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Greek Legends
Caitlin Cole
Gods, Goddesses, Myths and Monsters
• Poseidon
• Demeter
• Midas
• Chimera
• Nike
Poseidon
*Parents- Cronus and Rhea.
*Poseidon was most notably the God of the sea and the protector of all waters; sailors
relied upon him for safe passage.
*Poseidon was allotted his dominion after the fall of the Titans.
*His name is Greek for “husband.”
*He wielded the trident or three-pronged spear, and this image of him is reflected in
art.
Demeter
*Demeter is the goddess of the harvest and presides over grains and the fertility of the earth.
Although she was most often referred to as the goddess of the harvest, she was also goddess of
sacred law and the cycle of life and death.
*Her daughter Persephone was abducted by the god of the underworld, Hades, and Demeter
endlessly searched for her, preoccupied with loss and grief. The seasons halted and living things
stopped growing and died.
*At this point, Zeus had to intervene and send his messenger Hermes to the underworld to bring
Persephone back and prevent the extinction of all life on Earth.
*Hades agreed to Persephone’s relief but gave her a pomegranate as she left. When she ate the
pomegranate seeds, she was bound to him for one third of the year, either the dry Mediterranean
summer, when plant life is threatened by drought, or the autumn and winter.
*Demeter was the daughter of Cronos and Rhea.
Midas
*Midas, a legendary king of Phrygia, was fabled for having the "golden touch.“
*According to Greek mythology, Silenius, a companion of the god Dionysus*, became drunk
while visiting Phrygia. Silenius was captured and brought to Midas, who ordered that he be
released and returned safely to Dionysus. The god gratefully offered to grant Midas any wish
as a reward. Midas asked that everything he touched turn to gold. Knowing the wish to be
dangerous, Dionysus asked the king if he was sure that was what he wanted. Midas assured
him that it was, and the god granted the wish.
*At first Midas was overjoyed. He began accumulating wealth simply by touching things.
However, when he tried to eat, each mouthful of food turned to gold as it touched his lips.
When he went to hug his daughter, she turned to gold as well. Midas finally begged the god
to release him from his wish. Dionysus instructed him to bathe in the River Pactolus. From
that day forward, the sands of the river turned to gold dust. In fact, the Pactolus is a river in
Turkey that was famous in ancient times as a source of gold.
* This gift was dangerous and when he touched his daughter she turned to gold.
Chimera
*The Chimera, in mythology, is a Greek monster with the body and head of a lion with a snake for a
tail and a fire-breathing goat head coming from its back. Different versions of Chimera mythology
have slightly different descriptions, such as wings on the back or the back legs of a snake.
*Merely seeing the Chimera was a bad omen. The Greek monster regularly appeared before
disasters such as shipwrecks, violent storms, and volcanic eruptions.
*The most famous moment involving the Chimera in Greek mythology is when the Greek hero
Bellerophon, with the help of his trusty winged steed, Pegasus, killed the Chimera with a bow and
arrow from the sky above.
*Beyond mythology, the term "chimera" is used in scientific research to explain an animal that
contains more than one set of genetic coding's. This is a clear nod to the Greek monster, in that
the monster itself is a combination of three different 'normal' animals.
NIKE
*Nike is the Goddess of Victory
*Nike herself is shown as a beautiful, fit young woman with wings and "a palm branch, wreath or
Hermes staff as the messenger of victory." Nike was believed to be fleet-footed, capable of
flying and even taking the form of a bird on occasion.
*As Nike's association with victory goes beyond solely war, she exemplifies the Greeks' love of
competition in all areas of life, from war and sports to poetry and philosophy.
*Nike is very much associated with the Olympics and the victories there.
Test Questions
1) Which Goddess exemplifies the Greeks' love of competition in all areas of life, from war and sports to
poetry and philosophy?
2) The Greek hero Bellerophon, with the help of his trusty winged steed, Pegasus, killed the what creature
with his bow and arrow from the sky above?
3) Who is Demeter’s brother?
4)
5)Who is the king with the golden touch?
6)Which God controls the seas?
7)What is the story behind winter time when all the crops die?
8)This creature has a goat head coming out of its back?
9)Who is the Goddess of Victory?
10)Who supported the Olympic games in Greece?
Answer Key
1) Which Goddess exemplifies the Greeks' love of competition in all areas of life, from war and
sports to poetry and philosophy?
a) Demeter
b) Athena
c) Nike
2) the Greek hero Bellerophon, with the help of his trusty winged steed, Pegasus, killed the what
creature with his bow and arrow from the sky above?
a) Chimera
b) Empusa
c) Minotaur
d) Hydra
3)Who is Demeter’s brother?
a) Hades
b) Zeus
c) Poseidon
d) All of the above
4)