Greek Gods an Myths
Zeus
• King of all the gods
• Had more powers than anyone
• Could throw his voice, shape shift,
and throw lightning bolts
• He had a quick temper, a big sense
of humor, and he was not afraid of
anything except his wife, Hera.
Hera
• Queen of all the gods, also the
goddess of marriage
• She was often jealous of her
husband, Zeus
• There are many myths about
Hera's jealously, anger, and
revenge.
• Had a servant with 100 eyes
named Argus
Poseidon
• Lord of the Sea
• He was very powerful and
moody, so the Greeks were
afraid of him
• All Greeks built a temple to
honor him
• Had a palace at the bottom
of the sea
Hades
• Ruler of the Underworld
• Had a home on Mount
Olympus, but he preferred the
Underworld
• He had an invisible helmet, a
golden chariot, and his threeheaded dog, Cerberus
Ares
• God of War
• He was tall and handsome,
mean and self-centered
• His sidekick was the spirit of
disagreement, Eris
• They also carried the spirits of
Pain, Panic, Famine, and
Oblivion
• Sought bloodshed and trouble
Hermes
• Zeus’ youngest son, made the
messenger to the gods
• He was mischievous, fast on
his feet, and very clever
• He always made deals to get
himself and others out of
trouble
Apollo
• God of music
• Apollo and his sister
Artemis were twins.
• Children of Zeus and Leto
• Apollo was very protective of his
mother
Artemis
• Goddess of the hunt and the
moon
• Usually cold and pitiless
• She swore never to marry and
resented people who intruded
on her privacy, especially men
Athena
• Goddess of wisdom
• She became the guardian of
the city-state of Athens after
she won a contest with
Poseidon
• Poseidon created a stream of
salt-water, but she created the
olive tree
Hestia
• Goddess of hearth and home
• Deeply honored by Greek
women
• They knew that Hestia was
keeping watch over them as
they did their chores
Demeter
• Zeus’ sister who was in charge
of the harvest
• If she was upset, the crops
would die
• Everyone worked to keep her
happy (the company of her
daughter Persephone made her
happy)
Aphrodite
• Goddess of love and beauty
• No one knows where to place
her in the Greek family tree
• Many legends are written
about her beauty, and she was
very vain
• Some believe that the Trojan
War began because she was
offended
Hephaestus
• God of fire and forge
• He was the only Olympian who
limped
• He was married to Aphrodite
• He made many things,
including Mount Olympus and
the first woman, Pandora
Heracles
• Known for his incredible
strength
• Half god/ half mortal
• Completed many tasks and
had several journeys
attempting to gain his place
amongst the gods
Eros
• God of love
• Shot his arrows into
mortals and deities to make
them fall in love
• Was not happy until he
found love for himself
Dionysus
• God of grape harvest,
winemaking, and wine
• He was very good at shape
shifting
• After he was kidnapped
by pirates and escaped, he
married Princess Ariadne
Orpheus
• Talented musician
• He played the lyre which
allowed him to cast spells
and tame savage beasts
• Lost his wife to Hades
Echo
• Wood nymph who had a beautiful
voice and possessed a good and loving
heart
• She swore off all suitors
• 3 myths:
1. Echo and Hera
2. Echo and Narcissus
3. Echo and Pan
Pan
• Watched over shepherds
and huntsmen
•He had two horns coming
out of his forehead and the
legs of a goat. He also had a
crooked nose and pointed
ears.
• Loved music, dancing, and
singing
Pandora
• Daughter of Zeus
• Sent to marry
Epimetheus, a gentle
but lonely man
• Opened the Pandora
Box, which held things
like envy, hate, crime,
disease, and hope
Pegasus
• Known as “The Flying Horse
• Son of Poseidon and Medusa
•He was wonderful and warm
•Many tried to kidnap him, but
the gods always helped him out
• Zeus rode him in the stars
How many gods and goddesses can you remember?