Final Final MythologyMythology Review!Review!

FeracoFeraco

English 9English 9

18 January 201118 January 2011

Zeus (Latin: Jupiter)Zeus (Latin: Jupiter) Domain/Realm: HeavensDomain/Realm: Heavens Temperament: Varied; can be moved to anger, Temperament: Varied; can be moved to anger,

follows passions easily, yet somehow stands follows passions easily, yet somehow stands regalregal

Miscellany: His portrayal shifts over the course of Miscellany: His portrayal shifts over the course of many stories, partly because of changing many stories, partly because of changing attitudes/authors and partly because of cultural attitudes/authors and partly because of cultural absorptionabsorption

Rules over Olympus after the war because he Rules over Olympus after the war because he wins the “lot-draw,” not because he led the gods wins the “lot-draw,” not because he led the gods into battleinto battle

Power greater than all others, but could still be Power greater than all others, but could still be tricked or opposed (think Prometheus)tricked or opposed (think Prometheus)

Wields thunderbolts as his main weapon, which Wields thunderbolts as his main weapon, which he learned to use from the monsters during the he learned to use from the monsters during the war, and also the aegis, which he gives to Athenawar, and also the aegis, which he gives to Athena

Hera (Latin: Juno)Hera (Latin: Juno) Domain/Realm: MarriageDomain/Realm: Marriage Temperament: Frequently jealous Temperament: Frequently jealous

and easily angered; persecutes and easily angered; persecutes Zeus’s lovers and even their Zeus’s lovers and even their children; often portrayed negativelychildren; often portrayed negatively

Miscellany: Zeus’s sister-wifeMiscellany: Zeus’s sister-wife Her portrayal, along with Zeus’s, Her portrayal, along with Zeus’s,

helps give us a window into Greek helps give us a window into Greek cultural valuescultural values

Poseidon (Latin: Neptune)Poseidon (Latin: Neptune) Domain/Realm: OceanDomain/Realm: Ocean Temperament: A fusion of Zeus’s and Hera’s; Temperament: A fusion of Zeus’s and Hera’s;

easily angered, and terrible when he loses his easily angered, and terrible when he loses his temper, yet still regal and worthy of honorstemper, yet still regal and worthy of honors

Miscellany: Rules the sea as the result of the Miscellany: Rules the sea as the result of the “lot-draw”“lot-draw”

Second-most-powerful among the godsSecond-most-powerful among the gods Flooded Athens when he lost the contest for their Flooded Athens when he lost the contest for their

worshipworship Watches over horses, his gift to mankindWatches over horses, his gift to mankind Wielded a tridentWielded a trident Causes earthquakes (“The Earthshaker”)Causes earthquakes (“The Earthshaker”) Father of the Cyclopes in Father of the Cyclopes in The Odyssey, The Odyssey, and and

Odysseus’s main deistic foeOdysseus’s main deistic foe

Hades (Latin: Pluto)Hades (Latin: Pluto) Domain/Realm: UnderworldDomain/Realm: Underworld Temperament: Grim, serious, but not evilTemperament: Grim, serious, but not evil Miscellany: Rules the underworld as the Miscellany: Rules the underworld as the

result of the “lot-draw,” not as a result of the “lot-draw,” not as a reflection of inner evilreflection of inner evil

God of Wealth as well (think precious God of Wealth as well (think precious metals buried underneath the earth) metals buried underneath the earth)

Kidnapped Persephone, Demeter’s Kidnapped Persephone, Demeter’s daughter, and made her his queendaughter, and made her his queen

Famously owned a headpiece (alternately Famously owned a headpiece (alternately a helmet or cap) which granted its wearer a helmet or cap) which granted its wearer invisibilityinvisibility

King of Death, not Death itselfKing of Death, not Death itself

Athena (Latin: Minerva)Athena (Latin: Minerva) Domain/Realm: Wisdom/CityDomain/Realm: Wisdom/City Temperament: Can be fierce and Temperament: Can be fierce and

ruthless (think Trojan War), but also ruthless (think Trojan War), but also wise, loyal, and powerfulwise, loyal, and powerful

