by Carolyn Tytler

Created on: December 07, 2008

The original Olympians were a group of twelve Greek gods believed to dwell on Mount Olympus. After Zeus, the youngest son of the Titan Cronus, killed his father, and he and his siblings took possession of the mountain.

He and his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, set out to delineate the areas of earth and human affairs for which each would bear responsibility. They drew lots and Zeus was the winner. Thus he became the supreme ruler of all the deities on Mount Olympus.

These are the gods of Mount Olympus whom the ancient Greeks believed could influence and control the affairs of mortals:

1. Zeus. He was the lord of the sky. He married his sister Hera, but had many affairs, with both goddesses and mortal women. His weapon was a lightning bolt which had been given to him by the Cyclops. He hurled it at those who displeased him. He had a golden shield, on which was engraved an eagle. He was the god of thunder and justice.

2. Poseidon. He was the lord of the sea, and second in power only to Zeus. He was credited with creating the first horse. He married Amphitrite, considered the mother of fish, seals and dolphins. His weapon is the trident, which could cause earthquakes and shatter any object. He had a greedy, quarrelsome personality, and often fought with other gods when he tried to take over their cities.

3. Hades. He was the lord of the underworld which he seldom left, and he ruled the dead. He was unpitying and terrible and always anxious to increase the number of his subjects. He seldom allowed anyone to leave, once they had entered his kingdom. He was the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He was married to Persephone whom he had abducted.

4. Hestia. She is the virgin sister of Zeus and goddess of home and hearth. Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out.

5. Hera. She was the wife and sister of Zeus, who tricked her into becoming his bride. Although she was the queen of the gods and the heavens, her marriage was stormy. She tried to arrange acts of revenge for Zeus' many infidelities. She often plotted against her husband's plans and was sometimes able to outwit him. She was the goddess of marriage, fertility, and the different stages of a woman's life.

6. Ares. He was the son of Zeus and Hera, but was disliked by both his parents. He was the murderous and bloodstained god of war. He was also a coward. He was considered the god of frenzy, hatred and bloodshed.

7. Athena. She was a virgin goddess

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>