Greek Mythology: The Twelve Great Olympians

Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, had a very popular stature. His mother Maia was the daughter of Atlas, who held the sky on his shoulders. To most of us he is the most familiar of all the gods. He appears more than any other god in the tales of Greek Mythology. He was graceful and swift. He had wings on his sandals, hat, and on his magical wand, the Caduceus. He is often referred to as the messenger god because he was Zeus' personal messenger who, "flies as fleet as though to do his bidding" (Hamilton 34).

Apollo, he was an important god in Greek and Roman mythology. In Greek myths he was the son of Zeus - the king of all gods. Apollo was the god of light, purity, and the sun. The Greeks and

He was also the shepherd god and protected flocks of sheep. He had twin sister Artemis, who was a huntress and goddess of forest creatures. Another was Aphrodite, goddess of love and protector of marriage. She had a magic girdle which made her irristable to gods and mortals alike. Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, she was goddess of spring time.

Ares was the Greek god of war and the most unpopular god because of his aggressiveness, quick temper and his unquenchable thirst for conflict. Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera and is from Thrace, home of a fierce people in the northeast of Greece. Ares was noted for his beauty and courage, which helped him win the affections of Aphrodite (which at the time was married to Hephaistos). When he was caught, the punishment was temporary banishment from Mount Olympus. Ares represented the more brutal and bloody side of war, which was in contrast to Athena who represented the strategic side of war. Ares was usually accompanied by his children with Aphrodite, Phobos, and Deimos. Although Ares embodied the physical aggression for success in war the Greeks thought of him as dangerous and an overwhelming instable force in battle. The "Roman Counterpart" (Roman equivalents) to Ares was Mars, who was also known as "The Father to The Roman People." Ares' worship was largely in the northern areas of Greece, and, although devoid of the social, moral, and theological associations usual with major deities, his cult had many interesting local features. At Sparta, in early times, at least, human sacrifices were made to him from among the prisoners of war. Ares' special powers were those of strength and physicality. As the god of war, he was a superior fighter in battle and caused great bloodshed and destruction wherever he went. Ares was usually pictured as a warrior carrying a spear and a shield. No one really liked his activities because, wherever he went, he left traces of misfortune and aberration behind. In Sparta, Ares was viewed as a model soldier: his resilience, physical strength, and military intelligence were unrivaled. An ancient statue, representing the god in chains, suggests that the martial spirit and victory were to be kept in the city of Sparta. That the Spartans admired him is indicative of the cultural divisions that existed between themselves and other Greeks

In the Iliad, a book wrote by Homer, Athena represented “the intellectual and civilized side of war and the virtues of justice and skill.”(“Athena”, Britannica) She was represented by a golden shield and helmont, a spear, a spindle and the number 7. The olive tree also represents her and her wisdom because she gave it as a gift to a city.(“Goddess symbols:Athena”, Goddess Gifts)Athena’s male counterpart(Greek Gods, “Athena”) Ares lived on Mount olympus as the god of war and representing Mars. He was seen as a warrior in art. Ares represented the bloody and gruesome parts in battle. ( “Ares” Britannica) His symbols are the spear, helmet, chariot, boar, vulture, species of owls and the flaming torch. He is represented by the color red because red is the color of war and Mars. ( “Ares” Greek Gods and

The Greek society also included the Greek heroes, who were also forms of Demigods. For example, Hercules had extraordinary strength, courage, and other marvelous gifts. Hercules is probably the most well known of all the Greek heroes. He was Zeus’s last mortal son, and the only man born of a mortal woman to become a god when he died. In my opinion, the Greek heroes were probably more well known for their actions than the actions of the Olympic gods and goddesses.

Artemis was a strong, independent, and fierce figure in the Ancient Greek and Roman time period. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She’s the twin sister of Apollo. She was the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting. She was also known as the protector of nature and hunt. Artemis appears in many different myths throughout Greek mythology. She also played a huge role throughout the Trojan War. Her most well known sign is the crest moon. Artemis was an adventurous and powerful goddess.

Ares the Olympian God of War also known as Mars in Roman culture. Ares is known as a short-tempered man,who represented war, violence, and victory. Ares can usually be seen with his shield, spear ,and helm. Ares is very rarely seen in literature in comparison to other gods, but when he is he is usually being embarrassed by the other gods. Ares is also known for his part in the Trojan war when he chose the losing side of the war. Ares is the God of War, son of Zeus and Hera, and one of the most prominent and powerful Gods of Olympus. He was born after the Great War of the Gods and Titans.(ARES - Greek God of War & Battlelust)

Ares the god of war otherwise known by the Romans as Mars he is one of the main twelve olympians. His mother is Hera and his father is Zeus. Thought Zeus is not very fond of Ares. Aaron J. Atsma, creator and editor of the website Theoi Greek Mythology: Exploring Mythology in Literature & Art states that Zeus might not be fond of ares because Hera made herself pregnant by a special Plant and not by Zeus himself. (Atsma)

Their primary belief laid in Gods, of which the most important were Zeus, Hera, Apollo and Athena. Zeus, the king of the gods, and his wife Hera resided on mount Olympus. Of their children, Apollo was one of the better known; he was recognized by many things, amongst which were youth, music, healing, prophecy, plague and much more. Another well-known child of Zeus was, Athena. Athena was most widely known as the goddess of wisdom, but also a warrior goddess.

Artemis, the god of hunt and the moon is also the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She is also the twin sister of Apollo. She is famous for taking care of pregnant women and hunting with her quiver and arrows. It is important to know about her because she is a big part of Zeus’s family tree and of the gods.Artemis was “created” when her mother gave birth to her on the island of Ortygia. As a young girl, she was a helper of midwives. Zeus and Leto were the parents and Apollo was the twin brother. Her quiver was created and given to her by Cyclops, the one eyed giant.A strange myth is that a handsome giant named Orion was Artemis’s companion in hunting. But her brother Apollon was very jealous of this giant and planned to trick his older sister. He

Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and the natural environment. Her Roman name was Diana. She was the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods, and the Titaness, Leto. She was also the twin sister of Apollo, the god of the sun. Artemis was born on an island called Ortigia. Leto, her mother, had given birth to the twins after being chased by the jealous wife of Zeus, Hera. Artemis helped her mother give birth to her Apollo as soon as she was born, and became the protector of childbirth and labour.

Apollo was the son of Zeus and the nymph Leto. Hera was outraged about Zeus’ affair, so she convinced the Earth to refuse Leto to give birth anywhere on its surface. But the island Delos allowed Leto to give birth, because it was a new island and not yet classed as a place on Earth. Apollo had a twin sister; the Goddess Artemis – the Goddess of the hunt.

Apollo According to the Greek poet Hesiod, “Apollo is the son of the Olympian Zeus and Titan Leto who is the goddess of dark nights. Artemis is his twin sister, who is also an Olympian”(Hesiod). He is the god of sun, light, music, and prophecy. Besides, he is also the god for both medicine and healing.

Ares is the god of war. His parents are Zeus and Hera, and his siblings are Hebe and Eileithyia. Ares is disliked by both of his parents, and most of the olympian gods due to his personality. His personality is known to be belligerent and easily tempered. In wars, he is the opposite of Athena. While Athena uses tactical strategy and military planning, Ares is feral and crude of violence. Ares is also the lover of Aphrodite, wife of Hephaestus, and had eight children together. Three of his eight children: Deimos and Phobos, and sometimes Eris, would always accompany Ares to war (Aris).