Miscellany: Emerged from Zeus’s Miscellany: Emerged from Zeus’s headhead

Often carries his thunderbolt and Often carries his thunderbolt and aegisaegis

Parthenos the Virgin Goddess, Parthenos the Virgin Goddess, worshipped at the Parthenonworshipped at the Parthenon

Athens worships her (olive tree), as Athens worships her (olive tree), as did the Trojansdid the Trojans

Phoebus ApolloPhoebus Apollo Domain/Realm: Light and prophecyDomain/Realm: Light and prophecy Temperament: An extremely varied Temperament: An extremely varied

personality; could be downright vicious, personality; could be downright vicious, yet often held up as the master of truth, yet often held up as the master of truth, healing, and purificationhealing, and purification

Miscellany: The “most Greek” of the godsMiscellany: The “most Greek” of the gods Wields arrows that he shoots unerringlyWields arrows that he shoots unerringly Oracle is at DelphiOracle is at Delphi Loses Daphne when she turns into a tree Loses Daphne when she turns into a tree

(laurel = his tree)(laurel = his tree) Often serves as the sun-god, although Often serves as the sun-god, although

that’s Helios’s jobthat’s Helios’s job

Artemis (Latin: Diana/Cynthia)Artemis (Latin: Diana/Cynthia) Domain/Realm: Hunting, the wild, and the moonDomain/Realm: Hunting, the wild, and the moon Temperament: Fierce; often angry or vindictive, Temperament: Fierce; often angry or vindictive,

but forceful even in her better momentsbut forceful even in her better moments Miscellany: Apollo’s twinMiscellany: Apollo’s twin Loved Orion deeply (virgin goddess)Loved Orion deeply (virgin goddess) Hunts, but loves animals and protects them Hunts, but loves animals and protects them

fiercelyfiercely Bringer of painless death to womenBringer of painless death to women Wields silver arrows that she shoots unerringlyWields silver arrows that she shoots unerringly Protected youthProtected youth When Apollo would serve as the Sun, she would When Apollo would serve as the Sun, she would

be the Moon (Selene, Phoebe, Luna – not her be the Moon (Selene, Phoebe, Luna – not her names originally)names originally)

The “goddess of three forms” (Hecate, Artemis, The “goddess of three forms” (Hecate, Artemis, Selene) Selene)

Aphrodite (Latin: Venus)Aphrodite (Latin: Venus) Domain/Realm: Love/BeautyDomain/Realm: Love/Beauty Temperament: Light, laughing, Temperament: Light, laughing,

lovely, but also soft, weak, and lovely, but also soft, weak, and treacheroustreacherous

Miscellany: Created from sea foam in Miscellany: Created from sea foam in later myths (originally the child of later myths (originally the child of Zeus and Dione)Zeus and Dione)

Married to HaphaestusMarried to Haphaestus Exerted a dangerous power over Exerted a dangerous power over

menmen

Hermes (Latin: Mercury)Hermes (Latin: Mercury) Domain/Realm: MessengerDomain/Realm: Messenger Temperament: Graceful, but cunning Temperament: Graceful, but cunning

(master thief)(master thief) Miscellany: Wielded the caduceus, Miscellany: Wielded the caduceus,

and wore winged shoes/hatand wore winged shoes/hat In addition to his duties for Zeus, he In addition to his duties for Zeus, he

leads souls to the underworld after leads souls to the underworld after deathdeath

Appears more frequently in myths Appears more frequently in myths than any other divinitythan any other divinity

Ares (Latin: Mars)Ares (Latin: Mars) Domain/Realm: WarDomain/Realm: War Temperament: Cowardly, vicious, Temperament: Cowardly, vicious,

and angryand angry Miscellany: His parents (Zeus and Miscellany: His parents (Zeus and

hera) hated himhera) hated him Doesn’t appear in many myths, yet Doesn’t appear in many myths, yet

remains famous anyway (more a remains famous anyway (more a figurehead than a distinct figurehead than a distinct personality)personality)

