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12 Major
Olympians
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Vulture
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Mt. Olympus
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z The gods,
goddesses,
creatures and
monsters in Greek
Mythology
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z CRONUS & RHEA
Role and Responsibilities:
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Zeus had his golden throne on the highest summit of Mount

Olympus and was respected and awed by all gods and
mortals. He was the "Lord of Justice", punishing anyone
who lied or broke an oath, but was fair and always striving
to keep a balance of all things.
Furthermore, Zeus was responsible for the weather and was
shaping it according to his temper.
▪ Lord of the Sky
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▪ Rain-god
▪ Cloud-gatherer
▪ Weather-god
▪ Main attribute – thunderbolt
▪ Breastplate - Aegis
▪ Bird - Eagle
▪ Tree - Oak
▪ Oracle - Dodona
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Zeus was strong and imposing, with long,
oftentimes curly hair.

His name means “dios” meaning bright.

He was not an omnipotent / omniscient
god.
He falls in love with one woman after another
and does many tricks to hide his infidelity from
his wife Hera:
1. Metis - Athena
2. Hera – Ares, Hephaestus, Hebe & Ilithyia
3. Leto – Apollo & Artemis
4. Dione (moon of Saturn) – Aphrodite
5. Leda (Spartan Queen) – (Castor)& Pollux,
(Clytemnestra) & Helen of Troy
6. Semele – Dionysus
7. Mnemosyne – Muses
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MUSES
1. Calliope - the Muse of Epic Poetry
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2. Clio - the Muse of History and Epic Poetry

3. Erato - the Muse of Love Poetry

4. Euterpe - the Muse of Music

5. Melpomene - the Muse of Tragedy

6. Polyhymnia - the Muse of Hymns

7. Terpsichore - the Muse of Dance

8. Thalia - the Muse of Comedy

9. Urania - the Muse of Astronomy

8. Alcmene – Heracles
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9. Ganymede (Trojan Prince and

became one of the constellations
– AQUARIUS or the water carrier)
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 z Appearance and Sacred Symbols
Hera was a beautiful-but not really desirable-,
mature woman with big eyes. She was
wearing an ornate crown on her head,
elegant clothes woven by Athena and
tightened with a belt, and golden sandals
were hugging her feet. Hera loved to wear
jewelry and pamper her body with divine
cosmetics.
 Zeus’ wife and sister
 Protector of marriage and married women
 Cow and peacock are sacred to her
 Argos was her favorite city

Hera was a jealous wife who punishes many women and

even children of Zeus.
It is said that each year her virginity returns by bathing in
the well CANATHUS.
Hephaestus was said to be the son of Hera alone to get
even with Zeus who bore Athena.
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 Personality of Poseidon
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Poseidon was considered to be the bad-

tempered, moody and greedy god
among the Olympians.

Poseidon was imposing and strong with

long, blue hair.
 god of the sea
 a very moody divinity
 Dolphins and trident were associated with
him
 Amphitrite was his wife.

Storm and calm in the sea were under his

control.

Another story about him involves the

competition between him and Athena.
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 Hades, the Ruler of the Underworld
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Hades was the Greek god of the Dead. Hades was the
supreme ruler of the Underworld. Almost never did
he leave his gloomy kingdom but was residing there
instead, surrounded by darkness and silence...

His helper was Charon, the angel of dead.

Furthermore, Hades had a dog with three heads
which was named Cerberus.
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Appearance and Sacred Symbols

Hades had gloomy features. He had a

beard and dark hair falling over his
brow . His sacred symbol was the
helmet, which helped him stay
invisible.
 lord of the dead
 god of wealth
 Persephone was his wife
 His attribute was the helmet given by the
Cyclopes.
 Tartarus / Erebus was the place of the dead
 Cerberus – a 3-headed dog and dragon tailed
guard in Hades.

