The Twelve Great Olympians were Zeus, his brothers and sisters and his children. Cronus and Rhea (Zeus' parents) had six children: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia and Demeter. The three brothers i.e. Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, drew lots for the control of the separate parts of creation. Hades became the Lord of the Underworld, Poseidon gained power over the Oceans and Zeus got overall control and became Lord of the Heavens. Zeus and his sister-bride Hera were named King and Queen of Olympus and all creation. Hera was the Goddess of family and married women. Hestia was the Goddess of the hearth who protected both the home and the city. Her name was taken at the beginning and end of each meal and every city had a central fire which was tended by maidens dedicated to Hestia. Care was taken that the fire never went out because such an occurrence spelled doom for the city and its inhabitants. Whenever a new city was to be founded, smouldering embers from the hearth of the mother-city were used to start the fire in the new city. Demeter was the Goddess of Corn and a central figure in day to day activities. Though an Olympian by birth, she was oftener to be found on earth and is thus not regarded as an Olympian but as a Great Goddess of the Earth.
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