A ridge of mountains with huge, head-like cliffs covered with gray snow, bottomless cave dips, from which springs hit and flow down fast streams along steep slopes overgrown with green forests. Olympus. Through the clear air from here you can see all of Macedonia and the whole of Thessaly, whose rivers loom, as on a map, with blue ribbons; in the east, the sea extends from Mount Athos right up to the island of Skyros, where young Achilles grew up among the daughters of Tsar Lycomedes; in the west, the Pinda ridge covers the horizon with a battlement. The lungs are invigorated by the priceless nectar of air, about which modern Thessalian villagers say that it heals wounds with its miraculous power. Among the rocks and forests stands the monastery of St. Dionysus, and under the highest peak, where the palace of Zeus once rose, miserable drops are built to bare rocks, built of uncouth stone. Day and night, monastic bells fill the deserted dwelling of the gods with the austere sounds of Christian songs.
Olympus was the real kingdom of Zeus since, after the war with the giants, he shared power over the world with two brothers - Poseidon and Hades. All three pulled lots. Zeus got heaven and earth with Olympus, Poseidon fell the sea, Hades - the underworld of the dead. Zeus, as the master of heaven, declared himself the supreme god to whom all must obey. At first, the brothers rebelled, especially the hot-tempered Poseidon; there were even palace coups, but each time, thanks to his strength and intelligence, Zeus won, until everyone obeyed him.
The gods also divided the earth among themselves; each of them received some kind of city or island, where the inhabitants especially revered it. This kindred division took place peacefully: agreements were signed and transactions were drawn up. But at times it came to hassles. For example, Poseidon did not want to give up Athens to the city of Athens. To reconcile them, it was decided that the city would belong to the one who would make its inhabitants the most valuable gift. Poseidon hit the trident on the ground and a horse jumped out of it (according to other sources, it sounded a salty source), and the goddess Athena called an olive tree from the depths of the barren Athenian land. All gods and people unanimously recognized Athena’s gift more valuable, because it was a real grace for a wretched land. When in this way the whole earth was already divided, it turned out that somehow they completely forgot about the lightest of the celestials, Helios, the all-seeing god of the sun. Fortunately, a few days later the beautiful island of Rhodes emerged from the sea, which was presented to Helios. On this island that smells of roses, he had temples, altars and loyal fans.
Zeus is well settled on Olympus. Wild animals had no access there, and the cold wind never carried snowstorms. Not a single cloud clouded the clear air. Eternal spring reigned there. Under the highest peak, the palace of Zeus glittered, all of gold and precious stones, and under other peaks and on the slopes there were more modest dwellings of other gods. They were built by Hephaestus, an unsurpassed master. The gates on Olympus guarded the Mountains, the immaculate goddess of the seasons.
Gods live happily on Olympus. There are no screams or groans of the sick because the golden-skinned heavenly rulers never get sick. Only sometimes, one of the gods, accidentally seeing a manslaughter war, returns the wounded, but his wounds immediately heal under the watchful eye of caring doctors. Disputes and quarrels usually do not last long, because Zeus decides and settles them with his authority. Only Zeus's wife, Hera, loudly at all scolds the ruler of the world, because she is very grumpy and suspicious. The gods unite in close companionship groups, and for great holidays and councils gather in the spacious Zeus Palace.