1. Greek Culture
Chapter 10.1

2. Greek Beliefs Greeks formed city-states
City-state-is the city and the land that surrounds it
Spoke Greek language
Shared many beliefs and customs
Believed many of the same myths
Myths-traditional stories about gods and heroes

3. Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece. Modern scholars refer to, and study the myths in an attempt to throw light on the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece, its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself.

4. Greek Mythology
….Oh to be among the gods!

5. Who were the Greek Gods? Who were the Greek Gods?
Greeks believed in gods and goddesses
Gods were not all-powerful
gods marry and have children
12 most important gods and goddesses lived on Mt. Olympus

6. The Titans
Beings the Greeks believed existed before the gods of Olympia. The Titans
Were the offspring of Gaia (mother earth) and Uranus.

7. Titans were the first generation of Greek Gods

8. The Greeks believed Cronos fathered the gods
The Greeks believed Cronos fathered the gods. Afraid they would take the
Titans power, Cronos ate all of his children except Zeus. Zeus killed
Cronos and freed his siblings.

10. Zeus
Zeus is the king of all the gods. He divided up the world with his brothers, Hades and Poseidon. Zeus becomes ruler of the sky and earth. Zeus has many children all of whom have powers. However, Zeus has more powers than anyone else.

11. Hades
Hades is the lord of the dead in the Underworld. He’s so scary that people would not even say his name. Guests in the underworld are greeted by his three-headed dog. His brother, Zeus tricked the beautiful Persephone into marrying Hades. Her mother, Demeter, goddess of agriculture, makes a deal with Hades so Persephone only has to stay with Hades for part of the year causing winter weather.

12. Poseidon
Poseidon was god of the sea and brother to Zeus and Hades. In Homer’s famous Odyssey he punishes Odysseus because Odysseus blinded his son the Cyclops. He is able to cause storms with the use of his trident, 3 pronged spear. Earthquakes are believed to be caused by his wrath as well.

13. Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the god of metalworking and is married to the unfaithful Aphrodite. He forges all the weapons for the gods. He works beneath the Earth’s surface. His smashing of steel into molten lava creates earthquakes and volcanoes

14. Athena
Athena is the firstborn and favorite child of Zeus. She is known as the goddess of wisdom. According to the myth, she busts out of his head fully grown and dressed for battle. She often uses her intelligence to rescue Greek heroes. She is the protectress of the city, Athens and has the Parthenon built for her as a temple.

15. Apollo
Apollo is god of the sun and twin to Artemis. His daily task is to drive the sun across the sky. During the Trojan War he helps the Trojans and helps kill legendary Greek warrior, Achilles.

16. Ares
Ares is known as the god of war, not for his skill but because he liked all the violence. His parents were Zeus and Hera. He is father to the twins, Remus and Romulus. Romulus will eventually become the 1st king of Rome.

17. Artemis
Artemis is the goddess of the moon and hunting. Artemis, being a female, would seek revenge if she felt someone wronged her.

18. Hera
Hera was married to Zeus and is therefore queen of the gods. Most of her time is spent causing trouble for all of her husband’s girlfriends and their children. She is most famous for trying to destroy Hercules. Her sacred animal is the peacock.

19. Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. She plays a part in starting the Trojan War. In order to win a beauty contest she bribes Paris with the most beautiful woman in the human world, Helen. When she runs away with Paris the Greeks go after her and thus begins the war.

20. Olympic Games Olympic Games Located in Olympia
Games “for the greater glory of Zeus”
Began in 776 B.C.
Greeks believed their gods would be please if people showed skill in the arts, in athletic games, or in thinking
Olympic Games

21. Greek Oracles Priest or priestess spoke for a god
Predicated the future
Temple of Apollo at Delphi was the
Most famous

22. Epics and Fables Epic-a long story poem
The Greek poet Homer wrote two
The Iliad and The Odyssey
Fable- a story meant to teach a lesson usually with animals personified

23. The Trojan Horse In the Iliad written by Homer
Tells of a prince of Troy that falls in love with Helen
(the wife of the king) and kidnaps her
Angers the Greeks and they attack Troy
Trick the Trojans with a huge, hollow, wooden horse
The Greeks capture the city, rescue Helen and take her home

24. The Odyssey Written by Homer Tells the story of Odysseus, a
Greek Hero of the Trojan War
It describes his long way home after the
Fall of Troy. He faces storms, monsters, and
Witches. Odysseus returns home to his wife.

25. Aesop’s Fables Aesop’s fables Stories that teach a moral (lesson)
Popular stories include
“The Tortoise and the Hare”
“The Boy that cried Wolf”

26. The Impact of Greek Drama
Drama is a story told mainly through words and action of a cast of characters
Greek Drama had two categories
1. tragedy-main character struggles to overcome hardships but does not succeed
2. comedy-story ends happily

27. Aeschylus Earliest Greek dramatist
One of his dramas was called the Oresteia
Tells about a Greek king’s return from the Trojan War and the troubles that strike his
Family. It is a story about revenge and murders.
Shows how one evil action can lead to another

28. Sophocles Accepted suffering as a part of life
Stressed courage and understand
Wrote play Antigone questions whether it is better to obey
Orders or to do what one believe to be right

29. Euripides
Euripides wrote about ordinary human beings in realistic situations.
His play often show the suffering caused by war.

30. Temple of Athena

31. Different types of Greek Columns
It was the ancient Greeks who invented 3 beautiful types of columns. These were used all over ancient Greece to hold up buildings and rooftops and temples. One column had a very simple design. One was sort of in the middle. And one was very ornate.

32. Acropolis-the hilltop that a fort stood on