The Twelve Olympians

ZEUS / JUPITER

SYMBOLSOak

Eagle

TITLESSupreme RulerLord of the Sky

Zeus punishes wrongdoers by

hurling the thunderbolt

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

He is neither omniscient nor omnipotent.

He can be opposed and deceived.

He often falls in love.

He uses tricks to deceive his wife and his lovers.

He is ambitious and aggressive, and he can be cruel and self-serving.

HERA / JUNO

SYMBOLSCow

Peacock

TITLES

Queen of the GodsProtector of

Marriage Hera is Zeus’

sister and his wife.

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

She is jealous and vindictive.

She punishes Zeus’ love interests and their descendants.

Her beauty is only matched by her vanity.

POSEIDON / NEPTUNE

SYMBOLSTridentDolphin

TITLESRuler of the Sea

Earth ShakerProtector of

Trade & NavigationPoseidon is Zeus’ brother.

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

His personality is changeable like the sea.

Although he can be moody, he is powerful and relentless.

Poseidon gave man the first horse.

HADES / PLUTO

SYMBOLS

Helmet

TITLESRuler of the Underworld

Custodian of the DeadGod of Wealth and

Precious MetalsHades is Zeus’

brother

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Hades is mysterious and gloomy.

Others do not find him fun to be around; therefore, he is often unwelcome.

Although he shows no mercy, he is always fair.

ATHENA / MINERVA

SYMBOLSOwl

Olive Tree

TITLESGoddess of WisdomGoddess of WarfareGoddess of the City

Patroness of Weaving

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Her purity and wisdom bring her admiration and respect.

She is usually reasonable, but can be fierce and warlike when defending her home and state.

She invents the bridle to help man tame the horse.Zeus is her

father. She has no mother.

Her “birth” consists of her springing from Zeus’ head as a full grown adult

dressed in complete armor.

Zeus is her father. She has no mother.

Her “birth” consists of her springing from Zeus’ head as a full grown adult

dressed in complete armor.

APOLLO / APOLLO

SYMBOLSLyre Crow

TITLESArcher God

God of Light and Truth

Patron of Music, Poetry, and Science

He is the son of Zeus & Leto.

Artemis is his twin sister.

HUMAN CHARACTERISTI

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He is reasonable and even-tempered.

He is also beautiful and athletic.

Oftentimes, he serves as a “direct link between gods and men, guiding men to know the divine will, and showing them how to make peace with

the gods.”

ARTEMIS / DIANA

SYMBOLSDeer

TITLESGoddess of the

MoonGoddess of the HuntProtector of Young

People and Wild Creatures

She is Apollo’s twin sister.

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

She is unpredictable and contradictory.

She loves to hunt and be in the wild.

APHRODITE / VENUSSYMBOLS

DoveSwan

TITLESGoddess of

Love Goddess of

Beauty

She is married to Hephaestus.

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Her love of laughter brings joy to many.

Her beauty makes her irresistible; however, she is also beguiling and unfaithful.

HERMES / MERCURY

SYMBOLSWinged Sandals & Hat

Caduceus

TITLESMessenger of the

GodsGod of Commerce and

the MarketGuide of the Dead

Master ThiefHermes appears

more often than any other god.

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

His movements are graceful and swift.

His mind is shrewd and cunning.

ARES / MARS

SYMBOLS

VultureDog

TITLE

God of

War

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

The Greeks perceive him as a bully who is both bloodthirsty and cowardly.

The Romans see him as invincible and magnificent.

HEPHAESTUS / VULCAN

SYMBOLSAnvil

Hammer

TITLESGod of Fire

Workman of the Gods

Patron of Smiths

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Although he creates weapons of destruction, he is kind and peace-loving.

His personality gains him popularity, respect, and honor.

He is the only ugly god; he is also lame.

However, he is married to

Aphrodite who is known for her

beauty.

HESTIA / VESTA

SYMBOLSHearth

TITLESGoddess of the

HomeGoddess of the

HearthProtector of the

Family

HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

She is kind and gentle, but has no distinct personality.

DIONYSUS

god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, fertility, revelry, theatre and religious

ecstasy

Roman name: Bacchus

Symbols: grapevine, goat, satyr,Son of Zeus and Semele (a mortal woman). Zeus saved him

from Hera by turning him into a goat and hiding him with some nymphs who raised him.

Associated with rebirth – His dismemberment by the Titans and return to life is symbolically echoed in tending

vinyards, where the vines must be pruned in order to bear fruit in the spring when .