MythologyMythologyA brief look into the world ofA brief look into the world of

What is a myth?What is a myth?

• A myth may be broadly defined as a narrative (a story), that through many retellings, has become an accepted tradition in a society

Why do we still study mythology?Why do we still study mythology?1) myths tell us about our relationships with

each other

2) myths tell us about our relations with the natural world

3) myths tell us about our relationship with the cosmos, god or gods.

Why were myths created?Why were myths created?

• Myths were created so that people long ago could make sense of the world around them. Because science was not as advanced as it is today, stories were created to explain the unexplainable.

• For example, Why does the sun rise?• Greeks thought that the god Apollo chased

the sun up into the sky each morning.

The 12 main gods and goddessesThe 12 main gods and goddesses

• First let’s practice saying the Olympian Gods and Goddess’ names.

Zeus (zoos)

Posiedon (Puh-sigh-done)

Hades (Hay-deez)

Hestia (Hes-tee-uh)

Hera (Hair-uh)

Ares (Air-eeze)

Athena (Uh-thee-nuh)

Apollo (Uh-paul-low)

Aphrodite (Af-roh-dye-tee)

Hermes (Her-meez)

Artemis (Are-tuh-miss)

Hephaestus (Huh-fys-tuhs)

Zeus– God of GodsZeus– God of Gods

• Zeus is the God of gods and men, the greatest and most powerful of all Olympians. Other names for Zeus are the Lord of the Sky, the Rain God, and the Cloud Gatherer. Zeus' bird is the eagle, and his tree, the oak.

Zeus—A Strange BirthZeus—A Strange Birth

• Cronus, Zeus’ father, used to swallow his children at birth for fear that they would overthrow him. When Zeus was born, Rhea (his mother) gave Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling to swallow instead of the new born infant. Zeus was secretly sent to be raised by nymphs. Later he came back to overthrow his father, making Zeus the supreme God of the Olympians. The world was devided between Zeus (who took the sky) Poseidon (who took the sea), and Hades (who took the underworld).

Zeus’ FamilyZeus’ Family• Zeus was married to his

sister, Hera. He came to her disguised as a little cuckoo bird and hid in her clothes during a rainstorm.

• Zeus had many affairs, which resulted in a numerous amount of offspring.

• Zeus himself couldn't name all his children!

To the left you will see a ruin from the temple of Zeus.

Poseidon– Ruler of the SeaPoseidon– Ruler of the Sea

• Poseidon is the ruler of the sea.

• Poseidon is credited with having created the horse, in order to impress a goddess named Demeter. She asked him to create the most beautiful animal in the world. Some accounts of his first attempts were unsuccessful and he created a variety of animals. By the time the horse was created, his passion for Demeter had cooled.

• His signature weapon is the trident, and he was commonly called "Earth-shaker."

Poseidon– God of the SeaPoseidon– God of the Sea

• It is said that Poseidon rode a golden chariot pulled by white horses. At his approach, storms ceased and sea creatures frolicked about the chariot. He had a beautiful palace under the sea, but was more often found on Olympus. The trident he carried was capable of creating terrible storms and shaking the earth.

Possibly because of the association between violent storms and the sea, Poseidon was often depicted in mythology as an angry, turbulent god. There are several myths in which the sea god reveals his terrible temper.

Hades—God of the UnderworldHades—God of the Underworld• Hades is the brother of Zeus and

Poseidon. Hades had the worst draw when the world was divided up after the overthrow of his father Cronus. He became God of the underworld, and ruled over the dead. He was a greedy god, who is greatly concerned with increasing the amount of subjects in the underworld.

• He is also the god of wealth, due to precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible and he rarely leaves the underworld. He is an unpitying and terrible God.

Hestia—Goddess of Hearth Hestia—Goddess of Hearth (hearth: area around a fireplace, symbolic of “home”)(hearth: area around a fireplace, symbolic of “home”)

Hestia is Zeus’ sister. She is a virgin Goddess. She does not have a distinct personality and plays no part in myths. She is the Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out.

