SYMBOLS & ATTRIBUTES PAGE TWO
continued from page one

EROS

The mischievous son of Aphrodite and Ares was always depicted as a winged youth holding the tools of his trade, the bow and magical arrows with which he could transform the heart of any being. His Latin equivalent, Cupid, was often shown as a cherubic, angelic winged boy armed with a golden bow and arrows.

APOLLO

The Bow and the Quiver are the attributes of this god who strikes from afar, and also the Lyre, which some say was invented by Hermes.

Since the maiden Daphne, pursued by Apollo, changed into a Laurel tree, the god is associated with the Laurel because he broke a branch from the tree and placed it on his head.

Another emblem of Apollo was a Mouse - Mice were supposed to know the secrets of the earth, and tell them to him. As he is the god of light, the sun has also been associated with Apollo.

ARES

The God of war was generally represented in a brilliant suit of armor, a plumed helmet on his proud young head, a poised spear in one muscular hand and a finely wrought shield on the other.

His bird was the vulture and his animal was the dog. Other emblems of Ares were the Wild Boar and a bloodstained Spear.

ARTEMIS

Artemis is often represented with the Bow and Quiver of the huntress, her silver arrows, and with emblems representing the Moon and the Stars.

She is often seen in the company of a Hind or a Dog. Another emblem of Artemis is the She-Bear. Sometimes she will be shown with a star adorning the crown on her head.

DIONYSUS

The Thyrsus, a staff that is crowned with ivy, is sacred to Dionysus and an emblem of his worship. Also Vine Leaves and Bunches of Grapes are associated with him.

The Tiger is an animal attribute of Dionysus, having once visited India and brought tigers back as souvenirs. As well, donkeys are his sacred animals, due to the fact that they helped him cross a deep and wide lake during his travels to India and back.

HEPHAESTUS

This industrious god of the forge is mostly seen with the hammer, anvil and tongs of the smith. Because he was lame in the legs, due to his fall from Olympus, one of his symbols was the Quail, a bird that does a hobbling dance in the springtime. Hephaestus was the only unattractive Olympian god, so he was often depicted as homely looking.

HERMES

The Petasus, which is a round winged hat and the Winged Sandals are two well known attributes of Hermes. Another one is the Caduceus, which is a winged staff entwined with two serpents (the medical emblem resembles this, but it is not the same).

The Crane is also one of Hermes' emblems, because cranes fly in a V - the first letter he wrote, as the inventor of the alphabet.

PERSEPHONE

The Pomegranate is associated with Persephone. Because of having eaten a seed or seeds of Pomegranate Persephone became for ever bound to Hades.

She is also shown in the context of floral or vegetative themes, since her return to earth heralds the arrival of spring and the rejuvenation of the world.

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