The Greek Pantheon

Greek Mythology Greek mythology had three elements Greek mythology had three elements 1). Gods 1). Gods 2). Heroes 2). Heroes 3). Monsters 3). Monsters

Gods In Greek mythology, gods are associated with elements of nature and human existence In Greek mythology, gods are associated with elements of nature and human existence Gods have human characteristics like jealousy and pride and love Gods have human characteristics like jealousy and pride and love Gods lived on Mt. Olympus Gods lived on Mt. Olympus

Creation of the Gods The gods were the children of Kronus and Rhea The gods were the children of Kronus and Rhea There was a prophecy that one of Kronus’s children would destroy him There was a prophecy that one of Kronus’s children would destroy him Kronus, fearing his end, ate all his children Kronus, fearing his end, ate all his children Rhea disguised Zeus, the youngest as a stone and fed the stone to Kronus Rhea disguised Zeus, the youngest as a stone and fed the stone to Kronus Zeus will free his brothers and sisters and overthrow Kronus and the Titans, Kronus’s bodyguards. Zeus will free his brothers and sisters and overthrow Kronus and the Titans, Kronus’s bodyguards.

Zeus King of the Gods and God of Thunder King of the Gods and God of Thunder Uses lightening bolts as weapons Uses lightening bolts as weapons

Hera Queen of the Gods, goddess of marriage, and Zeus’s sister Queen of the Gods, goddess of marriage, and Zeus’s sister Zeus will have children by other women and Hera will punish them Zeus will have children by other women and Hera will punish them

Demeter and Hestia Demeter – goddess of the harvest Demeter – goddess of the harvest Creator of spring and winter b/c of her daughter persephone Creator of spring and winter b/c of her daughter persephone Hestia – goddess of the hearth and home Hestia – goddess of the hearth and home

Poseidon God of the seas and Zeus’s older brother God of the seas and Zeus’s older brother Poseidon uses the trident to govern the seas Poseidon uses the trident to govern the seas

Hades and the Underworld Hades is the god of the underworld (known as Hades) Hades is the god of the underworld (known as Hades) Hades is guarded by the three-headed dog Cerberus Hades is guarded by the three-headed dog Cerberus Hades is divided into three sections: the Elysian Fields (for heroes), Tartarus (for the wicked), and Asphodel Fields (for normal people Hades is divided into three sections: the Elysian Fields (for heroes), Tartarus (for the wicked), and Asphodel Fields (for normal people Sisyphus and Tantalus are in Tartarus Sisyphus and Tantalus are in Tartarus

Cerberus

New Olympians The children of the original six are the new Olympians The children of the original six are the new Olympians Artemis – the goddess of the hunt Artemis – the goddess of the hunt Apollo – the god of the sun and music Apollo – the god of the sun and music

Ares – the god of war Ares – the god of war Aphrodite – the goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite – the goddess of love and beauty Athena – the goddess of wisdom Athena – the goddess of wisdom

Dionysus – the god of wine Dionysus – the god of wine Hephaestus – the god of the forge Hephaestus – the god of the forge Hermes – the messenger god Hermes – the messenger god

Prometheus Titan who gave man fire Titan who gave man fire Prometheus is chained to a rock and has his liver pecked out every day by an eagle Prometheus is chained to a rock and has his liver pecked out every day by an eagle

Muses The goddess of the arts The goddess of the arts The Muses inspired mortals to produce great works of art: painting, sculpture, literature, ect… The Muses inspired mortals to produce great works of art: painting, sculpture, literature, ect…

The Fates Three sisters who spun the thread of human life and human destiny Three sisters who spun the thread of human life and human destiny

Heroes Heroes were usually demigods Heroes were usually demigods Demigod – one mortal parent; one immortal parent Demigod – one mortal parent; one immortal parent Heroes usually have a fatal flaw (something that shows their human) Heroes usually have a fatal flaw (something that shows their human) Hubris – Sin of pride Hubris – Sin of pride

Perseus Son of Zeus, Son of Zeus, Perseus defeated Medusa and Poseidon's sea monster, Cetus Perseus defeated Medusa and Poseidon's sea monster, Cetus Married to the Princess Andromeda Married to the Princess Andromeda

Hercules Son of Zeus Son of Zeus Hercules is famous for his super-human strength Hercules is famous for his super-human strength Hercules is challenged by a Greek king to complete 12 labors Hercules is challenged by a Greek king to complete 12 labors When Hercules died, he joined the gods on Olympus When Hercules died, he joined the gods on Olympus

Other Heroes Jason – captained the Argo; captured the Golden Fleece Jason – captained the Argo; captured the Golden Fleece Bellerophon – Killed the chimera, while riding the winged-horse, Pegasus Bellerophon – Killed the chimera, while riding the winged-horse, Pegasus

