1.1 the gods

epithet - word or phrase added to a name about a personal or physical quality

greece

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, has children with multiple women
represented by: bearded man with 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: bearded man holding a trident

hades
chthonic deity (chthonic - relating to gods that were connected to earth and underworld), brother of zeus and poseidon
ruler of the underworld
married to persephone - abducted her (homeric hymn to demeter)
represented by: cornucopia (horn shell w/ endless supply of food and drink)

hera
wife of zeus, queen of the gods, seen as powerful, independent
goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, family
represented by: wearing diadem (crown associated with gods or kings)

athena
goddess of war and wisdom
birth: zeus impregnated metis - goddess, zeus turned metis into a fly and swallowed the fly, developed a very bad headache and called hephaistos, hephaistos hit zeus’ head with hammer and athena came out as fully grown woman
won against poseidon in contest for city of athens
common epithet - 'Parthenos’ - the virgin, Parthenon - temple built to athena
represented by: owl, helmet, spear, aegis (breastplate or shield with image of gorgon)

demeter
sister of zeus
goddess of agriculture and the harvest
important to greeks as society was built on agriculture, depended on harvest for survival
mystery cult dedicated to her - Eleusinian Mysteries
represented by: wearing diadem, holding bundle of wheat/grain/flowers

hestia
goddess of the home and hearth
important to greeks as they had no electricity, every sacrifice in the home begins with an offering to hestia
fire was symbol of security of the city - city would have fire lit by officials as symbol of power
represented by: veiled head

hephaistos
god of metalworking, fire, craftsmen
son of zeus and hera
represented by: hammer

aphrodite
goddess of love and beauty
born from the sea
no human or god could resist her (excluding athena, hestia, artemis)
won golden apple
represented by: in a sea shell, naked

artemis
goddess of hunting, wildlife, childbirth
twin sister of apollo, associated with moon
represented by: bow and arrow, with wild arrows

apollo
god of music, arts, education, archery, prophecies
twin brother to artemis, associated with sun
represented by: bow and arrow, lyre, in eternal youth

hermes
god of travel and trade, messenger of the gods
only god (other than dionysus) who could travel to underworld
represented by: traveller’s cap, caduceus (traveller’s staff), winged sandals

ares
god of war
gives men courage to stand their ground
opposite to athena, ares - raw violence of war, athena - tactic and control
represented by: wearing his armour

dionysus
god of wine and theatre
son of zeus and theban - god and mortal
own festival - dionysia
represented by: thyrsus (staff tipped with pine cone), vines, animal skin

rome

jupiter
king of the gods, ruler of the skies
represented by: bearded man with lightning bolt, eagle, on throne with sceptre

neptune
god of seas, earthquakes, storms
brother of jupiter and pluto
linked with horses
represented by: bearded man holding 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, family
represented by: sceptre, 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 diadem, 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