THE TWELVE OLYMPIAN GODS

The Greek Pantheon was ruled by a council of twelve great gods known as the Olympians, namely Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athene, Hephaistos, Ares, Aphrodite, Apollon, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysos, and sometimes Hestia.

These twelve gods demanded worship from all their subjects. Those who failed to honour any one of the Twelve with due sacrifice and libation were duly punished.
Directly and through a host of divine minions the Twelve gods governed all aspects of human life.

ZEUS

ZEUS

Modern Spellings: Zeus (En, Fr, Es, It)
Roman Name: Jupiter, Jove
God of: King of Heaven, Sky, Weather, Fate, Kingship
Parents: Titan Kronos & Titanis Rhea
Spouse: Hera
Offspring: Athene, Apollon, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hermes, Dionysos, Herakles, others see pg 2 (below)
Animals: Golden eagle, Wolf
Plants: Oak, Celery
Iconography: Lightning bolt, Lotus staff, Eagle, Oak wreath
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1; statues pgs 5-7 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 (other pages still under construction)

POSEIDON

POSEIDON

Modern Spell.: Poseidon (En), Poséidon (Fr), Poseidón (Es), Poseidone (It)
Roman Name: Neptunus (Neptune)
God of: King of the Seas, Rivers, Earthquakes, Horses
Parents: Titan Kronos & Titanis Rhea
Spouse: Amphitrite
Offspring: Triton, others see pg 2 (below)
Animals: Horse, Bull, Dolphin
Plants: Seaweed, Pine Tree
Iconography: Trident, Fish
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1; statues pgs 5- 6(below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 (other pages still under construction)

HERA

HERA

Modern Spellings: Hera (En, Es), Héra (Fr), Era (It)
Roman Name: Juno
Goddess of: Queen of Heaven, the Sky, Women, Marriage, Impregnation
Parents: Titan Kronos & Titanis Rhea
Spouse: Zeus
Offspring: Ares, Hephaistos, Eileithyia, Hebe, others see pg 2 (below)
Animals: Cuckoo, Peacock, Crane, Hawk, Cow (Heifer), Lion
Plants: Chaste Tree, Pomegranate
Iconography: Lotus staff, Crown, Lion
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pg 4-5 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 (other pages still under construction)

DEMETER

DEMETER

Modern Spellings: Demeter (En), Déméter (Fr), Deméter (Es), Demetra (It)
Roman Name: Ceres
Goddess of: Agriculture, Grain & Bread, The Afterlife
Parents: Titan Kronos & Titanis Rhea
Spouse: None
Offspring: Persephone, Ploutos, others see pg 8 (below)
Animals: Serpent, Swine, Gecko
Plants: Wheat, Barley, Poppy, Mint
Iconography: Grain Sheaf, Lotus Staff, Torch, Cornucopia
Images: Vase paintings pg 2; statues pgs 10-12 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13

APOLLON

APOLLON

Modern Spellings: Apollo (En, It), Apollon (Fr), Apolo (Es)
Roman Name: Apollo
God of: Music, Prophecy, Education, Healing & Disease
Parents: God Zeus and Titanis Leto
Spouse: None
Offspring: Asklepios, others see pg 2 (below)
Animals: Swan, Raven, Mouse, Wolf
Plants: Laurel, Larkspur
Iconography: Lyre, Laurel wreath or branch, Bow & arrows, Delphic tripod
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 1; statues pgs 4-8 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 (other pages still under construction)

ARTEMIS

ARTEMIS

Modern Spellings: Artemis (En), Artémis (Fr), Artemisa (Es), Artemide (It)
Roman Name: Diana
Goddess of: Hunting, Wild Animals, Children, Choirs, Disease
Parents: God Zeus & Titanis Leto
Spouse: None (Virgin Goddess)
Children: None (Virgin Goddess)
Animals: Deer, Bear, Wild boar, Guinea fowl, Quail
Plants: Cypress, Walnut, Amaranth-flower
Iconography: Bow & arrows, Hunting spears, Lyre, Deer
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pgs 12-15 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16

