In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus was the traditional home of Zeus and the Olympian gods.
Olympus is Greece’s highest mountain, rising to 2,918 metres at Mytikas, its highest summit. Ancient Greek poets and storytellers imagined the gods dwelling in a radiant palace on its summit, ruling the cosmos and meeting in divine assembly.
The mythological Olympus should not be confused with every mountain associated with Zeus. Mount Ida in Crete was linked with Zeus’s secret upbringing, while Mount Ida in Anatolia also featured in several myths. Mount Parnassus was especially associated with Apollo, the Muses, and the sanctuary at Delphi.
Ancient Greeks did not necessarily treat the divine home as an ordinary, reachable palace. The mountain’s height, clouds, and imposing appearance helped make it a natural symbol of divine power. In later usage, “Olympian” came to mean something connected with the principal Greek gods, even when the story was not specifically set on the mountain.