Greek Gods
The Greek gods ruled over every aspect of Hellenic existence—from war to love, from childbirth to the afterlife. Commonly depicted in human form, they were capricious deities who demanded worship and sacrifice to stave off misfortune and ruin.
Were the Greek gods omnipotent?
Though the Greek gods were much more powerful than mortals, they were not omnipotent like the god of the Abrahamic religions. For all their undeniable supremacy within the mythical cosmos, the Greek gods had flaws. They frequently fought each other and could sometimes be overpowered—by other gods, certainly, but also by very strong mortals.
What were the Greek gods like?
Most of the Greek gods were imagined as anthropomorphic immortal beings; in other words, they looked and behaved like human beings but lived forever. This was especially true of the Olympian gods, the rulers of the Greek pantheon, who were usually represented as remarkably beautiful and strong humans. Some gods, however, were embodiments of natural or abstract forces and thus were not usually regarded as anthropomorphic (some examples include Gaia, the primordial earth goddess, and her consort Uranus, the sky).
Did the Greek gods create the world?
Unlike many other cultures and religions, the Greeks did not have a fully developed creation myth. The most important ancient Greek source for the beginnings of the cosmos, Hesiod’s Theogony, describes the birth of the gods more than the birth of the cosmos itself; indeed, the cosmos was thought to have always existed (more or less).
Thales, the first Greek philosopher (sixth century BCE), claimed that “all things are full of gods.” This was true enough of the ancient Greek world, where gods and other divine figures made regular appearances in everyday life. Greek religion was therefore polytheistic, recognizing many gods rather than just one.
The Greeks had different categories of gods. The most important were the Olympians, who ruled the cosmos from their transcendent home on Mount Olympus. But the Greeks recognized other gods scattered across the world: gods of the wild, of the seas and rivers, of the air, and of the earth.
Immortal, powerful, and often unpredictable, the Greek gods were towering beings whose deeds—though not always admirable or exemplary—populated the mythology of their worshippers. Roman religion, which was also polytheistic, adapted many of the Greek gods and myths to its own pantheon.
For thousands of years, Greek religion was centered around the worship of these many gods, who were served in beautiful temples, through sacrifice, and through prayer. The Greek gods were usually regarded as anthropomorphic—that is, as having the physical appearance and qualities of human beings.
Greek polytheism began to fade after the rise of Christianity, around the fourth century CE. Temples were destroyed or collapsed because of disuse, sacrifices ended, and the ancient myths came to be seen as fictions or fables. Today, the Greek gods survive only in the stories that were told about them long ago.
Immerse yourself in the Greek pantheon and rediscover the gods and goddesses of ancient Hellenic civilization, including Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more.
Twelve Olympians
Aphrodite
Sensual Greek goddess and wellspring of love, passion, and procreation
Apollo
Beloved Greek god, patron of music, poetry, and artistic inspiration
Ares
Brutal Greek god of rage, aggression, and the most violent aspects of war
Artemis
Greek goddess of the hunt; guardian of wild places, maidens, and mothers
Athena
Greek goddess of wisdom, craftwork, and the arts of war
Demeter
“Golden-haired” Greek goddess of family, fertility and agriculture
Dionysus
The intoxicating Greek god of wine, revelry, music, and dance
Hephaestus
Craftsman of the Greek gods, master of metallurgy, and patron of artisans
Hera
Queen of the Greek gods, who reigned over women, family, and marriage
Hermes
Greek messenger god; patron of travelers, merchants, and thieves
Hestia
Greek goddess of the home and hearth; protector of families and children
Poseidon
Lord of all waters; Greek god of the seas, sailors, and earthquakes
Zeus
The “cloud-gatherer,” king of the Greek gods and lord of the skies
Titans
Atlas
Immensely strong Greek Titan best known for carrying the world on his shoulders
Coeus
One of the Greek Titans, grandfather to the Olympians Apollo and Artemis
Crius
The “ram”—an obscure Greek Titan who fathered numerous gods
Cronus
Youngest of the first Greek Titans, who overthrew his father to rule the cosmos
Hyperion
The “high one”—Greek Titan who fathered the gods of the sun, moon, and dawn
Iapetus
Powerful Greek Titan who fathered Atlas and Prometheus
Mnemosyne
Inspirational Greek Titan known as the divine source of all memory
Oceanus
Greek Titan who embodied all the waters of the world
Phoebe
Greek Titan and grandmother to the powerful Olympians Apollo and Artemis
Prometheus
Wily Greek Titan who first gave fire to mankind, angering the gods
Rhea
Mother of the Olympians who helped dethrone her husband Cronus
Tethys
Greek Titan known for her maternal nature, with over three thousand children
Thea
Greek Titan who gave birth to the gods of the sun, moon, and dawn
Themis
“Lady Justice,” Greek Titan who embodied the concepts of justice and fairness
Primordial Gods
Chaos
The “abyss”—the original Greek entity of creation
Erebus
Greek personification of darkness and consort of Nyx
Eros
“Passion” or “love” personified and one of the first beings of Greek mythology
Gaia
First deity in all of Greek mythology; associated with agriculture and fertility
Nyx
The Greek embodiment of night and consort of Erebus
Ourea
The “mountains” personified, born to Gaia at the dawn of creation
Pontus
Greek primordial deity and briny personification of the sea
Tartarus
One of the first beings in existence, embodying the dark Underworld.
Uranus
Father of the Titans and primordial Greek deity ewho embodied the sky
Underworld Gods
Charon
Grim ferryman who took the souls of the dead across the River Styx
Erinyes
The Greek “Furies”—dogged avengers of criminals and sinners
Hades
Pitiless Greek god of the dead and ruler of the Underworld
Hecate
Greek goddess of magic and witchcraft; associated with the dark Underworld
Lampades
Greek torch-bearing nymphs who attended the Hecate and Persephone
Moirae
The Greek “Fates,” who ensured that every human life ran its allotted course
Persephone
Reluctant bride of Hades and sullen queen of the Greek Underworld
