Twelve Olympians Facts for Kids

Fragment of a Hellenistic relief (1st century BC–1st century AD) showing the twelve Olympians. From left to right: Hestia, Hermes, Aphrodite, Ares, Demeter, Hephaestus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Zeus, Artemis, and Apollo.

The Twelve Olympians are the most important gods and goddesses in ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology. They were a powerful group of deities. These gods were called Olympians because they lived on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. The main Olympians usually include Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus.

Discovering the Olympian Gods
The Idea of Twelve Gods
Meet the Twelve Olympians
Family Connections of the Olympians
See also

Discovering the Olympian Gods

The Olympians were a powerful group of gods. They became the main gods of Greece after a great war. This war, called the Titanomachy, lasted for ten years. In this war, Zeus led his brothers and sisters to victory. They fought against the Titans, who were the older generation of gods. The Titans were children of the very first gods, Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky).

The most important Olympians were a family. The first generation included Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. These five were the children of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Zeus also had many important children who became Olympians. These included Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Dionysus.

You might wonder about Hades. He was a very important god and Zeus's brother. However, Hades ruled the Greek underworld, a realm far from Mount Olympus. Because of this, he was usually not counted among the Twelve Olympians.

While there were usually twelve main Olympians, other gods and heroes also lived on Mount Olympus. For example, the hero Heracles joined the gods on Olympus after his amazing deeds. He even married Hebe, the goddess of youth. This shows that the world of the Greek gods was very lively and full of many different divine beings.

The Idea of Twelve Gods

The idea of a group of twelve gods was very old in ancient Greece. The Greeks even had a special word for it: Dodekatheon, which means "twelve gods." We know that people worshipped groups of twelve gods as early as the late 500s BC.

In Ancient Athens, an important altar was built in the city's main square, the agora. This altar was set up by a leader named Pisistratus around 522 BC. It became a central spot in Athens. People used it to measure distances and as a safe place for those seeking help.

The famous site of Olympia, where the Olympic Games began, also had traditions about twelve gods. Ancient writings, like the Homeric Hymn to Hermes from around 500 BC, tell us stories. For example, the god Hermes once divided a sacrifice into twelve parts for the gods near the river Alpheus.

The poet Pindar, writing around 480 BC, described the hero Heracles making sacrifices to "twelve ruling gods" at Olympia. This shows how important the number twelve was in their religious practices.

Many other Greek cities also worshipped groups of twelve gods. These groups often included the main Olympians. However, the exact gods in these "twelve" could change from place to place. Sometimes, even non-Olympian gods, like the Titans Cronus and Rhea, or a river god like Alpheus, were part of these special groups.

The famous Greek philosopher Plato even linked the idea of twelve gods to the twelve months of the year. He suggested that the last month should honor Pluto (another name for Hades) and the spirits of those who had passed away.

Later, the ancient Romans also had their own group of twelve main gods, called the Dii Consentes. These Roman gods were similar to the Greek Olympians. For example, the Roman goddess Vesta, who was very important in Roman religion, was like the Greek goddess Hestia.

Meet the Twelve Olympians

There isn't one exact list of the twelve Olympian gods. The thirteen Greek gods and goddesses below are most often considered to be among the Twelve Olympians. Their Roman names are also included.

Greek	Roman	Role and Symbols
Zeus	Jupiter	King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus. He was the god of the sky, lightning, thunder, law, and justice. Zeus was the youngest child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. He was the brother and husband of Hera. He also had many children with goddesses and mortals. His symbols include the thunderbolt, eagle, and oak tree.
Hera	Juno	Queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage, women, and family. She was the youngest daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Hera was the sister and wife of Zeus. She was known for her strong feelings, especially when Zeus had children with others. Her symbols include the peacock and cow.
Poseidon	Neptune	God of the seas, water, storms, and horses. He was the middle son of Cronus and Rhea. Poseidon was the brother of Zeus and Hades. He was married to the Nereid Amphitrite, and also had many children. His symbols include the trident, horse, and dolphin.
Demeter	Ceres	Goddess of the harvest, farming, nature, and the seasons. She watched over grains and the fertility of the earth. Demeter was the middle daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She had children with Zeus and Poseidon, including Persephone. Her symbols include wheat, the torch, and the cornucopia.
Apollo	Apollo	God of the Sun, light, prophecy, music, poetry, healing, and archery. He was the son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis. His symbols include the bow and arrow, lyre, and raven.
Artemis	Diana	Goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, the Moon, archery, and childbirth. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her symbols include the Moon, deer, hound, and bow and arrow.
Ares	Mars	God of war, violence, and courage in battle. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. Ares was not always popular with the other gods, except for Aphrodite. His Roman name, Mars, gives us the word "martial". His symbols include the boar, spear, and shield.
Athena	Minerva	Goddess of wisdom, crafts, and strategic warfare. She was the daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Metis. Athena was said to have sprung fully grown and in armor from her father's head. Her symbols include the owl and the olive tree.
Hephaestus	Vulcan	The master blacksmith and craftsman of the gods. He was the god of the forge, invention, fire, and volcanoes. Hephaestus was the son of Hera, either with Zeus or by herself. He was married to Aphrodite. His Roman name, Vulcan, gives us the word "volcano". His symbols include fire, the anvil, and the hammer.
Aphrodite	Venus	Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She was said to be born from the sea foam. Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, but she had many children, especially with Ares. Her symbols include the dove, apple, and rose.
Hermes	Mercury	The messenger of the gods. He was the god of travel, trade, communication, and thieves. Hermes also guided the souls of the dead. He was the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. His symbols include the caduceus (a staff with two snakes), winged sandals, and a winged cap.
Hestia	Vesta	Goddess of the hearth, home, and family. She was born into the first Olympian generation. Hestia was the first child of Cronus and Rhea, and the elder sister of Hades, Demeter, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus. Some stories say she gave up her place among the Twelve for Dionysus to keep the peace.
Dionysus	Liber	God of wine, grapevines, festivity, and theatre. He was the son of Zeus and the mortal princess Semele. Dionysus was the youngest Olympian god. He was married to the Cretan princess Ariadne. His symbols include the grapevine, ivy, and a drinking cup.