Greek Mythology

What is Greek Mythology? Greek Mythology is a collection of myths and legends that Greeks used to explain their world. Although we now view these stories as fiction, the Greeks believed them to be true.

The Greeks and Their Beliefs The Greeks loved life. They believed in living life to the fullest because death was going to happen whether you wanted it to or not. The only response to death was to make a mark on the world. Be a legend…be grandiose.

Continued: The Greeks & Their Beliefs The Greeks had many gods. The gods exemplified the need to be grandiose. Because the Olympian gods mirrored the Greeks, they were heavily flawed. They were quarrelsome, unforgiving, jealous, vengeful, spiteful, sinful deities. The Olympian gods were mostly portrayed as physically strong, beautiful and intelligent. The same applies to the heroes in their legends and myths.

The World according to the Greeks Both good and evil comes from the gods. Heroes and monsters came from the gods. Many of the conflicts that are portrayed in the myths are between family members. Start handout here

The World according to the Greeks In the Beginning… In the beginning there was no earth, sky or sea. There was only confusion and darkness, called Chaos. Chaos gave birth to Mother Earth. She eventually gave birth to a son, Uranus, also known as Father Heaven. Mother Earth and Father Heaven had many children. First, they had three monstrous sons. Each had fifty heads and one hundred hands. Then, they had three more sons. They were just as big and just as ugly. They were called Cyclops. They had one eye in the middle of their foreheads. They were as strong as Earthquakes and Tornadoes combined. Finally, they had the first gods, six sons and six daughters called the Titans.

Among their children was the greatest Titan, Cronus (Kronus) Among their children was the greatest Titan, Cronus (Kronus). Cronus gained power from his father, Uranus, by castrating him. Then, Cronus became ruler over heaven and Earth and married his sister, Rhea. From their union came the Olympian gods.

The bigger you are, the harder you fall Power changed Cronus and made him evil. He was so afraid that one of his sons was going to do to him what he did to his father that he swallowed all of his children immediately after their birth. One by one, Cronus swallowed Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. When Rhea was pregnant with her sixth child, she thought of a plan. She secretly gave birth to her sixth child, Zeus, and gave him to Mother Earth.

Mother Earth decided that the child would be safe if she hid him as far away from Cronus as she could. When Cronus asked to see the sixth child, Rhea handed him a rock wrapped in a blanket. Just like her previous children, Cronus swallowed the rock without hesitation, just as she had planned. Rhea was happy and could not wait for the day Zeus would grow up and destroy his father.

Zeus was safely being raised by Nymphs and shepherds Zeus was safely being raised by Nymphs and shepherds. Eventually Zeus grew up and Rhea, his mother, told him about what Cronus did to his siblings. Zeus made a promise to his mother that he would make Cronus pay for what he did.

Rhea and Zeus’ plan When Zeus returned to his mother, she disguised him as a servant. Rhea concocted a poisonous potion and Zeus, acting as a servant, put it in Cronus’ drink. The concoction caused Cronus to get sick and vomit. First, Cronus vomited up the rock. Then each of his five children, one by one. Zeus was seen as a hero for saving his siblings. They were extremely thankful. Once everyone was freed, the six children decided to battle against Cronus.

The battle between father and sons The war lasted ten years. Neither side could get the upper hand because they were equal in strength. Mother Earth suggested that Zeus and his brothers go free the Cyclops and have them fight on their side. Zeus and his brothers did as they were advised and freed their uncles, the Cyclops. The Cyclops gave them the advantage they needed. Finally, the war was over. Zeus and his siblings were victorious.

After the battle was over… Now that the battle was over, the three brothers had to decide who was going to rule the universe. They decided the fairest way to choose was to draw lots. Hades won the underworld. Poseidon won the sea and Zeus won the heaven and became ruler of all the gods of Mt. Olympus.

The gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus Mt. Olympus was the largest mountain in Greece. It was the home of the gods and goddesses. Gods and goddesses were immortal; they could not die. No humans were allowed on top of Mt. Olympus, but the Olympians were allowed on Earth. Resume notebook paper

Greek Gods and Goddesses English I Class notes

Zeus Chief god Lord of sky God of thunder & lightening Married his sister Hera Populated the heavens and the Earth “promiscuous liaisons”. Zeus

Hera Wife and sister of Zeus Goddess of marriage, protector of childbirth & heroes Portrayed as extremely jealous and vindictive

Zeus and Hera

Poseidon God of the sea, horses and earthquakes Lives in a palace beneath the ocean Carries a three-pronged trident Gave people the horse Married a sea nymph named Amphitrite Like his brother, he fathered many children. Very fond of his sister Demeter

Poseidon

Hades god of the underworld and the dead god of wealth Owned all of the precious metal on Earth Wore a cap that made him invisible Kidnapped his niece and made her his wife

Demeter Demeter means “Barley-mother” Another name for her is Ceres, from the word cereal Goddess of the cornfield, mistress of planting and harvesting, lady of growing things She had a son and a daughter. Her daughter’s name was Persephone. Her daughter was kidnapped by Hades. (reasons for the seasons)

Hestia Zeus’ third sister goddess of hearth family and home her only job was to keep the fire lit in the hearth on Mt. Olympus Hestia

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

Apollo god of light, music and poetry most beautiful god also the god of medicine taught people the art of healing fine marksman could predict the future

Artemis goddess of hunting, wild things, unmarried girls and the moon She decided never to 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.

