The Titans
The elder gods. Children of Uranus (sky) and Gaia (earth). Were supreme in the universe until Zeus fought Cronus/Saturn and brought their reign to a close.
Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) Overthrew father. Father of Zeus and several other Olympians. Swallowed his kids (scared that child would overthrow him). Supposedly fled to Italy and brought in the Golden Age. Spouse was
Rhea Mother of Zeus and spouse to Cronus. Sneaked Zeus away to have him
take down his father and save his eaten siblings.
Oceanus/Ocean The river that encircled the earth.
Hyperion The father of the sun, Helios; the moon; and the dawn.
(Others include Tethys, Oceans wife; Mnemosyne/Memory; Themis/Justice; Iapetus, father of Atlas & Prometheus; Ophion; Eurynome.)
Mt. Olympus
Perhaps a mountain—identified with Greece’s highest mountain (other parts say earth and sea could hang from Olympus). Not heaven. Mt. O is common to Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon, and most of the Olympians dwell there, listening to Apollo’s lyre and eating ambrosia and nectar. The entrance was a great gate of clouds kept by the Seasons. An abode of perfect blessedness. No rain, wind, or snow. Place of sunshine surrounded by clouds.
Olympians
Usually said to be 12 but, if include all, 14. Usually Hades left out of the list of 12 (since not on Olympus much) and Hestia left out, since not in any stories. Dionysus was a late-comer. I believe Hermes seen as late-comer too.
1. Zeus (Jupiter or Jove), 2. Hera (Juno), 3. Poseidon (Neptune), 4. Hades (Pluto), 5. Demeter (Ceres) 6. Athena or Pallas Athena (Minerva), 7. Apollo or Phoebus Apollo (Apollo), 8. Artemis (Diana), 9. Aphrodite (Venus), 10. Hermes (Mercury), 11. Ares (Mars), 12. Hephaestus (Vulcan or Mulciber), 13. Hestia (Vesta), and 14. Dionysus (Bacchus or Liber).
Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)
Domain: chief god, lord of the sky, the rain-god, the cloud-gatherer
Place/Symbols: Olympus, aegis (owner), thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree, Dodona (oracle)
Parentage: son of Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouses: Metis (Prudence), 1st wife, helped him overcome Cronus
Hera (Juno), known as main spouse
Lovers: Io, Europa, Semele, Demeter, Leto, Ganymede, and countless others
Children: Ilithyia, Hebe, Hephaestus & Ares (Hera), Dionysus (Semele), Athena (Metis or none), Apollo & Artemis (Leto), Hermes (Maia), Aphrodite (Dione) [Also some credit him with Muses (creative arts); Perseus, Hercules; Graces (beauty, charm); Seasons]
Description: Power greater than other divinities together; not omniscient or omnipotent; could be opposed and deceived; may have to bend to Fate. Prolific with lovers and children (and tries to keep his affairs hidden). Reason for oversexuality might be due to 1) combining different stories of the gods into one or 2) perhaps fertility was sign of nation’s strength or 3) idea that Zeus’s offspring blessed humans with demi-gods/heroes and kings. Oracle at Dodona—his will revealed through rustling oak leaves that the priests interpreted.
Stories: His father swallowed all children (except him) since told that his child would overthrow him. His mother gave father a stone in place of Z and Z was raised in secret. He later overthrew father and caused father to throw up his siblings. They conquered Cronus and other Titans. Either drew lots or assigned parts of world (Hades to underworld, Poseidon to water, Zeus to heavens)
Hera (Juno)
Domain: protector of marriage and married women, family life, weddings
Place/Symbols: Argos, the cow, the peacock
Parentage: daughter of Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse: Zeus
Lovers: (none mentioned in our books)
Children: Ilithyia (or Eileithyia) who helped women in childbirth; Hephaestus (on own or with Zeus); Ares (Zeus); Hebe (Zeus)—blooming youth
Description: Zeus’s wife and sister; the titans Ocean and Tethys brought her up. Some say chief in beauty and glorious but most say unattractive, jealous personality. Usually unhappy. Vengeful toward the women Zeus bedded (even if women unwilling); never forgot an injury. Trojan War would’ve ended in honorable peace if not for her. Iris (rainbow) is her attendant/messenger.
