Aether

God of Light

Aphrodite

Venus

The goddess of love, desire and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. There are two accounts of her birth. One says she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione. The other goes back to when Cronus castrated Uranus and tossed his severed genitals into the sea. Aphrodite then arose from the sea foam on a giant scallop and walked to shore in Cyprus.

Zeus and Hera arranged for their son, Hephaestus to marry her. Although Hephaestus was deformed and ugly, she did not mind marrying him. She thought that he would give her the freedom she needed, instead of controlling her as the other gods had tried. However, Aphrodite loved being independent and glamorous more than anything, and soon grew tired of her marriage. At this point, she had an affair with Ares. Hephaestus caught the two together, but Aphrodite showed no shame or remorse for her actions. She felt that this was acceptable behavior as the goddess of love. Aphrodite is attributed with the dolphin, the dove, the swan, the pomegranate, and the myrtle and lime are her trees. The dove, the swan, and the sparrow her birds.

Apollo

Apollo/Phoebus

According to myth, Apollo was the son of Leto and Zeus and the twin brother of the goddess Artemis. He was born on Delos, the site of his most important cult festival and because of this he is often called Delian Apollo. The other principal site of Apollonian worship was Delphi. His grandmother was the Titan Phoebus ("Brilliant"). Later he came to be associated with light and the sun.

Apollo had one of the widest ranges of divine attributes. He was mainly represented as a beautiful young male. The patron of archery and bows, his arrows brought plague and sickness to humans, and paradoxically Apollo was also the patron of medicine; he was father of Asklepios, the greatest of mythical doctors. The patron of music and the arts, he was often depicted with a lyre. One myth tells how the satyr Marsyas picked up the flute with Athene had cursed and dared to challenge Apollo to a music competition. Like most Olympians, the god hated to see his prowess challenged, and when Marsyas lost the competition Apollo had him flayed alive for his insolence.

Apollo had many loves, most which ended in tragedy. Cassandra, the daughter of King Priam of Troy, agreed to give herself to Apollo, who in return promised her the gift of prophecy. When she reneged, Apollo added a twist to his gift, by ensuring that she was never believed.

The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who taught man medicine. The god of light. The god of truth, who can not speak a lie. No mortal or god was ever known to surpass him. Zeus, Apollo’s father, gave him a golden chariot pulled by four white horses. This gift was also accompanied by a golden bow and arrows. One of Apollo's more important daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses an drive the Sun across the sky. His tree was the laurel. The crow his bird. The dolphin his animal.

Ares

Mars

The son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He is the god of war. He was tall and handsome, but also very vain and cruel. Mars is portrayed as a warrior in full battle armor, wearing a crested helmet and bearing a shield. His sacred animals are the wolf and the woodpecker. Ares loved war, and did not care who won, as long as blood was shed. When ever he heard the sound of clashing arms, he would prepare himself for battle, and go out to fight. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward. Although Ares was an immortal god, he was sometimes wounded. However, he would go to his father, Zeus, to be healed. Zeus did not approve of this behavior shown by Ares. Many mortals also grew tiresome of his actions. Ares was hot tempered, and did not bother to worry about the justice involved in a war. It is odd that he is the Greek god of war, for Athene was far better at fighting than he was. Ares was unsuccessful in war on many occasions. Hades was the only god to appreciate Ares’ behavior, for the casualties of war brought new subjects to the Underworld. Aphrodite was the only goddess willing to endure Ares’ temperament, although Ares gained little honor from their relationship. When caught in an act of adultery with Aphrodite her husband Hephaestus is able publicly ridicule him. His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog.

Artemis/Phoebe

Diana

The daughter of Zeus and Leto. Artemis has a wide range of functions in Greek mythology, like her twin brother Apollo. A virgin goddess, she was fiercely protective of her own chasity and that of her companions. She was the goddess of the hunt and often ran in the wild with her female attendants. Although she killed animals, she was also the divine protector of young creatures. With similar contradictions, as the goddess of childbirth she protected women in labor, but she also brought death and sickness to women.

