In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea and was often depicted as a beautiful woman who had the power to inspire love and desire in others. She was married to Hephaestus, but she had affairs with other gods and mortals, including Ares, the god of war. She was also associated with the planet Venus and was often depicted with a dove or a swan. Then: She’s more beautiful than Helen of Troy. Aphrodite wasn’t afraid to use her beauty to get what she wanted, either. She promised Prince Paris the most beautiful mortal woman in the world if he judged Aphrodite the fairest goddess in a contest, and Paris readily agreed. When he got Helen for his wife, it started the Trojan War and thousands died, but hey, at least Aphrodite got what she wanted! The Temple of Olympian Zeus was one of the largest temples in ancient Greece and was dedicated to Zeus in recognition of his power and importance. It was constructed over a period of several centuries, beginning in the 6th century BCE and continuing until the 2nd century CE. I adored this book. The whole ‘Greek gods’ thing is simplified here. This book is really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really AWESOME! Then: Apollo was into everything, from music to medicine, probably because he thought he was better at everything than anyone else. When the old sun god Helios retired, Apollo took over that job too, though he was mostly thought of as the god of poetry and music. Apollo didn’t take criticism well. One time he asked King Midas to judge a contest between him and Pan, and when Midas decided Pan’s music was better, Apollo gave the king donkey ears. The lesson: if someone asks your opinion, think carefully before you answer.

Want to know how Zeus came to be top god? How many times Kronos ate one of his own kids? How Athena literally burst out of another god's head?

The Fates

After giving birth to Apollo and Artemis on the island, Leto made it a sacred place, and it became a center of worship for the two gods. Many temples and shrines were built on the island in their honor, and it became a place of pilgrimage for the ancient Greeks.

We've covered most of the major players. You probably know enough now to avoid getting zapped into a pile of ash if you ever come across any of the twelve Olympians. It is still a mystery if there are other forms that the gods have adopted due to the transfer of the flame of civilization. They may have taken other names and other mythical forms or they might have simply adopted mortal forms where the flame was strongest, such as Fred (Apollo's disguise) and June (Hera/Juno's disguise) In Greek mythology, Zeus's thunderbolt is also a powerful weapon that he uses to control lightning and storms. The thunderbolt is often depicted as a symbol of Zeus's power and authority, and it is said to be able to destroy anything it strikes. Cynocephali | Gorgon | Gryphon | Harpy | Basilisk | Lycanthrope | Gegeines | Cyclops | Katobleps | Unicorn | Giant Eagle | Ichthyocentaur | Satyr/Faun | Storm Spirit | Laistrygonian Giant | Lares Then: Demeter was one of the quieter goddess. As long as the crops were growing and the farmers were happy, Demeter was content. But don’t underestimate her importance. If you wanted to eat, you had to make sure you kept on Demeter’s good side. When Hades stole her daughter Persephone, Demeter stopped all plants from growing, and people started starving. Hard to make a cheeseburger with no grain for bread and no grass for the cows.

The Nemean Lion

The book introduces the Greek gods and goddesses as they appear in the book series. Naturally, that means some details were either left out or severely altered to make them child-friendly. It also means that this is not containing ALL of the Greek pantheon. But that's OK, I guess. Percy explained how Chaos first created the world including Gaea, Ouranos, Pontos, and Tartarus. Later, Nyx, Hemera, Eros and the twelve Titans were created. Then things started to get rough between Gaea and Ouranos. It got worse when Ouranos threw their next children, the Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires, into Tartarus. Gaea decided to have one of her children cut Ouranos up with a scythe. Only Kronos was willing to do it, though Koios, Krios, Hyperion and Iapetus joined in to hold Ouranos down from the sky. Kronos was successful in chopping up his father and throwing him into the sea, but not before he cursed his son that his own children will overthrow him. The Furies, dryads and satyrs were born in the process.

Then: Hypnos could be good or bad in ancient times. He brought rest and dreams, but he could also sneak up on you and cause you to doze off at bad moments. In his Roman form of Somnus, the god liked to make sentries fall asleep on duty (which was an automatic death sentence) or make ship navigators fall asleep at the wheel. “Somnus made me do it!” is not a good defense when trying to explain to your captain why you steered the trireme into the side of a cliff. I didn't want to read it at first. I thought it will be another boring book about Mythology, but no. In Greek mythology, Eurymachus was also one of the suitors of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, in the epic poem "The Odyssey." He was known for his persuasive speech and ability to manipulate others, and like Antinous, he was eventually killed by Odysseus when he returned home. Zeus usually shape-shifted to try and woo women. He turned into a bull for Europa, who had three sons after being taken to Crete. A prophecy stated that his son from the nereid, Thetis, would be greater than him, so Zeus dumped her and she fell for Peleus. One time, Zeus was forced to fight Typhoeus, the son of Gaea and wife of Echidna, who wanted to usurp the gods, alone after the other Olympians fled. Typhoeus ripped his tendons out and stole his lightning bolts, but when Hermes, Aegipan, and other gods returned to Zeus, he got an idea. After Aegipan lured Typhoeus with his panpipes, the latter got out Zeus' tendons for a harp then fell asleep. Hermes returned Zeus his tendons and bolts, then trapped Typhoeus under Mount Etna by crushing him with it after zapping him. Now: Dionysus has been sentenced to one hundred years of “rehab” as director of Camp Half-Blood. The only thing the god of wine can drink these days is Diet Coke, which doesn’t make him happy. He can usually be found playing pinochle with a group of terrified satyrs on the front porch of the Big House. If you want to join the game, be prepared to bet large.In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and is believed to be the home of the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses. The summit of the mountain was believed to be their meeting place, and it was where they held court and made decisions about the mortal world. Then: Janus was one of the most important Roman gods. January, the beginning month of the year, was named after him. It’s said that Janus showed Saturn hospitality when he fled to Italy after the Titan war, so Saturn gave Janus the power to see both the past and the future. Twice the faces. Twice the fun! Gee, thanks, Saturn. Super gift. As they follow the flow of Western Civilization, the gods will change slightly to reflect the culture of the country they currently reside in. Normally, this change has only a small effect and is not permanent. Such changes include Zeus wearing designer suits and Apollo's chariot becoming a sports car. However, the gods have resided in Rome almost as long as they ruled from Greece, and therefore each god has a permanent Roman aspect to themselves that they can change into. In this form, the gods became more disciplined, warlike, and militaristic ― the characteristics associated with the ancient Roman Empire.