Greek Mythology:Greek Mythology:An IntroductionAn Introduction

What is Greek Mythology?What is Greek Mythology?

The people in ancient Greece shared stories The people in ancient Greece shared stories called MYTHS about the gods, goddesses, called MYTHS about the gods, goddesses, and heroes in which they believed.and heroes in which they believed.

Each god or goddess was worshipped. The Each god or goddess was worshipped. The Greeks believed they ruled over different Greeks believed they ruled over different parts of Greek life.parts of Greek life.

These stories explained natural phenomena These stories explained natural phenomena that happened in the world.that happened in the world.

Why should we study Greek Why should we study Greek Mythology?Mythology?

The ancient Greek culture originally was The ancient Greek culture originally was passed down by people telling stories and passed down by people telling stories and was later written down for thousands of was later written down for thousands of years.years.

Modern plays, novels, television programs, Modern plays, novels, television programs, movies, and even companies refer to Greek movies, and even companies refer to Greek gods, goddesses, heroes and their stories.gods, goddesses, heroes and their stories.

Adventure stories are interesting and Adventure stories are interesting and entertaining and can teach us lessons.entertaining and can teach us lessons.

ZeusZeus

Leader of the godsLeader of the gods God of the sky, God of the sky,

lightning, and lightning, and thunderthunder

Symbol: lightning Symbol: lightning boltbolt

Wife: HeraWife: Hera OlympianOlympian

Children:Children:– AresAres– HebeHebe– HephaestusHephaestus– HerculesHercules– ApolloApollo– ArtemisArtemis– AthenaAthena– The FatesThe Fates– PersephonePersephone

Other facts: had many affairs with other Other facts: had many affairs with other goddesses and mortal womengoddesses and mortal women

AthenaAthena

Goddess of wisdomGoddess of wisdom Also over justice, war, Also over justice, war,

civilization, and peacecivilization, and peace Described as “bright-Described as “bright-

eyed”eyed” Symbols: olive tree, Symbols: olive tree,

owlowl Never marriedNever married OlympianOlympian

No childrenNo children Other Facts:Other Facts:

– She is Zeus’ favorite daughterShe is Zeus’ favorite daughter– Supposedly came from Zeus’ forehead fully Supposedly came from Zeus’ forehead fully

growngrown

PoseidonPoseidon

God of the sea, God of the sea, earthquakes, and earthquakes, and horseshorses

Symbol: three-Symbol: three-pointed tridentpointed trident

Wife: Amphitrite Wife: Amphitrite OlympianOlympian

ChildrenChildren– Triton: half human, half fishTriton: half human, half fish– Pegasus: flying horsePegasus: flying horse– TheseusTheseus– CyclopsCyclops

Other Facts:Other Facts:– Often worked together with Athena (together Often worked together with Athena (together

they made the first chariot and the first ship)they made the first chariot and the first ship)– Brother to Zeus and HadesBrother to Zeus and Hades

AphroditeAphrodite

Goddess of love Goddess of love and beautyand beauty

Most beautiful of the Most beautiful of the goddessesgoddesses

Symbol: doveSymbol: dove Husband: Husband:

HephaestusHephaestus OlympianOlympian

Children:Children:– AeneasAeneas– ErosEros

Other Facts:Other Facts:– Was married off to Hephaestus by Zeus (who Was married off to Hephaestus by Zeus (who

was not attractive), so she had an affair with was not attractive), so she had an affair with AresAres

– Was born out of the seaWas born out of the sea

HadesHades

God of the God of the underworld, underworld, rules over the dead; rules over the dead; god of wealthgod of wealth

Dark-beardedDark-bearded Symbol: Helmet, Symbol: Helmet,

metal, jewelsmetal, jewels Wife: PersephoneWife: Persephone OlympianOlympian

Children: noneChildren: none Other facts: brother to ZeusOther facts: brother to Zeus

– Stole his wife from her motherStole his wife from her mother– His magic helmet makes him invisibleHis magic helmet makes him invisible

ArtemisArtemis Goddess of the moon, Goddess of the moon,

wilderness, the hunt, wild wilderness, the hunt, wild animals, and childbirthanimals, and childbirth

Protects young women Protects young women until marriageuntil marriage

Very beautiful, has the Very beautiful, has the crescent moon above her crescent moon above her foreheadforehead

Symbols: bow/arrow, Symbols: bow/arrow, deerdeer

Refused to marryRefused to marry OlympianOlympian

Children: noneChildren: none Other facts:Other facts:

– Twin sister of ApolloTwin sister of Apollo– Asked for eternal chastity from her father, ZeusAsked for eternal chastity from her father, Zeus

HestiaHestia

Goddess of the hearth, Goddess of the hearth, home, and cookinghome, and cooking

Watched over the Watched over the sacrificial flamesacrificial flame

Symbol: kettleSymbol: kettle OlympianOlympian

Children: noneChildren: none Other facts:Other facts:

– Oldest sister of ZeusOldest sister of Zeus– Swore to be a chaste goddessSwore to be a chaste goddess– Some of every food sacrifice goes to herSome of every food sacrifice goes to her– Looked after the cooking of every meal on Looked after the cooking of every meal on

Mount OlympusMount Olympus

HephaestusHephaestus

God of fire and the God of fire and the patron of craftsmen, patron of craftsmen, god of volcanoesgod of volcanoes

Crippled since birth, Crippled since birth, beardedbearded

Symbol: fire, hammerSymbol: fire, hammer Wife: AphroditeWife: Aphrodite OlympianOlympian

Children: none with his wifeChildren: none with his wife Other Facts:Other Facts:

– Devised clever traps to catch his wife in Devised clever traps to catch his wife in affairsaffairs

– Made armor for gods and heroesMade armor for gods and heroes

AresAres

God of war, manly God of war, manly courage, civil ordercourage, civil order

Either mature man with Either mature man with beard in battle armor or beard in battle armor or bare-chested youth with bare-chested youth with a speara spear

Symbol: shield, spearSymbol: shield, spear Wife: n/a, lover of Wife: n/a, lover of

AphroditeAphrodite OlympianOlympian

Children:Children:– Eros (god of love)Eros (god of love)– Deimos (god of fear)Deimos (god of fear)– Harmonia (goddess of harmony)Harmonia (goddess of harmony)– Nike (goddess of victory)Nike (goddess of victory)– Phobos (goddess of panic)Phobos (goddess of panic)

Other Facts:Other Facts:– He was cruel and mean, all the gods disliked He was cruel and mean, all the gods disliked

him (even his father)him (even his father)– Loves war for its own sakeLoves war for its own sake

ApolloApollo

God of music, medicine, God of music, medicine, archery, poetry, dance, archery, poetry, dance, thinking, light, truththinking, light, truth

Handsome, young man, no Handsome, young man, no beardbeard

Symbol: bow/arrow, laurel Symbol: bow/arrow, laurel wreath, lyrewreath, lyre

No wife, but had many affairsNo wife, but had many affairs OlympianOlympian

Children:Children:– Asclepius (god of healing)Asclepius (god of healing)– Aristaeus (half-god, protector of cattle)Aristaeus (half-god, protector of cattle)

Other Facts:Other Facts:– Twin brother to ArtemisTwin brother to Artemis– When angered, would kill with disease or When angered, would kill with disease or

arrowsarrows

HermesHermes

God of merchants, thieves, God of merchants, thieves, travelers, literature, travelers, literature, athletics, and shepherdsathletics, and shepherds

Messenger of the godsMessenger of the gods Symbol: winged sandals, Symbol: winged sandals,

caduceus caduceus Wife: none, lovers: Wife: none, lovers:

Penelopia, AphroditePenelopia, Aphrodite OlympianOlympian

Children:Children:– Pan (god of goat-herding)Pan (god of goat-herding)– Hermaphroditos (child with Aphrodite)Hermaphroditos (child with Aphrodite)

Other Facts:Other Facts:– Zeus had him with a nymphZeus had him with a nymph– Known for being a pranksterKnown for being a prankster– Guided dead souls to the UnderworldGuided dead souls to the Underworld

HeraHera

Protector of Protector of wives and wives and marriagemarriage

Considered Considered beautifulbeautiful

Symbol: the Symbol: the peacock peacock

Husband: ZeusHusband: Zeus OlympianOlympian

Children: AresChildren: Ares Other facts:Other facts:

– Always was fighting with Zeus because of his Always was fighting with Zeus because of his many affairsmany affairs

– Always tried to do bad things to the women Always tried to do bad things to the women Zeus was having affairs withZeus was having affairs with

– Was considered very jealousWas considered very jealous

PrometheusPrometheus

God of forethought God of forethought and crafty counseland crafty counsel

Symbol: noneSymbol: none Wife: Asia or Wife: Asia or

ClymeneClymene Children: mankindChildren: mankind

Other Facts:Other Facts:– He created mankind out of clay and stole fire He created mankind out of clay and stole fire

from the gods to help stop their suffering.from the gods to help stop their suffering.– He was punished by being chained to a rock He was punished by being chained to a rock

and having an eagle eat out his liver every day.and having an eagle eat out his liver every day.– The skin would heal every night and the cycle The skin would heal every night and the cycle

would start over.would start over.