Stories: Some stories said she had Hephaestus on her own to compete with Zeus having Athena, but H was born lame and she threw him out of Olympus. He then bound her in a golden throne and had to be made drunk in order to let her go. In another story, H is made lame when he defends his mother in an argument with Z, and Z throws him from Olympus. Hera mad that lost golden apple to Aphrodite so she helped Greeks in Trojan War. Borrows Aphrodite’s girdle to seduce Zeus and distract him from Trojan War but he catches on. Hera tries to kill infant Hercules and gives him labors. Her milk produces the Milky Way (when Hermes tries to get her to breastfeed Hercules while she is asleep). In the quest for the golden fleece, she protects the heroes and inspires great deeds.
Poseidon (Neptune)
Domain: god of the sea, earth shaker, lord of earthquakes
Place/Symbols: the sea; trident (3-prong spear) used to generate waves; bull; horses
Parentage: Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse: Amphitrite (granddaughter of Ocean)
Lovers: several
Children: Polyphemus (Cyclops), Triton, Chrysaor & Pegasus (with Medusa—when killed, her “offspring” emerged), Orion (in some versions), and others
Description: Volatile/unpredictable/quick to rage, a natural force that must be placated. Drove chariot across water and smoothed the seas (or brought storms). Uses trident to crush ships who offend him. Sailors must give acceptable sacrifices to reach destinations safely. Splendid sea palace but more often at Mt. O.
Stories: Gave first horse to man. Tried winning over Athens with saltwater spring but they preferred olive tree and chose Athena. He lost the bid on a lot of cities as patron god. Few wanted to choose him. He punished Phaeacians (once favorites) since they gave Odysseus safe conduct to Ithica; he turns their ship to stone and causes mountains to surround their city. He was mad at Odysseus since O blinded/humiliated Poseidon’s son, Polyphemus.
Hades (Pluto, Dis, Aidoneus)
Domain: god of the underworld and ruler of the spirits of the dead; god of wealth and precious metals; giver of wealth; king of dead but not death (Death is Thanatos [Greek] or Orcus [Roman])
Place/Symbols: cap of invisibility (helmet when worn becomes invisible); also a two-pointed scepter
Parentage: Cronus/Kronos (Saturn) & Rhea
Spouse: Persephone
Lovers: (tried with a couple—like Minthe/mint plant—but Persephone stopped)
Children: none
Description: Not terrible/evil or the cause of death but grim/serious/gloomy and and pitiless. Not a welcome visitor. Seen as just. Rarely left underworld.
Stories: Abduction of Persephone; in 1 version, Eros hits him with an arrow (causing love of Persephone).
Pallas Athena (Minerva) (also called Parthenas or the Maiden)
Domain: goddess of wisdom, the arts, and defensive war; patronage of civilized, productive skills (along with Hephaestus); patron of weavers, spinners, potters, handicrafts; protector of order & justice; embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity; goddess of the city
Place/Symbols: warrior’s helmet, shield (with Gorgon’s head & fringe of snakes), and breastplate; Athens; olive tree, owl. Her temple is the Parthenon. .
Parentage: Daughter of Zeus alone, sprang from his head in full armor (some say Zeus swallowed her mother and then Athena sprang from his head)
Spouse: none, Virgin goddess (along with Artemis and Hestia)
Lovers: none (but semi-raped by Hephaestus, producing a child)
Children: none or Ericthenius (Hephaestus’s semi-rape)
Description: Chief of 3 virgin goddesses. Wears Zeus’s aegis (the shield or breastplate). Grey-eyed, flashing eyed; fierce & ruthless battle goddess but only to defend state & home from outside enemies; self-disciplined. Zeus’s favorite child—trusted to carry his aegis and weapon (thunderbolt). She helped Athens establish law courts & democratic jury system (justice/mercy). Promotes persuasion and cooperation for common good.