Like Apollo, Artemis was represented with a bow. She was usually depicted as a young woman in hunting garb, sometimes with young animals, and often sporting horns in the shape of crescent moon: she was frequently associated with the moon, in the same way that Apollo was associated with the sun. Many of her numerous cults were connected with female times of transition such as birth, puberty and death. On reaching puberty, noble Athenian girls went through Artemisian initiation rites at Brauron, a few miles from Athens, where they were called "bears," - the she-bear was a symbol of the goddess.

Artemis rode in a silver chariot pulled by four white horses. She also had a silver bow and arrow, a pack of hounds, twenty wood nymphs, and twenty water nymphs. Artemis had great hunting skill, and roamed the countryside looking for a target worthy of her skill. Artemis is associated with the moon, and is attributed with the bow and arrow. The cypress is her tree. All wild animals are scared to her, especially the deer.

Asclepius

A god of healing. His symbol is a snake. His parents were Apollo and Coronis. His birth was accompanied by scandal. While carrying him Coronis slept with Ischys. This was considered an insult. The act was reported to Apollo by a crow. Apollo turned all crows, until then white, to black to mark that they were untrustworthy. Apollo then felt compelled to slay Coronis with his arrows. He rescued Asclepius from her funeral pyre. Asclepius was raised by Chiron. Chiron taught him healing which he went on to perfect. Athena gave him two vials of Gorgon's blood. Blood from the right side of the Gorgon revived life. Blood from the left killed. Asclepius started using the blood to raise dead mortals. For this overstepping of bounds Zeus killed him with a thunderbolt. Apollo could not take revenge on Zeus himself. So he killed the Cyclopes that forged the thunderbolt.

Asklepios

Aesculapius

God of Health and Medecine

Ate

The Greek personification of infatuation, the rash foolishness of blind impulse, usually caused by guilt and leading to retribution. The goddess of discord and mischief, she tempted man to do evil, and then lead him to ruin. She once even managed to entrap Zeus, but he hurled her down from the Olympus. Now she wanders the earth, as a kind of avenging spirit, but still working her mischief among mankind. Her sisters, the Litai, follow her and repair the damage she has wrought to mortals. Ate is regarded as the daughter of Zeus and Eris, the goddess of strife.

Athena

Minerva

The Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill.She was Zeus’ favorite daughter and because of this she was allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt.. Zeus went to see an oracle when Athena’s mother, Metis; goddess of prudence, was pregnant with Athena. He wished to know if the child would be a boy or a girl. The oracle replied that the child would be a girl, and that she would be very talented and skilled. However, the oracle also warned him that his second child with Metis would overthrow, and kill him as Zeus did to his father, Cronus. Zeus did not want to risk being overthrown, and swallowed Metis to prevent the prophesy from coming true. However, Zeus got a great pain in the form of headaches. Hephaestus tried to relieve the pain by splitting Zeus’ skull open. When he did this, Athena emerged fully grown from Zeus’ head. Athena was very fond of a certain city in Greece, and decided to give it a great gift. Athene grew an olive tree for the citizens of the city, allowing them to get food, oil, and wood from it. She called this city Athens. Athene also gave man new knowledge. She taught man how to spin wool and make woven cloth from it. She also showed man how to make the wheel, the axe, the flute and the trumpet, the plough, and sails for the Greek ships. She is fierce and brave in battle but, only fights to protect the state and home from outside enemies. She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. She is a virgin goddess.

Demeter

Ceres

Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest. The daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and is a sister to Zeus. She taught mankind the art of sowing and ploughing so they could end their nomadic existence. This also associated Demeter as being the goddess of planned society. Demeter is also associated with controlling the seasons. Her daughter, Persephone, was abducted by Hades to be his wife. Demeter grew angry at her daughter's loss, and neglected her responsibilities to the mortals. The crops failed, and the trees and plants died. Zeus then became worried and alarmed. He sent Hermes to demand the return of Persephone. However, because Persephone had eaten while in the Underworld, Hades had a claim on her. It was then decided that Persephone would spend four months each year in the Underworld, the rest of the year with her mother, Demeter. During the months of Persephone's absence, Demeter became very sad and lonely. During this time, the crops, tree, and flowers would die. This created winter. When Persephone returns, spring would arrive.

