The Titans
The elder gods. Children of Uranus (sky) and Gaia (earth). Were supreme in the
universe until Zeus fought Cronus/Saturn and brought their reign to a close.
Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) Overthrew father. Father of Zeus and several other
Olympians. Swallowed his kids (scared that child would overthrow him).
Supposedly fled to Italy and brought in the Golden Age. Spouse was
Rhea Mother of Zeus and spouse to Cronus. Sneaked Zeus away to have him
take down his father and save his eaten siblings.
Oceanus/Ocean The river that encircled the earth.
Hyperion The father of the sun, Helios; the moon; and the dawn.
(Others include Tethys, Oceans wife; Mnemosyne/Memory; Themis/Justice;
Iapetus, father of Atlas & Prometheus; Ophion; Eurynome.)
Mt. Olympus
Perhaps a mountain—identified with Greece’s highest mountain (other parts say earth
and sea could hang from Olympus). Not heaven. Mt. O is common to Hades, Zeus,
and Poseidon, and most of the Olympians dwell there, listening to Apollo’s lyre and
eating ambrosia and nectar. The entrance was a great gate of clouds kept by the
Seasons. An abode of perfect blessedness. No rain, wind, or snow. Place of sunshine
surrounded by clouds.
Olympians
Usually said to be 12 but, if include all, 14. Usually Hades left out of the list of 12
(since not on Olympus much) and Hestia left out, since not in any stories. Dionysus
was a late-comer. I believe Hermes seen as late-comer too.
1. Zeus (Jupiter or Jove), 2. Hera (Juno), 3. Poseidon (Neptune), 4. Hades (Pluto), 5.
Demeter (Ceres) 6. Athena or Pallas Athena (Minerva), 7. Apollo or Phoebus Apollo
(Apollo), 8. Artemis (Diana), 9. Aphrodite (Venus), 10. Hermes (Mercury), 11. Ares
(Mars), 12. Hephaestus (Vulcan or Mulciber), 13. Hestia (Vesta), and 14. Dionysus
(Bacchus or Liber).
Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)
Domain: chief god, lord of the sky, the rain-god, the cloud-gatherer
Place/Symbols: Olympus, aegis (owner), thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree, Dodona (oracle)
Parentage: son of Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouses: Metis (Prudence), 1st wife, helped him overcome Cronus
Hera (Juno), known as main spouse
Lovers: Io, Europa, Semele, Demeter, Leto, Ganymede, and countless others
Children: Ilithyia, Hebe, Hephaestus & Ares (Hera), Dionysus (Semele), Athena (Metis
or none), Apollo & Artemis (Leto), Hermes (Maia), Aphrodite (Dione) [Also some
credit him with Muses (creative arts); Perseus, Hercules; Graces (beauty, charm);
Seasons]
Description: Power greater than other divinities together; not omniscient or omnipotent;
could be opposed and deceived; may have to bend to Fate. Prolific with lovers and
children (and tries to keep his affairs hidden). Reason for oversexuality might be due to
1) combining different stories of the gods into one or 2) perhaps fertility was sign of
nation’s strength or 3) idea that Zeus’s offspring blessed humans with demigods/heroes and kings. Oracle at Dodona—his will revealed through rustling oak
leaves that the priests interpreted.
Stories: His father swallowed all children (except him) since told that his child would
overthrow him. His mother gave father a stone in place of Z and Z was raised in secret.
He later overthrew father and caused father to throw up his siblings. They conquered
Cronus and other Titans. Either drew lots or assigned parts of world (Hades to
underworld, Poseidon to water, Zeus to heavens)
Hera (Juno)
Domain: protector of marriage and married women, family life, weddings
Place/Symbols: Argos, the cow, the peacock
Parentage: daughter of Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse: Zeus
Lovers: (none mentioned in our books)
Children: Ilithyia (or Eileithyia) who helped women in childbirth; Hephaestus (on own
or with Zeus); Ares (Zeus); Hebe (Zeus)—blooming youth
Description: Zeus’s wife and sister; the titans Ocean and Tethys brought her up. Some
say chief in beauty and glorious but most say unattractive, jealous personality. Usually
unhappy. Vengeful toward the women Zeus bedded (even if women unwilling); never
forgot an injury. Trojan War would’ve ended in honorable peace if not for her. Iris
(rainbow) is her attendant/messenger.
