Zeus
The father of the Gods and ruler of Olympus, Zeus is the god of the Heavens, the skies, storms, and thunder. Empowered to Zeus is the lightning bolt, the most powerful weapon in Olympus. White haired and fully-bearded, Zeus is a patriarchal figure adorned with a gold crown and robes of royal blue, bearing a golden scepter of his kingly power. He is the last son of Cronus and Rhea and is the father of many of the gods, including Apollo and Artemis (by Leto) and Athena (of himself).Zeus overthew his Father Cronus. He then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades, winning the draw. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths.
Zeus is an autocratic, arrogant, authoritarian ruler who cares fiercely for his fellow gods and would defend them to the death. A complex deity, Zeus is given to both great wisdom and great foolishness, driven by legendary lusts and appetites which often override his normally more sensible nature. He tends toward pettiness, caprice, and overwhelming pride and occasionally even displays mistakes and learning from them.
Poseidon
Together with his brothers Zeus and Hades, Poseidon is part of the Olympian ruling Trinity, although he rarely leaves his watery realm for Olympus. Because his domain is the seas, Poseidon appears as a majestic, blue-skinned man with long hair and a flowing beard of foam. He wears a robe of gold netting and carries a magnificent trident as his scepter. He married Amphitrite, a granddaughter of the Titan Oceanus, and was widely worshiped by seamen. At one point he desired Demeter. To put him off Demeter asked him to make the most beautiful animal that the world had ever seen. So to impress her Poseidon created the first horse. In some accounts his first attempts were unsucessful and created a varity of other animals in his quest. By the time the horse was created his passion for Demeter had cooled.
Poseidon is a tranquil, regal god who rules with the sea goddess Thetis and is followed by countless sea nymphs called Neriedes. When his anger is raised, Poseidon often causes violent shipwrecks but he normally clams the waters or sends favorable winds to Man. Poseidon bears a special grudge against Ares, who killed his son, Halirrhothius. His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth, and shatter any object. He is second only to Zeus in power amongst the Gods, and is said to have a difficult quarrelsome personality, and to have been greedy. He had a series of disputes with other Gods when he tried to take over their cities.
Poseidon parted the seas to allow the Amazons to walk from Greece to the Island of Themyskira and cooperates with the midwives of the Amazons in rescuing female children lost at sea and washing them ashore on Themyskira for reeducation in the Amazon ways.
Hades
Hades is the brother of Zeus. After the overthow of their Father Cronus he drew lots with Zeus and Poseidon, another brother, for shares of the world. He had the worst draw and was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He is a greedy god who is greatly concerned with increasing his subjects. Those whose calling increase the number of dead are seen favorably. The Erinnyes are welcomed guests. He is exceedingly disinclined to allow any of his subjects leave. He is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisable. He rarely leaves the underworld. He is unpitying and terrible, but not capricious. His wife is Persephone whom Hades abducted. He is the King of the dead but, death itself is another god, Thanatos.
Hestia
Hestia is Zeus sister. She is a virgin goddess. She does not have a distinct personality. She plays no part in myths. She is the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out.
Hera
Hera is Zeus wife and sister. She was raised by the Titans Ocean and Tethys. She is the protector of marrage and takes special care of married women. Hera's marriage was founded in strife with Zeus and continued in strife. Zeus courted her unsuccesfully. He then turned to trickery, changing himself into disheveled cuckoo. Hera feeling sorry for the bird held it to her breast to warm it. Zues then resumed his normal form and taking advantage of the suprise he gained, raped her. She then married him to cover her shame.
Once when Zeus was being partcularly overbearing to the other gods, Hera convinced them to join in a revolt. Her part in the revolt was to drug Zeus, and in this she was successful. The gods then bound the sleeping Zeus to a couch taking care to tie many knots. This done they began to quarrel over the next step. Briareus overheard the arguements. Still full of gratitude to Zeus, Briareus slipped in and was able to quickly untie the many knots. Zeus sprang from the couch and grapped up his thuderbolt. The gods fell to their knees begging and pleading for mercy. He seized Hera and hung her from the sky with gold chains. She wept in pain all night but, none of the others dared to interfere. Her weeping kept Zeus up and the next morning he agreed to release her if she would swear never to rebel again. She had little choice but, to agree. While she never again rebeled, she often intrigued against Zeus's plans and she was often able to outwit him. Most stories concerning Hera have to do with her jealous revenge for Zeus's infidelities. Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Her favorite city is Argos.
Ares
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents. He is the god of war. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward. When caught in an act of adultery with Aphrodite her husband Hephaestus is able publically ridicule him. His bird is the vulture. His animal is the dog.
Athena
Athena is the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armour from his forehead, thus has no mother. She is fierce and brave in battle but, only wars to defined the state and home from outside enemies. She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeus's favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons including his thunderbolt. Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. She is a virgin goddess.