Haphaestus (Latin: Vulcan/Mulciber)Haphaestus (Latin: Vulcan/Mulciber) Domain/Realm: Fire and forgeDomain/Realm: Fire and forge Temperament: Kind and peaceful, despite Temperament: Kind and peaceful, despite

the nature of his workthe nature of his work Miscellany: Sometimes said to be born to Miscellany: Sometimes said to be born to

Hera alone (the vengeful parallel to Hera alone (the vengeful parallel to Athena’s motherless birth)Athena’s motherless birth)

Married to AphroditeMarried to Aphrodite Born lame/crippled, although in some Born lame/crippled, although in some

stories it is claimed that Zeus hurled him stories it is claimed that Zeus hurled him out for defending Hera (for the most part, out for defending Hera (for the most part, he’s honored in Olympus)he’s honored in Olympus)

Often blamed for volcanic eruptions (said Often blamed for volcanic eruptions (said to be the byproduct of his hammer to be the byproduct of his hammer striking the forge)striking the forge)

Just as Athena protected the arts Just as Athena protected the arts (weavers), so did he (smiths)(weavers), so did he (smiths)

Hestia (Latin: Vesta)Hestia (Latin: Vesta) Domain/Realm: Home and hearthDomain/Realm: Home and hearth Temperament: IndistinctTemperament: Indistinct Miscellany: A virgin goddess like Miscellany: A virgin goddess like

Athena and ArtemisAthena and Artemis No distinct personality, and doesn’t No distinct personality, and doesn’t

play a role in the myths (think Ares)play a role in the myths (think Ares) Every city had an eternal flame in its Every city had an eternal flame in its

public hearth for her public hearth for her

Eros (Latin: Cupid)Eros (Latin: Cupid) Domain/Realm: LoveDomain/Realm: Love Temperament: Fair and serious in Temperament: Fair and serious in

early stories, mischievous in later early stories, mischievous in later onesones

Miscellany: Equipped with bow and Miscellany: Equipped with bow and arrowarrow

Loved PsycheLoved Psyche

Dionysus (Latin: Bacchus)Dionysus (Latin: Bacchus) Domain/Realm: WineDomain/Realm: Wine Temperament: Deeply contradictory; Temperament: Deeply contradictory;

capable of tremendous joy and capable of tremendous joy and terrible violenceterrible violence

Miscellany: The only god with a non-Miscellany: The only god with a non-divine mother, one he retrieved from divine mother, one he retrieved from the underworld (think Disney’s the underworld (think Disney’s Hercules and Megara)Hercules and Megara)

Followed by “mad women” known as Followed by “mad women” known as the Maenadsthe Maenads

Demeter (Latin: Ceres)Demeter (Latin: Ceres) Domain/Realm: Corn and harvestDomain/Realm: Corn and harvest Temperament: Alternately joyful and Temperament: Alternately joyful and

sadsad Miscellany: Loses her daughter to Miscellany: Loses her daughter to

Hades for a third of the year; the Hades for a third of the year; the Greeks used her resultant sorrow to Greeks used her resultant sorrow to explain the changing seasons (joy in explain the changing seasons (joy in spring, enjoyment in summer, dread spring, enjoyment in summer, dread in fall, grief in winter)in fall, grief in winter)

Cronus (Latin: Saturn)Cronus (Latin: Saturn) Domain/Realm: HeavensDomain/Realm: Heavens Temperament: Alternately fearful, Temperament: Alternately fearful,

forceful, and wiseforceful, and wise Miscellany: Castrated Ouranos, his fatherMiscellany: Castrated Ouranos, his father Feared the prophecy about his children so Feared the prophecy about his children so

deeply that he consumed each of themdeeply that he consumed each of them Thrown out of power by Zeus and the Thrown out of power by Zeus and the

other godsother gods In Rome, he was believed to have In Rome, he was believed to have

retreated to Italy after the war and retreated to Italy after the war and ushered in that nation’s Golden Ageushered in that nation’s Golden Age

Prometheus and EpimetheusPrometheus and Epimetheus Epimetheus’s dealings during the Epimetheus’s dealings during the

war are unclear; Prometheus fought war are unclear; Prometheus fought on the side of the godson the side of the gods

