GREEK NAME	ROMAN NAME	CHARACTERISTICS	SYMBOL(S)
Zeus (ZOOS)	Jupiter (JOO-pit-er)	King of the gods. He is sometimes angry at the behavior of gods and people, but he can also be a gentle and caring ruler. he is particularly fond of beautiful women, regardless of whether they are goddesses or mortals.	thunderbolt, shield, oak tree
Poseidon (poh-SIE-don)	Neptune (NEP-toon)	Zeus's brother, God of the ocean and the earthquakes. He is often distinguished in art by the fisherman's trident that he carries-a three pronged spear.	trident, horse, bull
Hera (HEE-ruh)	Juno (Joo-noh)	Zeus's wife. Queen of the gods, guardian of marriage. She is a great lady and diplomat. Though she is often jealous and nags her husband, she can also be a tender and loving wife.	peacock, cow
Athena (uh-THEEN-uh)	Minerva (min-ER-vuh)	Daughter of Zeus (born, it is said, from his brain, when he had a bad headache). She is the goddess of wisdom and war, patriotism, and good citizenship. She is the protector and namesake of the city of Athens.	owl, shield, olive tree
Apollo [uh-PAW-loh]	Apollo	Son of Zeus. God of poetry, music, medicine and light. He is associated with the sun.	crow, dolphin, laurel, lyre
Artemis [AR-tim-is]	Diana [die-AN-uh]	Apollo's twin sister. Goddess of hunting and of wild things. She is associated with the moon. She is sometimes called "Cynthia."	stag, crescent, moon, cypress
Hades [HAY-deez]	Pluto [PLU-toe]	God of the underworld.	helmet, metal jewels
Ares [Air-eez]	Mars [MARZ]	Son of Zeus. Terrible god of war.	vulture, dog
Hephaestus [hee-FES-tuhs]	Vulcan [VUL-kan]	Son of Zeus and Hera, the lame blacksmith god of fire.	fire, blacksmith's hammer
Aphrodite [af-roh-DIE-tee}	Venus [VEE-nus]	The wife of Hephaestus, she is the goddess of love and beauty. She is said to have been born of the sea foam. Her son, Eros [AIR-ohss] (the Roman Cupid [KU-pid]), shoots arrows which cause men and women to fall in love. Another son, Aeneas [ee NEE-uhs], is a mortal man, considered to be the ancestor of the Romans.	dove, goose, sparrow, myrtle
Hermes [HER-meez]	Mercury [MER-cure-ee]	Son of Zeus. Messenger of the gods, he is also the god of science and invention	wand, winged sandals, winged helmet
Hestia [HES-tee-uh]	Vesta [VES-tuh]	Zeus's sister. Goddess of home and hearth.	hearth
Demeter [dee-MEE-ter]	Ceres [SEER-eez]	Zeus's sister. She is the very important goddess of grain and agriculture. She is a kind of bond between heaven and earth.	wheat