This report is about all the main Greek gods. I was interested in this pantheon because I love the story of the Greek gods so I wanted to learn more about the gods & goddesses. The next pantheon that I’m reporting on is the Roman pantheon. I made a list of all the main gods & goddess and a summary each one of them.
Zeus
Zeus is the god of gods . He sits at the top of the Mt. Olympus and watches over the people of Greece. The wife of the mighty god is named Juno, the goddess of child birth. Zeus has 5 siblings their names are Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Hera. When hitting adulthood Zeus forced the release of his siblings from his father Cronus. Zeus fought Cronus. Zeus won and Cronus vomited all of his siblings out. As a result of this all 5 gods that were released help fight the Titans for control of the universe. At the end of the war Zeus and the other gods won the war and imprisoned most of the Titans to the underworld of Tartarus. Zeus, Poseidon, & Hades divided the rule over 3 parts. Poseidon was given control of the sea. Hades was given the underworld. Zeus was given the sky and supreme command of earth and on MT. Olympus.
Apollo
Apollo, the god of prophesies, music, and healing was involved with the Trojan War. He helped a great Trojan warrior named Hector. Hector was the captain in the Trojan army. A strong Greek warrior named Achilles killed Hector in a one on one fight. But Apollo help Paris, Hectors brother, put an arrow in Achilles ankle. The reason was his ankle was the only part of his body that could be hit with a weapon. As god of music he was often playing the lyre. He did not invent the instrument however Hermes the messenger god gave it to him saving cattle from theft.
Ares
Ares, the god of war, was Zeus’s son. Even Though an immortal deity he was nearly killed when he was stuffed in a jar by two giants. Then in the Trojan War he was wounded by a hero. He received little sympathy from his father Zeus. He looks as a handsome man but was cruel. He always carried a blood stain spear. It is said that his throne in MT. Olympus was coved in human skin. In Rome he was called Mars. He was believed to be the father of the mythological founders of Rome. Their names were Romulus and Remus. In this case Ares was more important in Rome than his Greek counter parts.
Artemis was the virgin goddess of the hunt. She helped a woman in childbirth but brought sudden death with her arrows. Artemis was the sister of Apollo and child of Zeus & Leto, Zeus’s mistress. Artemis helped her mother in the birth of her brother Apollo. Once Niobe, queen of Thebes said that she was better than Leto because she had more children that Leto. Angered at Niobe insults Artemis and Apollo killed every one of her children with their arrows. Then the weeping queen was turned to stone were she still wept. When Apollo noticed that Artemis was spending a lot of time with time with a giant named Orion. Apollo decided to put an end to the relationship. He challenged Artemis to prove her skill at archery by shooting at an object floating far out at sea. Artemis accepted the challenge and shot her arrow at the large object in the water. The large object in the water was Orion.
Athena
Athena, the goddess of craft, domestic arts, and war also had a city named after her Honor called Athens. The symbol that she was given was the symbol of the owl. Zeus was once married to Metis, a daughter of Ocean who was renowned for her wisdom. When Metis became pregnant, Zeus was warned by Earth that a son born to Metis would overthrow him, just as he had usurped his own father’s throne. So Zeus swallowed Metis. In time he was overcome with a splitting headache and asks for help from the craftsman god Hephaestus (or, the Titan Prometheus). Hephaestus cut open Zeus’s forehead with an ax, and Athena was born out the head of Zeus.
Demeter
Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, was the sister of Zeus and the mother to Persephone the, queen to Hades. Persephone was getting flowers for the meadow when Hades, The god of the Dead, came from a huge crack in the ground. He took Persephone to become his queen. After Demeter notice that Persephone was not back yet she went to the beach to talk to the nymphs. They told Demeter what happen to Persephone. Demeter was hart broken. Demeter traveled the world to find her daughter. After Demeter gave up Persephone came back that is when Persephone told Demeter that she would visit for a while then leave. During the time Demeter had her Daughter it was spring and summer and while Persephone was a way it was fall and winter.
Dionysus
Dionysus, the god of wine, is the son of Zeus and the mortal heroine Semele. Dionysus rescued Ariadne after she had been abandoned by Theseus .Dionysus also saved his mother from the Underworld; After Zeus consumed her in lightning. Dionysus was granted the power to touch everything it turned to gold as a punishment for being greedy. But then took his power away when it became inconvenient to him.
Hades
Hades, the god of the dead, is the brother of Zeus and Poseidon. When those three gods defeated the titans they spilt three parts of the world. Hades was given the Underworld. So Hades wanted to have a queen of the underworld. So Hades took the Daughter of Demeter, Persephone. So Hades Got Persephone to be his wife but Hades to give her to Demeter for a little. This is how the seasons were made in the Greek beliefs.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus, the lame god of fire and crafts, was first a Titan named Prometheus. Hephaestus limped because he was lame so Zeus grabbed him by the foot and threw him off of MT. Olympus. But Hephaestus achieved a lot as a craftsman. He made the great armor for the warrior Achilles. Hephaestus made the first woman in the command of Zeus.
Hera
Hera, the goddess of marriage, was also named Juno in Rome. Hera hated Heracles because he was the son of her husband Zeus and a mortal woman as his mother. Hera helped the hero Jason, who would never have gotten the Golden Fleece without her sponsorship. Hera worshiped all threw out Greece at all the temples. The oldest temples were dedicated to her in her honor. On MT. Olympus she was the reigning goddess because she was married to Zeus.
Hermes
Hermes the messenger god sends messages to mortals and gods for other gods. Hermes was known for his helpfulness to mankind. When Perseus set out to face the Gorgon Medusa, Hermes helped him in the quest. Hermes also loaned his sandals to Perseus. Hermes also gave Perseus the helmet of invisibility to aid him on his quest has well. Hermes helps a lot of well known warriors like Odysseus when he was on the way back home to Ithaca.
Poseidon is the god of the sea. He is the brother to Zeus and Hades. He is one on the supreme gods on MT. Olympus. Poseidon was give on the water in the water fresh and salt. Poseidon was not so honorable to other famous hero. Because Odysseus blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, who was Poseidon’s son, the god not only made it talk awhile for the hero’s homeward return from the Trojan War but caused him to face a lot of enemies. At one point he whipped up the sea with his trident and caused a storm so bad that Odysseus was shipwrecked.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. When the Trojan prince Paris was asked to judge who of three Olympian goddesses was the most beautiful, he chose Aphrodite over Hera and Athena. And had hoped to bribe him with power and victory in battle, but Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris chooses the woman Helen of Sparta. After that Aphrodite was loyal to Troy and the Trojans.
What Do I Think?
What I think about the Greek gods is that they should not mess with humans for their amusements. Some are brave like Ares who fought in human wars. But I think that the gods are to judgmental. Here’s an example Zeus took Hephaestus and put him on earth and off MT. Olympus because he was lame. So Zeus just used him to make humans and things. I just do not think this is right. But I’m glad that the Greeks have something to believe. Their religion is a polytheistic so they can worship any one of the gods/goddess they want to. So yeah maybe they’re not all good but each story tells a lesson.
