{In classical-era mythology, twelve Gods ruled from Mount Olympus. Zeus was deemed the king of the Gods and Hera was considered his queen. This pantheon of twelve Goddesses and Gods contitute the Olympians, representing the nature of man and his need for war, love and death. The pantheon consisted of six male Gods, two (Zeus and Poseidon) were born of Titan Gods themselves and overthrew their father to rule the universe. Hades, their sibling, also fought by their side, but after the victory  he was drew the lot as ruler of the Underworld, so did take a throne at Mt. Olympus with his brothers.

Zeus – King of the Gods

A popular subject of Greek statues, Zeus was King of the Gods and ruler of Mount Olympus. He was the youngest son to Cronus and Rhea, Titan and Titaness who were themselves children of Ouranos and Gaia, the sky and Earth according to classical Greek mythology. Zeus defeated his father Cronus with the aid of his two brothers, Poseidon and Hades in a ten-year battle known as the Titanomachy, or more popularly as the Battle of the Titans. Zeus sired many of the characters in Greek mythology with Goddesses, deities and mortals alike. Greek artists frequently portrayed Zeus either astride his throne ruling over Olympus or striding forward with thunderbolt in hand. Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of Zeus.

Poseidon

God of the oceans, bringer of earthquakes and brother of Hades and Zeus. He was given rule of the seas after the battle of the Titans. He is perhaps the most iconic of the Greek gods, his trident a familiar and pervasive symbol. The ancient Greeks believed he had the power to calm the seas and create bountiful fishing expeditions, but when angered would smash his trident into the ground causing earthquakes and tidal waves. He was a popular God and considered the patron of many Greek cities.  This God of the Seas was a popular subject or Greek wall art and statues  around Greece.

Apollo

Apollo was perhaps the most multi-faceted God, seen as God of light and the sun; prophecy and truth; healing and medicine; music, art and poetry. Son of Zeus and Leto, he has a twin sister, the virgin Goddess Artemis. He was considered the most fair of the Gods, always depicted as young and attractive. He was thought to have both great capacity to heal and to bring forth pestilence and plague. His symbols are the bow, lyre and laurel. The Romans also name this god “Apollo.”

Ares

Ares was the God of War. The Greeks viewed him more as the God of bloodlust or slaughter. Ares was seen as unpredictable, chaotic and barbaric. It was his half-sister Athena who acted as goddess of strategic warfare. The vulture and dog were the sacred animals of Ares. The Roman God Mars was connected to Ares, but he was also seen as a God of agriculture and held in higher regard by mortals.

Dionysus

Born to Zeus and the mortal Semele in the city of Thebes, Dionysus was regarded as one of the gods of the epiphany or “gods that come.”  He was the God of Wine, Merriment and Ecstasy and fittingly a popular God frequently honored with celebrations in his name. Writings of the time cotend that he possessed an androgynous beauty and long, flowing locks. This could be the influence of one tale that suggests Hermes was tasked by Zeus to hide the boy away to protect him from the vengeful Hera. Hermes took him to his mortal relatives and commanded that they pretend that Dionysus was a girl to deceive Hera and keep Dionysus safe.  Dionysus wall reliefs in Athens frequently depicted the god of wine and revelry riding a donkey.

Hephaestus

A gentle and compassionate God, he was the God of fire, metal, blacksmiths, volcanoes and craftsman. Thrown from Mt. Olympus by his mother Hera, he is the only God depicted as repulsive. He was depicted as a cripple due to the injuries he suffered in his fall from Mt. Olympus. Hephaestus is credited with the creation of  many of Greek mythology’s most magnificent weapons and tools including: Hermes’ sandals and helmet, the Aegis breastplate, the armor of Achilles, Helio’s chariot, Eros bow and arrow and the thrones at Mt. Olympus. The Romans named this god Vulcan.

Hermes

With wings on his sandals, Hermes was possessed of great speed and assumed the role of “messenger of the Gods” and conductor of souls to the Underworld. He was the one God permitted to walk the realms of Heaven, Earth and the Underworld. Like all Gods, he was possessed of fallibility: the a constant desire to steal. This flaw earned him the honor of God of Thieves. The son of Zeus, Hermes was a trusted ally of the king of Gods and frequent confidant. He wore a “petasus” (a shallow, round hat) and was often portrayed with wings on his shoulders along with his famed winged sandals. The Roman incarnation of Hermes is Mercury.

Hades

Brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades fought alongside his brothers in the Titanomachy, assisting in the destruction of his father Cronus and begin the rule of the Olympic Gods. After they vanquised the Titans, Zeus, Hades and Poseidon divided rule of the world. Drawing lots, Zeus was given the sky, Poseidon the seas and Hades the underworld. Popular notions of Hades are a bit distorted, probably from Christian views of hell. In Greek mythology, Hades was a benevolent ruler who sought balance in the Underworld, but was also not above displaying his considerable powers if crossed. Hades is is often associated with Cerebus, the three-headed canine that helps guard the underworld and the Helm of Darkness a gift from the Cyclops prior to the Battle of the Titans.}