2. Notes

3. What is a myth? A myth is 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 A study of a culture’s myths reveals the way of life and thought of a culture.

4. Breaking down the word for meaning

5. What kind of myths are there? Greek Roman Egyptian Norse African Asian Native American and others, too! Our Focus = GREEK MYTHS

6. What are the purposes of Greek myths? 1. To teach a moral lesson 2. To explain the origin and trials of human life 3. To glorify the good and desirable qualities of mankind

7. What is Mount Olympus? In Greek mythology, twelve gods and goddesses ruled from atop Greece's Mount Olympus, a tall, snowcapped mountain in eastern Greece. n Aphrodite n Apollo n Ares n Artemis n Athena n Demeter From Mount Olympus, these gods presided over every aspect of human life. n Dionysus n Hephaestus n Hera n Hermes n Poseidon n Zeus

8. Gods and Goddesses

9. Zeus Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) King of all gods God of thunder and lightning

10. Hera Roman Name: Juno Queen of gods Goddess of marriage

11. Aphrodite Roman Name: Venus Goddess of love and beauty

12. Apollo Roman Name: Apollo God of poetry, healing, prophecy Associated with the sun

13. Ares Roman Name: Mars God of war and violence

14. Artemis Roman Name: Diana Goddess of the hunt and the moon

15. Athena Roman Name: Minerva Goddess of wisdom and war Goddess of domestic arts

16. Demeter Roman Name: Ceres Goddess of agriculture Goddess of fertility

17. Dionysus Roman Name: Bacchus God of wine God of the Greek stage

18. Eros Roman Name: Cupid Young god of love

19. Hades Roman Name: Pluto God of the Underworld King of the dead

20. Hebe Roman Name: Juventas Goddess of Youth Cupbearer to the Gods

21. Hephaestus Roman Name: Vulcan God of fire and metalworking Blacksmith for the gods

22. Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Messenger to the gods God of herds, cunning, and travel

23. Hestia Roman Name: Vesta Goddess of the hearth and home

24. Hypnos Roman Name: Somnus God of sleep

25. Iris Roman Name: Iris Goddess of the Rainbow Messenger for Zeus and Hera

26. Pan Roman Name: Pan God of shepherds and flocks Had the legs, horns, and tail of a goat

27. Persephone Roman Name: Proserpina Goddess of young grain Queen of the Underworld

28. Poseidon Roman Name: Neptune God of the seas and waters

29. Psyche Roman Name: Psyche Goddess of the soul

30. Heroes

31. Heracles Roman Name: Hercules Son of Zeus Forced to perform the Twelve Labors

32. Jason Son of a Greek king Raised by the kindly centaur Chiron Went on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece

33. Perseus Son of Zeus Killed the snake- headed Gorgon Medusa

34. Theseus Son of a Greek king Killed the hideous Minotaur

35. Other Mythological Figures

36. Centaurs Half man, half horse Savage creatures (except Chiron)

37. Cerberus Gigantic three- headed dog Guarded the gates of Hades

38. Cyclopes One-eyed giants Made lightning bolts for Zeus

39. Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters Weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans

40. Furies Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae Three goddesses of vengeance Punish evildoers

41. Giants Huge, monstrous human-shaped creatures Battled the gods

42. Gorgons Three snake- haired monsters Their look turns men to stone

43. Muses Nine daughters of Zeus Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences Inspired artists of all kinds “He is happy whom the muses love.”

44. Minotaur Monster with the head of a bull and the body of a human Lived in King Minos’ maze

45. Nymphs Presided over natural phenomena: springs, clouds, trees, meadows, beaches, etc. Depicted as fun- loving, beautiful young women

46. Pegasus Immortal winged horse Sprang forth from Medusa’s neck when Perseus beheaded her

47. Satyrs Half goat, half man Like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs

48. Sirens Three sea monsters Lured sailors to their death with a bewitching song

49. Titans Ruled the universe before the Olympians came to power Cronus and Rhea, two Titans, were the parents of Zeus