GREEK MYTHOLOGYThe Short Course…

Principal gods of Greek mythologyThe principal gods of Greek mythology.

                                                                        

God Description

AphroditeGoddess of love and beauty, forced wife of Hephaestus. Ares is her main lover. Known as the most beautiful of the goddesses.

ApolloGod of the music, prophecies and archery. Also said to be the god of light and truth. Is associated with the sun. Also referred to as the most beautiful of the gods. Son of Zeus.

Ares God of war and bloodshed. Brother to Athena, and is the son of Zeus.

ArtemisGoddess of the hunt and wild things. Protector of the dewy young. She became associated with the moon. Apollo is her twin brother. Artemis is a virgin goddess.

AthenaGoddess of wisdom, handicrafts, agriculture and reason—sometimes war. Sister of Ares, and is the daughter of Zeus. She is a virgin goddess as well. Owl, Olive Tree are symbols.

DemeterGoddess of fertility, grain, and harvest. Mother of Persephone.Associated with the seasons.

DionysusGod of wine, and merriment. He represents not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficial influences.

HadesLord of the Underworld and god of the riches found within the earth. Brother of Poseidon and Zeus. Greedy.

HermesGod of flight, thieves, and commerce. Messenger of the gods. He showed the way for the dead souls to Hades's realm. He shows up in more myths than any other god or goddess. Likes to trick people and is very inventive. Hermes invented the lyre using a turtle shell and sinew.

PoseidonGod of the sea, horses and earthquakes. Brother of Hades and Zeus and father of Polyphemus. Created horses from sea foam.

ZeusKing of the gods. Son of Cronus (Cronos, Kronos). God of the sky and thunder. Brother of Poseidon and Hades. Husband of Hera. Symbol is the thunderbolt.

HephaestusGod of fire and the forge (god of fire and smiths) with very weak legs. Makes armor for the gods and other heroes like Achilles. Son of Hera. Zeus is his father in some accounts.

Hera Goddess of marriage. Zeus' sister and wife. Appears with peacock feathers often.

Trojan War Background(in 20 minutes or less)

Hera, Aphrodite and Athena fight for the Golden Apple…• Each wants to be most beautiful• Competition• Paris (a Trojan Prince) as judge• Rewards offered• Paris chooses Aphrodite

Meanwhile, back in Sparta…• Many people are wooing Helen• Odysseus advises Helen’s father, Tyndareus to get a pledge from each of the suitors• Helen chooses Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon, son of Atreus

But Paris is on his way…• He leaves his wife, Oenone, a nymph to pursue Helen• Sails to Greece with Aeneas, his brother• Aphrodite fulfills her promise

Get ready for a fight…• Menelaus calls on the suitors to fulfill their pledge• Agamemnon leads the Greek forces• Menelaus gets a prophecy• Odysseus is reluctant to join and tries to avoid it but must in the end• Similarly, they recruit Achilles

The attack is on…Oh, no, not yet• Artemis thwarts their departure• Must sacrifice Iphigenia and she agrees• Fog rolls in; she disappears

And away we go…• Some setbacks to get armor and riches and gather important warriors• Achilles, Odysseus, Ajax, Diomedes v. Hector and Aeneas• One last attempt at diplomacy—the envoy

War rages for years…• Over 9 years go by, so they try another tack• Finally decide that the war will be ended by a fight between Menelaus and Paris• Menelaus is about to win, but Aphrodite intervenes.

Peace?• They all agree that Menelaus wins, but one Trojan shoots an arrow at him• Athena makes sure he doesn’t die• Fighting begins again

Greeks are winning!• Hector sacrifices to Athena but she ignores their prayers• Hector and Ajax fight to a draw• One day truce called to bury dead

Greeks build a wall• Worried that they won’t win without Achilles

The war resumes• Trojans begin to get the advantage due to Zeus’ favor• Greeks are forced back behind their wall

War rages on…• Hector kills Achilles’ friend and draws him back into the war• Achilles is amazing• Gods are drawn into the fight, supporting each side• Trojans retreat and Hector is killed by Achilles who goes too far due to grief

Trojan revenge• Priam slips into Achilles’ tent and kills him

Who will fill Achilles’ shoes?• Odysseus is awarded Achilles’ armor• Ajax is jealous and tries to kill Odysseus in his rage• Comes to himself and is mortified so takes his own life• Odysseus forgives him and asks that he be buried

The war comes to a climax• Others are drawn into war and Paris is wounded and leaves• Greeks realize they have to get forces inside the city—the Trojan Horse!

GREEKS WIN!