WHERE IS GREECE?WHERE IS GREECE?

•Bordered by Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, and Turkey.

•Ionian Sea, Sea of Crete, and Aegean Sea – All part of the Mediterranean Sea

•Has a Mediterranean climate = warm to hot, dry summers (fires are common) and mild to cool, wet winters (avg annual rainfall is 17”)

?? When ???? When ??B.C.E. – Before Common B.C.E. – Before Common

EraEra• 900-800 – City-states develop as Greece 900-800 – City-states develop as Greece

recovers from Dark Ages.recovers from Dark Ages.• 800-600 – Greeks found colonies around 800-600 – Greeks found colonies around

the Mediterranean region.the Mediterranean region.• 776 – First games are held at Olympia in 776 – First games are held at Olympia in

honor of Zeus. Open to all Greek males.honor of Zeus. Open to all Greek males.• 750 Greek Alphabet is first used. 750 Greek Alphabet is first used.

HOMER composes HOMER composes The IlliadThe Illiad and and The The Odyssey.Odyssey.

• C600 – Coinage is introduced into C600 – Coinage is introduced into Greek culture.Greek culture.

• 509-507 – HERODOTUS writes the 509-507 – HERODOTUS writes the first major history.first major history.

• 300’s – Socrates, Plato and Aristotle 300’s – Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are writing and teaching philosophy.are writing and teaching philosophy.

The BeginningsThe Beginnings

• COSMOGONY – (The study of) Origin of COSMOGONY – (The study of) Origin of the Universe (Cosmos)the Universe (Cosmos)

• THEOGONY – (The study of) Origin of the THEOGONY – (The study of) Origin of the Gods (Theology = Religion)Gods (Theology = Religion)

In Greek Myth, these 2 are connected In Greek Myth, these 2 are connected because different parts of the physical because different parts of the physical universe were thought to literally BE universe were thought to literally BE gods.gods.

There are several different creation stories, There are several different creation stories, depending which writer you read. We are depending which writer you read. We are going to learn HESIOD’s story.going to learn HESIOD’s story.

1.1. CHAOS – a void or disorderCHAOS – a void or disorder

2.2. EROS – the force of love, – GAIA – EarthEROS – the force of love, – GAIA – Earth

3.3. Gaia gave birth by herself to URANUS – Gaia gave birth by herself to URANUS – SkySky

4.4. Gaia and Uranus matedGaia and Uranus mated

5.5. Gaia and Uranus had 3 groups of Gaia and Uranus had 3 groups of children:children:

a. 3 one-eyed Cyclopesa. 3 one-eyed Cyclopes

b. 3 Hecatonchires (each were giants with 100 b. 3 Hecatonchires (each were giants with 100 arms and 50 heads)arms and 50 heads)

c. 12 Titans (Giants in Human form)c. 12 Titans (Giants in Human form)

6. Uranus feared the children so he buried 6. Uranus feared the children so he buried them.them.

7. Gaia asked youngest son – CRONOS (one of 7. Gaia asked youngest son – CRONOS (one of the Titans)– to help find and release them.the Titans)– to help find and release them.

a. He attacked his father with a sicklea. He attacked his father with a sickle

b. Uranus retreated to an unknown placeb. Uranus retreated to an unknown place

c. Cronos then became the RULER OF THE c. Cronos then became the RULER OF THE UNIVERSE. (This began the Rule of the UNIVERSE. (This began the Rule of the Titans)Titans)

8. Cronos then married his sister RHEA 8. Cronos then married his sister RHEA (another of the 12 Titans)(another of the 12 Titans)

a. Together they had 6 of the Olympiansa. Together they had 6 of the Olympians

b. Prophesy that Cronos would be b. Prophesy that Cronos would be overthrown so he feared his children and overthrown so he feared his children and ate each one as they were born.ate each one as they were born.

c. Rhea hid 1 child by giving it to c. Rhea hid 1 child by giving it to nymphs to raise and then feeding a nymphs to raise and then feeding a stone wrapped in a blanket to Cronos. stone wrapped in a blanket to Cronos.

