A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

6. Olympus, the abode of the gods also requires a few words of comment in this place. Mount Olympus is situated in the north-east of Thessaly, and is about 6,000 feet high; on its summit which rises above the clouds of heaven, and is itself cloudless, Hephaestus had built a town with gates, which was inhabited by Zeus and the other gods. (Od. 6.42, Il. 11.76.) The palace of Zeus contained an assenmbly-hall, in which met not only the gods of Olymnpus, but those also who dwelt on the earth or in the sea. (Il. 20.5.) This celestial mountain must indeed be distinguished from heaven ; but as the gods lived in the city which rose above the clouds and into heaven, they lived at the same time in heaven, and the gates of the celestial city were at the samite time regarded as the gates of heaven. (Il. 5.749, &c.)

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