Gods & Goddesses
Supreme god and Lord of Olympus. Zeus is attributed with the lightning bolt, and the eagle. The eagle. The son of Cronus and Rhea.
Having been told that one of his children was destined to dethrone him, Cronus swallowed each of the babies as they were born to prevent the omen from happening. Rhea saved Zeus by hiding him in Crete, and wrapped a stone, in place of the child, in swaddling clothes then gave it to Cronus to eat.
When Zeus grew up, he asked mother Earth to help him. She forced Cronus to disgorge the five earlier children along with the stone. This brought forth Zeus' brothers, Hades and Poseidon, and his sisters, Hera and Hestia.
Zeus eventually married Hera, but had numerous affairs with other goddesses and mortals.
Queen of the gods and goddesses. The peacock is her sacred animal. She is also associated with the pomegranate, and the crow. The wife of Zeus. Worshipped as a goddess of marriage and birth.
Hera and Zeus produced three children; Ares, Hephaestus, and Hebe. Because of Zeus' numerous affairs, Hera's jealousy had her punishing her rivals and their children. Even Zeus had trouble with her strength of will.
Goddess of love and beauty. She arose from the foam of the sea. Aphrodite is attributed with the dolphin, the dove, the swan, the pomegranate, and the lime tree.
Zeus and Hera arranged for their son, Hephaestus to marry Aphrodite. She soon grew tired of her marriage, and had an affair with Ares.
Goddess of the moon and hunting. Aphrodite is attributed with the dolphin, the dove, the swan, the pomegranate, and the lime tree. The daughter of Leto and Zeus, and Apollo's twin sister.
Artemis rode in a silver chariot pulled by four white horses. She also had a silver bow and arrow, numerous hounds, twenty wood nymphs, and twenty water nymphs.
The Greek god of wine and fertility.
The son of the god Zeus and Semele, a mortal. According to legend, Semele was killed by one of Zeus' lightning bolts. Dionysus was rescued, and then born out of Zeus' thigh.
God of fire and forge. The son of Zeus and Hera. He was born deformed. Hera was outraged at the hideous child, and threw him from Mount Olympus where he fell through the clouds and down to the earth, landing in the sea where two nereids raised him. He became a gifted designer, and crafted jewelry. Zeus sent messengers to bring Hephaestus home, but he refused. Finally his brother, Dionysis, filled him with wine and persuaded him to meet with Hera on Mount Olympus.
Hera decided Hephaestus should have a wife, and so he wed Aphrodite.
Goddess of the hearth. The eldest sister of Zeus, and the oldest daughter of Rhea and Cronus.
Every hearth on Earth became her altar. The ass is her sacred animal.
Son of Zeus and Leto, and Artemis' twin brother. The god of music.
Zeus, Apollo's father, gave him a golden chariot pulled by four white horses. This gift was also accompanied by a golden bow and arrows.
Goddess of wisdom and inventiveness. Zeus' favorite daughter. Athene emerged fully grown from the head of Zeus. She is often associated with the owl.
Athene was very fond of a an area in Greece which she named Athens. There she grew an olive tree for the citizens of the city. From the tree came food, oil and wood.
She taught man how to spin wool, how to make the wheel, the axe, the flute, the trumpet, the plough, and sails for Greek ships.
Cronus' three sons drew lots for shares of the world. Hades became the ruler of the Underworld.
Hades also possessed a helmet that could make him invisible.
The son Cronus and Rhea, and the husband of Persephone.
Poseidon's lot for his share of the world became the sea where he reigned as god. The son of Cronus and Rhea lived at the bottom of the sea in a palace made of coral and gems.
The Greek god of war. His sacred animals are the wolf and the woodpecker.
Although Ares was immortal, he would, at times, become wounded in battle. Zeus, oftentimes would heal Ares, but he tired of Ares' behavior.
Goddess of the harvest and fertility. The daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and sister to Zeus. She taught sowing and ploughing for mankind to end its nomadic existence. Her daughter, Persephone became Hades' consort.
God of the sun. He drove his golden chariot across the sky, pulled by his four golden horses Pyrois, Eos, Aethon and Phlegon.
God of riches and commerce. He was also the messenger of the gods and goddesses. Hermes escorted the dead to the Underworld for Hades.
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Ancient Greece