Browse new releases, best sellers or classics & find your next favourite book. Huge selection of books in all genres. Free UK delivery on eligible orders
Search results
People also ask
Who are the 12 Greek gods?
Who are the 12 Olympian gods and goddesses?
Who are the 12 Olympians in Greek mythology?
How many Olympian gods were there in Greek mythology?
How many gods were there in ancient Greece?
Who were the Greek gods?
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the twelve Olympians are the major deities of the Greek pantheon, commonly considered to be Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus. [2]
- Overview
- Aphrodite
- Athena
- Artemis
- Ares
- Apollo
- Demeter
- Dionysus
- Hades
- Hera
Cruel and fickle, passionate and vindictive, jealous and insecure, petty and insane: the inhabitants of Mount Olympus represent an attempt by the ancient Greeks to explain the chaos of the universe through human nature. Thus, like every deity invented before and since, these gods and goddesses are embodiments of human solipsism. (Of course lightnin...
Aphrodite was the goddess of love, sex, and beauty. Unsurprisingly for a love goddess, she was said to have emerged from the foam generated when the severed testicles of her father, Uranus, were thrown into the sea by his son, the Titan Cronus. (Or is that surprising?) Kind of makes Botticelli’s surreally lovely Birth of Venus—which depicts Aphrodi...
Athena was the goddess of reason, wisdom, and war. She famously sprung fully formed from the forehead of Zeus. A major figure in the Odyssey, in which she instructed Odysseus, she also guided Perseus and Heracles through their trials. The Parthenon was her chief temple in Athens, which is named in her honor. Her Roman equivalent was Minerva.
Artemis was the fleet-footed goddess of the hunt. Often depicted in painting and sculpture with a deer or a hunting dog, she was both huntress and protectress of the living world. Her Roman equivalent was Diana.
Ares was the god of bloodlust. (His half-sister Athena represented the more "noble" aspects of combat and civil conduct during war.) Though his fellow deities weren’t particularly fond of him, the Spartans had no problems, er, donating some prisoners of war to his worship. And sacrificing dogs…yeah, that’s right, Ares liked dead puppies. Jerk. His ...
The twin brother of Artemis, Apollo was among the most important (read: feared) of the gods. Son of Zeus, he disseminated the will of his divine compatriots through various means, notably oracles. The Oracle at Delphi was his mouthpiece; a 2001 study determined that the oracle was likely hallucinating due to ethylene gas rising from the rocks benea...
Demeter, an agricultural goddess, was mother to Persephone, who was abducted by the underworld god Hades to be his bride. While searching for her stolen daughter, she accepted the hospitality of the royal family of Eleusis. The Eleusinian Mysteries, perhaps the most important religious rites in ancient Greece, are attributed to her teachings. Her R...
Dionysus was a son of Zeus born to a mortal mother. When Zeus accidentally killed her, he sewed the young Dionysus into his thigh and, when the young god emerged, passed him to the care of the maenads. The cult of Dionysus revolved around intoxication, sex, and savage ritual sacrifice. He was often symbolized by a bull due to his association with t...
Hades ruled the world of the dead, with which he was sometimes synonymous. The chilly lord of the underworld was among the few Greek gods to come across as dispassionate. He was not the ultimate judge of the souls that wandered his domain nor did he mete out their punishments for sins committed during their mortal lives. He was, however, cunning; h...
The queen goddess of Olympus, Hera was both sister and wife to Zeus. Though she is often depicted as reserved and austere, she was mercilessly vindictive when it came to her husband’s [many] extramarital adventures. Unfortunately for the objects of Zeus’s godly affections, Hera tended to torment the "other women" (and their offspring, including Her...
- Richard Pallardy
- Poseidon. Poseidon is the Greek god of the seas. He is known for protecting the sailors, but he will also inflict his wrath on those who he feels has done him wrong.
- Hera. Hera is the Greek goddess of marriage and the queen of the goddesses. She is the one who inflicts a madness upon Hercules to make him kill his wife and children, resulting in his accomplishment of 12 labors.
- Demeter. Demeter is the Greek goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility of the earth. Demeter brings drought and famine upon the earth when Hades steals her daughter, Persephone, from the earth and takes her to the underworld.
- Athena. Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and knowledge. She is born from the head of Zeus after he swallowed Athena’s mother when she was pregnant.
In the ancient Greek world, the Twelve great gods and goddesses of the Greeks were referred to as the Olympian Gods, or the Twelve Olympians. The name of this powerful group of gods comes from Mount Olympus , where the council of 12 met to discuss matters.
Sep 10, 2019 · The 12 gods of Mount Olympus were the most important deities in ancient Greece. In this collection, we examine each of the 12 in detail. With their all-too-human qualities in Greek mythology, the Olympian gods were capable of displaying great kindness and dishing out terrible punishments.
- Mark Cartwright
- Publishing Director
- The 12 gods of Olympus and their powers are: Zeus (supreme god), Hera (protects childbirth), Athena (wise and resourceful), Apollo (healer and musi...
- The 12 Olympian gods are not always agreed upon in ancient sources. A substitute for Dionysos or even a 13th Olympic god could be Hestia, Hercules...
- The strongest of the 12 Olympian gods is Zeus, leader of the group.
Greek Mythology abounds with numerous Gods and Goddesses. Each of these had different powers and attributes, along with varying levels of importance. The 12 most significant Gods and Goddesses were known as the Olympians, and in this article, you'll find out more about them.
Jun 26, 2019 · The Twelve Olympian gods and goddesses of Greece, including Artemis, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Athena, Poseidon, Hestia, Hephaestus, Zeus, Demeter, Hermes, and Hera. All of the major gods and goddesses living at the top of Mount Olympus, plus a few beyond the official 12.
Giants have been on Earth for not only thousands but millions of years. They were associated with many early cultures. In this book learn about
