Introduction toIntroduction toGreek MythologyGreek Mythology

What is Greek Mythology?What is Greek Mythology? The people of ancient Greece shared The people of ancient Greece shared

stories called myths about the gods, stories called myths about the gods, goddesses, and heroes in which they goddesses, and heroes in which they believed.believed.

Each god or goddess was worshipped as Each god or goddess was worshipped as a deity and ruled over certain areas of a deity and ruled over certain areas of the Greeks’ lives.the Greeks’ lives.

These exciting stories explained natural These exciting stories explained natural phenomena that could not be explained phenomena that could not be explained by science in the ancient world.by science in the ancient world.

Why Should We StudyWhy Should We StudyGreek Mythology?Greek Mythology?

The Ancient Greek culture has been kept The Ancient Greek culture has been kept alive by the oral and later written stories alive by the oral and later written stories handed down through thousands of years.handed down through thousands of years.

Modern plays, novels, television Modern plays, novels, television programs, movies and even programs, movies and even advertisements refer to Greek gods, advertisements refer to Greek gods, goddesses, heroes and their stories.goddesses, heroes and their stories.

Adventurous and exciting stories delight Adventurous and exciting stories delight and entertain us.and entertain us.

In the beginning...In the beginning...

……was Chaos (shapeless nothingness)was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) Chaos had two children:Chaos had two children:

– Night (darkness)Night (darkness)– Erebus (death)Erebus (death)

““All was black, empty, silent, All was black, empty, silent, endless.”endless.”

Mysteriously, Love was born of Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.darkness and death.

And then...And then...

When Love was born, order and When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish.beauty began to flourish.

Love created Light and Day.Love created Light and Day. Earth was created.Earth was created.

– She was the solid ground, but also a She was the solid ground, but also a personality.personality.

The Earth bore Heaven to cover The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.her and be a home for the gods.

The First ParentsThe First Parents

Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia)Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus)Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) They had three kinds of children:They had three kinds of children:

– Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 headsheads

– Three cyclopesThree cyclopes– The titansThe titans

These were the first characters that had the appearance These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.

The Titans (The Elder The Titans (The Elder Gods)Gods)

There were many of them.There were many of them. Enormous size, incredible strengthEnormous size, incredible strength Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titansCronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans Rhea: Wife of CronosRhea: Wife of Cronos Oceanus: River that encircled the Oceanus: River that encircled the

worldworld Iapetus: Father of Prometheus,Iapetus: Father of Prometheus,

Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)

The Principal GodsThe Principal Gods

Cronos and Rhea Cronos and Rhea were parents ofwere parents of– Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)– Poseidon Poseidon

(Neptune)(Neptune)– Hades (Pluto)Hades (Pluto)– Hera (Juno)Hera (Juno)– Hestia (Vesta)Hestia (Vesta)– Demeter (Ceres)Demeter (Ceres)

Other Olympians Other Olympians includeinclude– Athena (Minerva)Athena (Minerva)– Ares (Mars)Ares (Mars)– Hebe (Juventas)Hebe (Juventas)– Hephaestus (Vulcan)Hephaestus (Vulcan)– Apollo (Apollo)Apollo (Apollo)– Artemis (Diana)Artemis (Diana)– Hermes (Mercury)Hermes (Mercury)– Aphrodite (Venus)Aphrodite (Venus)– Dionysus (Bacchus)Dionysus (Bacchus)– PersephonePersephone

The OlympiansThe Olympians

ZeusZeus• • He ruled the Olympians.He ruled the Olympians.

• • He was the god of the sky, lightning He was the god of the sky, lightning and thunder carrying a thunderbolt and thunder carrying a thunderbolt as his symbol.as his symbol.

• • He married Hera, his sister, which He married Hera, his sister, which was a family habit.was a family habit.

• • He fathered many children with He fathered many children with various goddesses and mortals.various goddesses and mortals.

ZeusZeus

HeraHera She was the protector of marriage and She was the protector of marriage and

the home.the home. She was associated with the peacock, She was associated with the peacock,

because of her great beauty.because of her great beauty. She and Zeus were always quarreling.She and Zeus were always quarreling. She was called the queen of intriguers, a She was called the queen of intriguers, a

vindictive and jealous wife, who vindictive and jealous wife, who frequently outwitted her husband, Zeus.frequently outwitted her husband, Zeus.

HeraHera

PoseidonPoseidon He built an underwater palace with a He built an underwater palace with a

great pearl and coral throne.great pearl and coral throne. Although he chose Thetis, a beautiful Although he chose Thetis, a beautiful

water nymph, as his queen, he, like his water nymph, as his queen, he, like his brother Zeus, was a great wanderer brother Zeus, was a great wanderer fathering hundreds of children.fathering hundreds of children.

