GREEK PANTHEON You want gods, we got ‘em.. HOW IT WORKS human characteristics The ancient Greeks...
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Transcript of GREEK PANTHEON You want gods, we got ‘em.. HOW IT WORKS human characteristics The ancient Greeks...
GREEK PANTHEON
You want gods, we got ‘em.
HOW IT WORKS
The ancient Greeks attributed deeply human
characteristics to their gods and goddesses. Gods
were not perfect beings, but had human frailties.
They were:
* Jealous * Impatient
* Petty * Impulsive
* Heroic * Foolish
THE OLYMPIANS
The main characters.
Mount Olympus
ZEUS
Called the “father of gods and man,” Zeus ruled Mount
Olympus (the home of the gods)
God of the sky and thunder, his weapon is the thunderbolt
Zeus married his sister, Hera, but had many children by
mortal women and immortal goddesses alike.
Some of his children were: Apollo, Athena, Ares, Hermes,
Persephone, Dionysus, and Heracles (Hercules)
Thunderbolts
Eagle
POSEIDON
The “Earth-shaker,” god of earthquakes and the sea
When in a good mood, Poseidon was understood to be
the creator of islands and the bringer of calm seas.
When angry, however, Poseidon could call down
earthquakes, storms, and shipwrecks. His weapon is
the trident.
Father of Theseus, the mythical founder of Athens and
slayer of the monstrous Minotaur.
Trident
Hippocampus
HADES
Generally understood to be the god of the
underworld, Hades is often also called “Plouton,” or
“The Wealthy One.”
His weapon is the Helm of Darkness, which
grants invisibility to the wearer.
Persephone, Hades’ queen, was tricked into
staying in the underworld with her husband by
eating six pomegranate seeds.
Persephone
Hades
Cerberus
HERA
Sister to Zeus, Hera is the goddess of marriage
and the protector of women.
She is often portrayed as jealous of Zeus’ many
infidelities, seeking revenge against the other
women.
She is the mother of Ares, Hephaestus, and Eris,
and step-mother (and enemy) to Heracles.
Peacock(Hera’s symbol)
DEMETER
Believed to be the goddess of the harvest, the
changing of seasons, and the fertility of the
earth.
Demeter’s daughter by Zeus, Persephone, was
kidnapped by Hades to become the queen of the
underworld. In her grief, Demeter turns the earth
cold and barren in Persephone’s absence (winter),
and warm and fertile again when she returns
(spring/summer).
DIONYSUS
Yet another of Zeus’ offspring, Dionysus is the god
of the grape harvest, wine, and ritual madness.
Festivals held to honor Dionysus eventually grew
into the first expressions of Greek theater.
Dionysus is associated with wildness, music, and
ecstatic dance.
APOLLO
The son of Zeus and Leto, Apollo is the god of
light, music, medicine, and the arts.
Apollo is often pictured with a bow and arrow, or
his lyre– an early version of the harp, and is often
considered to be the Greek ideal of male beauty.
Bow and Arrows
Lyre
Laurel Tree
ARTEMIS
Twin sister to Apollo, Artemis is a huntress
goddess, and the protector of unmarried women.
Artemis was widely venerated throughout Greece,
although she was particularly popular in Sparta.
ATHENA
The daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom,
Metis, Athena sprang fully-formed from her father’s
forehead.
Athena is the patron goddess of Athens, and is the
goddess of military strategy, wisdom, justice, and
skill.
One of Athena’s constant companions is Nike, the
spirit of victory.
Nike
HERMES
Hermes is a trickster figure in much of Greek
mythology. He is the messenger god, a guide to
the underworld, and the patron of thieves,
travellers, merchants, and inventors.
Many shrines to Hermes were built at crossroads,
as they were uncertain places where the god’s
guidance would be useful.
Winged feet (or sandals)
Caduceus
APHRODITE
Born from the blood of Uranus and sea foam,
Aphrodite is actually an older god than Zeus.
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty, and
sexuality. She was said to be so beautiful that Zeus
feared a war over her hand, and so married her off
to Hephaestus, the smith god.
Unhappy in her marriage, Aphrodite had many
other lovers, and was the mother of Eros.