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Greek Mythology An Introduction What is mythology? QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Mythology refers to a body of literary stories or tales explaining how the world and humankind came to be. • Most cultures have their own mythologies. • Before the myths were written down, they were told orally through poems, or depicted through art such as vases QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • The oldest known Greek literary sources of mythology are the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey by Homer. • Both poems tell stories of the Trojan War, and include tales of gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, battles, and adventures-- all common themes in mythology. Ancient Greek vases QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. What are myths? QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • A myth is a story with a purpose. • The purpose of Greek myths was to explain everyday occurrences the Greeks didn’t understand, especially weather and natural disasters. • They also taught the Greeks important lessons about life and how to behave. What were the myths about? QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Greek myths are fascinating, adventurefilled stories of gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters. • Myths were about adventures, triumphs, tragedies, devotion, and vengeance. • Some taught the Greeks about how to live a life that would please the gods. Why gods? • The Greeks created gods and goddesses to explain the natural phenomena of their daily lives • Wind • Ocean waves • Thunder • Earthquakes • Fire Major and Minor gods and goddesses QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Some of the lesserimportant gods are called minor gods. • The major gods, or Olympians, were the 14 gods and goddesses who lived on Mount Olympus. • All of the major gods were in some way related to each other. Mount Olympus Greeks believed that the major gods lived on top of Mount Olympus, a mountain so high and steep that no man could climb it and see them in their shining palace. The real Mt. Olympus QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Mount Olympus is the tallest mountain in Greece. • It has 52 summits. • The tallest summit has an elevation of 9,570 feet. • (Mt. Greylock is 3,489 feet) They looked like humans The gods looked like people and acted like them, too, only they were taller, handsomer, and could do no wrong. They also had super-human abilities, or powers. The gods could shape shift The gods often descended to earth, sometimes in their own shapes, sometimes disguised as humans or animals. This is Zeus disguised as a bull, wooing Europa. Immortality The gods could not die. They were immortal, for divine ichor flowed in their veins instead of blood. In the beginning… • There was Chaos (empty darkness). • Gaia (the earth) and Uranus (the heavens) sprang from the Chaos. • Gaia and Uranus married and gave birth to the Titans, who were the first gods. • The Titans were giants. QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Gaia and Uranus warned their son Cronus that one day he would have a son who would overpower him. • So Cronus swallowed his children to prevent this prediction from coming true. QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Cronus’s youngest son, Zeus, was spared from being swallowed by his father. • As a baby, Cronus had been tricked into swallowing a stone instead of Zeus. QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Zeus grew up and together with his brothers and sisters, fought the Titans for control over the universe. • This battle between the “old gods” and the “new gods” raged for years. QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • The Titans were overthrown, and Zeus and his siblings became the new supreme gods. • Zeus appointed himself supreme god over all, and gave his siblings each their own domains to rule. Zeus (Jupiter) QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • God of the heavens and earth, ruler of weather, giver of justice. • Son of Cronus & Rhea. • Symbols: thunderbolt, eagle, and oak tree. • He sat on the highest throne, with a bucketful of thunderbolts beside him. He was the most powerful of the gods. • Had many wives, lovers, and children. Hera (Juno) • Goddess of marriage and married women. • She was Zeus’ youngest sister who sat on Zeus’ right side. Was also his wife and queen. • Daughter of Cronus & Rhea. • Symbols: cow, peacock. • She was very