May have been responsible for May have been responsible for creating humans (Epimetheus’s pile creating humans (Epimetheus’s pile of parts), although the Ages of parts), although the Ages (Gold/Silver/Brass/Heroic/Iron) are an (Gold/Silver/Brass/Heroic/Iron) are an alternate explanationalternate explanation

Tricking ZeusTricking Zeus Gift and PunishmentGift and Punishment PandoraPandora

Olympus and the UnderworldOlympus and the Underworld Olympus is ometimes a physical place, at other Olympus is ometimes a physical place, at other

times a place that seems to defy physical times a place that seems to defy physical descriptiondescription

The high seat first of Ouranos/Cronus, then of the The high seat first of Ouranos/Cronus, then of the godsgods

In the underworld, Tartarus and Erebus are In the underworld, Tartarus and Erebus are sometimes distinct; Tartarus is the Titans’ sometimes distinct; Tartarus is the Titans’ prison, while Erebus is the place the dead must prison, while Erebus is the place the dead must passpass

The Elysian Fields are a place of quiet The Elysian Fields are a place of quiet blessedness, open only to the good; the bad blessedness, open only to the good; the bad must suffer eternally elsewheremust suffer eternally elsewhere

Five rivers: Acheron (woe), Cocytus Five rivers: Acheron (woe), Cocytus (lamentation); Phlegethon (fire); Styx (lamentation); Phlegethon (fire); Styx (unbreakable oath); Lethe (forgetfulness)(unbreakable oath); Lethe (forgetfulness)

OthersOthers Gaea (Earth) and Ouranos (Heaven)Gaea (Earth) and Ouranos (Heaven) Rhea (Cronus’s sister-queen)Rhea (Cronus’s sister-queen) Creatures: Fifty-headed/hundred-handed Creatures: Fifty-headed/hundred-handed

monsters; Cyclopes; Titans; monsters; Cyclopes; Titans; Furies/Erinyes; Giants; TyphonFuries/Erinyes; Giants; Typhon

Atlas: A Titan who held the world on his Atlas: A Titan who held the world on his shoulders as punishment for the God/Titan shoulders as punishment for the God/Titan warwar

Iapetus: The Titan who fathered Iapetus: The Titan who fathered Prometheus, Epimetheus, and AtlasPrometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas

OthersOthers Hyperion: A Titan who was the father of the sun, moon, and Hyperion: A Titan who was the father of the sun, moon, and

dawndawn Helios: The sun-god fathered by HyperionHelios: The sun-god fathered by Hyperion Ocean: A Titan whose body formed the river that encircled Ocean: A Titan whose body formed the river that encircled

the worldthe world The Graces: Aglaia (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and The Graces: Aglaia (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and

Thalia (Good Cheer); Zeus’s daughters and Ocean’s Thalia (Good Cheer); Zeus’s daughters and Ocean’s granddaughters; always treated as a combined unit, granddaughters; always treated as a combined unit, invoked as a trio, and they were forever wonderfulinvoked as a trio, and they were forever wonderful

The Muses: Nine daughters of Zeus; presided over music The Muses: Nine daughters of Zeus; presided over music and the arts (note invocation in and the arts (note invocation in The OdysseyThe Odyssey); originally ); originally treated as indistinct from one another, then granted treated as indistinct from one another, then granted specialties in later years; Clio (history), Urania specialties in later years; Clio (history), Urania (astronomy), Melpomene (tragedy), Thalia (comedy), (astronomy), Melpomene (tragedy), Thalia (comedy), Terpsichore (dance), Calliope (epic poetry), Erato (love Terpsichore (dance), Calliope (epic poetry), Erato (love poetry), Polyhymnia (songs for gods), and Euterpe (lyric poetry), Polyhymnia (songs for gods), and Euterpe (lyric poetry)poetry)

The Fates: Equipped with scissors, thread, and measuring The Fates: Equipped with scissors, thread, and measuring stick; could be even more powerful than Zeus, although stick; could be even more powerful than Zeus, although this isn’t consistentthis isn’t consistent