In Greek mythology, the universe was ruled from
Greece’s Mt. Olympus by twelve Gods and
Goddesses. They helped sculpt Greek culture
and shaped the lifestyles of many citizens.
The following slides will inform you about seven of
the twelve principle Gods and Goddesses.
Zeus
Zeus is known as the father
of all gods and men. He is
the god of the sky, lighting,
and thunder, and is the king
of Olympus, the home to
many Greek Gods. Zeus is
the brother of Poseidon and
Hades, and is also married
to Hera. His symbols are
the thunder bolt, oak, and
the eagle.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of
beauty and love. She is the
mother of the god of love,
also known as Cupid. She is
known to be married, but
often had affairs with other
gods and mortals. Her
symbols are the sceptre,
myrtle, and the dove.
Apollo
Apollo, a talented god of
music, prophecies, poetry,
healing, and archery, is also
said to be the god of light
and truth. He is the son of
Zeus and Leto, and is the
twin brother of Artemis, the
virgin hunter. His symbols
include his bow and arrow,
lyre, the raven, and laurel.
Athena
Athena is a very important
goddess in Greek culture. She
is the goddess of warfare,
handicrafts, wisdom, and reason,
and is known to be the patron
of Athens. She often took part
in Trojan wars because she was
a war goddess, and she gave
Athens the gift of the olive tree,
food, and oil. Her symbols
include the owl and olive tree.
Hera
Hera is the queen of the gods and
appears with peacock feathers.
She is most known for being
the goddess of marriage, but
she often had disagreements
with her husband Zeus, the king
of the gods. She is known to be
very jealous and often
persecuted the women her
husband had affairs with. Her
symbols include the diadem and
peacock.
Dionysus
Dionysus is the god of wine,
festivals, and merriment. One
of his known powers brings out
the madness, sexuality, and
drunkenness in his followers.
He represents the social and
beneficial influences, as well as
the power of wine. His symbols
are the grape vine and ivy.
Poseidon
Poseidon is the god of the sea
and often appears with a
trident. He is also known to
be the god of water, horses,
and earthquakes, and is
responsible for drowning and
shipwrecks. Poseidon is the
son of Cronus and Rhea, and
is brother to Zeus and
Hades. His symbols include
the trident, bull, horse, and
sea foam.