Lesser Gods & Nature Spirits

Unit II Notes

I. Lesser GodsA. Though the 12 Olympians were the mightiest, they were not the only gods

B. Many others pre-dated the Olympians in several ways

1. By winning favor with Zeus

2. They gained or maintained divine power

3. Some even shared in the rule of the universe

C.Helius (the god of the sun)

1. The indefatigable “giver of light”

2. The son of the Titans Theia and Hyperion

3. Known as “golden-helmeted”

4. Helius would emerge in the east, race across the sky on his chariot and disappear as he passed the western most horizon

5. During the night, he would ride across the river Oceanus in a gargantuan golden cup

6. He saw everything that happened on earth during the day, and he was not very discreet

D.Selene (goddess of the moon)

1. The “white-armed” goddess of the moon

2. The daughter of the Titans Theia and Hyperion

3. She brought the light of the moon that shone through the darkness of the night

E. Eos (goddess of the dawn)

1. The “rosy-armed” goddess of the dawn

2. She arose each morning in the east to announce the coming of her brother

3. She personified the light of day

4. She rode with her brother Helius all day in the chariot

F. Hecate

1. The sorcerer goddess

2. She is identified with the underworld and the art of sorcery

3. Zeus gave her a share of divine power over the earth, sea and sky

4. Mortals in her favor received great blessings

5. Those who wished to place a curse on someone would write the curse on a foil tablet, address it to Hecate and drop it down a well

G.Styx

1. The goddess of the main river of the underworld

2. She had 4 sons (personified abstractions)

a. Zelus (Zeal)

b. Nike (Victory)

c. Cratus (Strength)

d. Bia (Force)

3. She was the first minor deity to align with Zeus

4. He rewarded her by

a. Keeping her sons by his side for eternity

b. Having all Olympians swear their oaths to Styx

H.Pan

1. Half goat, half god

2. God of shepherds, forests, wildlife and fertility

3. Son of Hermes

4. Dwelled in the mountains among the nymphs

5. Led a wild lifestyle of dancing, singing and chasing nymphs

6. “Panic” comes from his name – when in battle, he would let out a shout that would elicit blind terror among the enemy troops

Pan

Pan & Hermes

II. Nature SpiritsA. Not quite gods, but not quite humans

B. They inhabited the natural world of the forests, mountains, and waters of Greece

C. Satyrs

1. Woodland spirits who took the form of men

2. Animalistic features – goat’s legs, horse’s tail, horns, pointed ears

3. Followers of Dionysus, the represented the untamable fertility of the forest

D.Silens

1. Older, wiser and more powerful than the Satyrs

2. Musicians and prophets

3. Gods of the forest who followed Pan and Dionysus

E. Nymphs

1. Females who served as attendants to the gods

2. Beautiful and eternally youthful

3. Confined to their localized tree, mountain or spring

III.VocabularyA. Zealous – filled with eagerness and ardent interest

B. Zealot – a fanatical person