Stories: She wins patronage of Athens in contest with Poseidon (she gives olive tree). Inventor of bridle—first tamed horses. When semi-raped by Hephaestus, she entrusts baby Ericthenius to princesses in basket. They look and are driven insane. He grows to be Athens’s king. He invents 1st four-horse chariot and established Panathenaea, annual festival in her honor. Arachne challenged Athena to weaving contest—Athena changed her into a spider. Has beauty competition with Hera and Aphrodite (Aphrodite is winner); because Athena loses, she supports Greeks in the Trojan War. Helps Perseus, Odysseus (intelligent) and Hercules.
[Compare with Ares: Athena achieves military victory thru intelligence & planning while Ares uses mindless violence & cruelty]
Phoebus Apollo (or just Apollo) (Phoebus means radiant, shining, and enlightenment)
Sometimes called “the Lycian” (meaning wolf-god, god of light, or god of Lycia); “the Sminthian” (the mouse-god); Delian (from Delos); and Pythian (because killed a serpent)
Domain: sometimes called sun god, but sun god is actually Helios; god of light, god of truth (guides men to know divine will), prophecy/seer of future events—communicator of god’s will to humanity; god of poetry and protector of Muses; (along with Hermes) keeper of shepherds, flocks, fields; master musician—plays golden lyre; lord of silver bow/archer god; healer—taught men medicine; purifier; rational harmony
Place/Symbols: Delos (born))—island of birth; laurel tree; dolphin; crow; flute; lyre; arrow; Delphi—greatest oracle in world, nothing rivaled
Parentage: son of Zeus & Leto; twin brother of Artemis
Spouse: none
Lovers: Daphne (loved but she ran and turned into laurel tree), Hecuba, Cassandra, Hyacinth (or just dear companion), and others
Children: sometimes Asclepius (1st physician), Troilus (with Hecuba), and others
Description: Beautiful figure, most “Greek of all the gods”; giver of rational harmony—mental & physical; radiant/shining. Identified with the sun but not actually sun god. No false word falls from his lips. Artemis’s twin; civilized and self-disciplined but capable of savage cruelty. He is cool/aloof—if fights, fights from a distance with arrows.
Stories: Arrows can inflict sickness—plague to whole armies; bestowed healing arts to man through his son, Asclepius, the first physician. Got lyre from Hermes as payback for stealing his cattle; had eternal friendship with Hermes. Apollo and sister killed Niobe’s children when she boasted of offspring to Leto, his mother. Flays Marsyas who claimed could play flute better than Apollo (King Midas was judge, and Apollo turned Midas’s ears to donkey ears). Defends Troy in Trojan War.
Artemis (Diana, also called Cynthia for birth at Mt. Cynthus)
Domain: goddess/patron of the hunt, wild things, moon; protector of wild animals; protector of the young; patron of midwifery & childbirth; guardian of women’s group, such as the Amazons
Place/Symbols: cypress tree; all wild animals, esp. deer; moon; carries quiver of arrows—inflicts pain in childbirth
Parentage: daughter of Zeus & Leto, twin sister of Apollo
Spouse: one of 3 virgin goddesses
Lovers: loved Orion
Children:
Description: Protector of young but in some stories, fierce & vengeful; carries quiver of arrows and inflicts pain of childbirth or gives swift/painless death; helps with midwifery; usually emotionally detached. Sometimes said to be a goddess of three forms: Selene or Phoebe (sky), Artemis (earth) & Hecate (lower world or magic/darkness). When women died swift & painless death, said slain by her silver arrow.