Time for a break…Time for a break…• Can you figure out this ancient riddle? A man

named Oedipus solved it in a myth!

• Riddle Of the Sphinx:– Dating back over 2.500 years ago is this riddle.

"What is it that walks on four feet in the morning, two at noon, and three at night?

– Those who could not answer this riddle were to die. 

Greek mythology names one man, Oedipus, who solved the  riddle by answering:  "Man, who crawls on four limbs as a baby, who walks upright on two as an adult, and who walks with the aid of a stick in old age."

Hera– Goddess of MarriageHera– Goddess of Marriage• Hera is the protector of marriage and the

goddess married women turned to for help. • Hera was often said to be the most beautiful of

all the Olympians. Argos was Hera's favorite city.

• Animals sacred to Hera are the cow and the peacock.

Hera was married (despite being his sister) to the very powerful Zeus. Hera is renowned in mythology for being an insanely jealous wife. Most of the stories about Hera are about her jealousy of Zeus' many affairs and illegitimate children.

Ares—God of War Ares—God of War • Ares was the much disliked God of War. His name probably came from the Greek word for "revenge" or from the Greek battle cry.

• Symbol or Attribute: The spear. He is also associated with vultures and dogs.

• Strengths: Decisive, determined, fearless.

• Weaknesses: Impulsive, bloodthirsty, raring for a fight regardless of the consequences. Ares’ throne was covered in human skin!

Athena—Goddess of WisdomAthena—Goddess of Wisdom• Athena is the daughter of Zeus.

She sprang full grown wearing armor from his forehead; thus, she has no mother.

• She is fierce and brave in battle. • She is the goddess of the city,

handicrafts, and agriculture. • She is the embodiment of wisdom,

reason, and purity. • She was Zeus' favorite child and

was allowed to use his weapons, including his thunderbolt.

• Her favorite city is Athens. Her tree is the olive. The owl is her bird. She is a virgin goddess.

Time for a break.Time for a break.

• Can you figure this out?

Can you figure out what was written Can you figure out what was written on this ancient vase?on this ancient vase?

Let’s zoom in…

Here is the word…

Answer: BoterAnswer: BoterThe Greek word Boter identifies this old

man as a herdesman. It is he who emerges from the forest carrying Melanippe's twin infants wrapped in an animal skin and tells the story of finding the twins guarded by a bull and suckled by the cow.

Historians have decoded words in this fashion to learn more about mythology.

ApolloApollo• Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His twin sister is

Artemis. • He is known as the Archer, the god of music, healing,

light, and truth.

One of Apollo's more important daily tasks is to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. He is famous for his oracle at Delphi. People traveled to it from all over the Greek world to hear the future. His tree was the laurel, his bird the crow, and his animal the dolphin.

Aphrodite– Goddess of LoveAphrodite– Goddess of Love• Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire and beauty. In

addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her.

There are two accounts of her birth. One says she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.Another story says that Aphrodite arose from the sea foam on a giant scallop and walked to shore.

Hermes– MessengerHermes– Messenger

• Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia.

• He is Zeus’ messenger. He is the fastest of the gods. He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand.

• He is the god of thieves and god of commerce.

• He is the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. .

Artemis– Goddess of ChastityArtemis– Goddess of Chastity• Artemis’ twin brother is

Apollo. She is the lady of the wild things. She is the huntsman of the gods. She is the protector of the young.

• Like Apollo she hunts with silver arrows. She became associated with the moon.

• She is a virgin goddess, and the goddess of chastity. She also presides over childbirth.

• All wild animals are sacred to her, especially the deer.

Hephaestus Hephaestus • Hephaestus is the son of Zeus

and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father.

• He is the god of fire. He is kind and peace loving.

•He is the only god to be physically ugly. He is also lame. -Some say that Hera, upset

by having an ugly child, flung him from Mount Olympus into the sea, breaking his legs.

-Others say that he took Hera's side in an argument with Zeus, and Zeus flung him off Mount Olympus.