How Many Ancient Greek Gods Were There?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 30, 2020

When considering the original gods of Mount Olympus, there are a total of 12. The 12 original gods include Aphrodite, Zeus, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Athena, Hera, Hestia, Pluto, Ares, Apollo and Hermes.

The ancient Greeks believed that gods and goddesses controlled different elements of life. They were very human, in that they had emotions and even fell in love with each other. Zeus was the king of all gods and he was able to control the weather. Greeks made sanctuaries and temples for their gods, told stories about them and honored them with festivals that include sports, competitions, processions and sacrifices.