When we refer to the gods of Olympus, we are talking about nothing more and nothing less than the most important and powerful gods in mythology, specifically the deities that had been created by the beliefs of the Greeks and Romans. The name or nickname of “Olympic”, is due to the fact that it was Mount Olympus where these gods used to meet, a mountain considered to be the highest in Greece. But,What are the 12 Olympian gods? Are you curious to know everything about them? Well keep reading.
the goddess athena
Athena or Minerva If we talk about the Romans. She was one of the most beloved goddesses and considered the wisest of all in the pantheon. Minerva or Athena was worshiped as the goddess of just war, strategy and knowledge. Not in vain, Athena represented mathematics, courage and bravery, artistic skills, inspiration, justice and law.
According to legend, Athena is born as an adult woman and with her peculiar armor clothing, from the forehead of the god Zeus. If we go beyond her, it is also said that Athena had her mother, since Zeus had relations with the wise goddess Metis, but he devoured her precisely to prevent her from becoming pregnant with her. However, paradoxes of fate, some time later it was he himself who gave birth to the girl, through her forehead!
The goddess Artemis
Also named Artemiseither Diana for the Romans. Another of the most beloved and revered goddesses, because she was considered the protector of children, of pregnancies and was the goddess of hunting, although, contradictory as it may seem, she was also the goddess of wild animals, hills and forests. .
Many women and families entrusted themselves to her, since Artemis granted requests related to the fertility and protected births. The daughter of Zeus (yes, Artemis was too), and sister of Apollo, was also considered the goddess of virginity.
She is conceived as a goddess with a temperament, capable of punishing with her arrow and her bow those who tried to offend her. She rejected love, despite her great success among men, living exclusively for hunting. She is a virgin goddess whose heart they finally manage to steal. Orion does, but she accidentally kills him with her arrow.
The goddess Hestia
For the Romans, among whom it was especially, it was called “Vestia”. We are before the home goddess, the domestic and the family. But also of the architecture, the state and the sacred fire. In fact, she belonged to the set of the priestesses of the Vestal Virgins whose mission was to worship him to guarantee the sacred flame of the city of Rome. Hence, we see as an object of worship where Hestia is venerated, a burning flame. It also blesses newcomers to the family in case of birth and adoption.
Daughter of Cronus and Rhea, she rejected the love attempts of Poseidon and Apollo. And it is that she made her father Zeus the promise to remain a virgin.
the goddess aphrodite
Aphrodite or Venus if we go to Roman history. She stands out for her beauty, so she is the goddess of beauty, sexuality and love. They say that she was born from the waters, after her brother, Cronos, threw her father’s testicles, Uranus, into the sea.
She was forced by her father to marry the god Hephaestus, a physically unattractive deity, with the aim of counteracting Aphrodite’s beauty and appeasing the jealousy of the many suitors of the goddess who could, according to her father’s fears, cause a war. Aphrodite never loved Hephaestus and their union was unhappy. She was unfaithful to him, among others with the god of war Ares (or Mars). And yes, she ended up creating conflicts, such as the famous Trojan War.
the goddess Hera
The goddess Juno If we talk about the Romans, she was the queen of the other gods of Olympus and was married to her brother Zeus. Despite being the goddess of marriage and births, she is known more for her negative aspects, since she focused her life on carrying out her revenge against the lovers and illegitimate children of her husband. she. Mainly against Heracles.
the goddess demeter
The Romans knew her as “Ceres”. She is in charge of controlling the cycle of life and death and of watching over the sacred law. The goddess Demeter or Demetra he was the deity of arable land and crops. She was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea, as well as the sister of Zeus.
Its most characteristic image is that of a goddess represented with a crown of corn. She because she is credited with having taught man the cultivation of corn, in addition to art.
the god zeus
We have been talking about him as the father of many of the Olympic goddesses, but what about Zeus? We are before the god of thunder and sky. The king of all other gods and ruler of Olympus, he is depicted with the thunderbolt, eagle, scepter, and oak tree. He was married to Hera.
the god poseidon
To the god poseidon he is represented with the horse and the trident, although also sometimes with a dolphin or a bull. He is the god of horses, seas, and earthquakes. As for the relationship, his brothers are Hades and Zeus.
The god Ares
Ares the god of violence and war. His parents are Zeus and Hera. For the Romans we are before the god Mars. And he is recognized because he carries a boar, a dog, a vulture, a snake, a shield and a spear.
The god Hermes
He is one of the softest gods on Olympus. He is in charge of rhetoric and commerce. Hermes is the messenger of the gods and his image is lighter than in the previous cases, because he only wears sandals, a caduceus and a winged helmet.
The god Hephaestus
Hephaestus is a Roman and Greek god worker, since he is considered the craftsman and blacksmith of the gods. God of the forge and fire, he is represented with the forge, fire, anvil, axe, hammer, tongs and in the company of a donkey.
the god apollo
Apollo is the Olympian god of light and the sun. But so is music, poetry and knowledge in general. Even from the prophecy. Those who practice archery entrust themselves to him. For this reason, he is represented with a bow and arrow, but also with other elements such as: the sun and the lyre; or animals such as the crow, the mouse and the swan.
We invite you to continue learning more about the Greek and Roman goddesses, by reading this other post: