The Lesser Gods

	Boreas: Boreas was the purple winged God of the north wind and of winter, snow and ice. He was controlled by Aeolus. After he married Oreithyia he protected Athens. This cold and boulders god scattered a Persian fleet that was attacking the city. This immortal had two faces: one looking forward and one looking backward.
	Eos: Eos was the goddess of the dawn. She was the daughter of the Titans Theia and Hyperion. Her children were the star and winds of the morning: Zephyors, Boreas, Notos and Euros. From her island home of Aiaia, in the river Okeanos, she rose up into the sky each morning in a golden chariot drawn by winged horses scattering the dark mists of the night with her rosy brilliance. She loved youth and especially appreciated those who engaged in hunting and warfare. To the Romans she was known as Aurora.
	Hades: Hades was the King of the Underworld and the god of the mineral wealth of the earth. In the division of the world amongst the three sons of Kronos he inherited the dark realms of Erebos, while his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, won the sky and the sea respectively. The Greeks had many names for Haides for they feared to invoke this terrible god by calling out his true name. Haides was depicted as a dark-bearded god holding the great horn of plenty or enthroned and holding an eagle-tipped sceptre.
	Hebe: Hebe, known to the Romans as Juventas, was the daughter of Zeus and Hera. The goddess of youth, she could restore youth to the aged. She filled the cups of the gods until Ganymedes became the cupbearer. Heracles became her husband after his apotheosis into a god and she bore him two sons.
	Hecate: Hecate, the underworld goddess of witchcraft, was the only child of the Titans Perses and Asteria. From her parents she inherited powers over the earth, sea and heavens. She assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone and after their reunion became Persephone's minister and companion in Hades. She was closely associated with Eleusinian mysteries. Hecate was usually depicted in vase paintings holding two torches. In statuary she was sometimes depicted in triple form. She was also known as Perseis.
	Iris: Iris was the winged goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods. She was depicted as a young woman with golden wings and an associated's rod and/or a pitcher in her hand. Farmers paid tribute to her for lifting water from lakes or streams to the clouds so it could fall again to water their crops. Also called Thaumantias, she was the sister of the Harpies.
	The Muses: The Muses were the nymphs of the springs on Mount Helikon and Mount Parnassos. The waters of these springs were the source of artistic inspiration. These nymphs became the patron goddesses of music, poetry and the other fine arts. The Muses were also called Pierides. Their artistic collections were the first "museums." The Muses with their respective areas of interest were:

Klio	history
Melpomene	tragedy
Thalia	comedy
Kaliope	heroic poetry
Urania	astronomy
Euterpe	music
Polyhymnia	song and oratory
Erato	love songs
Terpsichore	dance

	Nike: Nike, who carried a wreath toward to the victor in a battle or contest, was the goddess of Victory. Wings enabled this youthful goddess to fly down to earth to guide the victorious side. The most famous image of her is a statue in the Louvre. She was also known as Victoria. She sided with Zeus in the Titan War and became his constant companion.
	Persephone: In her youth Persephone was hidden away from the gods by her mother Demeter but Zeus found her hiding place and seduced her in the form of a serpent. Zeus then promised her to Haides as his bride, and so the infernal god seized her upon the plains of Sicily and abducted her to the dark realms. Her mother, Demeter, was in despair at her disappearance and searched the world for her missing daughter with Hekate as companion. Upon discovering her whereabouts and Zeus' duplicity in her rape, the goddess in a rage refused to let the crops grow until her daughter was returned to her. Zeus consented but as Persephone had tasted the food of Haides - a handful of pomegranate seeds - she was forced to forever spend a part of the year, winter, with her husband in the underworld.
	Themis: Themis was the wise and honest daughter of Uranos and Gaea. She was the goddess responsible for upholding rights in human affairs. The scales in her left hand represented fairness. The sword and chain in her right hand were symbols of severely enforced justice. Even Zeus trusted Themis' advice. Themis was the goddess who presided over the feasts of the gods on Olympos. She was also known as Urania.
	Zephyrus: Zephyrus, the west wind, is a gentle and benevolent force who brings the mild, wet spring weather. His mother is Eos and his wife is Iris, goddess of the Rainbow. He fell in love with Hyacinthus. When Apollo successfully courted her, Zephyrus sought revenge. Zephyrus redirected a discus thrown by Apollo so that it hit and killed Hyacinthus. Zephyrus was the winner in a rivalry with Boreas for the affection of Chloris (Flora).