ANCIENT GREEK GODS AND GODDESSES

Mrs. Miles’ Social Studies Class

Sept 7th Openers

1.) Pericles was famous for? A) his support of education, art and architecture B) his support of the military C) his desire to conquer the world D) his support of direct democracy

2.) Why was education important to Athenian democracy?

A) It helped people rule themselves wisely. B)It helped people vote with paper ballots. C)It provided skills to create great art and literature. D)It spread Greek knowledge throughout the ancient world.

Zeus

God of the heavens and the earth, ruler of the weather, giver of justice

Ruled with his lightning and thunderbolts

Symbols: eagle and oak tree

Hera

Goddess of marriage and married women; wife of Zeus

Symbol: cow

Poseidon

God of the sea and earthquakes; brother of Zeus

Symbols: trident, dolphins and horses

Hades

God of the underworld; guarded all the dead

Symbol: Cerberus (three headed dog)

Hestia

Goddess of the hearth and home; known for her pure and simple life

Symbol: hearth fire

Demeter

Goddess of all growing things; when she was sad and lonely plants did not grow (winter)

Symbols: a bunch of wheat and the cornucopia

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and war; daughter of Zeus who sprouted from his head

Symbol: owl and olive tree

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty; born form the foam of the sea and rode to shore on a seashell

Symbol: dove, sparrow and rose

Ares

God of war, hatred and violence; he had a short temper

Symbols: dogs, vultures, spear and shield

Hephaestus

God of blacksmiths, metalworkers and craftsmen; son of Zeus and Hera; married to Aphrodite

Symbol: anvil and hammer

Apollo

God of sunlight, truth, poetry, music and healing; twin brother of the goddess Artemis; protector of single men

Symbols: lyre (harp) and wreath

Artemis

Goddess of the moon, single women, hunting and childbirth

Symbols: crescent moon, stag (deer), bow and arrow

Hermes

God of trade, travel and theft; messenger for the gods

Symbols: winged cap and winged sandals

Dionysus

God of wine, parties and drama

Symbols: grapes, a wine cup or a leopard