1. Greek Myths

2. What is mythology? Some people use the word myth to mean fake, but…
Mythology is the study of stories that were used to explain the world and other human experiences.

3. In the same way, Greek Myths…
Were used to explain
the creation of the earth,
death and the afterlife,
and human experiences: love, jealousy, revenge, & war.
They were also used as entertainment and were only told orally because most people could not read.

4. Monsters and other creatures
Introducing…
Monsters and other creatures

5. Centaurs
rude, aggressive half- horse creatures

6. Satyrs are half-man and half-goat.
The leader of the Satyrs was a god called Pan.

7. Cyclops One-eyed monsters
The most famous one, Polyphemus, fights Odysseus in his cave.

8. Nymphs
female nature spirits

9. Chimaera Personality fierce and lethal to mortals Career
killing and devouring humans
Distinguishing Features
head of a lion
the body of a goat
a serpent tail
Supernatural Attributes
Fire breathing

10. Sirens Personality destructive and wicked sisters
Distinguishing Features
beautiful female faces and voices
have birdlike bodies with wings and claws
irresistible voices lure sailors to the impassable reef
Story
friends of Persephone
when Sirens didn’t protect their friend when she was being carried off by Hades, they were transformed into half-woman, half-bird creatures
then lived on a barren island that was one of the entrances to the underworld
whenever a ship would pass, they sang, hoping it was Persephone
no one could resist the beautiful voices, so they sailed closer to the gates to the underworld
every time the Sirens realized Persephone was not on board, they tore the crew limb from limb and sent them to the underworld

11. Cerberus Personality ferocious Career
guards the gates of the underworld
Distinguishing Features
dog
3 heads
Supernatural Attributes
immortality
his spit produces the aconite flower which contains a poison

12. Argus Career Hera’s (Zeus’s wife) servant Distinguishing Features
100 eyes, never all
closed at once

13. Echidne Mother of Monsters half woman half serpent
Supernatural Attributes
gives birth to other monsters; Orthus Cerberus, Hydra, Chimaera, Sphinx, Nemean Lion

14. Typhon Father of Monsters Battled Zeus in the War with the Titans
Legs were serpents, fire-breathing, gigantic and immortal

15. Gorgon Story once beautiful creatures were turned into monsters
offended Athene
Distinguishing Features
wings
bronze claws
hissing serpents for hair
Supernatural Attribute
turn anyone who looks at them to stone
Their den could be easily recognized because it has the statues of its many victims

16. Scylla female six heads tentacles/fish tail
ring of snarling dogs around her waist
Story
lives under a rock right across from the rock Charybdis, another creature, lives under
Scylla and Charybdis are always near each other
whenever sailors try to pass between both the rocks, they have to stay midway
if they go too the right six sailors will be pulled off her tentacles and eaten by one of the six heads.
Odysseus was one of the few that actually made it through safely.

17. Charybdis A gigantic whirlpool between clashing rocks pitiless
Scylla is normally near her
try to crush sailors that go between them
attempted the destruction of Jason and the Argonauts
Almost destroyed Odysseus’ crew

18. Erinyes They troubled the conscience of murderers
persistent and terrifying to the guilty
but no problem at all to the innocent
three of them
female
when in pursuit of their
victims they have a dog’s
head
snakes for hair
bat wings
Supernatural Attributes
immortality
being able to inflict psychological torture on their victims

19. In our world today there are many references to Greek myths.
Knowing these famous stories and characters will help you to better understand the world around you.
They are also fun to learn!

20. Greek Mythology in advertising…

21. More Mythological Images in Ads…