Zeus(Roman name: Jupiter) - The Thunderer

The Greeks worshiped Zeus as the ruler of all gods and humans. As the lord of the sky and earth, Zeus reigned over all from the home of the gods on Mount Olympus.

Zeus punished the wicked by hurling thunderboltsdown from the sky. He had many love affairs withGoddesses and female humans.

Hera(Roman name: Juno) - The Jealous Protector of Marriage

Hera was Zeus’ wife and the queen of the Immortals. She was known for her beauty as wellas for her jealous streak and fiery temper.

Because she often quarreled with Zeus over his love affairs, Hera was worshiped as the protectorof marriage and married women.

Poseidon(Roman name: Neptune) – The Earth Shaker

Poseidon was a brother of Zeus and the second mostpowerful God on Mount Olympus. As the mighty lordof the sea, he could cause storms, floods, and earth quakes with one stroke of his trident, a three-pronged spear.

Poseidon was also worshiped as the God of horses. He is said to have created the first horse out of thewaves of the sea as a gift to humans.

Athena(Roman name: Minerva) – The Gray-Eyed Goddess

Athena was the goddess of wisdom and also ofwarfare. She is said to have been born full grownfrom Zeus’ head, wearing a bronze helmet and shield.

Though the goddess of warfare, Athena was alsoThe patroness of wisdom, reason, and justice. Thecity of Athens was named after her, and the Parthenon was the temple of Athena.

Apollo(Roman name: Apollo) – The God of Light and Reason

This even-tempered son of Zeus was celebrated asthe God of the sun, light, truth, and reason.Pictured as exceptionally handsome, Apollo washonored as the protector of athletes.

Apollo was also the patron of many arts, includingpoetry and music, as well as of medicine, archery, and agriculture. He is often shown playing his lyre.

Artemis(Roman name: Diana) – The Huntress

Artemis was Apollo’s twin sister. She was goddessof the hunt and of the moon. She loved hunting and archery. Artemis was worshiped by hunters.The woods and wild animals were sacred to her.

Hades(Roman name: Pluto) – The King of the Underworld

Hades was the dreaded God of the dead and King of the Underworld. A brother of Zeus, he rarelyleft his kingdom below to appear on MountOlympus with the other Gods.

Like its ruler, the kingdom of the dead was alsoknown as Hades. It was imagined as the shadowyregion beneath the earth where souls were sentto be judged after their lives on earth.

Aphrodite(Roman name: Venus) – Beauty Born from the Sea

An enchanting daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite was the Goddess of love and beauty. She was known as the friend of lovers. Because of her beauty, she hadGreat power over humans and Gods.

Some believed Aphrodite was born from the sea, appearing full-grown from the ocean spray.Surprisingly, she was married to the ugliest of Gods, Hephaestus.

Ares(Roman name: Mars) – The Quarrelsome God of War

Ares was the hateful God of war. He was such a blood-thirsty bully that even his parents, Zeus and Hera, despised Ares for his quarrelsomeness.

Despite his fierceness, Ares was actually a cowardwho sometimes ran from the battlefield. He was also unpredictable and likely to change sides in themiddle of battle.

Demeter(Roman name: Ceres) – The Goddess of the Harvest

Demeter was the Goddess of the earth, particularlyof grain and agriculture. She was worshipped inharvest festivals. Demeter was also the mother ofPersephone, the girl whom Hades stole to be hisbride in the Underworld.

Hermes(Roman name: Mercury) – The Messenger of the Gods

Hermes was the winged messenger of the Gods. He was graceful and very fleet afoot, and hisactions were said to be “swifter than thought.”

Hermes was the protector of travelers. He alsoled souls of the dead to the underworld.

The shrewdest and most cunning of the Gods, Hermes was worshiped by merchants and thievesas the protector of traders.

Hephaestus(Roman name: Vulcan) – The Friendly God of Fire

Hephaestus was the kindly and many-talented godof fire. Lame and ugly, he was the only immortal who was not beautiful. But his peace-loving naturemade him a friend of Gods and humans.

A master craftsman and blacksmith, Hephaestusforged the armor of the Gods. He became the patron of handicrafts, pottery, and sculpture.

Hestia(Roman name: Vesta) – The Goddess of the Hearth

A sister of Zeus, Hestia was the Goddess who was sacred to home and hearth. She played a relatively small part in the myths, but was important to the Greek people.

Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. In Rome, her fire was cared for by six priestessescalled Vestals.

Dionysus(Roman name: Bacchus) – The God of Wine

Dionysus was the joy-giving God of wine. He is saidto have invented the art of raising grapes and wine making. He brought great pleasure to the humans who worshiped him.

However, Dionysus also had a violent side to hisnature. When his followers became drunk, theycould be wild and out of control. Dionysus was thepatron God of drama, poetry, and song.

Pan(Roman name: Faunus) – The God of All Nature

Half goat and half human, Pan was the God of nature. He was the protector of shepherds, woods,and pastures.

Pan was known for his beautiful flute playing on his pipe, made of reeds, but he also had a wild, unpredictable nature. Sometimes his presencefilled humans and animals with sudden, inexplicableterror.

Eros(Roman name: Cupid) – The Young God of Love

The youngest of the Gods, Eros was the God of love.He was the playful son of Aphrodite. Shooting hisgold-tipped arrows, he could cause both Gods and humans to fall hopelessly in love.

Because of his playfulness, Eros was sometimes shown blindfolded, to symbolize the belief thatlove is blind.