Apollo
Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music, playing a golden lyre. The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who taught man medicine. The god of light. The god of truth, who can not speak a lie. One of Apollo's more importaint daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses an drive the Sun across the sky. He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People travled to it from all over the greek world to devine the future. His tree was the laurel. The crow his bird. The dolphin his animal.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. There are two accounts of her birth. One says she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione. The other goes back to when Cronus castrated Uranus and tossed his severed genitles into the sea. Aphrodite then arose from the sea foam on a giant scallop and walked to shore in Cyprus. She is the wife of Hephaestus. The myrtle is her tree. The dove, the swan, and the sparrow her birds.
Hermes
Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is Zeus messenger. He is the fastest of the gods. He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He is the god of thieves and god of commerce. He is the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. He invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy , weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.
Artemis
Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Her twin brother is Apollo. She is the lady of the wild things. She is the huntsman of the gods. She is the protector of the young. Like Apollo she hunts with silver arrows. She became associated with the moon. She is a virgin goddess, and the goddess of chastity. She also presides over childbirth, which may seem odd for a virgin, but goes back to causing Leto no pain when she was born. She became associated with Hecate. The cypress is her tree. All wild animals are sacred to her, especially the deer.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly, and is also lame. Accounts as to how he became lame vary. Some say that Hera, upset by having an ugly child, flung him from Mount Olympus into the sea, breaking his legs. Others that he took Hera's side in an arguement with Zeus and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus. Hephaestus has a white beard, a balding pate, and wears simple brown clothes. His tools are hammers and anvils, and he always carries a staff. He is the god of both fire and metalworking; the patron of smiths and weavers. a volcano as his forge, he is the smith and armorer of the gods. Once married to Aphrodite, he never truly forgave her for betraying him with Ares. Though said by some to be cynical and bitter, he is kind and peace loving. A clever god, capable of creating the finest implements and machines,Hephaestus created Zeus' scepter and forged Gaea's Girdle into Wonder Woman's lasso, and the shattered Aegis of Zeus into Princess Diana's silver bracelets.
Demeter
Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. The first loaf of bread from the harvest is sacrificed to her. Demeter is intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the underworld. In her anger at her daughter's loss Demeter laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, the land became desolate. Zeus became alarmed and sought Persephone's return. However, because she had eaten while in the underworld Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that Persephone would spend four months each year in the underworld. During these months Demeter grieves her daughters absence, and withdraws her gifts from the world, creating winter. Her return brought the spring. Demeter is also known for founding the Eleusinian Mysteries. These were huge festivals held every five years. They were important events for many centuries. Yet, little is known of them as those attending were sworn to secrecy. The central tenant seems to have been that just as grain returns every spring after its harvest and wintery death, so too the human soul could be reborn after the death of the body. Persephone Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. After her abduction by Hades she became his wife and Queen of the underworld.
Dionysus
Dionysus is the god of the vine. He invented wine and spread the art of tending grapes. He has a dual nature. On the one hand bringing joy and divine ecstasy. On the other brutal, unthinking, rage. Thus reflecting both sides of wines nature. If he chooses Dionysus can drive a man mad. No normal fetters can hold him or his followers. Dionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele. He is the only god to have a mortal parent. Zeus came to Semele in the night, invisible, felt only as a divine presence. Semele was pleased to be a lover of a god, even though she did not know which one. Word soon got around and Hera quickly assumed who was responsible. Hera went to Semele in disguise and convinced her she should see her lover as he really was. When Zeus next came to her she made him promise to grant her one wish. She went so far as to make him swear on the River Styx that he would grant her request. Zeus was madly in love and agreed. She then asked him to show her his true form. Zeus, was unhappy, and knew what would happen but, having sworn he had no choice. He appeared in his true form and Semele was instantly burnt to a crisp by the sight of his glory. Zeus did manage to rescue Dionysus and stitched him into his thigh to hold him until he was ready to be born. His birth from Zeus alone conferred immortality upon him. Dionysus problems with Hera were not yet over. She was still jealous and arranged for the Titans to kill him. The Titans ripped him into to pieces. However, Rhea brought him back to life. After this Zeus arranged for his protection and turned him over the mountain nymphs to be raised.
Dionysus wandered the world actively encouraging his cult. He was accompanied by the Maenads, wild women, flush with wine, shoulders draped with a fawn skin, carrying rods tipped with pine cones. While other gods had temples the followers of Dionysus worshipped him in the woods. Here they might go into mad states where they would rip apart and eat raw any animal they came upon. Dionysus is also one of the very few that was able to bring a dead person out of the underworld. Even though he had never seen Semele he was concerned for her. Eventually he journeyed into the underworld to find her. He faced down Thanatos and brought her back to Mount Olympus. Dionysus became one of the most important gods in everyday life. He became associated with several key concepts. One was rebirth after death. Here his dismemberment by the Titans and return to life is symbolically echoed in tending vines, where the vines must be pruned back sharply, and then become dormant in winter for them to bear fruit. The other is the idea that under the influence of wine, one could feel possessed by a greater power. Unlike the other gods Dionysus was not only outside his believers but, also within them. At these times a man might be greater then himself and do works he otherwise could not. The festival for Dionysus is in the spring when the leaves begin to reappear on the vine. It became one of the most important events of the year. It's focus became the theater. Most of the great Greek plays were initially written to be performed at the feast of Dionysus. All who took part writers, actors, spectators were regarded as scared servants of Dionysus during the festival.
