The Greek gods were deities worshipped in Ancient Greece, a civilization that existed between the 20th and 2nd centuries BC. These deities populated myths, fantastic stories that explained everything from the creation of the world to the birth of life and human beings.

The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology were powerful beings. However, they also had many typically human feelings and passions, such as envy, jealousy, vanity, desire and anger.

According to myths, these deities had control over a certain aspect of life or nature and represented characteristics of human existence, such as strength, justice and wisdom.

Gods and goddesses of Greek mythology.

Name of the god/goddess	Who is it
Zeus	Lord of the gods, supreme chief, god of celestial phenomena and justice.
Ivy	Goddess of light, childbirth and fertility. She is the protector of women.
Poseidon	God of the seas and rivers and lord of storms.
Artemis	Goddess of hunting, wildlife and nature. She is associated with the Moon.
Apollo	God of the Sun, divination, arts and beauty.
Aphrodite	Goddess of beauty, love and sexuality.
Ares	Greek god of war, aggression and strength.
Hephaestus	God of fire (from the depths of the Earth), crafts and metallurgy.
Athena	Goddess of wisdom and civilization.
Dionysus	God of wine and theater.
Demeter	Goddess of agriculture and fertility. She is the protector of crops.
Hermes	God of commerce, language and wealth. He is the patron saint of travelers.
Hades	God of the underworld, where the souls of the dead go. He is the Pluto of Roman mythology.
Hestia	Goddess of home and hospitality. She is the protector of the family. For the Romans, she was Vesta.
Cronos	God of time, king of the Titans, first generation of Greek gods.
Gaia	Earth Goddess (Mother Earth), responsible for the origin of all things.
Eros	God of love, desire and passion.
Morpheus	God of dreams. Has the ability to appear in people’s dreams.
Asclepius	God of medicine. Has the gift of prophecy.
Themis	Goddess of justice. She was the goddess of justice among the Romans.
Kratos	Titan who personifies power and strength.
Hebe	Goddess of youth. She served ambrosia to the gods of Olympus.
Circe	Goddess of sorcery, witchcraft and enchantments.
Thanatos	God of death, has the function of taking humans to the underworld.
Bread	God of the woods and fields, he is the patron saint of shepherds.
Phobos	God of fear and panic.
Uranus	Primordial entity, he is the god of Heaven. He is the husband of Gaia.
Point	Primordial god of the seas, he is the father of marine entities.
Chaos	The first of the gods, he is the personification of the original void.
Aeolus	God of the winds, king of the island of Aeolia.
Eos	Goddess of the dawn.
Bia	Titaness who is the personification of strength.
Persephone	Goddess of agriculture and ruler of the underworld, alongside her husband Hades.
Nemesis	Goddess of retribution, balance and revenge.
Anteros	Younger brother of Eros, he is the god who avenges unrequited love.
Helium	God of the Sun, drives his golden chariot from east to west daily.
Ether	Primordial entity, it is the personification of the superior air, breathed in the world of the gods.
Amphitrite	Goddess of the seas and aquatic life. She is the wife of Poseidon.
Anemoi	Sons of Aeolus, they are four gods of the winds (North, South, East and West).
We give	Son of Aphrodite and Ares, he is the god of terror.
Enio	Goddess of war and destruction. She is the sister of Ares.
Hours	Daughters of Zeus and Themis, they are the goddesses of the seasons.
Nice	Goddess of victory, symbolizes success in all areas of life.
Momo	Divinity of sarcasm, satire and mockery.
Nix	Daughter of Chaos, she is the very personification of the night.
Hecate	Goddess of magic, witchcraft and crossroads.
Iris	Goddess of the rainbow and divine messenger, a role later assumed by Hermes.
Harmony	Goddess of understanding, conciliation and, as her name says, harmony.
Geras	Son of Nyx (Night) and Erebus (Darkness), he is the god of old age.
Hypnos	God of sleep. He is the brother of Thanatos (Death) and father of Morpheus (Dream).
Eris	Goddess of discord, famous for provoking the Trojan War.
Eileitia	Daughter of Zeus and Hera, she is the goddess of childbirth.
Erebus	Primordial deity born of Chaos. He is the personification of darkness.
Zelus	Brother of Bia, Kratos and Nice, he is the god of rivalry.
Hemera	Daughter of Nyx (Night) and Erebus (Darkness), she is the goddess of day and light.
Moors	God of destiny. In Roman mythology, he is Fatum.
Filotes	Primordial deity that represents friendship and affection.
Oizus	Daughter of Nyx (Night) and Erebus (Darkness), she is the goddess of misery and suffering.
Areas	Children of Gaia (Earth), they are the gods of the mountains.

