Greek Mythology A Brief Introduction Introduction The Greeks

Greek Mythology A Brief Introduction

Introduction The Greeks were polytheistic in their religious beliefs. Polytheistic means they believed in and worshiped many different gods. In Greek mythology, the gods often represented different forms of nature. There was no sacred book or code of conduct to live by. The most powerful Greek gods were known as the Olympians. The Greeks believed the Olympians lived on the highest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus. The Olympian gods included: Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Aphrodite, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hades, Hermes, Hephaestus, Poseidon and Hestia or later she was replaced in some lists by Dionysus.

Major Gods and Goddesses Zeus - King of the Gods Hera - Queen of the Gods Dionysus - god of wine, vegetation, and theater Aphrodite - goddess of love and beauty Hades - god of the underworld Hephaestus - god of forge and fire Apollo - god of light, truth, healing, archery, music, poetry Ares - god of war Hermes - messenger of the gods, god of motion, travelers, commerce, thieves, and sheep Artemis - goddess of hunt, moon, children Hestia - goddess of the hearth and home Athena - goddess of wisdom, war, patriotism and good citizenship Poseidon - god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses Demeter - goddess of grain, agriculture, fertility Video

Passage 1: Pandora Who is Pandora? She is the first mortal woman on Earth. She was created by the Gods as a punishment. Each God helped create her by giving her unique gifts. Aphrodite gave her beauty, Apollo gave her music, Hermes gave her persuasion, etc. Pandora She means “all-gifted. ” is a very curious individual.

Passage 2: Arachne Who is Arachne? She is a mortal. She is a very talented weaver. She is very arrogant and believed herself to be more talented than the Gods. She The challenged Athena. word arachnid was supposedly contrived from her.

Passage 3: Echo and Narcissus Who is Echo? She is a nymph. is cursed by Hera because she talks too much. Who He is Narcissus? is a mortal. He is the son of a river god and a nymph. He is overwhelmingly proud of his appearance. He denies Echo’s love.

Vocabulary Terms commenced: began; started descendants: children; heirs obscure: unknown; unnoticed obstinacy: stubbornness; reluctance

Pandora Paintings Dante Charles Gabriel Rossetti John William Waterhouse Giovanni Battista Rosso Fiorentino

Arachne’s Loom Navajo Rug Loom Traditional Loom Table Loom

Echo and Narcissus

Narcissus

Narcissus and Vanity What would happen if people took all the time they spent on their looks and instead used it for studying, theorizing, inventing, and thinking? What kinds of assumptions, either positive or negative, do people make about those who are exceptionally good-looking? Do you agree with the saying that good looks are in the eye of the beholder? What might eventually happen to a person who relies too much on his or her looks?