The gods of Ancient Greece

Ancient Greek religion  Greek deities play a major role in the development of Greek culture  Polytheistic  believed their gods existed and lived in the real world  Role of gods is to rule over all aspects that humans would come across in their lives  Greek deities play a major role in the development of Greek culture  Polytheistic  believed their gods existed and lived in the real world  Role of gods is to rule over all aspects that humans would come across in their lives

 Gods have limitations and weaknesses  Gods are neither omnipotent (all- powerful) or omniscient (all-knowing)  Very closely resemble humans except have super human abilities  immortal  Gods have limitations and weaknesses  Gods are neither omnipotent (all- powerful) or omniscient (all-knowing)  Very closely resemble humans except have super human abilities  immortal

Creation Story  First there was Chaos-unordered mass  Then Gaea (Earth) and Eros (Desire) who came to cancel any logical act  Gaea then brought Uranus (the Heaven), Pontus (the Sea) and the Mountains to the world.  Gaea and Uranus become first divine couple in the world  First there was Chaos-unordered mass  Then Gaea (Earth) and Eros (Desire) who came to cancel any logical act  Gaea then brought Uranus (the Heaven), Pontus (the Sea) and the Mountains to the world.  Gaea and Uranus become first divine couple in the world

 Gaea and Uranus have 12 Titan children, 3 Cyclops, and 3 Hundred Handed creatures  Uranus was fearful of his children overthrowing him, so he pushed his children back one by one into the womb of Gaea. In the end Gaea handed a sickle to her son Cronus, the youngest of the Titans, in order to castrate his father.  Cronus then threw his father's genitals into the sea, and (one version) states the foam transformed into Aphrodite, the Olympian goddess of Love and Beauty.  Gaea and Uranus have 12 Titan children, 3 Cyclops, and 3 Hundred Handed creatures  Uranus was fearful of his children overthrowing him, so he pushed his children back one by one into the womb of Gaea. In the end Gaea handed a sickle to her son Cronus, the youngest of the Titans, in order to castrate his father.  Cronus then threw his father's genitals into the sea, and (one version) states the foam transformed into Aphrodite, the Olympian goddess of Love and Beauty.

 Soon afterwards, Cronus marries Rhea and together they created children who later on would become the Olympian gods. But Cronus developed the same fear as his father so he started to swallow his own children as well.  Rhea attempts to save her youngest child, Zeus, by deceiving Cronus and giving him a huge stone to swallow. He then throws up his children and Rhea sends Zeus to Crete to protect him.  Soon afterwards, Cronus marries Rhea and together they created children who later on would become the Olympian gods. But Cronus developed the same fear as his father so he started to swallow his own children as well.  Rhea attempts to save her youngest child, Zeus, by deceiving Cronus and giving him a huge stone to swallow. He then throws up his children and Rhea sends Zeus to Crete to protect him.

 When Zeus grows up, he rescues his brothers and sisters  Wages war on the Titans and Giants  Olympic gods excel and win these battles  Thus begins the rule of the Olympians, the gods of classical Greece  When Zeus grows up, he rescues his brothers and sisters  Wages war on the Titans and Giants  Olympic gods excel and win these battles  Thus begins the rule of the Olympians, the gods of classical Greece

Zeus  Most powerful- considered just and fair  Zeus married his own sister Hera, but has numerous love affairs  Strong, imposing figure with long, curly hair  respected and awed by all gods and mortals  Unpredictable god- controlled weather based on moods  His animal is the eagle  Most powerful- considered just and fair  Zeus married his own sister Hera, but has numerous love affairs  Strong, imposing figure with long, curly hair  respected and awed by all gods and mortals  Unpredictable god- controlled weather based on moods  His animal is the eagle

Hera  Zeus’ wife and sister  Protector of married women  Usually stays in high places so she can keep an eye on Zeus’s actions  Considered beautiful but not desirable  Sacred fruit is pomegranate and symbol is peacock  Zeus’ wife and sister  Protector of married women  Usually stays in high places so she can keep an eye on Zeus’s actions  Considered beautiful but not desirable  Sacred fruit is pomegranate and symbol is peacock

Poseidon  god of the seas  considered to be the bad-tempered, moody and greedy  Brother of Zeus and Hera  Strong and imposing with long, blue hair  His symbol was the trident and his sacred animals were the dolphin and the horse  god of the seas  considered to be the bad-tempered, moody and greedy  Brother of Zeus and Hera  Strong and imposing with long, blue hair  His symbol was the trident and his sacred animals were the dolphin and the horse

Hephaestus  god of fire and the forge. Symbols are axe and fire  Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera.  Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father.  Hephaestus was a very kind and loveable god, but was the only deity who was physically ugly and lame.  Creates first woman- Pandora  Married to Aphrodite  god of fire and the forge. Symbols are axe and fire  Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera.  Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father.  Hephaestus was a very kind and loveable god, but was the only deity who was physically ugly and lame.  Creates first woman- Pandora  Married to Aphrodite

Aphrodite  goddess of love, beauty, and eternal youth  Married to Hephaestus but secret love affair with Ares  Can arose desire in gods, men, and beasts using magic girdle  Son is Eros- better known by the Roman title Cupid  Sacred bird is dove  goddess of love, beauty, and eternal youth  Married to Hephaestus but secret love affair with Ares  Can arose desire in gods, men, and beasts using magic girdle  Son is Eros- better known by the Roman title Cupid  Sacred bird is dove

Ares  Son of Zeus and Hera; half brother to Athena  god of War  Difficult character to deal with and not popular with gods or men  No city had him as patron  Lover of Aphrodite and child they produced is Armonia (Harmony)  Symbol is spear and dogs  Son of Zeus and Hera; half brother to Athena  god of War  Difficult character to deal with and not popular with gods or men  No city had him as patron  Lover of Aphrodite and child they produced is Armonia (Harmony)  Symbol is spear and dogs

Apollo  god of the Music  Born of Zeus and human, Leto  Younger twin brother of Artemis  Had gift of prophecy and temple at Delphi is dedicated to him  handsome, strong and youthful god with impressive golden hair  Symbols are the lyre and the laurel tree  god of the Music  Born of Zeus and human, Leto  Younger twin brother of Artemis  Had gift of prophecy and temple at Delphi is dedicated to him  handsome, strong and youthful god with impressive golden hair  Symbols are the lyre and the laurel tree

Artemis  Heritage same as Apollo  Virgin goddess  absolute sovereignty over nature and was said to bring fertility to all places that worshipped her  Hunted with arrows dipped in poison  Killer and protector of wild animals  Symbol is bow and animal is deer  Heritage same as Apollo  Virgin goddess  absolute sovereignty over nature and was said to bring fertility to all places that worshipped her  Hunted with arrows dipped in poison  Killer and protector of wild animals  Symbol is bow and animal is deer

Athena  Child of Zeus and Metis  Zeus, fearing that she would be smarter than him, ate the mother before she could give birth  Athena emerged from Zeus’ forehead fully grown  Goddess of just War  Beat Poseidon to become patron of Athens  A tall, slim woman wearing a suit of armour, shield with Medusa’s head fastened and a golden helmet  Sacred animal was the owl  Child of Zeus and Metis  Zeus, fearing that she would be smarter than him, ate the mother before she could give birth  Athena emerged from Zeus’ forehead fully grown  Goddess of just War  Beat Poseidon to become patron of Athens  A tall, slim woman wearing a suit of armour, shield with Medusa’s head fastened and a golden helmet  Sacred animal was the owl