Gods And Goddesses Essay, Research Paper

Zeus is the god of the sky and ruler of

the Olympian gods. He presides over the gods on Mount Olympus where he

wields a terrible thunder bolt in which he uses to discipline those who

displease him. Zeus is also known to punish those who lie or break oaths.

Zeus was the youngest son of the Titans, Cronus and Rhea. When Zeus grew

to maturity he dethroned Cronus. Zeus henceforth ruled the sky, and his

brothers Poseidon and Hades were given power over the sea and the underworld.

He is husband to his sister Hera and, he was the father of Ares the god

of war; Hebe, the goddess of youth; Hephaestus the god of fire; and Eileithyia,

the goddess of childbirth. Many of his children were born to goddesses

or mortal women after love affairs.

Hera, a beautiful and headstrong goddess,

is the queen of the gods and the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.

She is the sister and wife of the god Zeus. Though Hera advised Zeus and

bore him children, jealousy corupted her. She hated her husband’s adventures

and schemed against his many wives and children. Hera was the goddess of

marriage and the protector of married women. Her children were the gods

Ares, Hephaestus, Hebe, and Eileithyia. Known for her vindictive nature,

Hera never forgot an injury.

Poseidon is the son of Cronos & Rhea.

He was known as the earth-shaker and was given the dominion of the sea.

The Cyclopes gave Zeus the thunderbolt and Hades a helmet, gave Poseidon

his trident. Cronos used to swallow his offspring because he learned that

one day one of his children will over throne him. Poseidon was swallowed

by his father as were Hestia, Hera, Hades, Demeter, and Zeus was

the only one who escaped that fate. He lived in a golden underwater palace

with his queen, Amphitrite, a beautiful sea goddess. Poseidon plays a prominent

part in numerous ancient myths and legends. When he and Apollo were cheated

by the Trojans, Poseidon’s revenge was endless. He sent a terrible sea

monster to ravage the land, and during the Trojan War he helped the Greeks.

Aphrodite had no parents and rose out

of the sea on a cushion of foam. She was so beautiful that love bloomed

all around her. Aphrodite is the wife of Hephaestus, the god of fire. Aphrodite

was not always true to her husband because she made love flare up among

the gods. Aphrodite would often help young people in love. Atalanta, a

virgin huntress who remained always under arms, used to force her wooers

to race before her and if she caught them she would put them to death.

If anybody could survive, she would marry him. But Melanion came to the

race bringing the golden apples that Aphrodite had given him. He dropped

the apples as he was running, and because Atalanta could not

help to pick up the fruit she was beaten in the race.

Hephaestus is the god of fire and metalwork.

He is the son of the god Zeus and the goddess Hera. Hephaestus was born

with bad luck and Hera threw him out of Olympus. He was rescued by the

sea goddess Theitis and her sisters where they lived secretly. Although

he could not walk, Hephaestus worked on his strength and his body grew

strong. Hephaestus became a wonderful craftsman and made beautiful objects.

When Hera heard of the wonderful work Hephaestus had produced, she regreted

her actions. She called him back to Olympus and allowed him to marry Aphrodite.

He became the worker of the gods and made Zeus his thunderbolts.

Athena is one of the most important goddesses

in Greek mythology. She sprang full-grown and armored from the forehead

of her father, Zeus, and was his favorite child. He entrusted her with

his shield and his principal weapon, the thunderbolt. Athena was a warrior

who hated war. She admired courage and fairness and sought peaceful ways

to settle fights. Athena invented the flute, the trumpet, farm tools, and

the olive tree. She taught the arts of cooking, spinning and weaving.

Hermes is the son of Zeus & Maia,

is the messenger of Zeus and the herald of the gods. Maia gave birth to

Hermes in a cave in Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Hermes was born with

the dawn and while his mother slept in her cave, he slipped out of his

cradle and went looking for adventure. He was a tortioise, killed it, and

invented the lyre from its shell. As he taught himself how to play the

lyre, he saw his brother Apollo’s cows and stole them. When Hermes confessedhis

trick, Apollo was furious. He knew Apollo loved music, and offered him

the lyre for the cows. Apollo gave him the cows and more, and left happily

with the lyre. Heremes promised not to steal or lie again if Zeus gave

him a throne on Olympus. He grew up to be Zeus’s personal messenger and

helper. He traveled as fast as the wind on winged sandals. He used these

sandals to guide souls of the dead to Hades. Hermes led Athena, Hera, and

Aphrodite to Mound Ida to be judged by Paris in order to see who would

have the Apple of Eris.

Apollo is the son of the god Zeus and

Leto. When he was four days old, he asked Hephaestus to make him silver

bows and arrows. He then went off to kill the dreaded serpent Python that

Hera sent to kill his mother. Apollo was dangerous with his arrows and

punished the guilty; with the help of Artemis, his twin sister. He healed

the sick, cared for animals, and brought delight with his music. Apollo

was the protector of young men, the god of agriculture, and the god of

light and truth.

Artemis is one of the principal goddesses.

She is the daughter of Leto and the god Zeus. Her twin brother is Apollo;

god of the sun, music, poetry, and healing. She was the goddess of hunting,

wild animals, childbirth, nature, and the harvest. As a young child she

asked for a bow and arrows like Apollo’s, so they could hunt together.

She also asked to stay young forever and never have to marry. As the moon

goddess, she was sometimes identified with the goddesses Selene and Hecate.

Artemis was traditionally the protector of youth, especially young women.