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Greek Mythology and
Religion
Gods and Goddesses
Page 161 story
Essential Learning
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Religion - students will understand the
importance and influence of religion on each
civilization (i.e. monotheism, polytheism,
mythology, Christianity).
Religious Beliefs and Practices
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Ancient Greeks practiced their religion
individually often going to a temple, saying a
prayer and leaving a gift. (no church service)
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Sacrifices were made to please the gods.
Greek Temples
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They believed in oracles - a place gods spoke to
people: the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
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They believed in omens (signs) curses and
superstition (Illness, drought, plague or losing a
battle were due to the gods not being happy.)
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Festivals were held to Honour the Gods.
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Their religion was seen in their art, literature,
buildings, paintings and statues.
Death and the Afterlife
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Greeks believed that Hermes would lead the
deceased to the River Styx (Purgatory). There
was no heaven.
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A three headed dog would prevent people from
leaving the underworld.
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The dead had two coins placed over their eyes
or in the mouth to pay the boatman.
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Women looked after the burial rites of family
members.
Body anointed with oil
 Body wrapped in a shroud
 Coins placed over eyes
 Wreath placed on head.
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The 12 main gods and
goddesses of Ancient
Greece.
The Gods
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The main gods were a group of 12 called the
Olympians.
Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were
anthropomorphic (took shape of humans)
All the Olympians are related to each other in
some way.
They lived at Mount Olympus.
Who were the TITANS?
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12 Giants most popular was Atlas (held the world on
his shoulders.) Children of Gaea and Uranus.
Atlas
Zeus
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Zeus is the King of the Gods.
If he would have to bring
order he would hurl a
thunderbolt.
Zeus is also the sky god. He
controls the rain and weather.
Hera
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Hera is the goddess of marriage and
childbirth and the home.
Hera is not only Zeus’ wife but also his
sister.
Poseidon
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Poseidon is the God of the Sea and
of the Earthquake.
Poseidon is Zeus’ brother.
He is second to Zeus only in power
among the gods.
Artemis
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Artemis is the goddess of the
Hunt and of the Moon.
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Daughter of Zeus
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She is a virgin goddess, the
goddess of chastity.
Athena
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Goddess of Wisdom and
Agriculture.
She is the daughter of Zeus.
Aphrodite
Goddess of Love and Beauty
Hestia
Ares
Ares is the god of war.
Hermes
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Son of Zeus.
Zeus’ messenger.
He is the guide for the dead to
go to the underworld.
Hades
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Hades is the god of the
underworld and rules over
the dead.
A greedy god who is always
trying to increase his
subjects.
Apollo
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Apollo is the god of the Sun,
Truth, and Music.
His most important job is to
drive the sun across the sky
with his chariot.
He is famous for his oracle at
Delphi.
Because he was the god of
truth, he could not tell a lie.
Hephaestus
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Hephaestus is the god of Fire and the Forge.
He is the son of Zeus
Only god to be physically ugly and lame.
Pictures of the Gods and
Goddesses
Zeus
Hestia
Hades
Poseidon
Athena
Lesser Gods
(Don’t copy)
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Demeter – Goddess of the Earth and of the Harvest.
Persephone – Hades’ wife and Queen of the Underworld.
Dionysus – God of the Arts and the Vine.
Eros – Son of Aphrodite, God of Love. Called Cupid by the
Romans.
Hebe – Goddess of Youth
Thanatos – God of Death
Morpheus – God of Dreams
Nemisis – God of Vengence
Pan – God of Shepards
Medusa
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Could turn men to stone when they looked at her.
Disbelievers
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Some Greeks were not happy with the Olympian
gods because they thought they were not personal.
Therefore a new religion began – A mystery
religion.
Dionysus was the main God in this religion.
Christianity Brought to Greece
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In 51 AD Saint Paul came to Greece and
brought the idea of Christianity (About 20 years
after Christ’s death.)
In 529 AD a Roman Emperor – Justinian –came
to Greece and forced Christianity on people.
One major difference was Christianity is
monotheistic. (worshipped 1 God).
Compare and Contrast
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Think about the mainstream religions of today.
(Christianity, Judaism, Hindu, Islam) How was
Greek mythology different from these types of
religion?
Were there similarities?
Refrences
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http://www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myt
h/olympian.html#Apollo
Pictures from Elfwood Productions and Google
Search.
Compton’s Encyclopedia 2000
Prelude to the Present Textbook