He was a difficult god, changeful and He was a difficult god, changeful and quarrelsome, but created many curious quarrelsome, but created many curious forms for his sea creatures.forms for his sea creatures.

He invented the horse for his sister He invented the horse for his sister Demeter, whom he loved.Demeter, whom he loved.

PoseidonPoseidon

HadesHades

He was the jealous brother to Zeus He was the jealous brother to Zeus and Poseidon.and Poseidon.

He made Persephone his wife after He made Persephone his wife after stealing her from her mother, stealing her from her mother, Demeter, who was his sister.Demeter, who was his sister.

Because he was a violent god, who Because he was a violent god, who was also very possessive of every new was also very possessive of every new soul, he rarely left his underworld soul, he rarely left his underworld domain.domain.

HadesHades

HestiaHestia She was the sister of Zeus and the She was the sister of Zeus and the

daughter of Cronos and Rhea.daughter of Cronos and Rhea. She represented personal and She represented personal and

communal security and happiness.communal security and happiness. She was thought of as the kindest and She was thought of as the kindest and

mildest of the goddesses.mildest of the goddesses. She was of little mythological She was of little mythological

importance, appearing in few storiesimportance, appearing in few stories

HestiaHestia

DemeterDemeter She was the goddess of growing things.She was the goddess of growing things. She was the mother of Persephone, She was the mother of Persephone,

whose father was Zeus.whose father was Zeus. Her daughter was kidnapped by Hades Her daughter was kidnapped by Hades

and taken to the Underworld for six and taken to the Underworld for six months of the year causing the change months of the year causing the change of seasons.of seasons.

DemeterDemeter

AthenaAthena

She was born full grown out of the head of She was born full grown out of the head of Zeus.Zeus.

She taught man to use tools and taught She taught man to use tools and taught man’s wife to spin and weave.man’s wife to spin and weave.

She was the best-loved goddess on She was the best-loved goddess on Olympus.Olympus.

She hated Ares, god of war, often besting She hated Ares, god of war, often besting him in battle.him in battle.

The Greek city of Athens is named after her.The Greek city of Athens is named after her. She was said to have created the spider.She was said to have created the spider.

AthenaAthena

AresAres

He was a ruthless and murderous He was a ruthless and murderous god, who displayed the worst of god, who displayed the worst of humanity’s traits.humanity’s traits.

He, along with grief, strife, panic, He, along with grief, strife, panic, and terror roams the earth.and terror roams the earth.

Ironically, he was a coward, who fled Ironically, he was a coward, who fled the field of battle.the field of battle.

AresAres

HephaestuHephaestuss

He was the ugliest of the gods, who was He was the ugliest of the gods, who was rejected by his mother, Hera, when she rejected by his mother, Hera, when she hurled him off of Mount Olympus hurled him off of Mount Olympus crippling him.crippling him.

He fashioned the armor and tools of the He fashioned the armor and tools of the gods on a broken mountain near Mount gods on a broken mountain near Mount Olympus.Olympus.

He made beautiful jewelry for the He made beautiful jewelry for the goddesses.goddesses.

HephaestuHephaestuss

ApolloApollo He was the twin brother of Artemis and He was the twin brother of Artemis and

the most handsome of the gods.the most handsome of the gods. He was also the god of the healing arts He was also the god of the healing arts

and of medicine.and of medicine. He drove his chariot across the sky to He drove his chariot across the sky to

pull the sun each day.pull the sun each day. His son, Phaethon, drives Apollo’s sun His son, Phaethon, drives Apollo’s sun

chariot with disastrous results.chariot with disastrous results.

ApolloApollo

ArtemisArtemis

She was the twin sister of Apollo, She was the twin sister of Apollo, whose mother was Leto and father whose mother was Leto and father was Zeus.was Zeus.

She was a chaste huntress, who She was a chaste huntress, who always carried a silver bow and always carried a silver bow and arrows.arrows.

She ruled over the untamed places She ruled over the untamed places of the earth.of the earth.

ArtemisArtemis

HermesHermes

He was the precocious son of Zeus and He was the precocious son of Zeus and Maia, a Titaness.Maia, a Titaness.

As a baby, he made a lyre and pipe for As a baby, he made a lyre and pipe for his half-brother, Apollo.his half-brother, Apollo.

He carried Apollo’s golden staff and He carried Apollo’s golden staff and flew around the heavens and earth on flew around the heavens and earth on winged sandals.winged sandals.

