Zeus
Zeus was the king of the gods. He and his brothers Hades and Poseidon were in charge of the whole universe. Zeus controlled the weather, causing wind, rain, and lightning. He was a wise god, and his symbol was the thunderbolt (source: Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses Facts for Kids). When he is angry, he hurls his thunderbolt like a spear at those who displease him. He is married to Hera, and is known to punish those who break oaths or lie (source: The Olympians). Most gods and mortals respected him. He gave laws and justice to Greece. He taught kindness and good manners. Zeus valued hospitality and kindness towards strangers (source: Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses Facts for Kids).
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Hades
Hades was the god of the underworld. He ruled over the dead. He was a greedy god who was greatly concerned in increasing his subjects. He is the king of the dead, but death itself was another god (source: The Olympians). He drove a chariot that was drawn by dark horses. There are not many stories about Hades because he seldom left the underworld. When he did, things usually ended badly for him. Eventually, the world of the dead became known as Hades, and was guarded by a three-headed dog. The Romans renamed Hades "Pluto" (source: Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses Facts for Kids).
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Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea. He was widely worshiped by seamen. Poseidon created the world's first horse, and was called the god of horses. His weapon is a trident, which could shatter any object and shake the earth (source: The Olympians). He drove a chariot that had fish and dolphins swim next to it. He was also the god of earthquakes, and he had a short temper. He always got into fights with other gods, and sometimes even mortals. For example, the people of Troy asked Poseidon to help build a wall around the city. Poseidon helped, but when the people of Troy did not thank him, Poseidon got mad and helped destroy Troy in the Trojan War (source: Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses Facts for Kids).
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