CLST 271: Gods of Olympus

[Loyola University Chicago]

CLST 271: Classical Mythology

The Gods of Olympus

Greek name	Roman name	main areas of influence	attributes	representative image from the Perseus Project
Zeus	Jupiter / Jove	sky and weather, especially rain, thunder, lightning holds sovereignty of the world ("Father of Gods and Men") protects political and social institutions, especially state, family, contracts, oaths, host-guest relationships	thunderbolt, staff/scepter, scales, aegis, eagle, lion, garland of wild olives or oak leaves, Nike (Victory), beard and flowing locks of hair, throne	Zeus as depicted on an Attic Red Figure amphora, attributed to the Berlin Painter (c 470-460 BC): Zeus in battle against the Giants. Musée du Louvre G 204
Hera	Juno	holds queenship of the world as Zeus's sister-wife marriage motherhood, especially protecting women in childbirth	crown, polos (a high headdress), scepter, wedding veil, peacock, cuckoo	Hera as depicted on an Attic Red Figure lekythos, attributed to the Brygos Painter (c 500-475 BC): Hera enthroned. Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design 25.078
Poseidon	Neptune	holds sovereignty over all waters, both salt and fresh horses earthquakes	trident, dolphin, horse, bull, Triton (merman), ship's beak	Poseidon as depicted on an Attic Red Figure stamnos, attributed to the Syleus Painter (480 BC): Poseidon enthroned. Toledo Museum of Art 1956.58
Hades / Aidoneus / Plouton	Pluto / Dis	holds sovereignty over the underworld and the dead all mineral wealth beneath the earth's surface fertility	scepter, throne, chariot and horses	Hades as depicted on a bronze coin of Septimius Severus (AD 193-211), from the mint of Gordus-Julia in Lydia: Hades carrying off Persephone. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 1972.12
Demeter	Ceres	agriculture, especially grain fertility generally	sheaf of grain, polos, scepter, torch, sacrificial bowl	Demeter as depicted on an Attic Red Figure neck-amphora, attributed to the Berlin Painter (c 470 BC): Demeter holding torches. University Museums, University of Mississippi 1977.3.86
Persephone / Kore	Proserpina	holds queenship over the underworld and the dead as Hades' wife agriculture, especially grain fertility generally daughter of Demeter/Ceres	sheaf of grain, polos, scepter, torch, sacrificial bowl	Demeter, boy (Ploutos?), Kore as depicted on a High Classical stele (c 440-430 BC) from the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Eleusis: Demeter (left, hair unbound, holding a sceptre) and Kore (right, hair dressed up in a bun, holding a long torch) stand flanking a boy. Athens, National Archaeological Museum 126
Hestia	Vesta	virgin goddess of the hearth eldest daughter of Kronos/Cronus	veil	Vesta as depicted on a denarius (silver coin) of Lucius Cassius Longinus (63 BC), from the mint of Rome: Vesta wearing diadem and veil. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 32.746
Apollo / Apollon	Apollo	archery prophecy music, poetry medicine youth and male beauty sometimes identified with Phoebus/Phoibos, which is otherwise a name of the sun-god Helios; accordingly, Roman names also Phoebus/Sol twin of Artemis/Diana; son of Leto/Latona and Zeus/Jupiter	bow and quiver of arrows, tripod, omphalos, lyre, laurel-leaf garland, hawk, raven, or crow	Apollo as depicted by a High Archaic bronze sculpture (c 530-520 BC) excavated at Piraeus: Apollo as a kouros, standing youth. Piraeus Archaeological Museum, the Piraeus Apollo
Artemis	Diana	archery wildlife and woodlands hunting virginity protecting women in childbirth sometimes identified with Hekate or Selene, which is otherwise a name of the moon-goddess; accordingly, Roman names also Hecate/Luna twin of Apollo; daughter of Leto/Latona and Zeus/Jupiter	bow and quiver of arrows, short sleeveless hunting dress, buskins, narrow ribbon in hair, deer, wild goat, bear, quail, torch	Artemis as depicted on an Attic Red Figure, White Ground lekythos, attributed to the Bowdoin Painter (c 480-470 BC): Artemis greeting a fawn which jumps up at her. University Museums, University of Mississippi 1977.3.117
