GCSE Classical Civilisation OCR

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.