| Olympians | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Journey into Mystery Annual #1 (1965) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| Characteristics | |
| Pantheon | Greek and Roman |
| Notable members | Apollo Aphrodite Ares Artemis Athena Hephaestus Hera Hercules Hermes Neptune Pluto Zeus |
The Olympians are a fictional species in the Marvel Comics universe, based loosely on the Twelve Olympians and other deities of Greek mythology.
The Olympians are a race of extra-dimensional beings that possess a variety of superhuman abilities that were once worshipped on Earth as gods from roughly 2500 BC until roughly 500 AD. The Olympians are related to every other pantheon of "gods" that have ever been worshiped on Earth, such as the Asgardians and the Gods of Heliopolis (ancient Egypt) because Gaea, the spirit that represents life on Earth, was the mother of the first race of "gods" to appear on Earth. The various pantheons that exist today are the descendants of these earlier "gods." It is believed that the Olympians were born somewhere on Earth but currently reside in another dimension that is adjacent to Earth known as Olympus. One known entrance to this realm is actually located atop Mount Olympus in Greece.
The majority of the Olympian "gods" are identical in appearance to human and are fully capable of having children with humans. The Olympians are closer to true immortality than most other of Earth's pantheons. They cease to age upon reaching adulthood, are immune to disease, and cannot be killed through conventional means. All of the Olympians possess some degree of superhuman physical strength with males being, typically, stronger than females.
The tissues of all Olympians are harder and more resilient than those of a human, granting them superhuman durability. The average Olympian, both male and female, can withstand extreme temperatures and high caliber bullets without sustaining injury. It is possible for them to be injured, but the mystical energies of their bodies will enable them to heal with much greater speed than humans. The average Olympian can repair injuries that result in severe lacerations and loss of blood within a brief period of time without any scarring. More extensive injuries require a longer healing time. Severe injuries, such as severed limbs, can be magically regenerated if the injured Olympian receives treatment within a short period of time after the injury. A small minority of Olympians possess the ability to fully regenerate missing limbs without external aid from other "gods." However, any Olympian can die if a significant portion of his or her bodily molecules are scattered. The musculature of all Olympians produces considerably fewer fatigue toxins than human beings, granting them superhuman stamina in all physical activities.
There are some Olympians that are born with the potential to harvest great amounts of mystical energy for a variety of purposes including projecting powerful energy blasts, inter-dimensional teleportation, shapeshifting, temporary augmentation of their physical attributes, and granting other superhuman abilities to affect beings or objects, etc. Among the most prominent of the Olympians possessing vast energy manipulating abilities are Zeus, Pluto, and Neptune. Other Olympians possess special attributes unique to them such as Aphrodite's mystical ability to arouse love and passion in others and transform weapons into objects of peace or Apollo's ability to generate great heat and light equal to a small sun.
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