Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology Folk Stories of the Greek gods and goddesses

Where in the world is GREECE? • The capital city is Athens • It is famous for beautiful beaches and sea!

The Climate • The Mediterranean Sea affects the Greek climate: • cooling the air in summer • providing warmth in winter.

Agriculture Olive grove in rocky Greek soil

Good climate but bad terrain (very mountainous) Hilly ground: grapes Rocky soil: olives Good soil: corn and wheat Sea was very important Homer describes various fishing methods using hooks, nets, and harpoon in both the Iliad and the Odyssey Agriculture

The Ancient Greek People:

Religion and Education Temple of Apollo Oracle at Delphi

Greek Mythology is a collection of stories that Greeks used to explain their world. Greek myths are fiction, but the Greeks believed they were true. What is Greek Mythology?

The Greeks had many gods. The Olympian gods were mostly portrayed as physically strong, beautiful and intelligent. Both good and evil comes from the gods. Heroes and monsters came from the gods. The Greeks and Their Beliefs

Mt. Olympus was the largest mountain in Greece. It was the home of the gods and goddesses. gods and goddesses were immortal, they could not die. No humans were allowed on top of Mt. Olympus, but the Olympians were allowed on Earth. The gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus

Mt. Olympus

Greek gods • Zeus’s court included scores of subordinate deities who had various responsibilities Athena: Wisdom, War Poseidon: Sea, Earthquakes Apollo: Truth, Light, Music, Healing

Chief god Lord of sky God of thunder & lightening Zeus

Wife and sister of Zeus Goddess of marriage, protector of childbirth & heroes Portrayed as extremely jealous and mean Hera

God of the sea and earthquakes Poseidon

Apollo • god of light, music and poetry • most beautiful god • also the god of medicine • taught people the art of healing • fine marksman • could predict the future

Zeus’ favorite • goddess of wisdom, strategy, protector of cities and civilizations • goddess of handicrafts and art Athena

Hermes • Zeus’ graceful, happy son • Very mischievous and tricky • Zeus’ messenger • Wore winged sandals and a winged cap

Aphrodite • Goddess of love and beauty • Goddess of desire • Wherever she walked flowers sprang up beneath her feet • she appeared from the foam of the sea • Her son is Eros (Cupid)

The Greek gods and goddesses

Epic: a long poem which tells a story involving gods, heroes, and heroic exploits Iliad: Greek perspective on the war against Troy in the 12th Century B.C. Odyssey: Experiences of the Greek hero Odysseus as he sailed home after the Trojan Homer

The walls of Troy VI In Search of the Trojan War, pp. 74

Troy VI from the North In Search of the Trojan War, pp. 204

Reconstruction of Troy VI - 13th century In Search of the Trojan War, pp. 204

Trojan War • About 1200 B.C., the Mycenaeans fought the Trojan War with the city of Troy in Anatolia • At the same time, foreigners invaded the Mycenaean homeland • From 1100 to 800 B.C., chaos reigned throughout the eastern Mediterranean • In the absence of a centralized state or empire, local institutions took the lead in restoring political order to Greece • City-states The Trojan Horse

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Presentation Transcript

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology