Aphrodite
Goddess of Love, Beauty, Desire, and Fertility. In one version of her origins, she is the daughter of Zeus and the Titaness Dione; however, the most popular version is that she arose from sea foam (aphros)
when the Titan Cronus castrated his father Uranus. Zeus, fearful a war
would break out among the gods for Aphrodite's hand in marriage, forced
her to marry the ugly Hephaestus,
craftsman of the gods, though she proceeded to have numerous affairs
with gods and mortals alike. Notable among these affairs are Ares, to whom she bore Eros
("love"), Harmonia ("harmony"), and the twins Phobos ("fear") and
Deimos ("dread"); Hermes, to whom she bore Hermaphroditos; and the
handsome mortal Adonis. During the Trojan War, Aphrodite lent her
girdle, which had been fashioned by her husband Hephaestus and had the
power to make its wearer irresistible to both gods and mortal men, to Hera,
who then used it to distract Zeus so that Aphrodite and the other gods
could interfere in the war. Sacred to her are the dolphin, the dove, the
sparrow, the pomegranate, and the myrtle, and she is often accompanied
by the three Charites, or Graces, who were the personifications of charm
and beauty. Her Roman equivalent is Venus, though she's also been
identified with Astarte, Inanna, and Ishtar.
Apollo
God of the Sun, Prophecy, Truth, Music, Archery, Healing, and Light. He is the son of Zeus and a Titaness named Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis.
Through the mortal Coronis, he's the father of Asclepius, god of
medicine and healing, and by Hecuba, wife of King Priam of Troy, he
fathered the mortal Troilus, who was killed by Achilles during the
Trojan War. Also notable among his love affairs are the nymph Daphne,
who had her father Peneus, a river god, turn her into a laurel tree to
escape Apollo's affections; and Cassandra, Troilus's half-sister to whom
Apollo taught the art of prophecy, but when she spurned his advances,
he cursed her so that none of her predictions would be believed. As the
god of prophecy, he established many oracles, most notably the one at
Delphi, and as the god of truth, he's incapable of lying. In his aspect
as sun god, he drives a chariot through the sky each day, dragging the
sun with it. As the god of music and poetry, Apollo is often seen with a
lyre, which was given to him by Hermes, and is considered the leader of the Muses.
In addition to the lyre, bows and arrows are his attributes, and the
dolphin, swan, crow, and laurel tree are sacred to him. His Roman
equivalent is also named Apollo, though he's also been identified with
the Greek Helios and the Roman Sol.
Ares
God of War. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, and brother of Hebe, Hephaestus, Heracles, Eris ("strife"), and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. Through Aphrodite, he's the father of Eros
("love"), Harmonia ("harmony"), and the twins Phobos ("fear") and
Deimos ("dread"), who often accompany him into battle, along with his
sister Eris. Aside from Aphrodite, most of the gods despise him,
including his own father, possibly because he's known for being
bloodthirsty and cruel yet cowardly. One day, Hephaestus, having been
alerted by Helios
of his wife's infidelity, trapped Aphrodite and Ares in an invisible
net the craftsman-god had fashioned himself, then invited the other gods
to witness the compromised couple, thereby humiliating them.
Eventually, the lovers were released, and Ares, embarrassed, immediately
retreated to Thrace, the place of his birth. The dog and the vulture
are sacred to him, and his attributes are a helmet and spear, which is
often bloodstained. His Roman equivalent is Mars, who, as father of
Romulus and Remus, was of greater significance than his Greek
counterpart.
Artemis
Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt, Wild Animals and Wilderness, and Virginity. She is the daughter of Zeus and a Titaness named Leto, and twin sister of Apollo.
In one version of her and Apollo's birth, she was born a day before her
brother and proceeded to help their mother deliver him, which is why
she's sometimes considered the goddess of childbirth, despite being an
eternal virgin. Wild animals are sacred to her, but especially the deer,
the bear, the boar, and the hunting dog. Her attributes are a bow and
arrows, and her tree is the cypress. Her Roman equivalent is Diana,
though she's also been identified with the Greek Titaness Selene and the
Roman goddess Luna.
