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Greek Culture
Chapter 10.1
Greek Beliefs
• Greeks formed city-states
– City-state-is the city and the land that
surrounds it
– Spoke Greek language
– Shared many beliefs and customs
– Believed many of the same myths
• Myths-traditional stories about gods and heroes
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the
ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the
world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual
practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece. Modern
scholars refer to, and study the myths in an attempt to throw light on
the religious and political institutions of Ancient Greece, its civilization,
and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself.
Greek Mythology
….Oh to be among the gods!
Who were the Greek Gods?
Who were the Greek Gods?
Greeks believed in gods and goddesses
Gods were not all-powerful
gods marry and have children
12 most important gods and goddesses lived on Mt.
Olympus
The Titans
Beings the Greeks believed existed before the gods of Olympia. The Titans
Were the offspring of Gaia (mother earth) and Uranus.
• Titans were the first generation of
Greek Gods
The Greeks believed Cronos fathered the gods. Afraid they would take the
Titans power, Cronos ate all of his children except Zeus. Zeus killed
Cronos and freed his siblings.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJC
m8W5RZes
Zeus
Zeus is the king of all the
gods. He divided up the
world with his brothers,
Hades and Poseidon.
Zeus becomes ruler of the
sky and earth. Zeus has
many children all of whom
have powers. However,
Zeus has more powers
than anyone else.
Hades
Hades is the lord of the
dead in the Underworld.
He’s so scary that people
would not even say his
name. Guests in the
underworld are greeted by
his three-headed dog. His
brother, Zeus tricked the
beautiful Persephone into
marrying Hades. Her
mother, Demeter, goddess
of agriculture, makes a
deal with Hades so
Persephone only has to
stay with Hades for part of
the year causing winter
weather.
Poseidon
Poseidon was god of
the sea and brother to
Zeus and Hades. In
Homer’s famous
Odyssey he punishes
Odysseus because
Odysseus blinded his
son the Cyclops. He
is able to cause
storms with the use of
his trident, 3 pronged
spear. Earthquakes
are believed to be
caused by his wrath
as well.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the god of
metalworking and is
married to the unfaithful
Aphrodite. He forges all
the weapons for the gods.
He works beneath the
Earth’s surface. His
smashing of steel into
molten lava creates
earthquakes and
volcanoes
Athena
Athena is the firstborn and
favorite child of Zeus. She is
known as the goddess of
wisdom. According to the
myth, she busts out of his
head fully grown and dressed
for battle. She often uses her
intelligence to rescue Greek
heroes. She is the protectress
of the city, Athens and has the
Parthenon built for her as a
temple.
Apollo
Apollo is god of the sun and twin to Artemis. His daily task is to drive the sun
across the sky. During the Trojan War he helps the Trojans and helps kill
legendary Greek warrior, Achilles.
Ares
Ares is known as the god
of war, not for his skill
but because he liked all
the violence. His parents
were Zeus and Hera. He
is father to the twins,
Remus and Romulus.
Romulus will eventually
become the 1st king of
Rome.
Artemis
Artemis is the goddess of
the moon and hunting.
Artemis, being a female,
would seek revenge if she
felt someone wronged her.
Hera
Hera was married to Zeus
and is therefore queen of the
gods. Most of her time is
spent causing trouble for all
of her husband’s girlfriends
and their children. She is
most famous for trying to
destroy Hercules. Her
sacred animal is the
peacock.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the
goddess of love and
beauty. She plays a part
in starting the Trojan
War. In order to win a
beauty contest she
bribes Paris with the
most beautiful woman in
the human world, Helen.
When she runs away
with Paris the Greeks
go after her and thus
begins the war.
Olympic Games
Located in Olympia
Games “for the greater glory of Zeus”
Began in 776 B.C.
Greeks believed their gods would be please if people
showed skill in the arts, in athletic games, or in thinking
Olympic Games
Greek Oracles
Priest or priestess spoke for a god
Predicated the future
Temple of Apollo at Delphi was the
Most famous
Epics and Fables
• Epic-a long story poem
– The Greek poet Homer wrote two
• The Iliad and The Odyssey
• Fable- a story meant to teach a lesson
usually with animals personified
The Trojan Horse
In the Iliad written by Homer
Tells of a prince of Troy that falls in love
with Helen
(the wife of the king) and kidnaps her
Angers the Greeks and they attack Troy
Trick the Trojans with a huge, hollow,
wooden horse
The Greeks capture the city, rescue Helen
and take her home
The Odyssey
Written by Homer
Tells the story of Odysseus, a
Greek Hero of the Trojan War
It describes his long way home after the
Fall of Troy. He faces storms, monsters, and
Witches. Odysseus returns home to his wife.
Aesop’s
Fables
Aesop’s fables
Stories that teach a moral (lesson)
Popular stories include
“The Tortoise and the Hare”
“The Boy that cried Wolf”
The Impact of Greek Drama
Drama is a story told mainly through words and action of a cast of
characters
Greek Drama had two categories
1. tragedy-main character struggles to overcome hardships but
does not succeed
2. comedy-story ends happily
Aeschylus
Earliest Greek dramatist
One of his dramas was called the Oresteia
Tells about a Greek king’s return from the Trojan War and the troubles that strike his
Family. It is a story about revenge and murders.
Shows how one evil action can lead to another
Sophocles
Accepted suffering as a part of life
Stressed courage and understand
Wrote play Antigone questions whether it is
better to obey
Orders or to do what one believe to be right
Euripides
Euripides wrote about ordinary human beings in realistic
situations.
Temple of Athena
Different types of Greek Columns
•
It was the ancient Greeks who invented 3 beautiful types of columns. These were used all over
ancient Greece to hold up buildings and rooftops and temples. One column had a very simple
design. One was sort of in the middle. And one was very ornate.
Acropolis-the hilltop that a fort stood on