This document summarizes key gods from Greek mythology discussed in Part I of Edith Hamilton's book "Mythology". It outlines the origins of the universe according to mythology, with Gaea and Uranus as the first parents who gave birth to the Titans. The Titans then gave birth to the Olympian gods like Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and others. It provides brief descriptions of each major god or goddess, including their domains, symbols, and relationships.

1. Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Important Gods from Part I

2. The Gods
• Gods did not create the universe
• Heaven & Earth were formed (first parents)
– Gaea & Uranus
• Their children were the Titans
• Titans were parents of the gods

3. The Titans
• Cronus (Saturn)
– Father of Zeus
• Rhea (mother of Zeus)
• Ocean
• Hyperion
• Atlas
• Prometheus
• They were all very large
& very strong

4. Mt. Olympus
• Place of perfect peace
• Not the same as Heaven
• Where the 12 Olympians live
• Eat ambrosia
• Drink nectar

5. Zeus (Jupiter)
• Pronounced: zoos
• Lord of the Sky
• Rain-God & Cloud-gatherer
• Wields the Thunderbolt
• Bird-eagle
• Tree-oak
• Married to Hera, but had
Many affairs

6. Zeus (Jupiter)
• His shield is the aegis
• He is neither
omnipotent (all-
powerful) or omniscient
(all-knowing)
• He is often tricked
• Father of many children

7. Hera (Juno)
• Wife & Sister of Zeus
• Goddess of Marriage
• Often punishing Zeus’s
mistresses
• Bird-peacock
• Animal-cow

8. Poseidon
• Brother of Zeus
• Lord of the Sea
• “Earth-Shaker”
• Violent temper
• Trident: 3-pronged
spear
• Created horses

9. Hades (Pluto)
• King of the Dead, but
Death himself
• Ruled the Underworld
• God of Wealth
• Helmet of Invisibility

10. Athena (Minerva)
• Goddess of Justified War & Wisdom
• Daughter of Zeus alone
• Sprang from his head wearing armor
• Protector of city life
• Goddess of handicrafts (weaving)
• “gray-eyed”
• Carries the aegis for Zeus
• Bird-owl
• Tree-olive
• City-Athens

11. Apollo
• Son of Zeus
• “Most Greek” of the gods
• God of music, poetry, light,
truth, medicine
• Plays the lyre
• Oracle at Delphi
• Sun god

12. Artemis (Diana)
• Twin sister of Apollo
• Virgin goddess
• Goddess of the hunt
• “protectress of dewy youth”
• Goddess of the moon
• Silver arrows
• Animal-deer

13. Aphrodite (Venus)
• Goddess of Love & Beauty
• Born from sea foam
• Laughter-loving goddess
• Married to Hephaestus (ugly
& lame god)
• Bird-dove

14. Hermes (Mercury)
• Messenger of the gods
• Winged sandals & hat
• Caduceus: magic wand
• Shrewd & cunning (trickster)
• Master Thief
• Created the lyre & gave it to
Apollo
• Guide of the dead

15. Ares (Mars)
• God of War
• Son of Zeus & Hera (both
hate him)
• Adulteress relationship
with Aphrodite
• Bird-vulture
• Animal-dog

16. Hephaestus (Vulcan)
• God of Fire
• Ugly & lame god
• Hera or Zeus threw him
down Mt. Olympus
• Makes armor for the gods
• His forge is under a
volcano

17. Hestia (Vesta)
• Virgin goddess, along with
Artemis & Athena
• Goddess of the Hearth &
Home
• Every city had a hearth
sacred to Hestia, where the
fire was never allowed to
go out
• Meals began & ended with
an offering to her