1.1 the gods

Epithet

A word or phrase added to a name about a personal or physical quality.

Zeus

Son of Cronos, king of the gods, divided earth between himself and his two brothers, Hades and Poseidon. God of the skies and heavens, married to his sister Hera, and has children with multiple women. Represented by a bearded man with a lightning bolt, eagle, seated on a throne with a sceptre.

Poseidon

Brother of Zeus, son of Cronos, important for sailors, god of the seas, linked with horses. Lost the contest for the city of Athens against Athena. Represented by a bearded man holding a trident.

Hades

Chthonic deity, brother of Zeus and Poseidon, ruler of the underworld, married to Persephone. Represented by a cornucopia (horn shell with an endless supply of food and drink).

Hera

Wife of Zeus, queen of the gods, seen as a powerful, independent, goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, and family. Represented by wearing a diadem (crown associated with gods or kings).

Athena

Goddess of war and wisdom. Birth: Zeus impregnated Metis, Zeus turned Metis into a fly and swallowed the fly, developed a very bad headache and called Hephaistos, Hephaistos hit Zeus' head with a hammer and Athena came out as a fully grown woman. Won against Poseidon in the contest for the city of Athens. Common epithet - 'Parthenos' - the virgin, parthenon - temple built to athena. Represented by an owl, helmet, spear, and aegis (breastplate or shield with the image of a gorgon).

Demeter

Sister of Zeus, goddess of agriculture and the harvest. Important to Greeks as society was built on agriculture and depended on the harvest for survival. mystery cult dedicated to her - Eleusinian Mysteries. Represented by wearing a diadem and holding a bundle of wheat/grain/flowers.

Hestia

Goddess of the home and hearth. Important to Greeks as they had no electricity, and every sacrifice in the home begins with an offering to Hestia. Fire was a symbol of the security of the city. Represented by a veiled head.

Hephaistos

God of metalworking, fire, and craftsmen. Son of Zeus and Hera. Represented by a hammer.

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty. Born from the sea. No human or god could resist her (excluding Athena, Hestia, Artemis). Won the golden apple. Represented by being in a sea shell and being naked.

Artemis

Goddess of hunting, wildlife, and childbirth. Twin sister of Apollo. Associated with the moon. Represented by a bow and arrow with wild arrows.

Apollo

God of music, arts, education, archery, and prophecies. Twin brother of Artemis. Associated with the sun. Represented by a bow and arrow, lyre, and eternal youth.

Hermes

God of travel and trade, messenger of the gods. Only god (other than Dionysus) who could travel to the underworld. Represented by a traveler's cap, caduceus (traveler's staff), and winged sandals.

Ares

God of war. Gives men courage to stand their ground. Opposite to Athena. Represented by wearing his armor.

Dionysus

God of wine and theater. Son of Zeus and a Theban - god and mortal. Own festival - Dionysia. Represented by a thyrsus (staff tipped with a pine cone), vines, and animal skin.

Jupiter

King of the gods, ruler of the skies. Represented by a bearded man with a lightning bolt, eagle, on a throne with a sceptre.

Neptune

God of seas, earthquakes, and storms. Brother of Jupiter and Pluto. Linked with horses. Represented by a bearded man holding a trident.

Pluto

God of the underworld. Brother of Jupiter and Neptune. Not often represented in Roman art.

Juno

Wife of Jupiter, queen of the gods, goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, and family. Represented by a sceptre and peacock.

Ceres

Goddess of harvest and grain. Important to Roman plebs as they relied on grain. Cerealia - festival to her, celebrated 12th-19th April. Represented by wearing a diadem and holding wheat/grain/flowers.

Vesta

Goddess of the hearth and fire. Had her own priesthood and temple complex - Vestal Virgins. Her flame symbolised security of the state. Represented by: veiled head

Vulcan

god of metalworking, fire, craftsmen. vulcanalia - festival to him, crafted the shield Aeneas used in battle, represented by: hammer

Venus

goddess of love and beauty, mother of Aeneas, represented by: naked, with cupid

Minerva

goddess of war and wisdom, represented by: owl, helmet, spear, aegis

Diana

goddess of hunting, childbirth, the moon, represented by: bow and arrow

Apollo

god of music, arts, education, archery, prophecies, represented by: lyre, in eternal youth

Mercury

god of travel and trade, messenger of the gods, represented by: traveller’s cap, caduceus, winged sandals

Mars

god of war, sometimes associated with agriculture, father of romulus (founder of rome), represented by: armour

Bacchus

god of wine and theatre, represented by: thyrsus, vines, animal skin