Greek and Roman Mythology

1. Greek and Roman Mythology A Review of The Principal Gods and Goddesses

3. Do you recognize these symbols? • Ajax - Greek warrior in the Trojan War, who "cleaned up" in battle; popular household cleanser. Midas - King with the golden touch, who transformed all he touched to gold; a famous muffler and brake chain of service stations. Nike - Winged goddess of Victory, who can run and fly at great speeds; a famous company that sells...well...if you haven't heard of the company Nike, welcome to our planet...:)

4. What is a myth? • A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures • Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events • Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity

5. There were five primary uses for myths. The uses were: 1. To explain natural phenomena or an occurrence. -The seasons - Fire - Sunrise/set - the echo

6. 2. To explain the creation of the world. According to the Hesiod (around 700 BC), in the beginning there was Chaos as a primeval state of existence. Chaos was the primal emptiness- a dark, silent, formless and infinite oddity with no trace of life.

7. 3. To teach people moral lessons. • Narcissus was renowned for his beauty. In the various stories he is exceptionally cruel, in that he disdains those who love him. As divine punishment he falls in love with a reflection in a pool, not realizing it was his own, and perishes there, not being able to leave the beauty of his own reflection.

8. 4. To explain some historical event. • The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. "The Iliad" relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy, while the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the Achaean leaders.

9. 5. To reveal the common hopes and fears of mankind. • Cerberus, the many-headed watchdog of Greek mythology, greeted souls when they arrived in the underworld. He also attacked them if they tried to escape. His image was a popular one with medieval artists. This sculpture of Cerberus can be found on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. The First Parents • Mother Earth = Gaea (Gaia) • Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus) • They had three kinds of children: • Three monsters with 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.

13. The Titans (The Elder Gods) • There were many of them. • 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)

14. Cronos and Rhea were parents of 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

15. The Olympians

16. Zeus • Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) • Supreme god of the Olympians. • Fathered many characters in mythology

17. Zeus

18. Hera • Roman Name: Juno • Zeus’s sister and wife • Jealous protector of marriage • Punished the women Zeus fell in love with

19. Poseidon • Roman Name: Neptune • God of the Seas and Waters • “The Earthshaker”

20. Hades • Roman Name: Pluto • God of the Underworld/ Dead • Kidnapped Persephone

21. Hestia • Roman Name: Vesta • Goddess of Home • Powerful Protector

22. Demeter • Roman Name: Ceres • Goddess of the Harvest • A Goddess of the Earth

23. Athena • Roman Name: Minerva • Goddess of Wisdom and War • Sprang from Zeus’s head

24. Ares • Roman Name: Mars • God of War • Son of Zeus and Hera • Bloodthirsty and merciless

25. Hephaestus • Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) • God of Fire/Forge • Son of Zeus and Hera • Kind, unlike his brother

26. Apollo • Roman Name: Apollo • God of Light/Sun and Music • Brother of Artemis

27. Artemis • Roman Name: Diana • Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt • Sister to Apollo

28. Hermes • Roman Name: Mercury • Messenger of the Gods • Appears in more myths than any other character

29. Aphrodite • Roman Name: Venus • Goddess of Love and Beauty • Sprang from the ocean foam

30. Dionysus • Roman Name: Bacchus • God of Wine • Patron god of the Greek stage • A God of the Earth

31. Persephone • Roman Name: Proserpina • Goddess of the Underworld • Daughter of Zeus and Demeter • Abducted by Hades

32. Hebe • Roman Name: Juventas • Goddess of Youth • Cupbearer to the Gods • Restored youth to the aged

33. Eros • Roman Name: Cupid • Young God of Love • Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus

34. Iris • Goddess of the Rainbow • Messenger for Zeus and Hera • Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra

35. 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

36. The Graces • Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty • “They give life its bloom.” • Aglaia (Splendor) • Euphrosyne (Mirth) • Thalia (Good Cheer)

37. The Erinnyes (The Furies) • Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies) • Three Goddesses of Vengeance • Tisiphone • Alecto • Megaera • They punish evildoers.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. The Gorgons • Three snake-haired monsters • Medusa is most well-known • Their look turns men to stone.

41. The Centaurs • Half man, half horse • Savage creatures (except Chiron) • Followers of Dionysus

42. 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.