Poseidon

Poseidon, son of the titan Cronus, and brother of Zeus.
Poseidon ruled over the seas of the world and is just as powerful and feared as Zeus.
Often called the "Earth Shaker"

Poseidon’s wife was Amphitrite, granddaughter of the titan Oceanus. At first Poseidon courted Thetis the Nereid because she was beautiful and was already accustomed to the sea-depths. But when the respected Titan Themis prophesized that any son born to Thetis would be greater than his father, wisely he backed off and looked elsewhere for a wife.

Next he approached Amphitrite, another Nereid, who wanted nothing to do with Poseidon. For whatever reason, she was turned-off by the god of the sea and fled to the Atlas Mountains in order to escape his advances.

Not to be denied, Poseidon sent messengers all over the earth to look for her. Eventually, after much wandering, a man named Delphinus located Amphitrite and was so convincing in pleading Poseidon's case and his love for her, that at last she yielded and agreed to the marriage. Delphinus himself organized the entire wedding and a splendid party it was!

A grateful Poseidon set the image of Delphinus among the stars as a constellation, the Dolphin.

The union of Poseidon and Amphitrite produced three children: Triton, Rhode and Benthesicyme. But, like his brother Zeus, Poseidon wasn't a very faithful husband and engaged in numerous affairs with goddesses, nymphs, and even mortals.

Understandably jealous, Amphitrite punished many of her husband's lovers, just like Hera did to her husband Zeus' women. She was particularly upset with Poseidon's infatuation with Scylla, gorgeous daughter of Phorcys, and was determined to punish her indiscretion. Amphitrite threw magical herbs into Scylla's bathing pool, and when the woman took her bath, at once she transformed into a barking monster with six heads and twelve feet.

Poseidon was never fully satisfied with his share of the world and once even conspired with other Olympians to dethrone Zeus. But his plot was discovered and in punishment Zeus exiled him to earth. There he was to build the walls of Troy for king Laomedon. He was helped by Apollo, who was also banished from Olympus at that time.

The two Olympian gods assumed the likeness of men and undertook to fortify Troy for wages. Apollo was able to move the heaviest of stones with just the sound of his lyre. But when they had fortified it and the task was completed, the foolish king Laomedon would not pay their wages. Therefore Apollo sent a pestilence, and Poseidon sent a Sea-monster, which snatched away the people of the plain.

The oracles foretold deliverance from these calamities if Laomedon would expose the maiden Hesione to be devoured by Poseidon's Sea-monster. Not knowing what else to do, the king followed the oracles' advice and fastened her to the rocks near the sea, but at the last moment, the greatest Greek hero, Heracles (Hercules), saved her and she married Telamon.

Zeus is the supreme god and ruler of Olympus. To the ancient Greeks, he became the undisputed master of the universe, and as the source of all heavenly manifestations, he caused rain, drought, good weather and bad weather. He commanded tempests and created storms, and nobody dared challenge his fearsome thunderbolts.

Zeus was the sixth child born to Cronus and Rhea. Cronus, ruler of the Titans and the supreme god at the time, was warned by an oracle that one of his own children would overthrow him, just like he overthrew his father, Uranus.

To prevent this from happening he swallowed his first five children as each was born to Rhea. This, of course, infuriated Rhea and when Zeus was born she tricked Cronus into swallowing a rock wrapped in blankets. Cronus foolishly swallowed the stone and thought himself safe. Then Rhea sent the baby to Gaea (Mother Earth) who secretly took Zeus to be raised on the island of Crete, away from his unsuspecting father. Zeus tricked his way into becoming the cup-bearer to his father Cronus and with his mother Rhea and the Titaness Metis's help he slipped his father a drink which made him disgorge the swallowed siblings of Zeus. The children of Cronus attacked their father, and it was a furious battle, but at last Hades, wearing his helmet of invisibility, snuck up behind Cronus, Poseidon rendered him immobile with his trident, and Zeus struck him dead with his thunderbolt.

The three brothers then drew lots to determine who gets what. Zeus drew the heavens and became supreme ruler, Poseidon became the god of the sea and Hades the ruler of the Underworld. Thus began the reign of Zeus.

Aside from the endless affairs Zeus was different from other gods in that he did not participate in the arguments and the resulting petty scheming that made up the daily activities of other gods. Being such a wise ruler, he also demanded just and righteous action from men.

Zeus was however vengeful, as can be seen in the punishment of Prometheus. For stealing fire from Olympus and giving it to mortals, Zeus sentenced Prometheus to be forever tied to a rock, and an eagle would come daily and feast on his liver. It was not until many years later that Heracles (Hercules) would come and kill the eagle, freeing Prometheus.

His bird is the Eagle, his tree the Oak. Dodona was his oracle. His will was revealed by the rustling of oak leaves which was interpreted by his priests. The flying horse Pegasus, once it came to Olympus, would often retrieve his thrown thunderbolts.

Hades

Hades, son of the titan Cronus, Hades is the brother of Zeus. After the overthow of their Father Cronus he along with Zeus and Poseidon drew lots for shares of the world. He had the worst luck and ended up being lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. Hades is always looking to increase the number of dead he rules over, he's also considered the god of wealth, due to the precious metals that are mined from the earth. The Cyclopes gave Hades a helmet that rendered the wearer invisible.

