The Olympian GodsThe Olympian Gods (again)(again)

A smith, a lovely lady, and a lush. A smith, a lovely lady, and a lush.

Hephaestus/VulcanHephaestus/Vulcan

Who’s your daddy?Who’s your daddy?Hephaestus had none. Hephaestus had none. Hera conceived him to spite Zeus Hera conceived him to spite Zeus Some versions: retaliation for having Athena Some versions: retaliation for having Athena

by himselfby himself Not pretty-- in fact, crippledNot pretty-- in fact, crippled

Ugly dude from the get goUgly dude from the get goCrippled from Hera’s rejection or Zeus gave Crippled from Hera’s rejection or Zeus gave

him a toss after a squabblehim a toss after a squabble

Hey, you’d limp too if you were tossed of Mt. Olympus!

The ugly man finds a home…The ugly man finds a home… After he fell, he was rescued and raised After he fell, he was rescued and raised

secretly for 9 years in a cave.secretly for 9 years in a cave. Learned a few skills in the forgeLearned a few skills in the forge Spite mommy: made a beautiful thrown of goldSpite mommy: made a beautiful thrown of gold She loved it and sat down.She loved it and sat down. Curses! A trap! No one could help her get freeCurses! A trap! No one could help her get free Hephaestus invited to Olympus where the Hephaestus invited to Olympus where the

gods tried to get the answer by getting him gods tried to get the answer by getting him drunk. Only Dionysus could get the answer drunk. Only Dionysus could get the answer from him.from him.

Invited to stay at Olympus and eventually Invited to stay at Olympus and eventually reconciled with Mommy-dearreconciled with Mommy-dear

A HandymanA Handyman God of fire, the forge, and smithsGod of fire, the forge, and smiths Office located in volcanoes, god of Office located in volcanoes, god of

volcanoesvolcanoes Vulcan, volcanic, get it?Vulcan, volcanic, get it?

The original Cyclopes become assistants The original Cyclopes become assistants Nothing he can’t build!Nothing he can’t build! Chains for Prometheus, arrows for Chains for Prometheus, arrows for

Apollo and Artemis, armor, all the Apollo and Artemis, armor, all the houses on Olympus, Shield of Achilles houses on Olympus, Shield of Achilles (Thetis raised Hephy and birthed (Thetis raised Hephy and birthed Achilles).Achilles).

A gentle man…A gentle man…Tried to bring peace during quarrelsTried to bring peace during quarrels

Once refilled everyone’s cup during a Once refilled everyone’s cup during a dinner argument; the sight of the hobbling, dinner argument; the sight of the hobbling, ugly god made everyone laugh and forget ugly god made everyone laugh and forget the argumentthe argument

People of Athens loved him: peaceful, People of Athens loved him: peaceful, kind, patron of craftsmen.kind, patron of craftsmen.HephaestionHephaestion: a temple in Athens dedicated : a temple in Athens dedicated

to himto himA peaceful man who did get angry from A peaceful man who did get angry from

time to time…time to time…

Aphrodite,Venus, Cyprian, Aphrodite,Venus, Cyprian, Bridal Aphrodite, Aphrodite of Bridal Aphrodite, Aphrodite of

the Deep Sea, Heavenly the Deep Sea, Heavenly AphroditeAphrodite

(Insert your favorite name for an attractive lady here)(Insert your favorite name for an attractive lady here) Sometimes born in foam of Uranus’s, Sometimes born in foam of Uranus’s, umm, well, ah, er, yeah, you remember umm, well, ah, er, yeah, you remember that story.that story.

Other times, Zeus conceived her with Other times, Zeus conceived her with Dione, an OceanidDione, an Oceanid

Floated to shore in a shell, landed in Floated to shore in a shell, landed in Cyprus where flowers sprouted wherever Cyprus where flowers sprouted wherever she stepped. she stepped.

Aphrodite: unknown name origin, but may Aphrodite: unknown name origin, but may mean “foam-born”mean “foam-born”

Beautiful, sexy, had the power to make Beautiful, sexy, had the power to make people fall in love (even gods, except…)people fall in love (even gods, except…)

Weapon of choice: a magic girdleWeapon of choice: a magic girdle• Anyone wearing it will be irresistible to Anyone wearing it will be irresistible to

everyone who sees the person.everyone who sees the person.• Once lent it to Hera to recapture her man!Once lent it to Hera to recapture her man!

Enjoyed helping mortals obtain their Enjoyed helping mortals obtain their beloved, and enjoyed making gods beloved, and enjoyed making gods squabble over affairs. squabble over affairs.

She took home a lot of senior superlativesShe took home a lot of senior superlatives

Goddess of love, sex, reproductionGoddess of love, sex, reproduction Worshipped by:Worshipped by:

• Brides (to make marriage and Brides (to make marriage and wedding bed “good”)wedding bed “good”)

• Prostitutes—hey, the oldest Prostitutes—hey, the oldest profession!profession!

• Poets (they love to write about love)Poets (they love to write about love)• Just about everyone: love makes the Just about everyone: love makes the

world go ‘round! world go ‘round!

