Gaea & Uranus Gaea is the Earth goddess. She mated with her son Uranus (whom she created without help) to produce the remaining Titans. Gaea seems to have started as a neolithic earth-mother Uranus is the sky god and first ruler. His rule ended when when Cronus, encouraged by Gaea, castrated him. He either died from the wound or withdrew from earth

Titans Known as the elder gods, ruled the earth before the Olympians overthew them. Cronus was the ruler of the Titans who was de-throned by his son Zeus. Most of the Titans fought with Cronus against Zeus and were punished by being banished to Tartarus. During their rule the Titans were associated with the various planets.

The Titans Cronus Rhea Oceanus Tethys Hyperion Mnemosyne Themis Lapetus Coeus Crius Phoebe Thea Prometheus Epimetheus Atlas Metis

The Olympians Zeus Ares Athena Apollo Aphrodite Hermes A group of 12 gods who ruled after the overthrow of the Titans. All the Olympians are related in some way. They are named after their dwelling place Mount Olympus. Zeus Ares Athena Apollo Aphrodite Hermes Artemis Hephaestus Poseidon Hades Hestia Hera

Aphrodite The Goddess of Love and Beauty Daughter of Zeus and Dione or sprung from the foam of the sea near Cythera Without her there is no joy or loveliness anywhere Can be treacherous and malicious: exerts a deadly and destructive power over men Wife of Hephaestrus (VULCAN)

Athena (MINERVA) Daughter of Zeus (his favorite)—sprung from Zeus’s head full-grown and in full armor Tends to be warlike only to defend the state and home from outside enemies Goddess of the City: protector of civilized life, handicrafts, and agriculture Carries Zeus’ aegis, buckler, and thunderbolt Goddess of Wisdom, Purity, and Reason

Calypso Nymph daughter of Atlas Ruler of her own island Loved Odysseus and planned to never allow him to leave the island Overwhelmed Odysseus with kindness Immortal

Cyclopes Race of giants with one eye in the middle of the forehead Cyclopes lack a cultural history and sense of community Live solitary lives in mountain caves Deal out rough justice to wife and child

Eris Goddess of Discord & Strife Shows up uninvited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis with an apple

The Fates The Fates (notice the personification here?) provide mortals the good and evil that they will possess in their lifetime Clotho= Spinner: she spun the thread of life Lachesis= Disposer of Lots: assigned each mortal his/her destiny (measures the thread) Atropos= carried the “abhorréd shears” and cut the thread of death

Hades God of the underworld Zeus’ brother Greedy god Always trying to increase his subjects

Helen The wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta. She is the cause of the Trojan War, for the war started because the Achaeans were trying to get her back from Troy. She is sympathetic to the problems of others.

Helios Sun-God Child of the Titan Hyperion

Hephaestrus (VULCAN) The God of Fire Son of Hera (and possibly Zeus) The only ugly god in Olympus--also lame Workman of immortals: their armorer and smith; he makes their dwellings, furnishings, and weapons A kindly, peace-loving god: married to Aphrodite

Hera (JUNO) Zeus’s wife and sister Protector of marriage Punishes the women Zeus falls in love with Her daughter is Ilithyia: the goddess of childbirth

Hermes (MERCURY) Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Atlas) Noted for a famous statue: Graceful and swift of motion: Zeus’s messenger Wings on his low-crowned hat, on his magic wand, and winged sandals on his feet Shrewdest and most cunning of the gods (God of Commerce and the Market: Master Thief) Appears in mythology more than any other god

Menelaus The King of Sparta Husband of Helen Brother of Agamemnon. He is visited by Telemachus and shows anger at the acts of the suitors but doesn't help Telemachus.

Muses Nine Muses total Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (memory) Their hearts are set upon song, and their spirits are free from care Companions to Apollo (The God of Truth) Inspirations for people

Odysseus The main character and King of Ithaca. After the Trojan War he is prevented from returning home by Poseidon for many years. He encounters numerous supernatural beings and hardships. He is proud, strong, and smart - a man skilled in all ways of contending.

Oracle Place where mortals go to get a glimpse of their destiny One can not defy the oracle (change the outcome of the prophecy) Dodona and Delphi are places of the oracle Delphi: A question is asked, and the priest or priestess enters the cave and absorbs the vapors to gain insight and knowledge regarding the prophecy

Oracle (Continued) Dodona: the god’s will was revealed by the rustling of the oak leaves which the priest or priestess interpreted.

Penelope The wife of Odysseus. She remains faithful to Odysseus despite the harrying of the suitors. She postpones marriage to one of the suitors by saying she will choose a spouse after she weaves a funeral shroud for Laertes, but each night she unravels it, thus preventing its completion (This is a ruse).

Poseidon (NEPTUNE) Ruler of the Sea (Aegean) Zeus’s brother Second most powerful god Has a splendid palace beneath the sea but spends most of his time on Olympus Nicknamed “Earth-shaker” Always seen carrying his trident: a three pronged spear

The Suitors Young men who want to court and marry Penelope—they assume Odysseus is dead They are unruly

Telemachus The son of Odysseus He enters manhood and embarks upon a search for his father. He is courageous, steady, and fights the suitors with his father.

Zeus (JUPITER) God of the Sky Supreme ruler: Zeus’s power is greater than the power of all the other gods combined Rain-god Cloud-gatherer Thunderbolt Not omniscient or omnipotent Sometimes Fate appears to be more powerful

Zeus (Continued) Constantly falls in love and is unfaithful to Hera Demands sacrifices from mortals and expects right and moral action Breastplate is aegis