Dionysos

Bacchus

Dionysus is the god of the vine. He invented wine and spread the art of tending grapes. He has a dual nature. On the one hand bringing joy and divine ecstasy. On the other brutal, unthinking, rage. Thus reflecting both sides of wines nature. If he chooses Dionysus can drive a man mad. No normal fetters can hold him or his followers. Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele. He is the only god to have a mortal parent. After the death of his mother he was born from Zeus alone which conferred immortality upon him.

Dionysus is also one of the very few that was able to bring a dead person out of the underworld. Dionysus became one of the most important gods in everyday life. He became associated with several key concepts. One was rebirth after death. Here his dismemberment by the Titans and return to life is symbolically echoed in tending vines, where the vines must be pruned back sharply, and then become dormant in winter for them to bear fruit. The other is the idea that under the influence of wine, one could feel possessed by a greater power. Unlike the other gods Dionysus was not only outside his believers but, also within them. At these times a man might be greater then himself and do works he otherwise could not. The festival for Dionysus is in the spring when the leaves begin to reappear on the vine. It became one of the most important events of the year. It's focus became the theater. Most of the great Greek plays were initially written to be performed at the feast of Dionysus. All who took part writers, actors, spectators were regarded as scared servants of Dionysus during the festival.

Eileithyia

Lucina

According Homer Eileithyia was the goddess of birth-pain, but Homer was often thinking about a few Eileithyiai, the daughters of Hera. Also Hesiod presented Eileithyia as the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hera, but Artemis too were sometimes taking a role of this goddess and her title. Pausanias is describing two versions about the deity's origin. (1) In the first story Eleithyia came from the Hyperboreans (from the legendary north) to Delos to help Leto, when she was giving birth to Artemis and Apollo. In the second case Eileithyia was born in a Cretan cave at Amnisos.

There was a strong cult of the goddess Eileithyia in Crete, especially in the cities Lato and Eleutherna. The goddess is mentioned in Linear script B from Knossos as Eleuthia, which is a dialect form of her name, variously written in Greek language.(2) The offerings of different sorts found from her caves at Amnisos and at Inatos confirm that her cult was very popular in Crete. One stalagmite in Amnisos cave was perhaps treated as an aniconic religious image of the goddess. The cult in Crete continued from the Minoan period throughout the Hellenistic and Roman times.

We have not any prove about worshipping the goddess Eileithyia in the Greek mainland during Mycenaean period. In tablets with Linear script B from Pylos she is not mentioned too. But many small terracotta figures (kourotrophos), are demonstrating , that a sacred nurse, taking care about children, existed.

In Greek mythological iconography Eileithyia took a place probably under the Homeric tradition. One, but mostly two women - Eileithyiai attend Zeus during the birth of Athena on the decoration of some black figured vases from the 6th century BC. Evidently, they are sisters, -daughters of Hera-, their type and clothes are similar.

The sanctuaries and shrines of the goddess Eileithyia in the Greek mainland during Hellenistic and Roman time are mentioned by Pausanias in Athens, Tenea and Argos, but mainly in Aigion, where existed a cult statue of the goddess from Damophon.(3) The wooden statue with the face, hands and feet from Pentelic marmor was dressed with fine cloths. Eileithyia was holding in both of her hands torches, because she was bringing children into light, out of darkness. With this attribute - torch - sometimes Artemis is depicted as well as Persephone.

Eos

Aurora

The Greek personification of the dawn, the daughter of the Hyperion and Theia and the sister of Helios (sun) and Selene (moon). By Astraeus she was the mother of the four winds: Boreas, Eurus, Zephyrus and Notus; and also of Heosphorus and the Stars. She was depicted as a goddess whose rosy fingers opened the gates of heaven to the chariot of the Sun. Her legend consists almost entirely of her intrigues. She first slept with Ares; this earned her the wrath of Aphrodite who punished her by changing her into a nymphomaniac. Her lovers were Orion, Cephalus and Tithonus.

Eris

Discordia

Eris is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She is the goddess of discord. In addition to her main activity of sowing discord, she frequently accompanies her brother Ares to battles. On these occasions she rides his chariot and brings her son Strife. Eris is unpopular and frequently snubbed as a guest by the other gods and mankind. This was not always a safe thing to do. The most dramatic example being the Trojan War, which was an indirect result of not inviting Eris to a wedding.

