It’s All It’s All Greek to Greek to

Me!Me!Introduction to Greek Mythology

Greek GodsGreek Gods

• Greek religion was Greek religion was POLYTHEISTIC.POLYTHEISTIC.

• The Greeks created their The Greeks created their gods IN THEIR OWN gods IN THEIR OWN IMAGES.IMAGES.

• Greek mythology is Greek mythology is largely made up of stories largely made up of stories about gods and about gods and goddesses, but it CANNOT goddesses, but it CANNOT be read as a Greek Bible.be read as a Greek Bible.

The Greeks believed . . .The Greeks believed . . .

• The UNIVERSE created The UNIVERSE created the gods.the gods.

• Before there were Before there were gods, Heaven and gods, Heaven and Earth had been formed. Earth had been formed. They were the first They were the first parents.parents.

• The TITANS were their The TITANS were their children, and the gods children, and the gods were their were their grandchildren.grandchildren.

TITANS or THE ELDER GODSTITANS or THE ELDER GODS

• Enormous size and Enormous size and incredible strengthincredible strength

• CRONUS—ruled over the CRONUS—ruled over the Titans until his son Zeus Titans until his son Zeus dethroned him; Cronus dethroned him; Cronus then fled to Italy and then fled to Italy and brought in the Golden brought in the Golden Age, a time of perfect Age, a time of perfect peace and happiness.peace and happiness.

Other TitansOther Titans• OCEAN: River that was supposed to encircle the OCEAN: River that was supposed to encircle the

earthearth• TETHYS: Ocean’s wifeTETHYS: Ocean’s wife• HYPERIOD: Father of the sun, the moon, and the HYPERIOD: Father of the sun, the moon, and the

dawndawn• MNEMOSYNE: MemoryMNEMOSYNE: Memory• THEMIS: JusticeTHEMIS: Justice• IAPETUS: Father of Atlas (who bore the world on his IAPETUS: Father of Atlas (who bore the world on his

soldiers) and Prometheus (who was the savior of soldiers) and Prometheus (who was the savior of mankind)mankind)

• These gods were NOT banished when Zeus came to These gods were NOT banished when Zeus came to power.power.

MT. OLYMPUSMT. OLYMPUS• Home to the Twelve OlympiansHome to the Twelve Olympians

—the children of the Titans—the children of the Titans• First held to be GREECE’S First held to be GREECE’S

highest mountaintophighest mountaintop• Or maybe a mysterious region Or maybe a mysterious region

far above the mountains of the far above the mountains of the earthearth

• Entrance was a great gate of Entrance was a great gate of clouds kept closed by the clouds kept closed by the SeasonsSeasons

• Inside, the gods lived, slept, Inside, the gods lived, slept, feasted on AMBROSIA and feasted on AMBROSIA and NECTAR, and listened to NECTAR, and listened to Apollo’s lyreApollo’s lyre

• No wind, no rain, no snowNo wind, no rain, no snow

TWELVE OLYMPIANSTWELVE OLYMPIANS(How many did you get?)(How many did you get?)

• ZeusZeus• PoseidonPoseidon• HadesHades• HestiaHestia• HeraHera• AresAres

• AthenaAthena• ApolloApollo• AphroditeAphrodite• HermesHermes• ArtemisArtemis• DemeterDemeter• HephaestusHephaestus

ZEUS (Jupiter)ZEUS (Jupiter)

• Supreme rulerSupreme ruler• Wielded the thunderboltWielded the thunderbolt• Not omnipotent nor Not omnipotent nor

omniscientomniscient• Falls in love with one Falls in love with one

woman after another woman after another (goddesses & mortals)(goddesses & mortals)

• Will do anything to hide his Will do anything to hide his infidelity from his wifeinfidelity from his wife

HERA (Juno)HERA (Juno)• Goddess of marriage and the familyGoddess of marriage and the family• Zeus’ wife and sisterZeus’ wife and sister• Protector of marriage and heroesProtector of marriage and heroes• Punishes the many women Zeus falls Punishes the many women Zeus falls

in love within love with

POSEIDON (Neptune)POSEIDON (Neptune)• God of the seas• Zeus’ brother and second

in eminence• Splendid palace beneath

the sea• Gave the first horse to

man• Controlled storm and calm• “Earth-shaker”• Carries a trident

HESTIA (Vesta)HESTIA (Vesta)

• Goddess of the Goddess of the HearthHearth

• Zeus’ sisterZeus’ sister• Virgin-goddessVirgin-goddess• Protector of Protector of

newborn childrennewborn children

HADES (Pluto)HADES (Pluto)• Ruler of the Underworld Ruler of the Underworld

and the Deadand the Dead• Zeus’ brother and third in Zeus’ brother and third in

eminenceeminence• God of Wealth (precious God of Wealth (precious

metals hidden in the metals hidden in the earth)earth)

