1. The Twelve Olympians

2. The Greek Gods  In Greek mythology, man was not created in the image of the gods; rather, the gods were in the image of man.  Although Greek religion centered on a pantheon, separate villages worshipped separate gods in many instances.  In many cases, deities existed before the patriarchal religion of Zeus incorporated them.

3. The Twelve Olympians  The Twelve great gods who succeeded the Titans  Lived on Mt. Olympus, which could have either been  The physical mountain in Thessaly OR  A mountain in a mysterious region above the Earth.  Olympus was NOT HEAVEN.

4. The Twelve Olympians 1. Zeus (Jupiter) 2. Poseidon (Neptune) 3. Hades (Pluto) 4. Hestia (Vesta) 5. Hera (Juno) 6. Ares (Mars) 7. Athena (Minerva) 8. Apollo (Apollo) 9. Aphrodite (Venus) 10. Hermes (Mercury) 11. Artemis (Diana) 12. Hephaestus (Vulcan)

5. ZEUS  God of the sky, thunder, and justice  King and most powerful of the gods; Ruler of Mount Olympus  Symbol: thunderbolt POSEIDON  God of the sea and earthquakes  Brother of Zeus  Odysseus’s enemy  Symbol: trident, horses

6. HADES  God of the Undeworld  Zeus and Poseidon’s brother  Symbol: Three headed dog HESTIA  Goddess of the Hearth  Symbol: hearth fire, home

7. HERA  Goddess of marriage and married women  Exceptionally beautiful  Zeus’s wife  Symbol: Peacock and cow ARES  God of War  Symbol: Spear

8. ATHENA  Goddess of wisdom and the arts of war and peace  Protector of Odysseus  Zeus’s favorite daughter  Symbol: Olive tree And owl APOLLO  God of archery, poetry, music, medicine, and prophecy  Symbol: Sun Chariot

9. APHRODITE  Goddess of Love and Beauty  Symbol: dove HERMES  Messenger god  God of commerce, speed, and trade  Symbol: Winged shoes

10. ARTEMIS  Goddess of the Wild Things, the moon, and crossways  Symbol: arrows; the cypress HEPHAESTUS  God of fire and the forges – Blacksmith to the gods  Forge, anvil