Greek Mythology

Gods and Goddess on Mount Olympus

The Gods of Early Man

1.Gods were created to give an explanation for unexplainable phenomena;

2.They were created to quell man’s fears;

3.Gods were either monsters or animals;

4.Gods later became half-animal and half-man. 

Classical Greek Gods1.Gods had human appearance and characteristics;2.They embodied the Greek ideals of human physical and spiritual beauty;3.Gods often reflected man’s vanities and short comings;4.Gods were often humorous;5.Yet they could be fooled;6.Gods were important in every aspect of Greek life: home, architecture, drama, painting, sculpture, and war.

Myths1.An anonymous story having roots in primitive folk beliefs of races or nations and presenting supernatural episodes as a means of interpreting natural events.

2.They attempt to explain creation, divinity, and religion.

3.They probe the meaning of existence.

4.They account for natural phenomena such as lightning (Zeus).

5.They chronicle the adventures or racial heroes (Odysseus).

Origin of the Greek GodsGods did not create the universe; it created them!

 Origin of the Greek Gods

Gods did not create the universe; it created them!

CHAOS  

HEAVEN AND EARTH(Uranus) (Gaea)

 TITANS

(Rhea & Chronus) 

OLYMPIAN GODS(The children of Rhea and Chronus)

First Things First•Parents

•Uranus (Heaven)•Gaea (Mother Earth)

•Children •Cronus (Saturn) & Rhea (Ops)•The Elder Gods (The Titans)

First Things First •Grandchildren (12 Olympians) •Zeus (Jupiter)

•Poseidon (Neptune)•Hades (Pluto)•Hestia (Vesta)•Hera (Juno)•Ares (Mars)

•Athena (Minerva)•Apollo (Apollo)•Aphrodite (Venus)•Hermes (Mercury)•Artemis (Diana)•Hephaestus (Vulcan)

Who’s Who on Mount Olympus?

•King of the gods •Ruler of mankind

Zeus (Jupiter)

Symbol•Lightning Bolt

Realm

Misc.•Hera’s husband

Poseidon (Neptune)

Symbol

Realm•God of sea, horses, and earthquakes

•Trident -3-pronged spear

Hades (Pluto)Realm

• God of underworldMisc.•Never lived on Mt. Olympus•Stole Persephone to be his wifeSymbol•Helmet (makes him invisible)

Hestia (Vesta)Realm

• Goddess of hearth & home

Symbol•Fireplace (hearth)

•Queen of Gods and protector of married WomenMisc.•Zeus’ wife •Jealous

Hera (Juno) Realm

Symbol•Cow/Peacock

Ares (Mars)Realm •God of war

Symbol•Vulture/dog

Misc.•Not liked on Olympus

•Goddess of Wisdom, war, and weaving

Misc.•Born from Zeus’ head

Athena (Minerva)

Symbol

Realm

•Olive tree

Apollo (Apollo)

Realm•God of sun, music, poetry, & medicine

Symbol•Golden lyre/chariot

•Goddess of Love & Beauty

Misc.•Mother to Cupid •Born from sea foam

Aphrodite (Venus)Realm

Symbol•Dove/swan

Hermes (Mercury)

Symbol

Realm•Messenger god•God of commerce,• travelers, & thieves

•Winged feet & helmet

•Goddess of the moon & the hunt

Misc.•Eternal Maiden

Artemis (Diana)Facts

Symbol•The moon &the deer

Hephaestus (Vulcan)

Symbol

Realm•God of fire•Forger of armor

Misc.•Ugly and lame

•Blacksmith•Maker of weapons & armor

Why is Mythology Important

to study???

Many Famous Sites,

Paintings,and

Sculptures Across the

World

Poseidon

Famous Sites and Paintings

Various Temples to Poseidon

Dethroning of Saturn

Zeus & Hera Enthroned

Psyche & Cupid

Eros (Cupid)

Statue of Ares (Mars)

•Half-man/Half-horse

The Centaur

Achilles and the Centaur

Minerva and The Centaur

• Son of Zeus•Famous Greek Hero•Half-mortal/Half-God

•Telephus (His son)•Wounded by Achilles’ but healed by the rust on spear

Hercules and Telephus

Arrival of Io in Egypt

Aphrodite Crouching

The Birth of Venus

The Birth of Venus

The Birth of Venus

Venus de Milo

Cerberus at Notre Dame Cathedral

Charon, Ferryman of Hell

Crossing the River Styx

Hercules Dragging Cerberus from Hell

Echo and Narcissus

Death of Adonis

Pandora

•Releasing plagues, sorrow, mischief, and Hope into the world!

Presentation of Pandora by Vulcan

Prometheus bound

•Prometheus bound to rock by Force & Violence (Zeus’ servants) for loving man more than gods

A Satyr & Nymph

The Satyr Pan

The Sirens

The Moirai(The Three Fates)

Three Fates with the thread of human life

The Fates

The Graiae

The Death of Medusa

                                                                 

Perseus and Medusa

Temples to the gods

•Temple to Vesta in Rome, Italy

•Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece

•Temple of Olympian Zeus

Allusions to Mythology in

LiteratureMovies, Advertising,

and Pop-Culture today!

Hercules

Remember Fluffy?

J.K. Rowling’s inspiration was Cerberus, the three headed dog who guards the gates of

the underworld.

Centaurs from Harry Potter

Sinbad

Sirens attack Sinbad’s Ship

Movies about The Iliad

Movies about The Odyssey

Television

Homer’s Odyssey and other references

Modern Day Mythology

Companies

• Nike- Shoes, The Goddess of Victory• Saturn –Automobiles, Zeus's Father• Olympus – Photography Technology,

Mount Olympus• Mars- Candy Bars, God of War• FTD – Hermes Logo, Messenger God• Amazon.com – Books, Race of Warrior

Women• Midas – Golden touch and Mufflers!