Stories: Some stories said she had Hephaestus on her own to compete with Zeus having
Athena, but H was born lame and she threw him out of Olympus. He then bound her in
a golden throne and had to be made drunk in order to let her go. In another story, H is
made lame when he defends his mother in an argument with Z, and Z throws him from
Olympus. Hera mad that lost golden apple to Aphrodite so she helped Greeks in Trojan
War. Borrows Aphrodite’s girdle to seduce Zeus and distract him from Trojan War but
he catches on. Hera tries to kill infant Hercules and gives him labors. Her milk
produces the Milky Way (when Hermes tries to get her to breastfeed Hercules while she
is asleep). In the quest for the golden fleece, she protects the heroes and inspires great
deeds.
Poseidon (Neptune)
Domain: god of the sea, earth shaker, lord of earthquakes
Place/Symbols: the sea; trident (3-prong spear) used to generate waves; bull; horses
Parentage: Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse: Amphitrite (granddaughter of Ocean)
Lovers: several
Children: Polyphemus (Cyclops), Triton, Chrysaor & Pegasus (with Medusa—when
killed, her “offspring” emerged), Orion (in some versions), and others
Description: Volatile/unpredictable/quick to rage, a natural force that must be placated.
Drove chariot across water and smoothed the seas (or brought storms). Uses trident to
crush ships who offend him. Sailors must give acceptable sacrifices to reach
destinations safely. Splendid sea palace but more often at Mt. O.
Stories: Gave first horse to man. Tried winning over Athens with saltwater spring but
they preferred olive tree and chose Athena. He lost the bid on a lot of cities as patron
god. Few wanted to choose him. He punished Phaeacians (once favorites) since they
gave Odysseus safe conduct to Ithica; he turns their ship to stone and causes mountains
to surround their city. He was mad at Odysseus since O blinded/humiliated Poseidon’s
son, Polyphemus.
Hades (Pluto, Dis, Aidoneus)
Domain: god of the underworld and ruler of the spirits of the dead; god of wealth and
precious metals; giver of wealth; king of dead but not death (Death is Thanatos [Greek]
or Orcus [Roman])
Place/Symbols: cap of invisibility (helmet when worn becomes invisible); also a twopointed scepter
Parentage: Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse: Persephone
Lovers: (tried with a couple—like Minthe/mint plant—but Persephone stopped)
Children: none
Description: Not terrible/evil or the cause of death but grim/serious/gloomy and and
pitiless. Not a welcome visitor. Seen as just. Rarely left underworld.
Stories: Abduction of Persephone; in 1 version, Eros hits him with an arrow (causing
love of Persephone).
Pallas Athena (Minerva) (also called Parthenas or the Maiden)
Domain: goddess of wisdom, the arts, and defensive war; patronage of civilized,
productive skills (along with Hephaestus); patron of weavers, spinners, potters,
handicrafts; protector of order & justice; embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity;
goddess of the city
Place/Symbols: warrior’s helmet, shield (with Gorgon’s head & fringe of snakes), and
breastplate; Athens; olive tree, owl. Her temple is the Parthenon. .
Parentage: Daughter of Zeus alone, sprang from his head in full armor (some say Zeus
swallowed her mother and then Athena sprang from his head)
Spouse: none, Virgin goddess (along with Artemis and Hestia)
Lovers: none (but semi-raped by Hephaestus, producing a child)
Children: none or Ericthenius (Hephaestus’s semi-rape)
Description: Chief of 3 virgin goddesses. Wears Zeus’s aegis (the shield or
breastplate). Grey-eyed, flashing eyed; fierce & ruthless battle goddess but only to
defend state & home from outside enemies; self-disciplined. Zeus’s favorite child—
trusted to carry his aegis and weapon (thunderbolt). She helped Athens establish law
courts & democratic jury system (justice/mercy). Promotes persuasion and cooperation
for common good.
