1. Greek and Roman Mythology A Review Of gods, goddesses, & creatures

2. What is a myth? n A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures n Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events n Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity

3. In the beginning... n …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) n Chaos had two children: –Night (darkness) –Erebus (death) n “All was black, empty, silent, endless.” n Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.

4. And then... n When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. n Love created Light and Day. n Earth was created. –She was the solid ground, but also a personality. n The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.

5. The First Parents n Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) n Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) n They had three kinds of children: –Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads –Three cyclopes –The titans n These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.

6. The Titans (The Elder Gods) n There were many of them. n Enormous size, incredible strength n Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans n Rhea: Wife of Cronos n Ocean: River that encircled the world n Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)

7. The Principal Gods n Cronos and Rhea were parents of –Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) –Poseidon (Neptune) –Hades (Pluto) –Hera (Juno) –Hestia (Vesta) –Demeter (Ceres) n Other Olympians include –Athena (Minerva) –Ares (Mars) –Hebe (Juventas) –Hephaestus (Vulcan) –Apollo (Apollo) –Artemis (Diana) –Hermes (Mercury) –Aphrodite (Venus) –Dionysus (Bacchus) –Persephone

8. Traits of Gods and Goddesses n immortal n slightly larger than humans in size n live on Mt. Olympus n beauty is exaggerated n "ichor" flowed through their veins: clearer and lighter than blood n intense passions: jealousy, rage, lust, etc… n can suffer physical pain n supernatural powers; appear, disappear, change forms (humans, animals, gods) n all gods are not omnipotent or omniscient (Zeus/Apollo use oracles to be omniscient) n eat ambrosia (immortal stuff) & drink nectar/wine

9. The Olympians

10. Zeus n Chief of the Olympians n god of sky, lightning, & thunder n Carried a thunderbolt as his symbol n Married to Hera n fathered many characters in mythology

11. Zeus

12. Hera n Wife of Zeus n goddess of marriage & home n Symbol is a peacock (for her beauty) n Highest-ranking female Olympian n Terribly jealous & often punished the women Zeus has affairs with

13. Poseidon n Moody & quarrelsome brother of Zeus n god of the seas, oceans, earthquakes, and horses (invented for his sister Demeter) n Seen with his Trident n Married to Thetis, a water nymph

14. Athena n goddess of wisdom, justice, peace, & intelligent warfare n Sprang from Zeus’s head n Seen with an owl n Athens is named for her & her symbol is the olive tree n Most loved child of Zeus

15. Apollo n god of light, sun, the arts, music, prophecy, philosophy, & medicine n Twin brother of Artemis n Drove his chariot across the sun to pull it each day

16. Artemis n goddess of childbirth, the moon, & the hunt n Twin sister of Apollo n Always carried a silver bow & arrows n Remained chaste and pure

17. Hephaestus n god of fire, volcanoes, and the forge n Blacksmith to the gods n Least attractive of the gods & was crippled by his mother Hera n Usually carries his anvil n Married to Aprodite, who cheated on him

18. Aphrodite n goddess of love, beauty, & desire n Sprang from the ocean foam n Married to Hephaestus but cheated with Ares n Son is Cupid (Eros)

19. Ares n god of war n Known for riding his chariot and carrying his spear n Favored son of Hera n Involved with Aphrodite n Bloodthristy & merciless

20. Hermes n god of thieves, mischief, travelers, shepherds, & humans & humans n Messenger of the gods n Wears his winged sandals n Sometimes holds a caduceus (medical symbol) n Appears in more myths than any other character

21. Hades n Sometimes not considered an Olympian because he lives in the Underworld & gave up seat on Mt. Olympus n god of the Underworld n Husband of Persephone n He is not death but simply watches over the dead. n Seen with Cerebeus, his three- headed dog

22. Hestia n Roman Name: Vesta n goddess of home/hearth n Symbol: Hearth/fire n Powerful Protector

23. Dionysus n Roman Name: Bacchus n god of wine, earth, & merriment n Patron god of the Greek stage n Sprang from Zeus’s thigh n Symbol: grapevine; wine/cup

24. Demeter n Roman Name: Ceres n goddess of the harvest, earth, & fertility n Symbol: grain n Mother of Persephone who grieves when she goes to the Underworld by changing the seasons

25. The Muses n 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne n inspired artists of all kinds n goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences n “He is happy whom the muses love.” Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

26. The Graces n 3 goddesses of grace and beauty n “They give life its bloom.” Aglaia (Splendor) Euphrosyne (Mirth) Thalia (Good Cheer)

27. The Furies n 3 Goddesses of Vengeance n They punish evildoers. Tisiphone, Alecto, Megaera

28. The Fates n 3 sisters n They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans. Clotho (“The Spinner”) Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) Atropos (“The cutter”)

29. The Gorgons n 3 snake-haired monsters n Medusa is most well-known. n Once beautiful but were cursed n Their looks turn men to stone.

30. The Satyrs n gods of the woods and mountains n goat men (like Pan) n Companions of Dionysus n They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.

31. The Centaurs n Half man-half horse n Savage creatures (except Chiron) n Followers of Dionysus n Chiron was a teacher to Jason and Achilles (both famous Greek heroes)

32. Sources n Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites: –http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html –http://www.pantheon.org/ –http://www.messagenet.com/myths/ –http://mythman.com/ –http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html –http://www.paleothea.com/ –http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html n This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.