Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s all Greek to me”? Well, the speaker of the phrase was obviously referring to the Greek language, right? Although “Greek” can describe many other things, such as the Olympians and the entire Hellenic Pantheon. What’s that? You don’t know what that is? Well, fortunately, my dear readers, you’re in for a treat. This chapter provides a brief overview of each of the 12 Olympians. Although it’s only a small summary of each, If I were to tell you everything, we would both be here for a long, long time.

Let’s first begin with a bit of backstory. Before the Gods, and before the Titans, there was only Chaos. Then there were Earth and Sky (and more, but they are the most important figures in this story). Earth was Gaia, and Sky was Ouranos, both Primordial Deities. They fell in love and had many children, including the Giants, the Hundred-Handed Ones, and the Cyclopes. The most important, however, were the Titans.

Eventually, Gaia grew tired of Ouranos, as one does. She wanted her children to get rid of him and overthrow him. The youngest of the Titans, Kronos, took on the task with a weapon Gaia crafted herself—the Scythe. With the help of his 4 brothers, Kronos killed his father. In his dying moments, Ouranos cursed him with the same fate, and Kronos feared this immensely.

After marrying Rhea, Kronos would swallow each of their children after they were born. After several of her children had been swallowed, Rhea was frustrated. The next time she was pregnant, she hid the child and raised him in secret, and she allowed Kronos to swallow a large rock instead. When the child grew up, God avenged his siblings by tricking Kronos into drinking an awful concoction. This concoction made him vomit up all his God siblings whole, and afterwards, the little God cut Kronos into small bits (because of his immortality) and then trapped him in Tartarus, the deepest place in the Underworld. Fun story, isn’t it? Don’t say it at parties. Anyway, the God who killed Kronos is none other than, you guessed it, Zeus!

Now, let’s go onwards with the 12 Olympians!

ZEUS:
The King of the Gods, father of hundreds of thousands of children, husband of Hera and Metis, and many more titles. Zeus is brother to Poseidon and Hades and overthrew his father, Titan Kronos. He had many famous children with various different lovers. He had Athena by his first wife, Metis, and with other partners, he fathered other gods such as Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Hebe, Persephone, and Dionysis. Beyond his immortal offspring, Zeus influenced significant events in Hellenic history through his mortal children. They include the infamous Helen of Troy (or Sparta), King Minos, Heracles (better known as Hercules), Perseus, and many more. Crafted by the Cyclopes, Zeus’s famous weapon is the thunderbolt, and he is generally represented by imagery of thunder, lightning, and eagles. He participated in the Gigantomachy and the Titanomachy, legendary wars between the immortals and the children of Gaia. In Roman mythology, he is known as Jupiter.

HERA:
The Queen of the Gods, Zeus’s wife (also technically his sister…), Hera is the goddess of marriage, women, and family. Often depicted as a rather vengeful spirit, Hera is a force to be reckoned with. Her symbols include the cow, the cuckoo, and the peacock. Zeus wasn’t very faithful and loyal to his wife, having had numerous affairs with many women. Hera, blinded with jealousy and anger and ignoring the real problem, often made life a complete hell for these women. She transformed Io into a cow, prevented Leto from giving birth by barring every single piece of rooted land, tricked Semele into tricking Zeus, which killed her, and much more. She also played a large role in the Trojan War, which is a completely different event and one of my personal favourites in Greek Mythology.

POSEIDON:
Earthshaker, King of the Waves, and more, Poseidon is brother to Zeus and the God of the Sea, Storms, Earthquakes, Horses, etc. His symbols include his famous Trident, dolphins, horses (which he created), and the bull. Poseidon played a large role in many Greek epics, including both Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. He is generally depicted with the Nereid Amphitrite as his consort. Some of his most famous children include Theseus, Orion, Kymopoleia, Polyphemus, and Atlas. Poseidon is a prominent figure in Greek Mythology, and is known to be a very vengeful god. He usually causes massive floods with his trident when he doesn’t win the patronage of a city, such as Athens. Poseidon is known as Neptune in Roman Mythology.

HADES:
Hades, the last of the “Big Three” gods, Zeus’s brother, King of the Underworld, and God of the Dead, is the eldest child of Kronos and Rhea. His symbols are usually the bident, which looks like a pitchfork, the Helm of Hades, and the Cerberus, which is the three-headed dog of the Underworld. He is married to his niece, Persephone, and both are generally depicted with pomegranates, which symbolise Persephone’s time spent in the Underworld. Unlike his brothers, Hades isn’t involved in the affairs of the living, but his influence is ever-present as the overseer of mortal souls. In Roman mythology, Hades is known as Pluto.

Note: While Hades is generally not considered to be an Olympian, due to his realm of the underworld being far away from Mount Olympus, I felt it was important to include him in the chapter as he is an essential part of many myths.

