Overview of Greek Gods and Their Depictions in Art

Zeus

King of the Gods

"Ruler of the skies"

Promiscuous, has children with several women (human and divine)

Zeus

Depictions in Art

Bearded man with lightning bolt

Could be holding an eagle

Could be seated on throne with a sceptre

Poseidon

God of the seas

Brother to Zeus

Sides with Greeks in the Iliad as Trojans never paid him for helping build their city.

Key god in contest for Athens against Athena, which he lost.

Linked with horses

Poseidon

Depictions in Art

Bearded man holding a trident

Hades

Ruler of the underworld

Abduction of Persephone in Homeric Hymn to Demeter

Hades

Depictions in Art

Cornucopia

Often with wife, Persephone

Hera

Queen of the gods

Zeus' wife

God of marriage, women, childbirth and the family. Powerful, independent goddess who is not to be crossed. Opposes Trojans (due to Paris not choosing her in the Golden Apple)

Seeks revenge on the women who bore Zeus' children and the children themselves (e.g. Myth of Heracles)

Hera

Depictions in Art

Wears a diadem

Athena

Goddess of war and wisdom

Birth - sprang from Zeus' head as an adult woman

Epithet is "the virgin" (Parthenos - from which Parthenon took its name)

Athena

Depictions in Art

Helmet, spear and aegis (breastplate or shield with image of gorgon in the centre)

Often with Nike

Often show with an owl

Demeter

Goddess of agriculture and the harvest

Very important to Greeks as they depended on the harvest for survival.

Homeric hymn to Demeter (loses her daughter to Hades)

Mystery Cult dedicated to her - Eleusinian Mysteries

Demeter

Depictions in Art

Wears a diadem and holding wheat, grain or flowers

Hestia

Goddess of Home and the Hearth

Vital to Greeks survival and every sacrifice that took place in the home started with an offering to her.

Her fire came to be a symbol of the security of the city

Hestia

Depictions in Art

Rarely depicted in Art but is shown with a veiled head

Hephaistos

God of Metalworking, fire and craftsmen

Iliad - says he is son of Zeus and Hera.

Poet Hesiod says son of Hera who bore him alone (in revenge for Athena). Zeus threw him from Olympus which caused a foot injury. Landed in Lemnos where the people looked after him.

Hephaistos

Depictions in Art

Shown with a hammer

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty

Born from the sea

Winning goddess in the story of the Golden Apple.

Her actions (giving Helen of Sparta to Trojan prince Paris), result in the Trojan War.

Caught having an affair with Ares by husband Hephaistos who ensnares them in unbreakable net.

Aphrodite

Depictions in Art

Often shown rising from a sea shell

Naked in sculptures

May have sea creatures around her

Artemis

Goddess of hunting, wildlife and childbirth

Twin sister of Apollo

Associated with the moon

Epithet - Phoebe ("shining")

Artemis

Depictions in Art

Shown with a bow and arrow, shown with wild animals

Apollo

God of music and the arts, education, archery and prophecies

Twin brother to Artemis

Associated with the sun

Epithet - Phoebus (meaning "shining")

Apollo

Depictions in Art

Shown with his bow and arrow and lyre

Shown in eternal youth

Ares

God of war

Homeric Hymns - he gives men the courage to stand their ground to uphold peace

Iliad - merciless killer,

Ares should be considered as representing raw violence of the fight (rather than Athena - tactics/strategy)

Ares

Depictions in Art

Wears his armour

Dionysus

God of wine and theatre

Son of Zeus and mortal woman (Semele) so attracts wrath of Hera

Zeus hides him from Hera

Outsider (as mortal mother) not seen as one of the original Olympians

Pivotal to public and private celebrations

Dionysia - festival to him in Athens

Dionysus

Depictions in Art

Thyrsus - Staff tipped with pine, vines, animal skins

Often with his companions, the Maenads and satyrs

May be riding/chariot drawn by panther/tigers

Hermes

God of travel and trade

Messenger of the Gods

Only god, other than Dionysus, who could travel to the underworld.

Hermes

Depictions in Art

Winged sandals

Traveller's Cap

Caduceus (traveller's staff)