The nine gods featured in the game were all members of the Olympians, the principal gods in the pantheon of Greek mythology. They were all said to have lived atop Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, in lavish palaces. Here are a few highlights about each god:

Zeus

(zoose), was the supreme ruler of the Olympians and greatest of all the Greek gods. He was often portrayed holding a bolt of ligntning as he ruled the sky and controlled thunder, lightning and rain.

In addition to fathering many of the deities featured in the game, Zeus had many mortal offspring, most notably the heroes Perseus and Heracles as well as Helen of Troy.

Aphrodite

(a-fro-DYE-tee), whose name means "born of the sea foam", was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

In Roman mythology, she appears as Venus along with Cupid and inspired famous works of art such as the Venus de Milo statue and Botticelli's painting The Birth of Venus.

Apollo

(uh-POL-oh), son of Zeus and Leto, and the twin brother of Artemis, was the god of light, music, and healing. Apollo is frequently shown playing an instrument called the lyre.

During a music contest between Apollo and Pan, King Midas said he liked Pan's performance better, so Apollo turned the king's ears into donkey ears.

Ares

(AIR-eez), son of Zeus and Hera, was the god of war and heroes.

Although immortal, he was almost killed when giants put him into a jar. Ares is often depicted as an attractive, but brutal and fierce warrior.

Artemis

(AR-tuh-mis), daughter of Zeus and Leto, was the goddess of the hunt, animals, fertility, and childbirth.

According to some myths, she assisted her mother in the delivery of her twin brother, Apollo. She was also a skilled archer and is often depicted holding a bow and arrow.

Athena

(uh-THEE-nuh) was the goddess of wisdom, justice, crafts and the domestic arts.

She was considered Zeus' favorite child and was said to have been born directly from his head. Athena is the patron diety of Athens, the capital city of Greece.

Hera

(HEE-ruh), the goddess of marriage, sacrifices, and fidelity, was Zeus' wife and Queen of the Olympians.

Greeks everywhere worshipped her as their reigning goddess and their adulation predated her marriage to Zeus.

Hermes

(HUR-meez), son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, was the messenger of the gods.

He was also god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights ana measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves. Known for his swiftness and athleticism, Hermes was given credit for inventing foot-racing and boxing.

Poseidon

(puh-SYE-dun), brother of Zeus, was principally known as the god of the sea. However, he was also the god of earthquakes as well as the god of horses.

Although officially one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, Poseidon spent most of his time under water in a palace made of coral and gems.

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