and the mysterious, and was a personification of the wise witch. Hecate
was associated with Persephone, whom she accompanied when the maiden
was returned from the underworld, and with the moon goddess Artemis.
Hephaestus (he fes’ tus), known as Vulcan by the Romans, is God of the
Forge and patron of artisans. He was the cuckolded husband of Aphrodite,
and the lame or club-footed rejected son of Hera.
Hera (her’ a), also known as Juno to the Romans. Hera was the Goddess
of Marriage. As official consort and wife of Zeus, she was the highest-
ranking goddess on Mt. Olympus. A daughter of Cronos and Rhea, she
was also the sister of Zeus and the other first-generation Olympians; por-
trayed by Homer as a jealous shrew, and revered in her worship as the
Goddess of Marriage. One of three vulnerable goddesses, she personifies
the archetype of the wife.
Hermes (hur’ m z), better known by his Roman name Mercury: the Mes-
senger of the Gods, the patron god of trade, communication, travelers, and
thieves. He conducted souls to Hades, was sent by Zeus to bring Persephone
back to Demeter. He had an affair with Aphrodite, and was linked in
household and temple religious rituals with Hestia.
Hestia (hes’ ti a), also known as the Roman goddess Vesta; the virgin
Goddess of the Hearth and least known of the Olympians. Her fire made
home and temple sacred. Personifies the archetype of the Self.
Paris (par’ is), Prince of Troy, awarded the golden apple inscribed “for the
fairest” to Aphrodite, who offered him Helen, the most beautiful woman
in the world as a bribe. Paris took Helen with him to Troy, thus instigating
the Trojan War for she was already married to Menelaus, a Greek king.
Persephone (per sef’ n ), also referred to by the Greeks as the Kore (k ’ r )
or the Maiden, and called Proserpina by the Romans. The abducted
daughter of Demeter who became Queen of the Underworld.
Poseidon (p s ’ don), God of the Sea. An Olympian more commonly known
by his Roman name Neptune. Raped De-
Who’s Who in Greek Mythology