The Olympian Gods
The Olympian Gods are a group of 12 gods who ruled after the overthrow
of the Titans.
All the Olympians are related in some way. They are named after their dwelling place Mount Olympus.
Zeus
Zeus overthrew his Father Cronus. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His weapon was a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. He was married to Hera but, is famous for his many affairs. He was also known to punish those that lie or break oaths.
Poseidon
Poseidon was the brother of Zeus. After the overthrow of their Father Cronus he drew lots with Zeus and Hades, another brother, for shares of the world. His prize was to become lord of the sea. He was widely worshiped by seamen. He married Amphitrite, a granddaughter of the Titan Oceanus.
At one point he desired Demeter. To put him off, Demeter asked him to make the most beautiful animal that the world had ever seen. So to impress her Poseidon created the first horse. In some accounts his first attempts were unsuccessful and created a variety of other animals in his quest. By the time the horse was created his passion for Demeter had cooled.
His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth, and shatter any object. He is second only to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality. He was greedy. He had a series of disputes with other gods when he tried to take over their cities.
Hades
Hades was the brother of Zeus. After the overthrow of their Father Cronus he drew lots with Zeus and Poseidon, another brother, for shares of the world. He had the worst draw and was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He was a greedy god who was greatly concerned with increasing his subjects. Those whose calling increase the number of dead are seen favorably. The Erinnyes are welcomed guests. He was exceedingly disinclined to allow any of his subjects leave.
He was also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible. He rarely leaves the underworld. He was unpitying and terrible, but not capricious. His wife was Persephone whom Hades abducted. He was the King of the dead but, death itself is another god, Thanatos.
Hestia
Hestia was Zeus's sister. She was a virgin goddess. She does not have a distinct personality. She plays no part in myths. She was the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out.
Hera
Hera was Zeus wife and sister. She was raised by the Titans Ocean and Tethys. She was the protector of marriage and takes special care of married women.
Hera's marriage was founded in strife with Zeus and continued in strife. Zeus courted her unsuccessfully. He then turned to trickery, changing himself into disheveled cuckoo. Hera feeling sorry for the bird held it to her breast to warm it. Zeus then resumed his normal form and taking advantage of the surprise he gained, raped her. She then married him to cover her shame.
Once when Zeus was being particularly overbearing to the other gods, Hera convinced them to join in a revolt. Her part in the revolt was to drug Zeus, and in this she was successful. The gods then bound the sleeping Zeus to a couch taking care to tie many knots. This done they began to quarrel over the next step. Briareus overheard the arguments. Still full of gratitude to Zeus, Briareus slipped in and was able to quickly untie the many knots. Zeus sprang from the couch and grasped up his thunderbolt. The gods fell to their knees begging and pleading for mercy. He seized Hera and hung her from the sky with gold chains. She wept in pain all night but, none of the others dared to interfere. Her weeping kept Zeus up and the next morning he agreed to release her if she would swear never to rebel again. She had little choice but, to agree. While she never again rebelled, she often intrigued against Zeus's plans and she was often able to outwit him.
Most stories concerning Hera have to do with her jealous revenge for Zeus's infidelities. Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Her favorite city is Argos.
Ares
Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He was the Greek god of war. He was considered murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward. When caught in an act of adultery with Aphrodite her husband Hephaestus was able publicly ridicule him. His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog.
Athena
Athena was the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armour from his forehead, thus has no mother. She was fierce and brave in battle but, only wars to defined the state and home from outside enemies. She was the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeus's favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. She was a virgin goddess.
Apollo
Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister was Artemis. He was the god of music, playing a golden lyre. The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who taught man medicine. The god of light. The god of truth, who can not speak a lie.
One of Apollo's more important daily tasks was to harness his chariot with four horses an drive the Sun across the sky.
He was famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the Greek world to divine the future.
His tree was the laurel. The crow his bird. The dolphin his animal.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite was the goddess of love, desire and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. There are two accounts of her birth.
One says she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione. The other goes back to when Cronus castrated Uranus and tossed his severed genitals into the sea. Aphrodite then arose from the sea foam on a giant scallop and walked to shore in Cyprus.
She was the wife of Hephaestus. The myrtle is her tree. The dove, the swan, and the sparrow her birds.
Hermes
Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia. He was Zeus messenger, and was the fastest of the gods. He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He was also the god of thieves and commerce. He was the guide for the dead to go to the underworld, and invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy, weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.
Artemis
Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Her twin brother was Apollo. She was the lady of the wild things, huntsman of the gods and protector of the young. Like Apollo she hunted with silver arrows. She became associated with the moon. as a virgin goddess, and the goddess of chastity. She also presides over childbirth, which may seem odd for a virgin, but goes back to causing Leto no pain when she was born. She became associated with Hecate. The cypress is her tree. All wild animals are scared to her, especially the deer.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He was the only god to be physically ugly and lame. Accounts as to how he became lame vary. Some say that Hera, upset by having an ugly child, flung him from Mount Olympus into the sea, breaking his legs. Others that he took Hera's side in an argument with Zeus, and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus. He was the god of fire and the forge, the smith and armorer of the gods and used a volcano as his forge. He was the patron god of both smiths and weavers. He was kind and peace loving. His wife was Aphrodite. Sometimes his wife is identified as Aglaia.
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