In Greek mythology twelve immortal gods and goddess' ruled the world. These Olympians - so called because they lived on mount Olympus - had come to power after overthrowing the Titans. All the Olympians are related to one another. The Romans adopted most of these Greek gods and goddesses, but with new names.
Hades is sometimes mistakenly included in the list of the 12 Olympians but as he was the king of the underworld he wasn't included as part of the elite 12. Hestia is a goddess who once was an Olympian but she conceded her place to Dionysus
Name of god | Area of godliness | Relationship to others | |
---|---|---|---|
Greek | Roman | ||
Zeus | Jupiter | god of the sky & storms. King of Olympus | Married to Hera |
Hera | Juno | goddess of marriage. Queen of Olympus | Married to and sister to Zeus |
Poseidon | Neptune | god of the sea, earthquakes & horses | Brother of Zeus |
Demeter | Ceres | goddess of agriculture | Sister of Zeus, mother of Persephone |
Aphrodite | Venus | goddess of love, beauty & fertility. Protector of sailors | Daughter of Zeus |
Apollo | Apollo | god of music, prophesy, amp; healing | Son of Zeus, Twin of Artemis |
Ares | Mars | god of war | Son of Zeus & Hera |
Artemis | Diana | goddess of the hunt. protector of women in childbirth | Twin of Apollo |
Athena | Minerva | goddess of wisdom & crafts | Born from forehead of Zeus |
Hephaestus | Vulcan | god of fire & the forge | Son of Zeus, married Aphrodite |
Hermes | Mercury | messenger of the gods, guide to the dead in the underworld | Son of Zeus |
Dionysus | Bacchus | god of wine, mysteries, & theatre | Son of Zeus & a mortal |
Other gods also lived on Olympus but were not regarded as Olympians because they were not part of the supreme council of 12. The following lists some of the minor gods.
Name of god | Area of godliness | |
---|---|---|
Greek | Roman | |
Hades | Pluto | god of the dead, brother of Zeus husband of Persephone |
Persephone | Proserpina | goddess of the underworld, wife of Hades |
Hestia | Vesta | goddess of the hearth was once an Olympian but conceded her place to Dionysus |
Pan | Faunus | god of shepherds & flocks |
Hekate | Trivia | goddess of magic, son of Hermes |
Thanatos | god of death | |
Asklepios | Asclepius | god of healing |
Boreas | god of the north wind | |
Dike | Iustitia | goddess of justice |
Eileithyia | Lucina | goddess of childbirth |
Eirene | Pax | goddess of peace |
Enyo | Bellona | goddess of war |
Eoa | Aurora | goddess of the dawn |
Erebus | personification of darkness | |
Eris | Discordia | goddess of strife |
Eros | Cupid | god of love & desire |
Hede | Juventas | goddess who was cup bearer to Olympians |
Helios | Sol | god of the sun |
Hesperus | Vesper | the evening star |
Hypnos | Somnus | god of sleep |
Iris | god of the rainbow | |
Morpheus | god of dreams | |
Nemesis | goddess of retribution | |
Nike | Victoria | goddess of victory |
Selene | Luna | goddess of the moon |
Triton | water god | |
Tyche | Fortuna | goddess of fortune |
Zephyrus | god of the west wind |
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