Greco-Roman Pantheon

Mount Olympus

The Greco-Roman Pantheon is the ancient collection of Gods from Greece and adopted into Rome. They are considered ‘classical’ and while worship of them has been diminished, their impact on western civilization has been enough to keep them afloat where other Pantheons diminish. For example, the FTD logo seen every day by thousands of humans is of Hermes, Cupid is referenced in day to day life in conversations about love, and of course, celestial bodies bear the names of the Gods.

Much of what is recognized as worship of the Greek pantheon dates back to the 7th century BCE, although its roots reach as far back as the bronze age.

The Empire of Rome conquered Greek controlled Europe in the 1st century BCE and adopted much Greek culture--including the Pantheon. Though they were given second names, much of the history and mythology of the gods were left untouched. Many of the Gods embraced the new civilization and got used to conquering and being a world power.

## Deities and other Entities

### Apollo

God of the Sun and music. Apollo is one of the twins, his sister is Artemis. He’s good tempered and loves a good song.

### Ares

God of War. He is a brash and aggressive man, trying to solve all his problems with swordplay. He loves to fight. He had a long standing affair with Aphrodite and has 3 children; Phobos, Deimos, and Harmonia. His Roman name is Mars.

### Artemis

Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt. Artemis is a serious goddess. She requested of her father, Zeus, that she remain a young maiden and never have to marry. She appears to be in her early teens. She loves to hunt with her dogs and talk shit with her twin brother, Apollo. Her Roman name is Diana.

### Athena

Goddess of War and Wisdom. Athena is smart and calculating goddess that sprung fully formed from Zeus’ head. She has a perfect memory and treats most people with professional courtesy. Her Roman name is Minerva.

### Charon

Ferryman on the river Styx, officially part of the League of Reapers, but not active.

### Demeter

Goddess of the Harvest. Demeter is a warm hearted and joyful goddess. Mother of Persephone and she still has a strong dislike of her son-in-law, Hades. Her Roman name is Ceres.

### Eros

Spirit of romantic love. He is twin to Himeros, son of Hepheastus and Aphrodite. He is lively and eternally cheerful. He runs a very successful online dating service. He is one of the Erotes. His Roman name is Cupid.

### Hades

God and King of the Underworld. He is a stoic and serious man, probably the hardest working of all the Greco-Roman gods. He takes great pride in his work and dearly loves his wife, Persephone. And fears her mother, Demeter. He has no seat on Olympus. His Roman name is Pluto.

### Harmonia

Spirit of harmony. She is the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. She is calm and implacable, bringing harmony to her family where she can. Her Roman name is Concordia.

### Hebe

Goddess of Youth. She is the daughter of Hera and Zeus. She is the cupbearer of the gods and the keeper of Ambrosia. She is chipper and curious. Her Roman name is Juventas.

### Hera

Goddess of marriage and womanhood, Hera is the Queen of Olympus. She is known to be vengeful on those Zeus cheats on her with. She is otherwise levelheaded and wise. Her Roman name is Juno.

### Hermes

God of Messengers and Tricksters. Hermes is a quick witted and clever man whose curiosity gets the better of him. He serves as the main Greco-Roman psychopomp. He also moonlights as delivery service among celestial beings. His Roman name is Mercury.

### Hestia

Goddess of the Hearth. Hestia’s heart is the softest and most forgiving. She seeks to make everyone feel safe and cared for. She gave up her seat on Olympus to Dionysus, preferring to tend to the sacred flame. Her Roman name is Vesta.

### Himeros

Spirit of sexual desire. Twin of Eros, son of Hepheastus and Aphrodite. He is quieter and more cunning than his twin, and somewhat bitter he’s not as popular in the modern world. Still, he has a soft heart and a good nature. He works as a camboy online.

### Persephone

Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld. She is a formidable figure, strong willed and clever with a taste for vengeance when deserved. She is the beloved wife of Hades. Her Roman name is Proserpina.

### Phobos and Deimos

The twin sons of Ares and Aphrodite, gods of fear and dread. They are trouble makers who respect very little. They love their sister Harmonia and they have a very bizarre and convoluted sense of duty and honor. Their Roman names are Pavor and Metus.

### Poseidon

God of the Ocean and the Greco-Roman King thereof. He is the only one of the gods to not have adopted some concession to the modern era, dressing and speaking as though it were still the age of antiquity. His Roman name is Neptune.

### Pothos

Spirit of Longing. Eldest child of Hepheastus and Aphrodite. He has a melancholic nature. He works as an author of tragic romance novels. He is one of the Erotes.

### Zeus

God of Storms and Thunder, Zeus is the King of Olympus. He is known to be something of a lecherous man, but is respected and feared nevertheless. His Roman name is Jupiter.

## Afterlife

The Underworld is surrounded and intersected by 5 rivers. Styx (River of the Dead,), Acheron (River of Woe, made of tears wept), Phlegethon (River of Fire, leading to Tartarus), Lethe (River of Forgetting, through which souls pass to forget their past lives to be reincarnated), Cocytus (River of Wailing, filled with souls who could not pay the ferryman and were not allowed to cross)

It is separated into several sections.

### Tartarus

Where the wicked are punished for crimes and hubris. (Tantalus, Sisyphus, etc.) It is a series of over hot caves filled with the screams of its denizens.

### Elysium

Also known as the Elysian Fields, is where the virtuous and righteous go. Even underground, it is a beautiful and sunlight place, full of flowers and trees.

### The Isle of the Blessed

An island at the center of Elysium. If someone reaches Elysium 3 times after being reincarnated, they get to go to the ultimate paradise.

### The City of Asphodel

Where everyone else goes, neither too bad nor too good. It is an endless necropolis, where one is supposed to reflect somberly on one’s life and decide if they want to be reincarnated.

### The Fortress of Hades

The home and castle of Hades (Pluto) and his wife, the Lady of Spring when she is there. It is guarded by Cerberus, the 3 headed dog (not to be confused with Cerberus, the siren reaper)