gods\godesses of greece and rome

Greek and Roman Gods

Here are the twelve Olympian gods and a brief description of each. The Greeks and Romans shared the same stories, but used different names.

Greek	Roman	Description
Zeus	Jupiter	Lord of the sky and supreme ruler of the gods. Known for throwing lightening bolts.
Poseidon	Neptune	Ruler of the sea. Brother of Zeus. Carried a three-pronged spear known as a trident.
Hades	Pluto	Ruler of the underworld and the dead. Brother of Zeus. Had a helmet which rendered its wearer invisible.
Hestia	Vesta	A virgin goddess and sister of Zeus. No distinct personality or part in myths. Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the home.
Hera	Juno	Zeus's wife and sister. Protector of marriage, spent most of her time punishing the many women Zeus fell in love with. Likes cows and peacocks.
Ares	Mars	God of war and son of Zeus and Hera. Likes vultures and dogs.
Athena	Minerva	Daughter of Zeus alone. No mother.(?) She sprang from his head full-grown and in full armor. The protector of civilized life, handicrafts, and agriculture. Invented the bridle, and first to tame the horse. Likes Athens, olives, and owls.
Apollo	Apollo	Son of Zeus. Master musician, archer god, healer, god of light, god of truth, sun god. A busy god who likes the laurel tree, dolphins, and crows.
Aphrodite	Venus	Daughter of Zeus. Goddess of Love and Beauty. Likes the myrtle tree, doves, sparrows, and swans.
Hermes	Mercury	Son of Zeus. Wore wings on his sandals and his hat, thus was graceful and swift.
Artemis	Diana	Apollo's twin sister and daughter of Zeus. Lady of wild things and huntsman to the gods. As Apollo is the Sun, Artemis is the moon.
Hephaestus	Vulcan	Son of Hera, God of Fire. The only ugly and deformed god. Makes armor and weapons forged under volcanoes.

Other Gods

Greek	Roman	Description
Gaea	Terra	Mother Earth.
Asclepius	Aesculapius	God of medicine.
Cronus	Saturn	God of the sky; Ruler of the Titans (Roman mythology: God of agriculture)
Demeter	Ceres	Goddess of grain.
Dionysus	Bacchus	God of wine and vegetation.
Eros	Cupid	God of love.
Hypnos	Somnus	God of sleep.
Rhea	Ops	Wife of Cronus/Saturn. Mother Goddess.
Uranus	Uranus	God of the sky. Father of the Titans.
Nike	Victoria	Goddess of Victory.