1. Classical Greek Mythology
Literature
Mrs. Schultz

2. Mythology
Oral tradition
Rewritten many times over
Many discrepancies

3. Purpose of Myths Explain events in nature
Teach a lesson or moral: explain how things were supposed to be or how humans were supposed to act
To entertain

4. Classical Mythology “Coming of the Immortals” p. 2
“Zeus and His Family” p. 6
“Hephaestus and the Birth of Hermes” p. 21

5. Coming of the Immortals
By Roger Lancelyn Green
Known for entertaining retellings

6. Greece Origin of mythology lies in Greece
Mountains of Greece and their beauty inspired the immortals that are believed to have lived there.
Gods and Goddesses lived on Mount Olympus

7. Stories were told, and told, and told…
There are many discrepancies between names and actual events for different stories because humans retold the stories and changed “facts”.

8. Questions to Consider Who are the immortals?
The immortals were gods and goddesses believed to have powers greater than humans.

9. Questions to Consider Why did the Greeks tell stories about them?
The purpose was to explain events in nature
to explain how things were supposed to be or how humans should act
to entertain

10. Questions to Consider
What is the tone of “Coming of the Immortals” and what does it suggest about the author’s approach to mythology?
Humorous tone
The approach is informal and fun

11. “Zeus and His Family” Who were the first gods?
Gaea, Mother Earth
Uranus, God of the Sky
Cronus, Son of Gaea and Uranus
See family tree chart handout

12. Cronus Son of Gaea and Uranus
Married his sister Rhea and had six children:
Demeter, Hestia, Hera, Zeus, Poseidon, & Hades
Swallowed his children whole because of the prophecy that they would kill him.

13. Cronus
Rhea had Cronus swallow a rock wrapped in a blanket so that she could save Zeus.
Zeus fulfilled the prophecy and killed Cronus.

14. Zeus King of the Gods God of the Sky More powerful than the other gods
Children of Zeus:
Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Heracles, Dionysus, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, & Persephone

15. Zeus Shared Powers Shared powers with brothers and sisters
Hades, God of the Underworld
Poseidon, God of the Sea
Aphrodite, Goddess of Love
Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest
Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth
Hera, Queen of the Gods

16. Zeus Shared Powers Shared powers with children Ares, God of War
Hermes, Messenger God
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom
Apollo, God of the Sun
Artemis, Goddess of the Moon
Dionysus, God of the Vine

17. Questions to Consider Who were Zeus’s allies against Cronus?
His allies were Metis who helped make the potion for Cronus to throw up his children and then they too helped Zeus.
Prometheus and Epimetheus (former Titans)

18. Questions to Consider
Who are the twelve gods and goddesses of the Olympiad?
Zeus’s five brothers and sisters, six children, and Aphrodite.

19. Questions to Consider
What makes Zeus so much more powerful than the other gods?
Zeus had his thunderbolts, and he was stronger than all of the gods put together.

20. “Hephaestus and the Birth of Hermes”
Son of Zeus and Hera
Hera was not happy when he was born because he was so ugly.
She threw him over a cliff to die.
Raised by Thetis

21. Hephaestus He was a great craftsman God of Smithing
Made the thunderbolts, trident, and most of the palaces
Married Aphrodite

22. Hermes Son of Zeus and Maia Messenger God (winged feet)
Grew to age 4 in one day
Worked for Hades, great inventor

23. Questions to Consider
Why is it that no one celebrated the birth of Hephaestus?
He was small and ugly
His mother, Hera, threw him off a cliff

24. Questions to Consider
Do you feel sorry for Hephaestus? Why or why not?
Yes, he should not have been treated that way. He is constantly used for his talents.

25. Questions to Consider
What is the importance of the trade between Hermes and Apollo?
This set up a relationship between the two and Hermes is seen as a good negotiator. He is really slick.

26. Questions to Consider Which of Hermes inventions are most important?
The alphabet and arithmetic because these are used for anything and everything today.

27. Classical Mythology “Aphrodite” p. 25 “Demeter and Persephone” p. 98
“Midas” p. 183

28. Aphrodite Goddess of Love Most beautiful woman in the world
Magic girdle—all men were under her spell
Born from the dismembered body of Uranus in the foam of the ocean

29. Questions to Consider How was Aphrodite born?
Aphrodite was born out of the dismembered parts of Uranus floating in the foam of the ocean.

30. Questions to Consider
Why do you think that Hera insisted she be married right away?
Aphrodite was so beautiful that Hera thought there would be problems. She also wanted her for her son Hephaestus.

31. Questions to Consider
What did each of the gods offer her to become her husband?
Poseidon offered gifts from the sea
Apollo offered a golden chariot and the Muses as her maids
Hermes offered to make her queen of the crossways
Hephaestus offered nothing but said he would make a good husband

32. Questions to Consider Why did she choose Hephaestus?
He was good at making beautiful things and he acted like he would give her space.

