1. Greek Mythology

2. Mythology – the telling of stories that usually explained natural events that could not be explained through science in ancient times. These stories were first told orally and were later written.

3. TWO NAMES – POWERS SAME The ancient Romans adopted a great deal of Greek mythology. Often, they changed the names of the particular gods and goddesses.

4. DO MYTHS REALLY MATTER TODAY? YES!!! References to Greek mythology are all around us:  Ever heard of Nike athletic gear? Nike was actually a goddess of victory.  What would Valentine’s Day be without Cupid? Cupid, or Eros, is the god of love as the Greeks called him.  Apollo 13 - The first crewed US space missions were named for Apollo, the god of light.

5. The World Mount Olympus – towers up from the center of the Earth (where gods live) Earth – where humans lived, gods visited Underworld – Kingdom of the dead

8. Cronus King of the Titans, ruled the heavens and earth before Zeus Castrated and killed his father – Uranus (heaven) Swallowed his children Children: Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Poseidon

9. Zeus – Leader of the Olympian gods King of the gods Ruler of Mount Olympus He was the god of the sky, lightning and thunder. He married Hera, his sister.

10. Hera – Wife of Zeus She was the protector of marriage and motherhood. Zeus and Hera were always quarreling. Known to be a Jealous wife.

11. Hades – god of the underworld Jealous brother of Zeus and Poseidon. Wife is Persephone Ruler of the dead Ruler of the underworld

12. Poseidon (god of the sea) Brother of Zeus 2 nd most powerful god Caused storms and earthquakes. He invented the horse for his sister Demeter, whom he loved.

13. Demeter – goddess agriculture Sister of Zeus She cares for the earth and makes things grow. Mother of Persephone. Her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by Hades. Responsible for the changing of the seasons.

14. Hestia – goddess of the home Sister of Zeus Represented security and happiness. Thought to be the kindest of the goddesses. Mentioned in only a few stories.

15. Apollo – god of light, music and knowledge He was the twin brother of Artemis and the most handsome of the gods. He drove his chariot across the sky to pull the sun each day.

16. Artemis – goddess of moon, woods, & hunting Twin sister of Apollo She was a huntress, who always carried a silver bow and arrows.

17. Athena –goddess of wisdom Born full grown out of the head of Zeus. She was the best-loved goddess on Olympus. She hated Ares – god of war She taught man to use tools and taught woman to spin (yarn) and weave.(cloth). Created the spider

18. Hermes – god of mischief and the god of the market (buying and selling) Messenger of the gods Flew between the heavens and the earth Guided souls to the underworld.

19. Ares – god of war Loved Aphrodite Provoked conflict Disliked by gods and mortals. Ironically, he was a coward, who fled the field of battle.

20. Aphrodite - goddess of love and beauty Born in the sea The other goddesses envied her. After all the gods on Mount Olympus courted her, she married Hephaestus, the ugliest of the gods.

21. Hephaestus – god of fire and volcanoes Made weapons and jewelry for the gods and goddesses. Married to Aphrodite Born extremely ugly. Hera, his mother, thought he was so ugly that she threw his off Mt. Olympus crippling him.

22. Achilles Mightiest Greek warrior Son of king and sea goddess Known for his Achilles Heel Chose glory in war rather than a long peaceful life

23. Asclepius Mortal who became the god of healing Son of Apollo Brought the dead back to life

24. Narcissus Son of a river god and a nymph Handsome but extremely vain Fell in love with own reflection

25. Heracles (Hercules) Greek Hero Achieved divinity upon death Famous for his 12 labors Favorite son of Zeus Hera tried to kill him

26. Medusa Once beautiful maiden turned into a monster Instead of hair, had live snakes People who looked at her turned to stone immediately Cursed by Athena – envious of beauty

27. Odysseus Hero of Homer’s Odyssey Came up with Trojan Horse Had to overcome several obstacles

28. Prometheus Titan who joined forces with Zeus Founder of human race and giver of fire Chained to a rock, eagle pecked out liver Liver always grew back

29. Iris Goddess of the Rainbow Messenger of the gods Often carries messages for Hera Some legends, she is the mother of Eros

30. Orion The Hunter, Giant mortal son of Poseidon and Euryale Killed by Artemis and then placed among the stars

31. Atlas Mythological Titan who competed with the giants against the Gods in a war Zeus punished him by making him support the heavens with his shoulders After Atlas saw the head of Medusa, he was turned into a mountain chain which was believed to have stretched from Africa to Spain until Heracles broke it, thus creating the Pillars of Hercules, in modern geography: Gibraltar.

32. Psyche Greek Goddess of the Soul Psyche started out as a mortal, but one of exquisite grace and beauty. Fervently courted by numerous mortal men and gods