Athena
Goddess of War, Wisdom, and Arts and Crafts. She is the daughter of Zeus
and the Titaness Metis ("wisdom"), who was said to be Zeus's first
wife. Fearing a prophecy that any offspring with Metis would overthrow
him, Zeus swallowed Metis, who, unknown to Zeus, was already pregnant.
One day, he began to suffer headaches, and when Hephaestus
cracked open Zeus's skull, Athena sprang full-grown and fully armed.
Athena eventually became patron of Athens, after having competed with
her uncle Poseidon
for the title. Poseidon gave the citizens of the then-unnamed city a
saltwater spring, and Athena gave them an olive tree, which provided
food, oil, and wood. Preferring Athena's more useful gift, the citizens
named the city after her, making her its patron. The owl and the olive
tree are sacred to her, and her constant companion is Nike, goddess of
victory. Her Roman equivalent is Minerva, though she's also been
compared to the Egyptian Neith.
Demeter
Goddess of the Harvest, Agriculture, and Fertility. She is the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, and Hestia. By Zeus, she is also the mother of Persephone,
queen of the Underworld. One day, while Persephone was picking
wildflowers, Hades appeared and abducted her to the Underworld, where he
made her his bride. At the loss of her daughter, Demeter let living
things wither and die, until finally, Zeus demanded Hades release
Persephone. However, since Persephone had eaten a pomegranate from the
Underworld, or by some accounts half of a pomegranate, she was to spend
six months with her mother and the rest of the year with Hades, thus
bringing about the seasons. Demeter's attributes are sheafs of grain and
a torch, and items sacred to her include livestock, corn and grains,
and the poppy. Her Roman equivalent is Ceres.
Dionysus
God of Wine and Fertility. He is the son of Zeus and the mortal Semele, though in some versions, his mother is Persephone or Demeter. While Semele was pregnant, she was visited by a jealous Hera in disguise, and as a result, later demanded that Zeus show himself in
his true form. However, Semele, being a mortal, was scorched instantly
upon seeing Zeus in all his glory, though Zeus was able to save the
unborn Dionysus by sewing him into his thigh. Through Aphrodite,
he's the father of the Charites, or Graces, and Priapus, god of
fertility. As the god of wine, he can bring joy, ecstasy, and freedom
from inhibitions, but he can also be dangerous and unpredictable and can
drive someone mad. His attributes are the thyrsus, or fennel staff
topped with a pine cone, and the grapevine. His Roman counterpart is
Bacchus, though he's also been identified with the Roman Liber.
Eris
Goddess of Discord. She is the daughter of Zeus and Hera, and sister of Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus,
Heracles, and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. Eris, whose name means
"strife," often accompanies her brother Ares into battle, along with
her nephews Phobos ("fear") and Deimos ("dread"). Her only attribute is a
golden apple, known as the Apple of Discord, which indirectly caused
the Trojan War. Her polar opposite is her niece Harmonia ("harmony"),
and her Roman equivalent is Discordia, though she's also been identified
with the Greek war-goddess Enyo.
Eros
God of Love and Desire. He is the son of Aphrodite and Ares,
and the brother of Harmonia ("harmony"), the twins Phobos ("fear") and
Deimos ("dread"), and Anteros ("love returned"). Through the mortal
Psyche, he is the father of Hedone ("pleasure"), the goddess of sensual
pleasures. His attributes are a bow and arrows, which can inspire
feelings of either love or indifference. His Roman equivalent is Cupid.
Hades
God of the Underworld. He is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and brother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter. One day, while his niece Persephone
was picking wildflowers, he abducted her to his domain and made her his
bride. Eventually, however, Zeus demanded Hades return Persephone to
her mother Demeter, who was wreaking havoc with nature, but since
Persephone had eaten a pomegranate from the Underworld, or half of a
pomegranate in some accounts, Hades was allowed to spend half the year
with his queen. As god of the Underworld, which he became after drawing
lots with Zeus and Poseidon, he reigns over the dead, and is sometimes
considered the god of wealth due to the jewels that are found
underground. The narcissus and cypress are sacred to him, and a helmet
that can render the wearer invisible is his only attribute. His Roman
equivalent is Pluto, though he's also been identified with the Etruscan
Aita and the Chinese/Japanese Yama.
