1. Introduction to Greek Mythology
For 7th Grade Language Arts

2. Places to Know:
The majority of the Greek gods and goddesses live on Mt. Olympus.
Initially, Mt. Olympus was considered a high mountain on Earth, but eventually it came to be known as a floating place in the heavens.
A mortal could only visit Mt. Olympus if they had an invitation.

3. The Earth is where humans lived
The Earth is where humans lived. The gods and goddesses ruled over realms on the earth and often visited.
Occasionally, gods and goddesses would fall in love with mortals. Their offspring would become demigods – half human, half god.
The Earth was inhabited by many strange and dangerous creatures that would often need to be killed by heroes and demigods.
Minor mythological creatures and monsters, such as nymphs, cyclops, and satyrs dwelled on Earth.

4. Then there is the Underworld. This is the world of the dead.
The underworld was a place inside the earth that was made up of three places; Tartarus, The Asphodel Fields, and The Elysian Fields.

5. Normal commoners went to the Asphodel Fields
Normal commoners went to the Asphodel Fields. This was a gray, shadowy, misty, and ghostly place. Here their souls wandered around like shadows.

6. Tartarus is where the worst humans and gods went
Tartarus is where the worst humans and gods went. They suffered horrendous punishments such as eternal hunger and thirst, being tied to a wheel of fire, being hit with thunderbolts, climbing a mountain endlessly, and shameful donkey’s ears. These people had to suffer for eternity.

7. Heroic, kind, and noble people went to the Elysian Fields
Heroic, kind, and noble people went to the Elysian Fields. Here they rested and enjoyed lives of luxury and bliss. You could be sent to Earth to live another life after you died. If you went to the Elysian Field three times you could go to the Isles of the Blessed and never leave.

8. In the beginning there was no earth, sky or sea
In the beginning there was no earth, sky or sea. There was only confusion and darkness, called Chaos. Chaos gave birth to Mother Earth. She eventually gave birth to a son, Uranus, also known as Father Heaven. Mother Earth and Father Heaven had many children.
First, they had three monstrous sons. Each had fifty heads and one hundred hands.
Then, they had three more sons. They were just as big and just as ugly. They were called Cyclops. They had one eye in the middle of their foreheads. They were as strong as Earthquakes and Tornadoes combined.
Finally, they had the first gods, six sons and six daughters called the Titans.

9. Cronus, a Titan, overthrew his father
Cronus, a Titan, overthrew his father. He married his sister, Rhea, and they had six children.
Unfortunately, Cronus was afraid he would be overthrown, so he swallowed each of his first five children after they were born. Rhea decided to hid her sixth child from him, giving Cronus a rock to swallow instead.
Eventually, this six child grew up to rescue his siblings (who were now full grown in their father’s belly) overthrow his father and his aunts and uncles (the Titans), and become the king of the gods.

10. The Olympians

11. Zeus (Jupiter) Lord of the Sky & Thunder Father of all the Gods
Symbols: Thunderbolt, Eagle, Bull, and Oak
Upholder of the law, justice, morals, and civilized conduct
Married to Hera – but has MANY affairs.
{zoos}

12. Hera (Juno) Wife of Zeus Goddess of women & marriage
Symbols: Peacock & Cow
Known for her jealousy and
vengeful nature
{hir'-uh}

13. Poseidon (Neptune) God of the Sea, Storms and Earthquakes
Symbols: Trident, Fish, Dolphin and Horse
Brother to Zeus
Married a sea nymph, but also had lots of affairs.
{puh-sy'-duhn}

14. Hades (Pluto) Lord of the Underworld & Afterlife
Symbols: Cerberus, Cap of Invisibility, Cypress
Spent nearly ALL his time in the Underworld
Married to his neice, Persephone (whom he kidnapped)
Owns all the precious metal on Earth
Brother to Zeus and Poseidon
{hay'-deez}

15. Persephone and Hestia Persephone (Proserpine) Hestia (Vesta)
Daughter of Demeter
Goddess of Spring
Queen of the Underworld
Spends half her time on Earth and half in the Underworld.
Symbols: Pomegranate, Ram, Monkeys
Hestia (Vesta)
Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of home and domestic life
A virgin goddess, wooed by Poseidon and Apollo but swore by Zeus to remain a virgin
Every hearth on Earth was her altar
New colonies took fire from the hearth of the mother-city
Symbol: The hearth

16. Demeter (Ceres) Goddess of the harvest, fertility of the earth
Also represented sanctity of marriage and life/death cycle
Symbols: Torch, Lion, Cornucopia, Sheaves of Wheat
Her moods determine the seasons
Mother of Persephone
{dih-mee'-tur}

17. Athena (Minerva)
Goddess of Wisdom, Strategy, Civilization, crafts, justice, and war
Owl, Olive tree, Snake, Spider
Sprung forth from Zeus’s head fully grown
Zeus’s favorite child
Often counselor to heroes
Patron Goddess of Athens
{a-thee'na}

18. Ares (Mars) God of War & Bloodshed Symbols: Vulture, Spear, Boar
Prone to Unpredictable Violence
Continual Affair with Aphrodite
Handsome but vain, cruel and murderous; detested by gods and men
{air'-eez}

19. Apollo
God of music, poetry, plague, oracles, medicine, light and knowledge, truth (can never tell a lie), and archery.
Master musician, he directed the choir of Muses.
The Archer-god, the Healer.
Twin brother of Artemis
Symbols: Lyre, Laurel Wreath,
Python, Raven
{a-pol'-lo}

20. Artemis (Diana) Goddess of the Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon
Symbols: Bow & Arrows, Stags, Hunting Dogs, the Moon
Twin Sister of Apollo
Virgin Goddess
{ahr'-tuh-mis}

21. Aphrodite (Venus) Goddess of Love and Beauty
Symbols: Dolphin, Rose, Dove, Mirror, Swan
Mother of Eros (Cupid)
Married to Hephaestus but commits adultery
Considered irresistible
{af-roh-dy'-tee}

22. Dionysus (Bacchus) God of Wine, Theatre, and Ecstasy
Zeus’ youngest son
His mother, Semele, was a princess and a mortal woman
Taught people the art of wine making & the consequences of too much wine
Symbols: Grapevine, leopard skin, panther, tiger, leopard
Satyrs are associated with him as well
{dy-uh-ny'-suhs}

23. Hermes (Mercury)
God of commerce, thieves, travelers, sports, and border crossings
Messenger of the Gods
Symbols: Caduceus, Tortoise, Lyre, Rooster
Recognized by his winged cap and sandals
Appears the most often of all the gods
{hur'-meez}

24. Hephaestus (Vulcan)
God of Technology, Blacksmiths, Craftsmen and Volcanoes
Symbols: Hammer, Anvil and Tongs
Married to Aphrodite
Was born of Hera’s jealousy
The only ugly god
Crippled from Birth and Zeus cast him out of Olympus
{huh-fes'-tuhs}

25. Cronus + Rhea Hestia Hades Poseidon Demeter Hera Zeus
ZEUS’S IMMORTAL OFFSPRING
Metis -- Athena
Themis -- Hours, Order, Justice, Peace, Fates
Demeter -- Persephone
Mnemosyne -- The Nine Muses
Leto -- Artemis & Apollo
Dione -- Aphrodite
Semele -- Dionysus
Maia -- Hermes
Hera -- Hebe, Ares, Hephaestus
Other notable offspring of Zeus
Perseus
Kastor and Polydeukes
Helen of Troy
Hercules

26. Knowing a little about these Gods and goddesses will help
You as we read Greek mythology.
Hope you enjoyed the slideshow.