The Greek Gods

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek pantheon. The Olympians were a race of deities, primarily consisting of a third and fourth generation of immortal beings, worshipped as the principal gods of the Greek pantheon and so named because of their residency atop Mount Olympus. They gained their supremacy in a ten-year-long war of gods, in which Zeus led his siblings to victory over the previous generation of ruling immortal beings, the Titans, children of the primordial deities Uranus and Gaia. They are most commonly considered to be Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes and Hestia. They were called Olympians because, according to tradition, they resided on Mount Olympus. While these 12 are usually considered to be the Greek Gods, also referred as the “dodekatheo” (twelve Gods in Greek) there are at least two other deities needed to be mentioned.

Firstly, Dionysus, sometimes replacing Hestia as a member of the 12, but usually mentioned as a lesser God, being the son of Zeus and a mortal (just like Hercules). Additionally, replacing Hestia with Dionysus ruins the gender harmony of the 12 (6 male and 6 female deities).

Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, Hades, the God of the Dead and king of the underworld. Hades, is a major deity in Greek mythology, being the eldest brother of Zeus, Poseidon and the other offsprings of Cronus and Rhea, the previous Godly Rulers of Greece, and just as important as the Twelve. However, with him not living on Mount Olympus, but far away in his kingdom the underworld, he is not mentioned as part of the 12 Gods.

As in most of the pagan religions, the Gods and their powers were used to explain most of the natural phenomena, the genesis of the world and mankind and were usually the main characters of myths. The myths, served both as a way to answer otherwise unanswerable questions of the time, but also as invaluable work of literature and life teachings. Greek Mythology is in fact an amazing literature treasure with countless wonderful stories, many of which continue to be used in and/or inspire popular culture.

A List of the Gods, their Powers and their Roman Counterparts

Zeus / Jupiter

King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky, lightning, thunder, law, order and justice.
The youngest child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Brother and husband of Hera and brother of Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia. He had many affairs with goddesses and mortals, such as his sister Demeter, the Titan Leto, mortals Leda and Alcmene, and more. His symbols include the thunderbolt, eagle, oak tree, bull, scepter, and scales.

Hera / Juno

Queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage, women, childbirth and family.
The youngest daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Sister and wife of Zeus. Being the
goddess of marriage, she frequently tried to get revenge on Zeus’ lovers and their children. Her symbols include the peacock, cuckoo, and cow.

Poseidon / Neptune

God of the seas, water, storms, hurricanes, earthquakes and horses.
The middle son of Cronus and Rhea. Brother of Zeus and Hades. Married to the
Nereid Amphitrite; although, as with many of the male Greek gods, he had many
lovers. His symbols include the horse, bull, dolphin, and trident.

Demeter / Ceres

Goddess of the harvest, fertility, agriculture, nature and the seasons. She presided over grains and the fertility of the earth.
The middle daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Also the lover of Zeus and Poseidon, and the mother of Persephone, Despoine, Arion. Her symbols include the poppy, wheat, torch, cornucopia, and pig.

Athena / Minerva

Goddess of wisdom, handicraft, and warfare. The daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Metis, she rose from her father’s head fully grown and in full battle armor. Her symbols include the owl and the olive tree.

Apollo / Apollo

God of light, the Sun, prophecy, philosophy, archery, truth, inspiration, poetry, music, arts, manly beauty, medicine, healing and plague. The son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. His symbols include the Sun, bow and arrow, lyre, swan, and mouse.

Artemis / Diana

Goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, virginity, the Moon, archery, childbirth,
protection and plague. The daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her symbols include the Moon, horse, deer, hound, she-bear, snake, cypress tree, and bow and arrow.

Ares / Mars

God of war, violence, bloodshed and manly virtues. The son of Zeus and Hera, all the other gods despised him except Aphrodite. His Latin name, Mars, gave us the word “martial.” His symbols include the boar, serpent, dog, vulture, spear, and shield.

A List of the Gods, their Powers and their Roman Counterparts

Aphrodite / Venus

Goddess of love, pleasure, passion, procreation, fertility, beauty and desire.
The daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Dione, or perhaps born from the sea foam after Uranus’ blood dripped into the sea after being castrated by his youngest son, Cronus, who then threw his father’s genitals into the sea. Married to Hephaestus, although she had many adulterous affairs, most notably with Ares. Her name gave us the word “aphrodisiac”, while her Latin name, Venus, gave us the word “venereal”.
Her symbols include the dove, bird, apple, bee, swan, myrtle, and rose.

Hephaestus / Vulcan

Master blacksmith and craftsman of the gods; god of the forge, craftsmanship,
invention, fire and volcanoes. The son of Hera, either by Zeus or through parthenogenesis. Married to Aphrodite. His Latin name, Vulcan, gave us the word “volcano.” His symbols include fire, anvil, axe, donkey, hammer, tongs, and quail.

Hermes / Mercury

Messenger of the gods; god of travel, commerce, communication, borders,
eloquence, diplomacy, thieves, and games. He was also the guide of dead souls. The son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. The second-youngest Olympian, just older than Dionysus. His symbols include the caduceus (staff entwined with two snakes), winged sandals and cap, stork, and tortoise (whose shell he used to invent the lyre).

Hestia / Vesta

Goddess of the hearth, fire and of the right ordering of domesticity and the family; she was born into the first Olympian generation and was one of the original twelve Olympians. She is the first child of Cronus and Rhea, the elder sister of Hades, Demeter, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus. Her symbol is the hearth and its fire.

Dionysus / Bacchus

God of wine, the grapevine, fertility, festivity, ecstasy, madness and resurrection.
Patron god of the art of theatre. The son of Zeus and the mortal Theban princess Semele. Married to the Cretan princess Ariadne. The youngest Olympian god, as well as the only one to have a mortal parent. His symbols include the grapevine, ivy, cup, tiger, panther, leopard, dolphin, goat, and pinecone.

Hades / Pluto

God of dead and king of the underworld.
The eldest child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Brother of Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, and Hestia. Married (by abduction) to Persephone. His symbols include Cornucopia, keys, serpent, dog/Cerberus, screech owl.