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Greek and Roman Mythology. A Review of The Principal Gods and Goddesses. What Is a Myth ?. A traditional story rooted in beliefs of cultures Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity. In the Beginning .
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Greek and Roman Mythology A Review of The Principal Gods and Goddesses
What Is a Myth? • A traditional story rooted in beliefs of cultures • Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events • Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity
In the Beginning... • …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) • Chaos had two children: • Night (darkness) • Erebus (death) • “All was black, empty, silent, endless.” • Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.
And then... • When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. • Love created Light and Day. • Earth was created. • She was the solid ground, but also a personality. • The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.
The First Parents • Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) • Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) • They had three kinds of children: • Three monsters w/100 hands and 50 heads • Three Cyclopes • The Titans • These were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.
The Titans (The Elder Gods) • Enormous size, incredible strength • Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the Titans • Rhea: Wife of Cronos • Ocean: River that encircled the world • Iapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)
Cronos and Rhea were parents of Greek (Roman) Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) Poseidon (Neptune) Hades (Pluto) Hera (Juno) Hestia (Vesta) Demeter (Ceres) Other Olympians include Athena (Minerva) Ares (Mars) Hebe (Juventas) Hephaestus (Vulcan) Apollo (Apollo) Artemis (Diana) Hermes (Mercury) Aphrodite (Venus) Dionysus (Bacchus) Persephone The Principal Gods
Zeus (Jove) • Fathered many characters in mythology • Lightning
Hera (Juno) • Jealous protector of marriage • Punished the women Zeus fell in love with
Poseidon (Neptune) • Roman Name: Neptune • God of the Seas and Waters • “The Earthshaker”
Hades (Pluto) • God of the Underworld/ Dead • Kidnapped Persephone
Hestia (Vesta) • Goddess of Home • Powerful Protector
Demeter (Ceres) • Goddess of the Harvest • A Goddess of the Earth
Athena (Miverva) • Roman Name: Minerva • Goddess of Wisdom and War • Sprang from Zeus’s head
Ares (Mars) • God of War • Son of Zeus and Hera • Bloodthirsty and merciless
Hephaestus (Vulcan) • God of Fire/Forge • Son of Zeus and Hera • Kind, unlike his brother
Apollo • God of Light/Sun and Music • Brother of Artemis
Artemis (Diana) • Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt • Sister to Apollo
Hermes (Mercury) • Messenger of the Gods • Appears in more myths than any other character
Aphrodite (Venus) • Goddess of Love and Beauty • Sprang from the ocean foam
Dionysus (Bacchus) • God of Wine • Patron god of the Greek stage • A God of the Earth
Persephone (Proserpina) • Goddess of the Underworld • Daughter of Zeus and Demeter • Abducted by Hades
Hebe (Juventus) • Goddess of Youth • Cupbearer to the Gods • Restored youth to the aged
Eros (Cupid) • Young God of Love • Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus
Iris • Goddess of the Rainbow • Messenger for Zeus and Hera • Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra
Nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne Inspired artists of all kinds Goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences “He is happy whom the muses love.” The Muses Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia
The Graces • Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty • “They give life its bloom.” • Aglaia (Splendor) • Euphrosyne (Mirth) • Thalia (Good Cheer)
The Erinnyes (The Furies) • Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) • Three Goddesses of Vengeance • Tisiphone • Alecto • Megaera • They punish evildoers.
The Fates • Roman Name: Parcae, Moirae • Three sisters • Clotho (“The Spinner”) • Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”) • Atropos (“The cutter”) • They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.
The Satyrs • Gods of the woods and mountains • “Shepherd gods” • Goat men (like Pan) • Companions of Dionysus • They like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.
The Gorgons • Three snake-haired monsters • Medusa is most well-known • Their look turns men to stone.
The Centaurs • Half man, half horse • Savage creatures (except Chiron) • Followers of Dionysus
Sources • Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites: • http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html • http://www.pantheon.org/ • http://www.messagenet.com/myths/ • http://mythman.com/ • http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html • http://www.paleothea.com/ • http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html • This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.