mythology-a few important details about the gods
TRANSCRIPT
Mythology by Edith HamiltonImportant Gods from Part I
The Gods
• Gods did not create the universe• Heaven & Earth were formed (first parents)– Gaea & Uranus
• Their children were the Titans• Titans were parents of the gods
The Titans
• Cronus (Saturn)– Father of Zeus
• Rhea (mother of Zeus)• Ocean• Hyperion• Atlas• Prometheus• They were all very large & very strong
Mt. Olympus
• Place of perfect peace• Not the same as Heaven• Where the 12 Olympians live• Eat ambrosia• Drink nectar
Zeus (Jupiter)
• Pronounced: zoos• Lord of the Sky• Rain-God & Cloud-gatherer• Wields the Thunderbolt• Bird-eagle• Tree-oak• Married to Hera, but had Many affairs
Zeus (Jupiter)
• His shield is the aegis• He is neither
omnipotent (all-powerful) or omniscient (all-knowing)
• He is often tricked• Father of many children
Hera (Juno)
• Wife & Sister of Zeus• Goddess of Marriage• Often punishing Zeus’s
mistresses• Bird-peacock• Animal-cow
Poseidon
• Brother of Zeus• Lord of the Sea• “Earth-Shaker”• Violent temper• Trident: 3-pronged
spear• Created horses
Hades (Pluto)
• King of the Dead, but Death himself
• Ruled the Underworld• God of Wealth• Helmet of Invisibility
Athena (Minerva)• Goddess of Justified War & Wisdom• Daughter of Zeus alone• Sprang from his head wearing armor• Protector of city life • Goddess of handicrafts (weaving) • “gray-eyed”• Carries the aegis for Zeus• Bird-owl• Tree-olive• City-Athens
Apollo
• Son of Zeus• “Most Greek” of the gods• God of music, poetry, light,
truth, medicine• Plays the lyre• Oracle at Delphi• Sun god
Artemis (Diana)
• Twin sister of Apollo• Virgin goddess• Goddess of the hunt• “protectress of dewy youth”• Goddess of the moon• Silver arrows• Animal-deer
Aphrodite (Venus)
• Goddess of Love & Beauty• Born from sea foam• Laughter-loving goddess• Married to Hephaestus (ugly
& lame god)• Bird-dove
Hermes (Mercury)
• Messenger of the gods• Winged sandals & hat• Caduceus: magic wand• Shrewd & cunning (trickster)• Master Thief• Created the lyre & gave it to
Apollo• Guide of the dead
Ares (Mars)
• God of War• Son of Zeus & Hera (both
hate him)• Adulteress relationship
with Aphrodite• Bird-vulture• Animal-dog
Hephaestus (Vulcan)
• God of Fire• Ugly & lame god• Hera or Zeus threw him
down Mt. Olympus• Makes armor for the gods• His forge is under a
volcano
Hestia (Vesta)
• Virgin goddess, along with Artemis & Athena
• Goddess of the Hearth & Home
• Every city had a hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out
• Meals began & ended with an offering to her