Prominently displayed on the commemorative coin of Greece's National Park is Mt. Olympus, purportedly the abode of the major and minor gods and goddesses of antediluvian Greek Mythology. Rightfully so, the reverse side of that coin painstakingly detailed the Clash of the Titans. This home of the Twelve Olympian gods was inhabited after the defeat of the Titans in the rancorous and spiteful Titan War. Mount Olympus was the home of the twelve Olympian gods, who held council there under the leadership of Zeus. They ate ambrosia and drank nectar at a table served by a variety of magical creatures, including the lesser gods and goddesses. You might regard these stories as mere fantasy, mere myth, but if you do, you will be missing out on a window into our cultural heritage and a grain of truth. We tend to regard mythology as a collection of fantasies, but myths are actually based upon fact. For example, the Biblical Flood of Noah has been regarded as myth and therefore not factual, but the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh records the same event because it really happened. Western societies are most familiar with the Greek myths, but all cultures have some form of mythology. Myths tend to feature supernatural heroes, interaction between humans and gods, and important events. They explain religious rituals, and they serve the purpose of preserving the history of a people and its culture. Myth is sacred narrative, but it is also history. At the peak of this highest mountain in Greece as featured in the God of War series perched the crystal mansion of the gods. Greek mythology also dictates that, when Gaia gave birth to the Titans, they used the highest mountains in Greece as their thrones, with Cronos sitting on Mount Olympus itself. After the Great Titanomachy, Olympus' Palace was constructed by the Cyclopes, the one-eyed giants who were freed by Zeus from the depths of Tartarus. In their gratitude, they gave Zeus his trademark thunderbolts. Hephaestus, the talented god of the smiths and the forge, created all the furnishings and artwork on Olympus, even making some of the chairs and tables able to move themselves in and out of the celestial hall. At the end of God of War II, Kratos can be seen climbing Mount Olympus with the Titans, and says he plans the destruction of Olympus and all the Olympians who stand in his way to get revenge. On Mount Olympus is the city of Olympia which is home to many mortals worshipping the great Olympians. This is also the place where Kratos killed Zeus and released Hope to mankind in the midst of Chaos. (God of War.wikia.com)
