Basic Roles of The Olympians

Zeus, you might say, had the JOB of basically screwing all the women - but that's a little RUDE of me to say......however, he did have sex with MANY MANY females, both deity and human
(and also, at least one inanimate OBJECT that Hera 'animated' to trick Zeus *shaking my head* Ahhhh those deities and their games!). I like to say that he is the God of ADULTERY!

*Note - sorry 'bout the terminology - 'screwing' - but face it, your sensibilities WILL BE DISTURBED if you don't understand RIGHT NOW that the Greek Gods did a LOT of things that seem 'far-out- there' to us now-a-days. (Be THANKFUL I favour the Greek Gods on this blog - over 18th Century British Literature - or you'd be more than 'screwed'!). If you can deal with the fact that I started this post with that BLUNT term, you'll be okay once I get to the myths where 'fertility celebrations' are commonplace.

Now - back to what ROLES the deities played in the grand scheme of things.

Zeus is the 'father' of both deities and of men.

Hera - is Zeus' sister AND Wife. She presides over matters
involving families.

Poseidon is ruler of the seas.

Hestia - the 'hearth-keeper', fire-watcher (domestic).

Demeter - sister to Zeus, in charge of fertility on earth.

Hades - ruler of the great Underworld which is usually also
called 'Hades.'

Hephaestus (there's a glitch here - Hephaestus is Hera's son but
not Zeus' son...but Hera did not commit adultery. Hephaestus
was born from Hera alone).....he is the eternal craftsman, brings
inspiration to metal-workers and 'smiths.'

Ares holds sway over WAR.

Athena governs practicality, operates in the realm of women's
skills, and is even involved in the 'Arts of War.'

Apollo is often called by an alternate name, Phoebus, and is the
god of healing and prophecy. (Very COMPLEX dude, as far as
God-dudes go!).

Artemis - the Huntress, guardian over wild animals.

Hermes - The Trickster and god of wide open spaces - the
traveller god, master of COMMERCE........also, conveniently,
master of lies and deception.

Well, well....that's TWELVE so far...
That's not the end though!

Aphrodite - goddess of sexual love, sexual attraction.

Dionysus - god of wine, instinct, life force (fertility, sometimes,
'zest for living' other times).

Okay - so again we have extras. But they're important.

It is highly probably that Dionysus was a 'lesser' personality for a long time while most of the aforementioned deities grew in popularity...until such a time as he displaced Hestia and filled
her 'greater' Olympian role.

A decline in the popularity of Hestia seems apparent by the lower count of myth-stories that revolve around her, as compared with other Olympians. Likely, the other goddesses represented 'enough' domesticity and femininity at a certain early time - and Hestia's need to represent these things became less pronounced.

Actually a 'decline in popularity' might be a dishonorable thing to say about the goddess, Hestia...rather, her 'persona' may have been stunted somewhere along the line while other female deities were allowed to blossom in 'personality' and grow more complex. Hestia isn't really LESS IMPORTANT, in the grand design - it's just that SOMETHING HAPPENED in Greek society and in the formations of myth...to include her less and so that her character didn't become more intricately wrapped about the other deities.

There are certainly some interesting details about Hestia in numerous mythological accounts - and she is still considered one of the more benevolent 'true domestic' goddesses.

Maybe, like a lot of women in ancient times, she just faded into the background as Heroes emerged to take the spotlight, as children grew up and displayed antics and had children of their own.....

And that is why I've dedicated several paragraphs to mentioning Hestia's presence among the Olympians while saying only a few words about some of the other deities.....it's because Hestia will basically 'fade away' as I continue this blog. I will re-visit her 'persona' from time to time, however, other personalities and 'events' will simply emerge.

Dionysus - that little, WILD, rascal! Out-positioning Hestia...

More later...