The Better Half Of Mt. Olympus Were Not Without Their Own Flaws
Six goddesses ruled from Mt. Olympus according to the tales of classical-era mythology. Hera is considered the queen of the Greek Gods, both wife and sister to Zeus according to Greek mythology. Greek mythology holds up the goddesses as the protectors and manipulators of the feminine side of human existence. They are in control of love, fertility and the fruit of the Earth. Just as the Gods of Mt. Olympus are powerful but imperfect, they can possess great wisdom and be prone to rash decisions.
Hera
The Goddess Hera was wife to Zeus, both born to Cronus and Rhea. She was Goddess of women, marriage and childbirth. Greek mythology is ripe with the stories of the jealousy and retribution Hera plotted against the love interests romanced by Zeus and the offspring who were fathered by her powerful, but unfaithful husband. Hercules, son to Zeus and the mortal Alceme, was just one of many to incur the vengeful goddess" wrath. Juno is the Roman representation of Hera.
Demeter
The second child of Rhea and Cronus, Demeter was goddess of the lands who nourished the soil. Greek mythology cast her as the "bringer" of the seasons. Her central myth involved her daughter Persephone, who was stolen away by Hades and made to become his queen. Demeter was grievous and life came to a halt as her sorrow barred the turn of the seasons. Zeus was swayed by the starving people and the other deities and he commanded Hermes to return Persephone from the underworld. Although she was brought back to her mother, Hades had tricked her, and by the rule of fates Persephone was forced to return for four months of each year as punishment for eating the pomegranate seeds that Hades had offered.
Aphrodite
She was the goddess of love, lust and sensuality and her beauty was unsurpassed. Aprhodite means "risen from the foam" and Greek mythology tells the story of how she was created after Cronus severed Ouranos" genitals and discarded them in the ocean. Other variations on her mythology suggest she was daughter to Zeus or Dione. Her legendary beauty was a danger in the eyes of the Gods, who believed it was inevitable that they would go to war to possess her. Zeus resolved this by making the beautiful goddess marry Hephaestus, God to the blacksmiths who was lame and unattractive according to Greek mythology. The marriage did not deter her ability to use her beauty to meddle in the affairs of Gods and mortals. In Rome, Aphrodite was referred to as Venus. The most popular Aphrodite statue is more commonly known as the Venus De Milo, but she is perhaps the most popular subject of Greek art.
Artemis
Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and the mortal woman Leto. She is the God Apollo's twin. Artemis was one of the Virgin Goddesses in Greek mythology. Artemis the Virgin Huntress" rule over nature was absolute and she delivered fertility to the lands of all who worshipped her. The sister of Apollo, the sun God, she became connected to the Moon. She is identified with the Roman goddess Diana.
Athena
Athena is another popular subject of Greek art. One of the most famous works is a Greek Goddes Athena Bust from the 4th century that sits in the Lourve, Paris. While there are varying tales of how Athena became a goddess, it's agreed that she is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, a Titan consort of the king of Gods. In the predominant origin tale; Zeus, was afraid that Metis would bear a child more powerful than himself, so he swalled Metis whole. Athena was raised inside of Zeus by her mother and one day sprang from the King of the Gods head as a fully formed woman armed for battle. Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge who taught men and women the skills to cloth their families, tend the lands and prepare for battle. She is one of the three virgin Goddesses along with Artemis and Hestia. Athenians buit the Parthenon in honor of Athena, their patron God.
Hestia
The oldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea, she was a virgin goddess like Hera and Athena. She was pursued by both Poseidon and Apollo who wished her hand in marriage, but she remained chaste as Zeus had commanded. Hestia was warmly regarded by those who worshipped her for her generous spirit and peaceful nature. Hestia spent her entire life at Mount Olympus, never engaging in the wars and conflicts that occupied the other gods. She was the only deity worshipped in all temples of the Ancient Greeks.
Hera
The Goddess Hera was wife to Zeus, both born to Cronus and Rhea. She was Goddess of women, marriage and childbirth. Greek mythology is ripe with the stories of the jealousy and retribution Hera plotted against the love interests romanced by Zeus and the offspring who were fathered by her powerful, but unfaithful husband. Hercules, son to Zeus and the mortal Alceme, was just one of many to incur the vengeful goddess" wrath. Juno is the Roman representation of Hera.
Demeter
The second child of Rhea and Cronus, Demeter was goddess of the lands who nourished the soil. Greek mythology cast her as the "bringer" of the seasons. Her central myth involved her daughter Persephone, who was stolen away by Hades and made to become his queen. Demeter was grievous and life came to a halt as her sorrow barred the turn of the seasons. Zeus was swayed by the starving people and the other deities and he commanded Hermes to return Persephone from the underworld. Although she was brought back to her mother, Hades had tricked her, and by the rule of fates Persephone was forced to return for four months of each year as punishment for eating the pomegranate seeds that Hades had offered.
Aphrodite
She was the goddess of love, lust and sensuality and her beauty was unsurpassed. Aprhodite means "risen from the foam" and Greek mythology tells the story of how she was created after Cronus severed Ouranos" genitals and discarded them in the ocean. Other variations on her mythology suggest she was daughter to Zeus or Dione. Her legendary beauty was a danger in the eyes of the Gods, who believed it was inevitable that they would go to war to possess her. Zeus resolved this by making the beautiful goddess marry Hephaestus, God to the blacksmiths who was lame and unattractive according to Greek mythology. The marriage did not deter her ability to use her beauty to meddle in the affairs of Gods and mortals. In Rome, Aphrodite was referred to as Venus. The most popular Aphrodite statue is more commonly known as the Venus De Milo, but she is perhaps the most popular subject of Greek art.
Artemis
Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and the mortal woman Leto. She is the God Apollo's twin. Artemis was one of the Virgin Goddesses in Greek mythology. Artemis the Virgin Huntress" rule over nature was absolute and she delivered fertility to the lands of all who worshipped her. The sister of Apollo, the sun God, she became connected to the Moon. She is identified with the Roman goddess Diana.
Athena
Athena is another popular subject of Greek art. One of the most famous works is a Greek Goddes Athena Bust from the 4th century that sits in the Lourve, Paris. While there are varying tales of how Athena became a goddess, it's agreed that she is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, a Titan consort of the king of Gods. In the predominant origin tale; Zeus, was afraid that Metis would bear a child more powerful than himself, so he swalled Metis whole. Athena was raised inside of Zeus by her mother and one day sprang from the King of the Gods head as a fully formed woman armed for battle. Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge who taught men and women the skills to cloth their families, tend the lands and prepare for battle. She is one of the three virgin Goddesses along with Artemis and Hestia. Athenians buit the Parthenon in honor of Athena, their patron God.
Hestia
The oldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea, she was a virgin goddess like Hera and Athena. She was pursued by both Poseidon and Apollo who wished her hand in marriage, but she remained chaste as Zeus had commanded. Hestia was warmly regarded by those who worshipped her for her generous spirit and peaceful nature. Hestia spent her entire life at Mount Olympus, never engaging in the wars and conflicts that occupied the other gods. She was the only deity worshipped in all temples of the Ancient Greeks.