Greek Mythology 101

The Olympians are a group of 12 gods who ruled after the overthrows of the titans. All the Olympians are related in some way and reside on Mount Olympus.

Zeus

Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. He overthrew his father, Cronus and after drawing lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades he was chosen as the supreme ruler of the gods. His weapon is a thunder bold which he hurls at those who displease him. He is married to Hera, but is famous for his many affairs. His bird is the eagle and his tree the oak. He is represented as the god of justice and mercy, the protector of the weak and the punisher of the wicked.

Vesta

Hestia is Zeus sister. She is a virgin goddess. She does not have a distinct personality. She plays no part in ythis. She is the goddess of the hearth, the symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. Each city had a publis heart sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. Of all the Olympians, she is the mildest, most upright and most charitable.

Ares

Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He was disliked by both parents and is the god of war. He is considered murderous and bloodstained, but also a coward. His bird is the vulture and his animal the dog.

Apollo

Apollo is also born of Zeus. His mother was Leto and his twin sister is Artemis. He is the god of music, playing a golden lyre. He is the archer and the god of healing who taught man medicine (he is the father of Asclepius). He is the god of light and truth. One of Apollo's daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. His tree was the laurel, his bird the crow, and the dolphin was his animal.

Hermes

Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is Zeus' messenger and the fastest of the gods. He wears winged sandals, a winged hat and carries a magic wand. He is the god of thieves and commerce. He is the guide to the dead as they travel to the underworld. He invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy, weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.

Artemis

Artemis is the goddess of chastity, virginity, the hunt, the moon, and the natural environment. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto (her twin brother was Apollo). She is the lady of the wild things, the huntsman of the gods. She is the protector of the young. Like Apollo, she hunts with silver arrows.

Poseidon

God of the sea and protector of the waters. Poseidon is the brother of Zeus. After the overthrow of their father Cronus, he drew lots with Zeus and Hades for shares of the world. His prize was to become lord of the sea. He was widely worshiped by seamen. He married Amphitrite, a granddaughter of the Titan Oceanus. He is often depicted hurling his Trident at those who oppose him.

Hades

Hades is the brother of Zeus and Poseidon. He had the worst draw of the three and was made the lord of the underworld. He is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible. He rarely leaves the underworld. His wife is Persephone whom Hades abducted (see the rape of Persephone).

Hera

Hera was the wife of Zeus and the mother of Hebe (wife of Hercules). She is the goddess of youth and along with Ganymede, a cup bearer to the gods.

Athena

Athena is the Greek virgin goddess of reason, intelligent activity, arts, and literature. Athena is the daughter of Zeus who sprang forth from his forehead (thus has no mother). She is fierce in battle and invented the bridle whieh permitted man to tame horses. She also invented the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeus' favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons including the thunderbolt. Her favorite city is Athens, her tree the olive, and her bird the owl.

Aphrodite

Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her.

Hephaestos

Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. He is the only god who was considered physically ugly. He is also lame. Accounts as to how he became lame vary. Some say that Hera, upset by having an ugly child, flung him from Mount Olympus into the sea, breaking his legs. Others say he took Hera's side in an argument with Zeus and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus. He is the god of fire and the forge. He is the smith and armorer of the gods. He is kind and peace-loving. His wife is Aphrodite.

The Titans

The Titans Also known as the elder gods, the Titans ruled the earth before the Olympians overthrew them. The ruler of the Titans was Cronus who was dethroned by his son, Zeus. Most of the Titans fought with Cronus against Zeus and were punished by being banished to Tartarus. The list of Titans that come down to us from ancient Greek mythology include: Gaea, Uranus, Cronus, Rhea, Oceanus, Tethys, Hyperion, Mnemosyne, Themis, Lapetus, Coeus, Crius, Phoebe, Thea, Prometheus, Epimetheus, Atlas, and Metis.

Only a few of the Titans appear on ancient coin...Cronus being one notable example.

Cronus
Cronus was the ruling Titan who came to power by castrating his father, Uranus. His wife was Rhea and their offspring were the first of the Olympians. To ensure his safety, Cronus ate each of the children as they were born, until Rhea intervened. Rhea tricked Cronus by feeding him a rock instead of Zeus. When Zeus grew up he revolted against the Titans, defeated them, and banished them to Tartarus in the underworld.

