Olympus is a mountain where the ancient Greek gods dwelt. On it are various palaces, built and decorated with Hephaestus. At the entrance there are gates that close and open the ores. The gods and goddesses of Olympus are immortal, but they are not all-powerful. They often sin and act like ordinary people.
12 of the gods of Olympus
In general, on the mountain there are many different deities, it is traditionally distinguished the following:
- Zeus is the most important god of Olympus. He was the patron of the sky, thunder and lightning. His wife was Hera, but despite this, he repeatedly cheated on her. They portrayed him as an older man with a gray beard and hair. The main attributes of Zeus was a shield and a double ax. His sacred bird was the eagle. The Greeks believed that he had the strength to predict the future.
- Hera is the most powerful goddess. They considered her to be the patroness of marriage, and she also guarded women during childbirth. They portrayed her as a beautiful woman with a peacock or a cuckoo, as these birds were her favorite. Totemism was preserved in the cult of Hera, therefore some represented it with the head of a horse.
- Apollo is the god of the sun on Olympus. He often showed independence, for which he was punished by Zeus. They portrayed him as a handsome young man. In his hands was a bow or lyre. It symbolized the fact that he was an excellent musician and shooter.
- Artemis is the goddess of hunting. It was depicted with a bow and a spear. Accompanied by nymphs, she spent most of her time in the woods. They considered Artemis to be also the goddess of fertility.
- Dionysus - the god of vegetation and winemaking. He saved people from various problems and worries. They portrayed him as a naked boy with a wreath of ivy on his head. In his hands he held a staff.
- Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmith's craft. They portrayed him as a muscular, bearded man, who was limping at the same time. In the image of Hephaestus personified fire, which breathes from the bowels of the earth. That's why they called him Vulcan.
- Ares - the god of treacherous war. His parents considered Zeus and Hera. Represented him as a young man. Attributes of Ares considered a spear and a burning torch. Next to God, there were always dogs and a kite.
- Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and love. They depicted her in long clothes, and in her hands there is a flower or some fruit. According to the myths, she was born from a sea foam. All the gods of Olympus were in love with Aphrodite, but she became the wife of Hephaestus.
- Hermes is the messenger of the gods and the guide of souls to the underworld. He was the most cunning and inventive among all the inhabitants of Olympus. They portrayed him in different ways, then as a man, then as a young guy, but with non-replaceable attributes were a hat with wings on his temples and a staff that twisted two snakes.
- Athena is the goddess of war on Olympus. She gave the Greeks an olive. They portrayed her in armor and with a spear in her hands. Athene was considered the embodiment of the wisdom and power of Zeus, who was her father.
- Poseidon is the brother of Zeus. He ruled the sea and patronized the fishermen. This ancient god Olympus had an appearance like that of Zeus. His attribute was a trident, symbolizing the connection between the present, the past and the future. When he waves it, the sea begins to rage, and when it stretches, it calms down. By sea, he moves on a chariot drawn by white horses with golden manes.
- Demeter is the goddess of prosperity and all life on earth. With her, the arrival of spring is associated. They portrayed it in different ways, for example, in some pictures and statues, she was represented as mourning for her daughter. Represented her also in the chariot. On the head of Demeter there was a "city crown". In some cases, the image of the goddess was represented by a pillar or a tree. Attributes of this goddess Olympus: ears, a basket with fruits, a sickle, a cornucopia and a poppy.