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OLYMPIAN OVERVIEW

THE OLYMPIANS: APPEARANCE AND ATTRIBUTES 1. ZEUS: A. B. C. D.

king of the gods, brother and husband of Hera God of the sky and weather, ruler of gods and men Appearance: mature, bearded, clothed Attributes: eagle, oak tree, scepter, thunderbolt Important representation: “Olympian Zeus” by Phidias

2. HERA: A. B. C.

queen of the gods, sister and wife of Zeus Goddess of women, marriage, childbirth Appearance: ladylike, mature, fully clothed, often veiled Attributes: crown, scepter, cuckoo, peacock, fleur-de-lis

3. POSEIDON: brother of Zeus A. God of the sea, horses, earthquakes B. Appearance: resembles Zeus C. Attributes: trident, horse, bull, dolphin, entourage of sea nymphs, sea monsters, and other creatures of the sea. 4. HADES: brother of Zeus, husband of Persephone A. God of death and the underworld B. Appearance: seldom depicted, but resembles Zeus C. Attributes: two-pronged scepter, Cerberus 5. DEMETER: sister of Zeus, mother of Persephone A. Goddess of the crops B. Appearance: resembles Hera C. Attributes: torches, stalk or sheaf of grain D. Object of a mystery cult at Eleusis near Athens since the yearly cycle of the crops is an intimation of immortality 6. HESTIA: sister of Zeus A. Goddess of the hearth B. Appearance: resembles Hera, always depicted in an attitude of immobility C. Attributes: hearth, fire, home D. Displaced from her throne by Dionysus prior to 432 BCE 7. HEPHAESTUS: son of Zeus and Hera, husband of Aphrodite A. Lame god of fire and the forge, divine handyman or artisan B. Appearance: bearded, serious, usually at his forge, often wears a skull cap C. Attributes: hammer, anvil, bellows, fire, forge

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Copyright 2007 American Classical League May be reproduced for classroom use

OLYMPIAN OVERVIEW

THE OLYMPIANS: APPEARANCE AND ATTRIBUTES (continued) 8. ARES: son of Zeus and Hera A. God of violence and ugly passions of war, divine swashbuckler B. Appearance: unpopular so seldom depicted, but appears as a handsome young man in armor C. Attributes: armor, vulture, dog, war-chariot, Eris

9. APOLLO: son of Zeus and Leto, twin brother of Artemis A. God of light, prophecy, archery, music, fine arts, medicine, law B. Appearance: young handsome male with long hair C. Attributes: lyre, bow and arrows, laurel wreath, oracle at Delphi D. Apollo became the embodiment of the Hellenic spirit

10. ARTEMIS: daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin sister of Apollo A. Virgin goddess of the woods and hunt, cares for wild beasts B. Appearance: young attractive female dressed for the hunt C. Attributes: bow and arrows, small animals nearby, stags, palm tree 11. ATHENA: daughter of Zeus and Metis A. Virgin goddess of wisdom, arts and crafts, the honorable aspects of warfare, protector of Athens B. Appearance: young, beautiful, serious, clothed in armor C. Attributes: shield, aegis, snake, owl, lamp, helmet, Nike, olive D. Important representation: cult figure in the Parthenon by Phidias 12. APHRODITE: rose from sea foam, wife of Hephaestus, mother of Eros (her son by Ares) A. Goddess of love and beauty B. Appearance: originally draped and stiff, later more sensual C. Attributes: doves, mirror, flowers, blossoms, The Graces, Eros D. Important representations: Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles, Venus de Milo 13. HERMES: son of Zeus and Maia A. Divine messenger, god of travelers, merchants and thieves, leads the dead to Hades B. Appearance: young man, sometimes bearded C. Attributes: broad brimmed traveler’s hat, snake-wound herald’s staff called the caduceus, winged hat and sandals D. Important representation: Hermes by Praxiteles 14. DIONYSUS: son of Zeus and Semele A. God of the energy of nature and of wine, patron of poetry, drama, and song B. Appearance: young, sensual, sometimes bearded, often drunk C. Attributes: a rout of Maenads, satyrs, vines, grapes D. Worshipped as an object of a mystery cult

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Copyright 2007 American Classical League May be reproduced for classroom use