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Greek and Roman Mythology A Review of The Principal Gods and Goddesses What is a myth? • A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures • Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events • Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity “Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.” ~ James Arthur Baldwin MYTH from Gk. mythos "speech, thought, story, myth," of unknown origin. Myths are "stories about divine beings, generally arranged in a coherent system; they are revered as true and sacred; they are endorsed by rulers and priests; and closely linked to religion. -logy is a suffix in the English language, used with words originally adapted from Ancient Greek language ending in -λογία (-logia). The study of- , the suffix is derived originally from -λογ- (-log-) (a variant of -λεγ-, -leg-), from the Greek verb λέγειν (legein, "to speak"). The suffix has the sense of "the character or department of one who speaks or treats of [a certain subject]", or more succinctly, "the study of [a certain subject]". Mythology • a branch of knowledge that deals with myth or more commonly, the study of myths Why Study Mythology? • For culture: To study the development of Greek and western culture, literature, and civilization. Temple of Apollo Why Study Mythology? • For enjoyment: It contains stories about human nature, appeals to emotions, and is rich in symbolism. Why Study Mythology? • To know allusions (indirect references) Examples: - Achilles’ Heel - Herculean Task Hercules! Hercules! Why Study Mythology? • To widen your vocabulary Examples: - synchronize - somnambulism - psychology In the beginning... • …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) • Chaos had two children: – Night (darkness) – Erebus (death) • “All was black, empty, silent, endless.” • Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death. And then... • When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. • Love created Light and Day. • Earth was created. – She was the solid ground, but also a personality. • The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods. The First Parents • Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) • Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) • They had three kinds of children: – Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads – Three cyclopes – The titans • These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man. The Titans (The Elder Gods) • • • • • • There were many of them. Enormous size, incredible strength Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans Rhea: Wife of Cronos Ocean: River that encircled the world Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans) The Principal Gods • Cronos and Rhea were parents of – – – – – – Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto) Hera (Juno) Hestia (Vesta) Demeter (Ceres) • Other Olympians include – – – – – – – – – – Athena (Minerva) Ares (Mars) Hebe (Juventas) Hephaestus (Vulcan) Apollo (Apollo) Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury) Aphrodite (Venus) Dionysus (Bacchus) Persephone The Olympian Gods – Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) – Poseidon (Neptune) – Hades (Pluto) – Hera (Juno) – Hestia (Vesta) – Athena (Minerva) – Ares (Mars) – Hephaestus (Vulcan) – Apollo (Apollo) – Artemis (Diana) – Hermes (Mercury) – Aphrodite (Venus) The Olympians Zeus • Roman Name: Jupiter • Supreme god of the Olympians. The rain god. • Brother to Poseidon, Hades, Hera, & Hestia. • Married to Hera • Father to many. • Symbol: Aegis, Eagle, Tree Hera • Roman Name: Juno • Zeus’s sister and wife • Goddess of marriage and childbirth • Punished the women Zeus fell in love with, very jealous. • Symbol: cow and peacock Poseidon • Roman Name: Neptune • God of the Seas and Waters • “The Earthshaker”, greedy • Symbol: trident Hades • Roman Name: Pluto • God of the Underworld and wealth • Rules over the Dead, but not Death (Thanatos) • Kidnapped Persephone • Symbol - Helmet Hestia • Roman Name: Vesta • Goddess of Home • Powerful Protector • Each city had a public, sacred hearth; fire never allowed to go out. Demeter • Roman Name: Ceres • Goddess of the Harvest • A Goddess of the Earth Athena • Roman Name: Minerva • Goddess of Wisdom and War • Sprang from Zeus’s head • Bird – Owl • Tree - Olive Ares • • • • • • Roman Name: Mars God of War Son of Zeus and Hera Bloodthirsty and merciless Bird – Vulture Animal - Dog Hephaestus (he-FEE-stus) • Roman Name: Vulcan • Only god to be physically ugly • God of Fire/Forge • Son of Zeus and Hera?? • Kind and Peace loving • Smith and Armorer of the gods Apollo • Roman Name: Apollo • God of Sun and Music • Brother of Artemis (Twins) and son of Zeus and Leto • Bird – Crow • Tree – Laurel • Animal – Dolphin • Oracle at Delphi Artemis • Roman Name: Diana • Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt • Sister to Apollo (Twins) parents Zeus and Leto • Animal – deer • Tree - Cyprus Hermes • Roman Name: Mercury • Messenger of the Gods • Appears in more myths than any other character • God of thieves • Escorted the dead to the Underworld • Tree - Olive Aphrodite • Roman Name: Venus • Goddess of Love and Beauty • Sprang from the ocean foam • Tree – myrtle • Birds – dove, sparrow, swan Dionysus • Roman Name: Bacchus • God of Wine • Patron god of the Greek stage • A God of the Earth Persephone • Roman Name: Proserpina • Goddess of the Underworld • Daughter of Zeus and Demeter • Abducted by Hades Hebe • Roman Name: Juventas • Goddess of Youth • Cupbearer to the Gods • Restored youth to the aged Eros • Roman Name: Cupid • Young God of Love • Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus Iris • Goddess of the Rainbow • Messenger for Zeus and Hera • Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra The Muses • Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne • Inspired artists of all kinds • Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences • “He is happy whom the muses love.” Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia The Graces • Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty • “They give life its bloom.” • Aglaia (Splendor) • Euphrosyne (Mirth) • Thalia (Good Cheer) The Erinnyes (The Furies) • Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) • Three Goddesses of Vengeance – Tisiphone (Avenger) – Alecto (Unresting) – Megaera (Jealous) • They punish evildoers. The Fates • Roman Name: Parcae • Three sisters – Clotho (“The Spinner”) – Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) – Atropos (“The cutter”) • They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans. The Satyrs • Gods of the woods and mountains • “Shepherd gods” • Goat men (like Pan) • Companions of Dionysus • They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs. The Gorgons • Three snake-haired monsters • Medusa is most well-known • Their look turns men to stone. The Centaurs • Half man, half horse • Savage creatures (except Chiron) • Followers of Dionysus Sources • Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites: – – – – – – – http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html http://www.pantheon.org/ http://www.messagenet.com/myths/ http://mythman.com/ http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html http://www.paleothea.com/ http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html