Greek and Roman Mythology A Review of The Principal Gods and Goddesses
In the beginning... …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) Chaos had two children: Night (darkness) Erebus (death) “All was black, empty, silent, endless.” Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.
And then... When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. Love created Light and Day. Earth was created. She was the solid ground, but also a personality. The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.
The First Parents Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) They had three kinds of children: Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads Three Cyclopes The Titans
The Titans (The Elder Gods) There were many of them. Enormous size, incredible strength Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the Titans Rhea (Ops): Wife of Cronos Oceanus: River that encircled the world Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also Titans)
The Olympians Cronos and Rhea were parents of: Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto) Hera (Juno) Hestia (Vesta) Demeter (Ceres) Other Olympians include: Athena (Minerva) Ares (Mars) Hephaestus (Vulcan) Apollo Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury) Aphrodite (Venus) Dionysus (Bacchus) Persephone (Proserpina)
The Olympians
Zeus Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) King of the gods Fathered many characters in mythology Overthrew his father Cronos
Zeus
Hera Roman Name: Juno Zeus’s sister and wife Jealous protector of marriage Punished the women Zeus fell in love with
Poseidon Roman Name: Neptune God of the Seas and Waters “The Earthshaker” Symbol = trident
Hades Roman Name: Pluto God of the Underworld/ Dead Kidnapped Persephone
Hestia Roman Name: Vesta Goddess of Home & Hearth Powerful Protector
Demeter Roman Name: Ceres Goddess of the Harvest Caused the change of seasons
Athena Roman Name: Minerva Goddess of Wisdom and War Sprang from Zeus’s head
Ares Roman Name: Mars God of War Son of Zeus and Hera Bloodthirsty and merciless
Hephaestus Roman Name: Vulcan Blacksmith to the gods Son of Zeus and Hera Married to Aphrodite
Apollo Roman Name: Apollo God of Light/Sun and Music Twin brother of Artemis
Artemis Roman Name: Diana Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt Twin sister to Apollo
Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Messenger of the Gods Appears in more myths than any other character
Aphrodite Roman Name: Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty Sprang from the ocean foam
Dionysus Roman Name: Bacchus God of Wine & Theater Cupbearer to the gods Taught man how to grow grapes & make wine
Persephone Roman Name: Proserpina Goddess of the Underworld Daughter of Zeus and Demeter Abducted by Hades
Eros Roman Name: Cupid Young God of Love Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus
Iris Roman Name: Isis Goddess of the Rainbow Servant to Hera Messenger goddess
The Muses Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences “He is happy whom the muses love.” Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne Inspired artists of all kinds Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia
The Graces Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty “They give life its bloom.” Aglaia (Splendor) Euphrosyne (Mirth) Thalia (Good Cheer)
The Erinnyes (The Furies) Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) Three Goddesses of Vengeance Tisiphone Alecto Megaera They punish evildoers.
The Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters Clotho (“The Spinner”) Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) Atropos (“The cutter”) They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.
The Satyrs Gods of the woods and mountains “Shepherd gods” Goat men (like Pan) Companions of Dionysus They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.
The Gorgons Three snake-haired monsters Medusa is most well-known Their look turns men to stone.
The Centaurs Half man, half horse Savage creatures (except Chiron) Followers of Dionysus