Gods (Greek and Roman)

Greek Gods and Goddesses

The Ancient Greeks were polytheistic, which means they believed in multiple gods.
The supreme god was Zeus, he ruled the sky and was also considered the king of all gods.
Hera was Zeus’s wife. She was the goddess of marriage, family and childbirth.
Poseidon was the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses.
Athena was the goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare. She was also the patron goddess of Athens.
Apollo was the god of the sun, music, poetry, and truth.
Artemis was Apollo’s twin sister and she was the goddess of hunting, wilderness, and animals.
The goddess of love and beauty was Aphrodite.
Hermes was the messenger of the gods and the god of trade and thieves.
Ares was the god of war, representing its violent and physical aspects.
Hades was the god of the underworld, ruling over the dead.
Demeter was the goddess of harvest. She is also associated with fertility and the cycle of life and death.
Hephaestus was the god of fire and metalworking, often associated with blacksmiths.

Roman Gods and Goddesses

The Romans also practiced polytheism, adopting many Greek gods but renaming them.
Jupiter was the equivalent of Zeus, king of the gods and god of the sky and thunder.
Juno, Jupiter’s wife, was the goddess of marriage and childbirth, similar to Hera.
Neptune took Poseidon’s place as the god of the sea.
The goddess of wisdom was known as Minerva in Roman mythology, equivalent to Athena.
Apollo kept his name and attributes in Roman mythology.
Diana was the Roman Artemis, goddess of the hunt.
The goddess of love was Venus, the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite.
Mercury was the Roman Hermes, god of trade and also the messenger of the gods.
Mars was the Roman god of war, with a more honourable representation than his Greek counterpart, Ares.
Pluto was the Roman counterpart to Hades, ruling the underworld.
Ceres was the Roman Demeter, goddess of harvest.
Vulcan was the Roman god of fire and metalworking, analogue to Hephaestus.