The 12 Great OlympiansThe 12 Great Olympians

Cronus and RheaCronus and Rhea

Cronus was the youngest of the Cronus was the youngest of the Titans, and was pictured as the ruler Titans, and was pictured as the ruler of the Titan dynasty. of the Titan dynasty.

After castrating his father at the After castrating his father at the instigation of his mother, he became instigation of his mother, he became the supreme ruler of the world. the supreme ruler of the world.

He and his sister wife, Rhea, were He and his sister wife, Rhea, were the parents of the Olympians.the parents of the Olympians.

Why are they called Why are they called Olympians?Olympians?

They were the 3They were the 3rdrd dynasty of gods dynasty of godsThey succeeded The TitansThey succeeded The Titans Inhabited the mountain called Inhabited the mountain called

OlympusOlympus

OlympusOlympus

Believed to be a mountain because Believed to be a mountain because referred to as such in many places.referred to as such in many places.

the entrance to it was a great gate of the entrance to it was a great gate of clouds kept by the seasons. clouds kept by the seasons.

Within were the Gods' dwellings, Within were the Gods' dwellings, where they lived and slept and where they lived and slept and feasted on ambrosia and nectar and feasted on ambrosia and nectar and listened to the lyre of Apollo. listened to the lyre of Apollo.

““No wind ever shakes the untroubled No wind ever shakes the untroubled peace of Olympus; no rain ever falls peace of Olympus; no rain ever falls there, or snow; but the cloudless there, or snow; but the cloudless firmament stretches around it on all firmament stretches around it on all sides and the white glory of sunshine sides and the white glory of sunshine is diffused upon its walls" - Homer is diffused upon its walls" - Homer

ZeusZeus

Supreme ruler of Supreme ruler of Olympian DynastyOlympian Dynasty

Mightier than all Mightier than all others put togetherothers put together

Ruler of the sky, Ruler of the sky, rain god and cloudsrain god and clouds

““bright shining bright shining light of heaven”light of heaven”

HeraHera

Sister and wife of ZeusSister and wife of Zeus Often referred to as his inferiorOften referred to as his inferior She was the protector of marriage, and She was the protector of marriage, and

married women were her peculiar care.married women were her peculiar care. Had 4 Children with ZeusHad 4 Children with Zeus

Hephaestus :   God of fire and the chief Hephaestus :   God of fire and the chief workman of the godsworkman of the gods

Ares :   God of warAres :   God of war Hebe  :  Goddess of youth and wife of Heracles Hebe  :  Goddess of youth and wife of Heracles

in heavenin heaven Eileithyia :  Goddess of childbirthEileithyia :  Goddess of childbirth

PoseidonPoseidon

Ruler of the seaRuler of the seaHe gained the rank or rating as ruler He gained the rank or rating as ruler

of the waves, by drawing lots at a of the waves, by drawing lots at a Council Meeting of the GodsCouncil Meeting of the Gods

Zeus took the upper world for Zeus took the upper world for himself, and gave the under world to himself, and gave the under world to his other brother, Hades. his other brother, Hades.

DemeterDemeter

Demeter was the goddess of corn, Demeter was the goddess of corn, fruit and agriculture in general and a fruit and agriculture in general and a goddess of fertility. goddess of fertility.

As such she was, in many regions, As such she was, in many regions, associated with Poseidon as the god associated with Poseidon as the god of fertilizing water. of fertilizing water.

Had daughter with Zeus named Had daughter with Zeus named PersephonePersephone

ApolloApollo

Son of Zeus and LetoSon of Zeus and LetoTwin brother to ArtemisTwin brother to ArtemisApollo's birthplace was the island of Apollo's birthplace was the island of

Delos (originally an island that floated, Delos (originally an island that floated, until Zeus chained it to the bottom of until Zeus chained it to the bottom of the sea so that Leto may be comfortable the sea so that Leto may be comfortable while giving birth to Apollo and Artemis. while giving birth to Apollo and Artemis.

