14 Major Gods and
Goddesses
The Greek Gods & Goddesses
of Mount Olympus
Zeus
• ROMAN: Jupiter
• BIO: King of the Gods. He is
sometimes angry at the
behaviour of gods and people,
but he can also be a gentle
and caring ruler. He has a
weakness for beautiful women.
• SYMBOLS: thunderbolt, shield,
oak tree
Poseidon
• ROMAN: Neptune
• BIO: Zeus’s brother, he is
God of the ocean and
earthquakes. He is most
often associated with his
trident in art – the
famous three-pronged
spear.
• SYMBOLS: trident, horse,
bull
Hera
• ROMAN: Juno
• BIO: Zeus’s wife. Queen of the
Gods, guardian of marriage.
She is a great woman and
diplomat. She is often jealous
and nags her husband, but she
is an excellent wife and
teacher.
• SYMBOLS: peacock, cow
Athena
• ROMAN: Minerva
• BIO: Daughter of Zeus, she is
the Goddess of war, wisdom,
patriotism and good
citizenship. She is the
protector of her namesake city
of Athens.
• SYMBOLS: owl, shield, olive
tree
Apollo
• ROMAN: Apollo
• BIO: Son of Zeus, God of
poetry, music, medicine and
light. He is often associated
with the sun. His chariot
creates the sunrise everyday.
• SYMBOLS: crow, laurel,
dolphin, lyre
Artemis
• ROMAN: Diana
• BIO: Apollo’s twin sister.
Goddess of hunting and wild
things. She is associated with
the moon. She is sometimes
called Cynthia.
• SYMBOLS: stag, crescent,
moon, cypress tree
Hades
• ROMAN: Pluto
• BIO: God of the
Underworld and brother
of Zeus.
• SYMBOLS: helmet, metal
jewels
Ares
• ROMAN: Mars
• BIO: Son of Zeus. Terrible
God of War.
• SYMBOLS: vulture, dog
Hephaestus
• ROMAN: Vulcan
• BIO: Son of Zeus and
Hera, the lame blacksmith
and God of fire.
• SYMBOLS: fire, the
blacksmith’s hammer
Aphrodite
• ROMAN: Venus
• BIO: Wife of Hephaestus, she
is the Goddess of love and
beauty. She is said to have
been born in sea foam. Her
sons are the Younger Eros
(Cupid) and Aeneas, a mortal
man.
• SYMBOLS: dove, goose,
sparrow, myrtle
Hermes
• ROMAN: Mercury
• BIO: Son of Zeus and
messenger of the Gods.
He is also the God of
science and invention.
• SYMBOLS: wand, winged
sandals, winged helmet
Hestia
• ROMAN: Vesta
• BIO: Zeus’s sister. She is
the Goddess of home and
hearth.
• SYMBOLS: hearth or
fireplace
Demeter
• ROMAN: Ceres
• BIO: Zeus’s sister. She is
the very important
Goddess of agriculture
and grain. She is a kind of
bond between Heaven and
Earth.
• SYMBOLS: wheat
Dionysus
• ROMAN: Liber
• BIO: He is the god of wine,
fertility and rebirth. Dionysus
is the only god to have a
mortal parent. He was the
son of Zeus and Semele, but
was born from Zeus’ thigh
when Hera tricked Semele into
asking Zeus to show his full
glory. He did so and it killed
her. Just before she died, Zeus
saved Dionysus.
• SYMBOL: cup of wine