An Introduction to…

Greek Mythology &“The Odyssey”

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What is a myth?

• A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures

• Uses the supernatural to interpret and explain natural events

• Explains a culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity

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Gods / Goddesses:• Spiritual beings with supernatural abilities,

gifts, or appearances.

• They usually represent or embody certain ideals and values within a culture

• For example: if bravery is an important trait in a culture, then their god will be very brave by nature.

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The Principal Gods

– Zeus (Jupiter)– Ruler of: ___

– Poseidon (Neptune)– Ruler of: ___

– Hades (Pluto)– Ruler of: ___

• Other Olympians include:– Athena

– Hermes

– Aphrodite

– Persephone

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Mount Olympus

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Zeus

• Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove)

• Supreme god of the Olympians.

• Shoots thunderbolts from the heavens!

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Zeus

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Poseidon

• Roman Name: Neptune

• God of the Seas and Waterways

• AKA “The Earthshaker”

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Hades

• Roman Name: Pluto

• God of the Underworld/ Land of the Dead

• Kidnapped Persephone

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Athena

• Roman Name: Minerva

• Goddess of Wisdom and War

• Odysseus’ guide• Sprang from

Zeus’s head

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Hermes

• Roman Name: Mercury

• Messenger of the Gods

• Wears golden sandals that help him to travel FAST

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Aphrodite

• Roman Name: Venus

• Goddess of Love and Beauty

• Sprang from the ocean foam

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Persephone

• Goddess of the Underworld

• Daughter of Zeus• • Abducted by

Hades

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Eros

• Roman Name: Cupid

• Young God of Love

• Son of Aphrodite

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The Muses• Nine daughters of Zeus

• Inspired artists of all kinds: music, art, drama, athletics, ANY related talent or skill!

• “Muse” = to amuse, Amusement

• Homer & other ancient Greek storytellers invoke the Muses to help them tell a story

15Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

The Gorgons

• Three snake-haired monsters

• Medusa is most well-known

• Their look turns men to stone.

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The Centaurs

• Half man, half horse

• Savage creatures (except Chiron)

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Sources

• Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:– http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html– http://www.pantheon.org/– http://www.messagenet.com/myths/– http://mythman.com/– http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html– http://www.paleothea.com/– http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html

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The Epics• 1.) There are _2_ world-famous Greek epics, • entitled _The Iliad__ and __The Odyssey .•

• ∙ The Iliad is:-the model for the epic of war-Homer’s first epic-tells of a 10 year war called the

Trojan War • • •

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• The model for the epic of the long journey

• Homer’s second epic

• Tells of a Greek soldier’s attempt to return home after the war

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Characteristics of an EPIC: long narrative poem that tells the adventures of

heroes has a hero of national/historical importance hero takes a quest or journey in search of

something, some place, or some value. journey involves a vast setting, sometimes even

the Land of the Dead involves some type of supernatural forces and/or

beings.

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Places in “The Odyssey”

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