Mythological Figures in the Carved Heads

Perseus
SLAYER OF MEDUSA
Son of Zeus and Danae, the Princess of Argos; demi-god; conceived by a gold shower falling upon his mother who was impressed in a tower; married Andromeda after saving her from a sea monster; had seven children with Andromeda; great-grandfather and brother to Heracles.

Prometheus
GOD OF FIRE
The Forethinker; a Titan by birth; sided with Zeus during the overthrow of the Titans; disliked Zeus’ treatment of humanity; stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, which resulted in Zeus chaining him to a rock and sending an eagle to prey upon his continually regenerating liver; was saved by Heracles.

Hera /Juno
GOD OF MARRIAGE, BIRTH, WOMEN, SKY, AND STARS
Wife and sister of Zeus; Mother Ares, Hebe, Eileithyia, and Hephaestus; Queen of Olympus; Known to be jealous and vengeful towards Zeus’ consorts and their children.

Hermes / Mercury
GOD OF TRADE, WEALTH, FERTILITY, HERDS & FLOCKS, SLEEP, THIEVES, LANGUAGE, AND TRAVEL
Son of Zeus and Maia, the oldest of the seven Pleiades; patron of shepherds; inventor of the lyre; herald and messenger of Mt. Olympus; guided dead to underworld.

Hephaestus / Vulcan
GOD OF BLACKSMITHS, FIRE, CRAFTSMEN, METALWORK, STONEMASONRY, AND SCULPTURE
Son of either Zeus and Hera or Hera herself; cast off Mt. Olympus by his mother; returned and served to create weapons for the gods; husband to Aphrodite.

Athena / Minerva
GODDESS OF WISDOM AND WAR
Daughter of Zeus, born from Zeus’ head after he swallowed a pregnant Metis; represents the intellectual and civilized side of war, as well as the virtues of justice and skill; virgin goddess; patroness of Athens, carries a shield that like Medusa’s eyes can turn her enemies to stone; helped several gods throughout their quests.

Heracles / Hercules
DIVINE PROTECTOR OF MANKIND
Son of Zeus and mortal Alcmene, who was the granddaughter of Perseus; demigod; nursed from Hera, gaining greater strength; epitome of bravery and masculinity in the ancient world; faced wrath of Hera for being another of Zeus’ children; force to complete the 12 labors in service to his cousin, the High King; achieved immortality after completing labors.

Zeus / Jupiter
GOD OF SKY AND THUNDER
Most prominent Olympian god; king of gods and men; husband to Metis, then Hera; children with Hera – Hephaestus, Hebe, and Ares; fathered children with many consorts, including Heracles, Athena, Apollo and Artemis, Hermes, Dionysus and Helen of Troy; defeated his father Cronus, king of the Titans to save siblings, along with the cyclopes and hecatoncheires; his weapon, the lightning bolts were created by the cyclopes; bears the shield Aegis.

Tyche / Fortuna
GODDESS OF GOOD FORTUNE, LUCK, AND PROSPERITY
Complicated lineage: Daughter of Aphrodite with either Hermes or Zeus or daughter of Titan Oceanus and Tethys; appears on coin in the Hellenistic period; with a rudder, she guides and conducts the affairs of the world.

Hestia / Vesta
GODDESS OF THE HEARTH AND HOME
Sister to Zeus; first born to Cronus and Rhea; Virgin Goddess; fearing turmoil by choosing from the gods wanting to marry her, she swore eternal virginity; rewarded with a central place in Zeus’ house and the first and richest portion of humans’ offerings; remained in the home, alone, tending the eternal celestial fire.

Poseidon / Neptune
GOD OF SEA, STORMS, EARTHQUAKES AND HORSES
Brother to Zeus; trident is most recognized symbol; violent and ill-tempered Olympian; struck rock with trident to create the very fist horse; husband to Amphitrite; fathered 14 children, including Triton, Theseus, Polyphemus, Orion, and Atlas; took many consorts; helped build walls around Troy, then sent a sea-monster to destroy the city when payment wasn’t provided.

Demeter / Ceres
GODDESS OF AGRICULTURE, HARVEST, FERTILITY, AND SACRED LAW
Sister and consort to Zeus and Poseidon; Mother to Persephone, Arion, Despoena, Plutus, Philomelus, Hecate, and others; most known for her grief when daughter Persephone was taken by Hades to the underworld and forced into marriage; her daughter was forced to spend one third of the year in the underworld and two thirds of the year with her mother, thus period where Demeter grieves her daughter is winter.