330 likes | 454 Views
Western Civilization. Greek Mythology A Brief Review. Greek Mythology. Greek myths were stories told orally as lessons in behavior Gods/Goddesses/Mythical Creatures had human traits, i.e. not perfect beings. Zeus. Ruler of Mt. Olympus god of justice and law
E N D
Western Civilization Greek Mythology A Brief Review
Greek Mythology • Greek myths were stories told orally as lessons in behavior • Gods/Goddesses/Mythical Creatures had human traits, i.e. not perfect beings
Zeus • Ruler of Mt. Olympus • god of justice and law • Main attributes: thunderbolt & eagle
Hera • Queen of the Olympian deities • goddess of marriage and birth • Attributes: peacock & crow
Poseidon • god of the ocean • Powers of earthquakes, water, and horses • Attributes: • trident • rides a shell chariot pulled by horses
Hades • god of the dead • Ruler of the Nether World • Cerebus (three headed dog) guards the entrance
Persephone • goddess of the Underworld • Attributes: pomegranate • helps mother with the harvest three months of the year
Demeter • goddess of the harvest & seasons changing
Athena • goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill • Attributes: owl, aegis, war helmet • usually is accompanied by Nike(goddess of victory)
Apollo • god of music, prophecy, medicine & disease • sometimes known as the Sun god • Attributes: the bow and arrow, on his head a laurel crown. • Most famous attribute is the tripod, the symbol of his prophetic powers
Artemis • goddess of the wilderness, the hunt and wild animals • twin of Apollo (sometimes known as the goddess of the moon) • Attributes: bow and arrow & deer
Hermes • Messenger of the gods • Also known to be the god of shepherds, and traveling • Attributes: winged shoes, sometimes winged hat, heralds staff
Eros • god of Love • Arrows came in two types: • golden with dove feathers which aroused love, or • leaden arrows which had owl feathers that caused indifference
Aphrodite • goddess of love & beauty • Attributes: the dolphin, the dove, the swan, the pomegranate and the lime tree.
Hephaestus • god of fire, • especially the blacksmith's fire • god of volcanoes • Hephaestus born weak & crippled
Dionysus • god of Wine • also patron god of the Greek stage • complete opposite of Athena (passionate, full of emotions & ecstatic)
Other gods, goddesses, nymphs, heroes etc… • Ares: god of War • Hercules: Greek Hero • 9 Muses: daughter of Zeus and Memory (nymph) ~ Clio(history) ~ Calliope(literature, art, or science) ~ Euterpe(lyric poetry) ~ Melpomene(tragedy) ~ Terpsichore(choral dance and song) ~ Erato (love of poetry) ~ Polyhymnia(sacred poetry) ~ Urania (astronomy) ~ Thalia (comedy)
Other lesser gods, goddesses, nymphs, Heroes etc… Three Graces: represent beauty, charm and joy. The Graces presided over banquets and gatherings primarily to entertain and delight the guests of the Gods. Three Fates: spin the thread of human destiny, cut the thread sending human souls to the underworld Three Furies:punished those who escaped or defied public justice Nemesis: avenging goddess, righteous anger of the gods particularly towards the proud and insolent Pan & the Satyrs: deities of the woods & fields (1/2 man 1/2 goat)