Seleucid Kingdom. Alexander I Balas. 150-145 BC. 21mm (Byblos mint). Head of Alexander and Cronus depicted with staff and 6 wings. Lindgren 1811. (Author's collection)

PISIDIA, Codrula. Trajan Decius 249-251 A.D. AE 35mm, 26.58g. Rhea facing Kronos (image courtesy of Gemini)

PISIDIA, Licinia. Septimius Severus. 37mm. Zeus on Throne between Titans. (image courtesy of Nilus Coins)

Antoninus Pius 138-160 A.D. AE Medallion, ca. 157 A.D., Rome; 56.00g. Jupiter in Quadriga slaying a Titan (image courtesy of Kunker)

Argos. Antoninus Pius 138-161 A.D. 5.62g Titan. (image courtesy of Kunker)

Mythological Creatures

There are a number of popular Greek mythos that include creatures such as: the Cyclops, Giants, Typhoeus, Cerberus, the Sirens, Centaurs, Medusa and other Gorgons, the Chimaera, Enchidna, Pegasus, and others.

The Centaur
Centaur's are half man, half horse. Most are wild and savage with a reputation for lustfulness and drunkness; however, there was at least on none exception...Chiron. Chiron was known for his goodness and wisdom and he was the only immortal centaur. He became the tutor for a number of famous Greek heroes to include: Achilles, Aesclepius and Actaeon. Despite his immortality, he chose to die in trade for the release of Prometheus.

CARIA, Aphrodisias Gordian III (238-244 A.D.) Æ 36mm, 24.26g Obv: AV K MAP ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: ΑΦΡΟΔΕΙCIEΩΝ. Centaur advancing right, holding arrow and bow Ref: Weber 6407; SNG Aulock 2462 MacDonald, Coinage, Type 184 (O232/R426) (Author's collection)

THESSALY, Mopsion. ca. 350 BC. 20mm. Head of Zeus, the Lapith Mopsos battling a centaur. McClean 4648. (image courtesy of CNG)

THESSALY, Magnetes Elagabalus 218-222 A.D. 3 assaria 22mm. Centaur Chiron (image courtesy of Nomos 4)

BITHYNIA, Prusias II. 183-149 B.C. 21mm 4.7g Bust of Dionysos; Chiron the Centaur holding Lyre. (Author's collection)

Maximian AV Aureus (19mm, 5.76g, 12h). Rome, AD 295. MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust to right / VIRTVS AVGG, Hercules, naked but for lion skin around shoulder, standing to right attacking with club a centaur, who is fleeing to right, chest and head reverted to left; PR in exergue. RIC VI -; C. -; Depeyrot 5B/8 var. (bust); Calicó 4739. (Author's collection)

The Chimaera
Spawned by Typhoeus and Echidna, the Chimaera had three heads, that of a lion, a goat and a snake and it breathed fire. It ravaged Lycia, killing cattle and setting fires until it was killed by Bellerophon (see other mythological Heroes section).

CORINTHIA, Corinth. ca. 330 BC. AR Trihemidrachm. Bellerophon on Pegasus flying right, Chimaera left.

AKARNANIA, Leukas Trihemidrachmon, 375-350. 3.57g. Bellerophon on Pegasos fighting Chimera. (image courtesy of Munzen and Medaillon)

Pegasus
Pegasus was a winged horse created after the ill fated mating of Medusa and Poseidon. Tamed by Bellerophon, Pegasus served as his mount during his adventures including the slaying of the Chimaera. When Bellerophon attempted to fly Pegasus to Mount Olympus he was dismounted by Zeus. Pegasus continued on and made it to Mount Olympus where he spent the remainder of his days carrying lighting bolts for Zeus.

BRUTTIUM, Lokroi Epizephyrioi. ca. 278-276 BC. 27mm. Head of Athena and Pegasus.

EPIRUS, Ambracia. Corinthian AR stater circa 380 B.C. Head of Athena and Pegasus.

Hadrian, 117-138. Mint at Rome. Dupondius (Orichalcum, 27 mm, 14.43 g, 6 h), circa 124-125 AD. Pegasus flying. (Author's collection)