Greek Mythology

1. Greek Mythology Pedy Rivera

2. Mount Olympus • Home of the twelve gods called the Olympians. • The highest mountain in Greece. • The entrance was a gate of clouds, guarded by the Seasons. • The gods feasted on nectar and ambrosia. • They liked the smells of beef and mutton, but did not like the taste. • Cyclopes built the palace, and Hephaestus made the furniture.

3. Zeus • Siblings: Hades, Poseidon • Parents: Cronus, Rhea • Roman name: Jupiter • Spouse: Hera • He was the king of the gods and the god of the sky. He would throw lightning bolts out of the sky when hr was angry. He had the ability to shape-shift. He was the only child who wasn’t swallowed by Cronus, Rhea hid him in a cave, years later, he made Cronus throw-up his brother and sisters. He and his siblings fought Titans and overthrew Cronus

4. Dionysus • Parents: Zeus, Semele (mortal) • Roman name: Bacchus • God of wine and feasting. • He rescued Ariadne after she was abandoned by Theseus. He also saved his mother Semele from the Underworld, after Zeus killed her by showing his true nature as a storm god (which was her wish). • He also granted Midas the power to turn anything he touched turn to gold.

5. Hephaestus • Parents: Zeus, Hera • Roman name: Vulcan • Spouse: Aphrodite • God of fire and crafts • He was born lame because Hera threw him off Mount Olympus because she was disgusted by his ugly appearance. • He built palaces for the gods and armor for Achilles during the Trojan War. He also created the first woman, Pandora.

6. Athena • Parents: Zeus, Metis • Goddess of crafts, domestic arts, war, and wisdom • She helped Perseus, Jason, Cadmus, Odysseus, and Heracles in their quests. • She became the patron of Athens when she made a olive tree grow. • She also guided Perseus n his quest to slay Medusa.

7. Medusa • One of the three Gorgons, the only one who was mortal • Had snakes for hair, unlike the other two Gorgons who had scaly heads • Who ever looked at her turned to stone • She was once a beautiful maiden who was admired by other men. One day, she and Poseidon laid together in the temple of Athena. Athena was watching and became jealous, so she turned Medusa’s hair into snakes. • King Polydectes wanted to marry Perseus’ mother Danae. Danae didn’t want to marry him. The king needed to get rid of Perseus so he can marry Danae. The king ordered the people to bring a gift, Perseus has nothing to give, so he goes to chop off Medusa’s head. He didn’t know where to find the Gorgons, so he went to ask the Fates. The Fates had one eye and one tooth between them. When they started to the eye, Perseus grabbed it, and said he would keep it if they don’t tell where to find the Gorgon, so they told him and he gave the eye back. On his way he met Athena, who gave him a sword and shield (some Greek said that Athena wanted Medusa’s head to decorate her shield), and Hermes, who gave him winged shoes. When he got to Medusa, he used the shield as a mirror to look at her, and then he chopped her head off. He put her head in a bag, and gave it to Polydectes. When he looked at it he turned to stone.

8. Reference • www.greekmythology.com • www.mythweb.com • www.historyforkids.org • greece.mrdonn.org