Stories: She wins patronage of Athens in contest with Poseidon (she gives olive tree).
Inventor of bridle—first tamed horses. When semi-raped by Hephaestus, she entrusts
baby Ericthenius to princesses in basket. They look and are driven insane. He grows to
be Athens’s king. He invents 1st four-horse chariot and established Panathenaea, annual
festival in her honor. Arachne challenged Athena to weaving contest—Athena changed
her into a spider. Has beauty competition with Hera and Aphrodite (Aphrodite is
winner); because Athena loses, she supports Greeks in the Trojan War. Helps Perseus,
Odysseus (intelligent) and Hercules.
[Compare with Ares: Athena achieves military victory thru intelligence & planning
while Ares uses mindless violence & cruelty]
Phoebus Apollo (or just Apollo) (Phoebus means radiant, shining, and enlightenment)
Sometimes called “the Lycian” (meaning wolf-god, god of light, or god of Lycia); “the
Sminthian” (the mouse-god); Delian (from Delos); and Pythian (because killed a
serpent)
Domain: sometimes called sun god, but sun god is actually Helios; god of light, god of
truth (guides men to know divine will), prophecy/seer of future events—communicator
of god’s will to humanity; god of poetry and protector of Muses; (along with Hermes)
keeper of shepherds, flocks, fields; master musician—plays golden lyre; lord of silver
bow/archer god; healer—taught men medicine; purifier; rational harmony
Place/Symbols: Delos (born))—island of birth; laurel tree; dolphin; crow; flute; lyre;
arrow; Delphi—greatest oracle in world, nothing rivaled
Parentage: son of Zeus & Leto; twin brother of Artemis
Spouse: none
Lovers: Daphne (loved but she ran and turned into laurel tree), Hecuba, Cassandra,
Hyacinth (or just dear companion), and others
Children: sometimes Asclepius (1st physician), Troilus (with Hecuba), and others
Description: Beautiful figure, most “Greek of all the gods”; giver of rational
harmony—mental & physical; radiant/shining. Identified with the sun but not actually
sun god. No false word falls from his lips. Artemis’s twin; civilized and selfdisciplined but capable of savage cruelty. He is cool/aloof—if fights, fights from a
distance with arrows.
Stories: Arrows can inflict sickness—plague to whole armies; bestowed healing arts to
man through his son, Asclepius, the first physician. Got lyre from Hermes as payback
for stealing his cattle; had eternal friendship with Hermes. Apollo and sister killed
Niobe’s children when she boasted of offspring to Leto, his mother. Flays Marsyas
who claimed could play flute better than Apollo (King Midas was judge, and Apollo
turned Midas’s ears to donkey ears). Defends Troy in Trojan War.
Artemis (Diana, also called Cynthia for birth at Mt. Cynthus)
Domain: goddess/patron of the hunt, wild things, moon; protector of wild animals;
protector of the young; patron of midwifery & childbirth; guardian of women’s group,
such as the Amazons
Place/Symbols: cypress tree; all wild animals, esp. deer; moon; carries quiver of
arrows—inflicts pain in childbirth
Parentage: daughter of Zeus & Leto, twin sister of Apollo
Spouse: one of 3 virgin goddesses
Lovers: loved Orion
Children:
Description: Protector of young but in some stories, fierce & vengeful; carries quiver
of arrows and inflicts pain of childbirth or gives swift/painless death; helps with
midwifery; usually emotionally detached. Sometimes said to be a goddess of three
forms: Selene or Phoebe (sky), Artemis (earth) & Hecate (lower world or
magic/darkness). When women died swift & painless death, said slain by her silver
arrow.
Stories: Born 1st and acted as midwife for Apollo. Along with Achilles, kills Niobe’s
children because N boasted over Leto, the twins’ mother. She kept Greek fleet from
going to Troy until they sacrificed maiden (in some versions, she saved her at last
minute). Somewhat helped defend Troy in Trojan War. Hunter Actaeon observes her
bathing so she changes him to a stag—killed by his own dogs. She kills her love,
Orion, with arrow due to dare by Apollo (she didn’t know it was O). Hippolytus, son of
Thesus, devoted to Artemis, denounces Aphrodite who plots his destruction/death—
Artemis doesn’t save him.
