The Olympian Gods
The Twelve Olympians
10 “Always Olympians”:
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis,
Aphrodite, Hermes, Hephaestus, Athena,
Ares
4 “Variable” Olympians:
Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Dionysus
The palace of the gods was believed to be
Mt. Olympus in Greece.
The gods took sides during the Trojan War.
Zeus
•
•
•
•
•
“Father of Gods and Men”
Chief god, god of the sky
Married to Hera
Symbols: Oak, Eagle, Thunderbolt
Roman name: Jupiter or Jove
Hera
•
•
•
•
Wife of Zeus
Goddess of marriage, queen of Olympus
Symbols: Peacock, cow
Roman name: Juno
Poseidon
•
•
•
•
•
God of the sea, horses, and earthquakes
Brother of Zeus and Hades
Symbols: Trident, horse
Lived in palace under the sea
Roman name: Neptune
Ares
•
•
•
•
God of war (bloodlust)
Son of Zeus and Hera
Symbols: Dog, vulture
Roman name: Mars
Athena
•
•
•
•
Goddess of wisdom, tactical warfare, crafts
Born from Zeus’ head
Symbols: owl, olive branch
Patron goddess of the city of
Athens, Greece
Roman name: Minerva
Hermes
• God of travelers, thieves, tricksters and
merchants
• Son of Zeus and Maia
• Symbols: caduceus, winged helmet and
winged sandals
• Messenger of the gods
• Roman name: Mercury
Apollo
•
•
•
•
God of light, prophecy, archery, healing, music
Son of Zeus and Leto, twin of Artemis
Symbols: laurel, lyre
Roman name: Apollo
Artemis
• Goddess of the hunt, moon, childbirth, young
girls
• Daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin of Apollo
• Symbols: bow, stag, moon
• Like Athena and Hestia,
she never married
Roman name: Diana
Aphrodite
•
•
•
•
Goddess of love and beauty
Born of sea-foam
Symbols: dove, myrtle, swan
Was married to Hephaestus, the ugliest god,
but was a lover of Ares
• Roman name: Venus
Hephaestus
• God of the fire and forge
• Son of Zeus and Hera (some say just Hera)
• Symbols: anvil, fire
• Was thrown from Mt.
Olympus and crippled at birth
by either Zeus or Hera
Roman name: Vulcan
Hades
•
•
•
•
•
God of the dead and the Underworld
Brother of Zeus and Poseidon
Symbols: helmet, jewels/metals
Lived in palace in the Underworld
Roman name: Pluto or Dis
Dionysus
•
•
•
•
•
God of wine and grapevine
Son of Zeus and the mortal Semele
Symbols: grapevine, ivy, snake
Could also cause and cure madness
Roman name: Bacchus
Hestia
• Goddess of the hearth/home
• Sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades,
Hera, Demeter
• Symbol: hearth-fire
• Like Athena and Artemis, she never married
• Some say she gave up her Olympian throne to
allow Dionysus to become one of the 12
• Roman name: Vesta
Demeter
• Goddess of grain and harvest
• Sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, and
Hestia
• Symbols: wheat/grain, cornucopia (horn of
plenty)
• Roman name: Ceres