33. “Demeter and Persephone”
Goddess of Crops and Agriculture
Happy—fields are green, grasses grow
Sad—fields and grass suffer
Mother of Persephone
Myth explains seasonal changes

34. Questions to Consider
What can you infer about the speaker of this poem?
The speaker is angry and upset. At times it seems as if Demeter is the speaker.

35. Questions to Consider
Why does Demeter disguise herself before she goes to the village of the mortals?
She does not want the mortals to know that she is Demeter. The goddess that has been in control of their crops and harvest.

36. Questions to Consider Why does Demeter grow angry with Metaneira?
Metaneira does not realize that Demeter is a goddess and she thinks that Demeter will hurt her son. Demeter is angry when she takes her son back.

37. Questions to Consider What do you think is the purpose of this myth?
This myth was told to explain a natural event, the changing of the seasons.

38. Classical Mythology “Midas” p. 183 “Prometheus” p. 185
“Pandora” p. 190

39. Midas King Midas was given a reward from Bacchus (Dionysus)
He asked that all that he touches turn to gold
He wanted to get rid of the power
He went to the River Factolus and plunged in to get rid of the “curse”

40. Questions to Consider
At what point does Midas realize that his wish was foolish?
When he can’t even eat bread he realizes that his wish is foolish.

41. Questions to Consider
Why is Bacchus sorry that Midas had not made a better choice?
Bacchus sees things and their consequences and knows that this is not a good choice.

42. Questions to Consider
What would be your wish if you could have anything that you asked for?

43. Prometheus Titan thought to create humankind
Defies Zeus and brings fire back to humans
Was chained to a rock for years by Zeus as a punishment

44. Questions to Consider Why does Zeus take fire from the mortals?
He thinks that they are not thinking about the gods as they should. The mortals are only concerned about finding riches.

45. Questions to Consider Why do the gods and goddesses want it returned?
They are tired of looking down on a world so cold and black.

46. Questions to Consider
In what ways is Prometheus a champion of the “little people”?
He is trying to do the right thing and help them get something back that they truly need for survival.

47. Questions to Consider
In your opinion, was Prometheus wise or foolish? Explain.

48. “Pandora”
Zeus’s revenge on Prometheus and humans for stealing back fire was Pandora.
Hephaestus molded her out of clay and Zeus was said to have breathed life into her. Modeled after Aphrodite.

49. “Pandora”
A wedding gift of a beautiful box was given to Pandora, but she was told not to open it.
Hera gave her curiosity. HMMM…

50. “Pandora”
Pandora’s curiosity got the better of her and she opened the box.
Disease, famine, insanity, and all other foul kin were released into the world.
Foreboding did not get released.

51. Classical Mythology “The Trojan War: Paris and Helen” p. 234
“The Trojan War: Odysseus” p. 239

52. The Trojan War: Paris and Helen
Eris was not invited to a wedding so she caused problems with a golden apple that signified being the fairest between Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera.
Zeus decided that Paris would choose which goddess was the most beautiful.

53. The Trojan War: Paris and Helen
Aphrodite was chosen because she promised him the most beautiful woman he wanted.
He chose Helen and this started the Trojan War because she was married to King Menalaus, King of Sparta.

54. Questions to Consider Why did Aphrodite help Paris?
He chose her as the most beautiful.

55. Questions to Consider Is Paris a likeable person? Explain.
Whom do you think is most responsible for causing the Trojan War?

56. The Trojan War: Odysseus
Odysseus is the Greek hero that devised the plan for the Trojan Horse.
His plan helped the Spartans take the city of Troy.

57. Questions to Consider
Why are the Greek soldiers so desperate for the war to end?
It had been 10 long years. They miss their homes and families. They are tired.

58. Questions to Consider What is the purpose of the Trojan Horse?
It allows them to get into the city. This is what has been holding them back for ten years.

59. Questions to Consider Why is the inscription from Athena so important?
This is what will convince the soldiers that it is a gift and they will have to take it into their city. It “proves” that it is not a trick.

60. Classical Mythology “Arachne the Spinner” p. 331
“The End of the Olympians” p. 366

61. “Arachne the Spinner” Arachne was a mortal girl.
She committed the sin of arrogance which was felt to be the worst sin according to the gods.
Athena disguised as an old woman heard Arachne’s arrogant remarks.

62. “Arachne the Spinner” Athena challenged her to a weaving contest.
Athena won and turned Arachne into a spider.

63. Questions to Consider
What is Arachne’s greatest fault, and how does it contribute to her downfall?
She is conceited and it is her downfall because she had bragged too much and the wrong people heard.

64. Why do you think Athena first disguises herself as an old lady?
Athena disguises herself so that she can hear what the mortals truly think and believe.

65. “The End of the Olympians”
Map of Greece

67. Questions to Consider
1. According to Graves, what religion followed the worship of the Olympians?
Christianity

68. Questions to Consider
2. Why did the rule of the gods and goddesses have to end?
The last king that believed in them was killed.

69. Questions to Consider 3. What remains of the Olympiad today?
Constellations
Greek mythology inspired many things

70. Questions to Consider
Which god or goddess did you enjoy the most?

71. Questions to Consider
Would you say Athena’s punishment fit the crime?