CronusCronus

God of time and the God of time and the ages ages

Symbol: noneSymbol: none Wife: RheaWife: Rhea TitanTitan

Children:Children:– Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, DemeterZeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter

Other Facts:Other Facts:– He didn’t want his kids to overthrow him, so He didn’t want his kids to overthrow him, so

he ate them as babies.he ate them as babies.– Rhea tricked him and gave him a rock Rhea tricked him and gave him a rock

instead of Zeus to eat.instead of Zeus to eat.– Zeus grew up and then made him throw up Zeus grew up and then made him throw up

the others, and then they sliced him to bits the others, and then they sliced him to bits and threw him in the Underworld.and threw him in the Underworld.

DionysusDionysus

God of wine, God of wine, agriculture, festivity, agriculture, festivity, and dramaand drama

Older, bearded godOlder, bearded god Symbols: grapes, Symbols: grapes,

winecupswinecups Wife: AriadneWife: Ariadne OlympianOlympian

Children:Children:– 3 Graces (goddesses of charm and grace)3 Graces (goddesses of charm and grace)

Other Facts:Other Facts:– His mother died before he was born; Zeus His mother died before he was born; Zeus

rescued him and put him in his thigh, where he rescued him and put him in his thigh, where he was bornwas born

The FuriesThe Furies 3 goddesses of revenge or 3 goddesses of revenge or

vengeance vengeance Usually avenged murder, Usually avenged murder,

crimes against the gods, or crimes against the gods, or parents cursing their parents cursing their childrenchildren

Clothed in black with snakes Clothed in black with snakes in their hair and armsin their hair and arms

WingedWinged Servants of Hades and Servants of Hades and

PersephonePersephone

Punishments included:Punishments included:– MadnessMadness– DiseaseDisease– HungerHunger– DeathDeath

It could only stop with some task for It could only stop with some task for atonement and some kind of purificationatonement and some kind of purification

IrisIris

Goddess of the rainbowGoddess of the rainbow Messenger of the gods Messenger of the gods

(personal messenger to (personal messenger to Hera)Hera)

Beautiful young woman Beautiful young woman with wings, carries a staffwith wings, carries a staff

Symbol: rainbowSymbol: rainbow Husband: Zephyrus (god Husband: Zephyrus (god

of the west wind)of the west wind) OlympianOlympian

Children:Children:– PorthosPorthos

Other Facts:Other Facts:– Minor goddess of the sea and skyMinor goddess of the sea and sky

GaeaGaea Earth mother, or Earth mother, or

goddess of the earthgoddess of the earth

Husbands: Ouranos Husbands: Ouranos (original Titan sky (original Titan sky god), then Pontus god), then Pontus (original Titan sea god)(original Titan sea god)

Symbol: noneSymbol: none TitanTitan

Children:Children:– CronusCronus– RheaRhea– The other main Titan godsThe other main Titan gods– TyphonTyphon– Nereus (and more)Nereus (and more)

Other Facts:Other Facts:– She helped her son Cronus castrate her first She helped her son Cronus castrate her first

husband to protect her childrenhusband to protect her children

PanPan

God of shepherds, flocks, God of shepherds, flocks, mountain wilds, rustic musicmountain wilds, rustic music

Man from waist up, but legs, Man from waist up, but legs, horns, and tail of a goathorns, and tail of a goat

Symbol: pan pipesSymbol: pan pipes Wife: none, but loved many Wife: none, but loved many

nymphsnymphs Sided with Olympians (but Sided with Olympians (but

didn’t live on Olympus)didn’t live on Olympus)

Children: none (accounts differ)Children: none (accounts differ) Other Facts:Other Facts:

– Nymphs ran from him because they thought he Nymphs ran from him because they thought he was uglywas ugly

The FatesThe Fates

Goddesses who Goddesses who controlled the destiny controlled the destiny of everyone from birth of everyone from birth to deathto death

Clotho: spun the Clotho: spun the thread of lifethread of life

Lachesis: decided how Lachesis: decided how much time each much time each person hadperson had

Atropos: decided when Atropos: decided when to cut the thread of lifeto cut the thread of life

Usually shown Usually shown as ugly old as ugly old hagshags

Everyone Everyone feared themfeared them

MedusaMedusa

Originally a beautiful Originally a beautiful maiden who maiden who desecrated Athena’s desecrated Athena’s temple by lying there temple by lying there with Poseidonwith Poseidon

Angry, Athena turned Angry, Athena turned her into that!her into that!

(That’s one story, at (That’s one story, at least)least)

If you look directly at Medusa, you will turn If you look directly at Medusa, you will turn to stone.to stone.

Her hair is made of live snakes.Her hair is made of live snakes. The hero Perseus killed her by cutting off The hero Perseus killed her by cutting off

her head.her head.

ChironChiron

Half horse, half humanHalf horse, half human Eldest and wisest of all Eldest and wisest of all

the centaursthe centaurs Immortal god: son of Immortal god: son of

Cronus and half-brother to Cronus and half-brother to ZeusZeus

Considered a great Considered a great teacher who mentored teacher who mentored many of the heroes of many of the heroes of mythologymythology