The 12 Gods of Greek Mythology

The 12 main Gods worshipped by the Ancient Greeks were known as the Olympians. Together they were thought to rule over every aspect of human life. The name of this powerful group of deities came from Mount Olympus, where the council of 12 were fabled to have met to discuss matters.

There was Zeus, Ruler of the Gods & Sky; Hera, Supreme Goddess; Aphrodite, Goddess of Love; Athena, Goddess of Wisdom; Ares, God of War; Apollo, God of Culture; Artemis, Goddess of Nature; Hermes, God of Commerce; Poseidon, God of the Sea; Hades, God of the Underworld; Demeter, Goddess of Agriculture; and Hestia, Goddess of Family.

All 12 Olympians made their home on Mount Olympus and that was where they were most commonly found. Hades, however, preferred to live below, and Poseidon often chose to sojourn in his palace beneath the sea. Most of the other Olympians would be on Mount Olympus year round unless they were traveling. Hestia was beleaguered by the constant strife and bickering between the Gods so she eventually gave up her seat to the God of Wine, Dionysus. Even though she left the council, Hestia still kept residence on Mount Olympus. Aphrodite was of course on the council but, in most Greek mythology, her husband Hephaestus was not. At the legendary Parthenon Temple, there is a statue representative of each of the 12 Olympian Gods. Oddly enough, Hades does not have a statue, but Hephaestus does.

Moreover, interestingly enough, to this day there is a minority of Greeks who still pray to the Gods through special rituals and philosophical readings, known as the "Dodeka-Theoi".