Download Greek Mythology

Family Tree of the Major Gods
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Web, myth narration & graphics created & maintained by Nick Pontikis
Copyright © 1995 - 2002 Thanasi's Olympus Greek Restaurant
The Myth Man persona © 1988 Nick Pontikis
Copyright © 1999 greekmyth.com
Copyright © 1999 mythman.com
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Cronus and Rhea
• Titans who ruled
before the
Olympians
• Children Zeus,
Poseidon, Hades,
Hestia, Demeter and
Hera
• Fought their own
children for control
of world the world
• Children won
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Zeus
(Jupiter)
Ruler of gods and mortals
Ladies Man
Married Hera
Lived on Mt. Olympus
God of skies and storm
(thunderbolt)
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Hera
(Juno)
• goddess of marriage,
motherhood
• wife and sister of Zeus
• extremely jealous
• very beautiful
(cow eyed beauty)
• symbols include: cow,
peacock, pomegranate
• highly regarded and
worshipped but not
portrayed well in
Mythology
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Poseidon
(Neptune)
•god of the sea and rivers
•controlled earthquakes
•gave humans the gift of
the horse
•Zeus only god more
powerful
•symbol-trident
•lived beneath the ocean
•often went to Mt.
Olympus to party with
the gods.
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Hades
(Pluto)
•god of the Underworld
•rarely left his home
•did not cause death.
•prevented the dead from
leaving Hades
•not well liked by mortals
or gods
•abducted Persephone
forced her into marriage
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Hestia
•goddess of fire and the hearth
•associated with peace, home and family
•never took part in disputes of mortals or
gods
•one of three virgin goddesses
•most revered and worshipped but not
present in mythology
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Demeter
(Ceres)
•goddess of agriculture/harvest
•mother of Persephone
•usually kind to humans
•revered by humankind
•one of the few gods to know grief
and suffering
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Artemis
(Diana)
•virgin goddess of the hunt
•ironically also goddess of
childbirth
•temple at Ephesus was one of the
seven wonders of the world
•Twin brother Apollo
•symbol silver bow and arrow,
associated with the new moon
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Apollo
(Phoebus)
•son of Zeus and Leto
•god of music, prophecy, hunting &
medicine
•symbol of youthful beauty
•his job was to drive the sun across the
sky each day
•Colossus at Rhodes statue of Apollo
(one of the 7 wonders of the world)
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Ares
(Mars)
•god of war, blood thirsty
•son of Zeus and Hera
•sister Eris (discord) went
around the world stirring up
trouble and he followed her.
•his children, Phobos, Metus,
Demios, Pallor and nephew,
Strife then followed him and
the cries of human could be
heard wherever they traveled.
•not well liked by other gods
or humans.
Dionysus
(Bacchus)
•god of the vine
•gave the gift of grapes and
winemaking to humans
•he brought both joy & ecstasy and
thoughtlessness & rage
•well liked by mortals
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Athena
(Minerva)
•virgin goddess
•goddess of wisdom, the domestic
arts (weaving) and war
•unlike Ares she tried to avoid war
•very merciful,but don’t cross her
•never lost in battle
•Zeus’ favorite, she often used his
weapons
•gave many gifts to mortals
Statue of Athena in Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Courtesy Linda Van Eckle
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Hermes
(Mercury)
•messenger of the gods
•guided souls to the underworld
•son of Zeus and a mountain nymph
•invented the lyre when only 1 day old
•symbols include a wide-brimmed hat,
winged shoes and the caduceus
•also known as the god of commerce to
the Greeks
•was know for his cunning, ingenuity,
knowledge and creativity
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Aphrodite
(Venus)
•goddess of love, beauty,
fertility and desire
•two versions of her birth
•portrayed as beautiful
•Zeus arranged her marriage
to Hephasaetus
•scandalous affair with Ares
•could also be treacherous
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Hephaestus
(Vulcan)
•
god of blacksmithing and other
trades
•
weapon maker of the gods
•
son of Hera has no father
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only physically ugly god
•
his creations the most beautiful
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Zeus arranged marriage to
Aphrodite
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only god who did physical work
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kind, peace loving, popular with
gods and humans **
For more information on the Olympians consult the
following websites:
http://greekmyth.com/
http://www.mythweb.com/gods/index.html
http://www.messagenet.com/myths/immortals.html
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