Greek and Roman Mythology

1. Greek and Roman Mythology An introduction to 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 • The Greek mythology of today was the religion of yesterday.

3. For the Greeks… • The gods and goddesses were directly responsible for the success or failure of human life, so the Greeks prayed, gave offerings and built temples to please them. • Unlike religions prior to the Greeks and most religions today, the Greek gods were anthropomorphic—they looked and acted like humans.

4. In the beginning... • …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness) • From out of Chaos, Gaea, or Mother Earth was formed. • Gaea made Uranus (Father Sky) to cover her and to be a home for the gods. • With Uranus, Gaea created the Titans, the Elder Gods.

5. The Titans (The Elder Gods) • There were many of them, enormous in size with incredible strength. • Cronus (Saturn): Ruler of the Titans • Rhea: Wife of Cronus, mother of the Olympians • Oceanus: River that encircled the world • Mnemosyne: Memory, mother of the muses

6. Then… • Cronus, with Gaea’s blessing, defeats Uranus by castrating him and becomes the ruler of all. • Worried that one of his children will do the same to him, he swallows them as soon as they are born. • After Cronus swallows five of his children (Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter), Rhea gives birth to Zeus. • Rhea saves her son by tricking Cronus into swallowing a rock in a baby blanket.

7. Zeus grows up in hiding and returns to challenge Cronus. He poisons is father in order to rescue his brothers and sisters. After a prolonged battle, Zeus and the gods eventually overcome the Titans, and become rulers of the world. The Fall of the Titans

8. The Olympians The gods ruled from a palace on the summit of Mt. Olympus, built for Zeus by the Cyclopes.

9. Zeus • Roman Name: Jupiter • Supreme god of the Olympians • God of the Sky, Thunder and Lightning • Symbols: eagle, lightning bolt

10. Hera • Roman Name: Juno • Zeus’s sister and wife • Goddess of Marriage • Punished the women Zeus fell in love with • Symbols: peacock, cow

11. Poseidon • Roman Name: Neptune • God of the Seas and Waters • “The Earthshaker” • Symbols: trident, horse

12. Hades • Roman Name: Pluto • God of the Underworld/ Dead • Kidnapped Persephone • Symbols: cap of invisibility, Cerebus (3-headed dog)

13. Demeter • Roman Name: Ceres • Goddess of the Harvest & Agriculture • Symbols: sheaf of wheat, corn

14. Hestia • Roman Name: Vesta • Goddess of the Hearth & Home • Powerful Protector • Symbol: fireplace

15. Athena • Roman Name: Minerva • Goddess of Wisdom and Just War • Sprang from Zeus’s head • Symbols: owl, olive

16. Ares • Roman Name: Mars • God of War • Son of Zeus and Hera • Bloodthirsty, merciless & cowardly • Symbols: dog, vulture

17. Hephaestus • Roman Name: Vulcan • God of Fire/Forge • Son of Zeus and Hera • Kind, unlike his brother Ares • Symbol: anvil

18. Apollo • Roman Name: Apollo • God of Sun, Truth, Healing, Prophesy & Music • Most handsome of the gods • Brother of Artemis • Symbols: sun, laurel

19. Artemis • Roman Name: Diana • Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt & Youth • Sister to Apollo • Symbols: deer, the moon

20. Hermes • Roman Name: Mercury • Messenger of the Gods • Protector of shepherds & thieves • Appears in more myths than any other character • Symbol: winged sandals

21. Aphrodite • Roman Name: Venus • Goddess of Love & Beauty • Sprang from the ocean foam • Married to Hephaestus • Mother of Eros (Roman Name: Cupid) • Symbols: shell, dove, sparrow

22. Dionysus • Roman Name: Bacchus • God of Wine & Festivity • Patron god of the Greek stage • Symbols: drinking cup, leopard, grape vine

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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. The Graces The Furies • Three Goddesses of Grace and Beauty • Aglaia (Splendor) • Euphrosyne (Mirth) • Thalia (Good Cheer) • Three Goddesses of Vengeance • Tisiphone (Avenging Murder) • Alecto (Unceasing) • Megaera (Grudging) • They punish evildoers.

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

28. The Lego Pantheon

29. 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 • http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/103708543/in/photostream/