By: Ian Zhang, Tunmise Awolo, Tessa Molnar, Sophia Salouk and Keaton Smith (Group One)

1. Ancient Greek Gods By: Ian Zhang, Tunmise Awolo, Tessa Molnar, Sophia Saloukand Keaton Smith (Group One) Social Studies 6 Wednesday March 30, 2011

2. Introduction • The people of ancient Greece shared stories called myths about the gods, goddesses, and heroes in which they believed. • Each god or goddess was worshipped as a deity and ruled over certain areas of the Greeks’ lives. • These exciting stories explained natural phenomena that could not be explained by science in the ancient world. • Only some of the most famous gods and goddesses are shown in this presentation, there are many gods in Greek mythology that played different roles in the lives of the Ancient Greeks.

3. Zeus • Zeus was for many Greeks the king of gods • He ruled over the other Olympians on Mount Olympus • Zeus is the god of the sky and when he is angry he throws lightening bolts out of the sky at people

4. Poseidon • The Greeks thought that Poseidon was a violent, unpredictable god. • Poseidon is most often the god the of the ocean, which is one of the biggest and most unpredictable things on this earth • Greeks who spent a lot of time sailing often sacrificed to Poseidon . • Poseidon is the brother to Zeus.

5. Aphrodite • Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love • She is always falling in love with someone of someone is falling in love with her • She is supposed to have had Aresfor her boyfriend and Hephaistos for her husband • Greek Women often sacrificed to Aphrodite if they were trying to get Pregnant.

6. Hades • Hades was the god of the dead and ruled the Underworld where the souls of the dead went • He is a very shadowy figure in Greek mythology and most Greeks don’t like to talk about him. • When people did sacrifice to Hades they would pour blood into pits or ditches dug into the ground • Hades is also a brother to Zeus

7. Demeter • For the Greeks Demeter is an earth goddess • Demeter is the goddess of growing things, especially grains and barley and millet • Demeter’s daughter Persephoneis the grain itself, so Demeter is the earth giving birth to the grain • Demeter is the sister of Zeus • The Greeks Sacrifice to Demeter when they want a good growing season

8. Hera • Hera is the wife and sister to Zeus • Hera is usually thought to be responsible for marriage and the family • Greek men thought that Hera was mean and selfish and generally unpleasant to be around • Hera was always making Zeus mad about something • People usually sacrificed to Hera at weddings

9. Some of the Other Famous Gods • Apollo – is the son of Zeus and considered to be the sun god. • Artemis – is the twin sister to Apollo and is considered to be the goddess of the moon. • Athena – is the daughter of Zeus and is the goddess of wisdom. • Dionysus – was the god of growing wet things like fruit (used to make wine), when the Greeks drank wine they toasted to Dionysus. • Hermes– is the son of Zeus and is thought to be the god of boundaries. He is a messenger god, Zeus often sends him to earth to give people messages.

10. References • All of the information was taken from : http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/religion/gods.htm • Zeus Picture: http://funkman.org/innerjourney/journeys/mythic/zeus.jpg • Poseidon Picture: http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Poseidon-greek-mythology-687130_927_933.jpg • Hades Picture: http://www.myastrologybook.com/Hades+24br24c-med.jpg • Aphrodite Picture: http://www.goddessaday.com/images/aphrodite.jpg • Demeter Picture: http://www.theoi.com/image/S3.1Demeter.jpg • Hera Picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/7/76/20101126184137!Hera_Campana_Louvre_Ma2283.jpg