Unit 7 The Rebel God Extension Activity By Joy Huang

You have learned about the rebel god, Prometheus. Now let’s learn more about the other gods in Greek Mythology.

Zeus was the king of Greek gods and the god of sky. He usually appeared as an old, vigorous, bearded man with a thunderbolt. (Roman: Jupiter)

Zeus married his sister, Hera. However, he had many lovers, which often drove Hera mad. Of course, he had many many children.

Hera was the queen and the goddess of marriage. She usually appeared as a young and beautiful woman with a peacock. (Roman: Juno)

In Greek mythology, Hera spent most of her time driving off Zeus’s lovers and their children.

Poseidon, the brother of Zeus, was the god of the sea. He often appeared as an old, bearded man with horses and a trident (a three-pronged pitchfork). (Roman: Neptune)

He was also believed to control earthquakes. In a competition with Athena for the love of the Greeks, Poseidon created horses.

Hades, also a brother of Zeus, was the god of the Underworld. He usually appeared as a vigorous bearded man with a skull. (Roman: Pluto)

He kidnapped Persephone, the daughter of Demeter and made her become his wife. You can see the story in the painting below.

Demeter, a sister of Zeus, was the goddess of agriculture. She often appeared as a pleasant- looking mature woman with wheat. (Roman: Ceres)

When Persephone stayed with Demeter for one half of every year, the spring came. When her daughter went back to the Underworld, Demeter was sad and there was winter.

Apollo was the god of the sun, medicine, music and poetry. He was said to be the most handsome god. He often appeared as a young muscular man with a bow or a lyre. (Roman: Apollo)

Apollo drove the Sun across the sky in his golden chariot.

Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. She was Zeus’s daughter, the twin of Apollo. She had a bow and silver arrows and often wears the lunar crescent on her brow. (Roman: Diana)

She usually appeared as a beautiful young woman. She often had wild animals with her, especially a deer or her hounds.

Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. She was pictured as the most beautiful being in the universe. (Roman: Venus)

She was married to Hephaestus, Hera’s son and was mother of Eros (Cupid).

Athena was the goddess of war and wisdom. She was born from Zeus’s forehead. She was often depicted as a young woman wearing a helmet and holding a shield. (Roman: Minerva)

Athena and her uncle, Poseidon, competed for the love of the Greeks, each providing one gift to the nation. Athena provided the olive tree, giving shade, oil, and olives. The Greeks preferred her gift and named the city after her.