Introduction to Introduction to GreekGreek

MythologyMythology

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Introduction to Greek MythologyPrepare yourself for a spectacular and

scandalous journey filled with:

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Unit ObjectivesStudents will be able to…

define mythology and explain its purpose.

identify mythological vocabulary and its relevance in today’s world.

identify the gods and goddesses and explain their relevance to today’s world.

identify the archetypes of mythology and explain their relevance to today’s world.

read and analyze stories from Greek Mythology to make connections between these classic stories and modern society.

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Why We Study Greek Mythology

It provides insight into the human condition (human nature).

It grants us a glimpse at an ancient people trying to make sense of phenomena they could not explain.

It is the source for many names and terms we use today.

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Big Ideas of the Unit

Greek Mythology has provided the foundation of our modern vocabulary.

The plots, themes, and characters of classical literature still resonate today because they illustrate human nature.

Archetypes are symbols used in literature to effectively communicate their ideas.

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What is a myth?

Myth comes from the Greek “mythos” which meant “speech” or “discourse” and

now means “fable” or “legend.”

A myth is “a story of forgotten or vague origin, basically religious or supernatural in nature, which seeks to explain or rationalize one or more aspects of the world or a society.” - Pantheon.org

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Summary of Greek Mythology

Polytheistic – They had more than just one god

Gods were different from the representation of the Catholic deity. They were more human in personality and likeness and had many human flaws.

Gods and goddesses controlled many elements and aspects of the earth, skies, heavens, and underworld.

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Zeus / Jupiter

King of the gods

God of air

Uses Thunderbolts as his

weapon

Womanizer – married his own

sister

Most powerful

Symbols: the royal

scepter and the lightning

bolt.

Jupiter is so named because it is so big –

it is the “King of Planets”

Poseidon / Neptune

God of the sea and earthquakes

Known as the "Earth

Shaker."

Made horses

Trident is weapon and symbol

Zeus’ brother

2nd most powerful Neptune is so named

because the blue looks like

water

Hades / PlutoGod of the Underworld and Wealth

King of the dead but he is not Death

Zeus’ brother

Son of Cronos and Rhea

Has a helmet that makes the wearer

invisible

Persephone (Spring) is his wife

NOT EVIL! (but he is unpitying)

3rd most powerful

Symbols: the key of Hades, the

Helm of Darkness, and the three-

headed dog, Cerberus.

Hera / Juno

Queen of the gods

Protector of marriage

Wife/sister of Zeus

The peacock is her symbol

Cows are sacred to her (ox-eyed

Hera)

JealousNo planet, but there is an asteroid named after her

plus a city in Alaska

Apollo

God of truth, light, archery, and

healing

Sun god in some myths (Helios is the

sun god in other myths)

Son of Zeus and Leto

Symbols are a laurel wreath, a

bow and quiver, a raven, and a

lyre.

Wolves, dolphins, and crows are

sacred to him

Has the Oracle of Delphi

Apollo asteroids are near-earth

asteroids

Artemis / Diana

Apollo’s Twin sister

Goddess of the hunt, wild

things, and crossways

She is the moon goddess

sometimes

Virgin goddess

As Diana, she is also a

goddess of light

Symbols: bow, hunting

spears

Stags are sacred

The Artemis navigation

satellite

Aphrodite / VenusGoddess of beauty and

love

Mother of Eros/Cupid

Wife of

Hephaestus/Vulcan but

lover of Ares/Mars and

other guys

Her symbols include

the rose, the scallop

shell, and the myrtle

wreath. Her sacred

animal is the dove.

•Born from the foam in the sea caused by the attack of Cronos/

Saturn on Ouranus/Uranus

Venus is so named because it is a beautiful

planet and can be easily seen with just the

eye

Ares / Mars

God of War

Son of Zeus and Hera, but

both hate him

Symbols: golden armor

and a bronze-tipped

spear

He has three children with

Aphrodite: Phobos (panic) and

Deimos (fear) are twins

Mars and its moons,

Phobos and

Deimos

Athena / Minerva

Goddess of wisdom and

defensive war

Daughter of Zeus and Metis (titan)

– she popped out of his head after

he swallowed the pregnant Metis

She carries a shield with

Medusa’s head on it

Her symbols include the

aegis (represented by spear)

and the olive tree.Minerva was a tiny

robot designed by the Japanese to land on an asteroid, but got lost in

space.

Hephaestus / VulcanGod of fire and the forge

Son of Zeus and Hera

Ugly

Lame because he was thrown off Mt. Olympus

for interfering with a fight between Hera and Zeus

Husband to Aphrodite

His symbols are the hammer, tongs, and

anvil.

Hermes / MercuryMessenger god and the god of

thieves

Greek Trickster figure

Very fast

Son of Zeus and Maia

Loves Aphrodite

Greeks believed he guided

souls to Hades

Symbols: herald's wand or

caduceus, winged sandals,

and a traveler's cap.

Mercury revolves around the sun so fast, it was named for the messenger god. One year is faster than one day on Mercury

The Hermes Asteroid

Hestia / Vesta

Zeus’ sister – Oldest of the

original gods

Goddess of the hearth and

home

Symbols are the

hearth and kettle

Asteroid Vesta

Eros / Cupid

God of love

Son of Ares and Aphrodite

Often portrayed as a child, but

not always.

He has wings

Uses a bow and arrow – arrows

cause one to fall in love

Eros is a near earth asteroid

Demeter / Ceres

Goddess of vegetation

Had powers of growth and

resurrection

Her daughter is Persephone

Her symbols are the

Cornucopia (horn of plenty),

wheat-ears, the winged serpent

and the lotus staff.

The asteroid Ceres was the first asteroid ever discovered and is one of the largest

(about the size of Texas). It almost became a designated as a planet

Dionysus / Bacchus

Son of Zeus and Semele

God of wine and

happiness

Symbols: the

thyrsus (a pinecone-

tipped staff), drinking

cup, grape vine, and

a crown of ivy.

The Bacchus asteroid