1. Greek mythological character.
Answer:
Olympians- The main and most important gods
were the Twelve Olympians. The home of these gods is at the top of Mount
Olympus. There was some variation as to which deities were included in the
Twelve.[3] As such, the list below numbers fourteen. It includes all those who
are commonly named as one of the Twelve in art and poetry. Dionysus was a later
addition; in some descriptions, he replaced Hestia. Hades is not usually
included among the Olympians, because his home was the underworld. Some
writers, however, such as Plato, named him as one of the Twelve.
Hestia: Goddess
of the hearth, home and chastity. She was described as a virgin. She is a
daughter of Rhea and Cronus, and sister of Zeus. She could not often be
identified in Greek art. She appeared as a veiled woman. Her symbols are the
hearth and kettle. In some descriptions, she gave up her seat as one of the
Twelve Olympians to Dionysus, and she plays a minor role in Greek myths. The
Roman version of Hestia, however, Vesta, was a major goddess in Roman culture.
Zeus - Roman
name: Jupiter or Jove. The sky-god Zeus rules Mount Olympus. His weapon is the
thunderbolt, and his bird is the eagle. The central figure of the myths, Zeus
epitomizes their complexity. At times he is heavenly and represents a pure,
eternal sense of justice; at other times, he is capricious and cruel.
Hera - Roman name: Juno. Zeus’s wife and
sister, Hera is a very powerful goddess known mostly for her jealousy. Many
unfortunate mortals endure hardships by provoking Hera’s wrath.
Hades - Roman name: Pluto. The brother of
Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his
wife, Persephone.
Pallas Athena - Roman name: Minerva. Usually just called Athena, this
goddess emerges from Zeus’s head fully-grown and armed. Associated with war,
cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. Athena is the
goddess of Wisdom, Reason, and Purity and is chaste, like Artemis and Hestia.
Phoebus Apollo - Usually just called Apollo. A
son of Zeus and Leto and Artemis’s twin, he is the god of Light and Truth, the
master of Poetry and Music, and the god of Archery. His Oracle at Delphi is
revered for her powers of prophecy and truth.
Artemis - Roman name: Diana. Apollo’s twin sister, Artemis is the
beautiful huntress goddess and, like Athena, is somewhat masculine. Artemis is
normally good and just, but demands a human sacrifice during the Trojan War.
Aphrodite - Roman name: Venus. Aphrodite is the sweet and delicate goddess
of Love, Beauty, and Romance. Even so, she often shows formidable power, as in
the story of Cupid and Psyche, and is herself a principal cause of the Trojan
War. In a strange twist, lovely Aphrodite is married to the ugly and crippled
Hephaestus.
Hermes - Roman name: Mercury. Hermes is the son of Zeus and the Titan
Atlas’s daughter Maia. The messenger of the gods, he is fast and cunning.
Hermes is a master thief, the god of Commerce and the Market, and the guide who
leads the dead from Earth to Hades.
Ares - Roman name: Mars. A vicious god, Ares is hated by both his
father, Zeus, and mother, Hera. The god of War, he is always bloody and
ruthless, yet we see in his vain bullying that he is also, paradoxically, a
coward.
Hephaestus -
Roman name: Vulcan or Mulciber. Hephaestus is either the son of Zeus and
Hera, or simply of Hera alone, who gives birth to him in retaliation for Zeus’s
solo fathering of Athena. The only ugly Olympian, he is also partially
crippled. Hephaestus is the armorer and smith of the gods, and he forges
spectacular magical objects. He is kind, generous, and good-natured.
Other Gods, Deities & Supernatural Beings
Dionysus - Dionysus, or Bacchus, god of wine. He embodies both the good
and evil effects of alcohol. At times he is a jovial partier and patron of
music and art, but at other times he is the god of madness and frenzy.
Demeter - Roman name: Ceres. Though a sister of Zeus, Demeter lives on
earth. Demeter is the goddess of corn and harvest. She is kinder than Dionysus
but also sadder, mostly because Hades has taken her daughter, Persephone, as
his reluctant bride. Demeter thus lies in mourning for four months of the year,
leaving the fields barren.
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