The names of the gods of Greek mythology conjure up to us visions of immortality, power, beauty, jealously, and love. Our ability to keep track of lines of descendants and what god possessed a particular characteristic can be confusing without a family tree! We don’t really mind, however, because we are mesmerized by the stories that explore their legendary existence and impact in the fates of the Greek people.

Historians believe that the worship of Zeus likely predates "the very existence of the Greeks as a distinct people." The Greek language introduced aspects of its unique mythology into its culture as early as 1900 B.C. Elements of Greek mythology developed gradually over a thousand years. The early Greeks brought the worship of Zeus, the sky god, with them when came from the north into Greece and the islands of the Aegean Sea to the east.

The body of classical mythology, the collection of stories of gods, men, and heroes, came together by several sources. The vast number of small, independent city-states in early Greece and the absence of a central organized religious worship provided the circumstances to create explanations for fate, history and existence.

Greece and Athens would develop into significant places of intellectual and artistic learning. The literature and art would be the channel by which the mythology of the gods would be recorded. Nearly 2,500 year later, the personages of the gods and other characters of mythology would remain to provide a link from the historic past of the Greeks to the present.

Who were the Greek gods and what roles did they play in the mythological chess game from Mount Olympus?

Zeus is the supreme god who reins on Mount Olympus, the home of the gods. Zeus first appears in mythology as the infant son of Cronus, "who ruled over an earlier generation of gods, the Titans." Zeus grows to an adult and confines Cronus and the other Titans to the underworld. Zeus then reigns at his home, Mount Olympus, as king of the gods. Reflecting his origins as the sky god, he utilizes thunder and lightning as his weapons.

As a god who influenced weather, Zeus was an important god for an agricultural society. Similar to other Greek gods, Zeus also had other functions including protector of the city-state, protector of individual households, and maintainer of the moral order.

Zeus is also the founder of many royal lines and begets many offspring, including well-known gods and goddesses such as Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo and Dionysus. Hera was his official consort, but Zeus shared his attentions with other goddesses and one mortal woman.

Hera was the sister of Zeus and his official consort. Hera also took the role of patroness and protectress of women and of marriage. She could be seen wearing a bridal veil of the goddess of marriage in artistic renditions of herself. As mentioned, Zeus gave his attention to other women besides Hera. As a result of Zeus’ wandering eye, Hera was understandably viewed as the jealous wife. Zeus would sire three children with Hera: Ares, God of violence; Hebe, Goddess of eternal youth; and Hephaestus, God of fire.

Meeting the gods, heroes, and demigods of Greek mythology is a fascinating study of human emotions and destiny within the context of supernatural beings. The gods embrace the characteristics of joy, love, violence, wisdom, and natural elements such as fire and the seasons. Their foibles and choices influence mythological history through their descendants, i.e., Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, and Minos, the King of Crete who would become judge of the Underword, or Heracles, renowned for his strength and exciting exploits.