Exploring the Olympians: Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology

1. T H E 1 2 O L Y M P I A N S Mythology

2. What is “Olympia?” • In Greek/ Roman Mythology, Mount Olympus is the meeting place and “home” of the major players. • It is unsure of whether or not Mt. Olympus is in heaven or somewhere on earth.

3. Mt. Olympus • The Greeks also named the highest peek in the mountains (between Thessalonica and Macedonia) Mt. Olympus.

4. Why “Olympians?” • These 12 gods and goddesses are considered “Olympians” because they reside on Mt. Olympus. • The 12 Olympians were the major gods and goddesses with prominent roles in Greek mythology. • Some of the major Olympians spent most of their time elsewhere. Poseidon lived in the sea and Hades in the Underworld.

5. So, who are the 12? • Various sources report up to 20 different names, but the majority of texts concur that these are the 12:

6. Zeus • King of the gods, mortals, and weather • Roman Name: Jupiter • Symbol: Thunder Bolt • Either raped or married numerous goddesses and mortals

7. Hera • Queen of gods, marriage and birth • Daughter of Cronus and Rhea (Zeus’ sister and wife) • Roman Name: Juno • Zeus constantly cheated on her, and she was always jealous

8. Poseidon • God of the sea, earthquakes, horses • Brother to Zeus and Hera • Roman Name: Neptune • Symbols: dolphins, tridents, fish spears

9. Hermes • Messenger of the gods (guides souls of the dead to the underworld) • God of land travel, literature and poetry  he’s swift and athletic • Son of Zeus and a nymph • Roman Name: Mercury

10. Hestia • Goddess of hearth and home • Zeus’ oldest sister • Wooed by Poseidon but swore to remain a virgin • Roman Name: Vesta (temple built for her in the Forum)

11. Athena • Goddess of wisdom, war, arts and justice • Zeus’ favorite child • Companion: goddess of victory, Nike • Symbol: owl • Roman Name: Minerva

12. Ares • God of war and battle • Son of Zeus and Hera • Merciless and bloody; not liked by even his father (he supported the Trojans in the Trojan war?) • Accompanied on battlefield by: Phobos (fear) and Deimos (terror)  sons? • Roman Name: Mars

13. Demeter • Goddess of fertility and agriculture (fruit, grains) and seasons • Zeus’ sister • Mother of Persephone • Roman Name: Ceres

14. Apollo • God of sun, archery, healing medicine, music (lyre), and dance • Son of Zeus and twin brother of Artemis • Father of Asclepius (god of healing and medicine) whose symbol is the wand • Roman Name: Apollo

15. Artemis • Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, fertility, and moon • Often identified with Selene (goddess of the moon) • Roman Name: Diana • Symbols: crescent moon above her head

16. Hephaestus • God of fire and blacksmiths • Son of Zeus and Hera (yet Zeus wasn’t involved) • Roman Name: Vulcan (god of volcanoes) • Born weak and crippled • Husband of Aphrodite who cheated on him with Ares

17. Aphrodite • Goddess of love, beauty and sex • When Cronus castrated his father Uranus, he threw his genitals into the sea and thus Aphrodite was born of the “foam” • Aphrodisiac Festival: sex and libido increasers • Son: Eros • Roman Name: Venus • Symbols: dolphin, swan, pomegranate