d. That child was ZEUS – when he d. That child was ZEUS – when he grew up, he took a potion to his father grew up, he took a potion to his father which forced him to throw up the which forced him to throw up the siblings.siblings.

e. The Olympians waged war against e. The Olympians waged war against Cronos and some other Titans Cronos and some other Titans (Prometheus, Epimetheus, Oceanus with (Prometheus, Epimetheus, Oceanus with Atlas as their leader)Atlas as their leader)

f. Zeus freed the Cyclopes and f. Zeus freed the Cyclopes and the Hecatonchires to help him.the Hecatonchires to help him.

g. Olympians won – ZEUS g. Olympians won – ZEUS Became SUPREME RULER OF THE Became SUPREME RULER OF THE UNIVERSE, and the Titans were sent UNIVERSE, and the Titans were sent into exile.into exile.

h. The Greeks saw the Olympians h. The Greeks saw the Olympians as the generation of Gods who as the generation of Gods who created them and their society, so created them and their society, so they were very thankful to these Gods they were very thankful to these Gods & Goddesses for giving them life.& Goddesses for giving them life.

ZEUSZEUS(Jupiter)(Jupiter)

Supreme RulerSupreme Ruler

ZeusZeus

• Always depicted with lightning bolts Always depicted with lightning bolts (arrows)(arrows)

• Always shown as a well-built middle Always shown as a well-built middle aged man with a beard. aged man with a beard.

• He was a playboy! He spent much of He was a playboy! He spent much of his time having sex with any woman his time having sex with any woman he could find – goddess or mortal. he could find – goddess or mortal.

HERAHERA(Juno)(Juno)

Zeus’s WifeZeus’s Wife& Sister& SisterQueen Queen

of the Godsof the Gods

HeraHera

• Usually depicted with a peacock Usually depicted with a peacock feather, and she often had peacocks feather, and she often had peacocks as pets. as pets.

• She was a very jealous wife – she She was a very jealous wife – she always had to watch Zeus. She always had to watch Zeus. She couldn’t punish him for his infidelity couldn’t punish him for his infidelity because he was more powerful, so because he was more powerful, so she punished the women instead.she punished the women instead.

HADESHADES(Pluto)(Pluto)LordLord

of the of the UnderworldUnderworld

HadesHades

• Usually depicted with fire, or in red. Usually depicted with fire, or in red. • Like Zeus he is a well-built Like Zeus he is a well-built

(powerful) middle-aged man with a (powerful) middle-aged man with a beard.beard.

POSEIDONPOSEIDON(Neptune) (Neptune)

Father of the SeaFather of the Sea

PoseidonPoseidon

• Depicted with a Trident (3-pronged Depicted with a Trident (3-pronged spear)spear)

• Often shown by water – a wave or a Often shown by water – a wave or a storm.storm.

HestiaHestia(Vesta)(Vesta)GoddessGoddess

of theof theHearth/HomeHearth/Home

HestiaHestia

• She is the least depicted 1She is the least depicted 1stst generation generation Olympian. (Not in many stories)Olympian. (Not in many stories)

• She is like the quiet little sister who She is like the quiet little sister who always stays home.always stays home.

• Women pray to her for harmony in their Women pray to her for harmony in their home.home.

• She is depicted with a flame She is depicted with a flame representing the stability of home fires.representing the stability of home fires.

DemeterDemeter(Ceres)(Ceres)GoddessGoddess

of theof theEarthEarth

AgricultureAgriculture

DemeterDemeter

• Last of the 1Last of the 1stst Generation Olympians Generation Olympians• She is the only one who doesn’t live on Mt. She is the only one who doesn’t live on Mt.

Olympus with the others. She lives on the Olympus with the others. She lives on the earth because she is a “God of the Earth”earth because she is a “God of the Earth”

• She controls the agriculture that people She controls the agriculture that people live by.live by.

• Often depicted with wheat or corn or some Often depicted with wheat or corn or some other grain crop. other grain crop.

• She had a baby with Zeus.She had a baby with Zeus.

