Olympians – Children of Zeus
Apollo – god of light
(sun), inspiration
(poetic and prophetic),
healing and plague,
music and the arts,
intellectual pursuits,
often attended by the 9
Muses, he is an archer
and plays the lyre.
Carraglio’s Apollo,
th
16
century
Apollo and
lyre
Apollo & sister, Artemis/Diana
Temple located at
Delphic where
Apollo’s oracle was
located. There he
was served by
priestesses called the
Pythias who
channeled his
messages. It was the
principle crossroads
of the ancient
Mediterranean world.
Apollo with Muses
Artemis/Diana
Artemis/Diana – goddess
of the hunt and wild
animals, possibly early
fertility deity,
aggressively virgin
with group of virgin
followers, like her
brother Apollo, she is
an archer. In religion,
she received the last
offering of girls before
their marriages.
Renoir
Athena/Minerva – born from the
head of Zeus
Athena is goddess of wisdom, strategy in war, women’s
arts (such as weaving), men’s crafts. Bird is owl. She,
like Artemis, is virgin. She is the patron deity of Athens.
Here Athena is shown
mourning at a warrior’s
grave.
Athena wears a
helmet and carries
a shield, as well
as (often) a spear.
She also often
wears a wrap, the
Aegis, with the
Medusa’s head
upon it.
A gigantic statue of
Athena (reconstructed
here) stood in the
Parthenon on the
Acropolis in Athens.
Aphrodite/Venus – Goddess of
Love and Sexuality
Aphrodite is
often
accompanied by
representations of
her son, Cupid.
Venus was a favorite of later artists.
Botticelli
Although
married to
Hephaestus/Vul
can, Aprodite
had an affair
with Ares/Mars,
the god of war.
Hephaestus/Vulcan – the forger,
metalworker of the gods, and the
only ugly god. He is lame.
Hermes/Mercury – the messenger
of the gods and guide to the dead
Hermes is also
the patron of
thieves. Swift
of foot and
quick-witted.
Dionysus/Bacchus – god of wine and partylife, also vegetation and growth.
Dionysus is
often
accompanied
by satyrs, and
maenads, his
followers.
Michaelangelo’s
Bacchus