The 12 gods of Olympus

The Olympian gods were the most important of the Greek pantheon. They lived in a palace located on top of the highest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus. From there, they ruled the world, meting out punishments and interfering in daily life.

Zeus

Zeus, son of Cronus and Rhea, rose to power after leading the rebellion of the Olympian gods against the Titans (titanomachy). He was considered the most powerful among the gods, the lord of the sky and thunder, holder of supreme authority and responsible for maintaining cosmic order.

The god is often portrayed as a just leader, although his character is complex, mainly due to his love affairs. As king of the gods, he rules Olympus and is the father of many gods and heroes. His symbol is the thunderbolt, and he is known for his position as judge of gods and men.

Ivy

Hera, wife and sister of Zeus, was the goddess of marriage, women, and childbirth. Despite her high position, she was often tormented by Zeus’s infidelities, which made her jealous and vengeful.

Goddess equivalent to Juno in Roman mythology, her wrath could be terrible, but Hera was also a protector of women and the home, defending marital fidelity and the family.

Poseidon

Brother of Zeus, Poseidon ruled the seas and earthquakes. His temperament is as unpredictable as the waters he governs, sometimes generous and other times destructive, which brought him into frequent conflict with other gods and mortals.

The god of the sea is often depicted carrying a trident, a symbol of his power over the oceans.

Aphrodite

Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality, Aphrodite is one of the most popular deities in the Greek pantheon. Worshipped as the most beautiful goddess of Olympus, she had an unusual birth.

According to Greek mythology, it emerged from the foam of the sea after Cronus, Zeus’ father, threw Uranus’ severed testicles into the sea. Its beauty was so radiant that when it touched the land, flowers bloomed and wild animals calmed down.

Apollo

Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto, was the god of the sun, music, prophecy, and poetry. He was known for his beauty, musical talent, and skill as an archer.

The sun god was the deity worshipped at the Oracle of Delphi, one of the most important religious centers in Ancient Greece, sought out by kings and leaders in search of divine guidance.

Athena

Goddess of wisdom, strategy and just war, Athena is one of the most respected deities in the Greek pantheon. According to her origin myth, she was born fully armed from the head of Zeus.

She is often associated with the city of Athens, which bears her name. The goddess of wisdom is the protector of cities and the arts, and her symbol is the owl.

Ares

Ares, son of Zeus and Hera, was the god of war, violence, and carnage. Unlike his sister Athena, who personified just and strategic warfare, he was ruthless and bloodthirsty, enjoying battle and bloodshed.

The god was often portrayed as a fierce warrior, driven by fury and a thirst for conquest. His presence in battles was chaotic and merciless, bringing terror and destruction to mortals.

Artemis

Twin sister of Apollo, Artemis is the goddess of hunting and wild nature. She was often portrayed as an agile huntress, accompanied by her nymphs and her faithful deer. Protector of young women and wild animals, her symbol is the bow and arrow.

Independent and fierce goddess, she embodies feminine strength, freedom and connection with the natural world.

Dionysus

Son of Zeus and the mortal Semele, Dionysus is the god of wine, parties, drunkenness, insanity, theater, and religious rituals. He is often portrayed as a jovial, festive god associated with sensual pleasure.

Dionysus is a symbol of joy and ecstasy. However, the god of wine also has a dark side: he is a figure of dualities, representing not only hedonistic celebration but also madness and destruction.

Hermes

Messenger of the gods, Hermes is known for his speed and cunning. He is the protector of travelers, thieves and merchants, as well as the guide of souls to the underworld.

The god is often depicted with his winged sandals and the caduceus, his staff entwined with two serpents.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus, son of Zeus and Hera (in some versions), is the god of fire and metallurgy. He was known for his skill in the forge, building weapons, armor and other magical objects for the gods and heroes.

Despite being lame, thanks to a childhood accident, he is respected for his creativity and hard work. Hephaestus is Aphrodite’s husband and a symbol of overcoming, showing that even gods have their weaknesses.

Demeter

Demeter, sister of Zeus, is the goddess of agriculture, harvests and fertility. She was responsible for the cycle of the seasons, ensuring the abundance of the earth and the survival of humanity.

An exemplary maternal figure, the goddess was dedicated to protecting plant life and those who depended on it. Her wrath could be devastating, as when she cast a curse upon the earth after Hades kidnapped her daughter Persephone.