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GREEK MYTHOLOGY Myth I The Greek World Geography Greece is made of a mainland surrounded by the Aegean sea and thousands of islands Much of Greece is mountainous Also has many dense forests The sea, mountains, and woods often play a part in Greek myths Geography, cont. Greece was divided into several different regions Attica and the Peloponnesus are two Greek cities acted as small countries Each had its own government, rules, and beliefs Important Places Mount Olympus Delphi Major city in many Greek myths Sparta Site of the Olympic games Thebes Biggest and most powerful city in Ancient Greece Olympia Considered “center of the world” Famous oracle of Apollo lived there Athens Greece’s highest mountain Believed to be home of the gods Powerful military state Troy The site of the Trojan War Timeline The Minoan Period: 3000-1100BC The Mycenaean Period: 1600-1100BC Greek Dark Age: 1100-730BC Hesiod: c.700 Classical Period: 500-300BC First Olympic Games: 776 Homer: c.750 Archaic Period: 730-500BC Probable time of Trojan War Peloponnesian War: 431-404BC Rule of Alexander the Great: 336-323 Hellenistic Period: 300-200BC Greece becomes part of Roman Empire: 146BC Religion Greeks were very religious in that they performed many ceremonies, sacrifices, and festivals for the gods However, Greek religion did not have sacred writings or a set dogma, so freedom of thought was encouraged Other more fanatic sects/cults existed as well for those who wanted more personal commitment to a certain god The Olympian Gods Overview The gods we think of as the Greek pantheon descended from the Titans who descended from older, natural forces (like Mother Earth) These gods live on Mount Olympus, eating ambrosia and drinking nectar, while they rule over the Earth and mankind Zeus Ruler of the gods Considered protector of family and state, source of justice, upholder of oaths Bulls and oak trees were sacred to Zeus His symbols are the thunderbolt and the eagle Known for his many affairs with both mortals and goddesses One example: Zeus and Europa Europa was a young princess of Phoenicia who caught Zeus’s eye As she was playing in a field with her friends, Zeus appeared as a beautiful bull The girls petted the bull and Europa climbed on its back; immediately Zeus ran off with her to the island of Crete There Zeus revealed his identity, and Europa eventually bore him three sons Hera Wife and sister of Zeus Goddess of marriage and childbirth She hated Zeus’s affairs and often punished his mistresses and their children Her symbol is the peacock Poseidon God of the sea, rivers, fountains, horses, earthquakes and volcanoes Married to Amphitrite, but had many affairs Known for his dangerous temper His symbol is the trident One example: Poseidon and Scylla Scylla was one of Poseidon’s mistresses; Amphitrite punished her by pouring a poisonous potion into Scylla’s bath Scylla was turned into a monster with 12 feet and six heads whose lower body was a pack of barking dogs The gods confined her to a cave by the sea where she ate sailors off of passing ships Demeter Goddess of grain and the harvest Her symbols were a crown of corn and lighted torch or cornucopia She and Zeus had a daughter named Persephone Hades God of the underworld and wealth Married to his niece, Persephone His symbol is his helmet of darkness/invisibility He was associated with the 3 Furies and the goddess of witchcraft, Hecate Hestia Goddess of the hearth and home She plays almost no role in the myths because she refused to take part in any of the gods arguments and wars She also swore to remain a virgin It is said that she gave up her throne on Mount Olympus to make way for Dionysus Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty Married to Hephaestus, but had many affairs, especially with Ares She owned a magic girdle/belt that made her irresistible to any man Her symbols are doves, swans, and sparrows One example: Aphrodite and Eos Aphrodite caught Ares with another mistress: Eos, the goddess of dawn Aphrodite cursed Eos, saying she would only desire mortal men, not gods Eos fell in love with Tithonus, a prince of Troy Eos granted him the gift of eternal life, but forgot to give him eternal youth He became so miserable that they begged Zeus to kill him, but Zeus could only turn him into a grasshopper Athena Goddess of wisdom and crafts Zeus’s favorite child Patron goddess of Athens Sworn virgin Known as an expert weaver Protector of heroes Invented the first ship and taught men how to sail Her symbols are the owl, a helmet, and a spear The Birth of Athena Zeus’s first wife, the Titaness Metis, became pregnant Zeus was afraid that the child would be more powerful than he, so he swallowed Metis while she was still pregnant However, Zeus soon developed a horrible headache One of the other gods cut Zeus’s head open with an axe, and out popped Athena, fully grown and armed Artemis Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, the moon, childbirth, and women She lived in the wild forest Sworn virgin Associated with human sacrifice longer than any other Greek god Her symbols are the bow and arrow Apollo God of light, music, poetry, prophecy, and healing Twin brother of Artemis Epitomized the Greek ideal Had many unhappy affairs His temple was at Delphi His symbols are the lyre, bow, and laurel The Birth of Artemis and Apollo Zeus had an affair with the Titaness Leto When Hera found out, she sent the giant snake Python to torture the pregnant Leto Zeus turned Leto into a bird to save her, but Hera then cursed her, saying she could never land on the ground Finally, she was able to land on the island of Delos, where she gave birth to Artemis Artemis then helped Leto deliver her twin brother Apollo Hephaestus God of forges and metalwork Ugly and crippled Married to Aphrodite Made beautiful items for the gods, including Zeus’s thunderbolts and Olympus’s magic furniture His symbols are tongs and an anvil Hephaestus’ Birth #1 Hera was jealous that Zeus was able to produce Athena from his own head, so she decided to have a child without any help However, when Hephaestus was born, he was so ugly that Hera threw him off Mount Olympus He crashed into the earth and was forever crippled Hephaestus’ Birth #2 Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera and was born normal and healthy However, during one of his parents’ fights, Hephaestus took Hera’s side, which angered Zeus Zeus threw Hephaestus off Mount Olympus, and he fell for nine days He eventually crashed on the island of Lemnos, becoming crippled Ares God of War Son of Hera and Zeus Not popular with the Greeks He loved the carnage and destruction of war, and would often change sides Not shown to be very brave or heroic His symbols were a helmet and spear Hermes God of shepherds, travelers, and thieves Divine messenger Conductor of dead souls to the underworld Son of Zeus and Maia Invented the lyre Known as a trickster, but also helped the gods His symbols are his winged sandals, hat, and staff Dionysus God of wine and drunkeness His symbols are grape vines and ivy He was married to Ariadne, a mortal that he brought back to life Known to be kind and generous Dionysus’ Birth Zeus had an affair with a mortal named Semele, a princess of Thebes When Hera learned Semele was pregnant, she disguised herself as an old woman and persuaded Semele to ask Zeus for proof that he really was a god First, Semele made Zeus promise to give her anything she wanted, and then she asked to see his true self Dionysus’ Birth con’t Zeus could not break his promise, even though he knew his full glory would kill her Semele burst into flames and burned to death, but Zeus was able to save the unborn baby He sewed the baby into his thigh until it was ready to be born a few months later Pan God of shepherds and flocks, mountain wilds, hunting, and rustic music Also a fertility god Later associated with Satan Used to help defeat the Titans He is a faun or satyr— having the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat Some say he is the son of Zeus, Hermes, or Dionysus; others say he is older than all those gods Able to inspire terror (panic) in people Created the panpipe