Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, justice and skill. One of her usual attributes is the owl which you’ll see in flight about to perch upon his mistress. I’ve illustrated the falling chess pieces struck down by great lightning bolts to symbolize her power over war. They may act as a representation of skill as well.

Athena was the favorite child of Zeus. She emerged fully grown out of her father’s head. Metis was Athena’s mother, the goddess of wisdom, and also Zeus’ first wife. Zeus feared Metis would give birth to a son more powerful than himself, so Zeus swallowed her. Metis began constructing a robe and helmet for her daughter. The hammering of the helmet put Zeus in agony in the form of unbearable headaches. As he cried out, Hephaestus, Zeus’ son, split open his father’s head and it was from this event that Athena was born.

Confidently posed, model, Nicole, had the perfect physique to represent the goddess Athena.

The Greek goddess Selene, also known as Luna in Roman mythology, was goddess of the moon. She is notorious for her many love affairs, most notably her affair with a shepard named Endymion. Selene also had three daughters with the great god, Zeus. In some texts, it is documented that the Nemean lion, which fell to the earth from the moon was the result of this.

Selene is depicted here as a pale young woman wearing robes and a half moon on her head. She is most often illustrated traveling on a sliver chariot drawn by two horses, note the ghostly equine image racing across the sky to the moon. It is said that after her brother Helios completes his journey across the sky, Selene begins hers. Before her journey through the night, she bathes in the sea.

It is said that Selene’s love affair and seduction of the shepard Endymion brought the two fifty daughters. So deeply in love with Endymion, Selene asked for Zeus to allow him to decide his own fate. In turn, Zeus granted Selene’s wishes and Endymion chose never to grow old and to sleep eternally. This eternal sleep did not keep Endymion from Selene giving birth to his daughters, as he was visited by the goddess every night and touched by her moonlit rays.

Sensual and seductive herself, Ivy is the model representing this goddess of the moon.

Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Her background notes her as originally being a vegetation goddess and patroness of gardens and vineyards. Here I have illustrated her with coverings of grapes in representation of her original roots. Venus is also associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty and sexual euphoria. I chose Pacia, a model and friend of mine to represent this exotic goddess, as Pacia herself is a natural and alluring beauty.

Venus is also recognized as having many lovers. I have placed a small heart on her left cheek and added vibrant golds and yellows to enhance the aura of sensual energies radiating from this amazing goddess. Created from union of sea and sky, Venus is the bringer of joy to gods, humans, plants and creatures alike. Most of all, she inspires people to love one another, ensuring the procreation of the human race.

Persephone was the goddess of the underworld in Greek mythology, the daughter of Zeus. She is also noted as being the goddess of the harvest. Persephone was a beautiful girl loved by all. In fact, she was so beautiful that even Hades insisted he must have her for himself. When Persophone was a little girl, she was out collecting flowers on the plain. All of a sudden the earth opened and Hades rose up and snatched her. No one had noticed the episode except for Zeus.

Persophone’s mother, Demeter was heart-broken. She searched all four corners of the earth looking for her beloved daughter. But it wasn’t until Helios, the all-seeing, unveiled the truth of what had happened. Demeter was overcome with rage and withdrew herself in loneliness. It is said that fertility on earth stopped because Demeter refused to let anything grow and, hence, winter began. Alas, Zeus sent Hermes to Hades to make him release the beguiled daughter. Hades reluctantly agreed, but before releasing her, he feed Persephone a pomegranate so that she would always be connected to his realm.

I have illustrated model, Dayna who is an enchanting girl herself, as Persophone. She sits unhapily with her head lowed and eyes downcast, gazing at her reflection in the fiery waters of Hades kingdom. She wonders if she will ever escape the clutches of the dark underworld as a radiant halo illuminates above her head. Her garments are dark, and her coat is heavy and lined with fur to symbolize the on-come of winter in lieu of her absence on earth.

Persophone is also know in Roman mythology as the goddess Proserpina.

Isis was the Egyptian goddess of fertility and magic. In the Hellenistic time, she was also noted as being the protectress of sailors; hence the crashing waves I’ve depicted upon the background canvas. She was commonly shown as a woman with a solar disk between a crown of two cow horns on her head, and a vulture was sometimes incorporated into the crown. I’ve added the feathered headpiece in representation here. Isis possessed great magical skills. She is said to have created the first cobra, which you will see in slithering away in the left hand corner of this illustration.

Isis was the wife of Osiris. Pyramid Texts make references to Isis foreseeing her husband's murder. After his death, Isis searched for his body so that he would be laid to rest in peace in the Underworld. It was through her magic that Isis brought Osiris back to life so that she could become impregnated with a son, the young pharaoh, Horus.

In the Book of the Dead, Isis is noted as being the giver of life and food to the dead. It is also possible that she may be one of the judges of the dead as well.

Throughout Egypt’s history, Isis was one of the most significant and popular goddesses. She was the availing mother whose love encircled all living creatures, and it was for these qualities that Isis was loved by her Egyptian people the most.

Isis is represented here by model, Paige, whose mystical aura quite effortlessly helped to create this piece.