Greek Gods and Goddesses
The 12 Olympians
1. Aphrodite:
Appearance: gorgeous, eternally young woman with a beautiful body
Symbols/Attributes: a.) girdle which has magical powers to make people fall in love
b.)
c.)
d.)
e.)
Strengths: Strong sexual attractiveness & dazzling beauty
Weaknesses: Stuck on herself (but she has a perfect face, so who can blame her?)
Parents: a.) born from sea foam b.) daughter of Zeus and Dione
Spouse:
Children:
2. Apollo:
Appearance: a young man with curly blond hair
Symbols/Attributes: a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)
Strengths: creative and handsome
Weaknesses: often is charmed by beautiful women
Parents: a.) son of Zeus and Leto b.)
Spouse: Never married but had many affairs
Children: a.)
- a wonderful singer and demi-god
b.)
- god of healing
3. Ares:
Appearance: a bearded, good-looking warrior dressed for battle
Symbols/Attributes: a.)
b.)
Strengths: Decisive, determined, fearless
Weaknesses: impulsive, bloodthirsty, wants to fight regardless of the consequences
Parents: a.) son of Zeus and Hera b.)
Spouse: Never married but had many affairs, especially with Aphrodite
Children: a.)
b.)
c.)
4. Artemis:
Appearance: eternally young woman, beautiful and vigorous, wearing a short dress
which leave her legs free; sometimes her dress has fruits, honeycombs and
parts of sacrificed animals on it
Symbols/Attributes: a.)
b.)
c.) has a lunar crescent on her brow
Strengths: Physically strong, able to defend herself, defender and guardian of women
in childbirth and of wildlife in general
Weaknesses:
Parents: a.)
Spouse: None
Children: None
5. Athena:
Appearance: a young woman wearing a helmet and holding a shield and a spear; had a
snake-trimmed cloak with the head of Medusa on it
Symbols/Attributes: a.)
b.)
c.)
Strengths: Rational, intelligent, a powerful defender in war but also a peacemaker
Weaknesses: Is not emotional or compassionate
Parents:
Spouse: None
Children: None
6. Demeter:
Appearance: nice looking older woman, often with a veil over her face and carrying
wheat or her horn
Symbols/Attributes: a.)
b.)
Strengths: controls the fertility of the earth, gives life after death to those who learn her
mysteries
Weaknesses:
Parents: Cronus & Rhea
Spouse: None
Children:
7. Dionysus: God of Wine, Vegetation, Pleasure and Festivity
Appearance: Dark haired, bearded, young man
Symbols/Attributes: a.)
b.).
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Intoxication or drunkenness
Parents: Zeus & Semele; Semele asked to see Zeus in his real form and when he did so,
thunder and lightning consumed Semele’s body. Zeus saved their child from
the ashes of her body.
Spouse:
Children: Several children by Ariadne, including Oenopion and Staphylos, both
associated with grapes and winemaking.
8. Hephaestus:
Appearance: dark haired man who has difficulty walking because he has malformed
feet, holding a hammer and tongs, riding a donkey
Symbols/Attributes:
Strengths: creative, cunning, talented metalworker
Weaknesses: can be crafty and vindictive
Parents:
Spouse: Aphrodite
Children:
9. Hera: Goddess of Women, Marriage, the Starry Sky, the Heavens (Supreme Goddess)
Appearance: young beautiful woman, said to be the most beautiful of all of the
goddesses, even more beautiful than Aphrodite. She wears a crown and
holds a royal, lotus-tipped staff
Symbols/Attributes:
Strengths: Determined defender of the sanctity of marriage and monogamy
Weaknesses:
Parents: Rhea and Cronus
Spouse: Zeus
Children: With Zeus- Ares and sometimes Hephaestus, Hebe, Eileithyia
By Herself- Typhon
10. Hermes: God of Travel, animal husbandry, roads, travel, hospitality, heralds,
diplomacy, trade, thievery, language, writing, persuasion, cunning wiles,
athletic contests, gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. He was also the
personal agent and herald of Zeus.
Appearance: A handsome young man with a winged hat, winged sandals, and a
golden staff twined with serpents.
Symbols/Attributes:
Strengths: Clever, bold, determined, athletic, a powerful magician. Can charm
monsters with his flute or lyre music.
Weaknesses: No major weakness
Parents:
Spouse: None
Children:
11. Poseidon: God of the Sea also, rivers, floods, droughts, earthquakes and horses
After Cronus threw him up, Zeus, Hades, and he drew straws to see who
would rule over the different parts of the Universe. Poseidon got the
Sea.
Appearance: bearded, older man, surrounded by seashells and other sea life, holding
a trident
Symbols/Attributes:
Strengths: A creative God, designing all the creatures in the sea
Weaknesses: Warlike (not as much as Ares though); moody and unpredictable
Parents: Cronus and Rhea
Spouse:
Children: Has many children due to his numerous affairs. With his wife he has a
half-fish son, Triton. He fathered the flying horse Pegasus with Medusa.
He fathered the horse Arion with Demeter.
12. Zeus:
Appearance: Older, bearded, strong man
Symbols/Attributes:
Strengths: Highly powerful, strong, charming, persuasive
Weaknesses: Gets in trouble over love affairs, can be moody
Parents:
Spouse: Hera, but MANY love affairs
Children:
13. Hades:
Not considered an Olympian because he doesn’t live on Mt. Olympus
Appearance: bearded, regal, physically fit man
Symbols/Attributes:
Strengths: Rich with the wealth of the Earth, especially precious metals. Persistent &
determined.
Weaknesses:
Parents:
Spouse: Persephone
Children: