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Greek Mythology: The Olympiam Gods. The Ancient Greek Universe. The Greek gods lived in an area possibly in the heavens above the earth or on a beautiful mountain on earth called Mount Olympus where they hold court and watch humans.
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The Ancient Greek Universe • The Greek gods lived in an area possibly in the heavens above the earth or on a beautiful mountain on earth called Mount Olympus where they hold court and watch humans. • The Underworld (called Hades) was a place inside the earth where the spirits of the dead had a shadowy and unpleasant dream-like existence. • Elysian Fields was an pleasant in the underworld where heroes and the good went. • Tartarus is deeper than Hades and the truly bad place where the spirit of wicked people existed in some form of punishment.
Zeus (Jupiter) • Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, defeated his Father Cronus, drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades, and won the draw, thus becoming the supreme ruler of the gods. • He is lord of the sky, the rain god. His weapon is a thunderbolt which he hurls at those who displease him. • He is married to his sister Hera, and they had Hephaestus, Ares • He fathered by other women, Athena (?), twins Apollo and Artemis (Leto), Dionysis (Semele), Hermes (Maia). • His mortal children included Heracles (), Perseus (Danae), Minos (Europa), Peleus (Achilles dad), Pollux and Helen (Leda) • He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths.
Hera (Juno) • Hera, queen of the gods, is the protector of marriage and takes special care of married women. • She once rebelled against Zeus but was punished. • Through jealousy she often does cruel things against Zeus’s friends to hurt him (e.g. Heracles). • Ares and Hephaestus are her sons
Poseidon (neptune) • The brother of Zeus, • he is the god of the seas. • He was widely worshipped by sailors. • He created the horse to please a girl with whom he was in love.
Hades Pluto • Hades is the other brother of Zeus and drew the Underworld as his kingdom. • He is greedy and likes to increase the number of the dead in his realm. • Hades is also the god of wealth. • Stole Persephone from her mother Demeter -> seasons
Hestia Vesta • Virgin sister to Zeus and his brothers, she is not in many myths. • She is the goddess of the hearth or fireplace and had an altar with a sacred fire continuously burning in every town.
Ares Mars • the son of Zeus and Hera who both hate him, is the god of war. • Ares is a coward but inspires bloodshed, destruction, and death. • Unpopular with the other gods.
Aphrodite Venus • is the goddess of love, desire and beauty. In addition to her natural gifts she has a magical girdle that compels anyone she wishes to desire her. • She was born on giant seashell from the semen of Cronus genitals. • Wife of Hephaestus the ugly god of the forge • Had many lovers and including Trojan Anchises, Adonis, Hermes. • Promised Helen to Paris for his Judgement which caused the Trojan war
Apollo • Apollo is the god of the arts, playing a golden lyre; health, the Archer- far shooting with a silver bow; the god of light (sun), and the god of truth (Delphic Oracle), • in general - Perfection • Twin Bro of Artemis the huntress. • V handsome! Had both female and male lovers • Father of Asclepius (medicine) and Orpheus (music)
Artemis (Diana) • Sister to Apollo, • Artemis is the lady of all wild things, which (especially the deer) are sacred to her. • She is the protector of the young. • Associated also with the moon, • she is a virgin goddess and the goddess of chastity.
Athena Minerva • Favorite of her father Zeus • sprang full grown in armor from Zeus’s forehead. • She fiercely defends the home from outside enemies – goddess of just wars. • She is the goddess of the city, handicrafts, and agriculture. • She is the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. • Virgin (her temple in Rome became churchs to Virgin Mary) • Tiresias saw her naked and was struck blid, but given the gift of Prophecy • Patroness of Athens (and Sparta) • Nike winged victory always with her
Hephaestus Vulcan • Hephaestus is the only god to be physically ugly, and he is also crippled. • He is the god of fire and the forge, using a volcano as his forge, • and is the smith and armorer of the gods. He is the patron god of both smiths and weavers. • He is kind and peace loving.
Hermes Mercury • Hermes is Zeus’s messenger. Fastest of the gods, he wears winged sandals and a winged hat and carries a magic wand. • He is the god of thieves, tricky & commerce. • He is the guide for the dead to go to the underworld. • He inventer of the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy , weights and measures, boxing, and gymnastics. • With Aphrodite they had Hermaphrodite
Dionysus Bacchus • Son of Zeus • The only olympian with a mortal parent (Semele) • God of wine, ecstasy, theatre. • Originated in the east – Nysa (India) , • Wore leopard or tiger skin • Patron of drama festivals – early forms of his worship eg the ‘Great Dionysia’ was an annual religious in Athens where plays were judged.