Greek Mythology

What is Greek Mythology?  Collection of myths and legends  Used to explain their world.  Although fiction, the Greeks believed them to be true.

The Greeks and Their Beliefs The Greeks were:  tough, restless, ambitious, hard-living, imaginative  Live life to the fullest  In response to death was to make a mark on the world. Be a legend…be grandiose. Examples?

Continued: The Greeks & Their Beliefs  The Greeks had many gods.  Olympian gods filled the Greeks need to be grandiose: strong, beautiful and intelligent.  But they were quarrelsome, unforgiving, jealous, vengeful, spiteful, sinful deities.  The same applies to the heroes in their legends and myths.

The World according to the Greeks In the Beginning… In the Beginning…

The bigger you are, the harder you fall

After the battle was over…

The gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus

God of thunder and lightening Married his sister Hera Chief God

Temple of Hera, Sicily Goddess of Marriage Portrayed as extremely jealous and vindictive

Zeus and Hera

God of the Sea Poseidon is the brother of Zeus and Hades and had many children Second to Athena in Athens Earth-shaker of Earthquakes Lives in a palace beneath the ocean Married a sea nymph

God of the Underworld and of the dead Hades is the misty and gloomy abode of the dead, where all mortals go. Wore a cap that made him invisible Kidnapped his niece and made her his wife

ATLAS Atlas led the Titans in a war against the gods of Mount Olympus. When the Titans were defeated, Zeus punished him with the burden of carrying the heavens upon his shoulders.

All of Zeus’ children  Zeus had eight children on Olympus  The twins: Apollo and Artemis  Athena  Hephaestus  Hermes  Ares  Dionysus  Aphrodite (not really Zeus child, but he took her in)

God of Light, Medicine, Music Romans adopted Apollo from the Greeks

Goddess of Virginity and Hunting She decided to never marry. Once when she was bathing under the moonlight, a human was watching her. She threw rain drops on him and changed him into a stag. Then she had him killed by his own dogs.

Goddess of Wisdom and Just-War Sprang from her Zeus’s head fully clothed and in armour. Zeus’ son had to release Athena by cutting his head with a double- headed Minoan axe.

God of Fire and Volcanoes Walks with a limp because Zeus threw him over the palace walls one day when he took his mother’s side over Zeus. The only ugly god, but he was peaceful, loving and popular.

God of shepherds merchants travellers and thieves Had a son named Pan (half goat) Guided newly dead to underworld Very mischievous and tricky

Prometheus Prometheus is the Titan chiefly honoured for stealing fire from Zeus and giving it to mortals for their use. For that, Zeus ordered him to be chained on top of the Caucasus. Every day an eagle would come and eat his liver, but since Prometheus was immortal, his liver always grew back, so he was left to bear the pain every day.

God of War Boastful, cruel and had no manners.

God of wine and Patron God of the Stage

Controlled wedlock and tender passions Wherever she walked flowers sprang up beneath her feet. Her son was Eros (Cupid)

Themes in Greek Mythology Fate Bloodshed for Bloodshed Beauty Love Heroic Quests Danger of Arrogance Cruel Gods