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The Twelve Olympians by Monsiau, circa late 18th century.

Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon (Greek: Δωδεκάθεον < 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^{[citation needed]} different gods recognized as Olympians, though never more than twelve at one time.

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, and Hestia are the traditional twelve Olympians. Heracles, Hebe, Helios, Demeter, Dionysus, and Persephone are other important gods, goddesses, and in Heracles' case, heroes, which may also be included in a group of twelve. The gods of the underworld, Persephone and Hades, are frequently included in the twelve. 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, during this time, would be in woe and not with the Olympians. And, although Hades was always one of the 12 Olympians, his home in the underworld of the dead made his connection to the Olympians more tenuous.

The Twelve Olympians gained their supremacy in the world of gods after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans; Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia were siblings; all the other of the Dodekatheon 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, and Aphrodite who was formed from the castrated phallus of the primordial sky which Cronos threw into the sea when he freed the Titans. 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, King of the Gods, Ruler of Mt. Olympus, god of the sky, thunder and justice.
• Hera, Queen of the Gods and of the Heavens, Goddess of women, marriage and motherhood.
• Poseidon, Lord of the Sea, god of the seas, horses and eathquakes.
• Hades, Lord of the Dead, god of the Underworld and wealth.
• Hestia, Goddess of hearth and home.

Second Generation

• Aphrodite, Goddess of love, beauty, desire and fertility.
• Apollo, God of the Sun, of light, healing, music, poetry, prophecy, archery and truth.
• Ares, God of war, frenzy and bloodshed.
• Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, of maidens and Moon.
• Athena, Goddess of wisdom, crafts and strategic battle.
• Hephaestus, God of fire and the forges.Blacksmith to the Gods.
• Hermes, The Messenger of the Gods, God of commerce, speed, thieves and trade.

Close to the olympians

• Bia, the personification of Violence.
• Cratus is power.
• Demeter. Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature and seasons.
• Dione, also known as the mother of Aphrodite, by Zeus.
• Dionysus, God of wine, the vine and merriment
• Eos is Dawn.
• Eros is the personification of Love.
• Ganymedes is the cupbearer of Heaven.
• Hebe, Goddess of youth, also Cupbearer of Ambrosia and Nectar
• Helios is the Sun.
• Heracles the greatest hero of the Greek myths.
• Horae are the Wardens of Olympus.
• Eilythia, the goddess of childbirth, daughter of Hera and Zeus.
• Iris is the Rainbow, the messenger of Olympus, together with Hermes.
• Leto, a Titaness, mother of Apollo and Artemis.
• Muses, the nine ladies of science and arts.
• Nemesis is the Greek goddess of Retribution.
• Nike is Victory.
• Paean is the universal Healer.
• Selene is the Moon.
• Zelos is Emulation.

Note:

• Hades, the god of the Underworld, is always confused as not being part of the 12. He has earned the right to be part of the 12 since his big contribution to the war with the Titans.
• Artemis is often associated in modern times with the moon, although Selene is almost always named as the moon goddess in Greek literature.
• Apollo is often associated in modern times with the sun, although Helios was almost always called sun god in ancient Greek poetry.

Zeus	Hera	Poseidon	Hades
Ares	Hermes	Hephaestus	Aphrodite
Athena	Apollo	Artemis	Hestia

• Ancient Greek religion
• Family tree of the Greek gods
• Greek mythology
• List of Greek mythological characters
• Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes

• List of 12 Olympians
• Summary of main gods of Pantheon
• Dodekatheon Information Page