Greek Mythology Ch: 1, 2
In Greek and Roman mythology, the gods and goddesses represented every part of nature, human life, and the cosmos. The Olympians were considered the greatest gods, dwelling on Mount Olympus, though Hades, ruler of the underworld, was also one of the great Olympian brothers.
Among the Olympians, Zeus (Jupiter) was king of gods and ruler of mankind, whose thunderbolt and eagle symbolized his supreme authority. His brother Poseidon (Neptune) ruled the sea, carrying the trident and often associated with horses and earthquakes. Their brother Hades (Pluto) reigned in the underworld, where he governed the dead, guarded by the three-headed dog Cerberus; his symbols included the helm of invisibility and precious metals from the earth. Their sister Hera (Juno) was queen of the gods and protector of marriage, symbolized by the cow and peacock. Another sister, Hestia (Vesta), guarded the hearth and home, with the hearth fire as her sacred symbol. Athena (Minerva), goddess of wisdom and war, sprang fully grown from Zeus’s head, and her symbols were the owl and olive tree. Apollo, god of the sun, music, poetry, and healing, was represented by the lyre, laurel tree, and the sun itself. His twin sister Artemis (Diana), goddess of the moon and hunting, carried the bow and arrow, and was symbolized by the moon and deer. Aphrodite (Venus) embodied love and beauty, rising from the sea foam, and was often linked with the dove, sparrow, and myrtle. Ares (Mars) was the god of war, symbolized by the vulture and dog. Hermes (Mercury), the swift messenger of the gods, wore winged sandals and carried the caduceus (herald’s staff), protecting travelers and merchants. Hephaestus (Vulcan), the lame god of fire and forge, created armor for the gods and was symbolized by the hammer and anvil. Demeter (Ceres) was central as goddess of agriculture, symbolized by wheat and the cornucopia. Dionysus (Bacchus), the god of wine, revelry, and theater, was symbolized by grapes, ivy, and the vine.
Beyond Olympus were many other deities. Pan was the rustic god of flocks and shepherds, half-man and half-goat, with the pipes as his symbol. Eros (Cupid), son of Aphrodite/Venus, was the mischievous god of love, armed with bow and arrows. Hebe, the goddess of youth, was cupbearer of the gods, while Iris, the rainbow goddess, served as a messenger of the gods. The Three Graces (Aglaia, Euphrosyne, Thalia) represented beauty, mirth, and charm. The Three Fates (Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos) spun, measured, and cut the thread of human life. The Nine Muses presided over the arts and sciences, from history (Clio) and astronomy (Urania) to tragedy (Melpomene), comedy (Thalia), and epic poetry (Calliope).
The sea world was filled with its own divinities. Nereus, the “Old Man of the Sea,” fathered the Nereids, fifty sea nymphs who helped sailors in need. His son Triton, the trumpeter of the sea, blew a conch shell. Another sea deity, Proteus, could change shape at will and foretell the future if captured. The wind gods, children of Aeolus, included Boreas (north wind), Notus/Auster (south wind), Eurus (east wind), and Zephyrus (west wind).
Nature itself was alive with divine spirits. The Naiads dwelt in rivers, fountains, and streams; the Oreads in mountains; and the Dryads in trees, especially oaks. To the Romans, unseen spirits called the Numina filled every part of life, while Lares (spirits of ancestors) and Penates (guardians of the household store) protected the home. Janus, god of beginnings, with two faces looking forward and backward, presided over all transitions. The Romans also remembered their early gods Saturn (Cronus in Greek) and Ops (Rhea), who paralleled the elder Titans.
In this way, the mythology of Greece and Rome presented a world filled with divine presences, where every force of nature and human life had a god, goddess, or spirit to represent it.
Symbols of the Great Gods (including Hades)
Zeus (Jupiter) → Thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree
Hera (Juno) → Peacock, cow, crown
Poseidon (Neptune) → Trident, horse, dolphin
Hades (Pluto) → Helm of invisibility, Cerberus, scepter, precious metals
Hestia (Vesta) → Hearth fire, flame
Athena (Minerva) → Owl, olive tree, aegis (shield)
Apollo → Lyre, laurel wreath, sun, bow
Artemis (Diana) → Moon, deer, bow and arrow, cypress
Ares (Mars) → Spear, vulture, dog
Aphrodite (Venus) → Dove, sparrow, myrtle, swan
Hermes (Mercury) → Winged sandals, caduceus, winged helmet
Hephaestus (Vulcan) → Hammer, anvil, forge, fire
Demeter (Ceres) → Wheat, cornucopia, torch
Dionysus (Bacchus) → Grapevine, ivy, wine cup, leopard
In Greek and Roman mythology, the gods and goddesses represented every part of nature, human life, and the cosmos. The Olympians were considered the greatest gods, dwelling on Mount Olympus, though Hades, ruler of the underworld, was also one of the great Olympian brothers.