• Rarely left his dark realmRarely left his dark realm• His wife is Persephone—His wife is Persephone—

carried her away from carried her away from earth and made her earth and made her Queen of the UnderworldQueen of the Underworld

HERMES (Mercury)HERMES (Mercury)

• Zeus’ messenger—Zeus’ messenger—Messenger between Messenger between gods and mortalsgods and mortals

• Son of Zeus and Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Maia (daughter of Atlas)Atlas)

• Graceful and swiftGraceful and swift• Winged sandalsWinged sandals• Master thiefMaster thief

Great Gods of Earth• Demeter (Ceres): • Goddess of fertility;

Goddess of Grain and Agriculture; Harvest; This god is a woman because women tended to the crops while men were hunting and fishing

ATHENA (Minerva)ATHENA (Minerva)

• Goddess of WisdomGoddess of Wisdom• Daughter of Zeus alone—Daughter of Zeus alone—

sprang from Zeus’ headsprang from Zeus’ head• Battle-goddess; fierce Battle-goddess; fierce

and ruthlessand ruthless• Goddess of the CityGoddess of the City• Zeus’ favorite childZeus’ favorite child

APHRODITE (Venus)APHRODITE (Venus)• Goddess of Love and Goddess of Love and

BeautyBeauty• Child of Zeus and Child of Zeus and

DioneDione• Sprung up from the Sprung up from the

sea foamsea foam• Beautiful and goldenBeautiful and golden• Soft and weakSoft and weak• Wife of HephaestusWife of Hephaestus

ARES (Mars)ARES (Mars)

• God of WarGod of War• Son of Zeus and Son of Zeus and

HeraHera• HatefulHateful• Lover of Lover of

AphroditeAphrodite• SYMBOL: vultureSYMBOL: vulture

ARTEMIS (Diana)ARTEMIS (Diana)• Goddess of the huntGoddess of the hunt• Daughter of Zeus and Daughter of Zeus and

Leto Leto • Apollo’s twinApollo’s twin• Maiden goddess of Maiden goddess of

OlympusOlympus• Lady of Wild Things; Lady of Wild Things;

Goddess of the MoonGoddess of the Moon• SYMBOLS: moon, deerSYMBOLS: moon, deer

APOLLO (Phoebus)APOLLO (Phoebus) • God of HealingGod of Healing• God of LightGod of Light• God of TruthGod of Truth• Son of Zeus and LetoSon of Zeus and Leto• Master musician, plays on Master musician, plays on

his golden lyrehis golden lyre• Archer-godArcher-god• Wears a laurel on his headWears a laurel on his head• Carries the sun across the Carries the sun across the

sky in his golden chariotsky in his golden chariot

HEPHAESTUS HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan)(Vulcan)

• God of Fire and God of Fire and Craftsmen Craftsmen (blacksmith)(blacksmith)

• Son of Hera and ZeusSon of Hera and Zeus• Ugly, has a limpUgly, has a limp• Kind, peace-lovingKind, peace-loving• Popular on earth and Popular on earth and

in heavenin heaven

Lesser Gods of OlympusLesser Gods of Olympus

EROS (Cupid): God of Love; Aphrodite’s companion and son; naughty boy,

archer-god

PAN: Earth god of woods and fields, half man and half goat; Hermes’ son

– NYMPHS: beautiful young goddesses of nature• Dryade: Nymph of the woods

– FATES: Three goddesses who control mortal destiny• Clotho (spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (disposer

of lots), Atropos (cut thread of death)– MUSES: Nine goddesses of the arts; Daughter’s of

Zeus and Mnemosyne• Clio (history) Urania (astronomy), Melpomene

(tragedy), Thalia (comedy), Terpsichore (dance), Calliope (epic poems), Erato (love poems), Polyhymnia (songs to Gods), Euterpe (lyrical poems)

– NEREIDS: Daughters of Poseidon– GRACES: daughters of Zeus who represented beauty

– IRIS: Goddess of the rainbow; messenger IRIS: Goddess of the rainbow; messenger – Queen PERSEPHONE: Daughter of Demeter’ Queen PERSEPHONE: Daughter of Demeter’

was abducted by Hades and made queen of the was abducted by Hades and made queen of the UnderworldUnderworld

– AEOLUS: King of the WindsAEOLUS: King of the Winds• North Boreas (Aquilo)North Boreas (Aquilo)• West Zephyr (Favonius)West Zephyr (Favonius)• South Notus (Auster)South Notus (Auster)• East EurusEast Eurus

– SIRENS: Lured sailors to their death with SIRENS: Lured sailors to their death with singingsinging

• CLASSICAL ALLUSIONS, or CLASSICAL ALLUSIONS, or references to aspects of Greek references to aspects of Greek mythology, can be spotted in almost mythology, can be spotted in almost any piece of reputable literature. any piece of reputable literature.