Monsters The anti-heroes of Greek mythology The anti-heroes of Greek mythology Usually the personification of evil in the world Usually the personification of evil in the world Depicted as grotesque beasts Depicted as grotesque beasts

The Chimera and Medusa Chimera – head and body of a lion; head of a goat growing out its back; tail in the shape of a snake Chimera – head and body of a lion; head of a goat growing out its back; tail in the shape of a snake Medusa – caught w/ her boyfriend in Athena’s temple. Turned into a gorgon by Athena Medusa – caught w/ her boyfriend in Athena’s temple. Turned into a gorgon by Athena Had snakes for hair; could turn men to stone w/ one look Had snakes for hair; could turn men to stone w/ one look

Medusa

Chimera

Cyclops Ancient creatures that helped Zeus defeat Kronus Ancient creatures that helped Zeus defeat Kronus Had one eye Had one eye Most famous is Polyphemus, who was blinded by Odysseus Most famous is Polyphemus, who was blinded by Odysseus

Scylla and Charybdis Scylla and Charybdis were two monsters guarding a straight of water Scylla and Charybdis were two monsters guarding a straight of water Scylla – had the upper body of a women; seven heads; the lower half of a fish; and a wolves heads around her waist Scylla – had the upper body of a women; seven heads; the lower half of a fish; and a wolves heads around her waist Charybdis was a monstrous whirlpool Charybdis was a monstrous whirlpool

Charybdis

Minotaur and the Hydra Minotaur protected the labyrinth of King Minos on Crete Minotaur protected the labyrinth of King Minos on Crete Killed by Theseus Killed by Theseus The Hydra had multiple snake heads The Hydra had multiple snake heads When one was cut off, two grew back When one was cut off, two grew back Killed by Hercules, his 2 nd task Killed by Hercules, his 2 nd task

Minotaur and the Hydra

The Sphinx, Harpies, and the Sirens The Sphinx guarded the road to Thebes The Sphinx guarded the road to Thebes It asked a riddle of all travelers, if you could not answer, you were eaten It asked a riddle of all travelers, if you could not answer, you were eaten Defeated and killed by Oedipus Defeated and killed by Oedipus Harpies were spirits of the wind Harpies were spirits of the wind Tormented King Phineus of Thrace Tormented King Phineus of Thrace Sirens were sea monsters that lured ships into rocks by singing Sirens were sea monsters that lured ships into rocks by singing Odysseus filled his sailors ears w/ wax; Orpheus sang louder to keep his ship safe Odysseus filled his sailors ears w/ wax; Orpheus sang louder to keep his ship safe

Mythical Beasts Many mythical beasts were used to describe the strangeness of foreign places Many mythical beasts were used to describe the strangeness of foreign places

Centaurs, Griffins, and the Phoenix Considered to be the wisest of all creatures Considered to be the wisest of all creatures Half-man, half-horse Half-man, half-horse Griffins were half-lion and half-eagle Griffins were half-lion and half-eagle Griffins were greedy creatures that supposedly guarded a large gold treasure in the East (present day Middle-east) Griffins were greedy creatures that supposedly guarded a large gold treasure in the East (present day Middle-east) The phoenix was the symbol of eternity b/c it would burn to death in its own flames and be reborn from the ashes. The phoenix was the symbol of eternity b/c it would burn to death in its own flames and be reborn from the ashes.

Basilisks and Manticores Basilisks lived in North Africa Basilisks lived in North Africa It was a serpent that could kill w/ one look It was a serpent that could kill w/ one look Manticores hunted travelers on the roads in Persia Manticores hunted travelers on the roads in Persia Part man-part lion Part man-part lion It would attack by shooting stingers from its tail. It would attack by shooting stingers from its tail.

The Trojan War Began when the Trojan prince Paris steals the wife of the Spartan king, Menelaus, Helen Began when the Trojan prince Paris steals the wife of the Spartan king, Menelaus, Helen The Greek spend 10 years fighting at the walls of Troy to avenge the disgrace The Greek spend 10 years fighting at the walls of Troy to avenge the disgrace Troy is breached by the Trojan horse Troy is breached by the Trojan horse Immortalized in the Illiad by Homer Immortalized in the Illiad by Homer

Heroes of the Trojan War The Trojan War had heroes on both sides The Trojan War had heroes on both sides Greek Heroes: Achilles (the symbol of pride and stubbornness), Ajax, and Odysseus Greek Heroes: Achilles (the symbol of pride and stubbornness), Ajax, and Odysseus Trojan Heroes: Hector (killed by Achilles), Paris, and Priam (king of Troy) Trojan Heroes: Hector (killed by Achilles), Paris, and Priam (king of Troy)