Greek Mythology

Warm Up QuestionsWarm Up Questions

What is a myth? (I know you’ve answered this, but do it again please so we can discuss the answer)

Why did the Greeks pray to many gods and goddesses

What does polytheistic mean?

What is a myth? (I know you’ve answered this, but do it again please so we can discuss the answer)

Why did the Greeks pray to many gods and goddesses

What does polytheistic mean?

Creation of GodsCreation of Gods

Many natural disasters and human emotions were unexplainable to the ancient Greeks

The Greeks created fables (stories) about the creation of the world, and the birth of the gods

This way they could answer those unanswerable questions Life, love, death, birth, earthquakes,

tsunamis, volcano eruptions, rain, lightning etc.

Many natural disasters and human emotions were unexplainable to the ancient Greeks

The Greeks created fables (stories) about the creation of the world, and the birth of the gods

This way they could answer those unanswerable questions Life, love, death, birth, earthquakes,

tsunamis, volcano eruptions, rain, lightning etc.

OlympiansOlympians

The Olympians were the main and strongest gods in Ancient Greek religion Polytheism: the worship of more than one

god/gods There were 12 main Olympians and they

lived on Mount Olympus--the highest mountain in Greece

Why say the gods lived here? The overthrew their ancestors, the Titans,

and became rulers of the heavens and earth

The Olympians were the main and strongest gods in Ancient Greek religion Polytheism: the worship of more than one

god/gods There were 12 main Olympians and they

lived on Mount Olympus--the highest mountain in Greece

Why say the gods lived here? The overthrew their ancestors, the Titans,

and became rulers of the heavens and earth

Olympians cont..Olympians cont..

The gods had many human characteristics: the looked human (most of them), they married, they felt anger, sadness, and all the human emotions we feel

However: they never aged, and they never died

There were 12 total and their leader was Zeus

The gods had many human characteristics: the looked human (most of them), they married, they felt anger, sadness, and all the human emotions we feel

However: they never aged, and they never died

There were 12 total and their leader was Zeus

ZeusZeus

The last child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea His father, Cronus, jealous of his children,

swallowed all of them BUT…Zeus managed to escape and

overthrew his father, setting his siblings free He married his sister, Hera, but was not

faithful Zeus had many children due to his marriage

and numerous affairs

The last child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea His father, Cronus, jealous of his children,

swallowed all of them BUT…Zeus managed to escape and

overthrew his father, setting his siblings free He married his sister, Hera, but was not

faithful Zeus had many children due to his marriage

and numerous affairs

Zeus cont..Zeus cont..

He sat on the golden throne at the highest point on Mount Olympus

He was the Lord of Justice, punishing those who lied, but was considered fair

Responsible for the weather, and the weather reflected his mood Happy= sunshine Sad= rain Angry= watch out!! Throw high winds,

lightning bolts, and thunder to cause natural disasters

He sat on the golden throne at the highest point on Mount Olympus

He was the Lord of Justice, punishing those who lied, but was considered fair

Responsible for the weather, and the weather reflected his mood Happy= sunshine Sad= rain Angry= watch out!! Throw high winds,

lightning bolts, and thunder to cause natural disasters

Zeus cont..Zeus cont..

Zeus’ powers had their limits He could not intervene in the decisions

of the FatesOnes who have the power to decide

mankind’s outcomes

Very strong, and unpredictable His symbols are thunderbolt (a gift

from the Cyclopes because he freed them from Cronus) and the eagle

Zeus’ powers had their limits He could not intervene in the decisions

of the FatesOnes who have the power to decide

mankind’s outcomes

Very strong, and unpredictable His symbols are thunderbolt (a gift

from the Cyclopes because he freed them from Cronus) and the eagle

PoseidonPoseidon

Father and mother were Cronus and Rhea Older brother of Zeus The Greek god of the seas, responsible for

various naturally occurring events Earthquakes, floods, crumbling rocks, rough and

calm seas Main weapon was the Trident

So powerful the Trident was, it could shake the earth Had palaces both on Mount Olympus, and at

the very bottom of the seas Preferred to stay here

Father and mother were Cronus and Rhea Older brother of Zeus The Greek god of the seas, responsible for

various naturally occurring events Earthquakes, floods, crumbling rocks, rough and

calm seas Main weapon was the Trident

So powerful the Trident was, it could shake the earth Had palaces both on Mount Olympus, and at

the very bottom of the seas Preferred to stay here

Poseidon cont..Poseidon cont..

Married to Amphitrite His symbol was the Trident-a three

pronged spear Sacred animals were the dolphin

and the horse Which he made to impress a woman

named Demeter

Married to Amphitrite His symbol was the Trident-a three

pronged spear Sacred animals were the dolphin

and the horse Which he made to impress a woman

named Demeter

HadesHades Supreme Ruler of the Underworld

Not the god of death. Thanatos is the god of death

Think of Satan or the devil Son of Cronus and Rhea Brother to Zeus and Poseidon Wife was Persephone

Kidnapped her from her mother Demeter and brought her to the underworld

Known as the “rich one” since he possess all the riches in the earth

Supreme Ruler of the Underworld Not the god of death. Thanatos is the god

of death Think of Satan or the devil

Son of Cronus and Rhea Brother to Zeus and Poseidon Wife was Persephone

Kidnapped her from her mother Demeter and brought her to the underworld

Known as the “rich one” since he possess all the riches in the earth

Hades cont..Hades cont..

Almost never does Hades leave the underworld He prefers to live in darkness and

silence Hades had two helpers

Hermes: who would bring the souls to the underworld

Charon: who would take the souls across the river, Styx, from the living world to the world of the dead

Almost never does Hades leave the underworld He prefers to live in darkness and

silence Hades had two helpers

Hermes: who would bring the souls to the underworld

Charon: who would take the souls across the river, Styx, from the living world to the world of the dead

Hades cont..Hades cont..

He was known for having very sad features A dark beard Long, dark hair that came over his face Dark, dark eyes

He does have a loyal dog A soul eating, three headed dog names

Cerberus

His sacred symbol was the helmet, which kept him invisible

He was known for having very sad features A dark beard Long, dark hair that came over his face Dark, dark eyes

He does have a loyal dog A soul eating, three headed dog names

Cerberus

His sacred symbol was the helmet, which kept him invisible