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 A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity

In the beginning... …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) Chaos had two children: Chaos had two children: –Night (darkness) –Erebus (death) “All was black, empty, silent, endless.” “All was black, empty, silent, endless.” Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death. Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.

And then... When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. Love created Light and Day. Love created Light and Day. Earth was created. 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 Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.

The First Parents Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) They had three kinds of children: 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. 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. There were many of them. Enormous size, incredible strength Enormous size, incredible strength Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans Rhea: Wife of Cronos Rhea: Wife of Cronos Ocean: River that encircled the world Ocean: River that encircled the world Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans) Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)

The Principal Gods Cronos and Rhea were parents of Cronos and Rhea were parents of –Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) –Poseidon (Neptune) –Hades (Pluto) –Hera (Juno) –Hestia (Vesta) –Demeter (Ceres) Other Olympians include 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) Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) Symbol: Lightning Bolt Symbol: Lightning Bolt Supreme god of the Olympians. Supreme god of the Olympians. Fathered many characters in mythology Fathered many characters in mythology

Zeus

Hera Roman Name: Juno Roman Name: Juno Zeus’s sister and wife Zeus’s sister and wife Animal: Peacock Animal: Peacock Jealous protector of marriage Jealous protector of marriage Punished the women Zeus fell in love with Punished the women Zeus fell in love with

Poseidon Roman Name: Neptune Roman Name: Neptune Symbol: Trident Symbol: Trident God of the Seas and Waters God of the Seas and Waters “The Earthshaker” “The Earthshaker” Fathered horses Fathered horses

Hades Roman Name: Pluto Roman Name: Pluto God of the Underworld/ Dead God of the Underworld/ Dead Controlled Cerberus- the three headed dog that guarded the underworld Controlled Cerberus- the three headed dog that guarded the underworld Kidnapped Persephone Kidnapped Persephone

Demeter Roman Name: Ceres Roman Name: Ceres Goddess of the Harvest Goddess of the Harvest Symbol: fruit and grain Symbol: fruit and grain A Goddess of the Earth A Goddess of the Earth

Athena Roman Name: Minerva Roman Name: Minerva Animal: owl Animal: owl Goddess of Wisdom and War Goddess of Wisdom and War Sprang from Zeus’s head Sprang from Zeus’s head

Ares Roman Name: Mars Roman Name: Mars God of War God of War Symbols: Spear and Helmet Symbols: Spear and Helmet Animal: dog Animal: dog Son of Zeus and Hera Son of Zeus and Hera Bloodthirsty and merciless Bloodthirsty and merciless

Hephaestus Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) God of Fire/Forge God of Fire/Forge Son of Zeus and Hera Son of Zeus and Hera Kind, unlike his brother Kind, unlike his brother

Apollo Roman Name: Apollo Roman Name: Apollo God of Light/Sun and Music God of Light/Sun and Music Brother of Artemis Brother of Artemis

Artemis Roman Name: Diana Roman Name: Diana Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt Sister to Apollo Sister to Apollo

Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Roman Name: Mercury Messenger of the Gods Messenger of the Gods Appears in more myths than any other character Appears in more myths than any other character

Aphrodite Roman Name: Venus Roman Name: Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty Goddess of Love and Beauty Sprang from the ocean foam Sprang from the ocean foam Symbol: seashells Symbol: seashells

Dionysus Roman Name: Bacchus Roman Name: Bacchus God of Wine God of Wine Symbol: glass of wine or grapes hanging from vine Symbol: glass of wine or grapes hanging from vine Patron god of the Greek stage Patron god of the Greek stage A God of the Earth A God of the Earth Created dolphins Created dolphins

Persephone Roman Name: Proserpina Roman Name: Proserpina Goddess of the Underworld / wife of Hades Goddess of the Underworld / wife of Hades Daughter of Zeus and Demeter Daughter of Zeus and Demeter Abducted by Hades Abducted by Hades Controlled the seasons: Controlled the seasons: –6 months in Hades (fall and winter) –6 months on earth (spring and summer)

Eros Roman Name: Cupid Roman Name: Cupid Symbol: bow and arrow Symbol: bow and arrow Young God of Love Young God of Love Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus

Iris Goddess of the Rainbow Goddess of the Rainbow Symbol: Rainbow Symbol: Rainbow Messenger for Zeus and Hera Messenger for Zeus and Hera Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra

Atlas In Greek mythology, Atlas was a Titan who fought against Zeus. After the Titans lost a war against Zeus, Atlas was condemned by Zeus to stand forever holding up the heavens. In Greek mythology, Atlas was a Titan who fought against Zeus. After the Titans lost a war against Zeus, Atlas was condemned by Zeus to stand forever holding up the heavens.

Gaea Roman Name is Gaia Roman Name is Gaia Goddess of the Earth. Goddess of the Earth. “Mother Nature” “Mother Nature”

The Muses Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne Inspired artists of all kinds Inspired artists of all kinds Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences “He is happy whom the muses love.” “He is happy whom the muses love.” Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

The Graces Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty “They give life its bloom.” “They give life its bloom.” Aglaia (Splendor) Aglaia (Splendor) Euphrosyne (Mirth) Euphrosyne (Mirth) Thalia (Good Cheer) Thalia (Good Cheer)

The Erinnyes (The Furies) Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) Three Goddesses of Vengeance Three Goddesses of Vengeance –Tisiphone –Alecto –Megaera They punish evildoers. They punish evildoers.

The Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters Three sisters –Clotho (“The Spinner”) –Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) –Atropos (“The cutter”) They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans. They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.

The Satyrs Gods of the woods and mountains Gods of the woods and mountains “Shepherd gods” “Shepherd gods” Goat men (like Pan) Goat men (like Pan) Companions of Dionysus Companions of Dionysus They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs. They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.

The Gorgons Three snake-haired monsters Three snake-haired monsters Medusa is most well-known Medusa is most well-known Their look turns men to stone. Their look turns men to stone.

The Centaurs Half man, half horse Half man, half horse Savage creatures (except Chiron) Savage creatures (except Chiron) Followers of Dionysus Followers of Dionysus

The Minotaur Head of bull Head of bull Body of man Body of man

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