1. Greek Mythology

2. What is Mythology? A belief system a collection of stories
They explain the mysteries of life and other natural phenomena.
They were about the Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes that the Ancient Greeks believed in.

3. Where do Myths come From?
We Learned about the ancient Greek myths through ancient writing.
Homer, who wrote The Iliad and the Odyssey retells most of the myths
the Myths change according to who is telling the story - there are many different versions

4. The Creation of the World
In the beginning, there was only darkness or chaos.
From Chaos, Gaia and Tartarus were born.
Gaia = Mother Earth
Tartarus = Darkness, Hell
**AKA Primordial Deities**

5. From Gaia, Uranus was born.
Gaia = Mother Earth
Uranus = Father Sky
When it would rain from the sky onto the earth, life was created = plants and animals were born.

6. Uranus and Gaia’s Family
They had 18 children
3 Hecatoncheires
3 Cyclopes
12 Titans

7. Hecatoncheires (Hek-uh-tonk-care-eeze)
Also known as 100-handed ones
Each had 100 hands and 50 heads

8. Cyclopes Giants with one Eye in the middle of their head.
They are incredibly strong.
They can withstand heat.
They have an extremely long life.
They are usually Bad tempered and depressed.

9. Titans
Most Famous:
Kronos - The ruling Titan. He married Rhea. Their children became the Olympic Gods.
Rhea - wife and sister to Kronos.
Oceanus - Titan of Water.
Atlas - Titan punished by Zeus to hold the world on his back.
Prometheus - Titan who protects men. He also gave men the gift of fire.

11. The Fall of Uranus
Uranus hated his ugly children - the Cyclopes and Hecatoncheires, so he threw them into Tartarus.
Gaia was angry at Uranus for this that she encouraged her remaining children (The Titans) to revolt against their father, led by Kronos.

12. During the Battle
3 drops of Uranus’s blood fell on the earth and formed the Furies.
They are spirits of revenge.
They have a dog’s head and bat’s wings.
They are controlled by Hades (now).

13. Kronos Rules Kronos becomes the supreme God
Kronos marries his sister Rhea
They have 6 Children
Hestia
Hades
Demeter
Poseidon
Hera
Zeus

14. Reign of Kronos
Kronos feared that one of his sons would over-throw him, just as he did to his father.
So he ate each of his children.
This made Rhea angry.

15. The Birth of Zeus
Rhea did not want her youngest - zeus to be eaten by Kronos.
She gave Kronos rocks instead to eat.
Zeus was hidden and raised by lesser gods, the nymphs.

16. The Fall of Kronos
When Zeus was grown, he returned to overthrow Kronos.
He gave kronos a potion to drink that caused him to cough out all of his children.
The Gods and Goddesses came out as adults, alive, and whole.

17. The Destruction of Kronos
To help with the battle, Zeus freed the Cyclopes from Tartarus.
The cyclopes made Zeus lightning bolts to fight Kronos.
They also made Poseidon his Trident.
And for Hades, they made him a helmet that makes the wearer invisible.
Some of the titans fought with Zeus, some with Kronos.
Zeus won.
Kronos was cut into a million pieces and sent to tartarus with the other titans.

18. Dividing of the World
Zeus became the ruler of the Sky and the Supreme God.
He ruled from Mount Olympus.
Poseidon rules over the Ocean.
Hades rules over the underworld.

19. The 12 Olympian Gods and Goddesses
Zeus
Poseidon
Apollo
Ares
Hermes
Hephaestus
Dionysus
Goddesses
Hera
Demeter
Aphrodite
Artemis
Athena

20. What about . . .
Hades
He rules the underworld and is not allowed on Mount Olympus, except for once a year on the Winter Solstice.
Hestia
She gave up her throne on Olympus to Dionysus in order to keep peace

21. Zeus
King of the Gods
God of the Sky, Storms, Thunder, Lightning, Justice, and the Universe
Roman Names: Jove, Jupiter
Animal: Eagle
Symbol: Lightning Bolt

22. Zeus
Married to Hera
However he had many affairs with other goddesses and earth women.
Some of his children are:
Ares, Hephaestus, Athena, and Hercules

23. Hera Queen of the Gods Married to Zeus
Goddess of Marriage, Childbirth, Air, Sky, Heavens
Roman Name: Juno
Symbols: Peacock Feather, crown, scepter

24. Hera Hera punished the other women that Zeus was with.
Hercules - she sent two snakes to kill him in his crib.
She drove Hercules Mad and he ended up killing his wife.
She did not like mortals (humans) and would punish them.

