Discover the powerful gods and goddesses who the Ancient Greeks believed ruled the world from the top of Mount Olympus!
The Ancient Greeks were polytheists, which means they believed in and worshipped many gods, not just one. All of their gods together are called the Greek Pantheon.
The most important god, known as the king of the gods, was Zeus. The Greeks believed he lived on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece which is in the north of the country.
Zeus was the king of all the gods and the most powerful figure in Greek mythology. He ruled the sky and controlled thunder and lightning. The Ancient Greeks believed he sat on a golden throne at the very top of Mount Olympus, watching over the world below.
Below the three most powerful gods — Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades — the Greeks worshipped the Twelve Olympians. These were the principal gods of the Greek Pantheon who resided on the summit of Mount Olympus.
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Beyond the mighty Olympians, the Greeks also worshipped many other gods, spirits, and divine beings. These lesser gods played important roles in everyday life, nature, and the mythological stories the Greeks loved to tell.
Some of the most well-known lesser gods include Pan, the god of shepherds and the wild who had the legs and horns of a goat; Nike, the winged goddess of victory; and Eros, the mischievous god of love who shot arrows that could make anyone fall in love.
The Greeks also believed in nymphs — beautiful nature spirits who lived in forests, rivers, mountains, and the sea. There were also the Muses, nine goddesses who inspired art, music, poetry, and science. Even the rivers and winds had their own gods!