Greek Mythology Introduction to Greek Mythology What is

Greek Mythology Introduction to Greek Mythology

What is a myth? • Stories with imaginative characters • Often have violent plots • Contain gods and goddesses, human characters, and/or other creatures (C) Andrea M. Bentley 2

A Myth’s Purpose • Explain the natural world • Explain human behavior • Explain the origins of good and evil • Teach moral lessons about life (C) Andrea M. Bentley 3

Mount Olympus • 12 major • Veiled in clouds deities lived on • Zeus was the Mt. Olympus supreme god on (real mountain Mt. Olympus in Greece) (C) Andrea M. Bentley 4

Rhea Mother of all original gods of Olympus Goddess of the earth Loved by humans Sister of Cronus Gave birth to six children: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus • Saved Zeus from Cronus by tricking him • • • (C) Andrea M. Bentley 5

Cronus • Brother of Rhea • Was afraid his and Rhea’s six children would take away his power as the king • Swallowed each child after he/she was born • Zeus defeated Cronus and got his brothers and sisters back • Cronus was banished by Zeus forever (C) Andrea M. Bentley 6

12 Deities on Mount Olympus • • • Zeus Hera Athena Hermes Aphrodite Hephaestus • • • (C) Andrea M. Bentley Ares Apollo Artemis Poseidon Demeter Dionysus 7

Zeus • Ruler of heaven, earth, gods, and humans • Youngest son of Rhea and Cronus • Took over his father’s throne • Lived on top of Mt. Olympus • Controlled the sky and weather • Carried a thunderbolt as his weapon • Married to his sister, Hera • Had many children (both mortal and immortal) (C) Andrea M. Bentley 8

Hera • Daughter of Rhea and Cronus • Married Zeus • Queen of the Olympian gods • Looked after human marriage, women, and childbirth • Did not like Zeus’s many lovers and affairs (jealous) • Associated with the apple, pomegranate, and peacock • Myths about her deal with her revenge (C) Andrea M. Bentley 9

Athena • Daughter of Zeus • Did not have a mother- sprang from Zeus’s forehead • Fully armed for war with a spear • Zeus’s favorite child • Associated with the owl • Liked agriculture • Said to have created the olive tree • The Parthenon was built in her honor (C) Andrea M. Bentley 10

Hermes • Son of Zeus • Had the power to be omnipresent (everywhere) • Protector of shepherds and travelers • Messenger of Hermes (C) Andrea M. Bentley • Conductor of souls to the underworld • Greeks thought he brought good luck • Wide-brimmed hat with wings • Sandals with wings • Carries a lyre and a shepherd’s staff 11

Aphrodite • Most beautiful of all Greek goddesses • Goddess of love • Daughter of Zeus and Dione • Not faithful to her husband • Associated with the myrtle tree and dove • Helped Paris kidnap Helen of Troy, which started the Trojan War (C) Andrea M. Bentley 12

Hephaestus • Greek god of fire • Protector of craftsmen • Son of Zeus and Hera • Married to Aphrodite • Crippled • Hammered metal into armor for the god Achilles • Built a golden throne that bound Hera • Created an invisible net that trapped he wife and her lover Ares (C) Andrea M. Bentley 13

Ares • Son of Zeus • Greek god of war • Had several children with Aphrodite • Born a warrior • Loved the violence of battle • Called the avenger, the slayer, or the curse • Carried a spear (C) Andrea M. Bentley 14

Apollo • Child of Zeus and Leto • Hunted Python when he was a child and killed the snake with his arrows • Founded an oracle (shrine for the gods) at Delphi • Twin sister was Artemis • God of many things: medicine, art, archery, beauty, law, courage, and wisdom • Loved a nymph (Daphne) • Laurel tree (wreath)= symbol for Apollo (C) Andrea M. Bentley 15

Artemis • Goddess of innocent love • Protector of children, women, and wild animals • Thin and athletic • Accompanied by a deer • Goddess of the moon and hunting • Women and children often called upon Artemis for a quick, painless death when they knew death was near • Silver arrows • Twin sister of Apollo (C) Andrea M. Bentley 16

Poseidon • God of the sea • God of earthquakes • Powerful god who liked battle • Seen holding a trident (threepronged spear) and riding a dolphin • Married to Amphitrite • Brother of Zeus • Associated with the bull, horse, and dolphin • Pegasus (Medusa’s child) was said to be the son of Poseidon (C) Andrea M. Bentley 17

Demeter (C) Andrea M. Bentley • Goddess of agriculture • Watched crops • Had a daughter named Persephone= kidnapped by Hades • Caused the seasons of summer and winter • Mourned the loss of daughter and forgot to watch the crops (winter) • Zeus persuaded Hades to let Persephone come to live with Demeter six months a year (summer) 18

Dionysus • Greek god of fertility, dance, poetry, and drama • Myth says Dionysus invented wine • Handsome young man, rode a chariot • Dressed in a fawnskin shirt • Seen holding a drinking cup • Loved parties and having a good time • Said to have been killed by the Titans • Zeus saved some of Dionysus and had Apollo bury the pieces at Delphi (C) Andrea M. Bentley 19

The Underworld • The Greeks believed that after their life on earth, they were led to the underworld (Hades). • Hades was a dark, gloomy place below the earth where the sun never shone. • Cerberus, a watchdog, stood at the entrance to Hades. • Hades was king of the underworld. • Hades did not judge the dead…three judges did. • Evilest souls- sent to Tartarus (torment) • Noblest souls- sent to the Elysian fields (sun and flowers) • Remaining souls- remained in Hades forever (C) Andrea M. Bentley 20

Styx • The river that marked the boundary between the world of the living and the kingdom of the dead. • Each soul had to be taken across by Charon (boatman). • Charon would only transport those who could pay…this is why relatives would put a coin under a dead person’s tongue before the burial took place. (C) Andrea M. Bentley 21

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