The OdysseyThe OdysseyThe Greek Gods & The Greek Gods &

GoddessesGoddesses

What is What is mythology?mythology?

• my-thol-o-gymy-thol-o-gy

11. A body or collection of myths belonging . A body or collection of myths belonging to a people and addressing their origin, to a people and addressing their origin, history, deities, ancestors, and heroes.history, deities, ancestors, and heroes.

[from Greek mūthologiā, [from Greek mūthologiā, story-tellingstory-telling : : mūthos, mūthos, storystory + -logiā, + -logiā, -logy-logy.].]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

What is What is mythology?mythology?• A myth is a story, usually of unknown A myth is a story, usually of unknown

origin, that describes actual events and is origin, that describes actual events and is associated with religious belief.associated with religious belief.

• Myths are specific accounts of gods or Myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman beings involved in superhuman beings involved in extraordinary events or circumstances in a extraordinary events or circumstances in a time that is unspecified but which is time that is unspecified but which is understood as existing apart from ordinary understood as existing apart from ordinary human experience. human experience.

Why Why study study Greek Greek

mythologmythology?y?

• To understand ancient Greek civilizationTo understand ancient Greek civilization-to learn how human beings thought and felt -to learn how human beings thought and felt thousands of years agothousands of years ago

1. closer connection with nature1. closer connection with nature2. little distinction between the real and 2. little distinction between the real and

the unrealthe unreal-gods are a reflection of what a society values-gods are a reflection of what a society values

• To learn more about human culture as a whole To learn more about human culture as a whole (ourselves)(ourselves)

Why study mythology?Why study mythology?

• To enhance our understanding of To enhance our understanding of literatureliterature

Greek mythology: the Greek mythology: the dawning of a new agedawning of a new age

In the pre-Greek world, In the pre-Greek world,

gods looked like this:gods looked like this:

The Greeks made their gods in their own image:

The Greek gods look like us!!The Greek gods look like us!!

All the art and all the thought of Greece All the art and all the thought of Greece centered in human beings.centered in human beings.

The Greek gods also act like

we do.•Zeus is the weak man who can’t turn down a pretty face.

•Hera is the typical jealous wife.

•The gods were companionable, YET they had their dark spots.

•Limited sense of right and wrong

The Gods and the CreationThe Gods and the Creation

• The gods did NOT create the universe; the universe created the gods.The gods did NOT create the universe; the universe created the gods.

• Heaven and earth were the first parents.Heaven and earth were the first parents.

• The Titans were their children, and the gods were their grandchildren.The Titans were their children, and the gods were their grandchildren.

Zeus defeats Zeus defeats his fatherhis father

• The Titans, known as the Elder Gods, were of The Titans, known as the Elder Gods, were of enormous size and incredible strength.enormous size and incredible strength.

• The most important was Cronus, who ruled over The most important was Cronus, who ruled over the other Titans until his son Zeus dethroned him the other Titans until his son Zeus dethroned him and seized the power for himself.and seized the power for himself.

The Twelve The Twelve Great OlympiansGreat Olympians• After the defeat of the Titans, After the defeat of the Titans,

the twelve great Olympians the twelve great Olympians were supreme among the gods.were supreme among the gods.

• They lived on Mount Olympus, They lived on Mount Olympus, guarded by a great gate of guarded by a great gate of clouds kept by the Seasons.clouds kept by the Seasons.

• They feasted on ambrosia and They feasted on ambrosia and nectar and listened to Apollo’s nectar and listened to Apollo’s lyre.lyre.

• It was a place of perfect peace It was a place of perfect peace and harmony- there was no and harmony- there was no wind, rain, or snow.wind, rain, or snow.

The Twelve Great The Twelve Great OlympiansOlympians

ZeusZeus AthenaAthena

PoseidonPoseidon ApolloApollo

HadesHades AphroditeAphrodite

HestiaHestia HermesHermes

HeraHera ArtemisArtemis

AresAresHephaestusHephaestus

ZeusZeusLord of the Sky, the Rain-god and the Cloud-Lord of the Sky, the Rain-god and the Cloud-gatherer; gatherer; the supreme ruler!the supreme ruler!• Not omnipotent or Not omnipotent or

omniscient- can be omniscient- can be opposed and deceived. opposed and deceived. The mysterious power The mysterious power Fate is spoken of as Fate is spoken of as stronger than him.stronger than him.

• His love affairs with His love affairs with women are endless; he is women are endless; he is always trying to hide his always trying to hide his infidelity from his wife, infidelity from his wife, Hera. Hera.

• The reason why someone so majestic is described as unfaithful is because Zeus is a combination of many gods.-The wife of the early god was transferred to Zeus.

His bird- the eagle

His tree- the oak

PoseidonPoseidonGod of the SeaGod of the Sea

•All-important to the sea-roving Greeks.

•His wife was Amphitrite, granddaughter of the Titan Ocean.

•Had a magnificent palace beneath the sea, but he was more often found in Olympus.

•Gave the first horse to man.

•Commonly called “Earth-shaker.”

•Often depicted carrying his trident, a three-pronged spear he used to shake and shatter whatever he desired.

HadesHadesLord of the Lord of the UnderworldUnderworld

• Also referred to as Pluto, the God Also referred to as Pluto, the God of Wealth (named after the preciousof Wealth (named after the preciousmetals hidden in the earth).metals hidden in the earth).• He had a helmet which madeHe had a helmet which madewhoever wore it invisible.whoever wore it invisible.• He rarely left his dark realm to visitHe rarely left his dark realm to visitOlympus or the earth. Olympus or the earth. • Not a welcome visitor.Not a welcome visitor.• His wife was Persephone whom he carried away His wife was Persephone whom he carried away

from the earth and made Queen of the Lower from the earth and made Queen of the Lower World.World.