Depicted with bow and arrow because Depicted with bow and arrow because he was seen as a very unforgiving god.he was seen as a very unforgiving god.

ArtemisArtemis

Goddess of the moon, hunting and Goddess of the moon, hunting and chastity chastity

She also carried bow and arrowsShe also carried bow and arrowsArtemis was the goddess of life, Artemis was the goddess of life,

childbirth and of children after they childbirth and of children after they were born, and of animals.were born, and of animals.

She was a great huntressShe was a great huntress

AtheneAthene

Also called Pallas Athene.Also called Pallas Athene.She was the Goddess of wisdomShe was the Goddess of wisdomLike Zeus, Athene could send storms Like Zeus, Athene could send storms

and rough weatherand rough weatherShe was the mistress and Zeus was She was the mistress and Zeus was

the master of thunder and lightning the master of thunder and lightning and she too would hurl thunderbolts to and she too would hurl thunderbolts to enforce her will and frighten her foes. enforce her will and frighten her foes.

Athene continuedAthene continued

Athene invented the plow and the Athene invented the plow and the rake, and created the olive tree, rake, and created the olive tree, services that made her the protector services that made her the protector of agricultureof agriculture

She was also a teacher. She was also a teacher.

AphroditeAphrodite

goddess of love and beauty goddess of love and beauty Two different versions of birthTwo different versions of birthDaughter of Zeus and DioneDaughter of Zeus and DioneSprang forth from foam that formed Sprang forth from foam that formed

around the limbs of the castrated around the limbs of the castrated UranusUranus

HermesHermes

Messenger and herald of the godsMessenger and herald of the godsHermes was frequently requested to Hermes was frequently requested to

speak in public, and to do a great speak in public, and to do a great deal of traveling; he therefore deal of traveling; he therefore became the god of eloquence and became the god of eloquence and speech, and the god of roads who speech, and the god of roads who would protect travelers like himself. would protect travelers like himself.

Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Atlas)Atlas)

AresAres

god of Wargod of WarSon of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and HeraVery violent and had a horrible Very violent and had a horrible

tempertemperOther gods and goddesses couldn’t Other gods and goddesses couldn’t

stand himstand him

Hephaestus Hephaestus

Son of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and Heragod of fire and the chief workman of god of fire and the chief workman of

the gods.the gods.He was lame and deformed so his He was lame and deformed so his

parents were ashamed of himparents were ashamed of himMade his mother a golden throne Made his mother a golden throne

that chained her in it and he had to that chained her in it and he had to be called again.be called again.

Dionysus Dionysus

born in Thebes, the son of Zeus and born in Thebes, the son of Zeus and Semele Semele

god of wine and merry making god of wine and merry making Dionysus was the only god whose Dionysus was the only god whose

parents were not both godsparents were not both gods

There were two other Olympian gods, There were two other Olympian gods, though they are not usually included though they are not usually included as part of the twelveas part of the twelve

HadesHades

God of the underworldGod of the underworldPersephone was his queenPersephone was his queenHades was also known as the god of Hades was also known as the god of

wealth and precious metal that lay wealth and precious metal that lay hidden deep within the earth hidden deep within the earth

Son of Cronus and RheaSon of Cronus and Rhea

HebeHebe

The wife of Heracles in heaven The wife of Heracles in heaven The goddess of youthThe goddess of youthDaughter of Zeus and HeraDaughter of Zeus and Hera

SourcesSources

Bierlein, J.F.Bierlein, J.F. Parallel Myths. Parallel Myths. New New York:Ballantine Wellspring, 1994.York:Ballantine Wellspring, 1994.

Evslin, Evslin and Hoopes. Evslin, Evslin and Hoopes. The Greek The Greek Gods.Gods. New York: Scholastic Inc, 1966. New York: Scholastic Inc, 1966.

Hamilton, Edith. Hamilton, Edith. MythologyMythology. New . New York: Warner Books, 1969York: Warner Books, 1969