Hebe
Goddess of Youth. She is the daughter of Zeus and Hera, and sister of Ares, Hephaestus, Eris
("strife"), and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. In addition to being
the goddess of youth, she was also cupbearer to the gods, though after
her half-brother Heracles became a full-fledged god, she married him and
was replaced as cupbearer by Ganymede, a Trojan prince. Her Roman
equivalent is Juventas.
Helios
God of the Sun. He is the son of the Titans Hyperion, who is also
considered a sun god, and Thea, and brother of Eos ("dawn") and Selene
("moon"). Some myths say he is the personification of the sun, while
others insist he drives a chariot across the sky each day, pulling the
sun with it. In fact, one myth says he once let his son Phaeton drive
his chariot, but Phaeton lost control and fell to Earth. Another
infamous myth includes Helios catching Ares and Aphrodite having an affair, and tattling on them to Hephaestus,
who then caught the lovers in an invisible net. Yet another famous myth
involves Helios catching Odysseus's men killing and eating his sacred
cattle, then either punishing them or asking Zeus to punish them. His
attributes are a whip and a globe, and sacred to him are roosters and
eagles. He's often overshadowed by Apollo, and his Roman equivalent is Sol or Sol Invictus.
Hephaestus
God of the Forge and Technology. He is the son of either Zeus and Hera or just Hera, and brother of Heba, Heracles, Ares, Eris
("strife"), and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. He is often depicted
as lame, either because he was born that way or because he was tossed
from Mt. Olympus one day. As the god of technology, he is said to have
built machines to help him in his work, and possibly a wheelchair or
chariot to help him get around. As the god of the forge, he's the patron
god of blacksmiths and craftsmen, and is responsible for forging
various items for mortals and the other gods, such as the bow and arrows
used by Eros. In fact, when the sun god Helios informed Hephaestus that his wife Aphrodite
was having an affair with Ares, Hephaestus forged an invisible net and
trapped the lovers in it, before inviting the rest of the gods to
witness the compromised couple. His attributes are, of course, a
blacksmith's hammer, an anvil, and a pair of tongs, and his Roman
equivalent is Vulcan, though he's also been identified with the Egyptian
Ptah and the Norse Weyland the Smith.
Hera
Goddess of Marriage and Childbirth, and Queen of the Gods. She is the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia Through Zeus, her brother and husband, she's the mother of Hebe, Hephaestus, Ares, Eris ("strife"), and Eilethyia, goddess of childbirth, and stepmother of Apollo and Artemis, Heracles, and Dionysus,
among others. Most stories involving Hera highlight her jealousy over
Zeus's numerous affairs and the illegitimate children produced by these
unions. However, one story describes how she used her wiles and the
girdle of Aphrodite,
which made the wearer irresistible to both gods and mortal men, to
seduce Zeus so that the other gods could meddle in the Trojan War. Her
attributes are a pomegranate and a diadem, and her sacred animals are
the cow and the peacock. Her Roman equivalent is Juno, though she's also
been identified with the Egyptian Isis, the Egyptian Hathor, and the
Celtic Danu.
Hermes
Messenger of the Gods. He is the son of Zeus and a nymph named Maia, and half-brother of Hebe, Heracles, Ares, Eris ("strife"), Apollo and Artemis, and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth, among others. Through Aphrodite, he's the father of Hermaphroditus, and by the nymph Dryope, he sired the god Pan.
As the messenger of the gods, he's also the god of travelers, shepherds
and cowherds, sports and athletics, thieves, and commerce. He is
credited with inventing the lyre and panpipes, and his attributes are a
winged helmet, winged sandals, a purse or pouch, and a caduceus (a small
staff entwined by two serpents). His sacred animals are the rooster and
the tortoise, and his Roman equivalent is Mercury.
