It’s All Greek to Me! Introduction to Greek Mythology

Greek Gods Greek religion was POLYTHEISTIC.Greek religion was POLYTHEISTIC. The Greeks created their gods IN THEIR OWN IMAGES.The Greeks created their gods IN THEIR OWN IMAGES. Greek mythology is largely made up of stories about gods and goddesses, but it CANNOT be read as a Greek Bible.Greek mythology is largely made up of stories about gods and goddesses, but it CANNOT be read as a Greek Bible.

The Greeks believed... The UNIVERSE created the gods.The UNIVERSE created the gods. Before there were gods, Heaven and Earth had been formed. They were the first parents.Before there were gods, Heaven and Earth had been formed. They were the first parents. The TITANS were their children, and the gods were their grandchildren.The TITANS were their children, and the gods were their grandchildren.

TITANS or THE ELDER GODS Enormous size and incredible strengthEnormous size and incredible strength CRONUS—ruled over the Titans until his son Zeus dethroned him; Cronus then fled to Italy and brought in the Golden Age, a time of perfect peace and happiness.CRONUS—ruled over the Titans until his son Zeus dethroned him; Cronus then fled to Italy and brought in the Golden Age, a time of perfect peace and happiness.

Other Titans OCEAN: River that was supposed to encircle the earthOCEAN: River that was supposed to encircle the earth TETHYS: Ocean’s wifeTETHYS: Ocean’s wife HYPERIOD: Father of the sun, the moon, and the dawnHYPERIOD: Father of the sun, the moon, and the dawn MNEMOSYNE: MemoryMNEMOSYNE: Memory THEMIS: JusticeTHEMIS: Justice IAPETUS: Father of Atlas (who bore the world on his soldiers) and Prometheus (who was the savior of mankind)IAPETUS: Father of Atlas (who bore the world on his soldiers) and Prometheus (who was the savior of mankind) These gods were NOT banished when Zeus came to power.These gods were NOT banished when Zeus came to power.

MT. OLYMPUS Home to the Twelve Olympians— the children of the TitansHome to the Twelve Olympians— the children of the Titans First held to be GREECE’S highest mountaintopFirst held to be GREECE’S highest mountaintop Or maybe a mysterious region far above the mountains of the earthOr maybe a mysterious region far above the mountains of the earth Entrance was a great gate of clouds kept closed by the SeasonsEntrance was a great gate of clouds kept closed by the Seasons Inside, the gods lived, slept, feasted on AMBROSIA and NECTAR, and listened to Apollo’s lyreInside, the gods lived, slept, feasted on AMBROSIA and NECTAR, and listened to Apollo’s lyre No wind, no rain, no snowNo wind, no rain, no snow

TWELVE OLYMPIANS (How many did you get?) ZeusZeus PoseidonPoseidon HadesHades HestiaHestia HeraHera AresAres AthenaAthena ApolloApollo AphroditeAphrodite HermesHermes ArtemisArtemis HephaestusHephaestus

ZEUS (Jupiter) Supreme ruler; Lord of the Sky; Rain-god, Cloud-gatherer; wielded the thunderboltSupreme ruler; Lord of the Sky; Rain-god, Cloud-gatherer; wielded the thunderbolt Not omnipotent nor omniscientNot omnipotent nor omniscient Falls in love with one woman after anotherFalls in love with one woman after another Will do anything to hide his infidelity from his wifeWill do anything to hide his infidelity from his wife SYMBOLS: eagle, oakSYMBOLS: eagle, oak

HERA (Juno) Zeus’ wife and sisterZeus’ wife and sister Protector of marriage and heroesProtector of marriage and heroes Punishes the many women Zeus falls in love withPunishes the many women Zeus falls in love with SYMBOLS: cow, peacockSYMBOLS: cow, peacock

POSEIDON (Neptune) Ruler of the seas Zeus’ brother and second in eminence Splendid palace beneath the sea Gave the first horse to man Controlled storm and calm “Earth-shaker” Carried a trident Connection with bulls and horses

HADES (Pluto) Zeus’ brother and third in eminenceZeus’ brother and third in eminence Ruler of the Underworld and the DeadRuler of the Underworld and the Dead God of Wealth (precious metals hidden in the earth)God of Wealth (precious metals hidden in the earth) Had a cap that made him invisibleHad a cap that made him invisible Rarely left his dark realmRarely left his dark realm “King of the Dead”“King of the Dead” Wife Persephone—carried her away from earth and made her Queen of the UnderworldWife Persephone—carried her away from earth and made her Queen of the Underworld

