Twelve Olympians

The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon (Greek: δωδεκα, dodeka, "twelve" + θεον, theon, "of the gods"), in Greek religion, were the principal gods of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus. There were, at various times, seventeen different gods recognized as Olympians, though never more than twelve at one time.

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis are always considered Olympians. Hebe, Helios, Hestia, Demeter, Dionysus, Hades, and Persephone are the variable gods among the Twelve. Hestia gave up her position as an Olympian to Dionysus in order to live among humankind (eventually she was assigned the role of tending the fire on Mount Olympus); while he sometimes would not accept the offer of being an Olympian god. Persephone spent three months of the year in the underworld (causing the barren landscape of winter), and was allowed to return to Mount Olympus for the other nine months in order to be with her mother, Demeter; who, during this time, would be in woe and not be with the Olympians. And, although Hades was always one of the principal Greek gods, his home in the underworld of the dead made his connection to the Olympians more tenuous. In some accounts, Helios gave up his seat for Apollo. In even rarer, but definite accounts, Hebe, the gods' cupbearer is an Olympian herself, but gave up her job as cupbearer to marry Heracles who became an Olympian upon his death.

The Olympians gained their supremacy in the world of gods after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans; Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings; all other Olympians are usually considered the children of Zeus by various mothers, except for Athena, who in some versions of the myth was born of Zeus alone. Additionally, some versions of the myth state that Hephaestus was born of Hera alone as Hera's revenge for Zeus' solo birth of Athena.

Zeus is the highest ranking and most powerful god, the ruler of Mount Olympus, god of weather.
Poseidon, together with Hades is one of the two next most senior gods, god of the oceans.
Athena is the goddess of wisdom, the arts, inner beauty, education and war.
Ares is the god of war and slaughter.
Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, animals, fertility and chastity.
Hephaestus is the god of fire, workmanship, artisans and weaponry.
Apollo is the god of light, dance, music, healing and medicine, archery and reason. Apollo's relationships are always flawed.
Hermes is the god of guidance, travelers, shepherds, consolation and reunions, and messenger of the Gods.
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, sexuality, outer beauty and attraction.
Hera is the consort of Zeus, and the goddess of marriage, sacrifices and fidelity.
Hestia is the goddess of the home, family and the hearth.
Demeter is the goddess of the earth, flowers and plants, food, preservation of marriage and agriculture.

Underworld:

Hades is the second of the next most senior gods, god of death and the Underworld.
Persephone is the goddess of the Underworld, death, the harvest, and flow
Heracles is the protector of gods and mortals and god of Heroes.
Helios is the god of the sun, brother of the moon, Selene, and the dawn Eos.
Dionysus is the youngest god of the pantheon, and is the god of theater, intoxication, wine and sexuality.
Hebe is the goddess of youth and servants.

Note:

Artemis is often associated in modern times with the moon, though Selene was originally the moon goddess. The assimilation of Selene as a part of Artemis took place during the 5th century BC.
Apollo is often associated in modern times with the sun, though Helios was originally the sun god. The assimilation of Helios as a part of Apollo took place during the 5th century BC.

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See also