Hestia
Goddess of the Hearth and Home. She is the eldest daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, and Demeter. She was originally one of the twelve Olympians, but she gave up her seat to Dionysus.
Little else is known about her except that she has sworn to remain a
virgin forever, and is said to be the gentlest of all the Olympians. Her
Roman equivalent is Vesta.
Pan
God of Nature, Music, and Fertility. He is the son of either Hermes and Dionysus and the nymph Dryope. He is often depicted as having the head and torso
of a man, but the legs and horns of a goat. His attribute is a syrinx,
or a set of pan pipes, and his Roman equivalent is Faunus.
Persephone
Goddess of the Underworld and the Harvest. She is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and wife of Hades,
king of the Underworld. One day, while Persephone was picking
wildflowers, her uncle Hades abducted her to his domain, where he made
her his bride. Her mother, Demeter, then grieved the loss of her
daughter by letting living things wither and die, until finally, Zeus
demanded Hades release Persephone. However, Persephone had eaten a
pomegranate from the Underworld, or half of a pomegranate by some
accounts, and therefore, was to spend six months with her mother and the
rest of the year with Hades, thus bringing about the seasons. Her only
attribute is a sheaf of grain, and her Roman equivalent is Proserpina.
Poseidon
God of the Sea and Earthquakes. He is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and brother of Zeus, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. By his wife, the sea-goddess Amphitrite, he's the father of Triton, a
merman, though he's also said to have fathered the mythical Pegasus (by
Medusa), the cyclops Polyphemus, the legendary hunter Orion, and
Theseus, the hero who defeated the Minotaur. He is often depicted
holding a trident, and riding a chariot drawn by hippocampi, or
sea-horses. His sacred animals are fishes, dolphins, and horses, and his
Roman equivalent is Neptune.
Selene
Goddess of the Moon. She is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Thea, and sister of Helios ("sun") and Eos ("dawn"). By her lover Endymion, she is said to have fifty daughters, including a nymph named Naxos, and by Zeus,
she supposedly had the Nemean Lion and Pandia ("all bright"), the
goddess of the full moon. Selene is often depicted as a pale-faced woman
with long black hair, wearing robes, carrying a torch, and wearing a
crescent moon on her head. After bathing in the sea each day, she
journeys across the sky each night on her silver chariot, which is said
to be pulled by either horses, oxen, or serpentine dragons. Her sacred
animals are dogs, bulls, cows, and roosters, and her Roman equivalent is
Luna.
Thanatos
God of Death. He is the son of Nyx ("night") and Erebus ("darkness"), and twin brother of Hypnos ("sleep"). He is considered the personification of Death, though is often overshadowed by Hades. He is sometimes depicted as an adolescent holding an inverted torch
(which represents an extinguished life) in one hand and a butterfly or
wreath of poppies in the other; however, he is also said to be winged,
dressed in black, and carrying a sword. As the god of death, he guides
souls to the Underworld, and can be either cold-hearted and merciless or
the deliverer of a peaceful passing. His Roman equivalent is Mors.
Zeus
God of the Sky and Weather, and King of the Gods. He is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and brother of Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. By Hera, his sister and wife, he's the father of Hebe, Ares, Eris
("strife"), and Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth, though he's also
fathered numerous other progeny by goddesses and mortals alike, notable
among them being Apollo and Artemis, Heracles, Dionysus, Athena, and Hermes.
After overthrowing his father Cronus, Zeus, despite being the youngest
of his siblings, became ruler of the sky upon drawing lots with his
brothers. Sacred to him are eagles, bulls, and oak trees, and his
attribute is a thunderbolt. His Roman equivalent is Jupiter, though he's
also been identified with the Etruscan Tinia, the Celtic Dagda, and the
Norse Odin.
SOURCES: Greek Mythology.com, Mythweb, Encyclopedia Mythica, and Wikipedia