Greek gods and goddesses were the basis of many virtues held by people of ancient Greece. There were many major Olympian deities, all of whom served a particular purpose (or particular purposes), and governed a specific aspect of life. Many tales from ancient Greece detail the involvement of the gods and goddesses in certain affairs, due to the deities' particular concentrations. The Roman gods were the same as those of the Greeks, but they were known by different names (Chiron Dictionary of Greek and Roman Mythology). Following is a list of the Greek gods and goddesses from mythology, who lived on Mount Olympus.
- Zeus- He was the king of the Greek gods, and he wielded a thunderbolt, making him the god of the sky, and of thunder.
- Poseidon- He was Zeus' brother, and the god of the sea. Perhaps his most popular involvement in Greek mythology was his hindering influence on the return of Odysseus to his home in Ithaca, detailed in Homer's Odyssey. He was also the god of various other terrestrial phenomena, such as earthquakes. Poseidon often wielded a trident.
- Hades- He was another of Zeus' brothers, and the god who looked over the underworld, where the spirits of the dead mortals were kept, across the river Styx. Hades was also the god of wealth, and he carried a bident, and was seen near his three-headed dog, Cerberus. He did not live on Mount Olympus, but remained in the underworld.
- Hera- She was the most powerful goddess, as she was the sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia, and also Zeus' wife. She was the goddess of childbirth, marriage, and women. Hera often carried a scepter.
- Athena- She was the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom, strategy, and warfare. She had a particular fondness for Odysseus, because of his wisdom, and assisted him in Homer's Odyssey.
- Ares- He was the Greek god of war and conflict. He was the son of Zeus, and brother of Athena. Ares often sported armor, shield, and sword. He was known for assisting the Trojans in the Trojan War.
- Apollo- A Greek god of many activities, such as archery, poetry, health and healing, medicine, and sometimes, the sun. He was one of Zeus' sons, and the twin brother of Artemis.
- Artemis- She was one of Zeus' daughters, and was the goddess of hunting, animals, and the moon.
- Aphrodite- One of Zeus' daughters, Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty. She was a lover of Ares, despite her marriage to Hephaestus, and she played the mythological role of granting Helen, the wife of the Greek King Menelaus, to Paris of Troy, inciting the Trojan War.
- Demeter- She was a sister of Zeus, and the goddess of fertility and agriculture.
- Dionysus- He was one of Zeus' sons, and the god of wine, merriment, and festivities. He was often seen in the presence of grape vines.
- Hephaestus- He was the god of fire, metals, and craftsmanship. He was one of Hera's sons, and the husband of Aphrodite.
- Hermes- Hermes was the messenger god, who also specialized in flight, thievery, and trading. He was a son of Zeus, and wore winged boots.
- Hestia- One of Zeus' sisters, she was the goddess of the hearth, and she also monitored family well-being in the lives of the ancient Greeks.
These major deities appeared in many Greek mythological tales, and they were associated with Mount Olympus, although Hades did not live there, and there were many other minor deities that appeared in Greek myths as well. The Romans also worshiped the same gods and goddesses for a period in their history, but they referred to them by different names.
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