Olympus
placeThe highest mountain in Greece and the mythological home of the twelve Olympian gods. Olympus was imagined as a paradise above the clouds.
The Myth
Mount Olympus, at 2,917 meters the highest peak in Greece, was believed to be the dwelling place of the gods. Its summit was hidden by clouds, which the ancients imagined concealed golden palaces, great halls, and divine gardens.
Hephaestus built magnificent residences for each of the gods on the mountain. Zeus's palace, the grandest of all, contained the great hall where the gods assembled for feasts and councils. Hebe and Ganymede served nectar and ambrosia — the food and drink that sustained immortality.
The gates of Olympus were guarded by the Horae, goddesses of the seasons. No mortal could enter without divine invitation, and the mountain was forever wrapped in light and warmth, untouched by rain, snow, or wind. From this eternal paradise, the gods looked down upon the mortal world and intervened in its affairs — for good or ill.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Olympic Games, first held in 776 BCE, were dedicated to Zeus and named for Olympia, a sanctuary site connected to the gods of Olympus.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth: