In ancient Greece, many people believed in the gods. The ancient Greeks had many gods.
The most important and powerful of the gods were called the Twelve Olympians. The ancient Greeks believed that these gods lived on Mount Olympus.
Each of the Twelve Olympians was a powerful god. They all had their own stories and their own powers.
Zeus was the king of the gods. He was the ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky, weather, thunder, lightning, and justice. Zeus was the husband of Hera.
Hera was the queen of the gods. She was the god of marriage, women, children and empires.
Poseidon was called the God of the Sea, or the Earth-Shaker. He was the god of the sea, earthquakes and waves. He was also Zeus's brother.
Demeter was the god of nature and the seasons. She helped their harvest and farms every day. If Demeter was unhappy, the land would be, too.
Athena was the god of wisdom, defense and war. The capital city of Greece, Athens, is named after her.
Apollo was the god of knowledge, music and art. You can see Apollo carrying a lyre. Apollo's twin sister was Artemis.
Artemis was the god of hunting and animals. She carried a bow and arrow. She often had many animals by her side.
Ares was the god of war. He was the son of Zeus and Hera and many of the other gods disliked him. The one god who loved him was Aphrodite.
Aphrodite was the god of beauty and love. She had many symbols, like the dove, the swan and the rose.
Hephaestus was a master blacksmith. He was the god of fire and metalworking. Hephaestus was famous for making special tools and weapons.
Hestia was the last of the twelve. She was the god of family. She was the most generous and gentle of all the gods. She later gave up her place. Dionysus took her place to keep the peace.
Dionysus was the youngest of all the gods. He was the god of wine and celebration. Dionysus caused trouble and mischief just to have fun.
Hermes was the messenger of the gods. He carried messages between gods and mortals. He always wore sandals with wings on the side.
The ancient Greeks told many stories about the Twelve Olympians. The Twelve Olympians were not always good. They did many things that were selfish. Why do you think they believed in so many gods?