Edith Hamilton’s MythologyPart I: The Gods

English I Honors

The Gods

• Gods did not create the universe• Heaven & Earth were formed (first parents)– Gaea & Uranus

• Their children were the Titans• Titans were parents of the gods

The Titans

• Cronus (Saturn)– Father of Zeus

• Rhea (mother of Zeus)• Ocean• Hyperion• Atlas• Prometheus• They were all very large & very strong

Mt. Olympus

• Place of perfect peace• Not the same as Heaven• Where the 12 Olympians live• Eat ambrosia• Drink nectar

Zeus (Jupiter)

• Pronounced: zoos• Lord of the Sky• Rain-God & Cloud-gatherer• Wields the Thunderbolt• Bird-eagle• Tree-oak• Married to Hera, but had Many affairs

Zeus (Jupiter)

• His shield is the aegis• He is neither

omnipotent (all-powerful) or omniscient (all-knowing)

• He is often tricked• Father of many children

Hera (Juno)

• Wife & Sister of Zeus• Goddess of Marriage• Often punishing Zeus’s

mistresses• Bird-peacock• Animal-cow

Poseidon

• Brother of Zeus• Lord of the Sea• “Earth-Shaker”• Violent temper• Trident: 3-pronged

spear• Created horses

Hades (Pluto)

• King of the Dead, but Death himself

• Ruled the Underworld• God of Wealth• Helmet of Invisibility

Athena (Minerva)

• Goddess of Justified War & Wisdom• Daughter of Zeus alone• Sprang from his head wearing armor• Protector of city life • Goddess of handicrafts (weaving) • “gray-eyed”• Carries the aegis for Zeus• Bird-owl• Tree-olive• City-Athens

Apollo

• Son of Zeus• “Most Greek” of the gods• God of music, poetry, light,

truth, medicine• Plays the lyre• Oracle at Delphi• Sun god

Artemis (Diana)

• Twin sister of Apollo• Virgin goddess• Goddess of the hunt• “protectress of dewy youth”• Goddess of the moon• Silver arrows• Animal-deer

Aphrodite (Venus)

• Goddess of Love & Beauty• Born from sea foam• Laughter-loving goddess• Married to Hephaestus (ugly

& lame god)• Bird-dove

Hermes (Mercury)

• Messenger of the gods• Winged sandals & hat• Caduceus: magic wand• Shrewd & cunning (trickster)• Master Thief• Created the lyre & gave it to

Apollo• Guide of the dead

Ares (Mars)

• God of War• Son of Zeus & Hera (both

hate him)• Adulteress relationship

with Aphrodite• Bird-vulture• Animal-dog

Hephaestus (Vulcan)

• God of Fire• Ugly & lame god• Hera or Zeus threw him

down Mt. Olympus• Makes armor for the gods• His forge is under a

volcano

Hestia (Vesta)

• Virgin goddess, along with Artemis & Athena

• Goddess of the Hearth & Home

• Every city had a hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out

• Meals began & ended with an offering to her