Most of the ancient Greek myths or legends are derived from ancient Greek literature, including such classics as The Iliad and The Odyssey from the Homeric Hymns, Hesiod's (Ησοδο) Work and Hours and The Genealogy of the Gods, and Ovid's Metamorphoses, as well as the dramas of Aeschylus, Sophocles Paris, and the beauties Helenus (Σοφοκλ) and Euripides. The myths speak of the gods and the origin of the world, the struggle of the gods for supremacy and the eventual victory of Zeus, the love and quarrels of the gods, and the impact of the gods' adventures and powers on the mortal world, including the relationship to natural phenomena such as storms or seasons, and to places and rituals of worship. Among the best-known stories of Greek myth and legend are the Trojan War, the wanderings of Odysseus, the search for the Golden Fleece by Iason (Ισονα), the exploits of Hercules (Ηρακλ) (i.e., Heracles), the adventures of Theseus (Θησα), and the tragedy of Oedipus (Οιδπου).
Greek mythology stems from the ancient Aegean civilization, which bears a slight resemblance to the Chinese Shang and Zhou civilizations. They were the originators of the Western civilization, with remarkable nature and extraordinary imagination. In those primitive times, they were mystified and puzzled by natural phenomena and the life and death of human beings, so they kept fantasizing and meditating. In their imagination, everything in the universe possessed life. However, after the Dorians invaded the Aegean civilization, they had to look for living space because of the overpopulation of the Greek peninsula where they lived. At this time, they worshipped heroes and heroines, which gave rise to many stories of national heroes who were intertwined with humans and gods. These stories of people, gods, and things created by the people were collectively called "Greek myths" by historians through the hardening of time, and the period from the 112th to the 7th or 8th centuries B.C. was called the "Age of Myths". The myths were first passed down by word of mouth until the seventh century B.C., when they were recorded by the great poet Homer in the Epic Poetry.
The Twelve Gods
The Twelve Gods of Olympus are said to have existed in Ancient Greece: The Twelve Gods of Olympus
Zeus (Zeus) - the head of the Olympian gods, the lord of the gods, the god of the sky, thunder and lightning, and the dark clouds
Hera (Hera) --Queen of Heaven, protector of women, in charge of marriage and childbirth. Also known to the Romans as Juno Monarida (third daughter of Cronus and Rhea, sister and wife of Zeus)
Poseidon - god of the sea and shaker of the earth (second brother of Zeus)
Demeter -- Goddess of agricultural fertility, she was the second daughter of Cronus and Rhea, second sister and fourth wife of Zeus. She and Zeus gave birth to the Queen of the Underworld - Persephone (Goddess of Spring)
Athena (Athena) - Goddess of Wisdom, Goddess of War, Peace, Law, Order, Science and Technology, Labor, one of the three Goddesses of the Three Places (Ares represents the is the war of violence and blood, Athena represents the war of justice)
Apollo (Apollo) - the god of light, the god of prophecy, the god of youth, medicine, animal husbandry, music and so on. Driver of the chariot of the sun. (Son of Zeus and Leto, twin brother or brother of Artemis. Mixed with Helios in the 5th century BC)
Artemis - god of women, goddess of the hunt, goddess of the moon (Daughter of Zeus and Leto. One of the three goddesses, the god of women, and the embodiment of female purity. Mixed with Selene in the 5th century BC).
Aphrodite - the goddess of beauty and love, also known as "Venus" (after Cronus cut Uranus to pieces with a magic axe, the essence of the body into the Aegean Sea, the birth of Aphrodite).
Ares - god of war, strength, and valor (Son of Zeus and Hera.)
Hephaestus (Hephaestus) - god of fire, forging, craftsmanship, patron saint of blacksmiths (Son of Zeus and Hera, Aphrodite's husband.) But the beautiful Aphrodite did not appreciate Hephaestus' skillful hands, appearance, but instead often cheated on her with other gods).
Hermes (Hermes) - god of commerce, markets, travel, transportation, theft, and extradition from the underworld (son of Zeus and Maia, messenger of the gods).
Dionysus - god of wine, god of theater (given over by Hestia, goddess of the hearth. He was the only god of the twelve principal gods to have mortal blood).
Hades - King of the Underworld, in charge of the souls of the underworld and all the treasures of the underground, another version says that he is the strongest of the three main gods (i.e., the underworld, the sea, and the heavens). (Also the brother of Zeus and Poseidon.) He was removed from the position of the twelve principal gods because of a conflict with Zeus, and only came to Olympus when they met on the winter solstice.)
Hestia - Goddess of the Hearth, Goddess of the Household (disputed godhood with Hades, King of the Underworld)