OLYMPIAN GODS

and 

DIONYSOS

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Hail Queen Æstia!  Hail Mighty Aris!  Hail Queen Artæmis!  Hail Mighty Iphaistos!  Hail Queen Ira!  Hail Mighty Poseithon!  Hail Queen Athina!  Hail Queen Aphrothiti!  Hail Mighty Apollo!  Hail Mighty Ærmis!  Hail Mighty Father Zefs!  Hail Queen Dimitir!  Hail Mighty Ivy-crowned Dionysos!  Yes, and let us hail all the myriad Gods and Goddesses, too numerous to name, who adorn and bless our world and lives!


The Twelve Olympian Gods are the cornerstone of the journey of Hellenismos.  They are known as the Dodækathæon (DodekatheonGr. Δωδεκάθεον), a word which has the identical meaning: dodeka meaning "twelve" + theon meaning "of Gods."  The Dodækathæon consists of:

Æstia (Hestia; Gr. Ἑστία, ἙΣΤΊΆ) [Roman: Vesta]

Aris (Ares; Gr. Άρης, ΆΡΗΣ) [Roman: Mars]

Artæmis (Artemis; Gr. Ἄρτεμις, ἌΡΤΕΜΙΣ) [Roman: Diana]

Iphaistos (Hephaestus; Gr. Ἥφαιστος, ἭΦΑΙΣΤΟΣ) [Roman: Vulcan]

Ira (Hera; Gr. Ήρα, ΉΡΑ) [Roman: Juno]

Poseithon (Poseidon; Gr. ) [Roman: Neptune]

Athina (Athena; Gr. Ἀθηνᾶ, ἈΘΗΝΑ) [Roman: Minerva]

Aphroditi (Aphrodite; Gr. Ἀφροδίτη, ἈΦΡΟΔΊΤΗ) [Roman: Venus]

Apollon (Apollo; Gr. Ἀπόλλων, ἈΠΌΛΛΩΝ) [Roman: Apollo]

Ærmes (Hermes; Gr. Ἑρμῆς, ἙΡΜΗΣ) [Roman: Mercury]

Zefs (Zeus; Gr. Ζεύς, ΖΕΎΣ) [Roman: Jove, Jupiter, or Juppiter]

Dimitir (Demeter or Demetra; Gr. Δημήτηρ, ΔΗΜΉΤΗΡ) [Roman: Ceres]

Some lists include Dionysos as one of the Olympians, eliminating Æstia, but this is not correct.  Although Dionysos is not an Olympian, his position is critically important.

Frequently an individual may be drawn to one or more deity and there is a tendency to ignore the rest of the pantheon. But it must be known that all of the Gods and Goddesses of the Dodækathæon work in a progression of influence on the soul. Therefore, although one deity may provide a steppingstone to a deeper relationship with the Gods, ultimately we need the auspices of the entire Dodækathæon. The Twelve Olympians have dominion over every single aspect of life, mortal, divine, vegetative, and beyond the earth. They exercise ministry over the Natural Laws, for the harmonic concordance of these laws of nature, and provide a means by which mortal beings can communicate with these laws, laws which are divine but, unlike the Olympians who have dominion over them, are impersonal.  And foremost: only the Olympian Gods can deify the soul. 

An excellent means by which to deepen one's relationship with the Olympians is to establish their worship based on the Orphic month of which each God or Goddess has sovereignty.  The Olympians work in pairs (referred to as Divine Consorts) and each couple has particular influence over one zodiacal month each year.  You may learn more about the calendar here: Hellenic Zodiacal Calendar

In our tradition, all ritual performed during a particular zodiacal month incorporates the recitation of the Orphic Hymns for the Olympian God (and his or her consort) who have influence over that month.  This is an excellent way to become familiar with the complete Dodækathæon.  After you have gone through the cycle for an entire year, you will become very familiar with the epithets and qualities of all the Olympians. 


The Dodækathæon are said to dwell in Olympia [Gr. Ὀλυμπία] in their palaces, copper on the outside and solid gold within. This has been represented on earth with the temples of Mount Olympos where were held the sacred games dedicated to Father Zeus.

The Olympians are sometimes classified in terms of age of genealogy:


The Older Olympian Gods  

These deities are all Gods of the Kronidæ, the progeny of Kronos, with the exception of Iphaistos.  Plouto, the third Zefs and also a member of the Kronidæ, is not listed here because he is not an Olympian deity.

Æstia and Iphaistos

Dimitir and Poseithon

Ira and Zefs


The Younger Olympian Gods    

The younger of the twelve are sometimes called the Lesser Olympian Gods; lesser, in this case, refers to "age" and not importance.

Athina and Ærmis

Aphrothiti and Aris

Artæmis and Apollo



For additional information on the Dodækathæon, visit the individual pages for each deity:

ÆSTIA

ARIS

ARTÆMIS

IPHAISTOS

IRA

POSEITHOHN

ATHINA

APHROTHITI

APOLLO

ÆRMIS

ZEFS

DIMITIR

...and... Dionysos


PLEASE NOTE:  Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods.  These narratives are known as mythology, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes.  While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally.  A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result.  The meaning of the myths is concealed in code.  To understand them requires a key.  For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level.  Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.

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