In Greek Mythology, the twelve
Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon , were the
principal deities of the Greek pantheon, residing atop a mythical Mount
Olympus. The Olympians gained their supremacy in the Great War in which
Zeus led his siblings to victory over the Titans.
There are twelve Olympian gods in the Greek Mythology.
(1) Zeus - He overthrew his
Father Cronus to become the supreme ruler of the gods. He was lord of
the sky, the rain god and the cloud gatherer. His weapon was a thunderbolt
which he hurls at those who displease him. He was married to Hera but, was famous for his many affairs.
(2)Poseidon - the brother of Zeus.
Poseidon was a son of Cronus and Rhea. Like his brothers and
sisters except for Zeus, Poseidon was swallowed by his father.He was the lord
of the sea. He was widely worshiped by seamen. He married Amphitrite, a
granddaughter of the Titan Oceanus. His weapon was a trident, which could
shake the earth, and shatter any object. He was second only to Zeus in power
among the gods.
(3)Hades - the brother of Zeus.
He was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He was a greedy
god who was greatly concerned with increasing his subjects. Those whose calling
increase the number of dead were seen favorably by him. He was also the god of
wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He had a helmet that
made him invisible. He rarely left the underworld.
(4)Hera - was Zeus' wife and
sister. She was raised by the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. She was
the protector of marriage and takes special care of married women.Most stories
concerning Hera have to do with her jealous revenge for Zeus' infidelities. Her
sacred animals were the cow and the peacock. Her favourite city was Argos.
(5)Ares - the son of Zeus and Hera.
He was disliked by both parents. He was the god of war. He is considered
murderous and bloodstained but, also a coward. When caught in an act of
adultery with Aphrodite, her husband Hephaestus was able publicly
ridicule him. His bird was the vulture. His animal was the dog.
(6)Athena - the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armor from his forehead, thus
has no mother. She was fierce and brave in battle but, only fights to protect
the state and home from outside enemies. She was the goddess of the city,
handicrafts, and agriculture.
(7) Apollo - the son of Zeus and Leto.
His twin sister was Artemis.
He was the god of music, playing a golden lyre. He was the god of the archer,
far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who taught man medicine. The
god of light. The god of truth, who cannot speak a lie.
(8) Aphrodite - the goddess of love, desire and beauty. In addition to her
natural gifts, she had a magical girdle that compelled anyone she wished to
desire her. in many of the myths involving her, is characterized as vain,
ill-tempered and easily offended.
(9) Hermes - the son of Zeus
and Maia. He was Zeus'
messenger. He was the fastest of the gods. He wore winged sandals, a winged
hat, and carried a magic wand. He was the god of boundaries and of the travellers
who cross them, literature and poets, of weights and measures and invention and
commerce in general, of liars, and of the cunning of thieves.
(10) Artemis - was the daughter
of Zeus and Leto.
Her twin brother was Apollo.
She was the lady of the wild things. She was the huntsman of the gods. She was
the protector of the young. Like Apollo, she hunted with silver arrows.
(11) Hephaestus - was the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes, it was said
that Hera alone produced him and that he had no father. He was the only god to
be physically ugly. He was also lame. He was the god of fire and the forge.
(12) Hestia - Zeus' sister. She was a virgin
goddess. She was the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house around
which a new born child was carried before it was received into the family.