In Homer's Iliad, who are the gods?

Many different gods play a role in Homer's Iliad. Although some of the older Greek gods or "Titans" and minor deities make appearances, the major roles in the epic are played by the Olympian pantheon. Some of the major gods who intervene in the war include:

• Zeus, the king of the gods, was neutral in the Trojan war. He was a sky god and is often portrayed as wielding a thunderbolt.


• Hera, the queen of the gods and both the wife and sister of Zeus, supported the Greeks. She was a goddess of marriage.


• Athena supported the Greeks and especially favored Odysseus. She was a virgin goddess of wisdom, weaving, and war and the daughter of Zeus.


• Hephaestus, the husband of Aphrodite, supported the Greeks. He was the patron of smiths and craftspeople and made the renowned shield of Achilles. 


• Aphrodite, the goddess of love, supported the Trojans, and especially favored Paris.


• Apollo, the sun god, and his sister, the huntress goddess Artemis, supported the Trojans. 


• Ares, the god of war, supported the Trojans.