1.1 The Gods (naming And Understanding) Flashcards
Who is Zeus and what are some common symbols of him?
Zeus: king of the gods and divided earth between himself and his brothers, keeper of justice, god of the skies and fate of men
Symbols/ recognition: bearded man, wielding a lighting bolt, holding an eagle or seated on a throne with a sceptre
Who is Poseidon and what are some common symbols of him?
Poseidon: brother of Zeus and rod of the seas, very important for sailors taking journeys over the sea,
Symbols/ recognition: bearded man holding a trident
Who is Hades and what are some common symbols of him?
Hades: chthonic deity and ruler of the underworld, brother to Zeus
Symbols/ recognition: typically has a cornucopia (shell thing), often depicted with his wife Persephone
Who is Hera and what are some common symbols of her?
Hera: wife of Zeus and queen of the gods, responsible for marriage, woman, childbirth and the family
Symbols/ recognition: typically represented wearing a diadem ( like a crow/tiara type thing)
Who is Athena and what are some common symbols of her?
Athena: goddess of war and wisdom, military intelligence.
Symbols/ recognition: depicted with an owl, helmet, spear and aegis (breastplate), often depicted with Nike (winged goddess of victory)
Who is Demeter and what are some common symbols of her?
Demeter: goddess of agriculture and the harvest making her incredibly important for the Greeks as they where an agricultural society and depended on it for survival
Symbols/ recognition: depicted wearing a diadem and holding a bundle of wear, grain or flowers
Who is Hestia and what are some common symbols of her?
Hestia: goddess of the home and the hearth, vital for the Greeks who relied on fires and the hearth for heat and survival
Symbols/ recognition: shown with a veiled head
Who is Hephaistos and what are some common symbols of him?
Hephaistos: god of metal working, fire and craftsmen ship.
Symbols/ recognition: often depicted with a hammer
Who is Aphrodite and what are some common symbols of her?
Aphrodite: goddess of love and beauty
Symbols/ recognition: her rising from the sea in a shell and usually depicted naked
Who is Artemis and what are some common symbols of her?
Artemis: goddess of hunting, wildlife and childbirth. Twin sister of Apollo
Symbols/ recognition: accosiated with moon, often depicted with a bow and arrow, and with wild animals
Who is Hermes and what are some common symbols of him?
Hermes: god of travel and trade, messenger of the gods. ONLY GOD OTHER THAN DIONYSUS WHO CAN TRAVLE TO THE UNDERWORLD AND CONSULT WITH HADES
Symbols/ recognition: depicted in art with a travelers cap, caduceus( staff ) and winged sandals
Who is Apollo and what are some common symbols of him?
Apollo: god of music and the arts, education, archery and prophecies, associated with the sun
Symbols/ recognition: depicted with his bow and arrow, and a lyre. Depicted in eternal youth
Who is Ares and what are some common symbols of him?
Hermes: god of war basically the opposite of Athena as Ares is more the raw violence in the fight rather than tactics
Symbols/ recognition: ares is depicted wearing his armor so basically a soldier looking guy
Who is Dionysus and what are some common symbols of him?
Dionysus: god of wine and theatre. Seen as an outsider as he is the son of a god and a mortal
Symbols/ recognition: often depicted with a Thyrsus( a staff often tipped with a pine cone or intertwined with ivy), vines or animal skin also often depicted with his companions the Maenads and Satyrs ( half man half goats know for their promiscuous nature)
