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Greek Gods and Goddesses. What is a myth?. A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events. First Parents. Mother Earth – Gaea Father Heaven (Sky) – Uranus Had 3 kinds of kids 3 monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads 3 Cyclopes
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What is a myth? • A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs • Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events
First Parents • Mother Earth – Gaea • Father Heaven (Sky) – Uranus • Had 3 kinds of kids • 3 monsters with 100 hands and 50 heads • 3 Cyclopes • The Titans
Cronus and Rhea • Cronus (Saturn) was the ruler of the Titans • Titans were enormous in size and had incredible strength • Cronus and Rhea were parents to: • Zeus • Poseidon • Hades • Hera • Hestia • Demeter
Fear of Cronus • Cronus had been told that one of his children would over throw him • Cronus swallowed/ate all the children Rhea had • Except for Zeus : Rhea hid him in a cave and fed Cronos a rock instead
Zeus Claims the Throne • When grows older he confronts his father and forces him to throw up all of his brothers/sisters • Zeus and his siblings fight Cronus and over throw him http://fc09.deviantart.com/fs14/f/2007/077/a/1/Zeus_by_Varges.jpg
Zeus (Jupiter) • He and his brothers divided up creation • Sky was Zeus’ domain • Given supreme authority on Earth and on Mount Olympus • Married to Hera • Had several different children with different women http://www.myastrologybook.com/Zeus-Jupiter-Jove-Wotan-Thor.jpg
Zeus • Most powerful of all the gods • Weapon: thunderbolt • Animals/plants: eagle, bull, oak http://www.not-of-this-earth.com/images/Lg_Zeus.jpg
Hera (Juno) • Goddess of marriage, children, and the home • Wife of Zeus - Queen of the Olympians • Depicted as a jealous wife • There are tons of myths about her anger and revenge • Tried to have Zeus’ son Heracles killed
Hera • Animal: cow, peacock • Places: Argos • Hera’s servant - Argus • had 100 bright eyes all over his body • He was a great guard because he never closed more than half his eyes at one time!
Poseidon (Neptune) • Lord of the sea, earthquakes, and horses • Deep blue eyes and green hair • Moody, restless, and always on the move • The Greeks were terrified of Poseidon
Poseidon • Object : Trident • Animal: Bull, Horse http://www.freewebs.com/tritonsoap/Poseidon.jpg
Hades (Pluto) • Lord of the underworld • Objects: invisible helmet and golden chariot • Three headed dog: Cerberus • Unwilling Wife - Persephone http://chs.cusd.claremont.edu/~corchard/hades/hades1.gif
Ares (Mars) • God of war • Tall and handsome but cruel and vain • Carried with him grief, strife, panic, and terror • Didn’t care who won or lost – only wanted to see bloodshed • Other gods stayed away from him because he only caused trouble • Objects: chariot, armor, blood stained spear
Hermes (Mercury) • Messenger of the gods • Traveler, leads souls to Hades, trickster • Patron god of thieves and commerce • Good fortune and wealth • See him in more myths than any other god • Objects: hat, winged sandals, wand http://celticshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/hermes.jpg
Apollo (Apollo) • God of prophecy, medicine, archery, music, moderation and law • 1st god to teach mortals the healing arts and to teach humans to reach their full potential • Oracle-Person said to speak for the gods. Oracle of Delphi spoke for Apollo http://historylink101.net/greece1/apollo.jpg
Apollo and Cassandra • Cassandra was a Trojan priestess • Apollo promised her the gift of prophecy if she would give him a kiss • Saw that the Greeks would destroy Troy • She spit in his face • Apollo added to her gift that no one would ever believe her prophecies
Artemis (Diana) • Goddess of chastity, hunting, protecting the young, and childbirth • Cold and pitiless • Animals: bear and deer • Objects: bow and arrow and the moon
Athena (Minerva) • Goddess of wisdom, war, weaving, and chastity • Was born from Zeus’ head • Objects: aegis, armor • Animals/plants: owl, snake, olive tree
Hestia (Vesta) • Goddess of hearth and home • Object: sacred fire
Demeter • Goddess of harvest, fertility, and immortality • Persephone was Demeter’s daughter • Reason for the seasons • Plant: grain
Aphrodite (Venus) • Legend says she was born from sea foam • Goddess of love, beauty, and sex • Protectress of sailors • Animals: dove and goose • Married to Hephaestus but was unfaithful • Eros (Cupid) was her son • Object: magical girdle
Hephaestus (Vulcan) • God of fire, forge, craftsmanship, blacksmith, lameness • The only god described as ugly • Objects: anvil and forge • Did not live on Mount Olympus – he lived in the deep within the earth • Crafted beautiful objects – Athena’s armor and Zeus’ thunderbolts
Dionysus (Bacchus) • God of wine, theater, and pleasure • Cults were known for ecstasy and madness • Actors, actresses, and singers are thought to be his followers
The Muses • 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne • Inspired artists • Poets, writers, singers, etc.
The Furies • 3 goddesses of Vengeance • Punish evil doers • Tisiphone, Alecto, Megaera
The Fates • 3 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 woods and mountains • Goat men • Companions of Dionysus • Like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs
The Gorgons • 3 snake haired monsters • Looking at them turns men to stone • The most famous is Medusa
The Centaurs • ½ man ½ horse • Followers of Dionysus • Savage creatures