The Greek Gods Zeus The ruler of the gods and heavens.  He was married to his sister,  Hera, but was very unfaithful to her Hera The sister and wife of Zeus. She was the protector of woman and marriage. She was extremely annoyed by  her husband's affairs with mortal woman.  She usually killed Zeus' lovers. Poseidon The brother of Zeus and king of the sea. He lived in an underwater palace with white horses and golden chariots. He was also known as  "earth-shaker" because he  was thought to cause earthquakes. Hestia The goddess of the fireplace.  Every Greek city had a shrine dedicated to her. She was gentle and pure She stayed  away from the other gods' many arguements. She resigned her throne on Olympus, but knew anybody would welcome her wherever she went. Pluto Ruler of the Under World,  or Kingdom of the Dead.  He guarded the dead jealously, rarly  letting any of them to return to earth. He owned all the gems and metals of the  Earth. He kidnapped his niece and married her. Demeter The goddess of plants. When her daughter  was kidnapped she went to search for her  and forgot about plants. This caused winter.  When she returned she brought spring and summer. Aphrodite The goddess of love and beauty. She was  born at sea and rode to shore on a scallop shell. She married Hephaestos, but loved Ares. She charmed everyone, and wore a  gold belt which made her irresistibly attractive. Hephaestos A smith whose forge was beneath Mount Etna in Sicily. He built Zeus' golden throne and shield, which caused  storms  and thunder when it was shaken. He was the patron of craftsmen. He was the long suffering husband of Aphrodite. Ares The god of war and was Aphrodite's lover.  Ares had a short temper and was very violent. He once had to stand trial in Athens for murder on the hill named after him. Artemis The moon goddess. Her silver arrows could cause plaque and death, as well as heal. She protected young girls and pregnant woman. She was the Mistress of all wild animals and enjoyed hunting in chariots pulled by stags. Apollo The twin brother of Artemis. He was the god of  the sun, light, and truth. He was also  under control of music, poetry, science, and healing. He killed his mothers enemy, Python the serpant, when it was sheltreing in a shrine in Delphi. He took control of the shrine and made Delphi his Oracle. Hermes He was a naughty child and a trickster. He  stole cattle and invented the lyre. Hermes  became the messenger of the gods. He was  the patron of travelers and thieves. It is said  that he invented mathematics, the alphabet, astronomy, and boxing. Athene The daughter of Zeus and Metis the Titaness.  Zeus swallowed Metis becuase of a prophecy  that if she had a son he would destroy his  father. Zeus later had a headache and ordered  Hephaestos to crack open his skull. Out sprang Athene, fully armed. She was the  goddess of wisdom and war and the  patron deity of the people of Athens. Dioynsus The god of vine, wine, and fertility. He wandered  the world teaching people how to make  wine, accompanied by wild flowers. When Hestia resigned her place as an Olymian, Dionysus took her place. GREECE HOMEGREECE HOME