The Gods

Zeus (Jupiter)

• Sky God• Controlled

weather• King of the Gods• Thunderbolts

and Aegis (Thunder and lightening)

• Many love affairs

Hera (Juno)

• Scheming and spiteful

• Persecutes the object of Zeus’ affairs

• Originally a fertility goddess

• Women and childbirth

• Represented as young and beautiful

• Frequently accompanied by peacock

Hestia (Vesta)

• First born of Rhea and Cronus

• Domestic fire• Gentle and kind• Beautiful woman

carrying coals in a dish

Demeter (Ceres)

• Fertility and cornfield

Poseidon (Neptune)

• God of the Sea• Very important to

the Greeks• Regularly

associated with horses

Hades

• Underworld• Persephone Queen• Grim and remote• Not evil

Aphrodite (Venus)

• Young and Beautiful

• Sex-appeal• Interesting love

life• Could make any

human fall in love

• Usually accompanied by Eros

• Easy to recognise in art

Ares (Mars)

• Warfare• Universally disliked• Loved battle for its

own sake• Not a good warrior

Athene (Minerva)

• Wisdom, war and weaving• Patron of spinning and weaving• Patron divinity of Athens

Artemis (Diana)

• Hunting, childbirth and moon

• Depicted as beautiful young woman in a short tunic or gown, carrying bow and arrow

Mercury (Hermes)

• Messenger of the gods

• God of commerce and trade

• Depicted as young man with wide brimmed hat, winged sandals, heralds staff

• Cheerful good humour

• Took more interest in human affairs than most gods

Hephaistos (Vulcan)

• Ugly and deformed• God of metal crafts

Apollo

• Prophecy, sun and arts of civilisation

• Handsome young man with no beard

• Frequently carries lyre