Hades and Persephone

Persephone is kidnapped as part of a secret agreement between Zeus and Hades. Although Demeter is one of the six Olympians and brother to Zeus and Hades, she was not told of the fate of her beloved daughter until it was (almost) too late.

While at play with the beautiful daughters of Okeanos, Persephone was picking flowers... but these weren’t earthly flowers... these flowers were the work of Zeus and put there for "a girl with a flower’s beauty". The flowers were there to guide Persephone to The Trap. A beautiful, divine trap... the trigger for the trap was an irresistible flower with one hundred stems of fragrant blossoms. When Persephone reached out with both hands to pluck the flower the earth opened at her feet. Hades roared forth in his golden chariot and seized her before the alarm could be raised.

No mortal on the earth heard Persephone’s pleas for help before she vanished into The Underworld. Of the immortals, only two heard the faint cries of the abducted girl: Hekate and Helios.
Demeter began searching in vain for her daughter. Her sorrow was so great that she denied herself all food, drink, and comfort for nine days. When Dawn arrived on the tenth day, Hekate came to Demeter and told her that she had heard a voice but had not seen the abduction of poor Persephone. The two goddesses went to Helios because he sees all mortal and immortal actions. Helios, indeed knew the plot and the players. He told Demeter that the blame was that of Zeus, Zeus and Hades. He further advised her to accept the situation because Hades was Lord of Many and "not an unseemly bridegroom". Demeter did not like his advice and choose a long, brooding path to regain her precious daughter.

In a strange act of revenge, Demeter, disguised as a mature woman, became the servant and nanny for the infant son of Keleos, and his wife Metaneira. The boy, Demophoon, was raised to be noble and pure but Demeter was surely ’stealing’ the boys affection and loyalty away from his parents (just as her daughter had been stolen from her). But before Demeter (still in disguise) could make Demophoon immortal, Metaneira recognized Demeter for the goddess she was and stopped the ceremony.

Keleos, and the other nobles were glad to oblige when Demeter demanded that a temple be built in her honor. After it was completed, she retreated into the temple and her brooding took on a deadly turn. The following year, no seed sprouted. No barley grew in the plowed fields. The mortals were doomed to famine and eventual destruction if Demeter did not lift her curse.

Zeus sent Iris to dissuade Demeter from her destructive course but Demeter was unmoved. In turn, all the immortals came to Demeter’s temple and begged the blond goddess to change her mind and give life back to the earth. She refused them all.

Zeus now sent Hermes to the underworld to speak with Hades and Persephone. Hermes explained the situation and suggested, with gentle words, that Persephone be returned to her mother. Hades was filled with compassion but he was also intent on keeping his bride. He offered Persephone a honey-sweet pomegranate seed as she departed. By tasting the seed she became eternally bound to Hades and The Underworld.
Demeter was joyous when she saw her darling Persephone again but her joy was tempered with the fact that Hades had tricked the innocent Persephone and she must eventually return to him.

Now, in an effort to save the earth and appease his sister, Zeus sent Rhea, mother of the Olympians, and offered Demeter honors if she would only return to Olympos and lift the curse that was killing the earth. Zeus promised that Persephone could spend two thirds of the year with her mother but the remaining third of the year would be spent with her husband, Hades.

Demeter was moved by her mother’s plea. The earth began to swiftly recover it’s vitality and became fertile again. Demeter and Persephone ascended to Olympos and it is said that those on earth whom they gladly love are thrice blessed. It’s interesting to note that the year was divided onto thirds, just as the three brothers, Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, divided creation into thirds after the overthrow of Kronos.

When Persephone is with Hades the earth is wracked by the sorrow of her mother. But, when Persephone returns from The Underworld to walk the earth again, Demeter pours forth the blessings of Spring to welcome her beloved daughter home.

Her age old feud with her brother, Poseidon, might serve to explain why the edge of the sea is barren of crops. The origin of this feud is vague.

Cronus and Rhea

 Cronus, son of the titan Uranus, over thrown his father and became the next ruler over the Olympians. He married his sister Rhea and had many offspring. There was a prophesy that stated Cronus would be over thrown by a son. To avoid this, Cronus would swallow each of his children after they were born. Rhea finally had enough of Cronus eating her children, that when her 6th child was born, she hid him on Crete and then wrapped a stone in a baby blanket and took it to Cronus, where he proceded to eat the stone.

The Child, Rhea had hidden from Cronus was Zeus. Zeus stayed on Crete and grew up until his mother called for him and he returned to Mount Olympus as Cronus's cupbearer. While Zeus was on Crete, Metis prepared a drink that would cause Cronus to vomit up the other five children he had swallowed. Zeus took the cup to Cronus and as planned, Chronus vomited up this other children he had swallowed (they were unharmed because they were gods). They were so thankful to Zeus that they made him their leader.

To over throw his father, Zeus went down to Tartarus and freed the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires. Prometheus joined Zeus as well. He returned to battle with his new allies. The Cyclopes provided Zeus with lighting bolts for weapons. The Hecatoncheires he set in ambush armed with boulders. When the time was right, Zeus retreated, drawing the Titans into the Hecatoncheires' ambush. The 100-Handed Hecatoncheires rained down thousands of boulders with such a fury the Titans thought the mountains were falling on them. They broke rank and ran away, giving Zeus victory.