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'Twelve Olympians', also known as the Dodekatheon (Greek: 'Δωδεκάθεον' < δωδεκα, dodeka, "twelve" + θεον, theon, "of the gods"), in Greek religion, were the principal gods of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus. There were, at various times, seventeen different gods recognized as Olympians, though never more than twelve at one time.
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Demeter, and Hestia are the 12 Olympians. Heracles, Hebe, Helios, Hades, Dionysus, and Persephone are some other important gods, goddesses, and in Heracles' case, heroes. Persephone spent three months of the year in the underworld (causing the barren landscape of winter), and was allowed to return to Mount Olympus for the other nine months in order to be with her mother, Demeter who, during this time, would be in woe and not with the Olympians. And, although Hades was always one of the principal Greek gods, his home in the underworld of the dead made his connection to the Olympians more tenuous.
The Twelve Olympians gained their supremacy in the world of gods after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans; Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings; all the other of the Dodekatheon are usually considered the children of Zeus by various mothers, except for Athena, who in some versions of the myth was born of Zeus alone, and Aphrodite who was formed from the castrated phallus of the primordial sky which Cronos threw into the sea when he freed the Titans. Additionally, some versions of the myth state that Hephaestus was born of Hera alone as Hera's revenge for Zeus' solo birth of Athena.
;First Generation (Cronides):

★ Demeter, Goddess of Fertility.

★ Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth

★ Hera, Queen of Heaven.

★ Hades or Pluto, The king of the underworld he shares his name with.

★ Poseidon, God of the Waters.

★ Zeus, Ruler of Heaven.
;Second Generation:

★ Aphrodite, the goddess of tender passions.

★ Apollo, the god of prophecy and music. Leader of the Muses.

★ Ares, god of war.

★ Artemis, goddess of hunters and protectress of the wilderness, also the goddess of virginity and the protectress of maidens

★ Athena, Goddess of warriors, industries and prudent intelligence.

★ Dionysus, the god of the cultivation of the vine.

★ Hebe, cupbearer of Olympus; and the goddess of Youth.

★ Hephaestus, the smith of Olympus.

★ Hermes, the messenger of Heaven; god of the thieves and cunning.

★ Persephone, goddess of Springs and death.
;Close to the olympians:

★ Bia, the personification of Violence.

★ Cratus is power.

★ Dione, also known as the mother of Aphrodite, by Zeus.

★ Eos is Dawn.

★ Eros is the personification of Love.

★ Ganymedes is the cupbearer of Heaven.

★ Helios is the Sun.

★ Heracles the greatest hero of the Greek myths.

★ Horae are the Wardens of Olympus.

★ Eilythia, the goddess of childbirth, daughter of Hera and Zeus.

★ Iris is the Rainbow, the messenger of Olympus, together with Hermes.

★ Leto, a Titaness, mother of Apollo and Artemis.

★ Muses, the nine ladies of science and arts.

★ Nemesis is the Greek goddess of Retribution.

★ Nike is Victory.

★ Paeeon is the universal Healer.

★ Selene is the Moon.

★ Zelos is Emulation.
Note:

★ Artemis is often associated in modern times with the moon, although Selene is almost always named as the moon goddess in Greek literature.

★ Apollo is often associated in modern times with the sun, although Helios was almost always called sun god in ancient Greek poetry.

Contents

Photo gallery

See also

External links

Photo gallery

See also

★ Ancient Greek religion

★ Family tree of the Greek gods

★ Greek mythology

★ List of Greek mythological characters

★ Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes

External links

★ Summary of main gods of Pantheon

★ Dodekatheon Information Page

★ Loyola University Chicago - listing the 17 Gods & Godesses