The Mythology Book

31

Infidelity, too, was a major theme

in all Greek myths—not just in the

affairs (and assaults) committed by

Zeus that riled the jealous Hera.

Between gods and mortals

Despite their power, in many ways

Greek deities appear to have had

an intermediate status, hovering

somewhere between the spiritual

and the real. Their attributes reflect

the countless aspects of Greek

everyday life in which the gods

played an implicit part. All the gods

had specific areas of influence,

such as Zeus and Athena, who

were among the theoi agoraioi

(gods of the agora—the marketplace

and people’s assembly). Both Zeus

and the goddess Hestia were also

gods of the home (theoi ktesioi).

Hestia, Dionysius, and Aphrodite

were among the theoi daitioi, who

presided over feasts and banquets.

The gods themselves also

needed sustenance. According

to Greek tradition, they lived on a

diet of nectar and ambrosia, carried

to Mount Olympus by doves. To

later belief systems, the notion that

deities needed material sustenance

seems at odds with their divinity.

Ancient Greek authorities, however,

agreed on the importance of this

nourishment for the gods to

empower and sustain them. ■

ANCIENT GREECE

Aphrodite, the goddess of love

and beauty, was often shown

with a scepter, myrtle, and dove.

Apollo was an archer, but also

played the lyre, while the laurel

symbolized his love for Daphne.

Ares was the bloodthirsty god

of war. His love of arms was

usually represented by a spear.

Artemis, the hunting goddess

and Apollo’s twin, was shown

with a bow and her sacred deer.

Demeter, the scepter-wielding

harvest goddess, carried a torch

in a bid to find her daughter.

Hera, Zeus’s queen, carried a

scepter and wore a regal crown.

Her bird was the peacock.

Poseidon, the sea god, wielded

a trident to shake the earth. Bulls

and horses were sacred to him.

Athena, goddess of wisdom,

bore the Aegis shield; her bird

was the owl, her tree the olive.

Hephaestus was the god of

smiths, craftsmen, and fire. His

axe was never far from his side.

Dionysus, god of wine, was

crowned with ivy and bore a

thyrsos—a symbol of pleasure.

Hermes, the gods’ messenger,

wore winged boots and carried

a caduceus, a magical staff.

Zeus, the supreme god, tossed

thunderbolts at foes. The eagle

was his bird, the oak his tree.

The 12 Olympians

Symbols of the gods

Scepter Dove

Spear

Scepter

Myrtle

Bow Lyre Laurel

Bow Deer

Aegis Owl Olive

Torch Grain

Grapevine Ivy Thyrsos

Axe

Scepter Diadem Peacock

Caduceus Winged boots

Trident Bull Horse

Thunderbolt Eagle Oak

Description

Demeter was wroth

with the gods and

quitted heaven.

Library

US_024-031_Olympian-Gods.indd 31 05/12/17 4:16 pm