Eros

Cupid

Eros is the son of Aphrodite. Eros is the god of love. In particular erotic, romantic, love. He is often represented blindfolded because, love is often blind. His "weapon" is darts or arrows. In either case the tips have been magically treated to produce either uncontrollable love or insurmountable disinterested in the first person seen be Eros's victim after wounding.

Greek Name

Roman Name

Occupation

Hades

Pluto

The brother of Zeus. After the overthrow of their Father Cronus he drew lots with Zeus and Poseidon, another brother, for shares of the world. He had the worst draw and was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. All the dead - good or bad - traveled to this land, guided by Hermes. Hades is a greedy god, and was greatly concerned with increasing his number of subjects in the Underworld. He seldom left his kingdom, but did possess a helmet that could make him invisible. Hades is also the god of wealth, as everything under the earth belongs to him. Subjects in his kingdom referred to him as "the rich one". He is unpitying and terrible, but not capricious. His wife is Persephone whom Hades abducted. He is the King of the dead but, death itself is another god, Thanatos.

Hebe

Juventus

Hebes is the goddess of youth, and the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She poured the nectar of the gods on the Olympus until Ganymede replaced her. Hebe also prepared Ares' bath, and helped Hera to her chariot. After Heracles became a god, he married her. The Romans called her Juventas ("youth").

She was portrayed as a young woman, wearing a sleeveless dress. On various vases she is shown as cup bearer of the gods, or as bride of Heracles. Famous was the --now lost -- statue of Hebe, made of ivory and gold, by Naucydes (brother of Polycletus) in the 5th century BC. This statue was also shown on more recent coins from Argos.

Hecate

Trivia

Goddess of the Crossways, the Dark Side of the Moon, and Magic

Hecate is the Greek goddess of the crossroads. She is most often depicted as having three heads; one of a dog, one of a snake and one of a horse. She is usually seen with two ghost hounds that were said to serve her. Hecate is most often mispercepted as the goddess of witchcraft or evil, but she did some very good things in her time. One such deed was when she rescued Persephone, (Demeter's daughter, the queen of the Underworld and the maiden of spring), from the Underworld. Hecate is said to haunt a three-way crossroad, each of her heads facing in a certain direction. She is said to appear when the ebony moon shines.

Helios

Sol

Helios was the Greek god of the sun. Every day, he would drive his golden chariot across the sky from the east to west. Then at night, he would rest before crossing the sky the next day. Helios' chariot was made of gold, and was pulled by four golden horses - Pyrois, Eos, Aethon and Phlegon. Helios saw and knew all, so he was often called upon to be a witness. He was represented as a youth with a halo, standing in a chariot. He is attributed with the whip and the globe.

Hephaestus

Vulcan

The son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly. He is also lame. Accounts as to how he became lame vary. Some say that he took Hera's side in an argument with Zeus and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus. Others that Hera was outraged at the hideous child, and threw him from Mount Olympus. Hephaestus fell through the clouds and sky down to the earth, and landed in the sea. Hephaestus was raised in the sea by two nereids, and he grew up happily in the underwater world. As the years passed, he became very skilled in the art of decorative work in iron and other metals. He was a gifted designer, and crafted the most beautiful jewelry. One day Hera saw some of the beautiful jewelry that her son had created. She demanded to know who it was that could create such a lovely piece with such talent. Zeus sent messengers to fetch Hephaestus, but he refused to come to the surface. Finally his brother, Dionysis, filled him with wine and persuaded him to meet with Hera on Mount Olympus. Once on the surface, Hera gave Hephaestus a massive workshop with many bellows, anvils, and helpers. Hephaestus created many beautiful ornaments, weapons, decorative furniture, and jewelry. Hera then decided that Hephaestus should have a wife, and it was arranged for him to wed Aphrodite. However, Aphrodite would have many affairs with other gods and mortals, and Hephaestus soon grew regretted his marriage to Aphrodite. He is the god of fire and the forge. He is the smith and armorer of the gods. He uses a volcano as his forge. He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. He is kind and peace loving. His wife is Aphrodite. Sometimes his wife is identified as Aglaia.

