Greek Mythology

     Before you go to a country, it's always a good idea to brush up on some facts about the culture of the people in the country. This way, you'll already know what your tour guides may tell you and you can impress some people with your knowledge. Also, it's fun to go to a country when you already have some background information. For example, when i went to Egypt in 2007, our vacation fell in the middle of my studies of Egyptian history and culture on my seventh grade World Cultures class. When I went to the country I recognized much of what I saw and learned and when I came back I had much knowledge of what I was about to learn.
     Recently, I've been trying to brush up on my Greek knowledge. I remember some of what I learned in World Cultures when we studied Greek mythology. I'll also be in Italy. Greek and Roman mythology is very similar, but the names are different. Here is a brief overview:

Greek Name	Roman Name	Identity	Symbols
Aphrodite	Venus	Goddess of love and beauty; Goddess of pleasure; Goddess of Laughter and Fertility; Daughter of Zeus; Mother of Eros; Wife to Hephaestus	Myrtle, Dove, Sparrow, Swan, Sceptre, Swallow, Hearts, Red Roses, Cupids
Ares	Mars	God of War;       Parents: Zeus & Hera (their most hated child); Aphrodite is his mistress	Spear, Dog,  Sword, Helmet
Artemis	Diana	Goddess of the Moon; Goddess of Virginity and Childbirth; Protector of Youth and Children; Twin sister Phoebus; Parents: Zeus and Leto	Bear, Bow, Deer, Forest, Moon, Cyprus Tree
Athena	Minerva	Goddess of Wisdom; Brain child of Zeus; Most Intelligent; Patron God of Cities and Civilized Life; God of handy craft Parents:Zeus and Metis	Agriculture, Wisdom, War, Purity, Aegis, Owl, Olive Tree, Athens, Golden Bridal, Flute, Weaving Loom, Helmets, Staff, Shield, Spider Webs, Head of Medusa
Chiron	Sagittarius	Centaur; God of Music; God of Hunting; Half- man , Half Horse; Only tamed Centaur; Great Teacher and Profit; can view the future to an extent; Parents: Cronus & Philyra	Wilderness, Horse, Music, Owl, Serpent
Cronus	Saturn	God of time; Ruler of the Titans; God of agriculture; Wife is Rhea; Father to many Gods; Parents: Ouranus and Gaea	Crow, Candle, Harvest, Sicle, Stone, Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets
Cyclops	Cyclopes	First of three children of Ouranus and Gaea; massive beings with one eye; considered monsters with no  respect for the gods	lightning, thunder bolt, sound of thunder, earthquake, huge one-eyed sheep
Demeter	Ceres	Goddess of agriculture; God of Corn, Sowing, Reaping, and the harvest; Earth Goddess, Patron goddess of marriage	Sceptre, Torch, Golden Sheeves of Corn, Harvest, Poppy, Cane, Pine Cone, Cornucopia, Cow, Sheeps, Doves, Bee, Horses, Pigs, Dolphin
Dionysus	Bacchus	God of wine; Patron god of animal life and vegetation life; God of Intoxication; Believes in freedom and civilazation; God of drama and Fertility; Earth god	Grape Vine, Ivy, Thyrsos, Golden Challis, Dolphin, Torch, Grapes, Purple Cloak, Serpent, Ram, Tiger, Panther, Lynx, Leppard
Eros	Cupid	God of love; Son of Aphrodite and Ares; Gangster of love; God of the wedding	Bow and Arrow, Blindfold, Magic Bow, Silver, Lead, and Gold Arrows, Pierced Heart
The Three Graces	Gratiae	Goddesses of happiness,beauty & feast; Names Aglia (splendor), Euphrosyne (mirth), Thalia (Good Cheer); Queens of song, banquets, and social life	Full Banquet Table, Songs, Myrtle Tree, Grace, Beauty, Dance, Purity, Flowers, Young Maidens, Gentleness, Decorum, Gratitude