AphroditeAphrodite(Venus)(Venus)GoddessGoddessof Loveof Love

& Beauty& BeautyBorn from Born from Sea FoamSea Foam

ororBorn outBorn out

of Zeus’s sideof Zeus’s side

AphroditeAphrodite

• Most common birth story is that when Most common birth story is that when Cronos fought his father Uranus, he cut Cronos fought his father Uranus, he cut off his father’s genitals and threw them off his father’s genitals and threw them into the sea, then Aphrodite grew up into the sea, then Aphrodite grew up out of the sea foam created by that. out of the sea foam created by that.

• She is the most revered of the She is the most revered of the Goddesses for her beauty and because Goddesses for her beauty and because she represents LOVE – which the she represents LOVE – which the Greeks saw as most important.Greeks saw as most important.

ApolloApollo(Apollo)(Apollo)God ofGod ofLight Light

& Truth& TruthMusicMusic

Plays LyrePlays Lyre

ApolloApollo

• Depicted as a strong young man – no Depicted as a strong young man – no beard. beard.

• Carries a LyreCarries a Lyre• His temple is at Delphi where an oracle His temple is at Delphi where an oracle

talks to him and he gives the truth.talks to him and he gives the truth.• People go to this temple and ask for People go to this temple and ask for

info about the future. Since Apollo info about the future. Since Apollo can’t tell a lie, all prophesies that come can’t tell a lie, all prophesies that come from Delphi are believed. from Delphi are believed.

ArtemisArtemis(Diana)(Diana)GoddessGoddess

of theof theForestForest

-Huntress--Huntress-

ArtemisArtemis• Goddess of the forest – always shown Goddess of the forest – always shown

with a bow and arrow, and often with a with a bow and arrow, and often with a hind (small deer).hind (small deer).

• Apollo and Artemis are twins – Children Apollo and Artemis are twins – Children of Zeus and Leto (he had an affair). This of Zeus and Leto (he had an affair). This upset Hera who sent a serpent to follow upset Hera who sent a serpent to follow Leto and keep her from lying down to Leto and keep her from lying down to give birth.give birth.

• Eventually she went to an island and Eventually she went to an island and gave birth to Artemis first, then Artemis gave birth to Artemis first, then Artemis helped Apollo be born 9 days later.helped Apollo be born 9 days later.

AresAres(Mars)(Mars)God God of of

WarWar

AresAres

• Son of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and Hera• Always shown in armor with a Always shown in armor with a

shield. He represents the violence shield. He represents the violence of war. Zeus didn’t really like him. of war. Zeus didn’t really like him.

• He’s not in a lot of stories, but he He’s not in a lot of stories, but he was the father of many children was the father of many children (another playboy). (another playboy).

AthenaAthena(Minerva)(Minerva)GoddessGoddess

of of WisdomWisdom

& Courage& Courage

AthenaAthena• Born fully formed with armor from Zeus’s Born fully formed with armor from Zeus’s

forehead. Mother was Metis, Goddess of forehead. Mother was Metis, Goddess of crafty thought and wisdom. Zeus was crafty thought and wisdom. Zeus was intimidated by her because it was intimidated by her because it was prophesied that her children would be more prophesied that her children would be more powerful than their fathers, so he ATE her powerful than their fathers, so he ATE her after they mated. Zeus then got a bad after they mated. Zeus then got a bad headache and one of the other gods hit him headache and one of the other gods hit him in the head with an axe and Athena popped in the head with an axe and Athena popped out.out.

• She represents the Victory of war (rather She represents the Victory of war (rather than the violence like Ares). Always shown than the violence like Ares). Always shown with a sword and a shield. with a sword and a shield.

HephaestusHephaestus(Vulcan)(Vulcan)

GodGodofof

FireFire

HephaestusHephaestus

• Son of Zeus and Hera – or of Hera Son of Zeus and Hera – or of Hera alone.alone.

• Blacksmith who made all the Blacksmith who made all the weapons and Zeus’s lightning bolts.weapons and Zeus’s lightning bolts.

• Considered very ugly.Considered very ugly.• Had a relationship with Aphrodite – Had a relationship with Aphrodite –

considered to be the first Beauty and considered to be the first Beauty and the Beast story. the Beast story.

THE ENDTHE END

Created by Ms. Birtcher

For English 9

Westerville North High School

2011-2013