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became the primary Greek heroes.

Hestia -
The oldest of Cronus's children, Hestia is the goddess who actually takes the least active role in the affairs of gods and men. Hestia was the goddess of the hearth and the home, but is remembered mostly for her virginity, when she turned down the advances of Apollo and Poseidon. Hestia also distanced herself from the quarrelling of the other Olympians, and willingly gave up her place on Mount Olympus.

Poseidon
Brother to Zeus, Poseidon was given dominance over the seas and waterways, following the defeat of the Titans. Like his brother though, Poseidon is more remembered for his love life and his children than for great actions or adventures, although his anger his also a central point to many stories. As a result of his anger he became known as the god of earthquakes, and it was as a result of his anger that Odysseus was forced to struggle home after the Trojan wars.

Hera
Hera was the most powerful of the Olympian goddesses, and although sister to Zeus, was also his third wife. Intensely jealous the stories of Hera are often those of revenge against the lovers and offspring of her husband, but she could also be forgiving, and soon became known as the protector of marriage as well as the goddess of marriage and motherhood.
. Demeter
The last of the five original Olympians, Demeter was the goddess of agriculture and fertility and the seasons of the year. Famed for her humble nature, Demeter gave birth to Persephone after a brief relationship with Zeus. The lives of Demeter and her daughter are intertwined, and the story of Persephone's abduction by Hades, leads to the evolution of the growing seasons. When Persephone is in Hades it is winter time, as Demeter mourns the loss of her daughter, but when Persephone returns to Demeter, Demeter rejoices and the growing season commences.

The second generations of Olympian gods are mainly the offspring of Zeus, and were chosen for their abilities, and often for their loyalty to their father.

Hermes
Son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, Hermes was considered to be the most loyal of all of Zeus's offspring and so was given the role as messenger of the gods. At the same time though he was also the god of tricksters and thieves, trade and sport, as messenger he is often seen as being the Olympian god who interacted most with mortals.

Apollo
Apollo was the offspring of Zeus and the Titan Leto. Apollo was one of the most revered of all of the gods and was worshipped as the god of truth, archery, prophecy,

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