A guide to the gods in Greek mythology
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The Greek gods are fascinating — and even after thousands of years they have the unique ability to capture our imagination.
What’s their appeal?

First, let’s think of the Greek gods as divided into two major groups — pre-Olympic and Olympic gods. Some of the major pre-Olympic gods were Chaos, Eros, Gaia, Uranus, Kronos and Rheia. (Kronos and Rheia were part of the Titans, who in turn were Gaia’s children.)

There were dozens of other pre-Olympic gods and divinities, including Nyx, Selene, Eos, Helios and Nereus. From the union of Kronos and Rheia, Zeus was born. He would go on to lead the Olympic gods.

It is these tales of the Olympic gods that hold widespread appeal. Instead of talking about their individual qualities and powers, though, it might be easier to explain what these Greek gods weren’t.

They weren’t surly or particularly ill-tempered. None were hectoring. None issued lists of commands for mortals to obey. None warned mortals they would go to some gloomy place like Hell if they misbehaved. None were unhappy or heavy-hearted. And none were obsessed with issues like sin, wrongdoing or even immortality. However, they drew the line for mortals at killing one’s parents or siblings.

Zeus and Other Divinities

The Olympic gods invariably pursued endless pleasures or — in complete contradiction — high-minded ideals like justice, wisdom and truth. They were philanderers (Zeus) or virgin goddesses (Artemis, Athene and Hestia). They reveled in war (Ares and Athene) and celebrated wine and dance (Dionysos). They pursued love (Aphrodite). And they gifted mortals with knowledge, theater and amazing tools.

As divinities they maintained the balance of Nature (Gaia). As all-powerful beings, they lorded over all the dominions of the world. Zeus ruled the skies and land. Poseidon controlled the oceans, seas and rivers. And their brother, Hades, governed the underworld.

Note that the Greeks themselves did not look at the gods as role models. Rather, they worshiped them in hopes of currying favor and preventing disaster.

Artemis

The Olympic gods got their name from their domicile. They lived on Mt. Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. All were related by blood to Zeus as either brothers, sisters, daughters or sons.

In an interesting (and sometimes confusing) twist, the Romans, who conquered Greece in the 2nd century BC, renamed many of the Olympic gods. The Roman names are noted in a separate list at the bottom of this section.

Below is a list of pre-Olympic and Olympic gods. Remember that this list includes only the most well-known. There were dozens of other gods, demi-gods and so-called minor gods. In addition, there were multiple heroes (such as Herakles) who were made immortal, as well as mortal women who became immortal due to luck, love or grand circumstance.

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Pre-Olympic Gods
Chaos In the beginning of all time was the Void, which was aptly named Chaos. From Chaos arose Gaia, Tartarus and Eros.
Eros The divinity of sexual love. Before Eros there was no procreation between male and female. Aphrodite later claimed him as her son.
Fates Three divine sisters who controlled the life span of mortals and gods alike, and were arguably the most powerful of the Greek gods. Also known as the Moirae.
Gaia After Chaos came Gaia (also called Ge). From herself she created Earth and Uranus.
Great Goddess A goddess pre-dating the Olympic gods, also called the Great One, Inanna, Ishtar, Cybele, Lemnos and numerous other names.
Kronos A Titan and the father of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera and Hestia.
Nyx The goddess of night who arose from Chaos; a dark primordial being.
Rheia A Titan and the sister and wife of Kronos.
Tartarus Also known as Tartaros, a being who initially ruled the underworld below the earth, before being usurped by Hades.
Uranus Also called Ouranos, Uranus was the personification of the Sky and was created by Gaia. From his later union with Gaia came the Titans. He was murdered by his son, Kronos.

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Zeus

Olympic Gods
Aphrodite The goddess of erotic love, beauty and sensuality who was married to Hephaistos. She was either the daughter of Zeus and Dione, or sprang from the severed parts of Uranus.
Apollo The god of music and arts, prophesy and medicine, an archer and Artemis’s brother.
Ares Son of Zeus and Hera; the god of war who reveled in bloodlust and celebrated fear on battlefields.
Artemis The virgin goddess of wild animals, protectress of girls, an archer and Apollo’s sister.
Athene Also known as Athena, a virgin goddess celebrated for her cunning, wisdom and intelligence; the co-founder, along with Poseidon, of Athens; a daughter of Zeus.
Demeter Zeus’s sister and goddess of corn, grains and food. Through her union with Zeus she bore a daughter named Persephone, who in time came to represent spring.
Dionysos He was the inventor of wine and theater, and was famous for his revels held at night for women.
Hades Zeus’s brother and ruler of the underworld; husband to Persephone.
Hekate The daughter of Titans, and a goddess who slipped easily between the worlds of the living and dead. She protected crossroads and was accompanied by hellhounds.
Hephaistos A god and master craftsman, briefly married to Aphrodite.
Hera Zeus’s sister and seventh wife, infamous of being constantly jealous of his endless affairs.
Hermes A divine messenger, a trickster and guide who accompanied the dead as they crossed the river Styx into the underworld.
Hestia Goddess of the hearth, and sister of Poseidon and Zeus. Like Artemis and Athene, she was a virgin goddess.
Poseidon Zeus’s brother and god of the sea and rivers.
Zeus The most powerful of the Olympic gods, father of Apollo, Artemis, Athene, Hermes and possibly Aphrodite (see Aphrodite above). He rose to power after killing his father, Kronos.

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Minor Greek Gods

Charon A divine boatman who, with Hermes, ferried the dead to the underworld.
Eos The goddess of dawn who heralded the arrival of Helios.
Erinyes Three sisters, also known as the Furies, who sought vengeance against mortals who killed their mother or father.
Helios A Titan, the sun-god who rose at dawn and set at night.
Pan A god of pastures and woods, a goat-footed shepherd who played a pan-pipe.
Selene A Titan, the moon-goddess.
Tyche Goddess of chance and good fortune.

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Roman Names for Olympic and Minor Greek Gods
Greek — Roman
Aphrodite — Venus
Apollo — Apollo
Ares — Mars
Artemis — Diana
Demeter — Ceres
Eros — Cupid
Hades — Pluto
Hephaistos — Vulcan
Hera — Juno
Hermes — Mercury
Hestia — Vesta
Poseidon — Neptune
Tyche — Fortuna
Zeus — Jupiter