Olympian Gods & Goddesses

Zeus

Roman name: Jupiter

Realm: sky

Symbol: thunderbolt, lightning, eagle, specter, or rod
Facts/Characteristics: the king of gods, can be angry but also a gentle and caring leader, fond of beautiful women which tends to get him into trouble

Hera

Roman name: Juno

Realm: marriage

Symbol: peacock

Facts/Characteristics: Zeus’ wife, queen of goddesses, jealous-wants to be Zeus’ only woman

Poseidon

Roman name: Neptune

Realm: sea

Symbol: trident, fish

Facts/Characteristics: Zeus’ brother, god of the sea and earthquakes, trident made by Hephaestus

Hades

Roman name: Pluto

Realm: underworld

Symbol: 3-headed dog (AKA Cerberus)
Facts/Characteristics: Lord of the Dead, king of the underworld, Zeus’ brother, gloomy and frightening, kidnapped and married Persephone

Athena
Roman name: Minerva

Realm: wisdom and strategic war

Symbol: helmet, spear, owl, shield

Facts/Characteristics: daughter of Zeus (born from his head literally), protector of Athens, competitive, earned Zeus’ shield, owl

Apollo

Roman name: Apollo

Realm: poetry, music, medicine, and sun

Symbol: gold bows and arrows
Facts/Characteristics: son of Zeus, god of poetry, music, medicine, and sun, known for oracles/prophecies, twin of Artemis/Diana

Artemis
Roman name: Diana
Realm: hunt, wild things, chastity, moon

Symbol: 3 hunting hounds, bow, and fawn

Facts/Characteristics: Daughter of Zeus, goddesses of hunt, wild things, chastity, and moon, protects women and small children, hates men, twin of Apollo
Aphrodite

Roman name: Venus

Realm: love and beauty

Symbol: cestus

Facts/Characteristics: goddess of love and beauty, born from sea foam, charming, fickle, vain, competitive, cestus, or magical belt that makes everyone fall in love, mother of Eros/cupid
Hermes

Roman name: Mercury

Realm: messenger

Symbol: winged helmet and sandals

Facts/Characteristics: son of Zeus, messenger of gods, god of science and invention, he is often pictured with a winged helmet and sandals, invented alphabet, boxing, gymnastic

Ares

Roman name: Mars

Realm: war

Symbol: helmet - crested, helmet or war helm

Facts/Characteristics: god of war, son of Zeus, extremely violent and prone to bloodthirst

Hephaestus

Roman name: Vulcan

Realm: fire and black-smith

Symbol: hammer anvil

Facts/Characteristics: son of Zeus and Hera, crippled blacksmith when he was thrown from Olympus by his mother (he was too ugly), god of fire, unhappily married to Aphrodite

Hestia

Roman name: Vestia

Realm: hearth and home

Symbol: hearth

Facts/Characteristics: Zeus’ sister, goddess of hearth (fire place) and home, gentle and kind, popular with the Greeks, not depicted in art because she wasn’t in adventures

Demeter

Roman name: Ceres

Realm: crops and harvest

Symbol: torch, crown, scepter, stalks of grain

Facts/Characteristics: goddess of crops and harvest, portrayed with daughter (Persephone), bond between heavens and earth (mother nature)

Dionysus

Roman name: Bacchus

Realm: wine and vegetation

Symbol: grapes and vegetation

Facts/Characteristics: partier of Olumpus, Zeus’ son, taught how to make wine, Hestia gave up throne for him, god of wine and vegetation.