jealous of her husband’s other lovers. • Often disguised herself to catch Zeus in his affairs. Ares (Mars) • God of war, bloodshed, and violence. • Son of Zeus & Hera. • Symbols: dogs, vultures, or a spear and shield. • Tall and handsome but vain and cruel. • None of the gods were fond of him. • Wore a golden helmet with a large plume on the top. • Had a romance with the goddess Aphrodite. They had a son, Eros (Cupid). Hephaestus (Vulcan) QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • God of blacksmiths, metalworkers, and craftsmen. • Son of Zeus and Hera. • Symbols: the forge and anvil (metalworking tools). • He was a hard-working, peaceloving god and was very fond of his mother. • His wife was Aphrodite. • He was lame. • When he was born, Hera threw him from Mount Olympus because she thought he looked ugly. Aphrodite (Venus) QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Goddess of love and beauty. • Had no mother or father. She rose out of the sea on a cushion of foam. • She was taken to Olympus, where all the gods rejoiced in her beauty, and she became one of them. • Symbols: dove, sparrow, rose, myrtle, and evergreen. • She was not pleased being the wife of Hephaestus; she would rather have had his brother Ares for a husband. • Had an affair with Ares; they had a son (Cupid). Hermes (Mercury) • • • • QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • • • God of trade, travel, and theft. Son of Zeus & Maia. Symbols: herald’s staff, winged sandals, winged cap. He was “herald of the gods,” (herald = messenger) He wore a golden hat with wings and a pair of winged sandals. He was as popular among mortals as he was among gods. According to the myths, Hermes could walk as soon as he was born and he invented the lyre when he was just a day old. Demeter (Ceres) • • • • QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • • • • Goddess of the harvest. Zeus’ sister. Daughter of Cronus & Rhea. Symbols: sheaf of wheat and the cornucopia. A kind goddess. Had a daughter named Persephone, who was Hades’ queen in the underworld. She created winter. Had the power to destroy all life on earth. Poseidon (Neptune) QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. • God of the sea. • Zeus’ brother who sat on the left of Zeus. • Son of Cronus & Rhea. • Symbols: trident, dolphins, and horses. • A moody and violent god with fierce blue eyes and sea-blue hair. • He was called the “Earthshaker.” • Had the power to create earthquakes and tsunamis. • Rarely at home; a restless god who loved to race the waves. Athena (Minerva) • Goddess of wisdom and war. • Daughter of Zeus and Metis (first wife of Zeus). • Symbols: owl, olive tree. • Favorite child of Zeus. • She sprang fully grown out of her father’s head. • Her constant companion was Nike, the spirit of victory. • She was skilled at the loom and potter’s wheel. Apollo (Apollo) • God of the sun, light, and music. • Artemis’s twin brother. • Son of Zeus & Leto. • Symbols: lyre, laurel wreath. • As the protector of single men, Apollo never married. • Zeus sent him off in a chariot drawn by white swans to win for himself the oracle of Delphi. • Had the power to heal using the heat of the sun. Artemis (Diana) • • • • Goddess of the hunt and moon. Apollo’s twin sister. Daughter of Zeus & Leto. Symbols: crescent moon crown, a stag, or a bow and arrows. • When she was a newborn, she asked her father to promise never to make her marry; she wanted to remain forever a wild young maiden hunting through the woods. Dionysus (Bacchus) • God of wine. • Son of Zeus and Semele, a mortal woman. • Symbols: ivy, bunches of grapes, a wine cup, or a leopard. • Youngest of the Olympians. • He was the only one of the 12 great gods whose mother was a mortal. • Hestia gave up her throne for him. • He was born from Zeus’ thigh. Hestia (Vesta) • Goddess of the hearth and throne. • Eldest sister of Zeus. • Daughter of Cronus & Rhea. • Symbol: hearth fire. • She was the gentlest of all the Olympians. • She had no throne, but tended the sacred fire in the hall, and every hearth on earth was her alter. • She received the first offering at every sacrifice in ancient Greek households. Hades (Pluto) • • • • • • • • God of the underworld. Eldest brother of Zeus. Son of Cronus & Rhea. Symbols: bident, Cerberus (his three-headed guard dog), or the cypress tree. He preferred to stay in the underworld and never went to Olympus. A gloomy god of few words, mortals feared him so much they dared not speak his name. He ruled the underworld with his queen, Persephone. Had a helmet of invisibility.