Okay, so here's how we start...
We are going to have the gods and the goddesses at one shot, their names, characteristics, some of their strengths and weaknesses, even pictures i got from the net, because as we go along, we will be encountering their names most of the time. It's a good thing we have this as a reference. Mind you, sometimes their names will be very confusing...
Let me share the complete family tree of the gods provided by Ms. Hamilton, as an overview.
As what we can see, Heaven (Uranus) and Earth (Gaea) were the ancestors. The titans, namely: Cronus and Rhea; Coeus and Phoebe; and Ocean and Thetys were the parents of the gods. Do you see Zeus often in this family tree? This is because he married some of the goddesses in the family, even his sisters. (Weird, isn't it?!)
The twelve (12) Olympian gods and goddesses were as follows: (They were called Olympians because they lived in Mount Olympus.)
ZEUS (JUPITER)
He was the chief-god, the lord of the sky, the rain-god, and the cloud-gatherer who wielded the thunderbolt. His power was greater than that of all divinities together. Nevertheless, he is not omnipotent (all-powerful and all-mighty) and omniscient (all-knowing), unlike the Only God we know. He can be opposed and deceived. But still, he is the most glorious and the greatest of all gods.
Among the goddesses he married were, Here, Demeter, Leto, Maia and Dione. Check the family tree. Aside from the goddesses, there were a lot of mortals too. (We'll have them in our succeeding discussions.) He is represented by falling in love with one woman after another, resulted to numerous tricks to hide his infidelity to his wife. (Zeus' love affairs were so funny and exciting with his ever-jealous wife, Hera, along the way, always searching for him.)
His breastplate was the Aegis, his bird was the Eagle and his tree was the oak.
HERA (JUNO)
She was Zeus' wife and sister. She was the protector of marriage and married women were in her peculiar care. She was chiefly engaged with punishing the woman Zeus fell in love with even if they yielded only because he tricked them. It made no difference to her how reluctant and innocent any og them were. She treated them alike. Her implacable anger followed them and their children too.
She was also the protector of heroes and the inspirer of heroic deeds. The cow and peacock were sacred to her. Argos was her favorite city.
POSEIDON (NEPTUNE)
He was the ruler of the seas. Zeus' brother and second in eminence. His wife was Amphitrite, granddaughter of a titan, Ocean. He had a splendid palace beneath the sea but he was often found in Olympus.
Besides his being Lord of the Sea, he gave the first horse to men, and was honored as much. Storm and Calm were under his control. He was commonly called "earth-shaker" and was always shown carrying his trident, a three-pronged spear with which he would shake and shatter whatever he pleased. He had some connection with bulls as well as with horses.
HADES (PLUTO)
He was the third brother among the Olympians who drew for his share the underworld and the rule over the dead. He was also the god of Wealth, of the precious metals hidden in the earth. He had a far-famed cap or helmet which made whoever wore it invisible. It was rare that he left his dark realm to visit Olympus or the earth. He was not a welcomed visitor.
He was unpitying, inexorable, but just: a terrible, but not an evil god. His wife was Persephone. (Proserpine) who was carried away from the earth and made Queen of the Lower World.
ATHENA (MINERVA)
She was the daughter of Zeus alone. No mother bore her. Full-grown and in full Armour, she sprang from his head. She was a fierce, ruthless battle-goddess who defended the state and the home against the enemies. She was the goddess of the city, the protector of civilized life, handicrafts and architecture. She was the inventor of the bridle, who first tamed horsed for men to use,
She was Zeus' favorite child. He trusted her with his aegis, his buckler and his thunderbolt. She was described as "gray-eyed" and sometimes translated as "flashing-eyed". Of the three virgin goddesses, she was the chief. She was the embodiment of wisdom, reason and purity.
Athens was her city. Olice, created by her was her tree and the owl was her bird.
PHOEBUS APOLLO
He was the son of Zeus and Leto. Born in a little island of Delos. He was the Master Musician who delighted Olympus as he played on his golden lyre. He was also the lord of the silver bow, the archer-god, far shooting, and the healer as well who first taught men the healing art. He was also the god of light, to whom there was no darkness at all. His name Phoebus meant "brilliant" or "shining". He was also the god of truth. No false word ever fell from his lips.
He was the direct link between gods and men, guided men to know the divine will. Showed them how to made peace with gods. He was the purifier too. Able to cleanse even those stained with blood of their kindred.
The laurel was his tree. Many creatures were sacred for him: chief among them was the dolphin and the crow.
ARTEMIS (DIANA)
She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, Apollo's twin sister, She was one of the tree maiden/ virgin goddess of Olympus. She was the lady of wild things and the huntsman-in-chief to the gods. She was careful to preserve the young; she was the protectress of dewy youth everywhere.
As Phoebus was the Sun, she was the Moon. Also called Phoebe or Selene (Luna in Latin).
