Greek Culture

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Greek Culture

• Chapter 10.1

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Greek Beliefs

• Greeks formed city-states
• City-state-is the city and the land that
  surrounds it
• Spoke Greek language
• Shared many beliefs and customs
• Believed many of the same myths
• Myths-traditional stories about gods and heroes

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Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends
belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their
gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the
origins and significance of their own cult and
ritual practices. They were a part of religion in
ancient Greece. Modern scholars refer to, and
study the myths in an attempt to throw light on
the religious and political institutions of
Ancient Greece, its civilization, and to gain
understanding of the nature of myth-making
itself.
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Greek Mythology
.Oh to be among the gods!
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Who were the Greek Gods?
Who were the Greek Gods?
Greeks believed in gods and goddesses Gods were
not all-powerful gods marry and have children 12
most important gods and goddesses lived on Mt.
Olympus
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The Titans
Beings the Greeks believed existed before the
gods of Olympia. The Titans Were the offspring
of Gaia (mother earth) and Uranus.
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• Titans were the first generation of Greek Gods

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The Greeks believed Cronos fathered the gods.
Afraid they would take the Titans power, Cronos
ate all of his children except Zeus. Zeus
killed Cronos and freed his siblings.
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• https//www.youtube.com/watch?veJCm8W5RZes

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Zeus
Zeus is the king of all the gods. He divided up
the world with his brothers, Hades and Poseidon.
Zeus becomes ruler of the sky and earth. Zeus has
many children all of whom have powers. However,
Zeus has more powers than anyone else.
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Hades
Hades is the lord of the dead in the Underworld.
Hes so scary that people would not even say his
name. Guests in the underworld are greeted by his
three-headed dog. His brother, Zeus tricked the
beautiful Persephone into marrying Hades. Her
mother, Demeter, goddess of agriculture, makes a
deal with Hades so Persephone only has to stay
with Hades for part of the year causing winter
weather.
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Poseidon
Poseidon was god of the sea and brother to Zeus
and Hades. In Homers famous Odyssey he punishes
Odysseus because Odysseus blinded his son the
Cyclops. He is able to cause storms with the use
of his trident, 3 pronged spear. Earthquakes are
believed to be caused by his wrath as well.
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Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the god of metalworking and is
married to the unfaithful Aphrodite. He forges
all the weapons for the gods. He works beneath
the Earths surface. His smashing of steel into
molten lava creates earthquakes and volcanoes
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Athena
Athena is the firstborn and favorite child of
Zeus. She is known as the goddess of wisdom.
According to the myth, she busts out of his head
fully grown and dressed for battle. She often
uses her intelligence to rescue Greek heroes. She
is the protectress of the city, Athens and has
the Parthenon built for her as a temple.
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Apollo
Apollo is god of the sun and twin to Artemis. His
daily task is to drive the sun across the sky.
During the Trojan War he helps the Trojans and
helps kill legendary Greek warrior, Achilles.
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Ares
Ares is known as the god of war, not for his
skill but because he liked all the violence. His
parents were Zeus and Hera. He is father to the
twins, Remus and Romulus. Romulus will eventually
become the 1st king of Rome.
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Artemis
Artemis is the goddess of the moon and hunting.
Artemis, being a female, would seek revenge if
she felt someone wronged her.
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Hera
Hera was married to Zeus and is therefore queen
of the gods. Most of her time is spent causing
trouble for all of her husbands girlfriends and
their children. She is most famous for trying to
destroy Hercules. Her sacred animal is the
peacock.
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Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. She
plays a part in starting the Trojan War. In order
to win a beauty contest she bribes Paris with the
most beautiful woman in the human world, Helen.
When she runs away with Paris the Greeks go after
her and thus begins the war.
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Olympic Games
Located in Olympia Games for the greater glory
of Zeus Began in 776 B.C. Greeks believed their
gods would be please if people showed skill in
the arts, in athletic games, or in thinking
Olympic Games
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Greek Oracles
Priest or priestess spoke for a god Predicated
the future Temple of Apollo at Delphi was the
Most famous
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Epics and Fables

• Epic-a long story poem
• The Greek poet Homer wrote two
• The Iliad and The Odyssey
• Fable- a story meant to teach a lesson usually
  with animals personified

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The Trojan Horse In the Iliad written by
Homer Tells of a prince of Troy that falls in
love with Helen (the wife of the king) and
kidnaps her Angers the Greeks and they attack
Troy Trick the Trojans with a huge, hollow,
wooden horse The Greeks capture the city, rescue
Helen and take her home
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The Odyssey
Written by Homer Tells the story of Odysseus, a
Greek Hero of the Trojan War It describes his
long way home after the Fall of Troy. He faces
storms, monsters, and Witches. Odysseus returns
home to his wife.
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Aesops Fables
Aesops fables Stories that teach a moral
(lesson) Popular stories include The Tortoise
and the Hare The Boy that cried Wolf
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The Impact of Greek Drama
Drama is a story told mainly through words and
action of a cast of characters Greek Drama had
two categories 1. tragedy-main character
struggles to overcome hardships but
does not succeed 2.
comedy-story ends happily
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Aeschylus
Earliest Greek dramatist One of his dramas was
called the Oresteia Tells about a Greek kings
return from the Trojan War and the troubles that
strike his Family. It is a story about revenge
and murders. Shows how one evil action can lead
to another
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Sophocles
Accepted suffering as a part of life Stressed
courage and understand Wrote play Antigone
questions whether it is better to obey Orders or
to do what one believe to be right
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Euripides
Euripides wrote about ordinary human beings in
realistic situations. His play often show the
suffering caused by war.
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Temple of Athena
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Different types of Greek Columns

• It was the ancient Greeks who invented 3
  beautiful types of columns. These were used all
  over ancient Greece to hold up buildings and
  rooftops and temples. One column had a very
  simple design. One was sort of in the middle. And
  one was very ornate.

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Acropolis-the hilltop that a fort stood on