Even when you’re familiar with Greco-Roman mythology, it may be tricky to remember which Greek (or Roman) god is who.
For example, would you be able to recognize the Olympian gods in the famous Renaissance painting above? (or here)
Oh, they’re there, and they’re recognizable. You just need to know their characteristics and symbols.
Here is a cheat sheet that will help you remember what each of the Olympian Greek gods generally represents, what they are best known for, and how to spot them (in art). At the bottom of the page, I will identify these Greco-Roman gods on the painting.
The Olympian Greek Gods Cheat Sheet
Zeus
- The Father god
- The Sky god of lighting and thunder
How to spot him: Bearded man with a thunderbolt. Sometimes depicted with an eagle, laurel crown, or Nike, the goddess of victory.
Hera
- Sister and wife of Zeus, which makes her the queen of the gods
- Goddess of women, marriage, childbirth, fidelity and nurturing
- Goddess of kings and empires
- Cheated on multiple times by Zeus
- Very jealous – can you blame her?
How to spot her: Diadem, scepter, peacock
Poseidon
- Brother of Zeus
- God of the sea and rivers
- God of flood, drought and earthquakes
How to spot him: Holds a trident
Aphrodite
- Goddess of beauty, love and sex
- Born from the sea foam caused by the severed genitals of Uranus (a primordial deity, father of the Titans, and grandfather of Zeus)
How to spot her: Seashell, fair, naked
Athena
- Born fully adult from the head of Zeus
- Goddess of wisdom and intelligence
- Goddess of warfare, battle strategy and justice
- Patron of heroes
- Patron of the city of Athens
How to spot her: Wearing a helmet, sometimes spear and shield, image of Medusa’s head on her armour or necklace, often seen with an owl (which symbolizes wisdom)
Hephaestus
- God of metalwork, fire and craft
- The smith of the gods
- His wife is Aphrodite… but she cheated on him big time
How to spot him: Smith hammer, tool, fabricating a helmet
Apollo
- God of the arts (archery, music, dance) and knowledge
- God of healing and plagues
- Later identified as a sun god and equated to the Roman Sol and Greek Helios.
- Twin sister is Artemis
How to spot him: Symbols include the laurel, bow and lyre. Can be seen with the 9 Muses who also represent the arts and knowledge.
Artemis
- Virgin goddess of the moon and young girls
- Goddess of the hunt, wilderness and animals
- Her twin brother is Apollo
How to spot her: look for the bow and arrow, a quiver for arrows on her back, and deer and other wild animals.
Demeter
- Goddess of harvest, grain, agriculture, growth and nourishment
- Daughter Persephone abducted by Hades, causing her depression and halting crops
- Zeus struck a deal with Hades; Persephone allowed on earth for half of the year
How to spot her: Cornucopia, wheat, torch/scepter, plate
Ares
- God of war, bloodshed, violence
- Brother of Athena
How to spot him: Helmet, spear, shield, Eros child at feet, spear with a face, torch
Hermes
- God of travel, trade, communication, language
- God of cunning and thieves
- Messenger of the gods
- Psychopomp to newly deceased souls
How to spot him: Wings (on helmet, sandals or staff), caduceus, sometimes with a hat
Dionysus
- Demi-god
- Born of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele
- Represents wine, intoxication, ecstasy and madness
- God of vegetation, wilderness, shepherds
- Later became the god of the theater
- Known for being a foreigner – coming from afar.
- Added to the Greek Pantheon later on, replacing Hestia
How to spot him: Grapes, grapevines or grape leaves (sometimes fruits and vegetation) crowning his head, his staff or around him. Holding a cup of wine. Often depicted drunk, in a procession with a panther, lion and satyrs.
Hestia
- Goddess of chastity, a virgin
- Goddess of the home, hearth and domesticity
How to spot her: Torch, holding flowers, holding a kettle, depicted with fire
Here, I identify some of these Olympian Greek gods as best as possible:
Identifying the gods is just one small part of the mythology journey. Another (big) part is learning about the stories and intricacies between them and their characters. 🤓
