Zeus Was the Father of the Gods, the God of Sky and Thunder. He Lived on Mount Olympus

Greek Gods

Zeus

Zeus was the father of the gods, the god of Sky and Thunder. He lived on Mount Olympus. His parents were Cronus and Rhea, and he married Hera, though he fathered children with many others. Some of his children are Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Persephone, and Dionysis. His weapon was a thunderbolt, but he was known by the symbols of a thunderbolt, eagle, shield, and oak tree.

Hera

Hera was one of the three daughters of Cronus and Rhea. She lived on Mt. Olympus with her husband, Zeus. She is the protector of marriage and women, and often pictured with a peacock or a cow.

Aphrodite

Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. She is the daughter of the sea, but lives on Mt. Olympus with her husband, Hephaetus. Her symbols are the dove, dolphin, swan, sparrow, and myrtle.

Eros

Eros was the son of Aphrodite, and a god of love. He married a human, Psyche. He is pictured with wings and a bow and arrow.

Ares

Ares lived on Mt. Olympus with his parents, Zeus and Hera. He never married, but he was in love with Aphrodite. He was the god of war, but unlike Athena, he represented the violent and physical nature of war. He was often pictured with his weapon, the spear, and with a vulture or dog.

Athena

Athena was born out of Zeus’ head, and never married or had children. She is the goddess of wisdom and war, but she loved peace and one of her symbols was the olive branch. She had a magic shield and was usually pictured in battle armor. She lived on Mt. Olympus.

Poseidon

Poseidon was another child of Cronus and Rhea. He was the god of the sea, but lived on Mt. Olympus. He married Amphitrite and his son is Triton. His symbol and weapon is the trident, a three-pronged spear. Since he created the horse for man, it is also one of his symbols.

Apollo

Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis, were the children of Zeus and Leto. He never married, but did have several relationships with nymphs and mortals. He is the god of sun/light, music, and healing. His symbols are the crow, dolphin, laurel, and lyre.

Artemis

Artemis and her twin brother, Apollo, were the children of Zeus and Leto, and they lived on Mt. Olympus. She was the goddess of the moon and the hunt, and never married or had children. Her symbols were the stag, moon, and cypress. She was famous for hunting with a bow and arrows dipped in poison.

Hermes

Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maea and lived on Mt. Olympus. He never married. He was the messenger of the gods, the only god with permission to go in and out of the underworld. His helmet and sandals had wings to help him fly, and he frequently carried a caduceus, a wand decorated with twining snakes. His symbols were winged helmet and sandals as well as the caduceus.

Hades

Hades was another child of Cronus and Rhea. As the god of the Dead, he was also the god of the Underworld and lived there, not on Mt. Olympus. He had a magic helmet that made him invisible and was often pictured with his three-headed dog, Cerberus. He kidnapped Demeter’s daughter, Persephone, and forced her to marry him.

Demeter

Demeter was the second daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped and became the queen of the Underworld. Demeter was the goddess of harvest and the cycle of life. Her symbols were wheat and grain.

Dionysus

Dionysus is the son of Zeus and a mortal, Semele. Because he was born in Thebes, many did not see him as a god at first and he never lived on Mt. Olympus (he traveled). He married Ariadne, a mortal princess. He was the god of wine, parties, and celebrations. His symbols are the laurel, tiger, and vine leaves.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus was the son of Hera and Zeus. He was the only god born ugly, and Hera, so disgusted, threw him into the sea, which deformed his leg and left him injured for life. He married Aphrodite. He was the god of fire, artisans, and smiths. His symbols are fire and a blacksmith’s hammer.