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Understanding the Basics of Greek Mythology. An introduction to the structure of mythology and the major Gods. Greek myths represent a section of ancient Greek religion that originated in present day Greece and Asia Minor about 1200 b.c.
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Understanding the Basics of Greek Mythology An introduction to the structure of mythology and the major Gods
Greek myths represent a section of ancient Greek religion that originated in present day Greece and Asia Minor about 1200 b.c. The ancient texts we call Greek Myths are mostly from the period known as Classical Greece, before 500 b.c. This date reflects when the myths were written down, although they originated over 700 years before.
The Structure of the Universe Mount Olympus: The home of the Gods; may be a mountain or just a section of heaven Earth The Underworld: Area hidden in the earth for the dead ruled by Hades Tartarus: Area far beneath the underworld; the ultimate prison
Keep in Mind… The Gods lived atop Mt. Olympus, but often descended to earth, sometimes in their own shapes, and sometimes disguised as humans or animals. Often times, Gods mated with humans to form heroes and/or future Gods. While the myths may seem like just stories, they represent an important part of history as well as literature.
Stop! • Find a partner • Introduce yourselves. • The person with darker color bottoms starts. • With your partner, do a Rally Robin • For 45 seconds, you and your partner will “volley” back and forth, statements about what you just learned.
Creation Gaea, known as Mother Earth, joined with Uranus, the Sky, and gave birth to many children. Gaea first gave birth to several monsters, including the Titans and the Cyclopes. Uranus was not pleased and threw many of them into Tartarus. In response to Uranus’ cruelty, Cronos, one of the Titans, attacked his father and took over his power. Cronos was now the lord of the universe and ruled with cruelty.
Creation Cont’d Cronos married his Titan sister Rhea, who gave birth to many children. However, because he was fearful his children would overpower him, Cronos swallowed each one. These actions enraged Rhea, who saved one of her sons, Zeus, by tricking Cronos into swallowing rocks instead of the child. Zeus matured, and his wife Metis tricked Cronos into vomiting the children he had last swallowed. This act frightened Cronos, and he surrendered his powers.
The Olympians Zeus, the most powerful of all the Gods, ruled the Universe with the help of his brothers and sisters, six of his children, and the goddess of love. The Gods themselves could never die, and although they were all-powerful, they often made choices which we would consider today as being “un-Godlike.”
Olympian Family Tree (Cronos+Gaea) Zeus Hera (+Zeus) Hades Hestia* Demeter Poseidon (+Maia)Hermes Hebe? Hephaestus Ares Athena (Zeus + Leto) Aphrodite *some say Hestia gave her position to Dionysis, but some don’t agree Apollo Artemis
The “correct” gods inhabiting Mount Olympus are debatable, and depending on the source, up to 14 gods held a place on the council
Stop! • Find a partner – sticky hands • Introduce yourselves. • The person with shorter hair • With your partner, do a Volley Robin • For 45 seconds, you and your partner will “volley” back and forth, statements about what you just learned.
The Olympians Zeus is considered the superior leader of the Gods. He is the lord of the sky and the rain god. His weapon is the thunderbolt. He is married to Hera, but is known for his many affairs, as well as his strict punishments to those who lie or break oaths.
The Olympians Poseidon, the second most powerful God, is the lord of the sea. His weapon is a trident, which can shake the earth and shatter any object. Poseidon is known for his quarrelsome personality and greed, often disputing with other Gods.
The Olympians Hades, the god of the underworld and ruler of the dead, and he is constantly looking to increase his subjects. This greedy god is also the god of wealth, due to the precious metals mined from deep in the earth. He has a helmet that makes him invisible.
The Olympians Hestia, the virgin goddess, does not have a distinct personality and is not a major part of the myths. She is the goddess of the hearth.
The Olympians Hera, Zeus’ wife and sister, is the protector of marriage. Her sacred animals are the cow and the peacock. Many myths center around Hera’s jealous revenge for Zeus’ infidelities, as well as her abilities to outwit him.
The Olympians Ares, the god of war, is the son of Zeus and Hera. He is considered murderous and disliked by the gods—even his parents. His bird is the vulture and his animal is the dog.
The Olympians Athena, Zeus’ daughter, sprang full-grown and in armor from Zeus’ head, therefore she has no mother. She was Zeus’ favorite child and allowed to use his thunderbolt. She is the goddess of city, handicrafts, and agriculture and embodies wisdom, reason, and purity. Her tree is the olive, and her bird is the owl.
The Olympians Apollo, Aretemis’ twin brother, is the god of music and plays the golden lyre. He is also the god of healing, truth, and light. His biggest task is to drive the sun across the sky and is famous for his oracle at Delphi.
The Olympians Aphrodite, the goddess of love, desire, and beauty, has no parents as she sprang from the sea foam. The myrtle tree is her bird, while the dove, swan, and sparrow are her birds.
The Olympians Artemis
Other Lessor Gods Hebe: goddess of youth; sometimes part of Olympus Nemesis: god of vengence Persephone: queen of the underworld Dionysus: god of wine; sometimes part of Olympus
Other Lessor Gods cont’d Prometheus: stole fire for humans Pandora: her curiosity unleashed the world’s miseries Pan: god of shepherds who looks like a goat Eris: goddess of discord who is often involved in war
Even More Lessor Gods and Monsters -The Graces -The Muses -The Fates -Cyclopes -Hecatoncheires -Giants -Typhoes -Cerberus -The Sirens
Works Cited D’Aulaire, Ingri & Edgar. Book of Greek Myths. Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing: New York, 1962. Messagenet. Greek Mythology. 2002. www.messagenet.com/myths. Hunt, J.M. Greek Mythology. 29 Aug 2003. www.desy.de. Parada, Carlos. Greek Mythology Link. 1997. www.homepage.mac.com.
