by Christina Pomoni

Created on: September 13, 2008

From the plethora of Gods and heroes of the Greek Mythology, the Ancient Greeks chose the twelve more representative, important and symbolic Gods, and placed them as their protectors and judges at the Olympian palace of the top of Mytikas Mountain. Ancient Greeks projected on those twelve Gods own faults and virtues, passions and weaknesses, love and hatred, nightmares and dreams. The twelve Gods of Olympus gained their power after defeating the Titans during the Titan Wars.

Zeus
Father of Gods and mortals, Zeus, the king of Olympus and leader of the Greek pantheon, sovereign of lightning, punisher and protector, lover and warlord, defeat his father Cronos and threw the Titans and the Giants in the Tartars, the zone of Hades were the bad souls were sent. He was governor of the whole and he was in total control of everything. Known for his erotic adventures, Zeus always caused the jealousy of his spouse, Hera. Ancient Greeks attributed several names to Zeus, but the most recognizable one was Xenios Zeus, as he was also the protector of hospitality.

Hera
Sister and spouse of Zeus, Hera was the protector of women and marriage. However, she often had to siege and to punish the countless lovers of her husband as well as the children of Zeus' intercourse outside his marriage. Hera was often abandoning Zeus and she wandered for days, but she always returned to her husband. Her main characteristic was her immense jealousy and the fact that she could conceive and give birth to children without Zeus.

Poseidon
Poseidon, son of Cronos and Rea, was the God of sea, drinkable waters and sources, sovereign of the seas and the geological phenomena. Poseidon was worshipped as the eminently God of seamen. His personal animosity with Odysseus was the cause that the latter had to wander for ten years after the end of the Trojan War until he finally returns in Ithaca.

Athena
Athena, daughter of Zeus and Metis, the goddess of wisdom, craftsmanship, strategy and war, was the prototype of the present-day "career woman". According to the myth, Athena was born from the head of her father Zeus, who swallowed her in the fear that Hera would give birth to a son, who might be more powerful than Athena. Athena emerged well armed, wearing helmet and keeping a shield. She did not have erotic adventures and symbolized the eternal virginity. Her beloved city was Athens, which took also her name. Her symbols were the spear, the owl and the olive.

Demeter
One of the oldest and most famous goddesses

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