Cronus and RheaCronus and Rhea
Cronus was the youngest of the Cronus was the youngest of the Titans, and was pictured as the ruler Titans, and was pictured as the ruler of the Titan dynasty. of the Titan dynasty.
After castrating his father at the After castrating his father at the instigation of his mother, he became instigation of his mother, he became the supreme ruler of the world. the supreme ruler of the world.
He and his sister wife, Rhea, were He and his sister wife, Rhea, were the parents of the Olympians.the parents of the Olympians.
Why are they called Why are they called Olympians?Olympians?
They were the 3They were the 3rdrd dynasty of gods dynasty of godsThey succeeded The TitansThey succeeded The Titans Inhabited the mountain called Inhabited the mountain called
OlympusOlympus
OlympusOlympus
Believed to be a mountain because Believed to be a mountain because referred to as such in many places.referred to as such in many places.
the entrance to it was a great gate of the entrance to it was a great gate of clouds kept by the seasons. clouds kept by the seasons.
Within were the Gods' dwellings, Within were the Gods' dwellings, where they lived and slept and where they lived and slept and feasted on ambrosia and nectar and feasted on ambrosia and nectar and listened to the lyre of Apollo. listened to the lyre of Apollo.
““No wind ever shakes the untroubled No wind ever shakes the untroubled peace of Olympus; no rain ever falls peace of Olympus; no rain ever falls there, or snow; but the cloudless there, or snow; but the cloudless firmament stretches around it on all firmament stretches around it on all sides and the white glory of sunshine sides and the white glory of sunshine is diffused upon its walls" - Homer is diffused upon its walls" - Homer
ZeusZeus
Supreme ruler of Supreme ruler of Olympian DynastyOlympian Dynasty
Mightier than all Mightier than all others put togetherothers put together
Ruler of the sky, Ruler of the sky, rain god and cloudsrain god and clouds
““bright shining bright shining light of heaven”light of heaven”
HeraHera
Sister and wife of ZeusSister and wife of Zeus Often referred to as his inferiorOften referred to as his inferior She was the protector of marriage, and She was the protector of marriage, and
married women were her peculiar care.married women were her peculiar care. Had 4 Children with ZeusHad 4 Children with Zeus
Hephaestus : God of fire and the chief Hephaestus : God of fire and the chief workman of the godsworkman of the gods
Ares : God of warAres : God of war Hebe : Goddess of youth and wife of Heracles Hebe : Goddess of youth and wife of Heracles
in heavenin heaven Eileithyia : Goddess of childbirthEileithyia : Goddess of childbirth
PoseidonPoseidon
Ruler of the seaRuler of the seaHe gained the rank or rating as ruler He gained the rank or rating as ruler
of the waves, by drawing lots at a of the waves, by drawing lots at a Council Meeting of the GodsCouncil Meeting of the Gods
Zeus took the upper world for Zeus took the upper world for himself, and gave the under world to himself, and gave the under world to his other brother, Hades. his other brother, Hades.
DemeterDemeter
Demeter was the goddess of corn, Demeter was the goddess of corn, fruit and agriculture in general and a fruit and agriculture in general and a goddess of fertility. goddess of fertility.
As such she was, in many regions, As such she was, in many regions, associated with Poseidon as the god associated with Poseidon as the god of fertilizing water. of fertilizing water.
Had daughter with Zeus named Had daughter with Zeus named PersephonePersephone
ApolloApollo
Son of Zeus and LetoSon of Zeus and LetoTwin brother to ArtemisTwin brother to ArtemisApollo's birthplace was the island of Apollo's birthplace was the island of
Delos (originally an island that floated, Delos (originally an island that floated, until Zeus chained it to the bottom of until Zeus chained it to the bottom of the sea so that Leto may be comfortable the sea so that Leto may be comfortable while giving birth to Apollo and Artemis. while giving birth to Apollo and Artemis.
