THE OLYMPIAN’S GODS

AND GODDESSES
LESSON NO. 3
• MT. OLYMPUS
• Found in Thessaly in the
Northeast of Greece.
• It was believed as the
house of Olympian’s gods
and goddesses.
• It was regarded as the
abode of the gods and the
site of the throne of Zeus.
ZEUS (JUPITER)
• Supreme ruler; he was the lord of
sky
• The rain god, and cloud gatherer
• He is not omnipotent nor
omniscient.
• His power came from thunderbolt.
• AEGIS – breastplate of Zeus
• EAGLE- Zeus’s bird
• OAK – Zeus’s Tree
HERA (JUNO)
• She was the wife of Zeus.
• Titans Oceanus (Ocean) and Tethys
brought her up.
• She was the protector of marriage
and married women.
• She is chiefly engaged in punishing
the women of Zeus.
• She is gracious protector of heroes
and the inspirer of heroic deeds.
• Cow and peacock were sacred to her.
• Argos as her favorite city.
POSEIDON (NEPTUNE)
• He was the ruler of the sea.
• Zeus’s brother and second only to
him in eminence.
• He was commonly called as
“Earthshaker”
• He had some connection with bulls
as well as the horses.
• Amphitrite was the wife, the grand
daughter of Titan Ocean.
• His power came from Trident – a
three pronged spear.
HADES (PLUTO)
• He was the third brother among
Olympians.
• Ruler of the underworld and over the
dead.
• God of wealth of the precious metals
hidden in the earth.
• His name is translated to Latin as “Dis”
meaning rich.
• He had a far-famed cap or helmet which
made whoever wore it will become
invisible.
• He was the King of the dead in Greek –
Thanatos and in Roman “Orcus”
ATHENA (MINERVA)
• She was the daughter of Zeus
alone.
• Full grown and in full armor, and
she sprang from his head.
• She is fierce and ruthless battle –
goddess.
• She was the favorite daughter of
Zeus.
• She was described as “grayed –
eyed” or as it is “flashing – eyed”
• Goddess of war.
PHOEBUS APOLLO
• The son of Zeus and Leto.
• The most Greek of all the god; the
master musician as he delights
the Olympus as he plays his
golden lyre.
• The lord of the silver bow; the
archer God.
• God of light and truth.
• Laurel was his tree; dolphin and
crow are sacred to him.
ARTEMIS (DIANA)
• Apollo’s twin sister; daughter of
Zeus and Leto.
• She was one of the three maiden
goddess of Olympus
• She was the lady of wild things
• She was the protectors of dewy
youth.
• Cypress was sacred to her; and all
wild animals especially the deer.
• She was the moon
• “Phoebe and Selene” Luna in Latin
APHRODITE (VENUS)
• The goddess of beauty and love
• The laughter – loving goddess.
• She is the daughter of Zeus and
Dione in Iliad.
• “Aphros” is foam in Greek.
• She is the wife of Hephaetus
• Myrtle was her tree; dove was her
bird.
HERMES (MERCURY)
• Son of Zeus and Maia – daughter
of Atlas.
• He was graceful and swift in
motion.
• He has a winged hat and winged
sandals.
• Zeus’s messenger
• God of commerce and the market.
• Protector of traders.
Caduceus – magic wand
ARES ( MARS )
• God of war, son of Zeus and Hera
• Homer called him murderous,
bloodstained, the incarnate of
mortals.
• A coward god too, who bellows
with pain and runs away when he
is wounded.
HEPHAESTUS (VULCAN)
• God of fire (sometime said as to be
son of Zeus and Hera and
sometimes is Hera alone.
• The ugly god among the other
gods.
• He was kind and peace loving
God.
• Husband of Aphrodite
HESTIA (VESTA)
• She was Zeus’s sister
• A virgin goddess
• She was the goddess of the
Hearth