The mythology of Greece tells the story of five Goddesses who ruled along with six Gods from Mt. Olympus. Hera is considered the queen of the Greek Gods, both wife and sister to Zeus according to Greek mythology. Greek mythology cast the goddesses as protectors and stewards of the feminine side of human existence. They control love, fertility and the bounties of the Earth. Like their male counterparts, the Goddesses can possess great wisdom and tremendous flaws.

The Goddess Hera was wife to Zeus, both born to Cronus and Rhea. She is viewed as the Goddess of women, marriage and childbirth. Many tales of Greek mythology center around the jealousy and retribution Hera enacted against the love interests who submitted themselves to Zeus and the children who were fathered by her unfaithful and all powerful husband. Hercules, the child of Alceme fathered by Zeus, was just of dozens of deities and mortals who were punished by the vengeful goddess. The Romans called her Juno.

Born the second daughter of Rhea and Cronus, Demeter served as goddess of the land who replenished and fertilizied the lands. She as seen as the bringer” of the seasons. The most recognized myth of Demeter involved her daughter Persephone, who was abducted by Hades and made to become his queen. Demeter was dumb with grief and life stood still as her sadness barred the turn of the seasons. Zeus was swayed by the starving people and the other deities and he sent Hermes to return Persephone from the underworld. Although she was returned to her mother, Hades had fooled her, and by the rule of fates Persephone was bound to spend four months of every year as punishment for eating the pomegranate seeds that Hades had offered.

The most beautiful of all the goddesses, Aphrodite was the deity of lust, sensuality and love. In Greek, her name translates to risen from the foam” and Greek mythology tells the story of how she was created after Cronus severed Ouranos genitals and discarded them in the ocean. Other variations on her mythology suggest she was daughter to Zeus or Dione. Her unparllelled beauty was cause for concern amongst the Gods, who feared that they would be plunged into all out war in order to gain her favor. Zeus married her off to Hephaestus, God to the blacksmiths who was lame and unattractive according to Greek mythology. The marriage did not deter Aphrodite's ability to use her physical perfection to meddle in the affairs of Gods and mortals. In Rome, Aphrodite was referred to as Venus. The most popular Aphrodite statue is more commonly known as the Venus De Milo, but she is perhaps the most popular subject of Greek art.

The Greek Goddess Artemis was daughter of Zeus and the mortal Leto, and twin sister to Apollo. Artemis was one of the three Virgin Goddesses in Greek mythology. Artemis the Virgin Huntress rule over nature was absolute and it was believed that she delivered fertility to the lands of all who sought her favor through worship. The sister of Apollo, the sun God, she became associated with the Moon. She is identified with the Roman goddess Diana.

Athena is another popular subject of Greek art. One of the most famous works is a Greek Goddes Athena Bust from the 4th century that sits in the Lourve, Paris. Tales of the origin of Athena vary, but it s generally agreed that she is the daughter of Zeus and Metis, a Titan consort of the king of Gods. In the most widely told origin tale; Zeus, was afraid that Metis would bear a child more powerful than himself, so he swalled Metis whole. Athena was raised inside of Zeus by her mother and one day sprang from the King of the Gods head as a fully formed woman armed for battle. Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge who taught women to sew and weave and men how to tend the lands and metal works. Along with Hestia and Artemis, she is one of the three Virgin Goddesses. She was the patron of the city of Athens and Parthenon was built to honor her.

Hestia was the first born daughter of Rhea and Cronus, she was a virgin goddess like Hera and Athena. Both Poseidon and Apollo wished for her hand in marriage, but she remained chaste as Zeus had commanded. Hestia was warmly regarded by those who worshipped her who loved her kind spirit and virtue. Hestia remained for eternity at Mount Olympus, never participating in the heroic acts and petty grievances of the other Gods and Goddesses. Hestia was the only god or goddess worshipped in all temples regardless of their affiliation to a specific god.

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