Athenian Gods

The gods:

• Zeus
• Hera
• Demeter
• Poseidon
• Hephaistos
• Apollo
• Artemis
• Athene
• Aphrodite
• Ares
• Hermes
• Dionysos

Zeus

King of the gods, responsible for the weather, (particularly thunder and lightning) justice, and the protection of foreign travellers were especially important.

He is often portrayed in art either holding a thunderbolt or sitting on a throne with a crown and sceptre.

Hera

She was Queen of the gods and wife of Zeus, particularly important to women as she was the goddess of marriage. However her own marriage was troubled, as Zeus had numerous affairs.

Like Zeus, she is often portrayed as a royal figure, wearing a crown.

Dementer

She is Goddess of the crops, a crucial role in an agricultural society such as ancient Greece. The most famous story about her involves the abduction of her daughter Persephone by Hades, the god of the Underworld.

Often pictured alongside flowers, fruit or grain.

Poseidon

God of the sea, another vital role in ancient Greece, where the people were surrounded by the seas, and often made difficult voyages. He was also the god of horses.

Depicted alongside dolphins holding his trident with which he shook the earth to create an earthquake.

Hephaistos

The god of metal-working and fire. He was lame and had an unhappy marriage to Aphrodite.

He was believed to live in…