Zeus
Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus overthrew his Father Cronus. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the
draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. He is married to Hera but, is famous for his many affairs. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths.Zeus, the great presiding deity of the universe,
the ruler of heaven and earth, was regarded by the Greeks, first, as the god of
all aerial phenomena; secondly, as the personification of the laws of nature;
thirdly, as lord of state-life; and fourthly, as the father of gods and
men. As the god of aerial phenomena he could, by shaking his
aegis, produce storms, tempests, and intense darkness. At his command the mighty
thunder rolls, the lightning flashes, and the clouds open and pour forth their
refreshing streams to fructify the earth. As the personification of the operations of nature, he represents those grand
laws of unchanging and harmonious order, by which not only the physical but also
the moral world is governed. Hence he is the god of regulated time as marked by
the changing seasons, and by the regular succession of day and night, in
contradistinction to his father Cronus, who represents time absolutely, i.e.
eternity. As the lord of state-life, he is the founder of kingly power, the upholder of
all institutions connected with the state, and the special friend and patron of
princes, whom he guards and assists with his advice and counsel. He protects the
assembly of the people, and, in fact, watches over the welfare of the whole
community. As the father of the gods, Zeus sees that each deity performs his or her
individual duty, punishes their misdeeds, settles their disputes, and acts
towards them on all occasions as their all-knowing counsllor and mighty
friend. As the father of men, he takes a paternal interest in the actions and
well-being of mortals. He watches over them with tender solicitude, rewarding
truth, charity, and uprightness, but severely punishing perjury, cruelty, and
want of hospitality. Even the poorest and most forlorn wanderer finds in him a
powerful advocate, for he, by a wise and merciful dispensation, ordains that the
mighty ones of the earth should succour their distressed and needy
brethren.
Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus overthrew his Father Cronus. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the
draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. He is married to Hera but, is famous for his many affairs. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths.Zeus, the great presiding deity of the universe,
the ruler of heaven and earth, was regarded by the Greeks, first, as the god of
all aerial phenomena; secondly, as the personification of the laws of nature;
thirdly, as lord of state-life; and fourthly, as the father of gods and
men. As the god of aerial phenomena he could, by shaking his
aegis, produce storms, tempests, and intense darkness. At his command the mighty
thunder rolls, the lightning flashes, and the clouds open and pour forth their
refreshing streams to fructify the earth. As the personification of the operations of nature, he represents those grand
laws of unchanging and harmonious order, by which not only the physical but also
the moral world is governed. Hence he is the god of regulated time as marked by
the changing seasons, and by the regular succession of day and night, in
contradistinction to his father Cronus, who represents time absolutely, i.e.
eternity. As the lord of state-life, he is the founder of kingly power, the upholder of
all institutions connected with the state, and the special friend and patron of
princes, whom he guards and assists with his advice and counsel. He protects the
assembly of the people, and, in fact, watches over the welfare of the whole
community. As the father of the gods, Zeus sees that each deity performs his or her
individual duty, punishes their misdeeds, settles their disputes, and acts
towards them on all occasions as their all-knowing counsllor and mighty
friend. As the father of men, he takes a paternal interest in the actions and
well-being of mortals. He watches over them with tender solicitude, rewarding
truth, charity, and uprightness, but severely punishing perjury, cruelty, and
want of hospitality. Even the poorest and most forlorn wanderer finds in him a
powerful advocate, for he, by a wise and merciful dispensation, ordains that the
mighty ones of the earth should succour their distressed and needy
brethren.
Poseidon
Poseidon is the god of the sea and protector of all waters. Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and Hades. After the over throw of their father Cronus he drew lots with his bothers for the shres of the world. His Prize was to become Lord of the sea. He is worshiped by seamen. He married Amphitrite, the granddaughter of Oceanus. At one point he desired Demeter. To put him off Demeter asked him to make the most beautiful animal that the world has ever seen. So to impress him he created the first horse. His weapon is a trident which can shake the earth and shatter any object. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality. He was greedy. He had a series of disputes with other gods when he tried to take over their cities.
Poseidon is the god of the sea and protector of all waters. Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and Hades. After the over throw of their father Cronus he drew lots with his bothers for the shres of the world. His Prize was to become Lord of the sea. He is worshiped by seamen. He married Amphitrite, the granddaughter of Oceanus. At one point he desired Demeter. To put him off Demeter asked him to make the most beautiful animal that the world has ever seen. So to impress him he created the first horse. His weapon is a trident which can shake the earth and shatter any object. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality. He was greedy. He had a series of disputes with other gods when he tried to take over their cities.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly. He is also lame. Accounts as to how he became lame vary. Some say that Hera, upset by having an ugly child, flung him from Mount Olympus into the sea, breaking his legs. Others that he took Hera's side in an argument with Zeus and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus. He is the god of fire and the forge. He is the smith and armorer of the gods. He uses a volcano as his forge. He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. He is kind and peace loving. His wife is Aphrodite. Sometimes his wife is identified as Aglaia.
Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly. He is also lame. Accounts as to how he became lame vary. Some say that Hera, upset by having an ugly child, flung him from Mount Olympus into the sea, breaking his legs. Others that he took Hera's side in an argument with Zeus and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus. He is the god of fire and the forge. He is the smith and armorer of the gods. He uses a volcano as his forge. He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. He is kind and peace loving. His wife is Aphrodite. Sometimes his wife is identified as Aglaia.
Apollo
Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music, playing a golden
lyre. The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who taught
man medicine. The god of light. The god of truth, who can not speak a lie.
One of Apollo's more important daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky.
He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the Greek world to divine the future. His tree was
the laurel. The crow is his bird. The dolphin is his animal.
Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music, playing a golden
lyre. The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who taught
man medicine. The god of light. The god of truth, who can not speak a lie.
One of Apollo's more important daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky.
He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the Greek world to divine the future. His tree was
the laurel. The crow is his bird. The dolphin is his animal.
Ares
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He is the god of war. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward. When caught in an act of adultery with Aphrodite her husband Hephaestus is able publicly ridicule him. His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog.
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He is the god of war. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward. When caught in an act of adultery with Aphrodite her husband Hephaestus is able publicly ridicule him. His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog.
Hermes
He was the cleverest of the Olympian gods, and messenger to all the other gods.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is Zeus messenger. He is the fastest of the gods. Hewears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He is the god of thieves and god of commerce. He is the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. He invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy , weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.
He was the cleverest of the Olympian gods, and messenger to all the other gods.
Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is Zeus messenger. He is the fastest of the gods. Hewears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He is the god of thieves and god of commerce. He is the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. He invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy , weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.
Hades is the brother of Zeus. After the overthrow of their Father Cronus he drew lots with Zeus and Poseidon, another brother, for shares of the world. He had the worst draw and was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He is a greedy god who is greatly concerned with increasing his subjects. Those whose calling increase the number of dead are seen favorably. The Erinnyes are welcomed guests. He is exceedingly disinclined to allow any of his subjects leave. He is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible. He rarely leaves the underworld. He is unpitying and terrible, but not capricious. His wife is Persephone whom Hades abducted. He is the King of the dead but, death itself is another god, Thanatos