The twelve Olympian gods: Greek and Roman names, symbols, powers and family tree

The Olympian gods are the main deities of Greek religion. They are so called because, in myth, they lived in shining palaces on the summit of Mount Olympus, between Thessaly and Macedonia. They were immortal, ate ambrosia and drank nectar, and a luminous fluid, ichor, flowed in their veins. But their feelings were very human: they fell in love, quarrelled and were jealous and vengeful.

How to recognise them

Greek god	Roman name	Domain	Symbols and attributes
Zeus	Jupiter	sky, thunder, justice, king of the gods	thunderbolt, eagle, oak, sceptre
Hera	Juno	marriage, family, queen of the gods	peacock, diadem, pomegranate
Poseidon	Neptune	sea, earthquakes, horses	trident, horse, dolphin
Demeter	Ceres	farming, grain, the seasons	ears of wheat, torch
Athena	Minerva	wisdom, strategy, crafts	owl, olive tree, helmet, aegis
Apollo	Apollo	light, music, poetry, prophecy	lyre, bow, laurel, sun
Artemis	Diana	hunting, wild animals, the moon	bow and arrows, deer, crescent moon
Ares	Mars	violent war	spear, helmet, shield, dog, vulture
Aphrodite	Venus	love and beauty	dove, shell, rose, apple
Hephaestus	Vulcan	fire, metalwork, craftsmen	hammer, anvil, tongs
Hermes	Mercury	messengers, travellers, trade, thieves	winged sandals, caduceus, petasos hat
Hestia	Vesta	the hearth	the sacred fire
Dionysus	Bacchus	wine, celebration, theatre	vine, thyrsus, panther, mask

Ancient lists differ: in many the twelfth god is Dionysus, who according to one tradition took Hestia's place, as she gladly gave up her seat to stay by the hearth. Hades, though Zeus's brother, is usually not counted among the Olympians because he lives in his underground kingdom.

Family tree

The family of the Olympian gods

Cronus + Rhea
- Hestia
- Demeter
  - Persephone (with Zeus)
- Hades
- Poseidon
- Hera
- Zeus
  - with Hera: Ares, Hephaestus, Hebe, Eileithyia
  - with Leto: Apollo and Artemis
  - with Maia: Hermes
  - with Semele: Dionysus
  - with Metis: Athena

Simplified version. For Hesiod, Athena springs from Zeus's head and Aphrodite from the sea foam; for Homer, Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.

Life on Olympus

The gods gathered in the great hall of Zeus's palace, feasting while Hebe and later Ganymede poured the nectar, Apollo played the lyre and the Muses sang. From on high they watched mortals and often meddled in their affairs, as in the Trojan War, where they took opposite sides. See also minor deities.