Pantheon of Central Gods of Ancient Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, Greek gods frequently interact with humans, especially attractive young women, and so you will find them in genealogy charts for the important figures from Greek legend.

These are the main Greek gods you will find in Greek mythology:

Apollo
Ares
Dionysus
Hades
Hephaestus
Hermes
Poseidon
Zeus

Also see the Greek Gods' counterparts, the Greek Goddesses.

Below you will find more information about each of these Greek gods with hyperlinks to their more complete profiles.

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Apollo - Greek God of Prophecy, Music, Healing, and Later, the Sun

Maciej Szczepanczyk's Solar Apollo with the radiant halo of Helios. — Maciej Szczepanczyk Solar Apollo with the radiant halo of the Greek God of the Sun, Helios in a Roman floor mosaic, El Djem, Tunisia, late 2nd century. CC Maciej Szczepanczyk

Apollo is a many-talented Greek god of prophecy, music, intellectual pursuits, healing, plague, and sometimes, the sun. Writers often contrast the cerebral, beardless young Apollo with his half-brother, the hedonistic Dionysus, god of wine.

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Ares - Greek God of War

Ares - God of War in Greek Mythology — Ares - Greek God of War in Greek Mythology. Marie-Lan Nguyen/Wikimedia Commons.

Ares is a war and violence god in Greek mythology. He was not well liked or trusted by the Greeks and there are few tales about him.

While most of the Greek gods and goddesses are closely related to their Roman counterparts, the Romans revered their version of Ares, Mars.

Ares Profile
More on Ares
Homeric Hymn to Ares

The Twelve Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology

By deTraci Regula

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Dionysus - Greek God of Wine

Dionysus is the Greek god of wine and drunken revelry in Greek mythology. He is a patron of the theater and an agricultural/fertility god. He was sometimes at the heart of frenzied madness that led to savage murder.

Dionysus Profile
More on Dionysus
Homeric Hymn to Dionysus

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Hades - Greek God of the Underworld

Fragment of Terracotta Relief Depicting Hades abducting Persephone — Fragment of terracotta relief depicting the Greek god Hades abducting Persephone South Italian (from Locri); Greek, 470-460 B.C. New York; Metropolitan Museum. Credits: Paula Chabot, 2000From VROMA http://www.vroma.org/. Credits: Paula Chabot, 2000From VROMA http://www.vroma.org/

Although Hades is one of the Greek gods of Mt. Olympus, he lives in the Underworld with his wife, Persephone, and rules the dead. Hades is not the god of death, however. Hades is feared and hated.

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Hephaestus - Greek God of Blacksmiths

An image of the god Vulcan or Hephaestus from Keightley's Mythology, 1852. Keightley's Mythology, 1852.

Hephaestus is a Greek god of volcanoes, a craftsman, and blacksmith. He lusted after Athena, another craftsperson, and in some versions is the husband of Aphrodite.

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Hermes - Greek Messenger God

An image of the god Mercury or Hermes, from Keightley's Mythology, 1852. — An image of the Greek god Mercury or Hermes, from Keightley's Mythology, 1852. Keightley's Mythology, 1852.

Hermes is familiar as the messenger god in Greek mythology. In a related capacity, he brought the dead to the Underworld in his role of "Psychopompos". Zeus made his thieving son Hermes god of commerce. Hermes invented various devices, especially musical ones, and possibly fire.

Hermes Profile
More on Hermes
Homeric Hymn to Hermes

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Poseidon - Greek God of the Sea

An image of the god Neptune or Poseidon from Keightley's Mythology, 1852. — An image of the Greek god Neptune or Poseidon from Keightley's Mythology, 1852. Keightley's Mythology, 1852.

Poseidon is one of the three brother gods in Greek mythology who divided the world among themselves. Poseidon's lot was the sea. As sea god, Poseidon is usually seen with a trident. He is the god of water, horses, and earthquakes and was considered responsible for shipwrecks and drownings.

Poseidon Profile
More on Poseidon
Homeric Hymn to Poseidon

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Zeus - King of the Greek Gods

An image of the god Jupiter or Zeus from Keightley's Mythology, 1852. — An image of the Greek god Zeus (or Jupiter) from Keightley's Mythology, 1852. Keightley's Mythology, 1852.

Zeus is the father of Greek gods and men. A sky god, he controls lightning, which he uses as a weapon, and thunder. Zeus is king on Mount Olympus, the home of the Greek gods.