She is identified as "the goddess with three forms": Selene in the sky, making all things beautiful with her light; Artemis on earth, the lovely huntress; and Hecete in the lower world. Hecete was the goddess of the dark of the moon, the black nights when the moon is hidden.
The cypress was sacred to her, and the wild animals especially the deer.
APHRODITE (VENUS)
She was the daughter of Zeus and Dione. She was the goddess of love and beauty, the Laughter-loving goddess and the irresistible goddess who stole away even the wits of the wise. The winds and the storm clouds flee before her. Without her there is no joy of loveliness everywhere.
She is the wife of Hephaestus (Vulcan), the lame and ugly god of the forge or fire.
The myrtle was her tree, the dove was her bird, sometimes the sparrow and the swan.
HERMES (MERCURY)
He was the son of Zeus and Maia. He was graceful and swift in motion, on his feet were winged sandals, wings were on his low-crowned hat and magic wand too. He was Zeus' messenger.
Of all the gods, he was the shrewdest and cunning, in fact he was the master thief who started upon his career before he was a day old. He stole away Apollo's herd. Zeus made him gave them back to Apollo and he won Apollo's forgiveness by presenting him with the lyre, which he had just invented.
He was also the god of commerce and market, the protectors of traders. He was also the solemn guide of the dead. The divine herald who led the souls down to their last home.
ARES (MARS)
He was the god of war, the son of Zeus and Hera. He was magnificent in his shining armor, redoubtable and invincible. He was known as the lover of Aphrodite and was held up to the contempt of the Olympians by Aphrodite's husband Hephaestus.
His bird was the vulture and the dog was his animal.
HEPHAESTUS (VULCAN/ MULCIBER)
He was the god of fire, son of Zeus and Hera, Ares' brother and Aphrodite's husband. Among the perfectly beautiful immortals, he only was the ugly and lame as well. There was a story told that when Hera saw that he was deformed, she cast him out of heaven. But that happened in a more distant past because he was honored as the workman of the immortal, their armorer and their smith who makes their dwellings and furnishings as well as their weapon. His forge is often said to be under a volcano.
He was a kindly peace-loving god, popular in earth and in heaven. With Athena, he was important in the life of the city. They were patrons of handicrafts: as he the protector of smiths and she , the weavers. When children are formally admitted to the city organization, the god of the ceremony was Hephaestus.
HESTIA (VESTA)
She was Zeus' sister, and like Athena and Artemis, a virgin goddess. She was the goddess of the hearth or fire. The symbol of the home, around which the newborn child will be carried before it could be received by the family. Every meal began and ended with and offering to her.
In Rome, her fire was cared for by six virgin priestesses, called Vestals.
The lesser gods and goddesses of Olympus, coming up next...
Let me share the complete family tree of the gods provided by Ms. Hamilton, as an overview.
As what we can see, Heaven (Uranus) and Earth (Gaea) were the ancestors. The titans, namely: Cronus and Rhea; Coeus and Phoebe; and Ocean and Thetys were the parents of the gods. Do you see Zeus often in this family tree? This is because he married some of the goddesses in the family, even his sisters. (Weird, isn't it?!)
The twelve (12) Olympian gods and goddesses were as follows: (They were called Olympians because they lived in Mount Olympus.)
He was the chief-god, the lord of the sky, the rain-god, and the cloud-gatherer who wielded the thunderbolt. His power was greater than that of all divinities together. Nevertheless, he is not omnipotent (all-powerful and all-mighty) and omniscient (all-knowing), unlike the Only God we know. He can be opposed and deceived. But still, he is the most glorious and the greatest of all gods.
Among the goddesses he married were, Here, Demeter, Leto, Maia and Dione. Check the family tree. Aside from the goddesses, there were a lot of mortals too. (We'll have them in our succeeding discussions.) He is represented by falling in love with one woman after another, resulted to numerous tricks to hide his infidelity to his wife. (Zeus' love affairs were so funny and exciting with his ever-jealous wife, Hera, along the way, always searching for him.)
His breastplate was the Aegis, his bird was the Eagle and his tree was the oak.
HERA (JUNO)
She was Zeus' wife and sister. She was the protector of marriage and married women were in her peculiar care. She was chiefly engaged with punishing the woman Zeus fell in love with even if they yielded only because he tricked them. It made no difference to her how reluctant and innocent any og them were. She treated them alike. Her implacable anger followed them and their children too.
She was also the protector of heroes and the inspirer of heroic deeds. The cow and peacock were sacred to her. Argos was her favorite city.
He was the ruler of the seas. Zeus' brother and second in eminence. His wife was Amphitrite, granddaughter of a titan, Ocean. He had a splendid palace beneath the sea but he was often found in Olympus.
Besides his being Lord of the Sea, he gave the first horse to men, and was honored as much. Storm and Calm were under his control. He was commonly called "earth-shaker" and was always shown carrying his trident, a three-pronged spear with which he would shake and shatter whatever he pleased. He had some connection with bulls as well as with horses.
