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Greek Gods
Athena
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Goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, law/justice, warfare, civilization, mathematics,
strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill
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Athena was born from Zeus’s forehead as a fully grown women, covered in armor. The story
behind Athena’s birth started when Metis, Zeus’s lover, became pregnant with a child. Later, the
oracle told Zeus that one of his sons would overthrow him so Zeus swallowed Metis. One day,
he had a terrible headache and told Hephaestus to cut open his head which is how Athena
escaped or was born from inside Zeus’s body.
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Her symbols are the olive tree and the owl.
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Arachne was a lower-class girl who had extraordinary talent in spinning and weaving.. Arachne
gained a lot of fame but made the mistake of not admitting that Athena was her teacher and
challenged her to a contest. Disguised as an old woman, Athena warned Archane about the
danger of her challenge but Arachne continued to make her claims. Angry, Athena threw off her
disguise and accepted the challenge. She wove at her loom a tapestry that showed noble scenes
from mythology. Arachne, on the other hand, wove into her tapestry scenes of the gods' less
honorable actions. Athena was furious, particularly since she could find no fault with Arachne’s
excellent work. She tore up the embroidered tapestry and beat Arachne's face with the shuttle.
Grief-stricken, Arachne hung herself, but Athena took pity and transformed her into a spider and
she practiced the art of weaving forever.
Poseidon
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God of the Seas
In Ancient Greece, the first king of Athens, Cecrops, who was half person and
half snake, had to find a patron god for the city state of Athens. The two
Olympian gods who were interested in the patronage were Poseidon and Athena.
They presented themselves in front of Cecrops and Cecrops asked from
them to offer a gift truly valuable for Athens. Poseidon went first and he
struck the earth and created a well with his trident but the water was salty
and wasn’t useful to the popluation. Next, Athena stepped forward, struck
her spear into the ground and then planted the olive tree, as a symbolization
of peace and prosperity on earth. Cecrops was very impressed by Athena’s
gift so he chose she to be the patron of Athens. Poseidon, however, was not
pleased with the decision of Cecrops and cursed the city of Athens to never
have enough water from then on. After that, it is said that a major problem
of water shortage started in Athens, which continues in modern-day
Greece.
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Zeus
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God of the skies and the king of gods
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Zeus is married to Hera, his sister, the goddess of
marriage and women.
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His symbols are the oak tree, eagle, thunderbolt, and
bull
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Zeus is famous for his numerous love affairs.
Kronos
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Titan god of time and the ages
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He killed his father.
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In fear of a prophecy that his own son would
overthrow him, he ate all of his children after they
were born. His wife was able to save the youngest
one, Zeus, hid him in Krete, and fed Kronos a
stone covered with a blanket. Zeus grew up and
forced Kronos to disgorge his siblings. He then led
a 10-year war against the Titans and drove them
defeated into the pit of Tartaros in the Underworld.
Aphrodite
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Her name translates to foam-risen because she was born and arose on a large shell which was then
carried to the land where she was dressed and adored by sea nymphs
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She was forced to marry the god of fire, Hephaestus. With this marriage she hoped to become
independent and was always in search of another lover. She later married Ares, the god of war. .
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The most famous legend about Aphrodite is the cause of the Trojan War. The conflict started at the
marriage between Peleus and Thetis. Peleus and Thetis had not invited Eris, the goddess of discord,
to their marriage and the outraged goddess stormed into the wedding banquet and threw a golden
apple onto the table. Eris said that the apple belonged to whomever was the fairest. Hera, Athena,
and Aphrodite each reached for the apple. Zeus proclaimed that Paris, prince of Troy and thought
to be the most beautiful man alive, would act as the Hera promised him power, Athena promised
him wealth, and Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris chose
Aphrodite, and she promised him that Helen, wife of Menelaus, would be his wife. In Sparta,
Menelaus, husband of Helen, treated Paris as a royal guest. However, when Menelaus left Sparta to
go to a funeral, Aphrodite made Helen fall in love with Paris, causing her to go willingly with Paris
to Troy. In Troy, Helen and Paris were married. Menelaos was enraged when he found out about
this and his brother, Agamemmon led the fight against the Trojans in order to get Helen back.
Hermes
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God of transitions and boundaries and was also known as the messenger
god
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As an infant, he stole the cattle from his half-brother Apollo and created the
Lute, then returned to his crib. Apollo went to Hermes parents, Zeus and
Maia, to tell them what happened and then Hermes took Apollo to his
cattle and played him a song on the Lute. This sing was so impressive that
Apollo forgave Hermes and allowed him to keep his cattle. After this event,
Hermes became the god of travel, thievery and persuasion.
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His social skills and clever mind gave him a great advantage over the other
gods.
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One of his tasks included escorting the dead from Earth to Hades’s
Underworld.
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Hermes warned Odysseus about Kirke’s plan to turn his men into pigs and
told him how to protect himself against her magic by giving him a plant.
Hades
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God of the Underworld and Death
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Hades springs out of the earth and captures Persephone, dragging her off to
be his queen in the Underworld. Her mother Demeter searches for her and
stops all foods from growing until Persephone is returned. Finally, a deal is
worked out where Persephone stays one-third of the year with Hades, onethird of the year serving as a handmaiden to Zeus at Mount Olympus, and
one-third with her mother.
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Hades was born to the Great Mother goddess Rhea and Kronos (Father
Time) on the island of Crete, along with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon.
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After Kronos was toppled, the three brothers; Zeus, Poseidon and Hades:
After Kronos was toppled, the three brothers, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades,
have a luck draw to see who would rule each domain of the universe. Zeus
was given the luxury of being king of the gods. He also gained control of
the skies. Poseidon became the ruler of the seas, while Hades was stuck
with being the ruler of the Underworld.
The Muses
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The Nine Muses were the nine daughters of Zeus
and Mnemosyne. They entertained the Olympians.
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The Muses were Calliope (epics), Clio (history),
Euterpe (music), Thalia (comedy), Melpomene
(tragedy), Terpsichore (dance), Erato (lyrics),
Polyhymnia (hymns), and Urania (astronomy).
Video Summary of the
Greek Gods
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http://www.history.com/topics/greekmythology/videos#greek-gods
Sources
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http://www.paleothea.com/
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http://www.goddess-athena.org/Encyclopedia/Athena/
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http://www.funtrivia.com/en/Humanities/Athena-4542.html
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http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Poseidon.html
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http://www.men-myths-minds.com/Poseidon-greek-god.html
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http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanKronos.html
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http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythhades.htm
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http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/parisaphrodite/aphrodite.html
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena
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http://www.pantheon.org/articles/z/zeus.html
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http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythhades.htm
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http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195308044/studentresources/chapters/ch08/myth_summary/?view=usa
Picture Citations
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http://www.paleothea.com/Gallery/Muses.html
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http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111113180030/monster/i
mages/2/23/Hades.jpg
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http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/parisaphrodite
/botticelli_birth_of_venus.gif
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http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/201105/288307/3006617_640px.jpg?1305325350
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http://www.theoi.com/image/img_kronos.jpg