Greek Mythology: Gods

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Greek Mythology Gods Goddesses
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Mythology

• Ancient cultures used mythology belief
• systems much the same way that people
• use modern religion.
• 1. to explain the world
• 2. to instruct or guide proper behavior
• 3. to give a sense of community

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Origins of Mythology

• Ancient mythology belongs to the oral
• tradition (folklore, legends, etc.)
• 1. stories passed orally appealed to the
  non-literate
• 2. these stories were a form of entertainment
• 3. the stories enabled the passing of history
  and culture from one group to the next

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Archetypal Myth Symbols

• Many cultures share myth symbols.
• Some of these are
• 1. The great flood or fire
• 2. The serpent
• 3. Things organized into 3, 7, or 12
• 4. The woman who brings evil into the world
• 5. The family romance

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Greek Mythology

• 1. The Greeks were the earliest people to give
  their gods human forms
• 2. The Greeks also gave the gods human
  qualities and emotions
• 3. Greeks were able to determine proper
  behavior based on what would anger the gods
  or please the gods.

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Greek Myth Categories

• The Greek myths fall into the following
• categories
• a. Explanatory (Pyramus and Thisbe)
• b. Instructional(Daedalus and Icarus)
• c. Entertainment

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Remember the Titans?

• Gaea Earth Goddess made the rest of the Titans
  by mating with her son, Uranus.
• Uranus Sky god first ruler. Dethroned by
  Cronus.
• Cronus Fathered the first of the Olympians.
  Swallowed his children except for Zeus.
• Prometheus Forethought Protector of man
  inventor of fire.
• Atlas Punished by having to hold the world on
  his back.

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Who Were the Olympians?

• The offspring of the Titans
• Overthrew the Titans in a war to control the
  universe.
• Led by Zeus, the god of the other gods.
• Zeus and his brothers split territory (Zeus-
  earth/sky, Poseidon- the seas, Hades- the
  underworld)

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The Twelve Olympians

• Aphrodite goddess of love and beauty. Her
  symbols were the dove, and myrtle, a type of
  evergreen shrub. Her Latin name was Venus.
• Apollo god of the sun and of music. His symbols
  were the lyre, the chariot, and the laurel tree.
  His Latin name was Apollo.
• Ares god of war. His symbols were armor, dogs,
  and vultures. His Latin name was Mars.

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• Artemis goddess of the hunt and of the moon.
  Her symbols were hunting, weapons, stags, and the
  crescent moon. Her Latin name was Diana.
• Athena goddess of wisdom and war. Her symbols
  were the owl, the olive tree, and two types of
  armorthe breastplate and the aegis, a shield.
  Her Latin name was Minerva.
• Demeter goddess of agriculture. Her symbols
  were sheaves of wheat, and the poppy. Her Latin
  name was Ceres.

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• Dionysus god of wine and revelry. His symbols
  were grapes and other crops. His Latin name was
  Bacchus.
• Hephaestus god of fire and of the forge. His
  symbols were the anvil and the hammer. His Latin
  name was Vulcan.
• Hera queen of the gods. Her symbols were the
  peacock and the pomegranate. Her Latin name was
  Juno.

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• Hermes messenger of the gods. His symbols were
  the caduceus, and a winged cap and sandals. His
  Latin name was Mercury.
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• Poseidon god of the sea. His symbols were the
  trident, a three pronged spear, and dolphins.
  His Latin name was Neptune.
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• Zeus king of the gods. His symbols were the
  thunderbolt, the eagle, and the oak tree. His
  Latin name was Jupiter.

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Family Tree
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Other Gods and Goddesses

• Eris - Goddess of Discord.
• Eros - God of Love.
• Helios - Personification of the Sun.
• Heracles - Greatest hero of the Greek myths.
• Iris - Personification of the Rainbow, also the
  messenger of Olympus along with Hermes.
• Morpheus - God of Dreams.
• Muses - Nine ladies of science and arts.
• Nemesis - Greek goddess of retribution.
• Nike - Goddess of victory.

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Can you label the Gods and Goddesses on Mount
Olympus?