The ancient Greeks believed that Mount Olympus, between Thessaly and Macedonia, in the north of the Hellenic peninsula ", lived 12 gods who were most important in their religion. Zeus was the chief of the deities. His wife, Hera, was concerned to protect marriage. Hestia was in charge of the protection of the domestic virtues. Poseidon was the god of the sea. Demeter was to ensure the fertility of the land. Athena was the goddess of wisdom. Apolo away evil and was a source of prophecies. Ares was the god of war, Aphrodite, of love and fertility, Vulcan, Fire, Artemis, hunters, and Hermes, messenger of the gods.
In honor of Zeus were held the Olympics. Poseidon was honored with the Isthmian Games, Demeter, the Eleusinian Festivals, and Athena, the Panathenaic Games. But these celebrations were not alone: there were other celebrations associated with the other deities.
The Greeks believed that these gods were immortal, because they drink nectar and ambrosia. They were not always virtuous, and often wore men to settle their rivalry.