The ancient Greeks projected upon the twelve gods their own faults and strengths, passions and weaknesses, their loves and hatreds, their nightmares and dreams.
- Jupiter (Zeus)
The “Father of gods and people,” Zeus / Jupiter, the king of Olympus and the twelve-leader, lord of lightning, Punisher and protector, lover and warlord, he defeated his father Cronus and the Titans and threw the Giants in Tartarus. He was the undisputed ruler of the universe and controlled everything. Known for his amorous adventures, he always caused the jealousy of his wife, Hera. The Greeks attributed him with many nicknames, the most famous of all Xenios Zeus, as he was the patron of hospitality.
- Hera
Hera was the sister and wife of Zeus. Her main purpose was to protect women and marriage, although she usually liked to haunt and punish the many mistresses of her husband and children resulting from these courtships outside marriage them. Of course, Hera was often left to wandering, but she always came back to her husband. She could also give birth to children without Jupiter’s help, all but herself.
- Neptune
Neptune Poseidon, god of the sea and drinking water sources, ruler of the seas and geological phenomena. Naval people like Greeks worshiped Poseidon as the chief god of seafarers. His personal hatred of Odysseus was the reason he had to wander for ten years until he managed to return to his home island, Ithaca.
- Athena
Athena began as a fully armed goddess of war and then developed into the patron goddess of Athens and a symbol of wisdom. According to legend, she sprang through the head of Zeus holding a spear and shield and wearing a helmet. He had no love affairs and she symbolized the eternal virginity. Her favorite city was Athens, which took its name. Her symbols were the spear, the owl and the olive branch/tree.
- Demeter
Demeter was the goddess of vegetation and agriculture, particularly protecting cereal crops and farmers. She established the Eleusinian mysteries. She was one of the largest and oldest goddesses of ancient Greek mythology. Demeter was one of the most reluctant goddesses about love. However, Zeus transformed himself into a bull and managed to outwit her. From their union came Persephone.
- Vulcan
Vulcan Hephaestus, the God that was malformed, but was very smart and inventive. He was the lord of construction and metallurgy, strong and skillful craftsman. Not only he molded in clay the first mortal woman (Pandora), but he made his first robot: Talos (guard of Crete). He had also made golden girls and bronze dogs.
- Apollo
Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto, was the god of light, music and Harmony. Born on the sacred island of Delos, he rose from the first day on Mount Olympus. Once, after many wanderings, he came to Delphi and killed the terrible Python who guarded the springs (hence the adjective “Pythia” and the priestess “Pythia”) and founded the first oracle.
- Artemis
Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo, the ever virgin goddess of wildlife and hunting, protectress of women and mothers in rural areas. So the areas where it was worshiped always fertile while the lands that not honored her faced her wrath. That’s why one of her features was the hardness towards the offenders towards of her own rules. The bow, the quiver and the deer composed her featured image on the mythology of the Greeks.
- Hermes (Mercury)
Hermes was the messenger who brought messages to gods and humans, which made him very popular among them. Patron of merchants, travel and wrestlers, he became the God’s spirit. Although his erotic adventures were numerous, he failed to conquer Venus, which he was always wanted.
- Mars
Mars The bloodthirsty Ares was a war god, who represented the fury and the absurdity of war. Naturally, no city made him its patron and was not particularly popular in the circle of the other gods. Typical of his behavior was his many controversies with the other war goddess, Athena. Surprisingly, the fruit of his illicit love with Venus was the Goddess Harmony.
- Venus
Venus, which emerged from the sea, was the deification of female beauty, goddess of love and affection. Gods and mortals were all entangled in the nets of love. At the most characteristic of cases, is the love of her with Mars and their arrest by her husband Hephaestus which trapped them with unbreakable chains, from which they were eventually escaped with the help of Poseidon. This did not prevent her from continuing her extramarital activities.
- Hearth (Estia)
Finally, the Hearth was the eldest daughter and first child of Cronus and Rhea, so I was put in charge of all major deities. Patroness of family happiness, she was the sacred center of the house and she was not only offered the first, but also the last sacrifice at every festive gathering of people.