25. Poseidon God of the Sea, Rivers, Earthquakes, and Horses
The Earth Shaker
Roman Name: Neptune
Symbol: Trident

26. Poseidon Brother to Zeus
He and Athena did not get along because of their battle over the city of Athens.
He has a great palace under the sea and doesn’t socialize with humans much.

27. Hades The Wealthy One God of the Underworld, the Dead, and Wealth
Roman Name: Pluto
Symbol: Helmet of Invisibility
Brother of Zeus
Cerberus - the three headed dog, guards the entrance to the underworld

28. Kidnapping of Persephone
Daughter of Zeus and Demeter
Goddess of plants and the harvest
Hades saw her beauty and kidnapped her and took her to the underworld because Zeus wouldn’t let him marry her.
She couldn’t leave permanently because she ate pomegranate seeds
Spends half the year with Hades in the Underworld (Winter) and Half with Demeter (Summer).
It is because of her we have seasons.

29. Demeter Goddess of the Earth, Harvests, and Fertility
Roman Name: Ceres
Symbols: Cornucopia, Wheat, and Torch
Sister to Zeus
Mother of Persephone
She mourns for Persephone and that is when we have winter.

30. Ares God of War Roman Name: Mars Son of Zeus and Hera
Lover to Aphrodite
Bloodthirsty, merciless, and cruel
During War, Ares can release the spirits of Discord, Strife, alarm, Fear, Dread and Terror on his opponents

31. Athena Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Strategy Roman Name: Minerva
Symbols: Helmet, Spear, Shield
Animal: Owl
Athens is named for her - why her and Poseidon don’t like each other

32. Athena Daughter of Zeus Zeus had a terrible headache.
Hephaestus split open zeus’s head and out sprang Athena.
no mother
She is a virgin goddess - never married

33. Aphrodite Goddess of Beauty and Love Roman Name: Venus
daughter of Uranus - sprang from the ocean when his privates were cut off during the battle with Kronos
Had many lovers, but was forced to marry Hephaestus
One son = Eros (cupid)

34. Hephaestus God of Fire and Blacksmiths Roman Name: Vulcan
Symbols: Hammer & Axe
Son of Zeus and Hera
Married to Aphrodite
Eros (Cupid) is his son
He makes weapons for the Gods
He split open Zeus’s head when Athena was born

35. Hephaestus He is very kind, unlike his brother Ares
When he was born crippled and ugly, Hera was angry because Zeus always had beautiful children with his lovers.
So she kicked Hephaestus off Mount Olympus
He works with the Cyclopes in the forges

36. Hestia Goddess of Fire, Hearth, and Home Roman Name: Vesta
Hestia gave up her place on Olympus to keep Peace. She gave her spot to Dionysus.
Many Greeks had her statue in their home, even though she is a lesser god.
Virgin Goddess

37. Dionysos God of Wine, Disorder, and the Theater Roman Name: Bacchus
Son of Zeus
Symbols: Grapes and Theater Masks (Tragedy and Comedy)
He is friends with Nymphs and Satyrs

38. Apollo God of Music, Poetry, Young Men, Prophesy, Archery, and the Sun
Son of Zeus
Twin Sister is Artemis
In charge of raising and lowering the sun sun with his chariot
Symbols: Lyre, bow

39. Artemis Goddess of the Moon, Archery, young women, and the Hunt
Roman Name: Diana
Daughter of Zeus
Twin Brother is Apollo
Symbols: Moon, Bow
In charge of raising and lowering the moon with her chariot
Virgin Huntress
Has women who follow her and dedicate their lives to her service - they never marry and are given immortality and stay young.

40. Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Messenger for the Gods on Olympus
Also God of:
Travel and Roads
Thieves
Hospitality
Wit, cunning
Dreams
He guides the dead to the underworld
Only he and Hades know the path to the Underworld

41. Hermes He appears in more myths than any other character Symbols
Winged Sandals
Winged Helmet
The Caduceus (Winged staff with snakes)
Roman Name: Mercury
Son of Zeus

42. Medusa She was a mortal cursed by Athena.
Athena gave her head of snakes - called Gorgon
If you look into her eyes you will turn into stone
People would put her statue in her home to protect them

43. Moirae - The Fates Goddesses of the Fates of Mortals Names:
Klotho “The Spinner”
Lakhesis “The Dispenser”
Atropos “The Cutter”
Symbols: spindle, thread, loom, scissors
They share one eye between them
Daughters of the Cyclopes