Meet the Olympians

Illustrated by Verónica Letto

After the overthrow of the Titans, a fierce confrontation later baptized as 'Titanomachy', a new circle of major deities gained supremacy in the world of Gods: The Olympians. They were an aristocratic dynasty that ruled over the rulers, a patriarchal family headed by Zeus that chose Mount Olympus as their luxurious Pantheon.

Just as their defeated ancestors, these almighty beings resembled humans. They looked and acted like them, sometimes even mirroring their physical and spiritual weaknesses: gods could move faster than any human, were taller and handsomer, they could change shape, disappear and appear, or be lame at the same time. They ate and drank, but their food was ambrosia and nectar was taken for wine. Ichor flowed through their veins instead of blood, a substance lighter and clearer than the red fluid. They could steal, cheat, lie, suffer pain and torment or get wounded just like humans; they even were subject to fate. But there´s a single characteristic which most consistently distinguishes both races: gods could never die.

14 were the great Olympian deities (*) :

Zeus (Jupiter / Jove) the youngest of the Olympians, ruler of rulers. He led his siblings to victory in the Titanomachy; the most powerful of all deities. His power was bigger than all of the other gods joined together. God of the skies, thunder and justice. The thunderbolt was his fearful weapon.

Hera (Juno) Zeus' jealous sister and wife. Queen of the Gods and of the heavens; goddess of women, marriage, and motherhood.

Poseidon (Neptune) god of the waters. With a simple movement of his trident, he could make the Earth shake, and command the seas to cover the lands.

Hades (Pluto) god of the underworld, fearsome figure to those still living. He ruled over the dead who had done either right or wrong while alive: the former group would rest for eternity in the Elysian Fields while the latter would be confined to dark Tartarus.

Hestia (Vesta) goddess of the hearth and home, of the right ordering of domesticity and the family.

Hephaestus (Vulcan) blacksmith of gods and heroes; lord of technology, fire and forges. Made the shield of Achilles, and Helio´s chariot. Got lame when Zeus threw him on to the air, as a consequence of trying to defend his mother (Hera) from Zeus' rage.

Ares (Mars) god of war, frenzy, hatred, and bloodshed; instigator of fights and confrontations.

Apollo god of the hunt, prophecy and of the arts; twin-brother of Artemis.

Artemis (Diana) goddess of the hunt and maidens; the woman´s version of Apollo.

Demeter (Ceres) goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons.

Aphrodite (Venus) goddess of love, desire and fertility. Because of her beauty, other gods would interrupt the peace between them and lead to war. Wife of Hephaestus.

Athena (Minerva) goddess of wisdom, crafts, and strategic battle. Strong and powerful deity who sprang from Zeus' head.

Hermes (Mercury) messenger of the gods, specially confined to the service of Zeus. God of commerce, speed, thieves, and trade.

Dionysus (Bacchus) god of parties and wine, inspirator of ecstasy.

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings (sons and daughters of Cronus and Rhea). Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, Artemis and Dionysus were children of Zeus with different consorts. Aphrodite was father and mother-less, for she was born from the genitals of Uranus.

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(*) Note: depending on the author - Herodotus, Pindar, Apollodorus or Plato - the Olympians could be 12 or 14; usually Hades and Hestia were left aside. The first due to his realm was under the Earth, and the latter for the relatively little importance she had in ceremonies and myths.