Greek Olympians

The Twelve Olympians were the principal deities of Greek mythology. Their name derives from the fact that they lived on Mount Olympus, a medium-sized mountain in northern Greece. With Zeus as their king, they were worshiped as the rulers of the cosmos throughout Greek history.

The first generation of Olympians were children of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, themselves early rulers of the cosmos. Eventually, Zeus and his siblings overthrew the Titans and made themselves the new gods. They continued to rule undefeated (though not unchallenged) for the remainder of the Greek mythical period. 

The second generation of Olympians were mostly offspring of Zeus and his siblings. They included Athena, goddess of wisdom, Ares, god of war, and the twins Apollo and Artemis.

Not all sources agreed on the identities of the Twelve Olympians. In some traditions, the domestic goddess Hestia, one of the first generation of Olympians, gave up her seat to Dionysus when he became a god. Because of this, there are actually thirteen gods who were counted among the Twelve Olympians in antiquity.

List of 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