Among the Olympians, Zeus (Jupiter) was king of gods and ruler of mankind, whose thunderbolt and eagle symbolized his supreme authority. His brother Poseidon (Neptune) ruled the sea, carrying the trident and often associated with horses and earthquakes. Their brother Hades (Pluto) reigned in the underworld, where he governed the dead, guarded by the three-headed dog Cerberus; his symbols included the helm of invisibility and precious metals from the earth. Their sister Hera (Juno) was queen of the gods and protector of marriage, symbolized by the cow and peacock. Another sister, Hestia (Vesta), guarded the hearth and home, with the hearth fire as her sacred symbol. Athena (Minerva), goddess of wisdom and war, sprang fully grown from Zeus’s head, and her symbols were the owl and olive tree. Apollo, god of the sun, music, poetry, and healing, was represented by the lyre, laurel tree, and the sun itself. His twin sister Artemis (Diana), goddess of the moon and hunting, carried the bow and arrow, and was symbolized by the moon and deer. Aphrodite (Venus) embodied love and beauty, rising from the sea foam, and was often linked with the dove, sparrow, and myrtle. Ares (Mars) was the god of war, symbolized by the vulture and dog. Hermes (Mercury), the swift messenger of the gods, wore winged sandals and carried the caduceus (herald’s staff), protecting travelers and merchants. Hephaestus (Vulcan), the lame god of fire and forge, created armor for the gods and was symbolized by the hammer and anvil. Demeter (Ceres) was central as goddess of agriculture, symbolized by wheat and the cornucopia. Dionysus (Bacchus), the god of wine, revelry, and theater, was symbolized by grapes, ivy, and the vine.
Beyond Olympus were many other deities. Pan was the rustic god of flocks and shepherds, half-man and half-goat, with the pipes as his symbol. Eros (Cupid), son of Aphrodite/Venus, was the mischievous god of love, armed with bow and arrows. Hebe, the goddess of youth, was cupbearer of the gods, while Iris, the rainbow goddess, served as a messenger of the gods. The Three Graces (Aglaia, Euphrosyne, Thalia) represented beauty, mirth, and charm. The Three Fates (Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos) spun, measured, and cut the thread of human life. The Nine Muses presided over the arts and sciences, from history (Clio) and astronomy (Urania) to tragedy (Melpomene), comedy (Thalia), and epic poetry (Calliope).
The sea world was filled with its own divinities. Nereus, the “Old Man of the Sea,” fathered the Nereids, fifty sea nymphs who helped sailors in need. His son Triton, the trumpeter of the sea, blew a conch shell. Another sea deity, Proteus, could change shape at will and foretell the future if captured. The wind gods, children of Aeolus, included Boreas (north wind), Notus/Auster (south wind), Eurus (east wind), and Zephyrus (west wind).
Nature itself was alive with divine spirits. The Naiads dwelt in rivers, fountains, and streams; the Oreads in mountains; and the Dryads in trees, especially oaks. To the Romans, unseen spirits called the Numina filled every part of life, while Lares (spirits of ancestors) and Penates (guardians of the household store) protected the home. Janus, god of beginnings, with two faces looking forward and backward, presided over all transitions. The Romans also remembered their early gods Saturn (Cronus in Greek) and Ops (Rhea), who paralleled the elder Titans.
In this way, the mythology of Greece and Rome presented a world filled with divine presences, where every force of nature and human life had a god, goddess, or spirit to represent it.
Symbols of the Great Gods (including Hades)
Zeus (Jupiter) → Thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree
Hera (Juno) → Peacock, cow, crown
Poseidon (Neptune) → Trident, horse, dolphin
Hades (Pluto) → Helm of invisibility, Cerberus, scepter, precious metals
Hestia (Vesta) → Hearth fire, flame
Athena (Minerva) → Owl, olive tree, aegis (shield)
Apollo → Lyre, laurel wreath, sun, bow
Artemis (Diana) → Moon, deer, bow and arrow, cypress
Ares (Mars) → Spear, vulture, dog
Aphrodite (Venus) → Dove, sparrow, myrtle, swan
Hermes (Mercury) → Winged sandals, caduceus, winged helmet
Hephaestus (Vulcan) → Hammer, anvil, forge, fire
Demeter (Ceres) → Wheat, cornucopia, torch
Dionysus (Bacchus) → Grapevine, ivy, wine cup, leopard