1. Greek and Roman Mythology
A Review of
The Principal Gods and Goddesses

2. What is a myth?
A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures
Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events
Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity

3. In the beginning... …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness)
Chaos had two children:
Night (darkness)
Erebus (death)
“All was black, empty, silent, endless.”
Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.

4. And then... When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish.
Love created Light and Day.
Earth was created.
She was the solid ground, but also a personality.
The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.

5. The First Parents Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia)
Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus)
They had three kinds of children:
Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads
Three cyclopes
The titans
These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.

6. The Titans (The Elder Gods)
There were many of them.
Enormous size, incredible strength
Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans
Rhea: Wife of Cronos
Ocean: River that encircled the world
Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)

7. The Principal Gods Cronos and Rhea were parents of
Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)
Poseidon (Neptune)
Hades (Pluto)
Hera (Juno)
Hestia (Vesta)
Demeter (Ceres)
Other Olympians include
Athena (Minerva)
Ares (Mars)
Hebe (Juventas)
Hephaestus (Vulcan)
Apollo (Apollo)
Artemis (Diana)
Hermes (Mercury)
Aphrodite (Venus)
Dionysus (Bacchus)
Persephone

8. The Olympians

9. Zeus Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) Supreme god of the Olympians.
Fathered many characters in mythology

10. Zeus

11. Hera Roman Name: Juno Zeus’s sister and wife
Jealous protector of marriage
Punished the women Zeus fell in love with

12. Poseidon Roman Name: Neptune God of the Seas and Waters
“The Earthshaker”

13. Hades Roman Name: Pluto God of the Underworld/ Dead
Kidnapped Persephone

14. Hestia
Roman Name: Vesta
Goddess of Home
Powerful Protector

15. Demeter Roman Name: Ceres Goddess of the Harvest
A Goddess of the Earth

16. Athena Roman Name: Minerva Goddess of Wisdom and War
Sprang from Zeus’s head

17. Ares Roman Name: Mars God of War Son of Zeus and Hera
Bloodthirsty and merciless

18. Hephaestus Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) God of Fire/Forge
Son of Zeus and Hera
Kind, unlike his brother

19. Apollo Roman Name: Apollo God of Light/Sun and Music
Brother of Artemis

20. Artemis
Roman Name: Diana
Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt
Sister to Apollo

21. Hermes Roman Name: Mercury Messenger of the Gods
Appears in more myths than any other character

22. Aphrodite Roman Name: Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty
Sprang from the ocean foam

23. Dionysus Roman Name: Bacchus God of Wine Patron god of the Greek stage
A God of the Earth

24. Persephone Roman Name: Proserpina Goddess of the Underworld
Daughter of Zeus and Demeter
Abducted by Hades

25. Hebe Roman Name: Juventas Goddess of Youth Cupbearer to the Gods
Restored youth to the aged

26. Eros Roman Name: Cupid Young God of Love
Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus

27. Iris Goddess of the Rainbow Messenger for Zeus and Hera
Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra

28. The Muses Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences
“He is happy whom the muses love.”
Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne
Inspired artists of all kinds
Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

29. The Graces Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty
“They give life its bloom.”
Aglaia (Splendor)
Euphrosyne (Mirth)
Thalia (Good Cheer)

30. The Erinnyes (The Furies)
Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies)
Three Goddesses of Vengeance
Tisiphone
Alecto
Megaera
They punish evildoers.

31. The Fates Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sisters
Clotho (“The Spinner”)
Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)
Atropos (“The cutter”)
They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.

32. The Satyrs Gods of the woods and mountains “Shepherd gods”
Goat men (like Pan)
Companions of Dionysus
They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.

33. The Gorgons Three snake-haired monsters Medusa is most well-known
Their look turns men to stone.

34. The Centaurs Half man, half horse Savage creatures (except Chiron)
Followers of Dionysus

35. Who is the king of the gods?
Poseidon
Hermes
Apollo
Zeus

36. What was the name of the gods that ruled before the Olympians?
The Spartans
The Wolverines
The Titans
The Gorgons

37. Poseidon is the god of the sea?
True
False

38. Who is the god of the underworld?
Apollo
Hades
Hermes
Hera

39. Demeter is the goddess of…
War
Love
The harvest
Theater

40. Athena and Ares are goddess and god of war.
True
False

41. Artemis is Apollo’s mother.
True
False

42. The messenger god is named…
Hera
Hephaestus
Apollo
Hermes

43. Who is the goddess of love and beauty?
Athena
Aphrodite
Hera
Demeter

44. Who is the god of wine and of the theater?
Dionysus
Hebe
Hercules
Apollo

45. What is Cupid’s name in Greek mythology?
Apollo
Aphrodite
Cupid
Poseidon

46. Sources
Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:
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