Classical Studies Greek Gods

Chaos

Nothingness, disorder

Gaia

Goddess of the Earth, mother goddess, child of Chaos

Night

Goddess of night, child of Chaos

Erebus

Darkness, child of Chaos

Ouranos

God of the Heaven, husband of Gaia

Chronos

God of time (i.e. time running out for mortals), agriculture

Rhea

Wife of Chronos, goddess of the flow (e.g. of time), mother goddess, Zeus' mother

Eros

God of love and desire, child of Chaos

Tartaros

The underworld, child of Chaos

Zeus

God of the upper air, storms, guests and fate

Lightning bolt

held by Zeus

Aegis

held by Zeus

Eagle

Zeus's bird

Poseidon

God of the seas, earthquakes

Earthshaker

Epithet of Poseidon

Trident

held by Poseidon

Hades

Ruler of the underworld and the dead

Persephone

wife of Hades and queen of the underworld

Hera

Goddess of marriage, women and childbirth

Athena

Goddess of war, craft and wisdom

Helmet, spear and aegis

Often worn / carried by Athena

Parthenon

Temple in Athens named after Athena Parthenos (Athena the maiden)

Brighteyed

Epithet of Athena

Nike

Winged goddess of victory often associated with Athena

Demeter

Goddess of agriculture and the harvest, Persephone's mother

Bundle of wheat

Often held by Demeter

Eleusinian Mysteries

The cult of the mother goddess Demeter

Hestia

Goddess of hearth and home

Hephaistos

God of metalworking, fire and craftsmen

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty

Dove

Bird associated with Aphrodite

Artemis

Goddess of hunting, wildlife and childbirth

Bow and arrow

Often held by Artemis

Apollo

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

Phoebus

'Bright': epithet of Apollo

Lyre

Often held by Apollo

Hermes

God of travel, thieves, messages and trade

Caduceus

Wand with snakes twined around it, often held by Hermes

Winged sandals

Often worn by Hermes

Ares

God of war

Full armour

Often worn by Ares

Dionysus

God of wine and theatre

Dionysia

Festival honouring the Greek God of wine

Thyrsus

Wand tipped with a pine cone, often held by Dionysus

Animal skins

Often worn by Dionysus

Maenads

Female followers of Dionysus