Greek and Roman Mythology A Review of The Principal Gods and Goddesses
9/26 Test Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8/29 Summer Reading Review 8/30 Summer Reading 8/31 Creation Stories 9/1 9/2 RISE DAY 9/5 No School 9/6 Lovers 9/7 9/8 Perseus 9/9 9/12 9/13 Odyssey Assign paper 9/14 650-659 The Wanderings 9/15 660-672 The Cyclops 9/16 673-683 9/19 Circe 9/20 684-686 Questions part one 9/21 690-702 9/22 703-709 9/23 Discussion 9/26 Test
Do you recognize these symbols? Ajax - Greek warrior in the Trojan War, who "cleaned up" in battle; popular household cleanser. Midas - King with the golden touch, who transformed all he touched to gold; a famous muffler and brake chain of service stations. Nike - Winged goddess of Victory, who can run and fly at great speeds; a famous company that sells...well...if you haven't heard of the company Nike, welcome to our planet...:)
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
There were five primary uses for myths. The uses were: 1. To explain natural phenomena or an occurrence. -The seasons - Fire - Sunrise/set - the echo
2. To explain the creation of the world. According to the Hesiod (around 700 BC), in the beginning there was Chaos as a primeval state of existence. Chaos was the primal emptiness- a dark, silent, formless and infinite oddity with no trace of life.
3. To teach people moral lessons. Narcissus was renowned for his beauty. In the various stories he is exceptionally cruel, in that he disdains those who love him. As divine punishment he falls in love with a reflection in a pool, not realizing it was his own, and perishes there, not being able to leave the beauty of his own reflection.
4. To explain some historical event. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. "The Iliad" relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy, while the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the Achaean leaders.
5. To reveal the common hopes and fears of mankind. Cerberus, the many-headed watchdog of Greek mythology, greeted souls when they arrived in the underworld. He also attacked them if they tried to escape. His image was a popular one with medieval artists. This sculpture of Cerberus can be found on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.
In the beginning... …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) Chaos had two children: Night (darkness) Erebus (death) “All was black, empty, silent, endless.” 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. Earth was created. She was the solid ground, but also a personality. The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.
The First Parents Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) They had three kinds of children: Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads Three cyclopes The titans These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.
The Titans (The Elder Gods) There were many of them. Enormous size, incredible strength 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)
The Principal Gods Cronos and Rhea were parents of Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto) Hera (Juno) Hestia (Vesta) Demeter (Ceres) Other Olympians include Athena (Minerva) Ares (Mars) Hebe (Juventas) Hephaestus (Vulcan) Apollo (Apollo) Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury) Aphrodite (Venus) Dionysus (Bacchus) Persephone
The Olympians
Zeus Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) Supreme god of the Olympians. Fathered many characters in mythology
Zeus
Hera Roman Name: Juno Zeus’s sister and wife Jealous protector of marriage Punished the women Zeus fell in love with
Poseidon Roman Name: Neptune God of the Seas and Waters “The Earthshaker”
Hades Roman Name: Pluto God of the Underworld/ Dead Kidnapped Persephone
Hestia Roman Name: Vesta Goddess of Home Powerful Protector
Demeter Roman Name: Ceres Goddess of the Harvest A Goddess of the Earth
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 Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences “He is happy whom the muses love.” Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne Inspired artists of all kinds 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 This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.