2. Greek Gods and Goddesses An Introduction to Greek Mythology

3. Essential Question: What are some of the myths of the Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans? [6.5.17]

4. MythMyth- a legendary story that presents part of the beliefs of a people or explains a practice, belief, or aspect of nature MythologyMythology- all of the myths dealing with gods and heroes of a people

5. immortal-All gods and goddesses are immortal- they cannot die and can only be killed by another immortal mortalHuman beings are mortal. They die

6. First Beings Gaea Uranus Cronus

7. Children- The first beings on earth Titans- Giants Cyclopes- one-eyed beings Hecatoncheires - 100-handed beings

8. Olympians Children of Gaea and CronusChildren of Gaea and Cronus –Cronus had killed his father Uranus After the battle between the Titans, the Olympians gained control of the earth and lived on Mount OlympusAfter the battle between the Titans, the Olympians gained control of the earth and lived on Mount Olympus

9. Atlas General of the Titan army Very cruel Olympians made him hold the earth for eternity= earthquakes, but the earth does not fall back into chaos.

10. Why are we learning about these gods? Some of the myths of the Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. [6.5.17]

11. When you think Greek mythology, which god do you first think about?

12. Zeus Youngest Olympian Father, Coronus, swallowed other brothers and sisters so Gaea replaced the baby Zeus with a stone=Zeus lived Zeus later poisoned Coronus and Coronus barfed up all of the other Olympians! Given the lightening/thunder bolt by the Cyclopes as his special weapon

13. Zeus God of the Sky Leader of ALL Olympians When Zeus throws his lightening bolt down to earth, mushrooms are created Married to Hera but does not stay true to her=has MANY children by other women!

14. Poseidon Brother of Zeus God of the Seas Given the trident as his special weapon by the Cyclopes Created the seahorse

15. Hades Gloomy pessimist Given a cloak of darkness and concealment by the Cyclopes Does not live on Mount Olympus; Hades is so gloomy that he prefers to live in his kingdom of the Underworld

16. The Underworld Dead person is escorted to the entrance of the Underworld by Hermes A coin is placed on each eye to pay Charon to ferry the body across the River Styx

17. Creatures of the Underworld Cerberus-three-headed dog; makes sure no living being comes to the Underworld

18. The Furies-winged bats with razor sharp wings Protect Hades and carry messages

19. Reward –Heroes Only Elysian Fields-heroes were allowed in this beautiful place where one would live a life of leisure and pleasure.

20. Punishment Tartarus- innermost earth; reserved for bad behavior Regular people were sent to a special area to simply keep on doing what they did for life

21. Pallas Athena Has no mother Sprang full clothed and fully grown from Zeus’s head Given the areas of intellect as her realm –Invented geometry, astronomy, and military strategy Hated war but liked the planning of battles

22. Became the patron of Athens –Athens is noted for valuing wisdom and justice –Gave the Athenians the olive tree=food, oil, and wood

23. Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty Magic belt is her symbol The most enchanting woman of the universe Said to have assumed human form and was Helen=her great beauty started the Trojan War Married to the ugliest god, Hephaestus

24. God of the forge and fire Hammer and anvil =symbols Ugly, crippled son of Zeus and Hera –Thrown over the walls of Mt. Olympus by Zeus at birth because he was so ugly Married to Aphrodite because he made the magic belt (girdle) which made men fall madly in love with Aphrodite

25. Ares God of war Handsome, but cruel son of Zeus and Hera Rides in his war chariot during battles to cause even more bloodshed and death. The planet Mars is named for him

26. Apollo God of the Sun Son of Zeus and a nymph named Leto Drives the Sun Chariot from his palace in the East to the stables in the West every day=the sun rises in the east and sets in the west Also the god of music

27. Pythian Games/Olympic Games Apollo killed Python in a sacred place-the cave of Mother Earth at Delphi To atone for this crime, Apollo establishes the Python Games which later were called the Olympic Games

28. Artemis Twin of Apollo Goddess of the hunt and unmarried girls Also known as the goddess of the moon because she often hunted by night.

29. Demeter Goddess of Agriculture Roman name is Ceres=cereal-the wheat stalk is her symbol Sister to Zeus and is an Olympian is her own right –Cares very little about the affairs of Mt. Olympus; loves the earth and her daughter Persephone

30. Demeter and Persephone Persephone is the beautiful daughter of Demeter. Captured by Hades while out on a picnic with her friends and taken to the Underworld to become the wife of Hades. Friends only saw the earth open up and seemingly swallow Persephone.

31. Demeter thinks the earth swallowed Persephone and curses the earth so nothing grows Zeus fears that this generation of man will die from the lack of heat and the ability to grow food. But he also loves his brother and wants him to find some joy with a wife

32. Zeus sends Hermes to the Underworld to free Persephone IF she has not eaten ANYTHING while she has been in the Underworld. Minutes before Hermes arrives Persephone eats 4 pomegranate seeds

33. Seasons of the Year We have seasons because Persephone must stay with Hades (her husband) 4 months per year.

34. Hera Long-suffering wife of Zeus and his sister! Queen of the heavens Goddess of Married Women Choose a peacock as her symbol to give herself some glamour Zeus tricked her into marrying him

35. Hermes Winged messenger of the gods and goddesses Appears in many myths but no known single myth about him Florists adopted his winged helmet as a symbol of swift delivery Running events often show his winged feet

36. Hestia Goddess of the home and hearth Cared deeply for peace and tranquility Gave up her throne to a mortal

37. Bacchus Only mortal to become a god God of wine Grape bunches = symbol When the Romans adopt the Greek gods and goddesses, Bacchus is the most lasting god.

38. Why did we learn about the Greek gods? To know some of the myths of the Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans? [6.5.17]