gods and goddesses from Greek and Latin Myths

(mythology for all seasons)

Greek and Roman gods

Knowledge about Greek deities came primarily from Greek drama and the epic verse that was performed at public festivals. The most significant early epics about the Olympian gods were composed about the eighth century B.C. Centuries before the conquest of Greece in 146 A.D., the Romans had adopted many of the Greek gods to supplement their own rather insignificant, formless pantheon of divinities.

The Romans didn't stop at importing Greek gods; in fact, they adopted the gods and goddesses of several of the other people that they conquered.

Literature and the Arts and Sciences: Muses, Camenae
Greek: Muses (goddesses); Calliope (eloquence and epic poetry, Clio (history), Erato (erotic lyric poetry), Euterpe (music and lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy and pastoral poetry), Urania (astronomy)
Latin: Camenae (nymphs); who possess prophetic powers and inhabit springs and fountains; later identified with the Greek Muses.
Love and Beauty: Aphrodite, Venus
Greek: Aphrodite (goddess)
Latin: Venus (goddess)

The goddess of love and beauty. Symbols: doves and sparrows.

Love: Eros, Cupid
Greek: Eros (god) and his connection with the Olympics.
Latin: Cupid (god, also called Amor)

The god of love. Symbols: a heart pierced with an arrow.

Marriage: Hymen
Greek: Hymen (god)
Latin: (no equivalent)
Medicine and Healing: Asclepius, Aesculapius
Greek: Asclepius (god)Aesculapius with snake on staff.
Latin: Aesculapius (god)

The Aesculapius staff is considered to be the appropriate symbol of medicine, not the Mercury caduceus. The Mercury symbol is incorrectly used by many U.S. medical organizations; especially by military units.


Memory: Mnemosyne
Greek: Mnemosyne (goddess)
Latin:(no equivalent)
Messenger of the gods: Hermes, Mercury
Greek: Hermes (god)Mercury caduceus.
Latin: Mercury (god)

Messenger of the gods, god of commerce (trade) and thieves; also, the god of science, eloquence, cleverness, travel, and thievery.

Symbols: Winged cap, winged sandals, and a caduceus (a winged staff with two serpents twined around it, said to suggest intercourse) which some say should not be used to represent medicine or medical organizations.



Greek: Asclepius (god)Aesculapius with snake on staff.
Latin: Aesculapius (god)

The Aesculapius staff is considered to be the appropriate symbol of medicine, not the Mercury caduceus. The Hermes or Mercury symbol is incorrectly used by most U.S. medical organizations.




Moon, Wild Animals, Youth, and Hunting: Artemis, Diana
Greek: Artemis (goddess); earlier, goddess of the moon: Selene
Latin: Diana (goddess); earlier, goddess of the moon: Luna

The goddess of the moon and hunting, patroness of maidens. Symbols: the crescent, stag, and arrows.

Music, Poetry, Prophecy, Truth, Medicine, Light; Earlier, the Sun: Apollo, Apollo
Greek: Apollo; (god)
Latin: Apollo (god, also called Phoebus Apollo)

The god of the sun, music, poetry, and medicine. Symbols: The lyre (a musical instrument resembling a harp), arrows, and the sun chariot.

Night: Nyx, Nox
Greek: Nyx (goddess)
Latin: Nox (goddess)
Pleasure, Charm, and Beauty in Human Life and in Nature: Graces
Greek: Graces (goddesses); Aglaia (brilliance); Euphrosyne (joy); Thalia (bloom)
Latin: (no equivalent goddess)
Portals and Beginnings and Endings: Janus
Greek: (no equivalent god)
Latin: Janus (god)
Procreation: Priapos, Priapus
Greek: Priapos (god)
Latin: Priapus (god)
Rainbow: Iris
Greek: Iris (goddess)
Latin: (no equivalent goddess)
Retributive Justice or Vengeance: Nemesis
Greek: Nemesis (goddess)
Latin: (no equivalent goddess)

Pointing to myth units The mythico- words unit.


A cross reference of word units that are related, directly or indirectly, to the: "moon": Calendar, Moon Facts; Chemical Element: selenium; luna, luni-; Luna, the earth moon; menisc-; meno-; Planets in Motion; plano-; seleno-.