Western Civilization

Greek MythologyA Brief Review

Greek Mythology

Greek myths were stories told orally as lessons in behavior

Gods/Goddesses/Mythical Creatures had human traits, i.e. not perfect beings

Zeus

Ruler of Mt. Olympus

god of justice and law

Main attributes: thunderbolt & eagle

Zeus (images)

Hera

Queen of the Olympian deities

goddess of marriage and birth

Attributes: peacock & crow

Hera (images)

Poseidon

god of the ocean Powers of earthquakes, water,

and horses

Attributes: trident rides a shell chariot pulled by horses

Poseidon (images)

Hades

god of the dead

Ruler of the Nether World

Cerebus (three headed dog) guards the entrance

Hades (images)

Persephone

goddess of the Underworld

Attributes: pomegranate

helps mother with the harvest three months of the year

Persephone (images)

Demeter

goddess of the harvest & seasons changing

Demeter (images)

Athena

goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill

Attributes: owl, aegis, war helmet

usually is accompanied by Nike (goddess of victory)

Athena (images)

Apollo

god of music, prophecy, medicine & disease

sometimes known as the Sun god

Attributes: the bow and arrow, on his head a laurel crown. Most famous attribute is the tripod, the

symbol of his prophetic powers

Apollo (images)

Artemis

goddess of the wilderness, the hunt and wild animals

twin of Apollo (sometimes known as the goddess of the moon)

Attributes: bow and arrow & deer

Artemis (images)

Hermes

Messenger of the gods

Also known to be the god of shepherds, and traveling

Attributes: winged shoes, sometimes winged hat, heralds staff

Hermes (images)

Eros

god of Love

Arrows came in two types: golden with dove feathers which

aroused love, or leaden arrows which had owl

feathers that caused indifference

Eros

Aphrodite

goddess of love & beauty

Attributes: the dolphin, the dove, the swan, the pomegranate and the lime tree.

Aphrodite (images)

Hephaestus

god of fire, especially the blacksmith's fire god of volcanoes

Hephaestus born weak & crippled

Hephaestus (images)

Dionysus

god of Wine also patron god of the Greek stage

complete opposite of Athena (passionate, full of emotions & ecstatic)

Dionysus (images)

Other gods, goddesses, nymphs, heroes etc…

Ares: god of War Hercules: Greek Hero 9 Muses: daughter of Zeus and Memory (nymph)

~ Clio (history) ~ Calliope (literature, art, or science)

~ Euterpe (lyric poetry) ~ Melpomene (tragedy) ~ Terpsichore (choral dance and song) ~ Erato (love of poetry) ~ Polyhymnia (sacred poetry) ~ Urania (astronomy) ~ Thalia (comedy)

Other lesser gods, goddesses, nymphs, Heroes etc…

Three Graces: represent beauty, charm and joy. The Graces presided over banquets and gatherings primarily to entertain and delight the guests of the Gods.

Three Fates: spin the thread of human destiny, cut the thread sending human souls to the underworld

Three Furies: punished those who escaped or defied public justice

Nemesis: avenging goddess, righteous anger of the gods particularly towards the proud and insolent

Pan & the Satyrs: deities of the woods & fields (1/2 man 1/2 goat)