He was not a welcome visitor in Mt. Olympus

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z Appearance and Sacred Symbols

A tall, slim woman with glaucous

(bluish-gray) eyes trickling light,
wearing a suit of armour and a
golden helmet.
 MEDUSA
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Medusa and two sisters of hers,

Sthenno and Euryale, were
Gorgons, with frightful eyes, brass hands
and living snakes on their head instead
of hair. Medusa was the only Gorgon
who was mortal, however she was
more powerful than her sisters.
 goddess of wisdom, defensive war, arts,
industry, justice, skill, city
 A great inventor – chariot, bridle, ship, trumpet,
plow, rake and more
 Athens – city
 Olive – tree
 Owl – bird
 A virgin goddess
 Parthenon – her temple
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Appearance and Sacred Symbols

Apollo was a handsome, strong and

youthful god with impressive golden
hair.
 z Appearance and Sacred Symbols

Apollo was a handsome, strong and youthful

god with impressive golden hair.

His symbols were the lyre, the tripod

(the oracular seat of the priestess of Apollo at
Delphi), and the laurel tree.
 The most Greek of all Gods
 god of music, archery, medicine, truth, light
 Laurel – his tree
 Delphi at Parnassus – his oracle

Apollo never married but had lovers and children:

1. Daphne
2. Cassandra
3. Hyacinthus
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Appearance and Sacred Symbols

Artemis was usually armed with bow

and arrows and was wearing a knee-
high chiton [kayt-n].

Her symbol was the bow and her sacred

animals were the snake and the deer.
 goddess of wilderness, the hunt, wild animals and
of chastity
 A virgin goddess

She is usually armed with bow and arrows made by

Hephaestus and the Cyclopes.

Artemis was very protective of her purity and gave

grave punishment to any man who attempted to
dishonor her – ACTAEON (turned into a stag)
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Appearance and Sacred Symbols

Aphrodite was a highly attractive young

woman who dressed elegantly and
loved to wear jewelry.
 goddess of love, beauty and sexual desire
 Laughter-loving goddess
 Wife of Hephaestus who gave her the
magical girdle (cestus)
 Some of her lovers were Ares and Adonis.
 Her children were: Eros & Anteros (god of
unrequited love) and Aeneas
 APHRODISIAC – her festival
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 Hermes,
z the speedy Messenger and Conductor
of Souls

Hermes was wearing wings on his sandals and

therefore was the speediest of all Greek gods.
Because of his speed, Hermes received the role of the
messenger and conductor of souls to the
Underworld. Hermes was the only Olympian god
who was authorized to visit Heaven, Earth and also
the Underworld and enjoyed this way popularity
among all the Greek gods and spirits.
 god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and
measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves
 His attributes were : winged sandals, winged hat
(petasus) and a magic wand
 He invented foot racing and boxing
 His offspring were Pan and Hermaphroditus

Apollo gave him the Caduceus in exchange for his flute

and the cattle in exchange for the lyre.
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z HERMAPHRODITUS
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 god of offensive war
 Vulture – his bird

He was often accompanied by his sister,

ERIS, goddess of Discord and his twin
sons PHOBUS & DEIMUS which means
“panic” and “fear”
Once in a while when he was wounded,
he would run back to his father and
was healed.
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 god of fire and volcanoes
 Smith-god
 A lame god and was born weak and crippled
 He was a PARTHENOGENETIC, meaning he
was conceived without male fertilization.
 He also helped in creating Pandora
▪ zHe made weapons for the gods :
1. Aegis – Zeus & Athena
2. Arrows – Eros
3. Chariot – sun-god
4. Invincible armor – Achilles

A peace loving god.

Why was he crippled and lame?
1. Hera, displeased by the sight of her son, threw
Hephaestus from Mt. Olympus and he fell for a whole day
before landing in the sea. Nymphs rescued him and took
him to LEMNOS, where the people of the island cared for
him
2. Hephaestus took sides with Zeus & Hera when they were
quarrelling. Zeus got angry and threw him from Olympus
and he spent 9 days and 9 nights falling. He landed at
LEMNOS, with lame legs.
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A virgin goddess of the hearth, symbol of
home
 Every meal began and ended with an
offering to her
 She was the peacemaker among the gods
 She was also the protector of orphans
and lost children
 In respect of her, people never let their
fireplace to grow cold
DEMETER
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(Ceres) & PERSEPHONE
DIONYSUS (Bacchus)
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EROS (Cupid)
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SIRENS
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Centaurs
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Sources:

http://www.greek-gods.com
Mythology by Edith Hamilton