Zeus’ favorite goddess of wisdom, strategy, protector of cities and civilizations goddess of handicrafts and art She sprang from her father’s head fully clothed and in armor. Hephaestus, Zeus’ son, had to release Athena by cutting his head open with an ax. Athena

Hephaestas god of fire The only ugly god, but he was peaceful, loving and popular. He walks with a limp because Zeus threw over the palace walls one day when he took his mother’s side over Zeus’. Made all the Olympians’ thrones, armor, furniture and weapons Married Aphrodite

Hermes Zeus’ graceful, happy son by the goddess, Maia God of shepherds, merchants, travelers and thieves Very mischievous and tricky Stole Apollo’s cows the day he was born Guided the newly dead to the underworld Invented the alphabet, astronomy, scales, playing cards and card games Zeus’ messenger Wore winged sandals and a winged cap Had a son named Pan. He was half goat.

Ares god of war Boastful, cruel and had no manners Son of Zeus and Hera Loved to fight, but was a coward once he got hurt Wherever he went there was violence and bloodshed the curse of mortals

Dionysus god of wine Zeus’ youngest son His mother, Semele, was a princess and a mortal woman His mother was consumed by fire when she was tricked by Hera He was saved by Hermes. Taught people the art of wine making & the consequences of too much wine Dionysus

Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty Goddess of desire Wherever she walked flowers sprang up beneath her feet she appeared from the foam of the sea Her son is Eros (Cupid)

The Odyssey Background

What is an Epic? A long narrative poem about the deeds of a hero.

Characteristics Hero often portrays the goals and values of society The hero is a figure of great national or international importance. The setting is large in scale. Hero often portrays the goals and values of society

Characteristics of an epic action involves heroic deeds in battle or on a long and arduous (hard) journey. Gods, Goddesses and other supernatural beings take an interest and active part.

Characteristics of epic poetry The poet begins by asking the Muses to help him with his story telling. The muses were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. They were believed to inspire all artists, especially poets, philosophers and musicians. The narration usually begins in the middle point of the action; the events that happened before the narrative opening are introduced later. Flashbacks

Narrative features of epic poetry Epic poems were initially performed as oral traditions by wandering professional bards, also called minstrels or rhapsodes.

Features continued… epithets- descriptive words or phrase that become a fixed formula. These develop the characterization by reinforcing particular aspects of a character. They are used over and over Examples: “Honest Abe” “wine-dark sea” “the gray-eyed goddess Athena”

Features Continued… Similar phrases used to introduce and/or conclude speeches which describe everyday life (e.g. beginning a meal) or events (e.g. Dawn). These are designed to give the bard a staged pause to assist in composition and to assist with the poetic metre.

Features Continued… The physical setting is created by: Imagery Homeric Similes - extended similes which compare heroic or epic events to everyday things metaphors Personification

Homer not Simpson Poet – traveling rhapsode/minstrel thought to be blind lived around Chios (Asia Minor)

Homer Authored the Iliad - war epic Authored the Odyssey – journey epic Passed down orally; written down by someone else Stories about events between 900 and 700 B.C.

Homer Ancient Greeks believed Homer’s stories to be true. The Greeks of the 5th century B.C. used the epics as ethical textbooks in their schools.

The Iliad -- The Trojan War Background for the Odyssey Action is set in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War According to the epic, the Greeks attacked Troy to avenge the insult suffered be King Menelaus when his wife ran off with Paris of Troy (Believed to be Western Turkey). The audience for the Odyssey would already know this story. Many believed that Troy was located in modern day Turkey. Real battles would have taken place as early as 1200 B.C.

Ancient Greece

Modern Greece

The beginning of the war: Paris, Prince of Troy Paris was initially raised as a shepherd because of a prophecy that he would be the downfall of Troy. Zeus (King of the Gods) decided that Paris would settle a quarrel between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.

The Quarrel Peleus and Thetis got married They didn’t invite Eris, the goddess of discord She threw an apple into the banquet inscribed “To the most beautiful” The goddesses fought over it Paris was called to settle the fight

The Bribe The goddesses tried to bribe Paris. Athena offered Paris wisdom and skill in battle. Hera offered Paris political power and control of all of Asia. Aphrodite offered Paris the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.

Paris Chooses Paris awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite Aphrodite suggested Helen of Sparta as the most beautiful mortal woman. She was already married

Helen of Sparta Helen was so beautiful and wealthy that her father was not sure who she should marry. He feared retaliation from those not selected to wed Helen. Helen of Sparta is better known as Helen of Troy.

Helen of Sparta A plan was proposed that whoever was chosen would be defended by all of Helen’s suitors. Helen chose Menelaus to wed.

Helen of Sparta & Paris of Troy Paris went on a diplomatic mission to Sparta. With Aphrodite’s help, Paris seduced or kidnapped her (accounts vary) and took her back to Troy as his wife. All the Kings of Greece were called upon to make good on their oaths to retrieve Helen.

The Spartan Fleet A fleet of more than a thousand ships was gathered and commanded by Agamemnon (Menelaus’ brother). The forces consisted of 28 contingents from mainland Greece, the Peloponnese, the Dodecanese Islands, Crete and Ithaca, amassing a force of 100,000 soldiers.

Ancient Greece

The War The Greek armies besieged Troy for nine long years, but were never able to penetrate the city walls of Troy. The events of Homer’s Iliad begin at this point.

The End of the War The Greek army appeared to have set sail for home. They left the giant wooden horse as a peace offering - at least that is what the Trojans thought. - The Trojans moved the giant horse from the shoreline into the city of Troy. The Trojans were overjoyed that the ten year siege was over.

The Ruse Succeeds The city of Troy erupted into a drunken celebration. The Greek soldiers suddenly emerged from the giant wooden horse. The Greeks opened the city gates to allow their fellow soldiers into the city of Troy.

The Trojan Horse

The Odyssey The story of the journey of Odysseus and his men trying to get home after the Trojan War. 10 years an epic about humans on the journey of life overcoming temptations along the way.

Odyssey The word has come to mean an epic voyage in modern English.