Mythology
The Major Gods Of Olympus
The ancient Greeks worshipped gods who they believed lived on Mount Olympus. The Romans had similar gods, with different names. The family of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses was large. Their family tree would have more than 50 figures on it. Here are some major gods.
|
Greek Name
|
Roman Name
|
Description
|
|
Aphrodite
|
Venus
|
Goddess of beauty and of love. She could make people fall in love. Using this skill against other gods made her powerful. Daughter of Zeus/Jupiter
|
|
Apollo
|
Phoebus
|
Zeus'/Jupiter's son. God of the sun, prophecy, medicine, poetry, and music. Every day, Apollo drove his golden chariot (the Sun) across the sky. He was handsome, coolheaded, and fierce in battle.
|
|
Ares
|
Mars
|
God of war; protector of the city. Son of Zeus/Jupiter.
|
|
Artemis
|
Diana
|
Apollo's twin sister, daughter of Zeus/Jupiter. Goddess of the moon and the hunt. A great huntress herself, she punished those who killed animals unnecessarily.
|
|
Athena
|
Minerva
|
Zeus'/Jupiter's daughter, goddess of wisdom and of war. Scholars, soldiers, and craftsmen prayed to her for sharp wits.
|
|
Cronus
|
Saturn
|
Father of Jupiter (Zeus), Neptune (Poseidon), Pluto (Hades), Juno (Hera), and Ceres (Demeter).
|
|
Demeter
|
Ceres
|
Goddess of crops and harvest, sister of Zeus/Jupiter.
|
|
Dionysus
|
Bacchus
|
God of wine, dancing, and theater. Son of Zeus/Jupiter.
|
|
Hades
|
Pluto
|
Zeus'/Jupiter's brother, ruler god of the underworld, where the dead lived as ghostly shadows.
|
|
Hephaestus
|
Vulcan
|
Son of Zeus and Hera (Jupiter and Juno). God of fire, craftsmen and blacksmiths. Ugly and lame, he could work magic with a hammer and anvil.
|
|
Hera
|
Juno
|
Queen of the gods, wife and sister of Zeus/Jupiter, goddess of marriage. Angered her husband by playing favorites with mortals.
|
|
Hermes
|
Mercury
|
Messenger god, had winged helmet and sandals. Son of Zeus/Jupiter.
|
|
Poseidon
|
Neptune
|
Zeus'/Jupiter's brother and god of the sea and of earthquakes. He could unleash storms. Sailors prayed to him for a safe voyage.
|
|
Zeus
|
Jupiter
|
Sky god, all-powerful king of the gods. Used a lightning bolt to strike down wrongdoers.
|