Entertainment values of society and explanation of nature

Entertainment, values of society, and explanation of nature GREEK GODS AND GODDESSES

Uranos • King of Heaven • Children were the Titans • Wife of Gaia (old Mother Earth) • Scared of children • Overthrown by Titans • Blood dripped into the sea and made Aphrodite

Gaia (Mother Earth) • Married to Uranos • Mother of the Titans • Convinced Titans to overthrow Uranos

Cyclops • Three cyclopes named: Thunderer, Lightener, and Shiner • Some of the first Titans • Parents were Uranos and Gaia

Cronos and Rheia • Children were Hera, Hestia, Demeter, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades • Cronos feared children and swallowed them whole • This relief depicts Rheia giving Cronos the rock wrapped in a blanket • Brother and sister • Both were Titans

Prometheus • Son of a Titan • Brother to Epimetheus • Name means Forethought • Clever • Made man out of clay • Stole fire from heaven and gave to man • Punished-chained to rock and an eagle ate his liver

Epimetheus and Pandora • Married to each other • Pandora opened jar of evil given to Epimetheus from Prometheus • Epimetheus means afterthought • Pandora gift from Zeus

Zeus • Overthrew Cronos • Took Prometheus’ advice • Given lightning, thunderbolt, and thunder by cyclopes • Father/King of Heaven • Most powerful and strongest • Twelve wives • Feared Metis • Annoyed by Metis and Hera • Hung Hera from Heaven • Threw Hephaistos down • Head of the Olympian Household

Poseidon • God of Sea • Trident • Brother to Zeus

Hades • God of the underworld • Stole Persephone with Zeus’ help • Tricked her into returning • Guard dog Cerberos • Given cap to make him invisible

Hera • Wife/sister to Zeus • Mother to Ares-god of war, Hebe-goddess of youth, and Eileithyiagoddess of birth • Mother of Hephaistos • Goddess of marriage • Annoyed Zeus so he hung her from Heaven

Hestia • Goddess of the hearth (hospitality, domesticity, family) • Sister to Zeus • Maiden • Given high place in Olympian household by Zeus

Demeter • Mother to Persephone • Goddess of agriculture • When Persephone is in Hades, Demeter kills all vegetation • Explains the seasons • Known as “New Mother Earth”

Athena • Born from Zeus headache • Daughter of Zeus and Metis • Goddess of war or battles, skill, justice, crafts • Born with full armor • Became dressmaker • Taught man to do many things • Manly goddess

Hephaistos • Son of Hera and Zeus • Craftsman • Ugly • Thrown from Heaven • Married to Aphrodite • Split open Zeus’ head

Aphrodite • Goddess of love and beauty • Married to Hephaistos • Born from the sea • Name means ocean foam

Apollo • God of music and the bow • Twin brother of Artemis • Changed into a dolphin to guide a ship • Son of Leto and Zeus • Killed the dragon to save mankind • Built temple in Crissa • Born on Delos • Took over the sun • More feminine than Artemis

Artemis • Twin sister of Apollo • Goddess of hunting and archery • Maiden • Animals both protected and hunted by Artemis • Took over the moon • More manly than Apollo

Pan • Half man and half goat • Played the pan flute • Fell in love with Echo • Called to her and she returned it • Herdsmen loved and feared him

Hermes • Messenger of Zeus • Stole Apollo’s cattle • Made tortoise harp • Leads ghosts of men down to Hades • Overseer of contests at Olympos • Crafty • Did all of these things as a baby • Son of Zeus and Maia

Horai (seasons) • Law, Justice, Peace • Controlled orderly life • Represented values of society

Nine muses (with Apollo) • More children of Zeus • Muses inspired artists of all kinds

Spinner, Portioner, Never-turn-back • Controllers of thread of life • Daughters of Zeus • Known as three fates • Referred to destiny

Bloom, Brightness, Merryheart (three graces) • Three other children of Zeus • Look at photo • What do you see?