Hera

Juno

The wife and sister of Zeus. She was raised by the Titans Ocean and Tethys. She is the protector of marriage and takes special care of married women. Hera's marriage was founded in strife with Zeus and continued in strife. Zeus courted her unsuccessfully. He then turned to trickery, changing himself into disheveled cuckoo. Hera feeling sorry for the bird held it to her breast to warm it. Zues then resumed his normal form and taking advantage of the surprise he gained, raped her. She then married him to cover her shame. Once when Zeus was being particularly overbearing to the other gods, Hera convinced them to join in a revolt. Her part in the revolt was to drug Zeus, and in this she was successful. The gods then bound the sleeping Zeus to a couch taking care to tie many knots. This done they began to quarrel over the next step. Briareus overheard the arguments. Still full of gratitude to Zeus, Briareus slipped in and was able to quickly untie the many knots. Zeus sprang from the couch and grabbed up his thunderbolt. The gods fell to their knees begging and pleading for mercy. He seized Hera and hung her from the sky with gold chains. She wept in pain all night but, none of the others dared to interfere. Her weeping kept Zeus up and the next morning he agreed to release her if she would swear never to rebel again. She had little choice but, to agree. While she never again rebelled, she often intrigued against Zeus's plans and she was often able to outwit him. Together, Hera and Zeus had three children; Ares, Hephaestus, and Hebe. However, Zeus had many affairs with other women. This caused great jealousy for Hera, and she was notorious for punishing her rivals and their children - whether they were goddesses or mortals. Even Zeus had trouble standing up to her. Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Her favorite city is Argos. She is also associated with the pomegranate, and the crow, which are symbols of marriage. Hera is portrayed as a solemn and majestic woman.

Hercules

God of strength

Hermes

Mercury

The son of Zeus and Maia.He also acted as the messenger for the gods and goddesses. He is the fastest of the gods. Hermes was the Greek god of riches, trade, and good fortune. Hermes was the patron of trickster and thieves, as he himself stole a herd of cows five minutes after he was born. Hermes also escorted the dead to the Underworld for Hades. Hermes was also responsible for the birth of science and astronomy. He created the first alphabet and the first musical scale. Hermes developed weights and measures for grain and liquids, and also discovered that he could make fire by triwling a hard wood stick in a hole in the side of a dry rotten tree stump. The attributes of Hermes are the caduceus (a staff with two intertwined snakes) and a purse (a symbol of his connection with commerce). He is dressed in a wide cloak, wearing talaria (winged sandals) and petasus (winged hat). He invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy , weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.

Hespera

Goddess of Dusk

Hestia

Vesta

The sister of Zeus. Hestia was the Greek goddess of the hearth fire, and presided over domestic life. She is the eldest sister of Zeus, and the oldest daughter of Rhea and Cronus. She was also the gentlest of all the Olympians. Hestia had no throne on Mount Olympus, but tended the sacred fire in the hall. Every hearth on Earth was her altar. The Hearth, was a symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. The ass is Hestia's sacred animal, and she is portrayed as a stern woman, wearing a long dress and with her head covered. Her right hand rests against her side and in her left hand she holds a scepter.

Hygeia

In Greek mythology, Hygieia is the personification of health. She is closely associated with Asclepius's cult and is sometimes considered to be his daughter. Her sacred animal is a snake, depicted drinking from a cup held in her hand. Also, the goddess Athena was worshipped as Hygieia. Her Roman equivalent is Salus.

Hymen

Hymen or Hymenaeus was the god of marriage and the marriage feast or song. He is often depicted with a marriage feast torch in his hand. This god was the son of Aphrodite by Dionysus and therefore the full brother of Priapus. His attributes are referred to in the opening sections of Homer's Iliad as well as playing a part in Virgil's Aeneid. He is a character in both As You Like It and The Tempest by Shakespeare.

In Greek mythology he plays a prominent part as a subordinate character in certain cycles, for example: "Hymen had been called to bless with his presence the nuptials of Orpheus with Eurydice; but though he attended, he brought no happy omens with him. His very torch smoked and brought tears into their eyes. In coincidence with such prognostics, Eurydice, shortly after her marriage, while wandering with the nymphs, her companions, was seen by the shepherd Aristaeus, who was struck by her beauty and made advances to her." (Bulfinch's Mythology) Thus we see how the torches were part of a casting for omens at the feast with regard to the success of the marriage. He was also the personification of the wedding hymn (humnos) which made be the word from which the god's name derives.