Eros
Eros is the son of Aphrodite. Eros is the god of love. In particular erotic, romantic, love. He is often represented blindfolded because, love is often blind. His "weapon" is darts or arrows. In either case the tips have been magically treated to produce either uncontrollable love or insurmountable disinterested in the first person seen be Eros's victim after wounding.
Hebe
Hebe is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She is the goddess of youth. She, along with Ganymede are the cupbearers to the gods. Hebe is Heracles wife.
Eris
Eris is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. She is the goddess of discord. In addition to her main activity of sowing discord, she frequently accompanies her brother Ares to battles. On these occasions she rides his chariot and brings her son Strife. Eris is unpopular and frequently snubbed as a guest by the other gods and mankind. This was not always a safe thing to do. The most dramatic example being the Trojan War, which was an indirect result of not inviting Eris to a wedding.
Thanatos
Thanatos was the Greek god of death. He may be thought of as a personification of death. He plays little role in the myths. He became rather overshadowed by Hades the lord of the underworld.
Herakles
Herakles is the greatest of the Greek Heroes. A large, broad-shouldered, strapping demi-god with a full beard and an overpowering personality, Herakles is the son of Zeus by the mortal woman Alcmene. A passionate man possessed of a huge appetite for life, he is capable of great anger and greater happiness. As atonement for his villainy, in having led the expedition that sacked and raped Themyskira, Herakles spent over 3,000 years imprisoned in Tartarus, supporting the Island of Themyskira on his shoulders. When The Gods sent Princess Diana on a quest deep within the nether realm beneath Paradise Island, a worried Hippolyte set after her beloved daughter, led by the Goddess Harmonia in the guise of a vulture. There she came face to face with a Herakles transformed into stone. After battling countless demons, Mother and Daughter are reunited. Hippolyte is tormented by the wailing of Herakles, which she alone hears. Realizing that her Mother and Herakles are linked by a great bond, Diana coils her fiery lasso around them both that they might finally see one another through the eyes of truth.
Enveloped by Hestia's flames of truth Hippolyte and Herakles share in the truth of their existences and suffer for one another. It is here that an anguished Hippolyte learns the fate of her centuries lost Sister, Antiope. Herakles feels her pain as his own. From this joining does finally come release. In a massive tremblor that rocks Themyskira, his skin of stone is shed and Herakles is flesh and blood once more. Saving Hippolyte from falling to an almost certain death, he returns to the surface with Diana, carrying the wounded Queen. The Amazon's gathered at Doom's Doorway are shocked by the sight of Herakles with their Princess and Queen. It is a most humble Herakles who begs forgiveness of the Amazon nation, and after ages spent purifying themselves, the Amazon's forgive him thus healing an ancient wound. In the days following, Herakles is an honored guest at a ceremony where the Amazon's symbolicaly destroy their weapons and armamnents reaffirming their dedication to peace, and after sharing a tender moment with Hippolyte returns to Olympus, only to return during the so-called "War of the Gods" to battle at the side of The Amazon's in defense of Themyskira.
Pan
Pan is the son of Hermes. He is the god of goatherds and shepherds. He is mostly human in appearance but, with goat horns and goat feet. He is an excellent musician and plays the pipes. He is merry and playful frequently seen dancing with woodland nymphs. He is at home in any wild place but, is favorite is Arcady, where he was born. He is always in pursuit of one of the nymphs but, always rejected because he is ugly. His name is the basis for the word "panic". There are two differing explanations for this. The first is that he was present when Zeus defeated the Titans and claimed that it has his yelling that caused the Titans to flee. However, this seems at odds with his being Hermes son. The second is that he created the noises in the woods at night that scared travelers.
Nemesis
Nemesis means righteous anger, due enactment, or divine vengeance. This god helped to avenge those who were wronged.
The Graces
They are the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome. There are three Graces: Aglaia (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Thalia (Good Cheer). The are known for singing and dancing for the gods.
The Muses
They are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. They are known for the music of their song, which brings joy to any who hear it. There are nine Muses, each with her own specialty: Clio (History), Urania (Astronomy), Melpomene (Tragedy), Thalia (Comedy), Terpsichore (Dance), Calliope (Epic Poetry), Erato (Love Poetry), Polyhymnia (Songs to the Gods), Euterpe (Lyric Poetry).
The Erinyes
Also known as the Furies, punish crime. They pursue wrong doers relentlessly, until death, often driving them to suicide. They are particularly concerned with matricide. There are three Erinye - Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto. The Erinyes came from the blood of Uranus when he was castrated.
The Fates
The Fates have the subtle but, awesome power of deciding a mans destiny. The assign a man to good or evil. There most obvious choice is choosing how long a man lives. There are three Fates. Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life. Lachesis, the measurer, who chooses the lot in life one will have and measures off how long it is to be. Atropos, she who can not be turn, who at death with her shears cuts the tread of life. The Fates are old and predate the gods. It is not entirely clear how far their power extends. It is possible that they determine the fate of the gods as well. In any case, not even the most powerful is willing to trifle with them.
