Greek Gods & Goddess

roles, iconography and info on the 12 Olympians

Zeus - Role (3)

• King of Gods

• God of skies and heavens

• Keeper of justice fate of men

Zeus - Iconography (4)

• Lightning bolts

• Eagle

• Sitting on a throne

• Sceptre

Zeus - Extra info (3)

• became leader after defeating his father Cronos

• Had kids with Gods & Humans

• His wife is his sister

Poseidon - Role (3)

• God of the sea

• Brother of Zeus

• Important to sailors on sea journeys

Poseidon - Iconography (2)

• Bearded man

• Tridents

Poseidon - Extra info (2)

• Involved in the Iliad & Odysseus

• Father of the Cyclops

Hades - role (2)

• Ruler of the underworld

• Brother of Zeus

Hades - Iconography (1)

• Cornucopia

Hades - Extra info (1)

• His wife Persephone is the daughter of the goddess Demeter

Hera - Role (3)

• Queen of the Gods

• Goddess of marriage, women, family, childbirth

• Wife of Zeus

Hera - Iconography (1)

• Diadem

Hera - Extra info (1)

• In the Iliad

Athena - Role (1)

• Goddess of war(strategy) and wisdom

Athena - Iconography (5)

• Owl

• Helmet

• Spear

• Aegis (chest plate)

• Olive tree

Athena - Extra info (2)

• Beat Poseidon in becoming patron of Athens

• Born a full adult of Zeus’ head

Demeter - Role (2)

• Goddess of agriculture and harvest

• Sister of Zeus

Demeter - Iconography (2)

• Diadem

• Bundle of wheat, grain or flowers

Demeter - Extra info (2)

• Lost her daughter (Persephone) to Hades

• Has a cult dedicated to her - Eleusinian Mysteries

Hestia - Role (1)

• Goddess of the home and heath (fireplace at homes)

Hestia - Iconography (1)

• Veiled head

Hestia - Extra info (1)

• Always had something sacrificed for her / cities would have a fire always lit for her

Hephaistos - Role (2)

• God of metalwork, fire and craftsmen

• Son of Zeus and Hera

Hephaistos - Iconography (2)

• Hammer

• Riding a donkey

Hephaistos - Extra info (2)

• Has a limp

• Born my Hera alone as revenge for Zeus having Athena alone (maybe)

Aphrodite - Role (1)

• Goddess of love and beauty

Aphrodite - Iconography (3)

• Rising from the sea in a shell

• Naked

• Doves

Aphrodite - Extra info (3)

• Started the trojan war (sort of yk golden apples)

• No human or God can resist her beauty

• Was born out of the sea

Artemis - Role (2)

• Goddess of hunting and wildlife

• Twin sister of Apollo

Artemis - Iconography (3)

• Moon

• Bow and Arrow

• Wild animals

Apollo - Role (3)

• God of music and the arts

• God of education, archery and prophecies

• Twin brother of Artemis

Apollo - Iconography (4)

• Sun

• Bow and Arrow

• Lyre

• Eternal youth

Apollo - Extra info (1)

• Has a cult in Delos

Hermes - Role (2)

• God of travels

• Messenger

Hermes - Iconography (3)

• Winged sandals

• Satchel

• Septre