PALLAS ATHENA (Minerva) Daughter of Zeus alone— sprang from Zeus’ headDaughter of Zeus alone— sprang from Zeus’ head Battle-goddess; fierce and ruthlessBattle-goddess; fierce and ruthless Goddess of the CityGoddess of the City Zeus’ favorite childZeus’ favorite child “gray-eyed”“gray-eyed” Embodiment of wisdom, reason and purityEmbodiment of wisdom, reason and purity SYMBOLS: Olive tree, owlSYMBOLS: Olive tree, owl

PHOEBUS APOLLO Son of Zeus and LetoSon of Zeus and Leto Master musician, plays on his golden lyreMaster musician, plays on his golden lyre Archer-godArcher-god God of HealingGod of Healing God of LightGod of Light God of TruthGod of Truth Most ‘Greek’ of all the godsMost ‘Greek’ of all the gods Wears a laurel on his headWears a laurel on his head SYMBOLS: dolphin, cowSYMBOLS: dolphin, cow

HESTIA (Vesta) Zeus’ sisterZeus’ sister Virgin-goddessVirgin-goddess No personalityNo personality Goddess of the HearthGoddess of the Hearth Protector of newborn childrenProtector of newborn children

ARES (Mars) Son of Zeus and HeraSon of Zeus and Hera God of WarGod of War HatefulHateful Lover of AphroditeLover of Aphrodite Symbol of warSymbol of war No personalityNo personality SYMBOL: vultureSYMBOL: vulture

APHRODITE (Venus) Child of Zeus and DioneChild of Zeus and Dione Sprung up from the sea foamSprung up from the sea foam Goddess of Love and BeautyGoddess of Love and Beauty Beautiful and goldenBeautiful and golden Soft and weakSoft and weak Wife of HephaestusWife of Hephaestus SYMBOLS: myrtle, dove, sparrow, swanSYMBOLS: myrtle, dove, sparrow, swan

HERMES (Mercury) Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Atlas)Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Atlas) Graceful and swiftGraceful and swift Zeus’ messenger— Messenger between gods and mortalsZeus’ messenger— Messenger between gods and mortals Winged sandalsWinged sandals Master thiefMaster thief

ARTEMIS (Diana) Daughter of Zeus and Leto, Apollo’s twinDaughter of Zeus and Leto, Apollo’s twin Maiden goddess of OlympusMaiden goddess of Olympus Lady of Wild Things; Goddess of the MoonLady of Wild Things; Goddess of the Moon Huntsman-in-chiefHuntsman-in-chief Protector of dewy youthProtector of dewy youth SYMBOLS: moon, cypress, deerSYMBOLS: moon, cypress, deer

HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan, Mulciber) Son of Hera and ZeusSon of Hera and Zeus God of Fire and Craftsmen (blacksmith)God of Fire and Craftsmen (blacksmith) UglyUgly Kind, peace-lovingKind, peace-loving Popular on earth and in heavenPopular on earth and in heaven

Great Gods of Earth Demeter (Ceres): Goddess of Grain and Agriculture; Harvest; appropriate because women tended to the crops while men were hunting and fishing Dionysus (Bacchus): God of Wine and Revelry

Lesser Gods of Olympus EROS (Cupid): God of Love; Aphrodite’s companion and son; naughty boy, archer-god PAN: Earth god of woods and fields, half man and half goat; Hermes’ son

–NYMPHS: beautiful young goddesses of nature Dryade: Nymph of the woods –FATES: Three goddesses who control mortal destiny Clotho (spinner of thread of life), Lachesis (disposer of lots), Atropos (cut thread of death) –MUSES: Nine goddesses of the arts; Daughter’s of Zeus and Mnemosyne Clio (history) Urania (astronomy), Melpomene (tragedy), Thalia (comedy), Terpsichore (dance), Calliope (epic poems), Erato (love poems), Polyhymnia (songs to Gods), Euterpe (lyrical poems) –NEREIDS: Daughters of Poseidon –GRACES: daughters of Zeus who represented beauty

–IRIS: Goddess of the rainbow; messenger –Queen PERSEPHONE: Daughter of Demeter’ was abducted by Hades and made queen of the Underworld –AEOLUS: King of the Winds North Boreas (Aquilo)North Boreas (Aquilo) West Zephyr (Favonius)West Zephyr (Favonius) South Notus (Auster)South Notus (Auster) East EurusEast Eurus –SIRENS: Lured sailors to their death with singing

CLASSICAL ALLUSIONS, or references to aspects of Greek mythology, can be spotted in almost any piece of reputable literature.CLASSICAL ALLUSIONS, or references to aspects of Greek mythology, can be spotted in almost any piece of reputable literature.