Greek Gods and Goddesses: The Complete Guide to Greek Mythology
Meet all the Greek gods, goddesses, Titans and heroes of Greek mythology, from Zeus and the 12 Olympians to the primordial forces that came before them. Each profile covers who they were, their family, their most famous myths and where you can still see their temples in Greece today. Browse by category or pick a name to start exploring.
Browse Greek Gods
Who Were the Greek Gods?
The ancient Greeks believed their world was shaped and ruled by a large family of gods, goddesses and heroes, each with their own powers, personalities and stories. It began with the Primordial gods, such as Chaos, Gaia and Uranus, who were the forces of nature that existed before anything else. Gaia and Uranus gave birth to the Titans, a powerful generation led by Cronus, who ruled the cosmos in a golden age.
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Cronus was eventually overthrown by his own children in a ten-year war known as the Titanomachy. Zeus and his siblings won, and they took their place on Mount Olympus as the Olympian gods. Zeus ruled the sky, Poseidon the sea and Hades the underworld, while gods like Athena, Apollo and Aphrodite each watched over their own part of human life.
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Around them lived hundreds of minor gods, including nymphs, the Muses, river gods and personifications of ideas like victory, sleep and fate. Then came the heroes, mortals and demigods such as Heracles, Perseus and Achilles, whose great deeds made them legends.
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These stories were more than myths to the ancient Greeks. They built temples, held festivals and founded the Olympic Games in honor of their gods, and many of those sites still stand today, from the Parthenon in Athens to the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. Use the guide above to explore every figure, learn their family ties and find out where you can still walk in their footsteps in Greece.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Greek Gods
How many Greek gods were there?
The ancient Greeks worshipped hundreds of gods, goddesses and divine beings, from the great Olympians to local nymphs and river gods. This guide covers 192 of the most important figures, including the Olympians, Titans, Primordial gods, minor gods and heroes.
Who were the 12 Olympian gods?
The 12 Olympians were Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus, depending on the source. Hades was a brother of Zeus but is usually left out of the 12 because he lived in the underworld, not on Mount Olympus.
Who was the most powerful Greek god?
Zeus was the king of the gods and the most powerful of the Olympians. He ruled the sky, controlled thunder and lightning, and kept order among both gods and mortals.
What is the difference between the Titans and the Olympians?
The Titans were the older generation of gods, children of Gaia and Uranus, led by Cronus. The Olympians were their children, led by Zeus, who defeated the Titans in the Titanomachy and took over as rulers of the cosmos.
Are the Greek gods and Roman gods the same?
Mostly, yes. The Romans adopted many Greek gods and gave them new names, so Zeus became Jupiter, Hera became Juno, Poseidon became Neptune and Aphrodite became Venus. Their myths are largely the same, though the Romans sometimes gave them different roles.
Where can you see temples to the Greek gods in Greece today?
Many ancient temples still stand across Greece. Some of the most famous are the Parthenon in Athens, built for Athena, the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Temple of Zeus at Olympia and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. Each god's profile in this guide lists where you can see their temples today.
