Greek Mythology

The Belief System of the Greeks

In Greek Mythology, gods “did not create the universe, the universe created the gods” (Hamilton 24).

The Creation In the beginning… there was only chaos. From chaos emerged…

Gaea: Mother Earth- In Greek culture, more emphasis

was placed on Gaea then on Ouranos, reflecting the Greek’s reliance on theland and on the Earth. Ouranos: Father Heaven

Gaea and Ouranos had 3 types of children, all monsters, the most important of which were the Titans.

The Creation One Titan, Cronus, rebelled against Ouranos as a result of Ouranos’ treatment of some of his children.

For sometime, Cronus and his wife/ sister Rhea ruled the universe until their son, Zeus, overthrew his father and conquered the Titans, vecoming the supreme ruler of the universe.

The CreationIt was only Zeus

took control and the Olympians andother immortals took their places.

The Family Tree

Gods &

Goddesses

Home of the gods

Mount Olympus

Came to be thought of as a

floating mountain in the sky.

12 Olympians

12 OlympiansZeus

Hera

Poseidon

Hades

Athena

Apollo

Artemis

Aphrodite

Hermes

Ares

Hephaestus

Hestia

12 Olympians

Supreme Ruler of the Gods

Zeus

His weapon was the mighty THUNDERBOLT

Bird: EagleTree: Oak TreeOracle: Dodona

12 OlympiansHera

Zeus’ wife and sister

Protector of Marriage and Married Women

Very jealous of Zeus’ numerous lovers.

Animals: cow and peacock

12 Olympians

Ruler of the Seas and Oceans

Poseidon

Animals: bulls and horses

Wife: Amphitrite

12 Olympians

Lord of the Underworld

Hades

Ruler of the dead

12 OlympiansAthena

Battle Maiden and Goddess of Wisdom

The only daughter of Zeus(Sprang from his head)

Temple: ParthenonCity: Athens

Tree: Olive TreeBird: Owl

12 OlympiansApollo

God of Music and Poetry

God of Light and Truth

Twin brother of Artemis

Tree: Laurel Animals: Dolphin and Crow

12 OlympiansArtemis

Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt

Twin sister of Apollo

Lady of the wild things

Tree: CypresAnimals: Deer and all wild animals

12 OlympiansAphrodit

e

Goddess of Love and Beauty

Wife of Hephaestus

Tree: MyrtleAnimal: Dove, sparrow and swan

12 OlympiansHermes

Messenger of the Gods

Has wings on sandals and cap

Appears the most often of all the gods

12 OlympiansAres

God of War

None of the gods like him much

Animal: Vulture

12 OlympiansHephaest

us

God of Fire and the Forge

The only ugly God

Husband of Aphrodite

12 Olympians

Goddess of the Home

Hestia

Other Gods and Goddesses

Eros

God of Love ♥

Other Gods and Goddesses

Hebe

Goddess of Youth

Cupbearer to the gods

Married to Hercules

Other Gods and Goddesses

Iris

Goddess of Rainbow

Muses and Graces

Stories of Love and Adventure

Cupid and Psyche

8 Brief Tales

of Lovers

Pyramus and Thisbe

Orpheus and Eurydice

Ceyx and Alcyone

Pygmalion and Galatia

Baucis and Philemon

Endymion

Daphne

Alpheus and Arethusa

Quest of the Golden Fleece

4 Great Adventur

es

Phaethon

Pegasus and Bellerophon

Otus and Ephialtes

Daedalus

Great Heroes

Pre- Trojan WarPerseus

Theseus

Hercules

Atalanta

Perseus Who exploits in

defeating various archaic monsters

provided the founding myths of the Twelve

Olympians.

He was a demigod, the Greek hero who killed

the Gorgon Medusa, and claimed Andromeda, having

rescued her from a sea monster sent by Poseidon.

TheseusHe was Athens's great hero.

He was intelligent and wise.

He is credited as the founder of Athens's

democracy voluntarily turning many of his powers as king over to an elected

assembly.

HerculesHe was the son of Zeus and

the mortal Alcmene.

Hercules is famous for his strength and for his

numerous far-ranging adventures.

AtalantaShe was a virgin huntress,

unwilling to marry, and loved by the hero Meleager.

She took an oath of virginity to the goddess Artemis.

Having grown up in the wilderness, Atalanta

became a fierce hunter and was always happy.

During Trojan WarTroy

Odysseus

Aeneas

Troy

OdysseusOdysseus, also known by the Roman name Ulysses,

was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and a hero of Homer's epic poem the

Odyssey.

Husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus, and son of Laërtes and Anticlea

He is renowned for his brilliance, guile, and versatility

and is hence known by the epithet Odysseus the

Cunning.

AeneasHe was a Trojan hero, the

son of prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite.

His father was the second cousin of King Priam of Troy,

making Aeneas Priam's second cousin, once

removed.

He became the first true hero of Rome.

DAISY MAE A. VALEROSO