Download and others, too! Our Focus = GREEK MYTHS

Notes
What is a myth?
A myth is 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
A study of a culture’s myths reveals the
way of life and thought of a culture.
Breaking down the word
for meaning
What kind of myths are there?
Greek
Roman
Egyptian
Norse
African
Asian
Native American
and others, too!
Our Focus =
GREEK
MYTHS
What are the purposes of Greek
myths?
1. To teach a moral lesson
2. To explain the origin and trials of human
life
3. To glorify the good and desirable qualities
of mankind
What is Mount Olympus?
In Greek mythology, twelve gods and
goddesses ruled from atop Greece's Mount
Olympus, a tall, snowcapped mountain in
eastern Greece.
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Aphrodite
Apollo
Ares
Artemis
Athena
Demeter
Dionysus
 Hephaestus
 Hera
 Hermes
 Poseidon
 Zeus

From Mount Olympus, these gods
presided over every aspect of human life.
Gods and Goddesses
Zeus
Roman Name: Jupiter
(also Jove)
King of all gods
God of thunder and
lightning
Hera
Roman Name:
Juno
Queen of gods
Goddess of
marriage
Aphrodite
Roman Name:
Venus
Goddess of
love and beauty
Apollo
Roman Name:
Apollo
God of poetry,
healing,
prophecy
Associated
with the sun
Ares
Roman Name:
Mars
God of war and
violence
Artemis
Roman Name:
Diana
Goddess of the
hunt and the
moon
Athena
Roman Name:
Minerva
Goddess of
wisdom and war
Goddess of
domestic arts
Demeter
Roman Name:
Ceres
Goddess of
agriculture
Goddess of
fertility
Dionysus
Roman Name:
Bacchus
God of wine
God of the Greek
stage
Eros
Roman Name:
Cupid
Young god of
love
Hades
Roman Name:
Pluto
God of the
Underworld
King of the
dead
Hebe
Roman Name:
Juventas
Goddess of Youth
Cupbearer to the
Gods
Hephaestus
Roman Name:
Vulcan
God of fire and
metalworking
Blacksmith for
the gods
Hermes
Roman Name:
Mercury
Messenger to
the gods
God of herds,
cunning, and
travel
Hestia
Roman Name:
Vesta
Goddess of the
hearth and home
Hypnos
Roman Name:
Somnus
God of sleep
Iris
Roman Name:
Iris
Goddess of the
Rainbow
Messenger for
Zeus and Hera
Pan
Roman Name: Pan
God of shepherds
and flocks
Had the legs,
horns, and tail of a
goat
Persephone
Roman Name:
Proserpina
Goddess of
young grain
Queen of the
Underworld
Poseidon
Roman Name:
Neptune
God of the seas
and waters
Psyche
Roman Name:
Psyche
Goddess of the
soul
Heroes
Heracles
Roman Name:
Hercules
Son of Zeus
Forced to perform
the Twelve Labors
Jason
Son of a Greek king
Raised by the kindly
centaur Chiron
Went on a quest to
retrieve the Golden
Fleece
Perseus
Son of Zeus
Killed the snakeheaded Gorgon
Medusa
Theseus
Son of a Greek king
Killed the hideous
Minotaur
Other Mythological Figures
Centaurs
Half man, half
horse
Savage creatures
(except Chiron)
Cerberus
Gigantic threeheaded dog
Guarded the gates
of Hades
Cyclopes
One-eyed giants
Made lightning
bolts for Zeus
Fates
Roman Name:
Parcae, Moirae
Three sisters
Weave, measure,
and cut the thread
of life for humans
Furies
Roman Name:
Furiae or Dirae
Three goddesses of
vengeance
Punish evildoers
Giants
Huge, monstrous
human-shaped
creatures
Battled the gods
Gorgons
Three snakehaired monsters
Their look turns
men to stone
Muses
Nine daughters of Zeus
Goddesses who presided
over the arts and sciences
Inspired artists of all
kinds
“He is happy whom
the muses love.”
Minotaur
Monster with the
head of a bull and
the body of a
human
Lived in King
Minos’ maze
Nymphs
Presided over natural
phenomena: springs,
clouds, trees,
meadows, beaches,
etc.
Depicted as funloving, beautiful
young women
Pegasus
Immortal winged
horse
Sprang forth from
Medusa’s neck
when Perseus
beheaded her
Satyrs
Half goat, half man
Like to drink, dance,
and chase nymphs
Sirens
Three sea monsters
Lured sailors to
their death with a
bewitching song
Titans
Ruled the universe
before the
Olympians came to
power
Cronus and Rhea,
two Titans, were
the parents of Zeus