Humanities › History & Culture Learn Fast Facts About the Olympian Gods List of the Top Greek Gods and Goddesses Share Flipboard Email Print History & Culture Ancient History and Culture Mythology & Religion Figures & Events Ancient Languages Greece Egypt Asia Rome American History African American History African History Asian History European History Genealogy Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More by N.S. Gill N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. Updated November 05, 2019 The Olympians were the inter-related top gods and goddesses of Greek mythology—the powerful, philandering king and his justly jealous sister-wife-queen, their kids and siblings. Aphrodite Philippe Lissac /GODONG / Getty Images Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty. The greatest beauty among the immortals was married to the lame blacksmith god, Hephaestus. Aphrodite was said to have been born from the sea foam, but in other accounts, Zeus is her father Apollo Peter Willi / Getty Images Apollo was the brother of Artemis (both children of Zeus), the god of music, poetry, prophecy, and plague. In late classical antiquity, he became the sun god. Ares Xirurg / Getty Images Ares was the god of war. He is usually cited as the son of Zeus and Hera. Artemis Pawel Libera / Getty Images Artemis is the sister of Apollo. She was a virgin hunter goddess who became associated with the moon Athena kgerakis/Getty Images Athena was the goddess of wisdom. She was also a goddess of warfare, especially strategy, for which reason she is helmeted. She was born from the head of her father, Zeus. Demeter Temple of Demeter on Naxos Island. pavlemarjanovic / Getty Images Demeter was the goddess of the grain and the mother of Persephone, the maiden whom the king of the Underworld abducted. She is associated with the seasons and mystery cults. Dionysus DEA / A. DAGLI ORTI / Getty Images Dionysus was twice born, once from Zeus' thigh. He was the god of wine and mad revelry. Hades Hulton Archive / Getty Images Hades was one of the big three brother gods, along with Zeus and Poseidon. His dominion was the Underworld. He abducted the maiden Persephone, daughter of his sister Demeter, to be his bride. Hephaestus Temple to Hephaestus in Athens. arte_alexandru / Getty Images Hephaestus, son of the goddess Hera, was the lame blacksmith god, who worked in a forge, but was married to Aphrodite. Hera DEA / A. DAGLI ORTI / Getty Images .Hera was the queen of the gods and the sister and wife of Zeus the king. She was a jealous goddess and the goddess of marriage.Read more about Hera Hermes Tomo_T / Getty Images Hermes became the messenger god. He is shown with a staff with snake and winged heels. Hestia The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images / Getty Images Hestia, a sister of the older generation including Zeus, Poesidon, and Hera, was the goddess of the hearth. She was a homebody who did not take an active part in the lives of heroes described in Greek mythology. Poseidon estike / Getty Images Poseidon was one of the big three males, along with Zeus and Hades. Poseidon's dominion was the sea. As sea god he carried a trident. He was also connected with horses. Zeus Hemera Technologies / Getty Images Zeus was the king of the gods. His dominion was the sky and he held a thunderbolt. He is listed as the father of many of the Greek heroes. Continue Reading