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NAME:_________________ DATE:_______________________ PERIOD:_______________________
The Olympians
The Greek gods, known as the Olympians, were as petty and human as their
worshipers. They were nothing like the all-knowing deities of modern religions, like
Islam and Christianity. The Olympians could be merciful, noble, and viscous all within
the same tale, and there is no tale which illustrates these traits more than the Greek
creation story.
The Olympians were the children of the Titans, a race of gods whom the Greeks
believed to be even older than the Olympians. Because an oracle warned that his
children would cause his death, Cronus, King of the Titans, swallowed his first five
children, Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon, at birth.
When his wife, Rhea, gave birth to their final son, Zeus, she did so in hiding.
Zeus was raised by Gaia, the Greek Mother-Earth goddess, on the island Crete, without
the knowledge of his father, Cronus.
Once Zeus became a man, he tricked his father into throwing up his siblings.
Banding together, Cronus’ children waged an intense war against the Titans. In the
end, the Titans were defeated, and banished to Tartarus, the Greek Underworld. This
war was called Titanomachy.
In the aftermath of their battle, Zeus and his elder brothers, Poseidon, and Hades
split up the world: Zeus was given control of the sky, Poseidon, became lord of the sea,
and Hades gained dominion over the Tartarus.
Directions: Answer the following questions on the above reading.
1. What if the difference between the Christian/Islamic god model, and the Greek god model?
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2. Why did Cronus swallow his children? What emotion motivated this act?
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3. Do you think Cronus caused his own demise? Why or why not?
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4. How did Zeus and his brothers split up the world?
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NAME:_________________ DATE:_______________________ PERIOD:_______________________
MEET THE OLYMPIANS:
1.ZEUS:
Zeus, the youngest son of Cronus and Rhea, he was the supreme ruler of
Mount Olympus and of the Pantheon of gods who resided there. Being the supreme
ruler he upheld law, justice and morals, and this made him the spiritual leader of both
gods and men. Zeus was a celestial god, and originally worshiped as a weather god by
the Greek tribes. He is often depicted hurling lightening bolts. Zeus was “married” to
his sister Hera. He is the father of many of the Greek mythological figures like
Hercules, Aphrodite, and Persephone.
2. POSEIDON: Poseidon is one of the three brother gods who divided the world
between them. Poseidon's lot was the sea. As sea god Poseidon is usually seen with
a trident. He is the god of water, horses, and earthquakes and was considered
responsible for shipwrecks and drownings.
NAME:_________________ DATE:_______________________ PERIOD:_______________________
3. ATHENA: Athena is the name of an important goddess for the Greeks. She is the
patron goddess of Athens, the goddess of wisdom, a goddess of crafts, and as a war
goddess, an active participant in the Trojan War. She gave Athens the gift of the olive
tree, providing oil, food, and wood. The Athenians built THE PARTHENON TO
WORSHIP HER.
4.ARES: Ares is a war and violence god in Greek mythology. He was not well liked or
trusted by the Greeks and there are few tales about him. Athena is also a war god, but
well-respected.
5. APHRODITE:Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty, love, and sexuality. Aphrodite is
the mother of the god of love, Eros (more familiar as Cupid). She is the wife of the
ugliest of the gods, Hephaestus. Unlike the powerful virginal goddesses, Athena and
Artemis, or the faithful goddess of marriage, Hera, she has love affairs with gods and
mortals. Her connection to the Olympians was loose at times.
NAME:_________________ DATE:_______________________ PERIOD:_______________________
6: APOLLO: Apollo is a many-talented Greek god of prophecy, music, intellectual
pursuits, healing, plague, and sometimes, the sun. Writers often contrast the cerebral,
beardless young Apollo with his half-brother, the hedonistic Dionysus, god of wine.
7.DYONISOS: DIONYSOS (or Dionysus) was the great Olympian god of wine,
vegetation, pleasure and festivity. He was depicted as either an older bearded god or a
pretty effeminate, long-haired youth. His attributes included the thyrsos (a pine-cone
tipped staff), drinking cup, leopard and fruiting vine.
8.HERMES:HERMES was the great Olympian God of animal husbandry, roads, travel,
hospitality, heralds, diplomacy, trade, thievery, language, writing, persuasion, cunning
wiles, athletic contests, gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. He was also the
personal agent and herald of Zeus, the King of the gods. Hermes was depicted as either
a handsome and athletic, beardless youth, or as an older bearded man.
DIRECTIONS: Name the Greek god most likely to have said each quote.
Quote 1: “If the boss needs something, or someone, taken care of, I make it my
business. Look, I’m a nice guy, I like things to go the easy way, but sometimes things
have to get a little dirty. Let’s be real, it’s only a crime if you get caught. I’m just the
messenger ,you know what I mean?” ____________________
NAME:_________________ DATE:_______________________ PERIOD:_______________________
Quote 2: “Sometimes I think about settling down. Love is, after all, the most delicious
human emotion, and I might add, my favorite. But then, I think about all those
scrumptious fish in the sea, and I don’t know if I could choose just one.”
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Quote 3: “Life is just too short. If you spend all your time worrying about the future, the
present will pass you by. So I say relax! Have some fun! Stop and look around. You
might see something you like.”______________________________
Quote 4: “I don’t see what the big deal is. Really, I mean come on, lightening bolts are
for sissies. They’re for show! When was the last time you saw lighting do anything
besides burn grass? Now earthquakes on the other hand, that’s where the carnage is
at! Just last month, an earthquake swallowed five hundred Athenians! Now that’s what I
call an Act of God.”___________________
Quote 5: “Kill. Maim. Destroy. Yummy!” _____________________
Quote 6: “The poetry of Homer warms my ears like the beauty of the a delicate melody
flowing from that divine instrument, the Lyre. For learning truly shines like a second
sun. __________________
Quote 7: Certainly, there are moments when war is just, and in those moments I shall
be by your side. But, be warned of the evil that lurks in the hearts of men, and go not
carelessly into battle, for one must carry pure heart as well as a sharp sword.
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Quote 8: Yes, tis true that I am king, but do not be too quick to envy, for with great
power, come the responsibility of the heavens._____________________________