Gods and Goddesses
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Many ancient manuscripts refer to the 12 gods who lived on Mount Olympus. However the list of exactly which gods lived on Mount Olympus differs between writers. Zeus is included on all of the lists of the Olympic gods. He was the sky god, the most powerful god in Greek mythology. When he was angry he threw thunderbolts. Hera was the sister and wife of Zeus, and the queen of Mount Olympus. She was the goddess of marriage and motherhood. In the stories they often reveal her to be hateful and full of spite. Poseidon was the god of the sea. He was the second-most powerful god, after his brother Zeus. When Poseidon became angry, he caused earthquakes. He was often pictured with a trident.
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Other important gods include Hades, the god of the underworld, where dead people reside. Hermes was the messenger god. In Greek mythology, Hermes often played a lots of tricks on people and other gods. He is usually pictured wearing a winged hat and winged sandals to show his speed. Ares was the god of the war. Hephaestus was the god of fire and blacksmiths. Dionysus was the god of wine. Olympic goddesses include Hestia the goddess of the hearth, or fireplace. Demeter was the goddess of the harvest. The goddess of the hunt was Artemis and the goddess of wisdom was Athena.
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Another famous gods are Aphrodite which she was the goddess of love and beauty. One of the most famous statues in the world, the Venus de Milo, is believed to be of the goddess Aphrodite. All that is left is the torso and head of the Venus de Milo. Her arms were broken off sometime in the past. The statue today is in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Apollo another famous god was the goddess of music, poetry, and healing. He is often pictured with a bow and arrow, or a lyre, a harp-like stringed instrument.
Zeus's lovers
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Although Zeus was married to Hera, he often fell in love with the most beautiful women. When Zeus fell in love with Io, he turned her into a white cow in order to hide her from his wife. However, Hera found out and tie Io, leaving her hundred-eye servant Argus on guard. Zeus sent Hermes to soothe Argus to sleep by playing his lyre. One by one, Argus closed all his eyes. Hermes swiftly struck off his head and freed Io. Hera was furious and sent a gadfly to sting her rival. The insect chased Io all the way to Egypt. Here, she became a woman again and a priestess of the Egyptian, Isis.
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Princess Europa of Tyre was on the beach when Zeus appeared, in the shape of a white bull. She was afraid at first but the bull was so handsome and gentle that she soon started to play and garlanded him with flowers. She even got on his back to go for a ride. At that moment, the bull plunged into the sea and carried her off to Crete, where she lived and had three sons with Zeus. After some time, Europa married the King of Crete who made her eldest son, Minos, his heir.
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King Acrisius was warned by an Oracle, stating that he would be killed by his grandson. He locked his daughter Danae, in a tower preventing her to fall in love. He could not keep her from Zeus, though. He entered her prison as a shower of gold and Danae had his son, Perseus. Acrisius could not bear to kill them, despite the Oracle, so he set them adrift in a boat. All that time, Zeus guided the boat safely to the island of Seriphos.
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Alcmene was alredy married when Zeus fell in love with her. She refused to betray her husband, so the god played a trick on her. Zeus disguised himself as Alcmene's husband and went to her when he was due back from war. She greeted Zeus fondly-and had a shock when her real husband arrived the next day. The couple guessed the truth, but could do nothing about it. Alcmene had Zeus's son and called him Heracles,("Glory of Hera"), to make Zeus's wife, Hera, feel important. This did not work, and Hera made Heracle's life extremely difficult.
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Leda was Queen of Sparta, married to King Tyndareus. One day, she was bathing in a river when a handsome swan swam up. The swan appeared to be Zeus in disguise. He became Leda's lover and she produced a beautiful blue egg, from which were hatched four children, two belonging to Zeus and two to her husband. Zeus's children were Helen, the most beautiful woman on Earth, for whom the Trojan War was fought, and the hero Polydeuces. The children of Tyndareus were Clytmemnestra and Castor.
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Theti was a nereid, a sea-goddess who could change shape at will. It was predicted that her son would be greater than its father. Zeus was in love with her but could not risk having such a son. He decided she must marry a mortal, Peleus, although he knew she would resist. Peleus found Thetis on the seashore and seized her. She changed shpae from woman to fire,water,lion,serpent and cuttlefish, but Peleus held on. His courage impressed Thetis and she agreed to marry him. All the gods were invited to their wedding, except Eris the goddess of spite.