HADES (PLUTO)
He was the third brother among the Olympians who drew for his share the underworld and the rule over the dead. He was also the god of Wealth, of the precious metals hidden in the earth. He had a far-famed cap or helmet which made whoever wore it invisible. It was rare that he left his dark realm to visit Olympus or the earth. He was not a welcomed visitor.
He was unpitying, inexorable, but just: a terrible, but not an evil god. His wife was Persephone. (Proserpine) who was carried away from the earth and made Queen of the Lower World.
ATHENA (MINERVA)
She was the daughter of Zeus alone. No mother bore her. Full-grown and in full Armour, she sprang from his head. She was a fierce, ruthless battle-goddess who defended the state and the home against the enemies. She was the goddess of the city, the protector of civilized life, handicrafts and architecture. She was the inventor of the bridle, who first tamed horsed for men to use,
She was Zeus' favorite child. He trusted her with his aegis, his buckler and his thunderbolt. She was described as "gray-eyed" and sometimes translated as "flashing-eyed". Of the three virgin goddesses, she was the chief. She was the embodiment of wisdom, reason and purity.
Athens was her city. Olice, created by her was her tree and the owl was her bird.
PHOEBUS APOLLO
He was the son of Zeus and Leto. Born in a little island of Delos. He was the Master Musician who delighted Olympus as he played on his golden lyre. He was also the lord of the silver bow, the archer-god, far shooting, and the healer as well who first taught men the healing art. He was also the god of light, to whom there was no darkness at all. His name Phoebus meant "brilliant" or "shining". He was also the god of truth. No false word ever fell from his lips.
He was the direct link between gods and men, guided men to know the divine will. Showed them how to made peace with gods. He was the purifier too. Able to cleanse even those stained with blood of their kindred.
The laurel was his tree. Many creatures were sacred for him: chief among them was the dolphin and the crow.
She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, Apollo's twin sister, She was one of the tree maiden/ virgin goddess of Olympus. She was the lady of wild things and the huntsman-in-chief to the gods. She was careful to preserve the young; she was the protectress of dewy youth everywhere.
As Phoebus was the Sun, she was the Moon. Also called Phoebe or Selene (Luna in Latin).
She is identified as "the goddess with three forms": Selene in the sky, making all things beautiful with her light; Artemis on earth, the lovely huntress; and Hecete in the lower world. Hecete was the goddess of the dark of the moon, the black nights when the moon is hidden.
The cypress was sacred to her, and the wild animals especially the deer.
She was the daughter of Zeus and Dione. She was the goddess of love and beauty, the Laughter-loving goddess and the irresistible goddess who stole away even the wits of the wise. The winds and the storm clouds flee before her. Without her there is no joy of loveliness everywhere.
She is the wife of Hephaestus (Vulcan), the lame and ugly god of the forge or fire.
The myrtle was her tree, the dove was her bird, sometimes the sparrow and the swan.
He was the son of Zeus and Maia. He was graceful and swift in motion, on his feet were winged sandals, wings were on his low-crowned hat and magic wand too. He was Zeus' messenger.
Of all the gods, he was the shrewdest and cunning, in fact he was the master thief who started upon his career before he was a day old. He stole away Apollo's herd. Zeus made him gave them back to Apollo and he won Apollo's forgiveness by presenting him with the lyre, which he had just invented.
He was also the god of commerce and market, the protectors of traders. He was also the solemn guide of the dead. The divine herald who led the souls down to their last home.
He was the god of war, the son of Zeus and Hera. He was magnificent in his shining armor, redoubtable and invincible. He was known as the lover of Aphrodite and was held up to the contempt of the Olympians by Aphrodite's husband Hephaestus.
His bird was the vulture and the dog was his animal.
He was the god of fire, son of Zeus and Hera, Ares' brother and Aphrodite's husband. Among the perfectly beautiful immortals, he only was the ugly and lame as well. There was a story told that when Hera saw that he was deformed, she cast him out of heaven. But that happened in a more distant past because he was honored as the workman of the immortal, their armorer and their smith who makes their dwellings and furnishings as well as their weapon. His forge is often said to be under a volcano.
He was a kindly peace-loving god, popular in earth and in heaven. With Athena, he was important in the life of the city. They were patrons of handicrafts: as he the protector of smiths and she , the weavers. When children are formally admitted to the city organization, the god of the ceremony was Hephaestus.
She was Zeus' sister, and like Athena and Artemis, a virgin goddess. She was the goddess of the hearth or fire. The symbol of the home, around which the newborn child will be carried before it could be received by the family. Every meal began and ended with and offering to her.
In Rome, her fire was cared for by six virgin priestesses, called Vestals.
The lesser gods and goddesses of Olympus, coming up next...
