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Mythology Notes
Twelve Gods of Olympus
Olympus: Home of the Gods
● The Greeks believed that the gods lived
on the top of Mount Olympus.
● It was a perfect place with no wind, no snow, and no
rain.
● There was always sunshine and the sound of Apollo’s
music.
● There is an actual mountain called Olympus in Greece,
but the Olympus of the gods is mythical.
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Zeus (Jupiter)
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Most powerful god of Olympus
God of: The sky, clouds, and rain
Weapon: Lightning bolt
Other facts: His wife is the goddess Hera, but
he often married other goddesses, or traveled from
Olympus to Greece to marry and have children with
human women.
● Sacred Bird: Eagle
● Sacred Tree: Oak Tree
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Hera (Juno)
● Zeus’ wife (and sister) and the
Queen of Olympus
● Goddess of: Marriage and
married women
● Other facts: Hera was VERY jealous of Zeus’ other
wives and often tried to take revenge against them.
● Sacred Bird: Peacock
● Sacred Animal: Cow
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Poseidon (Neptune)
● Zeus’ brother and 2nd most powerful
god of Olympus
● God of: The ocean
● Weapon: Trident
● Other facts: He was often referred to as “Earth-shaker”
because when he struck his trident on the ground the
earth shook beneath it.
● Poseidon gave the first horse to humans.
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Hades (Pluto)
● Zeus and Poseidon’s brother and the
3rd most powerful god of Olympus.
● God of: The underworld and precious metals (gold,
silver, etc.)
● Weapon: Invisibility helmet
● Other facts: Humans were so afraid of him that they did
not call him by his name. They called him “Rich One”
instead.
● His wife was Persephone whom he kidnapped and
brought to the underworld.
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Athena (Minerva)
● Zeus’ daughter
● Goddess of: War (specifically
strategy in war) and wisdom
● Other facts: Athena has no mother. She
sprang from Zeus’ head in full armor.
● She created the bridle and first tamed
horses for humans to use.
● Sacred Bird: Owl
● Sacred Tree: Olive Tree
Apollo
● Son of Zeus and Leto
● God of: Music, archery, healing, sickness
light/sun, and truth
● Weapon: Silver bow and arrows
● Other facts: His sacred place is Delphi, which he
gained by killing the Python with his silver arrows. For
Ancient Greeks, Delphi was thought to be the center of
the world.
● Sacred Bird: Crow
● Sacred Tree: Laurel Tree
● Sacred Animal: Dolphin
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Artemis (Diana)
● Twin sister of Apollo
● Goddess of: Wild animals,
hunting, and the moon
● Weapon: Bow and arrow
● Sacred Animal: Deer
● Sacred Tree: Cypress
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Aphrodite (Venus)
● Aphrodite has no parents.
She rose out of the sea on a cushion of seafoam.
● Goddess of: Beauty, love, and laughter.
● Other facts: Aphrodite’s husband is Hephaestus (god
of fire), and her son is Eros (Cupid) the mischievous
god of love.
● Sacred Bird: Dove
● Sacred Tree: Myrtle Tree
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Hermes (Mercury)
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Son of Zeus and Maia
Messenger of the gods
God of: Thieves, travelers, merchants, and shepherds
Special Accessories: Winged hat,
winged sandals, cape, caduceus
(wand with snakes wrapped around it).
● Other facts: Hermes is not only the messenger god, he
also guides the dead to the underworld.
● Hermes appears more in mythological stories than any
other god.
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Ares (Mars)
● Son of Zeus and Hera
● God of: War (specifically the
destruction and violence of war)
● Weapon: Sword
● Other facts: Ares was disliked by all of the gods and
goddesses of Olympus.
● Though he was the god of war, he was not very tough.
Whenever he was wounded he would scream so loudly
he could be heard for miles around.
● Sacred Bird: Vulture
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Hephaestus (Vulcan)
● Son of Zeus and Hera
● God of: fire, and blacksmiths
● Other facts: Hephaestus created the twelve golden
thrones for the Olympian gods, as well as their
weapons, chariots and jewels.
● Not only did he have forges (fiery ovens where he
melted metals) on Olympus, he also had them in
volcanoes on earth.
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
Hestia (Vesta)
● Zeus’ sister
● Goddess of: The hearth (fireplace),
the home
● Other facts: She was the gentlest
of all of the gods and goddesses.
● Every city in Greece had a public fireplace in honor of
Hestia. The fire burning in it was never allowed to go
out.
Source: Mythology: Edith Hamilton and D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths