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An introduction to Greek Mythology

An introduction to Greek Mythology. It’s all greek to me!. Greek mythology is a collection of myths and legends that the Greeks used to explain their world. The Greeks actually believed that these stories were true. However in our culture, they are considered fiction. . Greek Mythology.

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An introduction to Greek Mythology

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  1. An introduction to Greek Mythology

  2. It’s all greek to me! • Greek mythology is a collection of myths and legends that the Greeks used to explain their world. • The Greeks actually believed that these stories were true. However in our culture, they are considered fiction.

  3. Greek Mythology • The Greeks had many gods that they worshipped. • These gods lived in a place called Mount Olympus. (Remember Hercules?) • These Olympian gods were portrayed as being strong, beautiful, and intelligent. • Good and evil come from the gods. • Heroes and monsters come from the gods.

  4. The beginning of the world according to the greeks • In the beginning there was no earth, sky or sea. There was only confusion and darkness, called Chaos. Chaos gave birth to Mother Earth. She eventually gave birth to a son, Uranus, also known as Father Heaven. Mother Earth and Father Heaven had many children. First, they had three monstrous sons. Each had fifty heads and one hundred hands. Then, they had three more sons. They were just as big and just as ugly. They were called Cyclops. They had one eye in the middle of their foreheads. They were as strong as Earthquakes and Tornadoes combined. Finally, they had the first gods, six sons and six daughters called the Titans.

  5. Among their children was the greatest Titan, Cronus (Kronus). Cronusgained power from his father, Uranus, by castrating him. Then, Cronus became ruler over heaven and Earth and married his sister, Rhea. From their union came the Olympian gods. Power changed Cronus and made him evil. He was so afraid that one of his sons was going to do to him what he did to his father that he swallowed all of his children immediately after their birth. One by one, Cronus swallowed Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. When Rhea was pregnant with her sixth child, she thought of a plan. She secretly gave birth to her sixth child, Zeus, and gave him to Mother Earth.

  6. Mother Earth decided that the child would be safe if she hid him as far away from Cronus as she could. When Cronus asked to see the sixth child, Rhea handed him a rock wrapped in a blanket. Just like her previous children, Cronus swallowed the rock without hesitation, just as she had planned. Rhea was happy and could not wait for the day Zeus would grow up and destroy his father. Zeus was safely being raised by Nymphs and shepherds. Eventually Zeus grew up and Rhea, his mother, told him about what Cronus did to his siblings. Zeus made a promise to his mother that he would make Cronus pay for what he did.

  7. When Zeus returned to his mother, she disguised him as a servant. Rhea concocted a poisonous potion and Zeus, acting as a servant, put it in Cronus’ drink. The concoction caused Cronus to get sick and vomit. First, Cronus vomited up the rock. Then each of his five children, one by one. Zeus was seen as a hero for saving his siblings. They were extremely thankful. Once everyone was freed, the six children decided to battle against Cronus.

  8. The war lasted ten years. Neither side could get the upper hand because they were equal in strength. Mother Earth suggested that Zeus and his brothers go free the Cyclops and have them fight on their side. Zeus and his brothers did as they were advised and freed their uncles, the Cyclops. The Cyclops gave them the advantage they needed. Finally, the war was over. Zeus and his siblings were victorious.

  9. Now that the battle was over, the three brothers had to decide who was going to rule the universe. They decided the fairest way to choose was to draw lots. Hades won the underworld. Poseidon won the sea and Zeus won the heaven and became ruler of all the gods of Mt. Olympus. http://ghse2.weebly.com/uploads/8/7/6/1/8761444/introduction_to_mythology.pdf

  10. Mount Olympus • This was the homes of the gods and goddesses. • Gods and goddesses are immortal, which means they could not die. • No humans were allowed on top of Mount Olympus, but they gods and goddesses were allowed to roam on the Earth.

  11. Cronus • Titan ruler of the universe. • Father of Zeus.

  12. Zeus • Zeus is the king of the gods and ruled all of Mount Olympus. • God of the sky, and rain. • Married Hera, who is his sister (habit for the gods) • His weapon is a thunderbolt. • He is represented as the god of justice and mercy, the protector of the weak, and the punisher of the wicked.

  13. Hera • Wife and sister of Zeus. • Goddess of marriage. • Queen of the Olympians. • Associated with the peacock because of her beauty.

  14. Poseidon • God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. • Brother of Zeus. • Built an underwater palace.

  15. Hades • God of the underworld. • Brother to Zeus and Poseidon. • Rarely left the underworld. • Wife is Persephone.

  16. Persephone • Goddess of spring and harvest. • Abducted then married to Hades. • Queen of the underworld.

  17. Athena • Goddesses of wisdom, skills and warfare. • Best loved goddess of Olympus. • The Greek of Athens is named after her. • She was said to have created the spider.

  18. Apollo • Also god of music, poetry, light and truth. • The sun god. • Pulled his chariot across the sky to pull the sun each day.

  19. Artemis • Goddesses of the woods, moon and the hunt. • Twin sister of Apollo. • She ruled over the untamed places of the Earth.

  20. Aphrodite • Goddess of love and beauty. • Some say she was born from sea foam.

  21. Ares • God of war. • Was a ruthless and murderous god. • His parents (Zeus and Hera) did not like him. • Considered a coward who fled the field of a battle.

  22. Hestia • Goddess of the hearth and the home. • The symbol of the house around which a new born child is carried before it is received into the family. • Each city had a public hearth sacred to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out.

  23. Hephaestas • God of fire and volcanoes. • Only god to be physically ugly. • His mother Hera was said to have thrown him off Mount Olympus because he was so ugly.

  24. Hermes • Messenger of the gods. • Fastest of the gods. • Wears winged sandals and a winged hat. • Carries Apollo’s golden staff.

  25. Works Cited • http://www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myth/olympian.html • http://www.historylink102.com/greece2/index.htm • www.schools.manatee.k12.fl.us/.../c__documents_and_settings_huffi

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