The Graie	The Graeae	Gray-haired since birth, have only one eye and one tooth that they share; They lived on the outer layer of the ocean; Known for wisdom; Feast on flesh and Human Brains which they cook; Their names are Enyo, Dino, and Pephredo	Eye, Tooth, Boiling Couldren, Long Gray Hair
Hades	Pluto	God of the mineral wealth of the earth; Zeus' brother; Third in Power; Ruler of the dead; Wife Persephone;	Sceptre, Cerberus, a cap of invisibility, the key to the underworld, all precious metals and gems; three headed dog, a two pronged staff, black cyprus, black chariot, horses. Four seasons, ram, dolphin
Hephaestus	Vulcan	God of fire, volcanic activity, smiths, & craftsmen; Blacksmith of the gods, patron of the gods	Axe, Forge, Tongs, Volcanic Eruptions, Anvil, Fire, and Beautiful Jewelry
Hera	Juno	Goddess of marriage & women; Zeus' wife and sister;  Protector of marriage; leader of goddesses; patron of married woman; protector of woman in child birth; Mother of Ares and Hephaestus	Sceptre, Diadem, Peacock, City of Argos, Cow, Rainbow, Lily, Infants
Hermes	Mercury	The messenger God; Delivered Pandora to punish man; master thief; God of commerce; Protects travelers; God of athletes and speech; Brings souls to the underworld; Patron of Doctors	Winged Helmet and Sandals, Caduceus, Lyre, Magic Wand, Doctors Staff, Tortoise, Palm Tree, Dog
Hestia	Vesta	Goddess of hearth & home	home, newborn child, palm tree, dog, sheep, fire place
Medusa	NONE	Born Human; Made intom a gorgon by Athena; Cries blood tears, has brass claws and Brass Wings, has Serpent Hair; Killed by Perseus; After she died Pegasus arose from her bleeding trunk; Can Turn a man to stone with one glance; Parents: Phorcys & Ceto	Statues of man, serpents, Pegasus, Bow and Arrow
The Muses	Camenae	Inspiring goddesses of songs; Clio - History, Urania - Astronomy, Melpomene - Tragedy, Thalia - Comedy, Terpsichere - Dance, Calliope - Epic Poetry, Erato - love poetry, Polyhymnia - Songs to the gods, Euterpe - Lyric Poetry	Disciplines of Literature, Art and Science, Stairway, Flute, Drama Mask
Pan	Faunus	God of shepherds & flocks; Satyr, he has Goat hands, legs, and hoofs and human arms and head; Father Hermes; God of woods and fields; Patron god of the shepherds; Patron and Protector of all forest animals; Invented the Shepherd Pipes	Animals, Red Pine
Persephone	Proserpina	Queen of Hades; Goddess of springtime; Parents: Demeter and Zeus	Light Side - Cornucopia overflowing with Flowers, Farm Animals, Palmegranite, Flowing Stream; Dark Side - Cave, Skull
Phoebus	Apollo	God of Music; Son of Zeus; Twin Brother of Artemis; God of Truth, Archery, Philosophy, and Light; Great Healer; God of Prophecy	Bow, Lyre, Laurel Tree, Dolphin, Crow, Silver Bow, Lighted Torch, Sun Golden Chariot
Poseidon	Neptune	God of earthquakes & the sea; Brother of Zeus; Second in Power; Ruler of Sea; God of Fertility	Trident, Horse, Bull, Dolphin, Sea Horses, Waves, Earthquakes
Rhea	Ops	Goddess of fertility of female body; Cybele; Wife of Cronus; Mother of Zeus and many others; Helper of the Harvest; Goddess of Craftiness and Slyness of Woman; Goddess of Motherhood	Stone, Lioness, Mothers, Sneaky Women
Zeus	Jupitor	God of the heavens, weather, fate, & kings; Rain God; Cloud Gatherer; Thunder Maker; Lord of the Universe; Son of Cronus and Rhea; Many Brothers and Sisters Parents: Cronus and Rhea	Thunderbolt, Eagle, Oak Tree, Aegis, Eagle, Golen Mist, Bull, Swan, Dear