The 12 Great Olympians Cronus and Rhea l

The 12 Great Olympians

Cronus and Rhea l Cronus was the youngest of the Titans, and was pictured as the ruler of the Titan dynasty. l After castrating his father at the instigation of his mother, he became the supreme ruler of the world. l He and his sister wife, Rhea, were the parents of the Olympians.

Why are they called Olympians? l They were the 3 rd dynasty of gods l They succeeded The Titans l Inhabited the mountain called Olympus

Olympus l Believed to be a mountain because referred to as such in many places. l the entrance to it was a great gate of clouds kept by the seasons. l Within were the Gods' dwellings, where they lived and slept and feasted on ambrosia and nectar and listened to the lyre of Apollo.

l “No wind ever shakes the untroubled peace of Olympus; no rain ever falls there, or snow; but the cloudless firmament stretches around it on all sides and the white glory of sunshine is diffused upon its walls" - Homer

Zeus l l Supreme ruler of Olympian Dynasty Mightier than all others put together Ruler of the sky, rain god and clouds “bright shining light of heaven”

Hera Sister and wife of Zeus Often referred to as his inferior She was the protector of marriage, and married women were her peculiar care. l Had 4 Children with Zeus l l l Hephaestus : God of fire and the chief workman of the gods l Ares : God of war l Hebe : Goddess of youth and wife of Heracles in heaven l Eileithyia : Goddess of childbirth l

Poseidon l Ruler of the sea l He gained the rank or rating as ruler of the waves, by drawing lots at a Council Meeting of the Gods l Zeus took the upper world for himself, and gave the under world to his other brother, Hades.

Demeter l Demeter was the goddess of corn, fruit and agriculture in general and a goddess of fertility. l As such she was, in many regions, associated with Poseidon as the god of fertilizing water. l Had daughter with Zeus named Persephone

Apollo l Son of Zeus and Leto l Twin brother to Artemis l Apollo's birthplace was the island of Delos (originally an island that floated, until Zeus chained it to the bottom of the sea so that Leto may be comfortable while giving birth to Apollo and Artemis. l Depicted with bow and arrow because he was seen as a very unforgiving god.

Artemis l Goddess of the moon, hunting and chastity l She also carried bow and arrows l Artemis was the goddess of life, childbirth and of children after they were born, and of animals. l She was a great huntress

Athene l Also called Pallas Athene. l She was the Goddess of wisdom l Like Zeus, Athene could send storms and rough weather l She was the mistress and Zeus was the master of thunder and lightning and she too would hurl thunderbolts to enforce her will and frighten her foes.

Athene continued l Athene invented the plow and the rake, and created the olive tree, services that made her the protector of agriculture l She was also a teacher.

Aphrodite l goddess of love and beauty l Two different versions of birth l Daughter of Zeus and Dione l Sprang forth from foam that formed around the limbs of the castrated Uranus

Hermes l Messenger and herald of the gods l Hermes was frequently requested to speak in public, and to do a great deal of traveling; he therefore became the god of eloquence and speech, and the god of roads who would protect travelers like himself. l Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Atlas)

Ares l god of War l Son of Zeus and Hera l Very violent and had a horrible temper l Other gods and goddesses couldn’t stand him

Hephaestus l Son of Zeus and Hera l god of fire and the chief workman of the gods. l He was lame and deformed so his parents were ashamed of him l Made his mother a golden throne that chained her in it and he had to be called again.

Dionysus l born in Thebes, the son of Zeus and Semele l god of wine and merry making l Dionysus was the only god whose parents were not both gods

l There were two other Olympian gods, though they are not usually included as part of the twelve

Hades l God of the underworld l Persephone was his queen l Hades was also known as the god of wealth and precious metal that lay hidden deep within the earth l Son of Cronus and Rhea

Hebe l The wife of Heracles in heaven l The goddess of youth l Daughter of Zeus and Hera

Sources l Bierlein, J. F. Parallel Myths. New York: Ballantine Wellspring, 1994. l Evslin, Evslin and Hoopes. The Greek Gods. New York: Scholastic Inc, 1966. l Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. New York: Warner Books, 1969