Aphrodite (Venus) (Aphrodite means “foam-risen”)
(also called Cytherea or the Cyprian for birth place)
Domain: goddess of love, beauty, laughter, and sexuality; without her there is no joy or
loveliness; goddess of garden & flowers
Place/Symbols: myrtle tree, rose, dove, sometimes swan & sparrow. Cythera or
Cyprus (sea-birth took place near Cythera, then wafted to island of Cyprus)
Parentage: in one account, daughter of Zeus & Dione; in others, she arises from the
foam of sea or from castration of Uranus tossed into sea. (May be an older god than
Zeus, but made to be daughter in later stories, so Zeus could reign supreme)
Spouse: Hephaestus
Lovers: Ares (main one), Adonis, Hermes, Dionysus, and others
Children: From Ares: Harmonia, Phobos (panic), Deimos (fear); From mortal
Anchises: Aeneas (Trojan hero who helped found Rome); Eros/Cupid (some say son,
some say companion), others
Description: Extremely beautiful; possessed a magic girdle that inspired love. Very
different descriptions, including golden and laughter-loving; soft/weak;
treacherous/malicious; and destructive of men. (This last might be due to
association/crossover with Babylonian goddess Ishtar, who emasculated men or
changed them to snakes/moles after sleeping with them.)
Stories: Different stories of why married Hephaestus (such as given by Zeus who was
grateful for thunderbolts; or given by Hera who was greedy for Hephaestus’s
workmanship; or advised to marry him for his talents/wealth). Helps Hera to aid Jason
on his quest. Fights over golden apple and wins, causing Trojan War. She supports the
Trojans (since Paris chose her and she helped him get Helen). Once, caught in net with
Ares by husband, Hephaestus. She brings Galatea to life, after Pygmalion’s pleas.
Aphrodite plots Hippolytus’s death since H didn’t pay Aphrodite tribute (see Artemis).
Jealous of Psyche and sends Cupid to carry out her destruction, but he falls in love with
her. Aphrodite gives Psyche impossible tasks, but eventually accepts her.
Hermes (Mercury)
Domain: Zeus’s personal messenger; escorts dead to Hades (psychopompos); god of
travel/mobility, wit, thieves, commerce/marketplace, wrestling/gymnastics (everything
which required skill and dexterity); protector of traders, merchants, highwaymen,
gamblers, tricksters, and thieves; doorway to mysticism and the occult; fortunetelling
(not to be confused with prophecy/Apollo), good luck/prosperity. Also, associated with
sleep, dreams, and magic.
Place/Symbols: winged sandals, winged hat (or broad-rimmed traveler’s hat), and
caduceus (wand entwined with 2 serpents and topped with pair of wings). The
caduceus was a gift of Apollo & also carried by Apollo’s son, 1st physician. It is the
modern symbol of medicine & healing arts.
Parentage: Zeus & Maia (daughter of Atlas)
Spouse: none
Lovers: Aphrodite, Dryope, and others
Children: perhaps Pan, perhaps Eros, Hermaphroditus, and others
Description: Seen as Zeus’s go-between; dressed with winged sandals, hat and carries
caduceus (wand); usually portrayed as clean shaven, athletic and young, but sometimes
as bearded traveler with hat. Graceful & swift, shrewdest & most cunning—master
thief and incorrigible trickster. Eternal friendship with Apollo (older ½ brother) and
both share interest in music and fields. Opposite of Hestia’s fixity—Hermes represents
mobility. Popular and appears more often in tales than any other. Image often in
marketplace.
Stories: As baby, stole Apollo’s herds, Zeus made him give them back, won Apollo’s
forgiveness and friendship by giving him a lyre (which he made from a tortoise shell),
Apollo gave Hermes cattle & caduceus, and Zeus invited Hermes to Olympus. Called
the “giant slayer” (Argus, a 100-eyed monster, only creature Hermes killed).
Diplomatic—negotiates Hektor’s body from Achilles for King Priam in Trojan War.
Intervenes to help Odysseus (against Circe and Calypso). Brings Persephone up from
Underworld to her mother and to negotiate with Zeus.
Ares (Mars)
Domain: god of war, later also god of agriculture (in Roman version, 1 st agric., then
war)
Place/Symbols: symbol of war; vulture, dog; no cities worshipped (possibly Thrace, his
home)
Parentage: Zeus & Hera (both detested him)
Spouse: none
Lovers: Aphrodite (main one), Enyo, Harmonia, possibly Atalanta, and others
Children: From Aphrodite: Harmonia (diff. one than lover), Phobos (Panic), Deimos
(Fear); Amazons, and others
Description: Greek view: Zeus said Ares was the “most hated of Gods,” because of his
temper & eagerness to dominate or kill; not respected by Greeks (thought cowardly in
battle); not most effective warrior (this credit given to Athena). Ares represents
undisciplined masculine aggressiveness, mindless violence, and parents’ strife. Curse
of mortals. Sometimes viewed as not a distinct personality but
slaughter/bloodthirstiness personified.
Roman view: Highly respected, one of most worshipped Roman gods. At first, tied to
spring, nature, cattle, fertility, and agriculture. Eventually, tied to battle—seen as
courageous, invincible, and second only to Jupiter/Zeus as military figure. Romans saw
as father of Romulus and patron of Rome.
Stories: (mostly from Greek view) Even though god of war, stories of cowardly retreat
(such as during Trojan War when wounded). Attendants at war: sister Eris (Discord)
and her son, Strife; Enyo (Bellona) goddess of war; Terror, Trembling, and Panic (his
children). Caught in net with Aphrodite by Hephaestus.
Hephaestus (Vulcan, Mulciber)
Domain: god of fire (his forge and workshop under volcano, which causes eruptions);
god of smiths & metal workers; celestial artist/craftsman; god of house builders and
craftsmen. He and Athena are patrons of handicrafts/agriculture and support
civilization. Hephaestus is god of ceremony when children were formally admitted into
society.
Place/Symbols: fire and forge; a smith’s hammer; an anvil; Lemnos (island where
landed)
Parentage: Zeus and Hera OR Hera alone in retaliation for Zeus’s having Athena alone
Spouse: Aphrodite in Odyssey; in Iliad Aglaia (one of graces)
Lovers: Cabeiro, Aetna
Children: through aborted rape of Athene, Eriahtonius (ancestor of Athenians), Cabeiri,
and others
Description: Lame/clumsy, ugly, sooty, only imperfect Olympian; but also kindly,
peace-loving, popular in earth and heaven. Skills valued by Olympians and Greeks.
Has robots or golden handmaidens who help make things. Possibly built blacksmith
shop under Mt. Etna in Sicily or under island volcano. When fell from Olympus,
landed in Lemnos, honored sanctuary. Hephaestus and Athena central to Athens.
Stories: Some say mother cast him out when saw he was deformed, others say Zeus
threw him out and caused him to be deformed. When cast out by Hera, made a golden
throne that imprisoned her and had to be made drunk to let go. Attempted rape (or
marriage) of Athena. Trapped Aphrodite/Ares in net, Apollo and Hermes laughed and
said they’d change places w/Ares. Said to have made nearly everything (although some
versions say Cyclopes or he & Cyclopes): Zeus’s thunderbolts and scepter, Achilles’s
armor, Hermes’s caduceus, Eros’s bow/arrows, Athena’s aegis, Helios’s sun chariot,
and the gods’ palace. Helps with Athena’s birth; creates first woman, Pandora.
Hestia (Vesta)
Domain: keeper of sacred flame; guards the Olympian hearth and life-sustaining fire;
represents the unmoving fixed center of family life; goddess of hearth & home
Place/Symbols: public or private/domestic hearth
Parentage: Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse: one of 3 virgin goddesses
Lovers:
Children:
Description: no distinct personality, seems passive; ultimately demoted from Olympus,
replaced by energetic Dionysus. The opposite of Hermes (she’s steady, immovable;
he’s quick, agile).
Six virgins maintained flame in Roman temple dedicated to Hestia; they were released
from vows at 40—brought about the saying: “Life begins at forty.” Newborn child
carried around hearth before received into family; every meal began and ended with
offering to her; each city had public hearth sacred to Hestia—fire never to go out,
colonists carried coals to next city (others say rekindled from sun).
Stories: She never leaves her place, so no myths created w/ her in them.
Eros (Cupid) (name means Love)
Domain: god of love (not an Olympian, but could access Olympus)
Place/Symbols: arrows of love/desire
Parentage: perhaps son of Aphrodite (or seen as older than Aphrodite and merely her
companion); perhaps born from Chaos or from Night
Spouse: Psyche (names means Soul)
Lovers:
Children: Perhaps Birds, Volupta (Pleasure), Nyx (Night)
Description: Adolescent (Greek) or chubby child (Roman). Sometimes shown
blindfolded (love is blind). Sometimes shown riding dolphin or lion. Masculine aspect
of love goddess. Companion to Aphrodite. Sometimes seen as beautiful, serious youth
who can do no wrong or allow it; other times, seen as playful trickster. The love he
represents seen as good thing/blessing. Eros’s brothers include Anteros (god of
requited love and avenger of unrequited love), Himerus (desire/longing), and Hymen
(god of the wedding feast).
Stories: When he shoots his arrow, recipient falls madly in love with the next
person/animal he/she sees. Some versions, he has one arrow (gold) that produces love
and another (lead) that produces hate. His arrow causes Medea to love Jason. Eros was
sent to make Psyche fall in love with a monster, but he fell in love himself. She
disobeyed him and looked at him sleeping, so he left. She gained him back by
performing impossible labors for his mother.
Demeter (Ceres)
Domain: grain goddess; protector of agriculture; goddess of fertility, life-giving power
of earth’s soil, source of the cycle of human life
Place/Symbols: corn, grain, serpents/snakes, barley water, Eleusis (temple)
Parentage: daughter of Cronus (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse:
Lovers: Zeus, Triptolemus, Iasion, Poseidon (rape)
Children: Persephone, some say Plutus (with Iasion), Arion & “the Mistress” (w/
Poseidon’s rape)
Description: Motherly, feminine, kind, sad, stubborn. Corn-ripe yellow hair, slim
ankles, beautiful but matronly figure. Great goddess (sense of Mother Earth & Terrible
Mother). Her chief festival of harvest time one of the most important Greek traditions.
Her religious rites (Eleusinian rites) mysterious and important.
Stories: Daughter Persephone abducted by Hades, Demeter searched and caused
growing season to cease, Zeus intervened and made Hades give Persephone back to
Demeter for part of year, causing spring (and back to Hades part of year, causing
winter). While searching for Persephone, disguised as old woman and took care of
Demophon/Demophoon (anointed with ambrosia and put in fire to make immortal). In
another version, helped sick boy—Demophon—rise from sick bed. Gave plow and
seed to man. Revealed mysteries of heaven and immortality with Eleusinian rites.
Dionysus (Bacchus or Liber)
Domain: god of wine/intoxication, creative ecstasy, patron of theater, symbolizes
resurrection
Place/Symbols: city of Thebes; grapes; vines; life & death
Parentage: Zeus & Semele (taken as fetus from dying Semele and put in Zeus’s thigh,
to be born later); in other version, Zeus & Persephone created child, torn up by Titans,
heart rescued and it resurrected into Dionysus (or heart was drunk by Semele, creating
Dionysus). Either story, “twice-born” and sense of death-life-resurrection.