Hypnos

Hypnos is the personification of sleep in Greek mythology. He is the son of Nyx and Erebus, and the twin of Thanatos ("death"). Both he and his brother live in the underworld. He gave Endymion the power of sleeping with open eyes so he could see his beloved, the moon goddess Selene.

Hypnos is portrayed as a naked young man with wings attached to his temples, or as a bearded man with wings attached to his shoulders.

Iris

In Greek mythology, Iris is the personified goddess of the rainbow. She is regarded as the messenger of the gods to mankind, and particularly of the goddess Hera whose orders she brought to humans. Iris is the daughter of Titan Thaumas and the nymph Electra. She is portrayed as a young woman with wings and her attributes are a herald's staff and a water pitcher. She appears mainly on Greek vases.

Kastor & Polydeukes

Castor & Pollux

The Heavenly Twins

Greek Name

Roman Name

Occupation

Maia

Fauna, Bono Dea

Goddess of Fields, "Good Goddess"

Bona Dea is a Roman fertility goddess, especially worshipped by the Roman matrons. She presided over both virginity and fertility in women. She is the daughter of the god Faunus and she herself is often called Fauna. She had a temple on the Aventine Hill, but her secret rites (on December 4) were not held there but in the house of a prominent Roman magistrate. Only women were admitted and even representations of men and beasts were removed. At these secret meetings it was forbidden to speak the words 'wine' and 'myrtle' because Faunus had once made her drunk and beaten her with a myrtle stick. Her festival was observed on May 1. Similarly, no men were allowed to be present here either. She was also a healing goddess and the sick were tended in her temple garden with medicinal herbs. Bona Dea was portrayed sitting on a throne, holding a cornucopia. The snake is her attribute, a symbol of healing, and consecrated snakes were kept in her temple at Rome, indicating her phallic nature. Her image could often be found on coins.

Morpheus

The Greek god of dreams. He lies on a ebony bed in a dim-lit cave, surrounded by poppy. He appears to humans in their dreams in the shape of a man. He is responsible for shaping dreams, or giving shape to the beings which inhabit dreams. Morpheus, known from Ovid's Metamorphoses, plays no part in Greek mythology. His name means "he who forms, or molds" (from the Greek morphe), and is mentioned as the son of Hypnos, the god of sleep.

Mors

God of Death

Nemesis

In Greek mythology, Nemesis is the goddess of divine justice and vengeance. Her anger is directed toward human transgression of the natural, right order of things and of the arrogance causing it. Nemesis pursues the insolent and the wicked with inflexible vengeance. Her cult probably originated from Smyrna. She is regarded as the daughter of Oceanus or Zeus, but according to Hesiod she is a child of Erebus and Nyx.

She is portrayed as serious looking woman with in her left hand a whip, a rein, a sword, or a pair of scales. In the Hellenistic period she was portrayed with a steering wheel. Also called Rhamnusia, from a temple and statue of her in Rhamnus, a village in the northern part of Attica. The epithet Adastreia, "she whom none can escape", properly of the those of the Phrygian Cybele, was later applied to her.

Nereus

Nereus is the righteous and all-wise "old man of the sea", god of the Mediterranean Sea, son of Gaia and Pontus. His wife is Doris and she became by him the mother of the fifty Nereids, friendly sea-nymps. Nereus is a gentle and very wise old man who has the power to foretell the future, but he will not answer questions unless he was caught and to avoid that he would change his shape (such as when Heracles came to ask him the way to the Garden of the Hesperides). The domain of Nereus and his fifty daughters is especially he Aegean Sea where he has saved many ships from destruction.

Nike

Victory

Nike is the Greek personification of victory. She can run and fly at great speed. She is a constant companion of Athena. Nike is the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Cratos, Bia, and Zelus. She was represented as a woman with wings, dressed in a billowing robe with a wreath or staff.

Pan

Inuus/Faunus

Pan is the son of Hermes. He is the god of goatherds and shepherds. He is mostly human in appearance but, with goat horns and goat feet. He is an excellent musician and plays the pipes. He is merry and playful frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He is always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but, always rejected because he is ugly.

