Edith Hamiltons Mythology The Twelve Olympians The Twelve

Edith Hamilton’s Mythology The Twelve Olympians

The Twelve Olympians Greek/Roman Names Zeus/Jupiter Poseidon/Neptune Hera/Juno Hades/Dis Hestia/Vesta Ares/Mars Athena/Minerva Hermes/Mercury Apollo/Phoebus Apollo Artemis/Diana Hephaestus/Vulcan Aphrodite/Venus

Zeus/Jupiter God of Gods • • • Eagle, thunderbolts Son of Cronus and Rhea; brother of Hades+Poseidon Wrathful, lustful, not “all-knowing” Married to Hera, ungodly marital behavior Many children mostly out of wedlock

Poseidon/Neptune God of the Sea • Trident • Brother of Zeus+Hades • Powerful, secretive • Son of Cronus & Rhea • Vengeful, usually argumentative with other gods

Hades/Dis God of the Underworld • dark bearded, crown, scepter, key, helmet of invisibility, chariot • Rarely worshipped • Son of Cronus & Rhea; brother of Zeus+Poseidon (drew the short straw) • Cerberus

Hera/Juno Goddess of Marriage Protector of Married Women • • • Peacock, cow, pomegranate Powerful, bold, jealous Daughter of Cronus & Rhea Wife and sister of Zeus Avenged infidelity often

Hestia/Vesta Goddess of Home and Hearth • • • Hearth fire Good-natured, loving Does not appear in myths at all…symbolic herself Daughter of Cronus & Rhea Seven Vestal Virgins oversee her fire

Ares/Mars God of War • • Spear, vulture, dog Boastful, loud, cruel Son of Zeus and Hera Terrorized mortals • 4 horses: Terror, Fire, Flame, Trouble • Relatives: Deimos(fear), Phobos(terror), Eris(discord)

Athena/Minerva Goddess of the City, Wisdom, Handicrafts, War & Agriculture • Owl, olive • Wise, even-tempered, fierce in battle • Daughter of Zeus & Metis • Sprung from Zeus’ skull fully armed

Hermes/Mercury God of Travelers, Thieves & Shepherds • • Winged sandals and hat, caduceus Witty, happy, clever, friendly, helpful Son of Zeus & Maia Chief messenger, not the most honest god

Apollo God of Light & Purity • • • Mouse, sun dial, lyre Cheerful, sometimes jealous Son of Zeus and Leto Perpetually young, handsome, wise Teaches moderation

Artemis/Diana Goddess of the Hunt & Moon • Cypress tree, wild animals, deer • Aloof, majestic, nature -loving, quick to anger, athletic • Daughter of Zeus & Leto • Twin of Apollo • Skilled archer, lived among virgin nymphs

Hephaestus/Vulcan God of Fire & Forge • Fire, quail • Modest, helpful, prone to laughter • Son of Zeus & Hera • Ugly and lame • Helped by Cyclopes in underground forges • Taught men to use fire

Aphrodite/Venus Goddess of Love • • Dove, rose, apple Seductive, irresistible, sometimes treacherous The foam-risen goddess Hephaestus won her hand, not heart, she’s in love with Ares • Led Paris to Helen

The Myths God Teachers, Quests, Cycles, Metamorphoses, Losses of Innocence, Creation

Prometheus pro ME thee us • Kind, clever, longsuffering • An original Titan • Benefactor of Mankind • stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the primitive mortals • Punished for thousands of years

Demeter and Persephone • Demeter goddess of Agriculture • Loving but moody • Daughter Persephone kidnapped by Hades • Neglect of the Earth • Pomegranate seeds • Spring vs. Winter

Dionysus dy o NY sis • God of the Vine • Grapes, panther, goat, dolphin • Joyful, pleasure-loving, dangerous when opposed • Son of Zeus & Semele • Turned kidnapping sailors into dolphins • Bacchantes ecstasy dancing

Cupid and Psyche CUE pid and SY key • Cupid (Eros) Archer of Love • Psyche Greek Heroine • Punished for challenging Aphrodite (Eros’ mother) • Accidental love • Jealous sisters urge disobedience • Oil drip wakes Eros • Vengeful tasks of Aphrodite • Forgiveness and marriage

Athena and Arachne a THEE nah and a RAK nee • Athena challenged Arachne • Arachne’s weaving was better • She hung herself after being beaten • Athena turned her into a spider

Pygmalion and Galatea pig MAIL yon and gal ah TAY ah • • • King of Cyprus Sculpted a woman Prayed to Aphrodite Live statue Love and marriage

Apollo and Daphne ah PAWL oh and DAF nee • Apollo taunted Eros • One arrow of gold one of lead • Pursuit and plea for help • Laurel tree transformation • Vow of fidelity

Phaeton FAY tohn • Childish son of Apollo (Helios) • Proof of parentage • Wish granted to fly the chariot • Out of control flight • Zeus puts an end to it

Pyramus and Thisbe PEER ah muss and THIZ bee • Fairest and Handsomest in Babylonia • Forbidden love • Plan to meet at Tomb of Ninus • Thisbe’s cape soiled with blood by a lioness • Pyramus stabbed himself over her assumed death • Thisbe returned to him and stabbed herself also

Icarus and Daedalus ICK ar uss and DAY dah luss • Jealous of his nephew Talus, killed him and moved to Crete • King Minos’ wife fell in love and had a child with a bull (Minotaur) • Daedalus built the labyrinth and a way to escape • Warnings of high and low flying to Icarus • Melting wax, falling Icarus

Narcissus nar SISS uss • • • Hera’s sentence of silence for Echo the nymph Narcissus is vain, Echo loved him “Is anyone here? ” “Here, here!” Echo ignored by Narcissus faded to only a voice Finally saw himself and died looking at it

Baucis and Philemon BA kiss and FILL ah min • • • Zeus & son Hermes Test of Hospitality Ever-full wine bowl Flood Hut to Temple Oak and Linden trees

Pyrrah and Deucalion PEER ah and doo CAL yon • The Greek Noah, son of Prometheus (who warned him) • Zeus floods Earth • Ran aground on Parnassus • Loneliness in a cave (Delphi Oracle) • “Throw the bones of your mother over your shoulders. ” • Rocks turn to people • Parents of Pandora

Jason JAY son • Jason sent away to avoid death by uncle • Bargain for thrown with uncle (golden fleece) • Argonauts set out • Bargains with Medea’s father • Plowed the fields of the fire breathing bull, attained fleece, and distracted Medea’s father with her help. • Married Medea, later grew tired of her and she killed their children

Theseus THEE see us • Aegeus buried sandals and sword under heavy rock • Theseus lifted it at 16 yrs. • Slayed the Minotaur (labyrinth) for Minos • Ariadne loved Theseus and asked Daedalus for help (thread idea) • Returning to Aegeus, wrong sails displayed

Hercules HER cue leez • Hearty, good-natured, prone to rages • 12 Labors • Nemean Lion, Hydra, Thrace’s flesh-eating horses, Cerebrus, etc • Made a god upon his death

Perseus PER see uss • King Acresias and Danae • Polydectes loved Danae, Perseus protects by offering Medusa’s head • Athena’s shield, nymph’s invisibility helmet, winged sandals, and magic pouch, Hermes’ knife • He succeeds • Pegasus born • Saved Andromeda, froze her family for deceit • Also froze Polydectes for hassling Danae