and other important characters
The Fates (Moirae)



Clotho: spinner who
spins the thread of
life
Lachesis: measurer
who decides one’s
lot in life and how
long that life will be
Atropos: cutter who
snips the thread of
life at the appointed
time
The Muses
Goddess of art and science and
inspirers of those who excel at
such
 Originally 3 Muses but eventually
numbered 9
 Clio (history), Urania
(astronomy), Melpomene
(tragedy), Thalia (comedy),
Terpsichore (dance), Calliope
(epic poetry), Erato (love poetry),
Polyhymnia (songs to the gods),
Euterpe (lyric poetry)

The Hours (Horae)


The Greeks divided
the daytime into 12
portions, judged by
the position of the
sun
Each portion was
ruled over by one of
the Hours

Auge: First Light, Daybreak
Anatole: Rising, Sunrise
Mousika: The Morning Hour of Music
and Study
Gymnastika: The Morning Hour of
Gymnastics or Exercise
Nymphe: The Morning Hour of
Bathing and Washing
Mesembria: Midday, Noon
Sponde: Drinks Poured after Lunch
Elete: Prayer, Work, the First of the
Afternoon Work Hours
Akte: Corn, Meal, Eating and
Pleasure, the Second of the
Afternoon Work Hours
Hesperis: Evening
Dysis: Sunset

Arktos: Last Light










The Graces/Charities


Goddesses of
charm, beauty,
nature, human
creativity, and
fertility
Aglaea,
Euphrosyne, and
Thalia (Cleta)
The Winds (Anemoi)
Boreas: north wind,
bringer of winter
 Notus: south wind,
bringer of hot air and
autumn rains
 Zephyrus: west wind,
bringer of spring and
fertility
 Eurus: east wind,
rarely mentioned in
myths
 Aeolus is said to be
the king of the winds

Nymphs

A nymph is any
member of a large
class of female nature
entities
 Dryads: tree nymphs
 Naiads: fresh-water
nymphs
 Nereids: sea nymphs
Often portrayed in the
myths as targets of
the gods’ pursuits
 May also serve some
of the nature gods,
such as Artemis, Pan,
etc.

Iris


Messenger of the
gods
Personification of
the rainbow
Nemesis


Goddess of divine
justice and
vengeance
Especially punished
those guilty of
arrogance toward
the gods
Thanatos


Personification of
death
Occasionally
outwitted or
overcome by a
mortal (such as
Heracles)
Hebe




Daughter of Zeus
and Hera
Cupbearer for the
gods
Eventually replaced
by Ganymede
Married to Heracles
after he was brought
to Olympus
Eris




Goddess of strife
and discord
Helps her brother
Ares begin wars
Helped cause the
Trojan War
Disliked by the other
gods
Asclepius




Famous physician
Son of Apollo and a
mortal woman
Was killed by Zeus
because he could
bring people back
from the dead
Had daughters
named Hygenia,
Meditrene, and
Panacea