““Erotic” comes from Erotic” comes from the name “Eros”the name “Eros”

Eros had a very Eros had a very popular followingpopular following

Embodies physical Embodies physical desiredesire

Very popular in Very popular in homosexual homosexual relationships during relationships during the classical period of the classical period of Greece.Greece.

In some versions, she In some versions, she had a son, Eros (daddy had a son, Eros (daddy is Ares).is Ares).

Other versions, Eros is Other versions, Eros is older than most of the older than most of the gods.gods.

Cupid: small, pudgy, Cupid: small, pudgy, darling babydarling baby

Eros: a vindictive, Eros: a vindictive, malevolent teen whose malevolent teen whose arrows are full of arrows are full of mischief and even mischief and even death! (Although death! (Although sometimes can be a sometimes can be a swell guy)swell guy)

Eros/Eros/CupidCupid

As the Myths TurnAs the Myths Turnoror

All My GodsAll My Gods Aphrodite married Hephaestus: Aphrodite married Hephaestus:

Beauty and the Beast.Beauty and the Beast. Some versions say it was an Some versions say it was an

arranged marriage by Zeus arranged marriage by Zeus – what kind of a sick and twisted joke is what kind of a sick and twisted joke is

that?that?– to get revenge from when Aphrodite to get revenge from when Aphrodite

refused his pick up lines (insert favorite refused his pick up lines (insert favorite pickup line here)pickup line here)

Aphrodite was really Aphrodite was really in love with Ares in love with Ares (why him?)(why him?)

Hephaestus wanted Hephaestus wanted to catch them to catch them sleeping in their sleeping in their wedding bed.wedding bed.

Rigged a booby trapRigged a booby trap Busted: one naked Busted: one naked

goddess of love goddess of love trapped with a trapped with a naked god of war.naked god of war.

Hephaestus brought Hephaestus brought the gods back with him the gods back with him to see their naughty to see their naughty behaviorbehavior

Everyone had a good Everyone had a good laugh, except for the laugh, except for the two naked, trapped two naked, trapped deities.deities.

Then, the mood Then, the mood soured.soured.

Shame on Hephaestus Shame on Hephaestus for such a lowly trap!for such a lowly trap!

Dionysus, Bacchus, Twice Born, Acratophorus Dionysus, Bacchus, Twice Born, Acratophorus (Bringer of Unmixed Wine), Nocturnal, (Bringer of Unmixed Wine), Nocturnal,

Torch-bearing, Citizen DionysusTorch-bearing, Citizen Dionysus Only Olympian to have a mortal mother.Only Olympian to have a mortal mother. Zeus promised Semele (mom) anything, made that pesky Zeus promised Semele (mom) anything, made that pesky

oath.oath. She wanted to see him in full glory.She wanted to see him in full glory. Not a good idea: she died instantly. Not a good idea: she died instantly. Zeus took unborn baby and put in his his thighZeus took unborn baby and put in his his thigh

Don’t ask me how that worked! Who needs detail anyway?Don’t ask me how that worked! Who needs detail anyway? After being born (don’t ask how that worked either), After being born (don’t ask how that worked either),

Hermes rescued him (Jealous Hera) and took him to be Hermes rescued him (Jealous Hera) and took him to be raised by nymphs (young, scantily clad women)raised by nymphs (young, scantily clad women)

Dionysus missed his Dionysus missed his mom, asked Hades for mom, asked Hades for her back.her back.

He agreed. Semele and He agreed. Semele and Dionysus went to live Dionysus went to live on Olympuson Olympus

Hera became upset (go Hera became upset (go figure) and made figure) and made Dionysus, his mom Dionysus, his mom and the nymphs who and the nymphs who raised him go insane raised him go insane with madness. with madness.

Hera relented Hera relented eventuallyeventually

Dionysus became:Dionysus became: God of madnessGod of madness God of wineGod of wine God of partiesGod of parties God of the vine/ivyGod of the vine/ivy God of vegetation God of vegetation A very popular godA very popular god

Followers of Dionysus:Followers of Dionysus: Pan and other Satyrs (aka: Pan and other Satyrs (aka:

Fauns)Fauns) Half human, half goatHalf human, half goat Ran around woods drinking, Ran around woods drinking,

playing pipes, dancing, playing pipes, dancing, having lots of sexhaving lots of sex

Very erotic creatures with all Very erotic creatures with all sorts of perverse depictionssorts of perverse depictions

The Maenads/Bacchae:The Maenads/Bacchae: Women followers of BacchusWomen followers of Bacchus Known to dance, sing, drink, and have orgies in Known to dance, sing, drink, and have orgies in

honor of Bacchushonor of Bacchus These ceremonies eventually transformed into These ceremonies eventually transformed into

dramatic plays: rituals to honor Dionysus (first dramatic plays: rituals to honor Dionysus (first ever theatrical character)ever theatrical character)

Mythically, the Bacchae would go “mad” and Mythically, the Bacchae would go “mad” and tear animals and even humans apart with hands tear animals and even humans apart with hands and teeth.and teeth.