ATHENE

ATHENE

Modern Spellings: Athena (En), Athéna (Fr), Atenea (Es), Atena (It)
Roman Name: Minerva
Goddess of: Warcraft, Heroism, Counsel, Pottery, Weaving, Olives & Oil
Parents: God Zeus & Titanis Metis
Spouse: None (Virgin Goddess)
Offspring: None (Virgin Goddess)
Animals: Little Owl, Crow
Plants: Olive Tree
Iconography: Greek helmet, Aigis (Goat-skin breastplate), Spear
Images: Vase paintings see pg 1; statues pgs 2-5 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 (other pages still under construction)

ARES

ARES

Modern Spellings: Ares (En, Es, It), Arès (Fr)
Roman Name: Mars
God of: War, Battle, Manliness
Parents: God Zeus & Goddess Hera
Spouse: Perhaps Aphrodite
Offspring: Deimos, Phobos, others see pg 8 (below)
Animals: Serpent, Vulture, Woodpecker, Eagle-owl
Plants: Perhaps Manna Ash
Iconography: Helmet, Spear
Images: Vase paintings, mosaics & statues pg 2 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12

APHRODITE

APHRODITE

Modern Spellings: Aphrodite (En, Fr), Afrodita (Es), Afrodite (It)
Roman Name: Venus
Goddess of: Love, Beauty, Pleasure, Procreation
Parents: God Zeus & Titanis Dione; or Born of the Sea-Foam
Spouse: Hephaistos, perhaps later Ares
Offspring: Eros, others see pg 10 (below)
Animals: Turtle dove, Sparrow, Goose, Hare
Plants: Apple Tree, Rose, Myrtle, Myrrh Tree, Anemone, Lettuce
Iconography: Eros (winged godling), Apple, Dove
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statue see pg 16-17 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11- 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18

HERMES

HERMES

Modern Spellings: Hermes (En, Es), Hermès (Fr), Ermes (It)
Roman Name: Mercurius (Mercury)
God of: Animal Husbandry, Travel, Trade, Athletics, Language, Thievery, Good Luck, Guide of the Dead, Herald of the Gods
Parents: God Zeus & Nymphe Maia
Spouse: None
Children: Pan, others see pg 9 (below)
Animals: Tortoise, Sheep, Cattle, Hawk
Plants: Crocus, Strawberry Tree
Iconography: Kerykeion (Herald's Rod), Traveller's Cap, Winged Boots
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pg 12 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13

HEPHAISTOS

HEPHAISTOS

Modern Spell.: Hephaestus (En), Héphaïstos (Fr), Hefesto (Es), Efesto (It)
Roman Name: Vulcanus (Vulcan)
God of: Metalworking, Fire, Building, Scupture, Volcanism
Parents: Goddess Hera (no father)
Spouse: Aphrodite or Kharis
Offspring: See pg 6 (below)
Animals: Donkey, Crane
Plants: Fennel
Iconography: Hammer, Tongs, Anvil, Donkey, Crane-head
Images: Vase paintings pg 2; statue pg 11 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11

DIONYSOS

DIONYSOS

Modern Spellings: Dionysus (En, Fr), Dioniso (Es), Dionysio (It)
Roman Name: Liber, Bacchus
God of: Wine, Drunkenness, Madness, Parties, Vegetation, The Afterlife
Parents: God Zeus & Princess Semele
Spouse: Ariadne
Offspring: See pg 10 (below)
Animals: Leopard, Lynx, Tiger, Serpent, Bull, Goat, Donkey
Plants: Grape-vine, Ivy, Bindweed, Silver Fir
Iconography: Thyrsos (pine-cone tipped staff), Grapes, Ivy wreath, Leopard
Images: Vase paintings & mosaics pg 2; statues pgs 13-14 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15

HESTIA

HESTIA

Modern Spellings: Hestia (En, Fr, Es), Estia (It)
Roman Name: Vesta
Goddess of: Home, Hearth, Family, Meals, Sacrificial offerings
Parents: Titan Kronos & Titanis Rhea
Spouse: None (Virgin Goddess)
Offspring: None (Virgin Goddess)
Animals: Swine
Plants: Chaste Tree
Iconography: Chaste tree branch, Head veil, Kettle
Images: Vase paintings & statues pg 2 (below)
Theoi Pages: 1 - 2