Crowning Mount Olympus

The ancient Greek civilization arose around 1000 B.C. and lasted for more than 900 years. Its people made advances in astronomy, mathematics, and medicine. They also created the world’s first democracy, with some citizens voting directly on laws.

The region was made up of more than 1,000 city-states. Each city-state had its own government and laws, but the people all shared a common language and religious beliefs. That’s where Zeus and the other gods came in.

Ancient Greeks worshipped hundreds of gods. Every deity had its own personality and powers. People thought the gods controlled all aspects of life, from health to business. They also believed that the gods got involved in the lives of people—sometimes to help and sometimes to get in the way. 

Make Zeus mad? His thunderbolt could unleash a storm that ruined your crops. Anger Poseidon? He might stir up massive waves and capsize your boat.

“The Greeks prayed to gods for protection from the weather, natural events, human enemies, but also for success,” Baron says. 

People built temples to please the gods and left them offerings, including food and livestock. One of Greece’s most famous temples, the Parthenon, honors Athena. She is the goddess of war and wisdom. The temple was built in the city-state of Athens—also named for Athena. Athens is now Greece’s capital.

Olympus was also a sacred spot for the ancient Greeks. It’s the tallest mountain in Greece, rising from the largest plain. The flat land around it makes the mountain’s height even more impressive, Baron says. 

Though the Greek civilization fell to Roman conquest in 30 B.C., Olympus and its myths continue to capture imaginations today. Ancient epic poems like The Iliad and The Odyssey are still a part of culture through movies and books. 

Each year, about 10,000 hikers climb the mountain, envisioning the gods who called it home. “We find these stories about the origins of the world and the way things happen really fascinating,” notes Baron. “Olympus is an important part of that.”