The Olympian
Gods
Eeny-meeny-miney-moe!
► The
Olympian brothers
cast lots to see who
would rule the three
aspects of earth: air,
sea, and the
underworld.
► It was like drawing
straws or tossing the
dice.
Zeus
aka: Jupiter, Jove, Lady’s Man,
Studmuffin, Mr. Mojo-Himself
• Youngest child of
Cronus and Rhea
• Lead successful
attack against Cronus
• Sky god and king of
the gods
• Symbols:
Eagles, oak groves,
lightening
Ahh… what’s the deal with
the Austin Power’s thing?
Zeus—the lady’s god!
Master of seduction in many
forms—literally!
A master of disguise and
subterfuge in his pursuit
of women
Married Hera, who is jealous
of his amorous affairs
More about Zeus
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Had many names! Foreigners
could find their chief god in Zeus
while traveling to Greece. An
Egyptian might call him Zeus-
Ammon
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Like other gods, Zeus was a great
one, but was temperamental and
swift with harsh retribution!
Poseidon
aka: Neptune,
Earth-Shaker,
The Fishy Dude
• god of the sea
• M. Amphitrite
• Associated with the horse
• Known for his extreme
masculinity (Macho-man)
• Had a nifty trident
• Worshipped by sailors and
fishermen; horses and stallions
sacrificed to him.
Hades, aka Pluto
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Please note:
Underworld = Tartarus
Lord of the Dead! He’s
in charge of the
Tartarus ≠ Hades
underworld.
Tartarus ≠ Hell
God of the earth and in
charge of all things
The Persephone Affair:
ground-related, like
gold and gem stones:
a tough way to get a
plutos is Greek for
wife!
wealth
A loner, but not evil,
sadistic, or satanic
Symbols associated with Hades
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Has a key: “Jailer”
Like Poseidon, associated with horses,
sometimes having creating them.
Often associated with a dog (like
Cerberus)
Hera
aka: Juno (L), Queen Hera,
Protectress (Argos), Bride,
Olympian, The Old Bird, the
Old Ball and Chain
 Zeus’s wife and sister
Known to be very
 Goddess of heaven,
jealous: she’s always
marriage, home
 Depicted in all stages of life spying and hunting
down Zeus and his
(girl, wife, mother, widow)
ladies, often catching
 Stately, regal, beautiful,
them!
queenly (depicted on a
throne)
 Symbols are a cow and a
peacock
Demeter
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(aka: Ceres, Unnamed Maiden,
Fruit-Bearer, Sender-of-Gifts,
Green, Black, Mother Nature)
Not the Earth Goddess—that’s Gaia. She is a
goddess of the Earth—nature and agriculture.
Rarely spends time on Olympus
Symbols: ears of corn, narcissus, and poppy, cranes,
serpents, torches, and tools of the harvest (sickles,
scythes)
Depicted as a mother. Grieves the loss of her
daughter (Persephone) for 4-6 months every year
(winter). Had a little fiasco with Metanaira and her
son.
Hestia or Vestia
(L)
Goddess of the hearth
Hearth is center of the home. Fire
was important!
Virgin Goddess (Vestal Virgins—her
priestesses in Roman days)
Never left Olympus
Little is known, but every Greek city
had a sacred fire dedicated to her.
Do you know
what would be
great right
now?
And you’re
thinking what
I’m thinking?
Yeah, baby!
Oh yeah,
baby!
A quiz, baby!
Yeah, baby,
yeah!
Review!
 Which god disguises himself to have affairs?
 Name two other names for Poseidon.
 Why is Hera associated with eyes?
 Who is the goddess of the hearth?
 Who is associated with a sickle?
 Who is the god of gems and gold?
 Which god is associated
with the picture?