Peitha

Suadela

The personification of persuasion and seduction. She is the daughter of Hermes and Aphrodite, and usually mentioned as the sister of Tyche and Eunomia She was part of the retinue of Aphrodite.

Persephone

Proserpina

Persephone is the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology. She is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, goddess of the harvest. Persephone was such a beautiful girl that everyone loved her, even Hades wanted her for himself. When she was a little girl, she and the Oceanids were collecting flowers on the plain of Enna, when suddenly the earth opened and Hades rose up from the gap and abducted her. None but Zeus had noticed it.

Broken-hearted, Demeter wandered the earth, looking for her daughter until Helios, the all-seeing, revealed what had happened. Demeter was so angry that she withdrew herself in loneliness, and all fertility on earth stopped. Finally, Zeus sent Hermes down to Hades to make him release Persephone. Hades grudgingly agreed, but before she went back he gave Persephone a pomegranate to eat, thus she would always be connected to his realm and had to stay there one-third of the year. The other months she remained with her mother. When Persephone was in Hades, Demeter refused to let anything grow and winter began. This myth is a symbol of the budding and dying of nature. In the Eleusinian mysteries, this happening was celebrated in honor of Demeter and Persephone, who was known in this cult as Kore.

The Romans called her Proserpina.

Pheme

Fama

The Roman personified goddess of fame, and the personification of popular rumor. What she heard she repeated first in a whisper to few, then louder and louder until she communicated it to all heaven and earth. Mentioned as a daughter of Tellus. Not truly a goddess, she was more a literary conceit. She had as many eyes, ears, and tongues as she had feathers. Virgil mentions Fama ("rumor") as a horrible creature with multiple tongues and tattling mouths.

Phosphor

Lucifer

Light-bearer, Star that brings in the day

Poena

Goddess of Punishment

Pontus

God of the Deep Sea

Poseidon

Neptune

The son of Cronus and Rhea, and Zeus' brother, lived at the bottom of the sea in a palace made of coral and gems. After the overthrow of their Father Cronus he drew lots with Zeus and Hades, another brother, for shares of the world. His prize was to become lord of the sea. He was widely worshiped by seamen but was known to be a moody and violent god. When he was in an angry mood, he would strike the ground with his trident, and the Earth would tremble and split open. When he struck the sea, huge waves rose, and the winds howled. He caused many ship wrecks, and often drowned those who lived on the shores. However, when he was in a calm mood, he would stretch out his hand and calm the sea. He could also cause new lands to rise out of the water. He married Amphitrite, a granddaughter of the Titan Oceanus. At one point he desired Demeter. To put him off Demeter asked him to make the most beautiful animal that the world had ever seen. So to impress her Poseidon created the first horse. In some accounts his first attempts were unsuccessful and created a variety of other animals in his quest. By the time the horse was created his passion for Demeter had cooled. He is second only to Zeus in power amongst the gods. He has a difficult quarrelsome personality. He was greedy. He had a series of disputes with other gods when he tried to take over their cities.

Proteus

Proteus is a prophetic sea divinity, son of either Poseidon or Oceanus. He usually stays on the Island of Pharos, near Egypt, where he herds the seals of Poseidon. He will foretell the future to those who can seize him, but when caught he assumes all possible varying forms to avoid prophesying. When held fast despite his struggles, he will assume his usual form of an old man and tell the future.

Selene

Luna

Selene, the moon goddess, is known for her countless love affairs. The most famous of her loves is the shepard Endymion. Other affairs of Selene's include involvement with Zeus with whom she had three daughters, and Pan who gave her a herd of white oxen. Some sources report that the Nemean lion, which fell to the earth from the moon was the result of an affair of Zeus and Selene. She was involved in many love affairs, however, not as many as her sister, Eos, the dawn.

She resembles a young woman with an extremely white face who travels on a silver chariot drawn by two horses. She is often shown riding a horse or a bull. Selene is said to wear robes, carry a torch, and wear a half moon on her head. She was not one of the twelve great gods on Olympus, however she is the moon goddess. After her brother Helios completes his journey across the sky, she begins hers. Before Selene's journey across the night sky she bathes in the sea.

