1. Greek and Roman Mythology An introduction to the Principal Gods and Goddesses

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

3. For the Greeks… n The gods and goddesses were directly responsible for the success or failure of human life, so the Greeks prayed, gave offerings and built temples to please them. n Unlike religions prior to the Greeks and most religions today, the Greek gods were anthropomorphic—they looked and acted like humans.

4. In the beginning... n …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) n From out of Chaos, Gaea, or Mother Earth was formed. n Gaea made Uranus (Father Sky) to cover her and to be a home for the gods. n With Uranus, Gaea created the Titans, the Elder Gods.

5. The Titans (The Elder Gods) n There were many of them, enormous in size with incredible strength. n Cronus (Saturn): Ruler of the Titans n Rhea: Wife of Cronus, mother of the Olympians n Oceanus: River that encircled the world n Mnemosyne: Memory, mother of the muses

6. Then… n Cronus, with Gaea’s blessing, defeats Uranus by castrating him and becomes the ruler of all. n Worried that one of his children will do the same to him, he swallows them as soon as they are born. n After Cronus swallows five of his children (Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter), Rhea gives birth to Zeus. n Rhea saves her son by tricking Cronus into swallowing a rock in a baby blanket.

7. The Fall of the Titans n Zeus grows up in hiding and returns to challenge Cronus. n He poisons is father in order to rescue his brothers and sisters. n After a prolonged battle, Zeus and the gods eventually overcome the Titans, and become rulers of the world.

8. The Olympians The gods ruled from a palace on the summit of Mt. Olympus, built for Zeus by the Cyclopes.

9. Zeus n Roman Name: Jupiter n Supreme god of the Olympians n God of the Sky, Thunder and Lightning n Symbols: eagle, lightning bolt

10. Hera n Roman Name: Juno n Zeus’s sister and wife n Goddess of Marriage n Punished the women Zeus fell in love with n Symbols: peacock, cow

11. Poseidon n Roman Name: Neptune n God of the Seas and Waters n “The Earthshaker” n Symbols: trident, horse

12. Hades n Roman Name: Pluto n God of the Underworld/ Dead n Kidnapped Persephone n Symbols: cap of invisibility, Cerebus (3-headed dog)

13. Demeter n Roman Name: Ceres n Goddess of the Harvest & Agriculture n Symbols: sheaf of wheat, corn

14. Hestia n Roman Name: Vesta n Goddess of the Hearth & Home n Powerful Protector n Symbol: fireplace

15. Athena n Roman Name: Minerva n Goddess of Wisdom and Just War n Sprang from Zeus’s head n Symbols: owl, olive

16. Ares n Roman Name: Mars n God of War n Son of Zeus and Hera n Bloodthirsty, merciless & cowardly n Symbols: dog, vulture

17. Hephaestus n Roman Name: Vulcan n God of Fire/Forge n Son of Zeus and Hera n Kind, unlike his brother Ares n Symbol: anvil

18. Apollo n Roman Name: Apollo n God of Sun, Truth, Healing, Prophesy & Music n Most handsome of the gods n Brother of Artemis n Symbols: sun, laurel

19. Artemis n Roman Name: Diana n Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt & Youth n Sister to Apollo n Symbols: deer, the moon

20. Hermes n Roman Name: Mercury n Messenger of the Gods n Protector of shepherds & thieves n Appears in more myths than any other character n Symbol: winged sandals

21. Aphrodite n Roman Name: Venus n Goddess of Love & Beauty n Sprang from the ocean foam n Married to Hephaestus n Mother of Eros (Roman Name: Cupid) n Symbols: shell, dove, sparrow

22. Dionysus n Roman Name: Bacchus n God of Wine & Festivity n Patron god of the Greek stage n Symbols: drinking cup, leopard, grape vine

23. Persephone n Roman Name: Proserpina n Goddess of the Underworld n Daughter of Zeus and Demeter n Abducted by Hades n Symbols: wreath of flowers, pomegranate

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

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

26. The Graces n Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty n Aglaia (Splendor) n Euphrosyne (Mirth) n Thalia (Good Cheer) The Furies n Three Goddesses of Vengeance –Tisiphone (Avenging Murder) –Alecto (Unceasing) –Megaera (Grudging) n They punish evildoers.

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

28. The Lego Pantheon

29. Sources n Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites: –http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html –http://www.pantheon.org/ –http://www.messagenet.com/myths/ –http://mythman.com/ –http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html –http://www.paleothea.com/ –http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html –http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/103708543/in/photostre am/