Greek Religion Part 1 : 12 Major Deities

Why are these major deities known as olympians?

They were believed to live in the clouds above mount olympus in Northern greece.

Zeus

King of the Gods, King of the

Skies, Keeper of Justice, Fate

of Men, Xenia, Thunder

Poseidon

God of the seas, Earthquakes,

Rivers, Storms, Horses, He

was in a contest for Athens with

Athena,

Hades

Ruler of the underworld

Hera

Wife of Zeus - Queen of the Gods, Marriage,

Women, Childbirth and the

Family

Athena

War and Wisdom (military

tactics and intelligence)Patron deity of Athens

Demeter

Goddess of Agriculture,

Harvest, Childbirth and Fertility - sister of Zeus

Hestia

Hearth

Hephaestus

Metalworking, Fire, Craftsmen

and Blacksmiths

Aphrodite

Love and beauty

Artemis

Hunting, Wildlife, Childbirth,

Moon, Wild Animals, Nature,

Young Maidens

Apollo

Music, Arts, Education,

Archery, Prophecies, Sun,

Medicine

Hermes

Travel, trade, messenger of the gods

Ares

War, brutality

Dionysus

Wine, Theatre, Revelry,

Childbirth, Ritual Madness

3 virgin goddesses

Athena, Artemis and Hestia