| In classical-era mythology, twelve Gods and | | | | God Mars was connected to Ares, but he was also |
| Goddesses ruled from Mt. Olympus. Zeus was the | | | | seen as a God of agriculture and held in higher regard |
| deemed the king of the Gods and Hera his queen. | | | | by mortals. |
| This pantheon of twelve Gods and Goddesses are | | | | Dionysus |
| considered the Olympians, representing primary | | | | Born to Zeus and the mortal Semele in the city of |
| aspects of life such as war, love and death. Six male | | | | Thebes, Dionysus was regarded as one of the gods |
| gods exist in the pantheon, two (Zeus and Poseidon) | | | | of the epiphany or "gods that come." He was the |
| were born of Titan Gods themselves and overthrew | | | | God of Wine, Merriment and Ecstasy and fittingly a |
| their father to rule the universe. Hades, their brother, | | | | popular god often honored with festivals. Writings of |
| also fought by their side, but after the victory he was | | | | the time contend that he possessed an androgynous |
| given rule of the Underworld, so did not sit atop Mt. | | | | beauty and long, flowing locks. This could be the |
| Olympus with his brothers. | | | | influence of one tale that suggests Hermes was |
| Zeus - King of the Gods | | | | tasked by Zeus to hide the boy away to protect him |
| Zeus was King of the Gods and ruler of Mt. | | | | from the vengeful Hera. Hermes took him to his |
| Olympus. He was the youngest son to Cronus | | | | mortal relatives and commanded that they raise the |
| and Rhea, Titans who were themselves children of | | | | boy as a girl to deceive Hera and protect him. |
| Ouranos and Gaia, the sky and Earth in classical | | | | Hephaestus |
| Greek mythology. Zeus overthrew his father Cronus | | | | Regarded as a gentle and compassionate god, he |
| with the aid of his two brothers, Poseidon and Hades | | | | was the god of metal, blacksmiths, artisans, craftsman, |
| in a ten-year battle known as the Titanomachy, or | | | | metallurgy, volcanoes and fire. Thrown from Mt. |
| more popularly as "The Clash of the Titans." Zeus | | | | Olympus by his mother Hera, he is the only God |
| fathered many of the characters in Greek mythology | | | | depicted as repulsive. He was also described as |
| with Goddesses, deities and mortals alike. Greek | | | | lame, due to the injuries he suffered in his fall from Mt. |
| artists frequently portrayed Zeus either astride his | | | | Olympus. Hephaestus is credited with the creation of |
| throne ruling over Olympus or striding forward with | | | | many of Greek mythologies most magnificent |
| thunderbolt in hand. Jupiter is the Roman equivalent | | | | weapons and tools including: Hermes' sandals and |
| of Zeus. | | | | helmet, the Aegis breastplate, the armor of Achilles, |
| Poseidon | | | | Helio's chariot, Eros bow and arrow and the thrones at |
| God of the seas, bringer of earthquakes and brother | | | | Mt. Olympus. The Romans named this god Vulcan. |
| to Zeus and Hades. He was given reign of the seas | | | | Hermes |
| after the battle of the Titans. He is perhaps the most | | | | With wings on his sandals, Hermes was possessed of |
| iconic of the Greek gods, his trident a familiar and | | | | great speed and assumed the role of "messenger of |
| pervasive symbol. The ancient Greeks believed he | | | | the Gods" and transporter of souls to the |
| had the ability to offer calm waters for sailing and | | | | Underworld. He was the only God permitted to enter |
| bountiful fishing expeditions, but when angered would | | | | the realms of Heaven, Earth and the Underworld. |
| smash his trident into the ground causing earthquakes | | | | Like all Gods, he was possessed of fallibility: the |
| and tidal waves. He was a popular god and | | | | impulse to steal. This shortcoming earned him the |
| considered the protector of many Greek cities. | | | | honor of God of Thieves. The son of Zeus, Hermes |
| Apollo | | | | was a trusted ally of the king of Gods and frequent |
| Apollo was perhaps the most multi-faceted God, seen | | | | confidant. He wore a "petasus" (a shallow, round hat) |
| as God of light and the sun; prophecy and truth; healing | | | | and was often portrayed with wings on his shoulders |
| and medicine; music, art and poetry. Son of Zeus and | | | | along with his famed winged sandals. The Roman |
| Leto, he has a twin sister, the virgin Goddess | | | | incarnation of Hermes is Mercury. |
| Artemis. He was regarded as the most handsome | | | | Hades |
| of the Gods, always depicted as youthful and | | | | Brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades fought alongside |
| clean-shaven. He was considered to have both | | | | his brothers in the Titanomachy, helping to destroy their |
| great capacity to heal and to bring forth pestilence and | | | | father Cronus and begin the rule of the Olympian |
| plague. His symbols are the bow, lyre and laurel. He | | | | Gods. After their victory in the battle of the Titans, |
| is also known as "Apollo" by the Romans. | | | | Hades and his brothers divided rule of the world. |
| Ares | | | | Drawing lots, Zeus was given the sky, Poseidon the |
| The God of war was named Ares. The Greeks | | | | seas and Hades the underworld. Popular notions of |
| viewed him more as the God of bloodlust or | | | | Hades are a bit distorted, probably from Christian |
| slaughter. Ares was seen as unpredictable, chaotic | | | | views of hell. In Greek mythology, Hades was a |
| and barbaric. It was his half-sister Athena who acted | | | | benevolent ruler who sought balance in the |
| as goddess of strategic warfare. The vulture and | | | | Underworld, but was capable of rage and vindictive |
| dog were the sacred animals of Ares. The Roman | | | | actions if crossed. |