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Looking to make a Greek god costume for Halloween or your next cosplay? Greek mythology offers a treasure trove of iconic figures, each with their own distinct symbols and personality, which you can showcase through your props and accessories.
If you simply want to create a generic DIY Greek mythology costume, a toga, a couple gold accents, and some gold sandals should do. Weather permitting.
But, if you want to embody the beauty of Aphrodite, the power of Zeus, or the wisdom of Athena? Below, you’ll find inspiration on how to create an impressive DIY Greek god or goddess Halloween costume so you can transform into one of the residents of Mount Olympus. And, if you’re not the DIY type, I’ve included a ready-to-purchase costume for some of them.
I’ve also gathered most of the costume pieces below in this Amazon list.
1. Aphrodite Costume
For Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, you’re going to want an alluring costume that evokes sensuality and intrigue. Incorporate some floral elements or hearts. You could also carry a golden apple.
The costumes below by professional costumer Kristen Carr (who worked on Thor, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Ahsoka) and Hellenic polytheist Rashin Malak offer two stunning ideas on directions you could go.
Costume Items Needed for Aphrodite:
Ready-to-wear option: Greek goddess toga with gold accents paired with these leg wraps.
2. Zeus Costume
If you want to dress up as Zeus, the King of the Gods, it’s relatively easy costume. You’ll need a toga and a thunderbolt. You could also spray your hair and beard grey or wear a wig.
Alternatively, you could also go the Disney Hercules direction with a purple toga or the Jeff Goldblum Kaos direction with a luxury Needles tracksuit.
Costume Items Needed for Zeus:
- White toga
- Grey or white wig
- Thunderbolt
- Purple toga
- Gold medallion
Ready-to-wear option: Zeus costume
3. Hermes Costume
For Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and the Greek god who oversaw travel, trade, thieves, wealth, and communication, you’ll need a winged hat, caduceus staff, and winged boots. Mercury doesn’t tend to wear much otherwise, but you’ll probably want to don a toga or robe.
Costume Items Needed for Hermes:
- Wing shoe accessories or winged sandals
- Winged hat (alternative is a winged headdress like this one)
- Caduceus (how to here)
- Toga or robe
Ready-to-wear option: Hermes costume
4. Dionysus Costume
Dionysus, known as Bacchus to the Romans, is the god of wine, pleasure, and revelry. It’s a great costume if you’re hosting the Halloween party, and a relatively easy one to make. You’ll want some grape accessories, a drinking vessel, and a headpiece of ivy leaves. If you really want to go above and beyond, add a pinecone staff.
Costume Items Needed for Dionysus or Bacchus:
- Grape leaf crown, ivy leaf crown, or horned crown
- Grapes
- Drinking vessel (this one or this one)
- Toga
5. Hestia Costume
Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and home, is another simple Halloween costume. You’ll want a long toga and a veil. Since Hestia also represents the sacrificial flame, you could carry an object that looks like fire, such as a flame plush or a flame prop. Or, you could carry a flowering tree branch.
Costume Items Needed for Hestia:
- Long toga or dress
- Veil or head covering
- Fire prop
- Flowering tree branch
6. Ares Costume
To dress as Ares, the Greek god of war, you’ll want to wear a battle helmet and armor instead of a toga. How much armor is up to you. On the other hand, if you’re going with the Lore depiction, you’ll need a black suit, blonde wig, and some red makeup across your eyes.
Costume Items Needed for Ares:
7. Athena Costume
Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war, and craft. But, her costume is very different from Ares. One essential is her battle helmet, which she wears in almost all depictions of her. Some of her other accessories are nice to have, but not a must. For your Halloween costume or cosplay, you can also hold a spear and shield and you might want to consider attaching an owl to your shoulder.
Costume Items Needed for Athena:
- Crested battle helm
- Shield
- Spear
- Toga or gold armor
- Owl
8. Artemis Costume
If you want to dress up as Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, for Halloween, you’ll want a short chiton that would offer her ease of movement while hunting, as well as a bow and some arrows (and a quiver if you want your hands free for the evening).
If you want to portray her Roman counterpart, Diana, add a crown or golden tiara. You can also go with a longer dress and corset as portrayed by Elvasyster below.
Costume Items Needed for Artemis:
9. Poseidon Costume
The tempestuous Greek god of the Sea is an easy one to dress up as for Halloween. All you really need for Poseidon‘s outfit is a blue skirt or wrap and a trident. Add a splash of blue if you feel inspired. You could also airbrush on some scales or add some other aquatic elements, like seaweed.
Costume Items Needed for Poseidon:
Ready-to-wear: Poseidon costume or this one
10. Apollo Costume
Apollo is the Greek and Roman god of the Sun, prophecy, poetry, and music. And much more. For your Apollo costume, you’ll want a lyre and a laurel wreath. You can also add accessories like a laurel branch and raven to your outfit. If you’re considering a couples costume, Apollo would pair well with his twin sister Artemis.
Costume Items Needed for Apollo:
11. Hera Costume
Hera is the Greek goddess of marriage, women, and family and Queen of the Gods. She is married to the Greek god Zeus, so he could be a good fit if you’re looking for couples costume ideas.
To dress as Hera, you’ll need a toga, crown, and a gold scepter with a lotus on top. You can make your own by gluing a spray painted lotus to a wooden dowel. The peacock was sacred to her if you feel inspired to attach one to your costume, like Korina Emmanouilidou did below.
Costume Items Needed for Hera:
12. Demeter Costume
Demeter, Persephone’s mother and goddess of the harvest and fertility, carries a stalk of wheat, a torch, and wears a long toga and crown. In some modern depictions of her, her crown is made from fall flowers and leaves.
Costume Items Needed for Demeter:
13. Persephone Costume
Persephone is the goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld. As such, you could you in either direction with your costume. For the Spring goddess, a floral crown, flowing toga, a stalk of grain, and a crown would be appropriate.
To dress up as Queen of the Underworld, a toga, pomegranate, crown, and perhaps a plush Cerberus would be appropriate. Demeter or Hades would be a good pairing with Persephone for a couples costume.
Costume Items Needed for Persephone:
- Floral Crown
- Stalk of grain
- Crown
- Toga
- Pomegranate
- Cerberus
14. Hades Costume
Hades, the King of the Underworld and god of the dead, is an appropriate choice for Samhain or Halloween. He has dark hair and beard, a laurel crown, and carries a cornucopia or bird-tipped scepter. You could also carry a plush Cerberus. If you’re going with the Disney version, you’ll need a black toga, a skull pin, a spiky blue wig, yellow contacts, and sharp false teeth.
Costume Items Needed for Hades:
- Dark brown wig
- Laurel crown
- Bird-tipped scepter
- Cerberus
- Black toga
- Skull brooch
- Blue wig
- False teeth
- Ready-to-wear Disney Hades costume
15. Generic Greek God or Goddess Costume
If you don’t have a particular god of goddess in mind, a toga, some strappy gladiator-style sandals, and gold accents like a laurel crown, belt, arm bands, or jewelry will give you the look you want for your costume.
- Greek goddess toga (this one, this one, or this one)
- Greek god toga (this one or this one)
- Sandals or leg wraps
- Laurel wreath
- Gold accents
