • Atropos- cutter of thread; chooses the manner/time of death * More power than Zeus; feared by the gods
THE MUSES: Nine goddesses who inspire the arts • Often invoked at the beginning of poetry and prose, to aid in the retelling of events • Symbols: Various instruments and scrolls • Represent knowledge • “music,”“museum” The word muse, today to describe an inspirational woman to help create, is a tribute to them
PANDORA: the first woman who releases the evils into the world • After “man” received the stolen gift of fire, Zeus deemed they needed punishment, so he gave them a “gift” • Each god helped to create her by giving her unique gifts • She was then molded by Hephaestus, as a beautiful woman to torment the race of man forever • She was given to Epimetheus, and her curiosity then opened the box of evil
Circe: minor goddess of magic, considered a witch • Lived on her own island of Aeaea in a huge mansion, surrounded with docile lions and wolves • Transformed her enemies into animals through magic • Also an enchantress
MEDUSA: A monster who turned people to stone • A once beautiful woman who was a priestess in Athena’s temple • She laid with Poseidon, angering Athena • Her beautiful hair was turned into serpents, and her face was made so terrifying it would turn people to stone Later, was beheaded by Perseus
PROMETHEUS: Creator of Man • Considered to be witty • Means “forethought” • Made man out of clay • Stole fire from the gods and gave it to man • Punished by Zeus for the crime: chained to a rock where an eagle would eat his liver. Each day it would grow back • Saved years later by Hercules
EPIMETHEUS: Creator of Animals • Brother of Prometheus, considered to be foolish • Gave out positive traits to all the animals, so when it came to give one to humans there were none left. • He was the reason Prometheus stole fire
ATLAS: Supported the heavens • Brother of Prometheus an Epimetheus • Since he fought against the Olympians, he was punished- by having to hold Uranus (the sky) on his shoulders • Hercules helped to liberate his pains by creating two large pillars to hold the sky from the earth
HECATE: goddess of magic, witchcraft, and the crossroads • Roman name: Trivia • Symbols: torch, dogs, key • Often depicted having three heads or three bodies • Assisted Demeter with finding Persephone, who she became close friends with and visited in Hades • Only Titan who remained in power after Olympians took control • Mother of Circe, Medea, and Scylla
CRONUS: god of agriculture • Roman name: Saturn • Symbols: Sickle and scythe • The youngest of the Titans, overthrew his father by castrating him • After he was overthrown by his children, he was imprisoned in Tartarus
RHEA: the mother of gods, goddess of motherhood and fertility • No exact Roman counterpart, but she is accepted as Cybele • Symbols: Lion and moon • Wife of Cronus, Mother of Zeus (who she hid) • Represented the “flow” of time: milk, waters, blood