Greek and Roman Mythology A Review of The Principal Gods and Goddesses
What is a myth? A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity
In the beginning... …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) Chaos had two children: Night (darkness) Erebus (death)
All was black, empty, silent, endless.”
When suddenly, mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.
When suddenly, mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.
And then... When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. Love created Light and Day.
Her name was Gaia. Earth was created. She was the solid ground, but also a personality. Her name was Gaia.
The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods. He was called Uranus
They Were The First Parents They had three kinds of children: Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads Hecatonchires
Three cyclopes
And 12 Titans- 6 Males and 6 Females
Some of The Titans (The Elder Gods) Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans Rhea: Wife of Cronos Ocean: River that encircled the world Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)
These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.
For some reason Uranus wasn’t very fond of his children. Especially the Hecatonchires and Cyclopes
Seriously, Who could blame him ?
So he buried them deep inside of the Earth. Wait, the Earth is a person. Do you think Gaia was happy to have those big monsters shoved back inside her?
She wasn’t! So she asked her children to help her take care of their father, but only one of them agreed to help her- Cronos.
Well something kind of important. She made him a very special sickle and asked him to cut off his father’s . . . Well something kind of important.
After that, for some reason, I guess Uranus didn’t want to be with Gaia, and the Sky separated from the Earth Cronos took over and ruled with his wife (and sister) Rhea. I know, gross right?
Under Cronos and Rhea, though, the world had complete peace. T here were no wars no crime no injustice! Even the animals lived in peace!
It was called
But Chronos had been told that one of his children would depose him: So, he ate them!
Except for Zeus His Grandmother (Gaia) helped Rhea to hide Zeus and fed Cronos a blanket-wrapped rock instead.
They hid Zeus in a cave where he was cared for by a goat until he was old enough to come back and fix things. He came home and made his father barf up his brothers and sisters.
The children divided the kingdom between them. Zeus (Roman name Jupiter) became the supreme ruler of Mount Olympus
Poseidon (Roman name Neptune) became the god of the seas
Hades (Roman name Pluto) is the god of the Underworld With his three-headed dog.
Demeter (Roman name Ceres) is the goddess of the earth and fertility. She gives us winter every year since her daughter was Kidnapped by . . ., But, I guess that is a different story
Hera Who is the jealous (very) Protector of Marriage
And Hestia (Roman name Vesta) Goddess of Home
Other Olympians include Athena (Minerva) Ares (Mars) Hebe (Juventas) Hephaestus (Vulcan) Apollo (Apollo) Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury) Aphrodite (Venus) Dionysus (Bacchus) Persephone
The Olympians
Athena Roman Name: Minerva Goddess of Wisdom and War Sprang from Zeus’s head
Ares Roman Name: Mars God of War Son of Zeus and Hera Bloodthirsty and merciless
Hephaestus Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) God of Fire/Forge Son of Zeus and Hera Kind, unlike his brother
Apollo Roman Name: Apollo God of Light/Sun and Music Brother of Artemis
Artemis Roman Name: Diana Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt Sister to Apollo
Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Messenger of the Gods Appears in more myths than any other character
Aphrodite Roman Name: Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty Sprang from the ocean foam
Dionysus Roman Name: Bacchus God of Wine Patron god of the Greek stage A God of the Earth
Persephone Roman Name: Proserpina Goddess of the Underworld Daughter of Zeus and Demeter Abducted by Hades
Hebe Roman Name: Juventas Goddess of Youth Cupbearer to the Gods Restored youth to the aged
Eros Roman Name: Cupid Young God of Love Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus
Iris Goddess of the Rainbow Messenger for Zeus and Hera Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra
The Muses Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne Inspired artists of all kinds Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences “He is happy whom the muses love.” Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia
The Graces Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty “They give life its bloom.” Aglaia (Splendor) Euphrosyne (Mirth) Thalia (Good Cheer)
The Erinnyes (The Furies) Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) Three Goddesses of Vengeance Tisiphone Alecto Megaera They punish evildoers.
The Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters Clotho (“The Spinner”) Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) Atropos (“The cutter”) They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.
The Satyrs Gods of the woods and mountains “Shepherd gods” Goat men (like Pan) Companions of Dionysus They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.
The Gorgons Three snake-haired monsters Medusa is most well-known Their look turns men to stone.
The Centaurs Half man, half horse Savage creatures (except Chiron) Followers of Dionysus
Sources Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites: http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html http://www.pantheon.org/ http://www.messagenet.com/myths/ http://mythman.com/ http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html http://www.paleothea.com/ http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html C Golden’s This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.