Ancient Greek Gods

The Ancient Greek worshipped many different gods. These gods lived together on mount Olympus. The Greek made up all kinds of stories about their immortal gods, their lives were like a soap sometimes: there were always deception, fights and adultery. Every god had a certain task which he needed to fulfill.

Zeus

Zeus is the supreme god who, along with his two brothers Poseidon and Hades, has the power. Zeus is the god of thunder and lightning so whenever it stormed, The Greek believed he was angry. Zeus and his wife Hera have a number of children, but he cheats a lot and therefore gets a few children with other women.

Hera

Hera, the goddess of marriage and family life, is the wife but also the sister of Zeus. She's is very jealous and vindictive. 

Aphrodite

Aphrodite is the goddess of love; she considers it great fun to let gods fall in love with ordinary people. Aphrodite, like Zeus, cheats a lot. She has a relationship with, for example, the god Ares.

Apollo

Apollo is the god of light, music, prediction and divination. Also, he's a real god of war and is able to shoot arrows from a long distance. In the oracle of Delphi, Apollo communicates with the ordinary people through his priestess.

Ares

Ares is one of the sons of Zeus and Hera and god of war. He's very cruel and bloodthirsty, but almost never achieves victory when it comes down to battles. Ares is one of the lovers of Aphrodite.

Artemis

Artemis is Apollo's twin-sister and a daughter of Zeus. She's the goddess of hunting, which is why she is often displayed with bow and arrow. Artemis is also known as 'the hunting virgin'.

Pallas Athene

Pallas Athene is the goddess of wisdom and science, the useful arts and manual work and war. She was born from the head of Zeus. The city Athens is named after her. 

Poseidon

Poseidon is one of Zeus' brothers and god of the waters. Poseidon is often displayed with his trident, which gives him the power to start waves. 

Hades 

Hades is another brother of Zeus and lord of the underworld. His job is to prevent people from returning to the living.

The gods were constantly fighting. Hera, Aphrodite and Athene, for example, were always quarreling about who was the prettiest. One day, Eris (goddess of twist) threw an apple in their midst with the inscription 'for who's the most beautiful'. There was a fierce row about who could keep it so the Trojan prince Paris had to decide who was the most beautiful. Hera offered him power if he would choose for her, Athene offered him wisdom and Aphrodite said he would get the prettiest woman if he would choose for her. Paris chose Aphrodite. This story shows what the major consequences of the fights could be: Paris got the most beautiful woman Helena, but because she had to leave her husband, the Trojan war broke out, which lasted for nine years.

Sources: www.todio.nl