Poseidon, god of the seasīrother of Zeus and Hades, according to legend, Poseidon lived in a palace deep beneath the ocean and was often depicted with his famous trident, a symbol of his power.Īs Poseidon was thought to be the god of the seas, sailors and seafarers would regularly build temples and make offerings to him in order to try and ensure their safe passage. Traditionally, Hera was associated with the pomegranate (a symbol of fertility used throughout history), as well as with animals including cows and lions predominantly. In particular, she wreaked vengeance on the women who fell prey to Zeus’ charms, punishing them. One of the recurring themes in Greek mythology was Hera’s jealousy in the face of her husband’s infidelity.
Wife and sister of Zeus, Hera ruled as queen of Mount Olympus and patron saint of women, marriages, wives and childbirth. Hera, queen of the gods and goddess of childbirth and women Bolts of lightning were said to come directly from Zeus, targeting those who had incurred his wrath. Famous for his sexual appetite, he fathered many gods and mortals, often using cunning to end up in bed with the women he desired.įrequently represented with a thunderbolt in hand, Zeus was perceived to be a god of the weather: one myth has him flooding the world in order to rid it of human decadence. God of the skies and ruler of the mythical Mount Olympus, home of the gods, Zeus was seen as king of the gods, and the most powerful of them. Hades, the god of the underworld, was viewed as important but is not included in this list as he did not reside on the legendary Mount Olympus. Whilst the Greek pantheon of deities was huge, 12 gods and goddesses dominated myths and worship: the Twelve Olympians.
The relationships and arguments between the gods were attributed to creation myths and origin stories, and their patronage (or not) of mortals helped shape and create some of ancient Greece’s most influential literature. The stories of Greek mythology are some of the most famous in the world: from Hercules’ labours to the voyage of Odysseus, Jason’s quest for the golden fleece to the start of the Trojan War, these stories have long outlasted the civilisation that created them.
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