Gods and Goddesses of Greek and Roman Mythology

Greek god

Relationship

Role

Attribute

Roman
Counterpart
Jupiter

Zeus

husband and brother of Hera

King and father of gods,

sky.

Thunderbolt, eagle.

Hera

wife and sister of Zeus

Queen and mother of

gods; women, marriage,
maternity.

veil, cuckoo, pomerganate,

peacock

Juno

Athena

daughter of Zeus, but not of

Hera. Sprung from the head of
Zeus fully-formed.

war (strategy), wisdom,

weaving, protector of
Athens

Owl, Armor,
shield, gorgoneion (head of
Medusa on breast plate)

Minerva

Ares

son of Hera and Zeus

war, strife, blind courage

Armor

Mars

love, beauty

Cupid, Eros (her son)

Venus

lyre, bow, quiver

Phoebus

Aphrodite
Homer: daughter of Zeus and
Dione (a Titan);

Apollo

son of Zeus and Leto

(daughter of the Titans Coes
and Pheobe); brother of
Artemis

solar light, reason,

prophecy, medicine,
music

Helios

later identified with Apollo

Sun

Artemis

daugher of Zeus and Leto;

sister of Apollo.

lunar light, hunting,

childbirth

bow, arrows, dogs

Diana

Selene

later identified with Artemis.

Moon

Crescent moon

Diana

Hermes

son of Zeus and Maia (eldest

daughter of Titan Atlas)

Male messenger of the

gods; trickster and thief;
good luck, wealth, travel,
dreams, eloquence.

Winged sandals, winged

cap, caduceus (winged staff
entwined with serpents)

Mercury

Hades

brother of Zeus and husband

of Persephone

Ruler of the underworld

Cerberos (triple-headed dog)

Pluto

Dionysos

son of Zeus and Semele

(daugher of Cadmus, king of
Thebes)

Wine, theater, grapes,

panther skin

Thyrsos (staff), wine cup

Bacchus

Hephaistos

son of Hera

Fire, the art of the

blacksmith, crafts.

Hammer, tongs, lamed foot

Vulcan

Hestia

sister of Zeus

Hearth, domestic fire, the

family

hearth

Vesta

Demeter

sister of Zeus

Agriculture, grain

Ears of wheat, torch

Ceres

Poseidon

brother of Zeus

Sea

Trident, horse

Neptune

Pheobus

J. Samonte (2016)
johnsamonte128@gmail.com

Herakles

son of Zeus and a mortal

woman, the only hero admitted
by the gods to Mount Olympos
and granted immortality.

Strength

Lion skin, club, bow and quiver

Hercules

Eros

son of Aphrodite

Love

Bow and arrow, wings

Amor/ Cupid

Persephon
e

daughter of Zeus and Demeter,

wife of Hades

the underworld

Scepter, pomegranate

Victoria

Reflection: Gods and Goddesses of Greek and Roman Mythology

Religion played a very important role in our daily life. Its centred relationship between gods and
mortals or the followers. It has provided for a universal language and culture among those who believe in a
higher power. We give importance of prayers, blessed, sacrifices, birth origin, and death. Today, we have
different religion that people believe. The Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism are among
them. We may have different religion but we must respect our different beliefs.
During the ancient Greek and Roman, they were extravagant in many things, religion among them. Gods
and Goddess names are found in all of our ancient cultures. Their mythological tradition is particularly rich in
historical myths, or legends, concerning the foundation and rise of the city. For earliest period, history and myth
are difficult to distinguish the predominant mythologies handed down through the ages are those of the Greeks
and Romans. The mythology of each culture includes gods and goddesses who interacted with humans, with
good, bad, and indifferent motives. Greek mythology was chronicled in the epic Illiad by Homer. Roman
mythology was chronicled in the book Aeneid by Virgil. Many Roman gods borrowed from Greek mythology
and myths of Roman creation from Greeks. Gods in Greek Mythology are the collection of stories or myths of
the ancient Greeks about their gods, heroes and the natural world. Gods in Roman mythology are the
mythological beliefs about gods in the city of Ancient Rome. Greek gods are given a beautiful, perfect physical
appearance while Roman gods are not given physical form and represented only in the imagination of the
people. Greek gods are mainly based on human personality traits likes love, hate, honor and dignity, and myths
related to them are shaped by these traits. Roman gods are based on objects or actions rather than personality
traits.
The actions of gods and mortals in Greek myths are more individualistic, the deeds of an individual are
more influential than that of the group. Roman mythology is much less individualistic. In Greek mythology, the
afterlife does not hold much importance. In fact, gods and mortals are regularly snatched from the afterlife and
brought in to the present showing no concern for the afterlife. The Greek perspective is much more concerned
with the physical life on earth as opposed to the afterlife. Mortals are remembered and rewarded for their good
J. Samonte (2016)
johnsamonte128@gmail.com

deeds on earth. In contradiction, the Romans did good deeds to secure their place in heaven. They could even
earn a place among the gods and through their life on earth strove towards this goal.
Nowadays, it may not be realistic, the gods, their powers and images, but its part of the Greek and
Roman history that we could learn and we must respect. Religion is the main source of morals and values today.
Religion provides strength, values, and a word to follow. It is expressed in many different ways in many
varieties of people. It is a sense of togetherness and connection to certain cultures. Religion is a choice and
decision.

J. Samonte (2016)
johnsamonte128@gmail.com