Greek and Roman Mythology

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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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)

7. 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

8. The Olympians

9. Zeus • Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove) • Supreme god of the Olympians, god of the heavens and earth, ruler of weather, giver of justice. • Fathered many characters in mythology • Symbols: lightning bolt, eagle, and mighty oak tree

10. Zeus

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

12. Poseidon • Roman Name: Neptune • God of the seas, waters, and earthquakes • “The Earthshaker” • Symbols: trident, dolphins, and horses

13. Hades • Roman Name: Pluto • God of the Underworld/ Dead • Kidnapped Persephone • Guard of the dead, and in charge of gems, minerals, and wealth • Symbols: bident, Cerberus, or cypress tree

14. Hestia • Roman Name: Vesta • Goddess of hearth and home • Known for her pure and simple life • Powerful protector • Symbol: hearth fire

15. Demeter • Roman Name: Ceres • Goddess of the harvest and all growing things • A goddess of the earth • Persephone is her daughter • Symbols: sheaf of wheat and the cornucopia

16. Athena • Roman Name: Minerva • Goddess of wisdom, statecraft, and war • Sprang from Zeus’s head • Symbols: owl and olive tree

17. Ares • Roman Name: Mars • God of war, hatred, and violence • Son of Zeus and Hera • Bloodthirsty and merciless • Symbols: dogs, vultures, or a spear and shield

18. Hephaestus • Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber) • God of blacksmiths, metalworkers, and craftsmen • “Ugly” son of Zeus and Hera • Kind, unlike his brother Ares • Symbols: forge and anvil

19. Apollo • Roman Name: Apollo • God of sunlight, truth, poetry, music, and healing • Twin brother of Artemis • Symbols: lyre and the laurel wreath

20. Artemis • Roman Name: Diana • Goddess of the moon, single women, hunting, and childbirth • Twin sister to Apollo • Symbols: crescent moon crown, a stag, or a bow and arrows

21. Hermes • Roman Name: Mercury • God of trade, travel, and theft • Messenger of the gods • Symbols: bag of money or winged staff with two snakes around it

22. Aphrodite • Roman Name: Venus • Goddess of love and beauty • Sprang from the ocean foam and rode to shore on a seashell • Symbols: dove, sparrow, rose, and myrtle

23. Dionysus • Roman Name: Bacchus • God of wine, parties, and drama • Patron god of the Greek stage • A god of the earth • Symbols: ivy or bunches of grapes, a wine cup, or a leopard

24. Persephone • Roman Name: Proserpina • Goddess of the Underworld • Daughter of Zeus and Demeter • Abducted by Hades • Symbols: pomegranate or wreath of spring flowers

25. Hebe • Roman Name: Juventas • Goddess of youth • Cupbearer to the gods • Restored youth to the aged

26. Eros • Roman Name: Cupid • Young god of love • Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus

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

29. 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

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

31. 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.

32. 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.

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

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

35. 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.