1. The Greek / Roman Gods & Goddesses Author Unknown

2. Zeus / Jupiter • King of the gods • God of air • Uses Thunderbolts as his weapon • Womanizer – married his own sister • Son of Cronos and Rhea • Most powerful Jupiter is so named because it is so big – it is the “King of Planets” Music is Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity”

3. Poseidon / Neptune • God of the sea and earthquakes • Made horses • Trident is weapon • Amphitrite is his wife • Zeus’ brother • Son of Cronos and Rhea • 2nd most powerful Neptune is so named because the blue looks like water Music is Gustav Holst’s “Neptune, the Mystic”

4. Hades / Pluto / Dis • God of the Underworld and Wealth • King of the dead but he is not Death • Zeus’ brother • Son of Cronos and Rhea • Has a helmet that makes the wearer invisible • Persephone (Spring) is his wife • NOT EVIL! (but he is unpitying) • 3rd most powerful

5. Hera / Juno • Queen of the gods • Protector of marriage • Wife/sister of Zeus • The peacock is her symbol (because of the eye-look) • Cows are sacred to her (ox-eyed Hera) • Jealous No planet, but there is an asteroid named after her plus a city in Alaska

6. Phoebus Apollo • God of truth, light, archery, and healing • Sun god in some myths (Helios is the sun god in other myths) • Son of Zeus and Leto • Wolves, dolphins, and crows are sacred to him • Has the Oracle of Delphi Apollo asteroids are near-earth asteroids

7. Artemis / Diana • Apollo’s Twin sister • Goddess of the hunt, wild things, and crossways • She is the moon goddess sometimes • Virgin goddess • As Diana, she is also a goddess of light • Stags are sacred The Artemis navigation satellite

8. Aphrodite / Venus • Goddess of beauty and love • Mother of Eros/Cupid • Wife of Hephaestus/Vulcan but lover of Ares/Mars and other guys Venus is so named because it is a beautiful planet and can be easily seen with just the eye • Born from the foam in the sea caused by the attack of Cronos/ Saturn on Ouranus/Uranus Gustav Holst’s “Venus, Bringer of Peace”

9. Ares / Mars • God of War • Son of Zeus and Hera, but both hate him • The Romans glorify him, but the Greeks make him out to be a coward • He has three children with Aphrodite: Phobos (panic) and Deimos (fear) are twins Mars and its moons, Phobos and Deimos Gustav Holst’s “Mars, Bringer of War”

10. Pallas Athena / Minerva • Goddess of wisdom and defensive war • Daughter of Zeus and Metis (titan) – she popped out of his head after he swallowed the pregnant Metis • She carries a shield with Medusa’s head on it Minerva was a tiny robot designed by the Japanese to land on an asteroid, but got lost in space.

11. Hephaestus / Vulcan • God of fire and the forge • Son of Zeus and Hera • Ugly • Lame because he was thrown off Mt. Olympus for interfering with a fight between Hera and Zeus • Husband to Aphrodite

12. Hermes / Mercury • Messenger god and the god of thieves • Greek Trickster figure • Very fast • Son of Zeus and Maia • Loves Aphrodite • Greeks believed he guided souls to Hades The Hermes Asteroid Mercury revolves around the sun so fast, it was named for the messenger god. One year is faster than one day on Mercury

13. Hestia / Vesta • Zeus’ sister – Oldest of the original gods • Goddess of the hearth and home • Gave up her spot on Mt. Olympus for Dionysus • Worshipped daily • A virgin priestesses served her for 30 year time periods • Does pretty much nothing in mythology Asteroid Vesta

14. Eros / Cupid • God of love • Son of Ares and Aphrodite • Often portrayed as a child, but not always. • He has wings • Uses a bow and arrow – arrows cause one to fall in love • Momma’s boy Eros is a near earth asteroid

15. Demeter / Ceres • Daughter of Cronos and Rhea • Goddess of vegetation • Had powers of growth and resurrection • Her daughter is Persephone The asteroid Ceres was the first asteroid ever discovered and is one of the largest (about the size of Texas). It almost became a designated as a planet

16. Dionysus / Bacchus • Son of Zeus and Semele • God of wine and happiness • In some areas of Greece, his worship was outlawed (too dirty) The Bacchus asteroid