Greek+Mythology

There are 12 Olympians in total, also known as the 12 Greek Gods.

First Generation:

__**Zeus**__ - Known as the King of the Gods and ruler of Mount Olympus, he was was also God of the sky, thunder, weather, law, order, and fate. His symbols are the thunderbolt and specter, and the animals that symbolize him are the eagle and bull. Legend says that his father, Cronus, had five children but swallowed them all because it was prophized that one of his sons was to overthrow him one day. However, Zeus' mother, Rhea, tricked Cronus by giving birth to Zeus in Crete and then giving Cronus a rock wrapped on blankets. which he swallowed. There are six varations of how he was raised. When he was finally old enough, he went to Cronus and cut open his stomach to free all his siblings. They then fought together and defeated Cronus. After, he shared the world with his brothers. Zeus got the sky and air. His Roman counter part is Jupiter.

__**Poseidon**__ - Known as the Earthshaker or Storm Bringer. He is the God of the sea, rivers, floods, droughts, storms, and earthquakes. His symblos are the horse, bull, dolphin, fish, and trident. Swallowed by his father Cronus, he was later rescued by Zeus when he cut open Cronus' stomach and freed him. They fought together against Cronus and when they won they shared the world. Poseidon got the sea ( water). His Roman counter part is Neptune.

__**Hera**__ - The wife and sister of Zeus and Queen of the Gods, Hera is also the goddess of marriage and family. The youngest daughter of Cronus and Rhea, she was also swallowed by Cronus. Her symbols are the cuckoo, lion, cow, pomegranate, peacock feather and diadem (crown). She may have the pomegranate as a symbol to stand for fretile blood, death, and a substitute for opium poppy. She is potrayed as majestic and solmen, but because she is also the goddess of marriage, she is also know to to be jealous and vengeful. Mostly towards Zeus' lovers and children. Her Roman counter part is Juno.

__**Demeter**__ - Daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and sister of Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia, Zeus, and Chiron. She is the goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons. Her symbols are the poppy, sheaves of wheat, the torch, lion, cornucopia, and pig. Her children are Persephone and Arion. Her Roman counter part is Ceres.

Second Generation:

__**Dionysus**__ - God of the grape harvest, wine making, wine, celeberation (or ritual maddess), and esctasy. He is also the patron god of the art os theatre. His symbols are the cup, a thyrsus (pinecone tipped staff) ,grapevine, ivy, tiger, panther, leopard, dolphin, and goat. He is the youngest son of Zeus and Semele, who is a mortal. Zeus' was having an affair with Semele, and that was how Dionysus was concieved. When Hera, his wife, found out about the pregnancy she befriended Seleme and asked her who the baby's father was. When Hera found out that it was Zeus, she told Seleme that he was a god. Believing Hera, Seleme asked Zeus to show her his God form. He agreed and showed her, but because she was a mortal and he was a God, Seleme died when she saw Zeus. So then Zeus took the unborn Dionysus and sewed him into his thigh until he was born.

__**Apollo**__ - The twin brother of Artemis, and youngest child of Zeus and Leto. He is the God of light, music, poetry, prophecy and archery. His symbols arethe sun, lyre, bow and arrow, raven, dolphin, wolf, swan and mouse. His Roman counter part is also named Apollo.

__**Artemis**__ - The twin sister of Apollo. She is the Goddess of virginity, the hunt, archery, all animals, childbirth and the plague. Her symbols are the bow, arrows, stags, hunting dog, and moon. Her Roman counter part is Diana.

__**Hermes**__ - The messenger of the gods to the mortals, he is also the God of thieves, travel, language, diplomacy, athletics, animal husbandry, and commerence. His symbols include the caduceus(staff entwined with two snakes), winged sandals and cap; stork and tortoise. He is the son of Zeus and nymph, Maia. The second-youngest Olympian who is just a bit older than Dionysus. He married Dryope and their son, Pan, became god of nature, lord of the satyrs, inventor of the panpipes and friend of Dionysus. His Roman counter part is Mercury.

__**Athena -**__ Virgin goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, defence, heroic endeavour, reason, and strategic warfare. Her symbols are the owl and the olive tree. Daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid, Metis, it was said that if **Zeus** and Metis had a child, the child would have been greater than Zeus. So in order for the prophecy to not come true he swallowed Metis, but she was already pregnant with Athena. She raised Athena in Zeus' stomach and when Zeus started to complain of headaches and asked for Hephaestus to split open his head with his smithing tools. When his head was open, Athena burst out of his forehead, fully clothed in battle armor and armed with weapons her mother gave her.Her Roman counter part is Minerva.

__**Ares**__ - The son of Zeus and Hera, he is the God of war, bloodlust, violence, manly courage, and civil order. His symbols are golden armour, helmet, charoit and a bronze-tipped spear. His sacred animals are the vulture, venomous snakes, boar, alligators, and dogs. His Roman counter part is Mars.

__**Aphrodite**__ - The goddess of love, beauty, desire, and sexuality. Her symbols are the dove, bird, apple, bee, swan, myrtle(plant with a star like flower), girdle(type of belt), mirror, scallop shell, and rose. Aphrodite was considered to be "Foam-arisen". It is said that she was born of sea foam, after Cronus severed Uranus' genitals and threw them into the sea. Then it is said that the genitals "were carried over the sea a long time, and white foam arose from the immortal flesh; with it a girl grew" to become Aphrodite. Aphrodite floated in on a scallop shell. She was married to Hephaestus, but she had many affairs, mostly with her brother Ares and Adonis. Her Roman counter part is Venus.

__**Hephaestus**__ - God of technology, blacksmiths, stonemasonery, craftsmen, artisans, scluptors, metals, fire, volcanoes, and metallugry(material science). His symbols are fire, hammers, anvils, tongs, axe, donkey, quail, crane, and guard dog. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, it is thought that either Hera threw him out of heaven because he was lame,(which was considered to be ugliness in the Greek gods' eyes) or that he fell from heaven by himself and that the fall was what caused him to be lame. He landed on the island of Lemnos, where supposdly, is where he learned to be a craftsman. He is the husband of Aphrodite and his Roman counter part is Vulcan.

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