Greek Mythology: Gods and Monsters ©2015HappyEdugator

What is a myth? Myths are traditional stories about gods, goddesses and mortals with special powers. Myths were passed down by oral tradition to explain the natural world, and became an important part of the religious beliefs of ancient peoples. ©2015HappyEdugator

What is a myth? Myths are still an important part of our culture, because they often describe timeless ideas such as the creation of the world, the forces of nature, the battle between good and evil, and universal human characteristics and emotions. ©2015HappyEdugator

Zeus in battle with the Titans The Titans were a race of incredibly strong giants who ruled the universe. Zeus in battle with the Titans ©2015HappyEdugator

Atlas Atlas was a Titan who rebelled against the gods, and so he was punished by being forced to hold the earth and sky on his shoulders for all eternity. ©2015HappyEdugator

Cronus (Saturn) Cronus was the ruling Titan and was married to Rhea. Their children were the first of the Olympians. Cronus ate his children so they could never take his power away. Rhea tricked Cronus into eating a rock instead of Zeus. Zeus defeated the Titans and banished them to Tartarus ©2015HappyEdugator

Zeus (Jupiter) Zeus was the youngest son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. He and his siblings fought to gain control of the universe from the Titans and his father. Zeus and his brothers Poseidon and Hades divided up creation between them. Zeus became the absolute ruler of all the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece. He controlled thunder and lightning, and used thunderbolts as weapons. He was more powerful than all the other gods and goddesses. ©2015HappyEdugator

Poseidon (Neptune) Poseidon was god of the sea, and one of the most powerful gods, after Zeus, his brother. Responsible for the extended travel of Odysseus on his trip home after the Trojan War. ©2015HappyEdugator

Hades (Pluto) Hades was god of the underworld, the gloomy place where the dead lived. Hades was also the name of the underworld. ©2015HappyEdugator

Persephone (Proserpina) The goddess of spring and the daughter of Demeter who was kidnapped by Hades and became the queen of the underworld. ©2015HappyEdugator

Hera (Juno) Hera was the wife of Zeus and the queen of all the Greek gods and goddesses. She was also the goddess of marriage. She sometimes would take the shape of a bird. ©2015HappyEdugator

Ares (Mars) Ares was the god of war. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. ©2015HappyEdugator

Hephaestus (Vulcan) Hephaestus was the god of fire, and was also the blacksmith of the gods. He used his fire to make their tools and weapons. ©2015HappyEdugator

Artemis (Diana) Artemis was the goddess of the hunt. She is often pictured with a bow and arrow and a deer. ©2015HappyEdugator

Athena (Minerva) Athena was the goddess of wisdom. She was also the warrior and protector of Athens and other Greek cities. She had an unusual birth. She was born full grown and fully in armor from the head of Zeus. ©2015HappyEdugator

Hermes (Mercury) Hermes was the winged messenger of the gods. He wore winged sandals and a winged cap which allowed him to fly very fast. He also carried a magic wand. ©2015HappyEdugator

Sphinx The Sphinx was a terrible monster that had the body of a winged lion and the head of a woman. She devoured anyone who could not solve her riddle.. ©2015HappyEdugator

Cerberus Cerberus was a three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the underworld, Hades. He allowed the dead to enter, but not to leave. ©2015HappyEdugator

Cyclops The Cyclopes were giants that only had one eye, set in the middle of their foreheads. The best known Cyclops imprisoned the Greek hero Odysseus and his men, but was tricked and they escaped when they put out his eye. ©2015HappyEdugator

Sirens The Sirens were beautiful, but dangerous creatures that lured the sailors with their beautiful voices to their doom, causing the ships to crash on the reefs near their island. ©2015HappyEdugator

Scylla Scylla was a monster in Greek mythology that lived on one side of a narrow water channel. On the other side resided another infamous monster called Charybdis. The channel was so narrow that if sailors tried to avoid Scylla, they would sail too close to Charybdis and vice versa. ©2015HappyEdugator

Charybdis It was believed that Charybdis lived under a rock on one side of the strait. Opposite Charybdis, there was another sea monster, Scylla. Charybdis swallowed large amounts of water and then belched them out, creating large whirlpools that resulted in the destruction of passing ships. ©2015HappyEdugator

Fates The Fates were three old women who decided how long every one would live, and what would happen in their lifetime. Everyone’s life was represented by a thread. One Fate spun the thread, one Fate measured it, and one Fate cut it resulting in death. ©2015HappyEdugator

Furies The Furies were ugly goddesses of revenge. They would chase people who were guilty of terrible crimes and drive them insane. ©2015HappyEdugator

Medusa Medusa was a Gorgon, which was a terrible monster with snakes for hair. Whoever looked at her directly turned into stone. Perseus, a Greek hero, was able to kill her by looking at her reflection in a polished shield as he swung his sword. ©2015HappyEdugator

Minotaur The Minotaur was a monster that was half man and half bull, and was kept in the Labyrinth to destroy those who entered. He was finally destroyed by the Greek hero Theseus. ©2015HappyEdugator

Hercules Hercules was the strongest man in the world, and a great Greek hero. He proved his might by performing a series of supposedly impossible tasks known as the Twelve Labors of Hercules. ©2015HappyEdugator

Prometheus Prometheus was a Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. He was punished by Zeus, who had him chained to a rock while a great eagle gnawed at his liver. He was rescued by Hercules. ©2015HappyEdugator

Styx Styx was a river that the dead would have to cross on their way to the underworld. ©2015HappyEdugator