Greek Myths What is mythology Some people use

Greek Myths

What is mythology? Some people use the word myth to mean fake, but… Mythology is the study of stories that were used to explain the world and other human experiences.

In the same way, Greek Myths… l Were used to explain n the creation of the earth, n death and the afterlife, n and human experiences: love, jealousy, revenge, & war. l They were also used as entertainment and were only told orally because most people could not read.

Introducing… • Monsters and other creatures

Centaurs • rude, aggressive halfhorse creatures

• Satyrs are half -man and half -goat. • The leader of the Satyrs was a god called Pan. Satyrs

Cyclops • One-eyed monsters • The most famous one, Polyphemus, fights Odysseus in his cave.

Nymphs • female nature spirits

Chimaera Personality • fierce and lethal to mortals Career • killing and devouring humans Distinguishing Features • head of a lion • the body of a goat • a serpent tail Supernatural Attributes • Fire breathing

Sirens Personality • destructive and wicked sisters Distinguishing Features • beautiful female faces and voices • have birdlike bodies with wings and claws • irresistible voices lure sailors to the impassable reef Story • friends of Persephone • when Sirens didn’t protect their friend when she was being carried off by Hades, they were transformed into half-woman, half-bird creatures • then lived on a barren island that was one of the entrances to the underworld • whenever a ship would pass, they sang, hoping it was Persephone • no one could resist the beautiful voices, so they sailed closer to the gates to the underworld • every time the Sirens realized Persephone was not on board, they tore the crew limb from limb and sent them to the underworld

Cerberus Personality • ferocious Career • guards the gates of the underworld Distinguishing Features • dog • 3 heads Supernatural Attributes • immortality • his spit produces the aconite flower which contains a poison

Argus Career • Hera’s (Zeus’s wife) servant Distinguishing Features • 100 eyes, never all closed at once

Echidne Mother of Monsters • half woman • half serpent Supernatural Attributes • gives birth to other monsters; Orthus Cerberus, Hydra, Chimaera, Sphinx, Nemean Lion

Typhon • Father of Monsters • Battled Zeus in the War with the Titans • Legs were serpents, fire-breathing, gigantic and immortal

Gorgon Story • once beautiful creatures were turned into monsters • offended Athene Distinguishing Features • wings • bronze claws • hissing serpents for hair Supernatural Attribute • turn anyone who looks at them to stone • Their den could be easily recognized because it has the statues of its many victims

Scylla • female • six heads • tentacles/fish tail • ring of snarling dogs around her waist Story • lives under a rock right across from the rock Charybdis, another creature, lives under • Scylla and Charybdis are always near each other • whenever sailors try to pass between both the rocks, they have to stay midway • if they go too the right six sailors will be pulled off her tentacles and eaten by one of the six heads. • Odysseus was one of the few that actually made it through safely.

Charybdis A gigantic whirlpool between clashing rocks • pitiless • Scylla is normally near her • try to crush sailors that go between them • attempted the destruction of Jason and the Argonauts • Almost destroyed Odysseus’ crew

Erinyes They troubled the conscience of murderers • persistent and terrifying to the guilty • but no problem at all to the innocent • three of them • female • when in pursuit of their victims they have a dog’s head • snakes for hair • bat wings Supernatural Attributes • immortality • being able to inflict psychological torture on their victims

In our world today there are many references to Greek myths. Knowing these famous stories and characters will help you to better understand the world around you. They are also fun to learn!

Greek Mythology in advertising…

More Mythological Images in Ads…