How to Identify Greek Gods

The gods of ancient Greece have long presented a fascinating dynamic and almost surreal representation of their earthly counterparts. They bicker and feud, lust after what they cannot have, drink too much and still manage the occasionally selfless gesture of kindness. Their humanity is perhaps the very reason they have ingrained themselves so thoroughly in our culture even today. They are present in every museum and every art gallery, touching architecture and aesthetics alike. But, who is who? Once you learn what to look for, identifying them becomes easy.

Instructions

1. Look at the head of the god or goddess depicted. This can give one of the best clues as to who the deity is. For example, Athena is usually depicted as wearing a battle helm, while Hermes has a winged cap. Ares, like his sister Athena, is also frequently seen wearing a helm and Eos wears a tiara while Momus is holding a mask that partially obscures his face. Sometimes it's the heads themselves that give other deities' identities away. Chronos is often envisioned as having three heads: a man, a lion and a bull.

2. Look at what the deity is carrying. Many are typically seen holding symbols of their particular realm. Apollo, the god of music (among many other things), is most frequently depicted holding a kithara (or lyre), while Demeter holds a stalk of grain and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, almost always has a bow and arrows. Dionysus, god of wine and madness, always holds a thyrsus (a stalk of fennel topped with a pine cone) and Zeus's weapon of choice is a thunderbolt.

3. Notice if there are any animals in the work with the deity. Each deity had animals that they were associated with, and this can be a good indicator as well. Artemis is most frequently shown with animal companions such as deer, bear or dogs. Athena's companion is often an owl, and any male figure with a three-headed dog nearby is most certainly Hades.

4. Pay attention to how the deities are clothed. Artemis, the chaste virgin, is almost always clothed in a short skirt or robe, while Aphrodite and Eros are more frequently naked. Ares is either armored for battle, or naked but carrying a shield and spear, while wearing only a helm. A billowing cloak is a good hint that it's one of the wind gods.

5. Sometimes it's an inhuman shape that gives a clue to the identity of a deity depicted. Pan is a satyr, a man with the legs and hindquarters of a goat who is usually playing the pipes. While essentially human, Hephaestus was known as the deformed god.

Tips & Warnings

• These are just a few examples in each of the different categories of things to look for. The Greek pantheon is rich in symbolism and stories, and may take some research before you can readily identify the gods, goddesses, demi-gods, heroes and monsters that make up the mythology.