1. Major Gods and Goddesses
The Odyssey
Major Gods and Goddesses

2. Hera Zeus Position Symbol Other Notes
King, God of land, sky, and justice
Thunderbolt, Oak Tree, Eagle, Shield
Known for all of his affairs
Hera

5. Hestia Poseidon Position Symbol Other Notes Goddess of Home and Hearth
Sacred Fire, Hearth
Ancient Greek women took comfort knowing Hestia watched over them.
Poseidon
Position
Symbol
Other Notes
God of the Seas
Trident, Horse, Bull
Plagues Odysseus (puts a curse on him)

8. Hades Demeter Position Symbol Other Notes
God of the Underworld and Wealth
Invisible Helmet, Pitchfork, Jewels
Tartarus =Underworld; faithful three headed dog called Cerberus
Demeter
Position
Symbol
Other Notes
Goddess of Grain and Harvest
Rake, Cornsilk, Grain
Ceres = Cereal

11. Aphrodite Ares Position Symbol Other Notes Goddess of Beauty and Love
Roses, Dove, Myrtle Tree
“Foam-Born”; only God with unknown parents; was either kind or merciless
Ares
Position
Symbol
Other Notes
God of War
Sword, Spear, Vulture, Dog
More important in Roman Mythology; was vain and self-centered; liked bloodshed

14. Apollo Artemis Position Symbol Other Notes
God of the Sun, Music, Poetry, Reason and the Hunt
Golden Chariot, Lyre, Sun, Silver Bow
Ideal of Greek Society; twin of Artemis
Artemis
Position
Symbol
Other Notes
Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon
Silver Bow and Arrow; Moon
twin of Apollo; opposite temperament of her brother…cold and pitiless

17. Athena Hephaestus Position Symbol Other Notes
Goddess of Wisdom and Law (Just Wars)
Armor (shield), Owl, Olive Branch
born directly out of Zeus’ brain (no mother); won a contest against Poseidon for Athens
Hephaestus
Position
Symbol
Other Notes
God of Fire and Forge
Anvil, Hammer, Forge
Married to Aphrodite; only God with a limp (*from Zeus); made the first woman Pandora

20. Hermes Position Symbol Other Notes Messenger of the Gods
Winged Sandals and Helmet
Mercury in Roman Mythology; youngest of Zeus’ children and his favorite

22. Mythology : Intro to the Odyssey

23. Mythology is the study of ancient myths.
A myth’s purpose is an attempt to explain something in nature.
Myths were created for two main reasons:
How anything and everything in the universe came into existence.
EX: men, animals, trees, flowers, stars
2. Why certain things occured
EX: earthquakes, volcano eruptions, storms, floods (Thunder and lightening = zeus hurled his lightning bolt in anger

24. Homer’s Background
Lived from 850 to 800 B.C.
Homer's life is considered a bit of a mystery
No one is even sure of his birthplace and age
He was a wandering poet and minstrel
Most historians agree he was blind
He was the first to:
Combine isolated tales about various heroic exploits into a single, coherent whole, creating THE EPIC

25. Homer’s Contributions
Prior to the invention of the written language, the legends, myths, or epics were handed down by “rhapsodes” who were verbal storytellers.
Two Epic Poems
The Iliad
The Odyssey

26. Greek education began by the festival in Athens where stories were told and retold every four years

27. Epic Epic Characteristics
An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes
handed down through the generations telling a people’s history, reflecting their culture, and teaching religion, morals, and ethics to the young
Epic Characteristics
The main character (protagonist) is the source and subject of legend or a national hero
Setting covers several nations, the whole world, or even the universe
Deeds of hero presented without favoritism, revealing failings and virtues on his journey
Actions of heroism and courage sometimes reveal superhuman powers
The Gods play an active role in the outcomes of actions

28. Epic Characteristics Continued
Episodes, even though they may be fictional, provide an explanation for some of the circumstances or events in the history of a nation or people
All of the various adventures are essential; each event relates in some way to the central theme
Conventions
Poem begins with a statement of the theme
Invocation (prayer) to muse or other deity
Story begins in medias res (in the middle of things) with the hero at a low point and previous episodes are later recounted
Histories and descriptions of significant items (who made a sword or shield, how it was decorated, who owned it from generation to generation)

29. Conventions Continued
Use of patronymics (calling son by father's name): “Laertes' son” would be Odysseus
Frequent use of epithets or phrases to rename or describe characters
"Lord of the Clouds" would be Zeus

30. Homeric Similes Also known as Epic Similes
The Homeric simile compares something everyone would have been familiar with to help create an image of something fantastic that no one would have been able to see.
Often used to help develop characters and theme
A. COMPARE - something familiar to the common man (lions, storms, deer, rivers) or everyday activities (fishing, herding) WITH something fantastical or abstract (slaying of a dragon, hope, peace)
B. Example: "Just as an angler poised on a jutting rock
flings his treacherous bait in the offshore swell,
whips his long rod—hook sheathed in an oxhorn lure—
and whisks up little fish he flips on the beach-break,
writhing, gasping out their lives so now they
writhed, gasping as Scylla swung them up her cliff and there at her cavern’s mouth she bolted them down raw— screaming out, flinging their arms down toward me, lost in that mortal struggle . . .

31. Epic Terms
anthropomorphism- a literary device that gives human form/attributes to a non-human being, such as a god or spirit
archetype- a recurring image, character, story, symbol, situation, or pattern in human thought and expression and part of the collective unconscious
arête- excellence as a virtue; striving to achieve one’s highest human potential
deity- a supernatural, Supreme Being, god, or goddess
deus ex machina- Some Greek playwrights like Euripides used to end the play by having a god lowered onto the stage by ropes and mechanical apparatus. Then he would make his commands and judgments and solve the problems for the humans--like Zeus at the end of the book. The phrase is now used for any forced or improbable device an author uses to resolve his plot.
hubris- excessive pride.
in medias res- a Latin term literally meaning “in the midst of things”; a technique used in most epics when a story begins in the middle of the action
Invocation of the Muse- a technique used in most epics in which the poet pleads with one of the muses (nine goddesses of the creative arts) to help him compose or tell his story
xenia- the ancient Greeks’ belief in the importance of treating guests with kindness, generosity, respect, sometimes offering luxurious gifts (aka code of hospitality)

32. Epic Hero A larger than life hero from history or legend
Is a main character who represents his people and nation
Usually favored by or descended from deities
Characterized as noble, virtuous, larger than life, and good looking
Participates in a cyclical journey or quest

33. Epic Hero Cycle
The hero is charged with a quest or a call to adventure
The hero is tested, to prove his worthiness of himself and his quest
Presences of mythical beings, magical and helpful animals, and human helpers and companions
The hero’s travels take him to a supernatural world, often one where human beings are barred like the underworld
The cycle reaches a low point and the hero nearly gives up his quest or appears defeated or dead
A resurrection occurs; helps comes to him in this dire hour of need
Restitution--the hero often regains his place on the throne

35. Modern Heroes Star Wars Lord of the Rings Harry Potter Brave heart
Luke Skywalker
Lord of the Rings
Frodo Baggins
Harry Potter
Brave heart
William Wallace
The Lion King
Simba