There were twelve--just a dozen--chief gods. They were supposed to live on Mount Olympus, which was the highest mountain in Greece. These gods were not always good, but often quarreled and cheated and did even worse things. The gods lived on a kind of food that was much more delicious than what we eat. It was called nectar and ambrosia, and the Greeks thought it made those who ate it immortal; that is, so that they would never die. Let me introduce you to the family of the gods. I know you will be pleased to meet them. Most of them have two names. _Jupiter or Zeus_ is the father of the gods and the the king who rules over all human beings. He sits on a throne and holds a zigzag flash of lightning called a thunderbolt in his hand. An eagle, the king of birds, is usually by his side. _Juno or Hera_ is his wife and therefore queen. She carries a scepter, and her pet bird, the peacock, is often with her. _Neptune or Poseidon_ is one of the brothers of Jupiter. He rules over the sea. He rides in a chariot drawn by sea-horses and carries in his hand a trident, which looks like a pitchfork with three points. He can make a storm at sea or quiet the waves simply by striking them with his trident. _Vulcan or Hephæstus_ is the god of fire. He is a lame blacksmith and works at a forge. His forge is said to be in the cave of a mountain, and as smoke and fire come forth from some mountains they are called volcanoes after the god Vulcan inside. _Apollo_ is the most beautiful of all the gods. He is the god of the sun and of song and music. Every morning--so the Greeks said--he drives his sun-chariot across the sky from the east to the west, and this makes the sun-lighted day. _Diana or Artemis_ is the twin sister of Apollo. She is the goddess of the moon and of hunting. _Mars or Ares_ is the terrible god of war, who is only happy when a war is going on--so that he is happy most of the time. _Mercury or Hermes_ is the messenger of the gods. He has wings on his cap and on his sandals, and he carries in his hand a wonderful winged stick or wand, which, if placed between two people who are quarreling, will immediately make them friends. One day Mercury saw two snakes fighting and he put his wand between them, whereupon they twined around it as if in a loving hug, and ever since the snakes have remained entwined around it. This wand is called a _caduceus_. [Illustration: Birth of Minerva or Athene.]