Stories: Born 1st and acted as midwife for Apollo. Along with Achilles, kills Niobe’s children because N boasted over Leto, the twins’ mother. She kept Greek fleet from going to Troy until they sacrificed maiden (in some versions, she saved her at last minute). Somewhat helped defend Troy in Trojan War. Hunter Actaeon observes her bathing so she changes him to a stag—killed by his own dogs. She kills her love, Orion, with arrow due to dare by Apollo (she didn’t know it was O). Hippolytus, son of Thesus, devoted to Artemis, denounces Aphrodite who plots his destruction/death—Artemis doesn’t save him.
Aphrodite (Venus) (Aphrodite means “foam-risen”)
(also called Cytherea or the Cyprian for birth place)
Domain: goddess of love, beauty, laughter, and sexuality; without her there is no joy or loveliness; goddess of garden & flowers
Place/Symbols: myrtle tree, rose, dove, sometimes swan & sparrow. Cythera or Cyprus (sea-birth took place near Cythera, then wafted to island of Cyprus)
Parentage: in one account, daughter of Zeus & Dione; in others, she arises from the foam of sea or from castration of Uranus tossed into sea. (May be an older god than Zeus, but made to be daughter in later stories, so Zeus could reign supreme)
Spouse: Hephaestus
Lovers: Ares (main one), Adonis, Hermes, Dionysus, and others
Children: From Ares: Harmonia, Phobos (panic), Deimos (fear); From mortal Anchises: Aeneas (Trojan hero who helped found Rome); Eros/Cupid (some say son, some say companion), others
Description: Extremely beautiful; possessed a magic girdle that inspired love. Very different descriptions, including golden and laughter-loving; soft/weak; treacherous/malicious; and destructive of men. (This last might be due to association/crossover with Babylonian goddess Ishtar, who emasculated men or changed them to snakes/moles after sleeping with them.)
Stories: Different stories of why married Hephaestus (such as given by Zeus who was grateful for thunderbolts; or given by Hera who was greedy for Hephaestus’s workmanship; or advised to marry him for his talents/wealth). Helps Hera to aid Jason on his quest. Fights over golden apple and wins, causing Trojan War. She supports the Trojans (since Paris chose her and she helped him get Helen). Once, caught in net with Ares by husband, Hephaestus. She brings Galatea to life, after Pygmalion’s pleas. Aphrodite plots Hippolytus’s death since H didn’t pay Aphrodite tribute (see Artemis). Jealous of Psyche and sends Cupid to carry out her destruction, but he falls in love with her. Aphrodite gives Psyche impossible tasks, but eventually accepts her.
Hermes (Mercury)
Domain: Zeus’s personal messenger; escorts dead to Hades (psychopompos); god of travel/mobility, wit, thieves, commerce/marketplace, wrestling/gymnastics (everything which required skill and dexterity); protector of traders, merchants, highwaymen, gamblers, tricksters, and thieves; doorway to mysticism and the occult; fortunetelling (not to be confused with prophecy/Apollo), good luck/prosperity. Also, associated with sleep, dreams, and magic.
Place/Symbols: winged sandals, winged hat (or broad-rimmed traveler’s hat), and caduceus (wand entwined with 2 serpents and topped with pair of wings). The caduceus was a gift of Apollo & also carried by Apollo’s son, 1st physician. It is the modern symbol of medicine & healing arts.
Parentage: Zeus & Maia (daughter of Atlas)
Spouse: none
Lovers: Aphrodite, Dryope, and others
Children: perhaps Pan, perhaps Eros, Hermaphroditus, and others
Description: Seen as Zeus’s go-between; dressed with winged sandals, hat and carries caduceus (wand); usually portrayed as clean shaven, athletic and young, but sometimes as bearded traveler with hat. Graceful & swift, shrewdest & most cunning—master thief and incorrigible trickster. Eternal friendship with Apollo (older ½ brother) and both share interest in music and fields. Opposite of Hestia’s fixity—Hermes represents mobility. Popular and appears more often in tales than any other. Image often in marketplace.