Myths of the twelve Myths of the twelve OlympiansOlympians

English IEnglish I

Twelve OlympiansTwelve Olympians

Zeus (Jupiter)Zeus (Jupiter) Hera (Juno)Hera (Juno) Poseidon (Neptune)Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto)Hades (Pluto) Pallas Athena (Minerva)Pallas Athena (Minerva) ApolloApollo Artemis (Diana)Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury)Hermes (Mercury) Ares (Mars)Ares (Mars) Hephaestus (Vulcan and Mulciber)Hephaestus (Vulcan and Mulciber) Hestia (Vesta)Hestia (Vesta) Aphrodite (Venus)_Aphrodite (Venus)_

ZeusZeus

Supreme ruler-Lord of the Sky, the Rain-god and Supreme ruler-Lord of the Sky, the Rain-god and the Cloud-gathererthe Cloud-gatherer

ThunderboltThunderbolt Breastplate-aegis (armor plate that protects the Breastplate-aegis (armor plate that protects the

chest)chest) Bird-eagleBird-eagle Tree-oakTree-oak Oracle-Dodona in the land of oak treesOracle-Dodona in the land of oak trees His will was revealed by the rustling of the oak His will was revealed by the rustling of the oak

leaves which the priests interpreted.leaves which the priests interpreted.

ZeusZeus

HeraHera

Zeus’s wife and sisterZeus’s wife and sisterProtector of marriage and married Protector of marriage and married

womenwomenCow and peacock sacred to herCow and peacock sacred to herArgos was her favorite cityArgos was her favorite cityShows her engaged in punishing the Shows her engaged in punishing the

many women Zeus fell in love with, many women Zeus fell in love with, even if when they yielded only because even if when they yielded only because he coerced or tricked themhe coerced or tricked them

HeraHera

PoseidonPoseidon

Ruler of the seaRuler of the seaGave the first horse to manGave the first horse to manStorm and calm were under his Storm and calm were under his

controlcontrolShown carrying his trident, a three-Shown carrying his trident, a three-

pronged spearpronged spear

PoseidonPoseidon

HadesHades

Underworld and ruler over the deadUnderworld and ruler over the deadAlso called Pluto, the God of Wealth, Also called Pluto, the God of Wealth,

of the precious metals hidden in of the precious metals hidden in earthearth

Wife Persephone (Proserpine) whom Wife Persephone (Proserpine) whom he carried from the earth and made he carried from the earth and made Queen of the Lower WorldQueen of the Lower World

HadesHades

Pallas AthenaPallas Athena

Daughter of Zeus-sprang from his headDaughter of Zeus-sprang from his head Goddess of the City, the protector of civilized life, Goddess of the City, the protector of civilized life,

of handicrafts (weaving) and agriculture, Goddess of handicrafts (weaving) and agriculture, Goddess of war, goddess of wisdomof war, goddess of wisdom

Inventor of bridleInventor of bridle (a harness fitted around a (a harness fitted around a horse’s head to restrain or guide an animal) who horse’s head to restrain or guide an animal) who first tamed horses for men to usefirst tamed horses for men to use

Temple ParthenonTemple Parthenon Athens her special cityAthens her special city Olive created by her; was her treeOlive created by her; was her tree Owl is her birdOwl is her bird

Pallas AthenaPallas Athena

Phoebus ApolloPhoebus Apollo

Master of musicians who delights Olympus as he Master of musicians who delights Olympus as he plays the golden lyreplays the golden lyre

Archer-godArcher-god The Healer (first taught men the healing art)The Healer (first taught men the healing art) God of LightGod of Light God of TruthGod of Truth Oracle was at Delphi-direct link between the gods Oracle was at Delphi-direct link between the gods

and menand men Laurel was his treeLaurel was his tree Dolphin and crow sacred to himDolphin and crow sacred to him God of sun, music, and medicineGod of sun, music, and medicine

ApolloApollo

ArtemisArtemis

The goddess of wilderness, the hunt and The goddess of wilderness, the hunt and wild animalswild animals

Apollo’s twin sister, daughter of Zeus and Apollo’s twin sister, daughter of Zeus and LetoLeto

Cypress was sacred to her and wild Cypress was sacred to her and wild animals especially the deeranimals especially the deer

ArtemisArtemis

AphroditeAphrodite

The Goddess of Love and BeautyThe Goddess of Love and Beauty laughter-loving goddesslaughter-loving goddessDaughter of Zeus and Dione in Daughter of Zeus and Dione in The The

IliadIliadMyrtle was her treeMyrtle was her treeThe dove her bird—sometimes to the The dove her bird—sometimes to the

sparrow and the swansparrow and the swan

AphroditeAphrodite

HermesHermes

On his feet winged sandals; wings On his feet winged sandals; wings were on his low-crowned hat too and were on his low-crowned hat too and on his magic wand, the Caduceuson his magic wand, the Caduceus

God of Commerce and the Market, God of Commerce and the Market, protector of tradersprotector of traders

Guide of the dead, the Divine Herald Guide of the dead, the Divine Herald who led the souls down to their last who led the souls down to their last homehome

Messenger of godsMessenger of gods

HermesHermes

AresAres

God of WarGod of WarHis bird was the vultureHis bird was the vultureDog wronged by being chosen as his Dog wronged by being chosen as his

animalanimal

AresAres

HephaestusHephaestus

God of FireGod of FireKindly peace-loving god popular on Kindly peace-loving god popular on

earth and heavenearth and heavenProtector of the blacksmiths—patron Protector of the blacksmiths—patron

of handicraftsof handicrafts

HephaestusHephaestus

HestiaHestia

Goddess of the hearth, symbol of Goddess of the hearth, symbol of home, around which newborn home, around which newborn children must be carried before they children must be carried before they could be received into the family.could be received into the family.

Each city had a public hearth to Each city had a public hearth to Hestia where the fire was never Hestia where the fire was never allowed to go out.allowed to go out.

HestiaHestia