Twelve Olympians
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| Greek deities series |
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| Primordial deities |
| Titans |
| Aquatic deities |
| Chthonic deities |
| Personified concepts |
| Other deities |
| Olympians |
| Zeus and Hera, |
| Poseidon, Hades, |
| Hestia, Demeter, |
| Aphrodite, Athena, |
| Apollo, Artemis, |
| Ares, Hephaestus, |
| Hermes, Dionysus |
The Twelve Olympians, in Greek mythology, were the principal gods of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus. There were, at various times, fourteen different gods recognized as Olympians, though never more than twelve at one time.
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis are always considered Olympians. Hestia, Demeter, Dionysus, and Hades are the variable gods among the Twelve. Hestia gave up her position as an Olympian to Dionysus in order to live among mankind (eventually she was assigned the role of tending the fire on Mount Olympus). Demeter was allowed to leave Olympus six months of the year to be with her daughter, Persephone in the underworld (causing winter). And, although Hades was always one of the principal Greek gods, his home in the underworld of the dead made his connection to the Olympians more tenuous.
The Olympians gained their supremacy in the world of gods after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans; Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings; all other Olympians (with the exception of foam-born Aphrodite) are usually considered the children of Zeus by various mothers (except for Athena, who was possibly born of Zeus alone). Additionally, it is also possible that Hephaestus was born of Hera alone as Hera's revenge for Zeus's solo birth of Athena.
- Zeus is the most senior god, the ruler of Mount Olympus
- Poseidon, together with Hades is one of the two next most senior gods, controlling the oceans
- Hades is the second of the next most senior gods, taking care of all souls after they leave the earth
- Athena is the goddess of wisdom, the arts, inner beauty, education and war
- Ares is the god of war and heroes
- Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, animals, fertility and chastity
- Hephaestus is the god of fire, worksmanship, artisans and weaponry
- Apollo is the god of dance, music, healing and medicine, archery and reason
- Hermes is the god of guidance, travellers, shepards, concelation and reunions
- Aphrodite is the goddess of love, committed sexuality, outer beauty and attraction
- Hera is the consort of Zeus, and the goddess of marriage, sacrifices and fidelity
- Hestia is the goddess of the home, family and the hearth
- Demeter is the goddess of the earth, flowers and plants, food, preservation of marriage and agriculture
- Dionysus is the youngest god of the Pantheon, and is the god of intoxication and open sexuality
See also
- Greek religion
- Family tree of the Greek gods
- List of Greek mythological charactersel:Θεοί του Ολύμπου
es:Dioses olmpicos fr:Divinits olympiennes ko:올림포스의 12신 it:Olimpi nl:Olympische goden ja:オリュンポス十二神 zh:奧林匹斯山十二神