1. Family Tree of the Major Gods* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Web, myth narration & graphics created & maintained by Nick Pontikis Copyright © Thanasi's Olympus Greek Restaurant The Myth Man persona © 1988 Nick Pontikis Copyright © 1999 greekmyth.com Copyright © 1999 mythman.com

2. Cronus and Rhea Titans who ruled before the Olympians
Children Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Hera
Fought their own children for control of world the world
Children won **

3. Zeus (Jupiter) ** Ruler of gods and mortals Ladies Man Married Hera
Lived on Mt. Olympus
God of skies and storm (thunderbolt) **

4. Hera (Juno) goddess of marriage, motherhood wife and sister of Zeus
extremely jealous
very beautiful
(cow eyed beauty)
symbols include: cow, peacock, pomegranate
highly regarded and worshipped but not portrayed well in Mythology **

5. Poseidon (Neptune) ** god of the sea and rivers controlled earthquakes
gave humans the gift of the horse
Zeus only god more powerful
symbol-trident
lived beneath the ocean
often went to Mt. Olympus to party with the gods. **

6. Hades (Pluto) ** god of the Underworld rarely left his home
did not cause death.
prevented the dead from leaving Hades
not well liked by mortals or gods
abducted Persephone forced her into marriage **

7. Hestia ** goddess of fire and the hearth
associated with peace, home and family
never took part in disputes of mortals or gods
one of three virgin goddesses
most revered and worshipped but not present in mythology **

8. Demeter (Ceres) ** goddess of agriculture/harvest mother of Persephone
usually kind to humans
revered by humankind
one of the few gods to know grief and suffering **

9. Artemis (Diana) ** virgin goddess of the hunt
ironically also goddess of childbirth
temple at Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the world
Twin brother Apollo
symbol silver bow and arrow, associated with the new moon **

10. Apollo (Phoebus) ** son of Zeus and Leto
god of music, prophecy, hunting & medicine
symbol of youthful beauty
his job was to drive the sun across the sky each day
Colossus at Rhodes statue of Apollo (one of the 7 wonders of the world) **

11. Ares (Mars) ** god of war, blood thirsty son of Zeus and Hera
sister Eris (discord) went around the world stirring up trouble and he followed her.
his children, Phobos, Metus, Demios, Pallor and nephew, Strife then followed him and the cries of human could be heard wherever they traveled.
not well liked by other gods or humans. **

12. Dionysus (Bacchus) ** god of the vine
gave the gift of grapes and winemaking to humans
he brought both joy & ecstasy and thoughtlessness & rage
well liked by mortals **

13. Courtesy Linda Van Eckle
Athena (Minerva)
virgin goddess
goddess of wisdom, the domestic arts (weaving) and war
unlike Ares she tried to avoid war
very merciful,but don’t cross her
never lost in battle
Zeus’ favorite, she often used his weapons
gave many gifts to mortals **
Statue of Athena in Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Courtesy Linda Van Eckle

14. Hermes (Mercury) messenger of the gods guided souls to the underworld
son of Zeus and a mountain nymph
invented the lyre when only 1 day old
symbols include a wide-brimmed hat, winged shoes and the caduceus
also known as the god of commerce to the Greeks
was know for his cunning, ingenuity, knowledge and creativity **

15. Aphrodite (Venus) ** goddess of love, beauty, fertility and desire
two versions of her birth
portrayed as beautiful
Zeus arranged her marriage to Hephasaetus
scandalous affair with Ares
could also be treacherous **

16. Hephaestus (Vulcan) god of blacksmithing and other trades
weapon maker of the gods
son of Hera has no father
only physically ugly god
his creations the most beautiful
Zeus arranged marriage to Aphrodite
only god who did physical work
kind, peace loving, popular with gods and humans **

17. For more information on the Olympians consult the following websites:
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