Download Greek Myths

Greek Myths
Unit 1 Lesson 1.19
Sources:
englishcaldwell.pbworks.com/f/greek+mythology.ppt
www.humbleisd.net/cms/lib2/.../Mythology_-_Intro_PowerPoint.ppt
www.mythologyteacher.com/GodsGoddessesAbbreviated.ppt
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.
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.

Why Do We Study Myths?

They depict and reveal behavior and
problems common to all human beings.
 Remind
us that human nature is the same
across time and culture.
 Reveal that many social, ethical, and religious
attitudes continue through time.

They reflect the attitudes, priorities, and
values of the cultures that produced them.
The Belief System of Ancient
Greece
In Greek mythology, gods “did not
create the universe… the universe
created the gods” (Hamilton 24).
In
the beginning… there was only
Chaos.
Death in Ancient Greece

According to the
Greeks, all departed
souls went to the
Underworld.
 Two Main Divisions of
the Underworld:


Erebus: where the dead
pass when they die
Tartarus: the main
division
Death in Ancient Greece

The dead are ferried across the
point where the River Acheron
(river of woe) pours into the
River Cocytus (river of
lamentation) by an aged
boatman named Charon.

Charon will ONLY ferry into the
Underworld those who have been
properly buried and who have had
the passage fee placed on their lips
at burial.
Death in Ancient Greece

At the gate sits Cerberus,
the three-headed dog
who permits all the dead
to enter, but not to exit.
 The Underworld is ruled
by the god Hades and
his queen, Persephone.
Gods & Goddesses
• Greek Myths include gods & goddesses.
• A god or goddess is immortal. This means that
they can never die and that they live forever.
• The immortals could not die but they did make
mistakes and had human emotions such as:
jealousy, love & anger.
Myths also include mortals
• Mortals are men and women who
live on earth. To be mortal
means that you can die.
• Sometimes the gods like to help,
punish or even have romantic
relationships with the mortals.
The
Immortals
Here are some of them…
MOUNT OLYMPUS
Home of the Gods
Originally Thought
to be a
Real Mountain
Finally Came to be
Thought of
as a Floating
Mountain
in the Sky
The Twelve Olympians
• The Twelve great gods who
succeeded the Titans
• Lived on Mt. Olympus,
which could have either
been
– The physical mountain in
Thessaly OR
– A mountain in a mysterious
region above the Earth.
• Olympus was NOT HEAVEN.
ZEUS
(Roman Name:
Jupiter)
His weapon was the mighty
THUNDERBOLT
Supreme Ruler of the Gods
He falls in love
frequently and often
acts on it (even
though he is
married)
HERA
(Roman Name:
Juno)
Zeus’ Wife and Sister
Protector of
Marriage and
Married Women
Very Jealous of
Zeus’ Numerous
Lovers
HADES
(Roman Name:
Pluto)
Lord of the Underworld
Ruler of the Dead
POSEIDON
(Roman Name:
Neptune)
Ruler of the Seas and
Oceans
DEMETER
(Roman Name: Ceres)
Goddess of Corn
and Agriculture
Her Moods Affect
the Seasons
APHRODITE
(Roman Name:
Venus)
Goddess of Love and
Beauty
Wife of Hephaestus
HESTIA
(Roman Name:
Vesta)
Goddess of
the Home
ALL ZEUS’
CHILDREN
ARES
(Roman Name:
Mars)
God of War
None of the Other
Gods Like Him
Much
ATHENA
(Roman Name:
Minerva)
Battle Maiden and
Goddess of Wisdom
While Adopted by Hera,
She is the Daughter
of Zeus Only
(Sprang from his Head)
HEPHAESTUS
(Roman Name:
Vulcan)
God of Fire and the Forge
He is the Only Ugly God
Husband of Aphrodite
HEBE
(Roman Name:
None)
Cupbearer of the Gods
APOLLO
(Roman Name: Apollo)
Twin Brother of Artemis
God of Music and Poetry
God of Light and Truth
No False Words
(Never Told a Lie)
His Oracle at Delphi
was the Most Popular
ARTEMIS
(Roman Name:
Diana)
Twin Sister of Apollo
Goddess of the Moon
and the Hunt
Lady of the Wild Things
PERSEPHONE
(Roman Name:
Proserpine)
Goddess of Spring
She was Kidnapped
by Hades
Later Made the
Queen of the
Underworld
Spends Half the Year
in Hades, Half on Earth
HERMES
(Roman Name:
Mercury)
Messenger of the Gods
Has Wings on Sandals
and Cap
Appears the Most
Often
of All the Gods
Greek myths also include…
Odysseus
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 After
fighting in a
war for 10
years…
 He spends 10
more years
trying to
return home
Hercales (Hercules)
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• He is partgod and partman
• Completes 12
dangerous
tasks
There are also…
Monsters
and other
creatures
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Centaurs
rude, aggressive halfhorse creatures
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• Satyrs are
half-man and
half-goat.
• The leader of
the Satyrs was
a god called
Pan.
Satyrs
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Cyclops
• One-eyed
monsters
• The most
famous one,
Polyphemus,
fights
Odysseus in
his cave.
Nymphs
female nature
spirits
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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!
Greek Mythology in
advertising…
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More Mythological
Images in Ads…
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