Spouse: Ariadne (not sure if spouse or just lover)
Lovers: Aphrodite, perhaps Circe, and others
Children: several
Description: Flowing purple cape or robe; long, dark hair, youthful. Related to
nature—seen with wild women followers, the Maenads (Bacchantes), women frenzied
with wine. Last god to enter Olympus (replaced Hestia). He represents joy and sorrow,
inspiration and abandonment/violence, death and life, etc. Ties to Demeter (with
earth/nature and sorrow/death). At his festival, prisoners released and drama
performed. Sometimes seen as peaceful and promoter of civilization, sometimes
crazy/drunk/harsh.
Stories: Threw his crown in heavens to prove immortal to Ariadne (she didn’t want to
be with a mortal after Theseus abandoned her). (Or put crown in heavens after Ariadne
died to honor her.) Pirates attack and can’t bind him, he turns to lion and turns them to
dolphins. Cousin/king Pentheus tried to capture Dionysus and Maenads, warned by
Teiresias, women—including Pentheus’s mother—tore to shreds. Maenads also killed
Orpheus. Prison can’t hold Dionysus. Dionysus was killed and then came back every
year—like the vine. He was symbol of resurrection and immortality. He knew pain
and sorrow, like Demeter.
Persephone (Proserpine)
Also called Kore (or Kora or Cora) or the Maiden
Domain: goddess of Underworld
Place/Symbols:
Parentage: Demeter & Zeus
Spouse: Hades
Lovers: loved Adonis
Children:
Description: Trim-ankled, beautiful, young. Similar in looks to mother. Shown in long
robes; sometimes shown with sheaf of grain or rooster. Seen as somber/stern. On
occasion, shows mercy (Orpheus; Alcestis). After adjusting to marriage, she guards
Hades, preventing affairs (Minthe, mint plant). Powerful—Greeks usually avoided
saying her name, calling her Kore/the Maiden. Usually portrayed in stories in
Underworld, rather than Olympus.
Stories: Abducted by Hades (while picking the narcissus flower with other maidens);
raped and then married; her mother Demeter searched, causing loss of growing time;
Zeus intervened and made Hades let her come out of Underworld part of the year (ate
pomegranate seeds so had to stay some). Because of her, seasons exist (winter while in
Hades, and spring while on earth). Pirithous (with Theseus) tried to kidnap her, but
Hades knew and seated them in a chair of forgetfulness. Theseus was rescued by
Hercules but Pirithous had to stay.
Prometheus (name means “forethought”)
One of the Titans, he sided with Zeus when other Titans overthrown. Helped create
man (from dust/water), made man in gods’ image with upright stature, gave fire (from
sun’s chariot). Fire allowed man superiority over animals (weapons, tools, warm
dwellings/independence from the elements). Angered Zeus who had him chained to a
rock/cliff, liver eaten by eagles. Either saved by Hercules or Zeus gave in (liked
humans’ sacrifices). Prometheus is symbol of endurance of unmerited suffering. Wise,
friend to mankind, taught man civilization, trade, and arts. Brother of Epimetheus.
Epimetheus (name means “afterthought”)
One of Titans. Brother of Prometheus. Considered scatter brained, following his first
impulse. Created animals and gave them their special attributes (strength, wisdom,
wings, fur, etc.). When turn for mankind, he had run out of gifts, therefore got
Prometheus to help (who gave fire to man). Epimetheus’s wife was Pandora, a gift
from Zeus. He warned her not to open the box.
Pandora
The first woman; made out of clay by Hephaestus for Zeus to give as gift to mankind
OR Zeus made Pandora and sent her to P & E to punish them for giving fire to man
(and to punish man for accepting fire). Gods contributed to her (beauty, smooth
tongue, gift of music). Epimetheus gladly accepted even though warned by
Prometheus.
Pandora’s box, Version l: Pandora given box from Zeus as “wedding gift” (but part of
plan for punishment). Not supposed to open but curious. Pandora opened, allowing
bad things to escape into world, but closed it in time to keep the last gift, Hope. (Or
told not to close until hope could escape.)
Pandora’s box, Version 2: Epimetheus had a jar in house with noxious articles that he
hadn’t used in the creation; Pandora curiously looked in, allowing a multitude of
plagues to escape (sickness, envy, war, revenge, etc), when she tried to close, the one
left was Hope.