1. Greek Mythology Class Notes Part One
In The Beginning

2. In the Beginning there were Three elements present.
Gaia- Mother Earth- Creator of earth, land, mountains, etc.
Chaos- Uncertainty, Nothingness, A vast Void. Think of this as air or emptiness.
Eros- Eros is Lust (EROTIC)--- EROS forces Gaia to mate with Chaos. Earth essentially mates with air. Is it that odd compared to other creation beliefs you know of?

3. Gaia (Mother Earth) and Chaos
Gaia and Chaos have a son named Uranus. Can you think of another religion with one special son?
Uranus kills his father Chaos. What things would you gain if your parents were to pass away? What did Uranus want to gain?
Uranus mates with his mother Gaia Who else is there?
Uranus refuses to let his children be born. They live within Gaia’s belly. Why is he so afraid of his children? Is this why the earth is round?

5. Gaia and Kronos
Gaia allows her son Kronos to secretly be born. Why would Gaia do this?
Kronos fights his father Uranus and castrates (chops off his genitalia) him. Uranus is sent to the underworld, Kronos is king. Are we starting to see a pattern here?
Kronos allows the rest of his brothers and sisters to be born from Gaia. What do the brothers and sisters owe Kronos?

7. Titans, Cyclopes, and Monsters
Gaia’s children are either Titans, Cyclopes or Monsters
Cyclopes- Giants with only one eye.
Monsters- Creatures with evil nature. Usually very ugly looking. Can you think of any Greek monsters?
Titans- Rulers of the elements –night, sky, light, memory, law. Ect. Can you think of any famous boats named after them?

9. The Paranoid Kronos
Kronos marries his Titan sister Rhea. Better than marrying your mom I guess.
Kronos fears his children will kill him just as he killed his father. Is this a legit fear?
Each time Rhea has children Kronos decides to eat his children. Both Titans and Gods are immortal. They can’t die. The children live in his stomach.
In total he eats five children. He prefers to dip them in honey mustard sauce.

10. The Revenge of Zeus
Rhea does not want her youngest son to be eaten. Like mother like daughter.
She gives Kronos a rock wrapped in a blanket. Zeus is hidden in a far off island. Who could Rhea ask to take care of him? Why not drop him off at her mom’s house?
Kronos eats the rock. He too prefers honey mustard sauce.
Zeus grows up to be strong, vows revenge on his father. Zeus kills him, castrates him, and frees his brothers and sisters. Why does castration seemingly kill an immortal?

11. Video of the Birth of Zeus and his Revenge
Or youtube search – GOD OF WAR BIRTH OF ZEUS

12. The Olympians