DEMETER:
Goddess of the Harvest, Agriculture, and Fertility, Demeter is the sister of Zeus and mother to Persephone. Her dominion over the earth’s fertility makes her one of the most revered deities in the Greek pantheon, as she is responsible for changing the seasons. Demeter’s symbols include the cornucopia, wheat, and the torch. The myth of Demeter and her daughter Persephone explains the cycle of growth and decay in nature, with Demeter’s grief during Persephone’s time in the Underworld causing winter to descend upon Earth. In Roman mythology, she is known as Ceres.

ATHENA:
The Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Craftsmanship, Athena, sprang fully grown and armoured from Zeus’s forehead, a result of his swallowing her pregnant mother, Metis. Athena is known for her strategic prowess in battle, along with her role as a protector of cities, most notably Athens, which is named in her honour. Her symbols include the owl, the olive tree, and the Aegis, a protective cloak adorned with the head of Medusa. Unlike other war deities, Athena is associated with wisdom and just warfare, making her a revered figure in both myth and history. In Roman mythology, she is known as Minerva.

APOLLO:
The God of the Sun, Music, Poetry, and Prophecy, Apollo is twin brother to Artemis and son of Zeus and Leto. Apollo is often depicted as the epitome of youth and beauty, playing his golden lyre and driving the chariot of the sun across the sky. His symbols include the lyre, the laurel wreath, and the raven. Apollo was revered as a god of healing and prophecy, and his oracle at Delphi was one of the most significant in the ancient world. In Roman mythology, he is also known as Apollo, which is a rare instance where his name remains unchanged.

ARTEMIS:
Artemis is Apollo’s twin sister, the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She is the Goddess of the Hunt, Wilderness, and Moon, protector of young women, and a fierce defender of her chastity. Artemis is often depicted with a bow and arrows, accompanied by a stag or hunting dogs. Her symbols are the moon, the cypress tree, and the deer. She is known for her swift retribution against those who offend her, such as the hunter Actaeon, whom she changed into a stag. In Roman mythology, she is known as Diana.

ARES:
The God of War, Ares, is the son of Zeus and Hera. The opposite of Athena, who represents strategic warfare, Ares embodies the chaotic and brutal aspects of battle. He’s often depicted as a bloodthirsty warrior, wielding a spear and shield, accompanied by the personifications of Fear and Terror. His symbols include the spear, helmet, and dog. Ares was not widely worshipped in Greece because of his association with the destructive nature of war, but he played a significant role in many myths. This, in particular, includes the Trojan War. In Roman mythology, he is known as Mars.

APHRODITE:
The Goddess of Love, beauty, and desire, Aphrodite is said to have been born from sea foam. She is one of the most powerful and influential Olympians, with the ability to incite love and passion in gods and mortals alike. Her symbols include the dove, rose, and myrtle. Despite being married to Hephaestus, the God of Fire, Aphrodite is often depicted with her lover Ares. She played a large role in the events leading up to the Trojan War by awarding the golden apple to Paris. In Roman mythology, she is known as Venus.

HEPHAESTUS:
Hephaestus, the God of Fire, Metalworking, and Craftsmanship, is the son of Hera, born without a father, or, in some versions, the son of both Zeus and Hera. He is a divine blacksmith who crafted the weapons of the gods, including Zeus’s thunderbolt and Achilles’ armour. Because of his physical deformity, he was cast out of Olympus by Hera. Despite this, however, Hephaestus earned a place among the Olympians through his skill and ingenuity. His symbols include the anvil, hammer, and tongs. In Roman mythology, he is known as Vulcan.

HERMES:
Hermes, the God of Travel, Commerce, and Communication, is the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. Known as the messenger of the gods, Hermes is a swift and cunning deity, often depicted with winged sandals and a caduceus, a staff entwined with two snakes. He is also the guide of souls to the underworld, along with the patron of thieves and tricksters. Hermes plays a role in many myths, mostly acting as a mediator between gods and mortals. In Roman mythology, he is known as Mercury.

HESTIA:
Lastly, there is Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, home, and domestic life. Hestia is the sister of Zeus and one of the original Olympians. She is a peaceful and non-confrontational deity, often depicted as a modest woman with a veil. Hestia’s presence was central to both household and civic worship, as the hearth was the heart of family and community life in ancient Greece. Unlike other Olympians, Hestia is rarely involved in the drama of myth, instead embodying stability and order. In Roman mythology, she is known as Vesta. In some versions of the myth, Hestia seemingly gave up her seat on Olympus for Dionysus, reflecting her selflessness.

With that, this chapter has come to an end. I truly hope you enjoyed learning about the 12 Olympians! I highly recommend checking out more about Greek Mythology, as it gets extremely interesting the more you dive into it. Thanks for reading!

Written by: Sara Rowan
Edited by: Daphne Clarke
Proofread by: Lily