2. Greek Mythology & Epic Poetry Notes

3. Greek Mythology Mythology is the study of myths Myths are stories involving gods, goddesses, and heroes. Why did myths begin? To entertain To explain natural phenomena To explain the relationship of god to man To teach lessons and morals

4. Homer’s The Odyssey The Odyssey is an epic poem based on Greek mythology What is an Epic Poem? A long narrative poem about a national or legendary hero.

5. Characteristics of an Epic Poem: Incorporate myth, legend, folk tale, and history Have a grand tone Heroes and their adventures appear larger than life (Epic Hero) Many were drawn from oral tradition

6. What is Oral Tradition Oral tradition is the tradition of verbal transmission of cultural material and from one generation to another Used in lieu of written language Messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants

7. The Ancient Gods of Greek Mythology- The Family Tree

8. LET’S REVIEW THE GREEK CREATION MYTH

9. It All Started with Chaos The world was formed from a great mass called Chaos.The world was formed from a great mass called Chaos. Out from Chaos came Gaea, the earth Goddess.Out from Chaos came Gaea, the earth Goddess. She gave birth to a son, Uranus, and together they had six children. Three 50 headed & 100-handed giants and three one-eyed Cyclopes.She gave birth to a son, Uranus, and together they had six children. Three 50 headed & 100-handed giants and three one-eyed Cyclopes. Uranus hated these children and sent them to the underworld.Uranus hated these children and sent them to the underworld. On their second try, Uranus and Gaea produced seven Titans:On their second try, Uranus and Gaea produced seven Titans: - CLYMENE - CLYMENE - HYPERION - HYPERION - CRONUS - CRONUS - PHALLA - PHALLA - PHOEBE - PHOEBE - RHEA - RHEA - TETHYS - TETHYS

10. The Betrayals Continue... Gaea, however, was still upset that Uranus banished their other children.Gaea, however, was still upset that Uranus banished their other children. She told the Titans what Uranus had done and asked them to seek revenge.She told the Titans what Uranus had done and asked them to seek revenge. Cronus (their son) did seek revenge by castrating Uranus, and becoming the new ruler.Cronus (their son) did seek revenge by castrating Uranus, and becoming the new ruler. But, when he saw the other children, he agreed they were too ugly to allow out of the underworld.But, when he saw the other children, he agreed they were too ugly to allow out of the underworld. Cronus married Rhea.Cronus married Rhea. They had five children, but since Gaea had warned him that one of his kids would overthrow him, Cronus swallowed his own children.They had five children, but since Gaea had warned him that one of his kids would overthrow him, Cronus swallowed his own children. Rhea was tired of this, so she hid the sixth child, Zeus, in Crete.Rhea was tired of this, so she hid the sixth child, Zeus, in Crete. When Cronus asked for the child, Rhea wrapped a rock in clothes and Cronus swallowed it.When Cronus asked for the child, Rhea wrapped a rock in clothes and Cronus swallowed it.

11. Zeus Takes Vengeance Zeus grows up, Rhea tells him the story about his siblings, and he plots revenge against Cronus. He poisons Cronus, and his siblings pop out of Cronus’s belly (after the rock, of course). After this, Zeus tries to take over, but the other Titans wont recognize him, so they start a war. Gaea tells Zeus about her first six children, and with their help he wins against the Titans. Then he takes the whole family to Mt. Olympus (Thus the name Olympian Gods).

12. THE GREEK GODS

13. Zeus After overthrowing his father Cronus, Zeus drew straws with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His symbol is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who anger him. He is married to Hera, but is famous for his many affairs with goddesses and mortals. He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths.

14. Zeus’s Wife, Lovers & Kids

15. Poseidon Brother of Zeus and Hades Lord of the sea. To impress Demeter, Poseidon created the first horse. In some accounts, his first attempts were unsuccessful and he created a variety of other animals in his quest. His symbol is a trident, which can shake the earth and shatter any object. He is second only to Zeus in power among the gods. He has a difficult, quarrelsome personality, is greedy, and has many disputes with other gods.

16. Hades Brother of Zeus and Poseidon. He had the worst draw and was made lord of the underworld, ruling over the dead. He is a greedy god who is greatly concerned with increasing his subjects and doesn’t want any of them to leave. God of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible. He rarely leaves the underworld. He has no pity and is mean. His symbol is a scepter—a two pronged staff.

17. Athena Daughter of Zeus, she sprang from his forehead—full grown and in armor. The goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, justice and skill. She is fierce and brave in battle. She invented the bridle, which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the ship, and the chariot. She represents wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeus's favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons, including his thunderbolt. Her symbols are the olive tree and the owl. She is a virgin goddess.

18. Hermes Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is the god of messengers, safe travel, good fortune, trickery, and truth. While Hermes can never tell a lie, he may not always tell the whole truth. He is the fastest of the gods. He wears winged sandals, a winged hat, and carries a magic wand. He guides the dead to the underworld. He invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy, weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees.

19. Circe Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, was a sorceress best known for her ability to turn men into animals with her magic wand. She was jealous of Scylla, a beautiful young woman, and turned Scylla into a sea monster.

20. The Sirens The Sirens are creatures with the head of a female and the body of a bird. They lived on three small rocky islands, and with the irresistible charm of their song, they lured sailors to their death on the rocks surrounding the island.

21. Scylla Circe, jealous of Scylla, poisoned the water where Scylla bathed. Scylla became a monster with twelve feet and six heads, each with three rows of teeth. Below the waist her body was made up of hideous dog-like monsters. She threatened passing ships, and in the Odyssey she ate six of Odysseus’s companions.

22. Helios The god of the sun. His chariot rises in the East and descends in the West (like the sun). Warm, friendly and compassionate, Helios respects truth and honesty. Helios was keeper of the sacred cattle. His symbol is the chariot.

23. Calypso Calypso was a nymph, the daughter of the Titan Atlas. She lived on the island of Ogygia. Calypso fell in love with Odysseus, taking him as her lover and promising him immortality if he would stay with her. In Greek mythology, nymphs are spirits of nature. They are minor female goddesses and the protectors of springs, mountains, and rivers.

24. The Muses These are the 9 daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus Each is in charge of a different art or science and inspires those who excel at these pursuits. Clio = history Urania = astronomy Melpomene = tragedy Thalia = comedy Terpsichore = dance Calliope = epic poetry Erato = love poetry Polyhymnia = songs Euterpe = lyric poetry

25. Homer Author of The Iliad and The OdysseyAuthor of The Iliad and The Odyssey The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War.The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War. The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus’s long trip home after the war.The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus’s long trip home after the war. Scholars think Homer lived between 1500 B.C and 700 B.C.Scholars think Homer lived between 1500 B.C and 700 B.C. Most scholars believe he was blind, but there is no evidence to verify this.Most scholars believe he was blind, but there is no evidence to verify this.

26. Homer Continued Homer used the legendary material of the Trojan war as the basis for his poems – adding original plot structure, realistic characters, dialogue and detail, and tales of fabulous monsters. The study of Homer’s epics became the basis of Greek education. Homer made his characters believable by giving them both good and bad traits.

27. THE END Of taking notes, anyway.