Zeus, Jupiter, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hera are the marquee names that often come to mind when people talk about the gods of antiquity that are mentioned in DC Comics. Zeus and Jupiter ruled the Greek and Roman pantheons respectively. Ares and Mars are the gods of war. Their stories are often tied to heroes like Wonder Woman and Shazam.

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Famous scandals are easier to remember than the names of gods who are not famous. Living in obscurity is the fate for deities who are not rulers or responsible for worldwide strife. Despite being seldom mentioned there are powerful gods who still hold sway over the fates of mortals and even superheroes.

10 Hephaestus Is The Architect Of Diana's Legendary Weapons

Hephaestus of the Greek Pantheon

It is easy to dismiss the blacksmith of the Greek pantheon when put up against the bigger names in the universe. But Hephaestus is more than a blacksmith. The son of Zeus and Hera was skilled enough to win the hand of Aphrodite.

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His intellect and imagination help Hephaestus see the world and the elements that compose it in original ways. Hephaestus forged the Lasso of Truth that Wonder Woman wears on her hip. He also made the bullet-proof silver bracelets that she wears on her wrists.

9 Egyptian Gods Are The Foundation Of Black Adam's Powers

Shazam draws his powers from the Roman and Greek pantheons and a few others. But before Shazam, Teth-Adam was chosen by the Wizard Shazam to bear the sacred powers of the gods. Teth-Adam’s ceremony was corrupted by the wizard’s niece.

Black Adam was empowered by a new pantheon that was not Greek or Roman. The Egyptian Shu grants Adam stamina, Heru or Horus gifts him speed, Mehen imparts courage, Zehuti or Thoth shares wisdom, Amon offers strength, and Aton grants power. When discussing Black Adam, it helps to remember where and who his powers come from.

8 The Parliaments Rule The Fabric Of Reality On Earth And Beyond

Swamp Thing and Animal Man are part of a larger cycle of primeval forces. The Black, the Red, the Green, the White, and the Melt are just the beginning when understanding the underlying forces of existence. Each is a member of a Parliament. But there are seven Parliaments and not all associations are identified. The Parliament of Decay is associated with the Black and death, while the Parliament of Fire is an unidentified force connected to fire.

The Parliament of Limbs is connected to the Red and life forces of all animals on Earth and the Parliament of Stone is the presence behind all manner of minerals. The Parliament of Trees is the life force of all Earth’s plant life, the Parliament of Vapors are air elementals of the white, and the Parliament of Waves is part of the life force of all aquatic things.

7 The Triarch Are The False Gods Of Maltus

Triarch of Maltus

The Triarch comes from the myths of Maltus. The Maltusians gods are the children of the immortal god Daalon. Quarra the Creator is also called Quarradachach. Archorivvon is Archor the Sustainer, and Tzodar the Destroyer is Krotazodarikik. Their names live in infamy on Maltus.

The Triarch killed their father and fled Maltus in shame. A prophecy promised their return and a golden age of renewal. But time would reveal that the Triarch were mortals and their father’s legacy is an unsolved mystery. But that did not prevent the gods from becoming a problem for interstellar groups like the Green Lanterns, Legion, and the Blackstars.

6 Dream Is An Idea Personified And The Endless His Siblings

Sandman Morpheus Dream captive

Dream is a member of The Endless. The Endless don’t have proper names. According to creator Neil Gaiman, The Endless are ideas manifest. Dream or Morpheus as he is also called is the central figure of Neil Gaiman’s seminal Vertigo comic series Sandman.

Morpheus is more of an identity than a title.

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He is the lord of dreams and his kingdom The Dreaming. He also personifies dreams, dreaming, and all fictional stories. Morpheus is a mystery and is best known for his cold demeanor and pain-inducing judgments. He is often recognized by the book he carries.

5 Destiny Is The Blind Bearer Of The Cosmic Log

Destiny as one of the Endless

Destiny is the oldest of the Endless. He is a blind man who wears robes. The robes were purple first, and have since turned to gray and brown. Like Dream, Destiny also carries a book called the Cosmic Log, and Destiny is connected to it by a chain.

The Cosmic Log is the entirety of all recorded time and history. Bernie Wrightson and Marv Wolfman created Destiny for a 1972 issue of Weird Mystery Tales. This makes him the only member of the Endless not created by Gaiman in Sandman. It certainly explains why he is the oldest.

4 Death Is An "Old Friend" At The End Of Every Journey

Death sandman gaiman

No one likes to think about Death. But Death is always thinking about people. Dressed in goth clothing that would make any 90s Cure fan proud, Death is patient and moored. She has a tattoo or mark of the Eye of Horus around one eye and she wears an ankh symbol around her neck on a thin chain.

Death speaks with the quiet command of finality and likes to walk among humanity when possible or necessary. On one day out of every century, Death takes on the mortal form to experience living and dying and all things in between. Perhaps that is why seeing her at the end of the journey is described by many as, “meeting an old friend."

3 The Forever People Were Jack Kirby's Lesser-Known New Gods

Infinity Man and the Forever People

The Forever People were the product of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World project when he left Marvel for DC Comics. The New Gods were Kirby’s biggest book. But the Forever People told the story of a young group of adventurers who were also from New Genesis.

Beautiful Dreamer, Big Bear, Mark Moonrider, Serafin, Vykin, have the powers of New Gods like Lightray and Orion. They can harness their individual abilities to perform unparalleled feats of power. But in the face of truly dangerous foes, these six young gods use the Mother Box to unite and become the Infinity Man.

2 Destruction Chose To Play No Part In The Final Act Of All Things

An image of Destruction looking up from a book he was reading

Destruction is an imposing mass of a man. He is easily identified by his red hair and red beard (unless he appears clean-shaven.) Destruction walked away from the Endless and his responsibilities. Three hundred years later there is still a conflict between Destruction and his siblings.

Destruction is called the Prodigal or just Brother by the other Endless for refusing to bear the burden of scientifically destroying everything. Instead, he pursues constructive projects that require creativity. He is not known for talent or skill, but he strives forward undeterred.

1 Delirium Is The Youngest Endless Who Was Once Delight But Nevermore

Delirium Endless Sandman

Delirium is the youngest of the Endless. Her most familiar form is a young girl but she also changes her appearance more often than the other Endless. Multicolored hair and wildly unmatched clothing reflect her temperament.

The only detail that never changes is that one of her eyes is emerald green and the other is soft blue laced with flecks of silver. Delirium was once known as Delight until she suffered an undisclosed trauma. The details are lost to all including Destiny and the Cosmic Log. Even Delirium's responsibilities are a closed book.

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