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Greek Mythology
Places and How the
Earth Began
Places
The Underworld
Mt.
Olympus
The River Styx
Earth
The Ocean
Mt. Olympus
Olympus was where the gods lived. Zeus married his
sister and together they ruled Olympus. There really is a
Mt. Olympus and since it was so high up the Ancient Greeks
decided it was the realm of the gods. Humans and other
creatures could only visit Olympus if they had an invitation.
Earth
Earth is where the humans lived. Sometimes gods
visited Earth, and often fell in love with one of Earth’s
inhabitants. Sometimes they would have children who
would be half human/half god. Many strange and
dangerous creatures roamed Earth and heroes had to
slaughter them.
The Underworld
The underworld was a place inside the earth that
was made up of three places; Tartarus, The Asphodel
Fields, and The Elsyian Fields. The underworld was ruled
by Hades, a.k.a. Pluto. Hades was Zeus’s brother.
The Asphodel
Fields
The Elsyian
Fields
Tartarus
The Ocean
The Ocean surrounded the Earth. The
Ocean was ruled by Poseidon and his wife,
Amphitrite, who was a sea-nymph. Poseidon
controlled the wind and the waves. Sailors often
made sacrifices to him so they would have smooth
sailing.
The Styx
The River Styx was the way to get to the
underworld. To get across you must pay Charon, the
boatman. The cost was one obol, a Greek coin.
After you paid him he would take you across.
The Asphodel Fields
Normal commoners went to the Asphodel
Fields. This was a gray, shadowy, misty, and ghostly
place. Here their souls wandered around like shadows.
Tartarus
Tartarus is where the worst humans and gods
went. They suffered horrendous punishments such
as eternal hunger and thirst, being tied to a wheel of
fire, being hit with thunderbolts, climbing a
mountain endlessly, and shameful donkey’s ears.
These people had to suffer for eternity.
The Elysian Fields
Heroic, kind, and noble people went to the
Elysian Fields. Here they rested and enjoyed lives of
luxury and bliss. You could be sent to Earth to live
another life after you died. If you went to the Elysian
Field three times you could go to the Isles of the
Blessed and never leave.
ZEUS
Roman name Jupiter
• Zeus was the supreme god of
the Olympians. God of the
sky and Olympus.
• His symbol is a lightning bolt
and thunder.
• Particularly fond of beautiful
women (goddesses or
mortals)
• Has power over gods and
humans, can do as he pleases
POSEIDON
Roman name Neptune
• Poseidon was the god of the
sea, earthquakes and horses.
Although he was officially one
of the supreme gods of Mount
Olympus, he spent most of his
time in his watery domain.
• Symbols – trident, horse, bull
• Zeus’ brother – often
distinguished in art by the
fisherman’s trident
• Can cause tidal waves and
earthquakes
Hera
Roman name Juno
• Hera was the goddess of
marriage. She was the wife of
Zeus and Queen of the
Olympians.
• Her symbols are the peacock
and cow
• She punished the women Zeus
fell in love with
• Able to inflict madness
• Mother of heaven
• She is capable of seducing men,
she is a shape-shifter, can
help/hinder heroes
HADES
Roman name Pluto
• Hades was the God of the dead
and ruler of the Underworld,
which was called Hades after
the god.
• Hades abducted Persephone,
who became his queen.
• Symbols – helmet, metal jewels
• His helmet makes him
invisible, called the helmet of
darkness
DEMETER
Roman name Ceres
• Demeter was the goddess of
agriculture. She was the sister of
Zeus and the mother of
Persephone.
• She is a kind of bond between
heaven and earth
• Her symbol is wheat, ear of
corn, poppy
• can make humans immortal
• Controls the fertility of the earth
– won’t let plants grow due to
Persephone’s kidnapping
HESTIA
Roman name Vesta
• Zeus’ sister. Very gentle
• Goddess of home and hearth
• She is a powerful protector
• Her symbols are the hearth
and the living flame
• She is the oldest of the
Olympians
• One of 3 goddesses immune
to Aphrodite’s influence –
cannot be forced to love
anyone
APHRODITE
Roman name Venus
• Aphrodite was the goddess of
love, beauty and fertility. She
was also a protector of sailors.
• Has a magic girdle with powers
to compel love
• Symbols – dove
• Myth says she sprang from the
ocean foam
• Married to Hephaeustus
• Son – Eros (cupid figure)
ATHENA
Roman name Minerva
• Athena was the goddess of
crafts and the domestic arts
and also those of war and
wisdom.
• She was the patron goddess
of Athens.
• Her symbol was the owl and
olive tree.
• It is said to have sprung fully
grown from Zeus’ head
APOLLO
Roman name Apollo
• Apollo was the god of prophesy,
music ,healing, light and reason.
• Zeus’ son – associated with the
sun
• Symbols – lyre, sun, bow and
chariot he drives across the sky
• His arrows could send out the
plague
• He also has the ability to heal
ARTEMIS
Roman name Diana
• Artemis was the goddess of
the hunt and the moon. She
helped women in childbirth,
but also brought sudden
death with her arrows.
• Apollo’s twin sister
• She is associated with the
moon
• Her symbols – crescent
moon, cypress
• Sometimes called Cynthia
ARES
Roman name Mars
• Ares was the god of war, or
more precisely of warlike
frenzy.
• Son of Zeus and Hera –
bloodthirsty and merciless
• Symbols – vulture, dog, often
carried a bloody spear
• Both of his parents disliked
him
HEPHAESTUS
Roman name Vulcan
• Hephaestus was the lame god
of fire and crafts or the two
together, hence of
blacksmiths.
• Known as the friendly God
• Unlike his brother Ares he
was very kind
• Symbols – fire, blacksmith’s
hammer
• Married Aphrodite
HERMES
Roman name Mercury
• Hermes was the messenger of
the gods and guide of dead
souls to the Underworld.
• Also the God of Science and
Invention
• Known as a trickster, a friend
of thieves
• Said to have invented
gymnastics and boxing
• Symbols – winged helmet and
sandals
DIONYSUS
Roman name Bacchus
• Dionysus was the god of wine,
revelry, drama and dancing.
• Symbols – grape vine, ivy and
snakes
• Son of Zeus and Semele
(mortal)
• They talk about him coming
from faraway lands, bringing
with him followers: Maenads
(raving women); satyrs (half
goat); and Sileni (half horse)