Download Edith Hamilton`s Mythology

Who’s Who on
Mount Olympus
A Brief Background
Heaven and Earth
Zeus
King of the Gods
and ruler of mankind
 Greek Name- Zeus
 Roman Name – Jupiter
 Symbols- Eagle and Oak tree & THUNDERBOLT
Breastplate (Aegis)-Medusa’s head
 Characteristics- Powerful, strong, large
 Special Talents- Falling in love, deceiving his wife.
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Poseidon
God of the Sea, horses,
and earthquakes
 Greek Name- Poseidon
 Roman Name- Neptune
 Symbols- Trident, horse, bull,
Golden car
 Special Talents- Creator of Horses
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Hades
God of the Underworld (did not live on Mount
Olympus), God of Wealth for Precious Metals
hidden in the Earth, King of the Dead, not death
 Greek Name-Hades
 Roman Name-Pluto
 Symbol-Helmet: power of
Invisibility
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 Wife- Persephone
(stolen from Earth and her mother)
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Hestia
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Goddess of Hearth and Home (Virgin
Goddess)
Relationship- Sister of Zeus
Greek Name- Hestia
Roman Name- Vestia
Symbols- Hearth of the home, Family
Hera
Queen of the Gods
 Relationship- Wife
and sister of Zeus
 Greek Name- Hera
 Roman Name- Juno
 Symbols- Cow and Peacock
 Special Talent- Protector of marriage and
married women, Punished the women that
Zeus loved; inspirer of heroic deeds.
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Ares
God of War
 RelationshipSon of Zeus and Hera
(detested by both)
 Greek Name- Ares
 Roman Name- Mars
 Symbols- Weapons and Armor, Vulture, and
Dog
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Athena
Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Weaving,
Goddess of the City (Maiden-Virgin Goddess)
 Relationship- Zeus’ favorite child and daughter,
No woman bore her; she sprang fully grown from
the head of Zeus. She carried Zeus’ thunderbolt.
 Greek Name- Athena (popular in Athens)
 Roman Name- Minerva
 Symbols- Owl and the Olive Branch
 Special Talents- Protector of Civilized Life, Hand Crafts, and
Agriculture, Tamed horses for man to use
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Apollo
God of the Music, Wolf god,
Poetry and Medicine,
God of Light, God of Truth,
the Healer, Archer god
 Relationship- Son of Zeus and Leta, twin to Artemis
 Greek Name- Apollo (Phoebus [sun])
 Roman Name Symbols- Dolphin, Crow, and Laurel tree, silver bow, lyre
 Special Talents- master musician,
master archer, taught man the art of healing
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Aphrodite
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Goddess of Love and Beauty (the laugher-loving goddess)
Relationship- Zeus’ daughter, born from sea foam
Greek Name- Aphrodite
Roman Name- Venus
Symbols- Sparrow, Swan, Dove, and Myrtle tree
Married to Hephaestus (lame and ugly god of the forge)
Special Talents- Beguiled all (gods and men alike); no love w/o
her
Hermes
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Messenger of the Gods, God of Commerce, Travelers, and
Thieves, Divine Herald (led souls to their last home)
Relationship- Son of Zeus
Greek Name- Hermes
Roman Name- Mercury
Symbols- Winged Hat and Sandals, Caduceus = magic wand
Special Talent- Graceful and swift, Shrewdest and most cunning
god
Appears more often than any other god
Artemis
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Goddess of the Moon and Hunting,
Patroness of Maidens, Protectress of Youth
Relationship- Daughter of Zeus and Leta, twin to
Apollo
Greek Name- Artemis, Luna (moon), Phoebe and
Selene (moon)
Roman Name- Diana
Symbols- Cypress tree and Deer; silver arrow
Hephaestus
God of Fire; Forger of Armor
(The workman of the Gods),
Protector of Smiths, Patron of Handicrafts
 Relationship- Sometimes said to be son of Zeus and Hera,
sometimes to Hera alone as retaliation for Zeus’ daughter
Athena
 Greek Name- Hephaestus
 Roman Name- Vulcan
 Symbols- Anvil and Forge (tools of the blacksmith)
 Special Talents- kindly, peace-loving, popular on Earth
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The Lesser Gods of Mt. Olympus
Eros
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Latin: Cupid
God of Love
Aphrodite’s son
Mischievous, naughty boy
Blindfolded
The Graces
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Aglaia (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), Thalia (Good C
Daughters of Zeus and Eurynome
Always together
Grace and Beauty
“Queens of Song”
The Muses
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9 in number
Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory)
They are “of one mind”
They are companions of Apollo
Symbol: Lyre
When they sing, man forgets his troubles
The Underworld
FURIES
CHARON
CERBERUS
The Lesser Gods of Earth
Earth = All mother
Demeter & Dionysus, children of Cronus and Rhea,
were the supreme Deities of the earth
Satyrs
• Satyrs = goat men
• Lived in the wild places of
earth
Pan
• chief, son of Hermes
• Noisy, merry god
• Part man, part animal = goat’s horns,
goat’s hoofs
• Wonderful musician = reeds
• Ugly, never loved by nymphs
Aeolus = King of the Winds
Centaurs
= half man, half horse
Savage creatures, beasts
Chiron, known for his goodness and wisdom
Gorgons
(3) dragon like creatures
with wings, whose look
turned men to stone
Graiae
= 3 gray women, one eye
Lived on father bank of the Ocean
Sirens
• Lived on an island in the Sea
• Enchanting voices that lured
sailors to their death