MythologyMythologyMrs. JohnsonMrs. Johnson

Definition•Study of

stories about supernatural beings in early times.

•Handed down orally.

Roman Mythology• We have both Roman

and Greek mythology.• The Romans

conquered the Greeks and took their culture of gods and goddesses.

• They renamed them with Roman names.

Why Have Myths?• Myths were invented to explain

the unexplainable.• Their presence show the

evolution of man from the primitive to the intellectual.

• Knowledge has replaced myths today.

What makes a Myth? What makes a Myth?

Myths tell stories about natural Myths tell stories about natural events, people, and animals.events, people, and animals.

They were early literature and They were early literature and science.science.

Myths are always about Myths are always about gods/goddesses.gods/goddesses.

They usually teach a moral lesson.They usually teach a moral lesson.

Two Types of Myths1. Natural events: earthquakes,

thunder, etc.

2. Moral tales that teach a lesson to humans about human behavior.

Greek GodGreek God Roman GodRoman God Symbols of Symbols of

AuthorityAuthorityDomainDomain

AthenaAthena MinervaMinerva Armor, owl, Armor, owl, olive brancholive branch

goddess of wisdom, goddess of wisdom, law, war, and citylaw, war, and city

AresAres MarsMars Sword, spear, Sword, spear, vulturevulture

god of wargod of war

HermesHermes MercuryMercury Winged Winged sandalssandals

messenger of the godsmessenger of the gods

PersephonePersephone ProserpinaProserpina flowersflowers goddess of springtime, goddess of springtime, underworld; Hadesunderworld; Hades’’ wife wife

HestiaHestia VestaVesta Sacred fireSacred fire goddess of home and goddess of home and hearthhearth

DemeterDemeter CeresCeres rakerake Goddess of grain & Goddess of grain & harvest; Persephoneharvest; Persephone’’s s mommom

Greek GodGreek God Roman Roman GodGod

Symbols of Symbols of

AuthorityAuthorityDomainDomain

HephaestuHephaestuss

Vulcan Vulcan Anvil, Anvil, hammerhammer

god of fire & forge; god of fire & forge; AphroditeAphrodite’’s hubby; s hubby; crippledcrippled

DionysusDionysus BacchusBacchus Vine of Vine of grapesgrapes

god of wine, fertility, god of wine, fertility, inspirationinspiration

ZeusZeus JupiterJupiter Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt, eagleeagle

King of the gods and King of the gods and ruler of the skyruler of the sky

HeraHera JunoJuno Golden Golden crown, crown, peacock, peacock, cowcow

Queen of the gods; Queen of the gods; goddess of marriagegoddess of marriage

AphroditeAphrodite VenusVenus Swan, roses, Swan, roses, dovesdoves

goddess of love and goddess of love and beauty; born of the beauty; born of the seasea

ApolloApollo ApolloApollo Golden Golden chariot & chariot & bow, harpbow, harp

god of sun, music, god of sun, music, truth; Artemistruth; Artemis’’ twin twin

Greek GodGreek God Roman GodRoman God Symbols of Symbols of

AuthorityAuthorityDomainDomain

ArtemisArtemis Diana Diana Silver bow & Silver bow & arrow; deerarrow; deer

Goddess of hunt, moon, Goddess of hunt, moon, children; Apollochildren; Apollo’’s twins twin

PoseidonPoseidon NeptuneNeptune Trident; horseTrident; horse god of seasgod of seas

HadesHades PlutoPluto Helmet to Helmet to make himself make himself invisibleinvisible

God of the underworld & God of the underworld & wealthwealth

IrisIris IrisIris RainbowRainbow goddess of rainbowsgoddess of rainbows

ErosEros CupidCupid Bow & arrowsBow & arrows god of love & god of love & relationshipsrelationships

HeraclesHeracles HerculesHercules The heroThe hero son of Zeus and a son of Zeus and a mortalmortal

Mythology Websites

• www.mythweb.com

• www.pantheon.org