Depicted with bow and arrow because Depicted with bow and arrow because he was seen as a very unforgiving god.he was seen as a very unforgiving god.
ArtemisArtemis
Goddess of the moon, hunting and Goddess of the moon, hunting and chastity chastity
She also carried bow and arrowsShe also carried bow and arrowsArtemis was the goddess of life, Artemis was the goddess of life,
childbirth and of children after they childbirth and of children after they were born, and of animals.were born, and of animals.
She was a great huntressShe was a great huntress
AtheneAthene
Also called Pallas Athene.Also called Pallas Athene.She was the Goddess of wisdomShe was the Goddess of wisdomLike Zeus, Athene could send storms Like Zeus, Athene could send storms
and rough weatherand rough weatherShe was the mistress and Zeus was She was the mistress and Zeus was
the master of thunder and lightning the master of thunder and lightning and she too would hurl thunderbolts to and she too would hurl thunderbolts to enforce her will and frighten her foes. enforce her will and frighten her foes.
Athene continuedAthene continued
Athene invented the plow and the Athene invented the plow and the rake, and created the olive tree, rake, and created the olive tree, services that made her the protector services that made her the protector of agricultureof agriculture
She was also a teacher. She was also a teacher.
AphroditeAphrodite
goddess of love and beauty goddess of love and beauty Two different versions of birthTwo different versions of birthDaughter of Zeus and DioneDaughter of Zeus and DioneSprang forth from foam that formed Sprang forth from foam that formed
around the limbs of the castrated around the limbs of the castrated UranusUranus
HermesHermes
Messenger and herald of the godsMessenger and herald of the godsHermes was frequently requested to Hermes was frequently requested to
speak in public, and to do a great speak in public, and to do a great deal of traveling; he therefore deal of traveling; he therefore became the god of eloquence and became the god of eloquence and speech, and the god of roads who speech, and the god of roads who would protect travelers like himself. would protect travelers like himself.
Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Atlas)Atlas)
AresAres
god of Wargod of WarSon of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and HeraVery violent and had a horrible Very violent and had a horrible
tempertemperOther gods and goddesses couldn’t Other gods and goddesses couldn’t
stand himstand him
Hephaestus Hephaestus
Son of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and Heragod of fire and the chief workman of god of fire and the chief workman of
the gods.the gods.He was lame and deformed so his He was lame and deformed so his
parents were ashamed of himparents were ashamed of himMade his mother a golden throne Made his mother a golden throne
that chained her in it and he had to that chained her in it and he had to be called again.be called again.
Dionysus Dionysus
born in Thebes, the son of Zeus and born in Thebes, the son of Zeus and Semele Semele
god of wine and merry making god of wine and merry making Dionysus was the only god whose Dionysus was the only god whose
parents were not both godsparents were not both gods
There were two other Olympian gods, There were two other Olympian gods, though they are not usually included though they are not usually included as part of the twelveas part of the twelve
HadesHades
God of the underworldGod of the underworldPersephone was his queenPersephone was his queenHades was also known as the god of Hades was also known as the god of
wealth and precious metal that lay wealth and precious metal that lay hidden deep within the earth hidden deep within the earth
Son of Cronus and RheaSon of Cronus and Rhea
HebeHebe
The wife of Heracles in heaven The wife of Heracles in heaven The goddess of youthThe goddess of youthDaughter of Zeus and HeraDaughter of Zeus and Hera
SourcesSources
Bierlein, J.F.Bierlein, J.F. Parallel Myths. Parallel Myths. New New York:Ballantine Wellspring, 1994.York:Ballantine Wellspring, 1994.
Evslin, Evslin and Hoopes. Evslin, Evslin and Hoopes. The Greek The Greek Gods.Gods. New York: Scholastic Inc, 1966. New York: Scholastic Inc, 1966.
Hamilton, Edith. Hamilton, Edith. MythologyMythology. New . New York: Warner Books, 1969York: Warner Books, 1969