HermesHermes

AphroditeAphrodite She is the goddess of desire born from She is the goddess of desire born from

sea foam. Another myth credits her sea foam. Another myth credits her mother as Dione and her father as Zeus.mother as Dione and her father as Zeus.

After all the gods on Mount Olympus After all the gods on Mount Olympus courted her, she married Hephaestus, the courted her, she married Hephaestus, the ugliest of the gods.ugliest of the gods.

Because she was judged the most Because she was judged the most beautiful of all the goddesses on Mount beautiful of all the goddesses on Mount Olympus by Paris, the other goddesses Olympus by Paris, the other goddesses envied her.envied her.

AphroditeAphrodite

DionysusDionysus He is said to be the only god on Olympus He is said to be the only god on Olympus

with a mortal parent.with a mortal parent. His creation of wine brings ecstasy and His creation of wine brings ecstasy and

drunkenness to his revelers.drunkenness to his revelers. Much of the ancient world’s greatest Much of the ancient world’s greatest

poetry was created in his honor.poetry was created in his honor.

DionysusDionysus

PersephonPersephonee

Roman Name: ProserpinaRoman Name: Proserpina Daughter of Zeus and DemeterDaughter of Zeus and Demeter Goddess of SpringtimeGoddess of Springtime Abducted by Hades, and became Abducted by Hades, and became

goddess of the Underworldgoddess of the Underworld The mint and pomegranate are The mint and pomegranate are

sacred to her. sacred to her.

PersephonPersephonee

HebeHebe

Roman Name: Roman Name: JuventasJuventas

Goddess of Goddess of YouthYouth

Cupbearer to Cupbearer to the Godsthe Gods

Restored youth Restored youth to the agedto the aged

ErosEros

Roman Name: Roman Name: CupidCupid

Young God of Young God of LoveLove

Son of Son of Aphrodite and Aphrodite and HephaestusHephaestus

IrisIris

Goddess of the Goddess of the RainbowRainbow

Messenger for Messenger for Zeus and HeraZeus and Hera

Daughter of Daughter of the titan the titan Thaumus and Thaumus and the nymph the nymph ElectraElectra

The MusesThe Muses

Nine daughters of Nine daughters of Zeus and Zeus and MnemosyneMnemosyne

Inspired artists of Inspired artists of all kindsall kinds

Goddesses who Goddesses who presided over the presided over the arts and sciencesarts and sciences

““He is happy whom He is happy whom the muses love.”the muses love.”

Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

The GracesThe Graces

Three Goddesses of Three Goddesses of Grace and BeautyGrace and Beauty

““They give life its They give life its bloom.”bloom.”

Aglaia (Splendor)Aglaia (Splendor) Euphrosyne (Mirth)Euphrosyne (Mirth) Thalia (Good Cheer)Thalia (Good Cheer)

The Erinnyes (The Furies)The Erinnyes (The Furies)

Roman Name: Furiae Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies)or Dirae (The Furies)

Three Goddesses of Three Goddesses of VengeanceVengeance– TisiphoneTisiphone– AlectoAlecto– MegaeraMegaera

They punish They punish evildoers.evildoers.

The FatesThe Fates

Roman Name: Parcae, MoiraeRoman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sistersThree sisters

– Clotho (“The Spinner”)Clotho (“The Spinner”)– Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)– Atropos (“The cutter”)Atropos (“The cutter”)

They weave, measure, and cut the They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.thread of life for humans.

The SatyrsThe Satyrs

Gods of the woods Gods of the woods and mountainsand mountains

““Shepherd gods”Shepherd gods” Goat menGoat men Companions of Companions of

DionysusDionysus They like to drink, They like to drink,

dance, and chase dance, and chase nymphs.nymphs.

The GorgonsThe Gorgons

Three snake-Three snake-haired haired monstersmonsters

Medusa is most Medusa is most well-knownwell-known

Their look turns Their look turns men to stone.men to stone.

The The CentaursCentaurs

Half man, half Half man, half horsehorse

Savage Savage creatures creatures (except (except Chiron)Chiron)

Followers of Followers of DionysusDionysus

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SourcesSources

Graphics in this presentation were taken from Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:the following web sites:– http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.htmlhttp://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html– http://www.pantheon.org/http://www.pantheon.org/– http://www.messagenet.com/myths/http://www.messagenet.com/myths/– http://mythman.com/http://mythman.com/– http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.htmlhttp://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html– http://www.paleothea.com/http://www.paleothea.com/– http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.htmlhttp://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html

This presentation is for educational purposes This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.or used as a vehicle to make money.