Hephaestus

Hephaestus

   Hephaestus was the god of blacksmiths and fire. He was a son of Hera, and Hera only. A mortal was invited to Olympus, and he was flirting with Hera. Hera immediately told Zeus, and she expected him to blow the mortal out of the sky. Instead, Zeus didn't believe Hera without proof. Hera was outraged, and she became super angry at Zeus. As a show of her rebellion, she became pregnant by herself without Zeus. When the baby was born, it was crippled (and very ugly). He was so ugly, even his mother couldn't bear to look at him. She threw him out the window of the highest tower on Mount Olympus. The baby (Hephaestus) landed on the island of Lemnos, where he was raised to become a master craftsman. he came back to Olympus, and was welcomed by the other gods because of his craftsmanship and skill in the forge.

Hephaestus

Ares

Ares

  The god of war, Ares, was the child of Zeus and Hera. Ares was bloodthirsty and loved war. His symbol was a blood tipped spear, or a boar. He was very violent and ready to fight anyone. He had an affair with Aphrodite, who was unhappily married to Hephaestus. He had three children with Aphrodite who would follow him into war; Phobos (Fear), Deimos (Terror), and Eris (Discord). In the myths, he was often humiliated through his defeats.

Ares

Athena

Athena

  Athena was the child of Zeus, but she had no mother. She was formed entirely from thoughts. She sprang from Zeus's brain fully grown. She became the goddess of wisdom, which makes sense because she was born from thoughts, and battle. On the battle part, she was not vicious or bloodthirsty like Ares. She was the goddess of battle that included wisdom and strategy.

  Athena has a rivalry with Poseidon, for many reasons. She and Poseidon battled to be the patron god of the city of Athens. Poseidon created horses as his gift. Athena created the olive tree. The people of Athens chose Athena. As payback, Poseidon brought his mortal girlfriend Medusa to a temple of Athena. Athena looked down at them and became furious. She turned Medusa into a hideous creature with snakes for hair. She became Medusa, who could turn people into stone with a look of her eyes.

Athena

Different Myths

Different Myths

  Before I continue listing the Greek Olympians, I would like to say something about different versions of myths. In Greek, the myths were spread by word of mouth. This would have made the stories vary in different areas. I am writing about the ones I heard. They may not be the originals, but they are the ones I have heard the most of.

Zeus

Zeus

   Zeus was the youngest child of Kronos and Rhea. His father, Kronos, got a prophecy that his children would overthrow him and take over his kingdom. His siblings before him were eaten by Kronos, but Rhea hid him away as a baby to avoid him being eaten and gave Kronos a rock to eat. Kronos ate the rock, tricked by Rhea. He grew up in a secluded mountain, raised by nature spirits, nymphs. When he became old enough, he disguised himself as a cup bearer looking to work for the Titan, and Kronos hired him. He gained his trust, biding his time for the opportunity to free his siblings. Kronos and his buddies were having a nectar drinking contest. Zeus filled all the cups, but mixed Kronos' godly drink with different disgusting liquids. He gave it to Kronos, who chugged it all in three seconds. He won the contest, but afterwards he didn't feel so good. He threw up all five gods he was keeping in his stomach. Zeus was there too, and they blasted him with their combined powers. Zeus became the lord of the sky. He controlled lightning, and the other gods. He was also keeper of order and law.

Zeus

Poseidon

Poseidon

  Poseidon was the middle boy child of Kronos and Rhea. He was the god of the seas and creator of earthquakes. He was called the Earthshaker because of how he created earthquakes with his Trident, his symbol of power. He married Amphitrite, one of the 50 Nerieds. She initially didn't want to marry Poseidon, but Delphin, the minor god of dolphins, convinced her that Poseidon would treat her well. Poseidon was overjoyed, because he was in love with her. They later had two children, Triton-the original figure for mermaids- and Rhode-a minor sea nymph.

Poseidon and Delphin

Hades

Hades

   Hades was the oldest boy child of Kronos and Rhea. He was said to have bad luck, and that showed when he and his other brothers rolled a dice for the ownership of the three parts of the world, sea, sky, and underworld, Hades got the worst roll; the underworld. He was mistaken death himself, but that was another god, Thanatos. The Greeks didn't like saying his name, thinking it was bad luck. They thought saying his name would bring early death. Hades was the god of the dead and the underworld, but he was also the god of precious gems, because he was ruler of the underworld and under earth. He is married to Persephone, daughter of Demeter.

Hades