ApolloApolloGod of Light; God of Truth; the Archer-god; the HealerGod of Light; God of Truth; the Archer-god; the Healer

• Called Phoebus Apollo; Called Phoebus Apollo; Phoebus means brilliant,” Phoebus means brilliant,” or “shining” or “shining”

• “ “The most Greek of all the The most Greek of all the gods.”gods.”

• Son of Zeus and LetoSon of Zeus and Leto

• Master musician who Master musician who delights Olympus with his delights Olympus with his golden lyregolden lyre

• First taught men the First taught men the healing arthealing art

• His sacred creatures: the His sacred creatures: the dolphin and the crowdolphin and the crow

• His tree: the laurelHis tree: the laurel

HermesHermesZeus’s Messenger; the Master Thief; God of Zeus’s Messenger; the Master Thief; God of CommerceCommerce

• Zeus was his father and Maia, Zeus was his father and Maia, daughter of Atlas, his mother.daughter of Atlas, his mother.

• Graceful and swift of motion; Graceful and swift of motion; wears winged sandals and wears winged sandals and wings on his hat. wings on his hat.

• His wand is a caduceus, or a His wand is a caduceus, or a short herald’s staff entwined short herald’s staff entwined by two serpents in the form of by two serpents in the form of a double helix surmounted by a double helix surmounted by wings. This staff was first wings. This staff was first borne by Iris, the messenger borne by Iris, the messenger of Hera.of Hera.

•Shrewdest and most cunning of all the gods, he stole Apollo’s Shrewdest and most cunning of all the gods, he stole Apollo’s herds when he was a day old! He won Apollo’s forgiveness by herds when he was a day old! He won Apollo’s forgiveness by presenting him with a lyre which he had just invented, making presenting him with a lyre which he had just invented, making it out of a tortoise’s shell.it out of a tortoise’s shell.

•He was also the guide of the dead.He was also the guide of the dead.

AphroditeAphroditeThe Goddess of Love and BeautyThe Goddess of Love and Beauty

• She is said to have She is said to have sprung from the sprung from the foam of the sea, foam of the sea, and her name and her name means “the foam means “the foam risen.” risen.” Aphros Aphros is is foam in Greek.foam in Greek.

• Sea-birth took place Sea-birth took place near Cythera, from near Cythera, from where she was where she was wafted to Cyprus.wafted to Cyprus.

• She charmed both She charmed both gods and men alike. gods and men alike.

• The laughter-loving The laughter-loving goddess. Without goddess. Without her there is no her there is no loveliness nor joy loveliness nor joy anywhere. anywhere.

•Also treacherous and malicious

•She was the wife of Hephaestus, the lame and ugly god of the forge.

•Her bird: the dove; her tree: the myrtle

AresAresGod of WarGod of War

• Son of Zeus and Hera, both of Son of Zeus and Hera, both of whom, Homer says, detested whom, Homer says, detested him.him.

• Murderous, bloodstained, the Murderous, bloodstained, the curse of mortals; also, a coward. curse of mortals; also, a coward. He runs away when wounded in He runs away when wounded in battle.battle.

• He has a small role in Greek He has a small role in Greek mythology. He is not a distinct mythology. He is not a distinct personality, but is more a symbol personality, but is more a symbol of war.of war.

• He is the lover of Aphrodite and He is the lover of Aphrodite and held up to the contempt of the held up to the contempt of the Olympians by Aphrodite’s Olympians by Aphrodite’s husband, Hephaestus.husband, Hephaestus.

• His bird: the vultureHis bird: the vulture

AthenaAthenaGoddess of Wisdom, Peace, Warfare, Purity, Skill, and ReasonGoddess of Wisdom, Peace, Warfare, Purity, Skill, and Reason

• She was the daughter of Zeus She was the daughter of Zeus alone- she sprang from his head alone- she sprang from his head full-grown and in full-armor.full-grown and in full-armor.

• Fierce and ruthless battle-Fierce and ruthless battle-goddess in goddess in The Iliad.The Iliad.

• Virgin patron of Athens, the Virgin patron of Athens, the Parthenon was built to honor her.Parthenon was built to honor her.

• The protector of civilized life, of The protector of civilized life, of handicrafts and agriculturehandicrafts and agriculture

• The inventor of the bridle, she The inventor of the bridle, she first tamed horses for men to first tamed horses for men to use.use.

• Zeus’s favorite childZeus’s favorite child

• Her tree: the olive (created by Her tree: the olive (created by her)her)

• Her bird: the owlHer bird: the owl

The Greek goddess Athena championed many heroes, The Greek goddess Athena championed many heroes, offering them her advice and protection, helping them offering them her advice and protection, helping them

to win their battles.  to win their battles.  

In one of her most famous adventures Athena would In one of her most famous adventures Athena would assume the shape of various men, women, and children assume the shape of various men, women, and children

to guide the wandering Odysseus. Her protection to guide the wandering Odysseus. Her protection allowed the suffering hero to finally return safely to his allowed the suffering hero to finally return safely to his

home and family. home and family.

Athena, the protector of Odysseus

Works CitedWorks Cited

Hamilton, Edith. Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes.Tales of Gods and Heroes. New York: New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1942.Warner Books, Inc., 1942.

Do you believe Do you believe in guardian in guardian

angels?angels?Explain and Explain and

give examples.give examples.

If you could travel back in time If you could travel back in time to the misty peaks of Mount to the misty peaks of Mount Olympus and be a Greek god Olympus and be a Greek god or goddess for one day, who or goddess for one day, who would you be and why?would you be and why?