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Greek and Roman Mythology
A Review
of
The Principal Gods and Goddesses
What is a myth?
A traditional story rooted in primitive
folk beliefs of cultures
 Uses the supernatural to interpret
natural events
 Explains the culture’s view of the
universe and the nature of humanity

In the beginning...
…was Chaos (shapeless nothingness)
 Chaos had two children:

– Night (darkness)
– Erebus (death)
“All was black, empty, silent, endless.”
 Mysteriously, Love was born of
darkness and death.

And then...
When Love was born, order and beauty
began to flourish.
 Love created Light and Day.
 Earth was created.

– She was the solid ground, but also a
personality.

The Earth bore Heaven to cover her
and be a home for the gods.
The First Parents
Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia)
 Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus)
 They had three kinds of children:

– Three monsters with 100 hands and 50
heads
– Three Cyclopes
– The Titans

These were the first characters that had the appearance of life,
although it was unlike any life known to man.
The Titans (The Elder Gods)
There were many of them.
 Enormous size, incredible strength
 Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans
 Rhea: Wife of Cronos
 Ocean: River that encircled the world
 Iapetus: Father of Prometheus,
Epimetheus, and Atlas (also Titans)

The Olympians
Zeus
Roman Name: Jupiter
(also Jove)
 Symbol: thunderbolt,
eagle, oak tree
 Supreme god of the
Olympians.
 Fathered many characters
in mythology

Zeus
Poseidon
Roman Name:
Neptune
 Symbol: trident,
horse
 God of the Seas
and Waters
 “The Earthshaker”

Hades
Roman Name:
Pluto
 Symbol: three
headed dog
 God of the
Underworld/ Dead
 Kidnapped
Persephone

Hera
Roman Name:
Juno
 Symbol: peacock,
scepter
 Goddess of
women, marriage,
childbirth
 Jealous, wife and
sister of Zeus

Hestia
Roman Name:
Vesta
 Symbol: hearth
(fireplace)
 Goddess of
Hearth & Home
 Powerful
Protector

Demeter
Roman Name:
Ceres
 Symbol: torch,
corn
 Goddess of the
fertility & harvest
 A Goddess of the
Earth

Athena
Roman Name:
Minerva
 Symbol: aegis,
owl, olive tree
 Goddess of
Wisdom and War
 Sprang from
Zeus’s head Wise

Apollo
Roman Name:
Apollo
 Symbol: bow,
lyre, laurel
 God of Light/Sun
and Music
 Brother of
Artemis

Artemis
Roman Name:
Diana
 Symbol: bow,
deer
 Goddess of the
Moon/ Hunt
 Sister to Apollo

Aphrodite
Roman Name:
Venus
 Symbol: myrtle,
dove
 Goddess of Love
and Beauty
 Sprang from the
ocean foam

Ares
Roman Name:
Mars
 Symbol: vulture,
dog, spear
 God of War
 Bloodthirsty and
merciless - Son of
Zeus and Hera

Hephaestus
Roman Name:
Vulcan (Mulciber)
 Symbol: axe, anvil,
flame
 God of Fire/Forge
 Kind, Son of Zeus
and Hera

Hermes
Roman Name: Mercury
 Symbol: lyre,
caduceus, winged
sandals
 Messenger of the Gods
 Appears in more myths
than any other
character

Eros
Roman Name:
Cupid
 Symbol: bow and
arrow
 Young God of
Love
 Son of Aphrodite
and Hephaestus

Iris
Goddess of the
Rainbow
 Symbol: rainbow
 Messenger for Zeus
and Hera
 Daughter of the titan
Thaumus and the
nymph Electra

The Muses


Nine daughters of
Zeus and
Mnemosyne
Inspired artists of all
kinds


Goddesses who
presided over the
arts and sciences
“He is happy whom
the muses love.”
Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia
Persephone
Roman Name:
Proserpina
 Symbol:
pomegranate
 Goddess of the
Underworld
 Daughter of Zeus
and Demeter Abducted by Hades

Dionysus
Roman Name:
Bacchus
 Symbol: grapes,
wine cups
 God of Wine
 Patron god of the
Greek stage