Athene / Athena / Pallas	Minerva / Pallas	war, particularly strategy protecting the state handicrafts, both women's and men's: weaving, spinning, embroidery, chariot-making, ship-building, etc. wisdom generally virgin daughter of Zeus and Metis; born from Zeus's head	helmet, shield, spear, aegis, Nike (Victory), lamp, distaff, owl, snake	Athene as depicted on an Attic Black Figure Panathenaic amphora attributed to the Kleophrades Painter (490 BC): Athene striding forward, shield and spear raised. Malibu, the J. Paul Getty Museum 77.AE.9
Hermes / Argeiphontes	Mercury	messenger of the gods patron-god of messengers and other travelers conducts souls to the underworld theft commerce flocks and herds youth and male beauty music son of Zeus and Maia	hat (usually broad-brimmed), herald's staff ("kerkeion" or "caduceus"), winged sandals, short cloak, tortoise-shell lyre, ram, shepherd's staff	Hermes as depicted on an Attic Black Figure neck-amphora by a painter of the Dot-Band Class (c 510-500 BC): Hermes flying, carrying the infant Herakles. Munich, Antikensammlungen 1615A
Aphrodite / Cytherea / Cypris	Venus	sex and love fertility beauty alternatively identified either as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, or as having spontaneously arisen from the severed genitals of Ouranos/Uranus	mirror, apple, dove, attractive clothing, cosmetics	Aphrodite as depicted on an Apulian Red Figure pelike attributed to the Darius Painter (c 340-330 BC): Aphrodite, labeled "Cypris", standing. Malibu, the J. Paul Getty Museum 87.AE.23
Hephaistos / Hephaestus	Vulcan / Mulciber	metalworking and men's crafts fire, especially in the smithy volcanoes (Italian) son of Zeus/Jupiter and Hera/Juno	hammer, anvil, bellows, forge, fire	Hephaistos as depicted on an Attic Red Figure calyx-krater attributed to the Kleophrades Painter (500 BC): Hephaistos riding a donkey. Harvard University Art Museums 1960.236
Ares	Mars	war son of Zeus/Jupiter and Hera/Juno	helmet, sword, spear	Ares as depicted on an Attic Black Figure neck-amphora attributed to the Leagros Group (c 515-500 BC): Ares in battle, behind the fallen Kyknos. Worcester Art Museum 1966.63
Dionysos / Bacchus	Bacchus / Liber	vegetable life, especially grape-vines and ivy wine and wine-making all liquid fertility music and dance, including (especially) drama son of Zeus/Jupiter and Semele; born from Zeus's thigh	grape-vines, grape-clusters, ivy (including garlands), thyrsos (staff tipped with ivy leaves), kantharos (drinking cup), clothing of spotted animal skins (such as fawn, panther), leopard, lion, bull, deer, listening to aulos (double-flute) -player, watching dancers, Satyrs, Pans, maenads/bacchants, phallus	Dionysos and satyr as depicted on an Attic Red Figure kylix attributed to Makron (490 BC): Dionysos (left) holding ivy-branch and kantharos, and satyr (right) reaching forward to pour wine for him. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 32.746
Heracles	Hercules	physical strength, endurance, appetites son of Zeus/Jupiter and Alcmene/Alcumena; mortality burned away in funeral pyre, divinity taken to Olympus	club, lion-skin (frequently worn as cloak, with paws in square-knot over his chest), bow and arrows	Heracles as depicted on an Attic Red Figure Panathenaic amphora attributed to the Berlin Painter (500 BC): Heracles holding tripod, swinging club. Martin von Wagner Museum, University of Würzburg L 500
Eros	Cupid / Amor	sexual desire, love fertility alternatively identified either as a primordial god, companion of Aphrodite, or as son of Aphrodite/Venus	bow and quiver of arrows, wings, women's jewelry or other ornaments; often represented as a baby	Eros as depicted on an Apulian Red Figure patera attributed to the Menzies Group (c 375-3500 BC): Eros flying, holding an open box. Toledo Museum of Art 1967.137

Generations of the Gods

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