Gods and Goddesses

The Greeks believed in many gods and had hundreds of stories about them. There were local gods and gods to look after all aspects of life and death. According to legend, Mother Earth gane birth to all living things. The first gods were called the Titans. Zeus, the son of two Titans called Kronus and Rhea, seized power for himself and his brothers and sisters. In classical times they were the most important gods. They were called Olympians, as they were said to live on Mount Olympus.

Zeus, god of the sky and thunder, ruled the gods on Mount Olympus. Hera, his wife and sister, was goddess of all women. Demeter, a sister of Zeus, was goddess of the earth and corn. Aphrodite was goddess of love and beauty. Her son, Eros, made people fall in love by shooting them with arrows. Hephaestos, her husband, was the gods' craftsman. Ares was god of war and he loved Aphrodite. Athena, daughter of Zeus, was goddess of wisdom and Athens. her symbol was an owl. Apollo was god of the sun and the patron of music, poetry and healing. Artemis was goddess of the moon, hunting and women. Poseidon, brother of Zeus, was god of the sea. Hermes was messenger of the gods and patron of merchants and travellers. He took the dead to the underworld. Pluto, Zeus's brother, ruled the underworld, the world of the dead. Dionysus was god of wine and Asclepius was god of medicine and son of Apollo. His symbol was snakes.