Chapter 8Section 3NotesGreek Mythology and Literature

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Myths Explain the World Ancient Greeks were polytheistic Used myths about their gods to explain

natural or historical events

(religion explains what they do not understand)

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Greek Gods

Greeks did not have scientific understanding of Thunder Earthquakes Volcanic eruptions

Believed gods caused such events They created myths to explain why the

gods caused these events.

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ZeusKing of the gods of Mount

Olympus

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HeraQueen of the gods

Sister and Wife of Zeus

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Poseidongod of the seasbrother of Zeus

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Hadesgod of the underworld

brother of Zeus

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Hermesthe messenger god

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Demeter – goddess of agriculture Hestia – goddess of the hearth Athena – goddess of wisdom Apollo – god of the sun Artemis – goddess of the moon Ares – god of war Aphrodite – goddess of love Hephaestus – god of metalworking Dionysus – god of celebration

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Gods and Mythology Greeks thought the gods caused

natural disasters Also felt they caused daily

events Sunrise and sunset Seasons changing

Built temples to keep the gods happy

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Heroes and Mythology Not all myths were about gods Some were about heroes Each city had a favorite hero Most Famous was Hercules

Killed the hydra

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Homer and Epic Poetry Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey The Iliad is the story of the last years of

the Trojan War The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’

journey home from the Trojan War and the challenges he faced

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Lyric Poetry Poems that were set to music Called Lyric poetry because the music

was played on a lyre Sappho was the most famous female

lyrical poet of all Greece

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Fables Fables are stories that teach a lesson or give

advice how to live Aesop was famous for his fables (even today) The main characters are usually animals and they

live and behave like humans The Boy Who Cried Wolf The Ants and the Grasshopper The Tortoise and the Hare

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Greek Literature Lives

Much of the literature produced by the Ancient Greeks is still popular today

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Language

Many of our words come from the Greeks

Many places in world are named for figures in Greek Mythology

Greek mythology has inspired artist for hundreds of years

Trojans have roots in mythology

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