Olympians

In Greek mythology, there were certain gods and goddesses that were known as the Olympian Gods. These gods and goddesses lived on Mount Olympus, which is where they discussed issues about mortals. Each god had a private home on Mount Olympus, but there were some who chose to live outside Mount Olympus, such as Poseidon who preferred to live at his castle in the ocean.

Zeus

Zeus was the god of sky and thunder and was the king of the Olympians. He was the son of Rhea and Cronus and the father of Heracles. He was raised by Amalthea (a nymph). Zeus was hidden from his father who was known to swallow his offspring after they were born. After his father was overthrown, Zeus was given thunder and a thunderbolt by the Cyclopes. When the battle of the Titans was complete, Zeus and his elder brothers drew lots to decide who would rule. His older brother Poseidon was charged with the water, Hades was given the underworld, and Zeus was given the sky and air.

Poseidon

After Poseidon was charged as the ruler of the sea, he was given a trident, which he is often seen with in statues and art. With his trident, he could hit the ground and cause an earthquake. He had a moody temperament, which was what caused him to act so violently at times.

Hestia

Hestia was the eldest sister of Demeter, Poseidon, Zeus, Hera, and Hades. She is the goddess of hearth, and she was thought to be the most gentle of all the Olympians. While she has appeared in several Greek stories, she doesn’t appear in major works about Greek mythology, such as the Odyssey and Illiad.

Hermes

Hermes was born on a mountain in Arcadia. It is said that he was conceived and born on the same day. He is the god of transitions and boundaries. He had the ability to move freely among mortals and gods. He was the messenger of the gods and is referred to as the patron of poetry. His cunning personality is why he was known as a trickster among the gods and mortals.

Hera

Hera is the queen of the Olympians. She was the sister and wife of Zeus. She is famous for punishing unfaithful husbands. This is because she often fought with Zeus over his infidelities and illegitimate offspring. She was the protector of the heroes in the Quest of the Golden Fleece.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus was the Olympian god of sculpture, fire, masonry, and metalworking. He is he son of Hera and Zeus, and his wife was Aphrodite. His marriage to Aphrodite was to stop the gods from having a war over Aphrodite’s hand in marriage. He is known for his kind heart and wanting for peace.

Hades

Hades was the god of the dead and underworld. He was the oldest of Cronus and Rhea’s sons. He typically stayed in the underworld because he was not welcome by the other Olympians or mortals.

Dionysus

Dionysus was the Greek god of wine. In addition, he was also the god of fertility, religious ecstasy, theater, and the grape harvest. He was the son of Semele and Zeus. While most of the Olympian gods were thought to be hostile toward mortals, Dionysus treated humans with kindness.

Demeter

Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, the harvest, and fertility. Her daughter was the wife of Hades. Her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by Hades and forced to live in the underworld. She is the daughter of Rhea and Cronus. In art, she is often seen with a torch, which is symbol of her constant search for her daughter.

Athena

Athena was the goddess of war, wisdom, strength, courage, the arts, and skill. She is the daughter of Zeus, but she doesn’t have a mother. Greek mythology explained that she was born from Zeus’ forehead after he experienced a headache. It is said that when she emerged from Zeus’ forehead, she was grown and clothed in armor. Zeus trusted Athena so much that he permitted her to oversee his thunderbolt and aegis.

Artemis

She was the goddess of the hills, forest, moon, archery, and hunting. Her twin brother is Apollo, and she is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was also the protector of women and children.

Ares

He was the son of Hera and Zeus and the god of war. In Homer’s literature, he was hated by his parents and thought to be a coward. His daughters were warriors known as the Amazons. Harmony, a nymph, was the Amazon’s mother. He was the father to more mortal children than immortal children.

Apollo

Apollo was the god of prophecy, music, light, and the sun. His birthplace was the island of Delos, and his parents were Zeus and Leto. He was often known as “The Healer” because he schooled mortals on the art of medicine, and he was an intermediary between mortals and the Olympian gods. Among animals, he cherished the swan and dolphin above others.

Aphrodite

Aphrodite was born on the island of Cyprus and is the goddess of beauty, love, and youth. There is some speculation about who her parents were, but there are many who believe she was the daughter of Dione and Zeus. One of her children was Eros, which is also known as Cupid, and together the two caused Zeus to fall in love with a mortal. In addition, Aphrodite and Cupid also caused Jason, who was the protagonist in the Quest of the Golden Fleece, to fall in love with a Colchian princess. She was in love with a human named Adonis, but she was only permitted to spend half of the year with him by Zeus’s orders. She was the winner of the golden apple, which was the a symbol for the fairest among humans and gods. The Venus de Milo, which is a well-known sculpture, was modeled after Aphrodite