Greek Gods

Greek Gods and Goddesses - The Olympians

Greek Gods and Goddesses

Olympian Greek Gods and Goddesses
Who were all the ancient divinities, gods and deities of Ancient Greece and what were the names of the Greek gods and goddesses? The names of the principle Greek gods, divinities and deities, the Twelve Olympians, were Zeus, Athena, Hestia or Dionysus, Apollo, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes. The following links provides access to the main Greek Gods and Goddesses:

Greek Gods: Zeus
Zeus was the famous king of the Greek gods and god of the sky, heavens and the earth. He ruled Mount Olympus with his wife Hera. Although Zeus was married he was renown for the number of liaisons with other women, often visiting them in the guise of an animal. The powers of Zeus were legendary and his famous symbol and weapon was the thunderbolt which, when hurled, could shatter mountains.

Greek Gods: Hera
Hera was the queen of the ancient Greek gods and wife of Zeus, the ruler of Mount Olympus. Her role was as the Greek goddess of the family, marriage and childbirth. Many of the stories in Ancient Greek mythology surrounding Hera tells of her jealousy and rages that were prompted by the numerous love affairs of her unfaithful husband Zeus.

Greek Gods: Apollo
Apollo was the dazzling and handsome Greek god of the sun, prophecy, medicine, crops and music. His task was to to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. His ability to bring the sun and well-being to humans explains his association with healing.

Greek Gods - Picture of Apollo riding his golden chariot

Greek Gods: Artemis
Artemis was the Greek goddess of the hunt, archery, animals and the moon. She was the twin sister of Apollo. Every evening she mounted her moon chariot, and drove her pure white horses across the heavens. The Roman counterpart of this Greek goddess was Diana.

Greek Gods: Hephaestus
Hephaestus was the Greek god of fire, craftsmen and metal workers. He created the armor, weapons and the thrones of the Greek gods who resided on the summit of Mount Olympus. Hephaestus and his supernatural and powerful skills as a metal worker led him to make many other astonishing items using gold, silver and bronze, including magnificent metal robots that served the gods and their favorites.

Greek Gods: Demeter
Demeter was the goddess who watched over the plants and trees. Demeter taught men how to sow and cultivate grain, so she was also worshiped as the goddess of agriculture. Demeter was a lover of Zeus and they had a daughter named Persephone. Persephone was abducted by Hades and taken to the Underworld.

Greek Gods: Hermes
Hermes was the messenger of the gods, his Roman counterpart was Mercury. He was one of the sons of Zeus. Hermes wore golden sandals and carried a magical wand or staff called a caduceus which was entwined with snakes. Herms was the god of merchants, travellers, public speakers and gamblers.

Greek Gods: Dionysus
Dionysus was the carefree Greek god of wine, parties, festivals, the theatre, chaos, drunkenness and ecstasy. The symbol of Dionysus were the Grapes and Goblet relating to his role as the god of wine. He taught mortals how to plant and tend the grapevine and make it into wine.

Greek Gods: Ares
Ares was the Greek god of War, an unruly and ungovernable warrior. He features in the stories, myths and legends relating to the various conflicts including the War with the Titans, the War of the Giants. Ares was also the god of spring, growth in nature, and fertility and the protector of cattle. He was the lover of Aphrodite. Ares is depicted as a powerful, strong, god who rode a chariot drawn by four gold-bridled fire-breathing stallions.

Greek Gods: Aphrodite
Aphrodite was the most beautiful of all the goddesses. Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love, beauty and passion. Zeus gave her hand in marriage to Hephaestus, in gratitude for the service he had given in forging thunderbolts. She was an unfaithful wife and had a long term affair with Ares the Greek god of war. She had a son named Eros, or Cupid, the god of love.

Greek Gods and Goddesses - Aphrodite and her lover, Ares

Greek Gods: Poseidon
Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea, tempests, storms and earthquakes, known as the 'Earth-Shaker'. Although Poseidon was one of the gods of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his time in his domains and magnificent under water palace. The symbol of the trident of power represented his ability to control water.

Greek Gods: Athena
Athena was the goddess who sprang from the head of Zeus clothed in armor. Athena was the goddess of wisdom and also the goddess of spinning and weaving; and she herself could weave the most beautiful cloths of many colors. Her importance to the Athenians is seen in her wonderful temple, the Parthenon, which still crowns the Acropolis in the modern city of Athens in Greece.

Greek Gods: Hades
Hades was the elder brother of Zeus and Poseidon and the ruler of the Underworld, also called Hades. He abducted Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and made her Queen of the Underworld. Sometimes he was called the 'Prince of Darkness' and he preferred living in the Underworld than on Mount Olympus with the other gods.

Greek Gods: Hesta
Hesta was the virgin goddess of the hearth, the home and family. She was also the goddess of the sacrificial flame and assigned by Zeus the duty to maintain the fires of the Olympian hearth. Every home had a hearth that was dedicated to the goddess, and each day started and ended with a ritual requesting she protected the family.

Greek Gods of War and Destruction

Fast Facts about Greek Gods and Goddesses
Discovering interesting information and fun facts about the Greek gods and goddesses. A fast educational resource for homework help containing short, fast, easy, strange, random, fun, odd, cool, bizarre, amazing and awesome facts about all of the Olympian gods and goddesses! Fascinating, fun information to increase your knowledge about the Greek divinities and deities who featured in the legends and mythology of the Ancient World.

Greek Gods and Goddesses

• Facts and Information about Greek Gods, Deities, goddesses & divinities
• The names of all the Greek Gods
• The Greek Gods, Deities and ancient Greek Mythology
• The Greek gods and deities of the Ancient Greeks
• Facts and information about the Greek goddesses and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids