Last week we shared information about the Greek gods since they are characters within Greek Mythology that exhibit both human qualities and supernatural powers. This week we are rounding out the Mount Olympus family tree with the most notable Greek goddesses.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. There are a few different versions of her parentage. One states that she was born out of foam when Cronos threw the genitals of his father, Uranus, into the sea. Another story explains that Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione, the goddess of the oracle of Dodona. Aphrodite married Hephaestus, but she has many lovers including the god Ares.
Artemis
Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She is the goddess of the hunt and other things like wild animals, wilderness, and childbirth. Artemis is well-known for her archery skills and her hunting abilities. As the goddess of the hunt and a protector of young girls, Artemis leads a group of young girls who rejected love and in return will stay young forever.
Athena
Athena serves as the goddess of wisdom and war strategy. She is the patron of the Greek city of Athens and the Parthenon is a temple dedicated to Athena. Her symbols are the owl for wisdom and the olive tree. There is speculation about who Athena’s mother is, but her father is Zeus.
Demeter
Demeter is the goddess of the harvest and oversees the seasons. She also serves as the goddess of sacred law and the cycle of life and death. Demeter is the daughter of Cronos and Rhea, who were both Titans. Zeus fathered Demeter’s daughter, Persephone, who eventually was abducted by Hades and became his queen of the Underworld.
Hera
Hera is the queen of the gods as Zeus’s wife. She is the goddess of marriage and birth. Thus, her husband’s various lovers caused her to be vengeful towards her husband’s flings and offspring.
The gods and goddesses shared are not the only gods and goddesses, but the remainder of them tend to be minor Greek deities. These Greek figures come up the most in Greek myths and are the parents of several of the most notable heroes.