1. Greek Myths Unit 1 Lesson 1.19 Sources:
englishcaldwell.pbworks.com/f/greek+mythology.ppt

2. What is mythology? Some people use the word myth to mean fake, but…
Mythology is the study of stories that were used to explain the world and other human experiences.

3. In the same way, Greek Myths…
Were used to explain
the creation of the earth,
death and the afterlife,
and human experiences: love, jealousy, revenge, & war.
They were also used as entertainment and were only told orally because most people could not read.

4. Why Do We Study Myths?
They depict and reveal behavior and problems common to all human beings.
Remind us that human nature is the same across time and culture.
Reveal that many social, ethical, and religious attitudes continue through time.
They reflect the attitudes, priorities, and values of the cultures that produced them.

5. The Belief System of Ancient Greece
In Greek mythology, gods “did not create the universe… the universe created the gods” (Hamilton 24).
In the beginning… there was only Chaos.

6. Death in Ancient Greece
According to the Greeks, all departed souls went to the Underworld.
Two Main Divisions of the Underworld:
Erebus: where the dead pass when they die
Tartarus: the main division

7. Death in Ancient Greece
The dead are ferried across the point where the River Acheron (river of woe) pours into the River Cocytus (river of lamentation) by an aged boatman named Charon.
Charon will ONLY ferry into the Underworld those who have been properly buried and who have had the passage fee placed on their lips at burial.

8. Death in Ancient Greece
At the gate sits Cerberus, the three-headed dog who permits all the dead to enter, but not to exit.
The Underworld is ruled by the god Hades and his queen, Persephone.

9. Gods & Goddesses Greek Myths include gods & goddesses.
A god or goddess is immortal. This means that they can never die and that they live forever.
The immortals could not die but they did make mistakes and had human emotions such as: jealousy, love & anger.

10. Myths also include mortals
Mortals are men and women who live on earth. To be mortal means that you can die.
Sometimes the gods like to help, punish or even have romantic relationships with the mortals.

11. The Immortals Here are some of them…

12. Originally Thought to be a Finally Came to be Thought of
MOUNT OLYMPUS
Home of the Gods
Originally Thought to be a
Real Mountain
Finally Came to be Thought of
as a Floating Mountain
in the Sky

13. The Twelve Olympians The Twelve great gods who succeeded the Titans
Lived on Mt. Olympus, which could have either been
The physical mountain in Thessaly OR
A mountain in a mysterious region above the Earth.
Olympus was NOT HEAVEN.

14. ZEUS (Roman Name: Jupiter)
His weapon was the mighty
THUNDERBOLT
Supreme Ruler of the Gods
He falls in love frequently and often acts on it (even though he is married)

15. Protector of Marriage and
HERA
(Roman Name: Juno)
Zeus’ Wife and Sister
Protector of Marriage and
Married Women
Very Jealous of
Zeus’ Numerous Lovers

16. HADES (Roman Name: Pluto)
Lord of the Underworld
Ruler of the Dead

17. Ruler of the Seas and Oceans
POSEIDON
(Roman Name: Neptune)
Ruler of the Seas and Oceans

18. Goddess of Corn and Agriculture Her Moods Affect the Seasons
DEMETER
(Roman Name: Ceres)
Goddess of Corn and Agriculture
Her Moods Affect the Seasons

19. Goddess of Love and Beauty
APHRODITE
(Roman Name: Venus)
Goddess of Love and Beauty
Wife of Hephaestus

20. HESTIA (Roman Name: Vesta)
Goddess of the Home

21. ALL ZEUS’ CHILDREN

22. None of the Other Gods Like Him Much
ARES
(Roman Name: Mars)
God of War
None of the Other Gods Like Him Much

23. Battle Maiden and Goddess of Wisdom
ATHENA
(Roman Name: Minerva)
Battle Maiden and Goddess of Wisdom
While Adopted by Hera,
She is the Daughter
of Zeus Only
(Sprang from his Head)

24. God of Fire and the Forge
HEPHAESTUS
(Roman Name: Vulcan)
God of Fire and the Forge
He is the Only Ugly God
Husband of Aphrodite

25. HEBE (Roman Name: None)
Cupbearer of the Gods

26. Twin Brother of Artemis
APOLLO
(Roman Name: Apollo)
Twin Brother of Artemis
God of Music and Poetry
God of Light and Truth
No False Words
(Never Told a Lie)
His Oracle at Delphi
was the Most Popular

27. ARTEMIS (Roman Name: Diana)
Twin Sister of Apollo
Goddess of the Moon
and the Hunt
Lady of the Wild Things

28. (Roman Name: Proserpine) Queen of the Underworld
PERSEPHONE
(Roman Name: Proserpine)
Goddess of Spring
She was Kidnapped
by Hades
Later Made the
Queen of the Underworld
Spends Half the Year
in Hades, Half on Earth

29. HERMES (Roman Name: Mercury)
Messenger of the Gods
Has Wings on Sandals
and Cap
Appears the Most Often
of All the Gods

30. Greek myths also include…
HEROES

31. Odysseus After fighting in a war for 10 years… He spends 10
more years trying to return home

32. Hercales (Hercules) He is part-god and part-man
Completes 12 dangerous tasks

33. Monsters and other creatures
There are also…
Monsters and other creatures

34. Centaurs
rude, aggressive half- horse creatures

35. Satyrs are half-man and half-goat.
The leader of the Satyrs was a god called Pan.

36. Cyclops One-eyed monsters
The most famous one, Polyphemus, fights Odysseus in his cave.

37. Nymphs
female nature spirits

38. In our world today there are many references to Greek myths.
Knowing these famous stories and characters will help you to better understand the world around you.
They are also fun to learn!

39. Greek Mythology in advertising…

40. More Mythological Images in Ads…