Greek Mythology

Quickwrite: On your sheet of paper, write a response to the following

questions:

What do you already know about Greek mythology? Can you name any

characters or stories? Why do you think we still study mythology, thousands of

years later?

What is Mythology?

o Long ago, people had a hard time explaining what was happening around them.

o There were no scientists or teachers to explain why things happened - like why we have 4 seasons, for example.

o They made up their own stories to explain why and how things worked.

o These stories are called MYTHS.

Types of Myths

Explanatory Myths: Myths that answer natural

questions about natural objects. Aesthetic Myths:

Myths that have no purpose except to entertain.

A Creation Myth

Chaos =

Formless void

state before

the creation

of the universe

Mother Earth = Gaia

Father Heaven =

Uranus

Censored

Censored

The First Parents

Gaia & Uranus had three kinds of children:• Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads

• Three cyclopes

• The titans

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

The Titans (The Elder Gods)There were many of them.

Enormous size, incredible strength.

1. Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans

2. Rhea: Wife of Cronos

3. Ocean: River that encircled the world

4. Iapetus: Father of Prometheus,Epimetheus, and Atlas (also

titans)

The Principal GodsCronos and Rhea were parents of:

• Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)

• Poseidon (Neptune)

• Hades (Pluto)

• Hera (Juno)

• Hestia (Vesta)

• Demeter (Ceres)

Other Olympians include:• Athena (Minerva)• Ares (Mars)• Hebe (Juventas)• Hephaestus (Vulcan)• Apollo (Apollo)• Artemis (Diana)• Hermes (Mercury)• Aphrodite (Venus)• Dionysus (Bacchus)• Persephone

Greek Gods- Family Tree

Gaia + Uranus

Cyclopes Monsters Titans

Cronus + Rhea, Ocean, Iapetus

Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Atlas,

Hades, Hestia, Demeter Prometheus,

Epithemeus,

Perseus, Apollo, Hephaestus,

Pandora

Hermes, Ares, Dionysus

Zeus: King of the gods and the sky Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove)Supreme god of the Olympians.Fathered many characters in mythologyBrother of Hades and PoseidonMarried to Hera

Zeus:• Zeus and his siblings fought to gain control of the

universe from the Titans and Cronus (his father).• He and his brothers (Poseidon and Hades)

divided up creation with Zeus receiving thesky as his domain. He was also accordedsupreme authority on earth and on MountOlympus.

• Weapon = Thunderbolt• Symbols = bald eagle & oak tree

Poseidon: God of the oceans

• Zeus’ brother• Roman Name:

Neptune• Weapon: Trident• Created the horse,

and often appeared in the shape of one.

Hades: God of the underworld

• Roman Name: Pluto• Kidnapped Persephone• Weapon: Two-pronged fork

and helmet• Symbol/pet: 3-headed dog

named Cerberus

Hera: Queen of the gods

• Wife of Zeus• Roman Name:

Juno• Symbol:

Golden Crown and Peacock

• Goddess of marriage

• Interesting Fact: Hera hated the great hero Hercules since he was the son of her husband Zeus and a mortal woman. When he was still an infant, she sent snakes to attack him in his crib.

• Hera was worshipped throughout Greece, and the oldest and most important temples were dedicated to her.

Hestia: Goddess of home and hearth

• Roman Name: Vesta

• Goddess of Home• Powerful Protector

Demeter: Goddess of grain and harvest

• Responsible for the creation of seasons

• Also known for fertility

• Roman Name: Ceres

• Symbol: Rake and Barley

Athena: Goddess of wisdom and law

• Roman Name: Minerva

• Symbols: Owl & Olive Branch

• “Weapon”: Aegis (contains Medusa's head)

• Born from Zeus' head

Apollo: God of archery, music, & healing

• Son of Zeus and Leto• Has a twin named Artemis• Often shown playing a golden lyre• Bird: Crow• Animal: Dolphin

Artemis: Goddess of the hunt and moon

• Goddess of wild things

• Daughter of Zeus and Leto

• Tree: Cypress• Animal: Deer

(though all animals are sacred to her)

• Roman name is Diana

• Twin sister of Apollo

Aphrodite: Goddess of beauty & love

• “Daughter” of Zeus

• Roman Name: Venus

• Only defining feature is her beauty

• Symbol: Roses & doves

• Wife of Hephaestus• Bird: dove, swan,

sparrow

Ares: God of War• Son of Zeus and

Hera• Roman Name: Mars• Symbol: Sword and

Spear• Sometimes

considered a coward

• Carried a bloodstained spear

• Bird: vulture• Animal: dog

Hephaestus: God of fire and forge

• Son of Hera and usually Zeus• Roman Name: Vulcan• Symbol: Anvil and Hammer• Makes armor and weapons for the

gods• Physically ugly and lame

Hermes: Messenger of the gods (god of thieves)

• Son of Zeus and Maia• Wears winged

sandals, a winged hat, and has a magic wand

• Guides dead to underworld

• God of medicine

Atlas

Prometheus

Pandora Tantalus