Introduction to Greek Gods & Goddesses Mrs. Gorman/Mrs. Brown English I

In the beginning sky meets earth The Greek creation myth states that in the beginning there was only emptiness (Chaos) The Greek creation myth states that in the beginning there was only emptiness (Chaos) Out of Chaos came Heaven (Uranus) and Earth (Gaea) Out of Chaos came Heaven (Uranus) and Earth (Gaea) Uranus & Gaea were wed and produced several children... Uranus & Gaea were wed and produced several children...

The Titans Uranus & Gaea had 12 children known as The Titans Uranus & Gaea had 12 children known as The Titans This was the first generation of the Olympian Gods! This was the first generation of the Olympian Gods! The parents, uncles, and aunts of the Olympians (Zeus's generation)! The parents, uncles, and aunts of the Olympians (Zeus's generation)! 1. Cronus (Zeus's Dad) 1. Cronus (Zeus's Dad) 2. Oceanus 2. Oceanus 3. Hyperion 3. Hyperion 4. Iapetus 4. Iapetus 5. Coeus 5. Coeus 6. Rhea (Zeus’s Mom) 6. Rhea (Zeus’s Mom) 7. Crius 7. Crius 8. Thea 8. Thea 9. Mnemosyne 9. Mnemosyne 10. Phoebe 10. Phoebe 11. Tethys 11. Tethys 12. Themis 12. Themis

Cronus & Rhea’s story Cronus fears one of his children will be more powerful than he, so he swallows them as soon as they are born! Cronus fears one of his children will be more powerful than he, so he swallows them as soon as they are born! One child survives! One child survives!

Zeus Almighty! Rhea hides one son, Zeus and he grows to manhood! Rhea hides one son, Zeus and he grows to manhood! Zeus overthrows Dad! Zeus overthrows Dad! All of his siblings are All of his siblings are recovered and in a 10 recovered and in a 10 year battle they defeat year battle they defeat The Titans and take The Titans and take power! power!

The Olympian Era: 1. Zeus is Supreme! The Olympians are a group of gods that dwell on Mt. Olympus! The Olympians are a group of gods that dwell on Mt. Olympus! #1. Zeus #1. Zeus He is the god of the sky and thunder He is the god of the sky and thunder He is often depicted with a thunderbolt in his hand or sitting majestically on a throne He is often depicted with a thunderbolt in his hand or sitting majestically on a throne He is the most powerful of all the Olympian gods He is the most powerful of all the Olympian gods He is a vengeful and lustful god and produces more offspring than one can possibly count! He is a vengeful and lustful god and produces more offspring than one can possibly count!

2. Poseidon Brother of Zeus Brother of Zeus Lord of the sea Lord of the sea His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth and shatter any object His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth and shatter any object Second only to Zeus in power Second only to Zeus in power He has a difficult and quarrelsome personality He has a difficult and quarrelsome personality

3. Hades Brother of Zeus Brother of Zeus Lord of the Underworld, rules the dead! Lord of the Underworld, rules the dead! He is greedy He is greedy Doesn’t take kindly to anyone trying to leave his domain! Doesn’t take kindly to anyone trying to leave his domain! He is unpitying & terrible! He is unpitying & terrible!

4. Hestia Sister of Zeus Sister of Zeus Virgin goddess Virgin goddess Goddess of hearth and home Goddess of hearth and home Does not play a significant part in mythological tales Does not play a significant part in mythological tales

5. Hera Sister of Zeus Sister of Zeus Wife of Zeus Wife of Zeus Protector of Marriage Protector of Marriage She is intensely jealous and often seeks revenge for Zeus’s infidelities! She is intensely jealous and often seeks revenge for Zeus’s infidelities!

6. Ares Son of Zeus & Hera Son of Zeus & Hera God of war God of war He is murderous and blood thirsty, but ironically at times he can also be cowardly He is murderous and blood thirsty, but ironically at times he can also be cowardly

7. Athena Daughter of Zeus Daughter of Zeus She is said to have sprang full grown in armor from Zeus’s forehead, and therefore has no mother She is said to have sprang full grown in armor from Zeus’s forehead, and therefore has no mother Virgin goddess Virgin goddess Fierce & Brave Fierce & Brave Symbolizes wisdom, reason, and purity Symbolizes wisdom, reason, and purity Zeus’s favorite Zeus’s favorite

8. Apollo Son of Zeus & Leto (Zeus’s cousin; child of the original Titan family) Son of Zeus & Leto (Zeus’s cousin; child of the original Titan family) God of music, light and truth God of music, light and truth A skilled archer A skilled archer He can not speak a lie He can not speak a lie Daily task is to pull the sun across the sky in a chariot Daily task is to pull the sun across the sky in a chariot

9. Artemis Apollo’s twin sister Apollo’s twin sister Protector of the young Protector of the young Presides over child birth Presides over child birth Goddess of chastity Goddess of chastity Huntsman of the gods; a skilled archer Huntsman of the gods; a skilled archer Linked to the moon and moonlight Linked to the moon and moonlight

10. Aphrodite Goddess of love, desire, and beauty Goddess of love, desire, and beauty Born from the sea Born from the sea Story of her birth is debated, but most myth stories say she was created from the severed genitals of Cronus Story of her birth is debated, but most myth stories say she was created from the severed genitals of Cronus No man is able to resist her! No man is able to resist her!

11. Hermes Son of Zeus & Maia (daughter of Atlas- grandson of an original Titan) Son of Zeus & Maia (daughter of Atlas- grandson of an original Titan) He is Zeus’s messenger He is Zeus’s messenger Fastest of all gods Fastest of all gods Wears winged sandals and cap Wears winged sandals and cap He is the guide for the dead to the Underworld He is the guide for the dead to the Underworld

12. Hephaestus Son of Zeus & Hera Son of Zeus & Hera Some stories say Hera produced him alone and he is hated by Zeus Some stories say Hera produced him alone and he is hated by Zeus He is the only god that is not physically beautiful and is said to have been lame, too! He is the only god that is not physically beautiful and is said to have been lame, too! He has a kind & peaceful personality He has a kind & peaceful personality He is the god of smiths and weavers He is the god of smiths and weavers

13. Demeter Sister of Zeus Sister of Zeus Goddess of the harvest Goddess of the harvest Has a child with Zeus named Persephone Has a child with Zeus named Persephone Persephone is abducted by Hades Persephone is abducted by Hades Demeter is angry at Zeus and leaves Mt. Olympus to dwell among mankind Demeter is angry at Zeus and leaves Mt. Olympus to dwell among mankind Not always considered one of the Olympian gods Not always considered one of the Olympian gods

The Nine Muses Daughters of Zeus & Mnemosyne – pronounced - nem-a-sa-nee (his Aunt) They preside over the arts & sciences and inspire all artists and writers Daughters of Zeus & Mnemosyne – pronounced - nem-a-sa-nee (his Aunt) They preside over the arts & sciences and inspire all artists and writers

The Fates Three female deities who determine the fate of one’s life Three female deities who determine the fate of one’s life Daughters of Zeus & Themis (an original Titan, his aunt) Daughters of Zeus & Themis (an original Titan, his aunt)