Ancient Greek Religion The Twelve Olympians The Twelve

Ancient Greek Religion

The Twelve Olympians

The Twelve Olympians - a family of gods and goddesses

The Twelve Olympians - a family of gods and goddesses - lived on Mount Olympus

The Twelve Olympians - a family of gods and goddesses - lived on Mount Olympus - each ruled a different area of life or nature

The Twelve Olympians - a family of gods and goddesses - lived on Mount Olympus - each ruled a different area of life or nature - had human forms and human characteristics

The Twelve Olympians - a family of gods and goddesses - lived on Mount Olympus - each ruled a different area of life or nature - had human forms and human characteristics - immortal: lived forever

Zeus- Ruler of all gods and Humanity • He ruled the Olympians. • He was the god of the sky, lightning and thunder carrying a thunderbolt as his symbol. • He married Hera, his sister, which was a family habit. • He fathered many children with various goddesses and mortals.

Hera- Goddess of Marriage & Childbirth • She was the wife of Zeus • She was the protector of marriage and the home. • She was associated with the peacock, because of her great beauty. • She and Zeus were always quarreling. • She was called the queen of intriguers, a vindictive and jealous wife, who frequently tricked her husband, Zeus.

Apollo- Sun God; God of Music & Poetry • He was the twin brother of Artemis and the most handsome of the gods. • He was also the god of the healing arts and of medicine. • He drove his chariot across the sky to pull the sun each day. • His son, Phaethon, drives Apollo’s sun chariot with disastrous results.

Artemis- Goddess of Hunting & Wilderness • She was the twin sister of Apollo. • She was a huntress, who always carried a silver bow and arrows. • She ruled over the untamed places of the earth.

Athena- Goddess of Wisdom and War • She was born full grown out of the head of Zeus. • She taught man to use tools and taught his wife to spin and weave. • She was the best-loved goddess on Olympus. • She hated Ares, god of war, often defeating him in battle.

Ares- God of War • He was a ruthless and murderous god, who displayed the worst of humanity’s traits. • He, along with grief, strife, panic, and terror, roams the earth. • Ironically, he was a coward, who fled the field of battle.

Aphrodite- Goddess of Love • She is the goddess of desire born from sea foam. Another myth credits her mother as Dioneand her father as Zeus. • After all the gods on Mount Olympus courted her, she married Hephaestus, the ugliest of the gods. • Because she was judged the most beautiful of all the goddesses on Mount Olympus by Paris, the other goddesses envied her.

Hermes- Messenger of the Gods • He was the mischeivous son of Zeus and Maia. • As a baby, he made a lyre and pipe for his halfbrother, Apollo. • He carried Apollo’s golden staff and flew around the heavens and earth on winged sandals.

Poseidon- God of the Sea and Earthquakes • He built an underwater palace with a great pearl and coral throne. • He was a difficult god, changeful and quarrelsome, but created many curious forms for his sea creatures. • He invented the horse for his sister Demeter, whom he loved.

Demeter- Goddess of Fertility • She was the goddess of growing things. • She was the mother of Persephone, whose father was Zeus. • Her daughter was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the Underworld for six months of the year causing the change of seasons.

Worship of Gods

Worship of Gods - they gave thanks to the gods, hoping to receive blessings

Worship of Gods - they gave thanks to the gods, hoping to recieve blessings - tried to avoid angering the gods

Worship of Gods - each city-state honored one god or goddess - each city-state had at least one main temple

Worship of Gods - each city-state honored one god or goddess - each city-state had at least one main temple

Worship of Gods - each city-state honored one god or goddess - each city-state had at least one main temple - sacrifice animals

Worship of Gods - each city-state honored one god or goddess - each city-state had at least one main temple - sacrifice animals - offerings of food

Worship of Gods - festivals

Worship of Gods -the Olympics: festival for Zeus ~ all city-states ~ every 4 years

Worship of Gods -the Olympics: festival for Zeus ~ all city-states ~ every 4 years

The Oracles - the Greeks turned to the gods for signs or advice

The Oracles - the Greeks turned to the gods for signs or advice - oracles: sacred sites where they believed the gods spoke to them

The Oracles - answers could come through dreams, or spoken through a priest or priestess

The Oracles - answers could come through dreams, or spoken through a priest or priestess - a gift or offering was required in exchange for an answer

The Oracles - answers could come through dreams, or spoken through a priest or priestess - a gift or offering was required in exchange for an answer - the answers were often in the form of a riddle - famous and powerful leaders would even come to the oracles - the words of the oracles were taken very seriously by all