The Vengeful and Vigrinal Goddesses of Mt. Olympus

The mythology of Greece tells the story of five Goddesses who ruled along with six Gods from Mt. Olympus. Hera was both wife and sister to Zeus and is regarded as the queen of the Gods. Greek mythology holds up the goddesses as protectors and stewards of the feminine aspect. They control 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 deities and mortals romanced by Zeus and the offspring who were fathered by her powerful, but unfaithful husband. Hercules, the child of Alceme fathered by Zeus, 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. She as seen as the "bringer" of the seasons. The most recognized myth of Demeter involved her daughter Persephone, who was abducted by Hades and forced to become his queen. Demeter was dumb with grief and life came to a halt as her sorrow held in wait the turn of the seasons. Zeus was petitioned by the suffering people and the other deities and he commanded Hermes to return Persephone from the underworld. Although she was returned to her mother, Hades had tricked her, and by the rule of fates Persephone was bound to spend four months of each year as penance 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 legend suggests she was created after Cronus severed Ouranos' genitals and threw them into the seas. Differing versions of her origin suggest she was daughter to Zeus or Dione. Her legendary beauty was a danger in the eyes of the Gods, who feared that they would be plunged into all out war in order to gain her favor. Zeus married her off to Hephaestus, God to the blacksmiths who was lame and unattractive according to Greek mythology. The marriage did not deter her desire to use her physical perfection to toy with the hearts 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

The Greek goddess Artemis was daughter of Zeus and the mortal Leto, and twin sister to Apollo. Artemis was one of the three Virgin Goddesses in Greek mythology. As the Virgin Huntress, her rule over nature was absolute and it was believed that she delivered fertility to the lands of all who sought her favor through worship. As 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 Goddess 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, fearing the prophecy that claimed Metis' offspring may be more powerful than himself, swallowed the Titan goddess whole. Metis birthed and raised her child inside Zeus and sent her forth, springing from Zeus' head, a fully-formed woman armed for battle. Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge who taught women to sew and weave and men how to tend the lands and metal works. 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

First born daughter of Rhea and Cronus, she was a virgin goddess like Hera and Athena. Both Poseidon and Apollo wished for her hand in marriage, but she remained chaste as Zeus had commanded. Hestia was warmly regarded by those who worshipped her who loved her kind spirit and virtue. Hestia remained for eternity at Mount Olympus, never participating in the heroic acts and petty grievances of the other Gods and Goddesses. She was the only deity to be worshipped in all temples of the Ancient Greeks.

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