The seduction of Endymion is the love affair that brings Selene the most fame. She fell in love with the shepard, Endymion, and seduced him while he lie sleeping in a cave. Some sources say Endymion was a king or a hunter, rather than a shepard. Her seduction of Endymion resulted in the birth of fifty daughters, one of which was Naxos. Since Selene was so deeply in love with Endymion she asked Zeus to allow him to decide his own fate. Zeus granted Selene's request, and Endymion chose never to grow old and to sleep eternally. However, Endymion's eternal sleep did not prevent him from Selene giving birth to his daughters. Endymion was visited by Selene every night and kissed by her rays of light.

Selene is a favorite of many poets, especially love poets. A moonlit night brings the feeling of romance. It is said that Selene's moon rays fall upon sleeping mortals, and her kisses fell upon her love, Endymion.

Thanatos

The Greek personification of death who dwells in the lower world. In the Iliad he appears as the twin brother of Hypnos ("sleep"). Both brothers had little to no meaning in the cults. Hesiod makes these two spirits the sons of Nyx, but mentions no father.

Thanatos was portrayed as a youngster with a inversed torch in one hand and a wreath or butterfly in the other. He appears, with Hypnos, several times on Attican funerary vases, so-called lekythen. On a sculpted column in the Temple of Artemis at Ephese (4th century BCE) Thanatos is shown with two large wings and a sword attached to his girdle.

Triton

In Greek mythology, Triton is the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite and lives with them in a golden palace in the depths of the sea. He rides the waves on horses and sea monsters and he carries a twisted conch shell, upon which he blows either violently or gently, to stir up or calm the waves. Triton is represented as having the body of a man with the tail of a fish, but sometimes also with the forefeet of a horse.

In later times there was a multiplicity of Tritons, each attending the various divinities associated with the sea.

Tyche

Fortuna

A Greek goddess, originally of fortune and chance, and then of prosperity. She was a very popular goddess and several Greek cities choose her as their protectress. In later times, cities had their own special Tyche. She is regarded as a daughter of Zeus (Pindar) or as a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys (Hesiod). She is associated with Nemesis and with Agathos Daimon ("good spirit"). Tyche was portrayed with a cornucopia, a rudder of destiny, and a wheel of fortune.

Zeus

Jupiter

The ruler over all the Greek gods and goddesses, and also the lord of Olympus. He is the god of light and sky, and protector of the states, and its laws. Zeus was the son of Cronus and Rhea. Cronus, Zeus’ father, had been foretold that one of his children was destined to dethrone him. To prevent this from ever happening, Cronus swallowed every one of his children as they were born. However, Rhea secretly took her sixth child, Zeus, and hid him in the city Crete. She then wrapped a stone in swaddling clothes, and gave it to Cronus to eat. Cronus mistook the stone for the newborn child, allowing Zeus to escape harm. When Zeus grew up, he asked mother Earth to help him. She forced Cronus to disgorge the five earlier children along with the stone. This brought forth Zeus’ brothers, Hades and Poseidon, and his sisters, Hera and Hestia. Zeus overthrew his Father Cronus. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. Zeus went on to marry Hera, but had numerous affairs with other goddesses and mortals. This resulted in many offspring. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths. Zeus is attributed with the lightning bolt, and the eagle. The eagle is not only his symbol, but also his messenger.

Flora

Goddess of Flowers

Janus

Janus is the god of gates and doors (ianua), beginnings and endings, and hence represented with a double-faced head, each looking in opposite directions. He was worshipped at the beginning of the harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings, especially the beginnings of important events in a person's life. Janus also represents the transition between primitive life and civilization, between the countryside and the city, peace and war, and the growing-up of young people.

Juturna

Goddess of Springs [Water]

Libitina

The goddess of corpses and the funeral, her name often being a synonym for death itself.

Pales

The patron goddess of shepherds and flocks. Pales also presides over the health and fertility of the domestic animals

Pomona & Vertumnus

Powers Protecting Orchards and Gardens

Priapus

The patron god of gardens, viniculture, sailors and fishermen.

Saturn

Protector of the Sowers and the Seed

Sylvanus

Helper of Plowmen and Woodcutters

Terminus

The Roman deity protecting the boundaries between the fields. Actually, the stone that marked the border was thought to be a sacred object with divine powers.

Voluptas

Goddess of Pleasure