Greek

Mythology
BY :SIREEN ADNAN
 ZEUS
King of the gods is Zeus who rules over Mount Olympus and is the god of
thunder and lightning, as well as law and order. You can recognise Zeus by his
symbols – the thunderbolt, the eagle and the oak tree – and as a sky god he is
often shown among clouds or sitting on top of Mount Olympus. Zeus' parents
were the Titans, Cronos and Rhea, and he is the youngest brother of Hestia,
Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon (who are also gods in the pantheon).
According to Greek mythology, Zeus' father Cronos learnt that one of his
children was fated to dethrone him as leader of the gods, so ate each one as
soon as they were born.When Zeus was born, his mother Rhea hid him in a
cave on the island of Crete, and instead fed Cronos a stone wrapped in
swaddling clothes. When Zeus grew up, he forced Cronos to throw up his
brothers and sisters, waged war on his father, and won.
 HERA
Hera was the wife of Zeus, the king of the gods. Because of this marriage, she was
queen of the gods. Hera was also the goddess of marriage and women’s lives. For
instance, she was thought to protect women during childbirth. Hera was one of the
12 chief gods believed to live on Mount Olympus. She is associated with the Roman
goddess Juno because the two shared many traits. The cow and peacock were sacred
to Hera.Hera was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea, who were Titans. The Titans
were giants who once ruled the world. Hera’s children with Zeus included Ares and
Hephaestus. Ares was the god of war and Hephaestus was the god of fire.Although
the Greeks honored Hera, most stories portray her as jealous and violent. Zeus loved
many other women. Hera was always angry about her husband’s affairs. She
punished the women whom Zeus liked whether they were interested in him or not.
She also punished the children Zeus had with other women.
 POSIEDON
Poseidon was the god of the sea in ancient Greek mythology. According
to legend, he was one of the 12 chief gods who lived on Mount
Olympus. Poseidon also was said to have a palace under the sea.
Poseidon’s main symbols were the dolphin and the trident (a three-
pronged spear). The ancient Romans called Poseidon by the name of
Neptune. According to legend, Poseidon was the son of Cronus and
Rhea, who were Titans. The Titans were a race of giants who once ruled
the world. Poseidon had two brothers, Zeus and Hades. Together they
defeated the Titans and took power. Zeus became the supreme ruler on
Earth, and Hades became the lord of the underworld. Poseidon became
the ruler of the oceans.The ancient Greeks believed that Poseidon used
 HADES
Hades was the god of the underworld, the underground dwelling
place of the dead. He presided over the trial of all people after death
and the punishment of those found wicked. Stern, pitiless, and aloof,
he was said to be unmoved (like death itself) by prayer or sacrifice. It
was thought to be unlucky to say his name out loud, so the Greeks
called him by other names, such as Pluto, which means “the wealthy
one.” Hades was given this name perhaps because he was associated
with the precious metals found underground and the fertility of the
soil, or perhaps because he gathered all living things into his treasury
upon their death. The underworld itself came to be called Hades.
Later, in other cultures, Hades became another term for hell.
 ARES
Ares was the god of war. He was one of the 12 major gods believed to
live on Mount Olympus. His bird was the vulture, and his animal was
the dog. Ares is associated with Mars, the god of war in ancient Roman
mythology.Ares was the son of Zeus, the chief god, and his wife, Hera.
Ares was said to have loved Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Ares and
Aphrodite had several children together. Their children included the
twins Phobos (which means “fear”) and Deimos (which means
“panic”).Even though Ares was one of the main gods of ancient Greece,
people did not worship him much. The ancient Greeks thought Ares was
cruel. They believed that he enjoyed sending war and disease to humans.
 APHRODITE
Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. She was one of the 12 chief gods
believed to live on Mount Olympus. Aphrodite is associated with the Roman goddess
Venus because they shared many of the same characteristics. The symbols of Aphrodite
are the dove, rose, myrtle tree, and swan.In one story Aphrodite was the daughter of
Zeus, the ruler of all the gods. Her mother was a Titan named Dione. Titans were giants
who once ruled the world. Other stories tell that Aphrodite sprang fully grown from the
foam of the sea. The wind carried her on a shell to the island of Cyprus, which became
her home. Since Aphrodite came from the sea, sailors prayed to her to calm the wind and
waves.According to legend, gods and humans alike desired Aphrodite because of her
beauty. But she was proud and rejected her admirers. To punish her, Zeus had her marry
the ugly god of fire, named Hephaestus. Aphrodite soon left him for Ares, the handsome
god of war. One of their children was Eros (Cupid), the winged god of love. Zeus later
arranged for Aphrodite to fall in love with a handsome shepherd named Anchises. From
that union Aeneas was born. He was said to be an ancestor of the Roman people.
 ARTEMIS
Artemis was the goddess of wild animals and hunting. She was one of the 12
main gods believed to live on Mount Olympus. Artemis was associated with
the Roman goddess Diana because they shared many of the same
characteristics. The cypress tree and wild animals were sacred to
Artemis.Artemis was the daughter of Zeus, the chief Greek god, and Leto.
Leto was a Titan, or one of the giants who once ruled the world. Artemis was
the twin sister of Apollo, the god of music and light. Apollo was associated
with the Sun, while Artemis was associated with the Moon. Some people
believed that Artemis helped women during childbirth. Artemis was a
protector of animals, but she also hunted them. Artists showed Artemis with a
deer or with her hunting dog and silver bow, a weapon used to shoot
arrows.According to one story, Artemis loved the giant huntsman Orion and
 APOLLO
Apollo was the god of music, healing, light, and prophecy (predicting the future). He was
one of the 12 main gods believed to live on Mount Olympus. He also came to be
considered a sun god. Because of Apollo’s many important roles, the Greeks loved him
greatly. The Romans later worshipped him too. The laurel tree, dolphin, and crow were
sacred to Apollo.Apollo was the son of Zeus, the chief god, and Leto. Leto was a Titan, or
one of the giants that once ruled the world. Apollo was also the twin brother of Artemis, the
goddess of hunting.According to tradition, one of Apollo’s earliest deeds was to slay a giant
snake, called Python. After a hard fight, Apollo killed Python using his silver bow and
golden arrows.The famous Temple of Apollo stood at a site called Delphi. This was near the
place where Apollo had killed Python. People traveled great distances to visit the shrine.
There they would speak to one of Apollo’s priestesses. She would give them an oracle, or
prediction of the future, said to come from Apollo.According to legend, the god Hermes
gave Apollo a lyre (a kind of stringed instrument). Apollo loved the gift and became skilled
at playing it. With his music, Apollo charmed the other gods at feasts on Mount Olympus.
 HEPHAESTEUS
Hephaestus was the god of fire. He was one of the 12 gods believed to live on Mount
Olympus. Hephaestus was also the blacksmith and craftsman of the gods. Volcanoes and
fires were considered his workshops. His symbols were the ax, hammer, and tongs—tools
he used in his trade. Hephaestus was associated with the Roman god Vulcan because they
shared many of the same characteristics. Hephaestus was the son of Zeus, the chief god,
and Hera. According to one legend Hephaestus was born disabled, and his mother threw
him into the sea because of that. He was rescued by two goddesses. They cared for
Hephaestus and taught him to craft jewelry out of seashells and coral. Because of his
skill, Zeus allowed him to return to Mount Olympus. Hephaestus made weapons, armor,
and jewelry using fire and metals. He even made lightning for his father.People in ancient
Rome celebrated a festival of Hephaestus called Vulcanalia every August. It was
celebrated to protect people from destructive fires. During a ceremony, the heads of
Roman families threw small fish into the fire.
 HERMES
Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Zeus, the chief god, often sent him on
errands. Hermes was one of the 12 major gods believed to live on Mount
Olympus. He was associated with the Roman god Mercury because they
shared many traits. Artists often pictured Hermes wearing a winged hat and
winged sandals. They were symbols of his great speed.Hermes was the son of
Zeus and Maia, a Titan. The Titans were giants who once ruled the world.
Hermes had many roles in Greek mythology besides being the messenger god.
It was said that Hermes led people down to Hades, or the underworld, after
death. He was also considered the god of travelers, business, good luck, and
thieves.Hermes was said to be sly and deceitful. According to one story, when
Hermes was only a few hours old, he stole cattle from the god Apollo. Zeus
told Hermes to give the cattle back. Instead, Hermes played a stringed
 ATHENA
Athena was the goddess of war, wisdom, and handicrafts. She was one of the 12 gods
believed to live on Mount Olympus. She is associated with the Roman goddess
Minerva because they shared many of the same characteristics. Athena’s symbols were
the olive tree (representing peace) and the owl (representing wisdom).According to
legend, Athena was the favorite daughter of Zeus, the chief god. She was said to have
sprung from his head fully grown and clothed in a suit of armor. Athena was very
different from the war god Ares, who was a powerful fighter. Athena used her great
wisdom to advise soldiers during wartime. She believed that war should be used only
to protect people and to provide justice.The city of Athens was associated with Athena.
According to legend, Zeus decided to give the Greek city to the god who offered the
most useful gift to the people. Poseidon, the god of the sea, gave the city a water
spring. Athena struck the ground with her spear and caused an olive tree to grow. Zeus
awarded the city to Athena. He named it Athens in her honor.
 DEMETER
Demeter was the goddess of grain and farming. She was associated with the Roman goddess Ceres
because they shared many characteristics. Demeter’s symbols included stalks of grain and a basket
filled with flowers, grain, and fruit.Demeter was the daughter of Cronos and Rhea, who were Titans.
The Titans were giants who once ruled the world. Demeter was said to watch over all aspects of
farming, including plowing, planting, and harvesting. In ancient Greece the women typically did
these jobs. So Greek women often worshipped Demeter.The ancient Greeks used a story about
Demeter to explain the changing of the seasons. Demeter’s daughter was the beautiful Persephone
(Proserpina). Hades, the god of the underworld, seized Persephone. He took her to the land of the
dead to be his queen. Demeter was overcome with grief. In her great sadness she did not care about
helping the harvest. As a result, no crops on Earth could grow.Zeus, the chief god, ordered Hades to
give up Persephone. But in the underworld Persephone had eaten the seed of a fruit called a
pomegranate. Because of this, she would always be connected to the land of the dead. For part of
each year she would have to return to Hades. When Persephone was gone, Demeter refused to let
anything grow. Winter then fell over the Earth. But when Persephone returned, Demeter made all the