Its All Greek to Me Classical Allusions Pantheon

It’s All Greek to Me Classical Allusions

Pantheon of Greek Gods & Goddesses

Gaia & Uranus Gaia (Gaea) = Mother Earth Uranus = her son & ruler of sky/heaven • Lays with Uranus to create the 12 TITANS: 1 st rulers of the Universe • Had other 6 children: 3 100 -handed giants & 3 cyclops • Uranus refused to give up his power to the next generation, so he pushed the Titans back into Gaia’s womb

Cronos & Rhea • Son and daughter of Gaia & Uranus • Cronos kills Uranus by emasculating him • Cronos is the same kind of tyrant his father was • Cronos eats the children Rhea bears him • After the birth of Zeus, Rhea tricks Cronos by giving him a rock to eat instead of the baby. • She sends Zeus to be raised on Crete.

Other Titans: Prometheus • Put in charge of creating all creatures to populate Earth – He’s wise; name means “forethought” – Brother Epimetheus is scatterbrained; name means “afterthought” • Creates humans out of mud • Gives man fire • Punishment – he’s bound and carnivorous bird eats his liver out each day (regrows at night) – Heracles rescues him

Other Titans: Epimetheus & Pandora • Epi’s job is to give creatures gifts (birds=wings; turtles=shells); he runs out of gifts before man • Married to Pandora – Prometheus warns gullible Epi not to accept gifts (including Pandora) from Zeus whom he doesn’t trust – She’s a human; gods all gave her gifts including a box – her greatest gift is CURIOUSITY – She’s too curious and opens the box allowing all evils out to plague and torment men – Only hope remained in the box

Other Titans: Atlas • Because Atlas is Cronos’ brother and a threat to the throne, Zeus sentences Atlas to hold up the world

Mount Olympus: Home of the Gods

Great Zeus! • Romans called him Jupiter • Greatest of all Olympians • Grandma Gaia helps him gain power over father by giving Cronos potion to throw up all his children. Cronos’ 5 other children emerged fully grown. • During his fight with Cronos, Zeus cuts off Cronos’ genitals just as Cronos did to Uranus (thus fulfilling the prophecy)

Zeus married his sister Hera • They have a ROCKY relationship • Their children are a son Ares & a daughter Hebe • She gives birth to Hephaestus by herself • She’s goddess of marriage (ironic!) • Roman name Juno

Zeus’ Conquests • Not faithful to Hera Alcmene Danae – Danae (as golden shower) = baby Perseus – Alcmena (as her hubby) = baby Heracles

Zeus’ Conquests cont’d • Leda (as swan) = 2 babies from eggs: Helen of Troy & Pollux [he’s also the twin of Castor – different daddies) • Europa (as a bull) = King Minos of Crete

Zeus’ Conquests cont’d – Callisto (as another Olympian) = baby Arcas; Hera’s jealous, so Zeus turns her into a bear. The bear is killed by the gods so Zeus transforms her into the Constellation: Ursa Major; her son becomes Ursa Minor

Zeus’ Sister: Demeter • Goddess of agriculture & nature / the harvest • Doesn’t live on Mount Olympus • Roman name: Ceres (the root word for cereal) • Mother of Persephone

Zeus’ Sister: Hestia - Goddess of the hearth (home fire) • Can’t leave the home so she doesn’t figure in any stories – Virgin – Roman name: Vesta; her priestesses were called Vestal Virgins

Zeus’ Brother: Poseidon • God of the Sea, horses and earthquakes; • Romans called him Neptune

Zeus’ Brother: Hades • God of the Underworld • Romans called him Pluto • Married to Persephone (Roman = Proserpine) Demeter’s daughter

Hades and Persephone • He kidnapped her. After Demeter refuses to work for a year, Zeus intervenes and makes Hades return Persephone to her mother. • Before Persephone leaves, Hades gives her a pomegranate (a special food to the dead); She eats 4 -6 seeds. Because of that she was doomed to return to Hades. • He mother mourns during Persephone’s absence which causes winter.

Hades: Ya Don’t Wanna Go There

Hades: Ya Don’t Wanna Go There Entrance to Hades Charon the Ferryman on the River Styx Cereberus

Gods: The Next Generation • Hephaestus – – Son of Hera Ugly, lame Married to Aphrodite Makes armor and weapons (esp. Zeus’ thunderbolts) • Worked under a volcano – Peaceful, kind – Roman name: Vulcan

Gods: The Next Generation • Ares – God of War – esp. destructive forces • As opposed to Athena, a war goddess who used war for defense – Son of Zeus & Hera • Who don’t like him much – Unpleasant – Has relationship with Aphrodite • Perhaps because both represent wild impulses – Roman name: Mars

Gods: The Next Generation • Hermes • Son of Zeus & Maia (Atlas’ daughter) – God of • • • Commerce & Trade, Athletes, Thieves Children Shepherds & travelers Fertility & prosperity – Go-between for Zeus • For negotiations – Esp. the female kind – Carried the snake entwined staff (now doctors’ symbol) – Roman name: Mercury

Gods: The Next Generation • Dionysis – God of wine & vegetation (parties. . . ) – Son of Zeus & Semele – Roman name: Bacchus – Festivals in his honor became the beginning of drama – Had a “posse” • Maenads = female worshippers • Satyrs = (aka fauns) ½ man, ½ goat • As well as other animals

Gods: The Next Generation • Son of Zeus & Leto (another of his conquests) • Has a twin sister, Artemis • Drives his chariot through the sky bringing the sun • God over music, archery, healing (medicine), light and truth (hence his oracle at Delphi) • Sometimes called Phoebus Apollo (Phoebus means radiant) Apollo

Gods: The Next Generation Proteus & Triton • Sons of Poseidon (Proteus is older) • Mermen

Goddesses: The Next Generation Aphrodite • Springs fully formed from the sea from Uranus’ seed after Cronos cut off his genitals • Roman name: Venus • Sexy femme fatale, she stands for all the good and bad aspects of women • Had an affair with Ares while married to Hephaestus (seems to love Ares) • This produced 3 sons: Eros (love); Deimus (fear); Phobus (panic) • Popular goddess: Goddess of sex & reproduction, love

Sidebar: Eros vs Cupid • The Greeks saw Eros as an malevolent, dangerous young man – He loved making mischief and playing tricks by making them fall in love suddenly, esp. with inappropriate people • The Romans saw Cupid as a cute pudgy baby

Goddesses: The Next Generation • Athena – Sprung from Zeus’ head (he had a headache) fully formed – Goddess of War (see Ares) – Roman name: Minerva – Virgin – Known for her wisdom & intelligence – Powerful, impressive & too scary to be lusted after

Goddesses: The Next Generation • Artemis – Apollo’s twin – Goddess of the Hunt, loved woods and wild animals, the moon – Roman name: Diana – Virgin