Greek MythologyGreek Mythology
The Odyssey and some of the The Odyssey and some of the Principal Gods and GoddessesPrincipal Gods and Goddesses
The OdysseyThe Odyssey
Epic poem – a long narrative poem Epic poem – a long narrative poem about the deeds of a heroabout the deeds of a hero
Written by the blind poet Homer (850-Written by the blind poet Homer (850-800 BC)800 BC)
Poems were often composed of poetic Poems were often composed of poetic lines accompanied by instruments to aid lines accompanied by instruments to aid memorymemory
Homer, the first to combine isolated Homer, the first to combine isolated tales into a whole epic poemtales into a whole epic poem
Characteristics of the EpicCharacteristics of the Epic Begins “in media res” (in the middle)Begins “in media res” (in the middle) Begins w/ invocation to the muse (asking the Begins w/ invocation to the muse (asking the
muse for inspiration to tell his tale)muse for inspiration to tell his tale) References to the supernatural References to the supernatural
(gods/goddesses)(gods/goddesses) Epic similes and hyperbole (extreme Epic similes and hyperbole (extreme
exaggeration)exaggeration) Repetitive phrases, speeches, incidents, and Repetitive phrases, speeches, incidents, and
use of flashbacksuse of flashbacks Long sentences, complex wordsLong sentences, complex words Passed down orally (told person to person)Passed down orally (told person to person)
Homer’s Epics Bkgd: Homer’s Epics Bkgd: IliadIliad and and The OdysseyThe Odyssey
Based on the Trojan War (1200 BC)Based on the Trojan War (1200 BC) 100,000 Greeks sailed to Asia Minor 100,000 Greeks sailed to Asia Minor
to conquer Troyto conquer Troy All based on revenge b/c Paris All based on revenge b/c Paris
kidnapped Helen, the most kidnapped Helen, the most beautiful woman in the worldbeautiful woman in the world
IliadIliad is the first / is the first / Odyssey Odyssey is the is the sequelsequel
Trojan War MapTrojan War Map
Before Before The OdysseyThe Odyssey
OdysseusOdysseus– Helped build the Helped build the
wooden horse wooden horse filled w/ Greek filled w/ Greek warriorswarriors
– Crept out at night Crept out at night and sacked Troyand sacked Troy
The Odyssey The Odyssey (con’t)(con’t) Gods took sides w/ the Gods took sides w/ the
Greeks and TrojansGreeks and Trojans Poseidon was angered Poseidon was angered
by the Trojan lossby the Trojan loss Made Odysseus journey Made Odysseus journey
home long and difficult home long and difficult (10 years to get home)(10 years to get home)
The OdysseyThe Odyssey describes describes Odysseus journey homeOdysseus journey home
The OdysseyThe Odyssey (con’t) (con’t)
Odysseus wanted Odysseus wanted to return home to to return home to Ithaca to his wife, Ithaca to his wife, Penelope, and his Penelope, and his son, Telemachusson, Telemachus
He had to survive He had to survive storms, storms, temptations, and temptations, and enemies at homeenemies at home
The OdysseyThe Odyssey (con’t) (con’t)
More popular than More popular than The IliadThe Iliad Universal story of a national heroUniversal story of a national hero We all spend years trying to reach We all spend years trying to reach
our goals and we all must endure our goals and we all must endure tests, temptations, and obstaclestests, temptations, and obstacles
We use the word today to describe We use the word today to describe our journey, our odysseyour journey, our odyssey
What is a myth?What is a myth?
Highly imaginative tales that attempt to Highly imaginative tales that attempt to explain the mysteries of lifeexplain the mysteries of life
Every culture has themEvery culture has them Homer’s illustrates the character of the Homer’s illustrates the character of the
herohero He overcomes temptations of idleness He overcomes temptations of idleness
(lotus-eaters) (lotus-eaters) He uses reason and will power to He uses reason and will power to
overcome the Sirens, a symbol of the overcome the Sirens, a symbol of the pleasure of the sensespleasure of the senses
The OlympiansThe Olympians
ZeusZeus Roman Name: Jupiter Roman Name: Jupiter
(also Jove)(also Jove) Son of ChronusSon of Chronus Reigns over the Reigns over the
heavens (Mt. heavens (Mt. Olympus)Olympus)
Oak; Eagle; Lighting Oak; Eagle; Lighting BoltBolt
King of gods; fathered King of gods; fathered many characters in many characters in mythologymythology
ZeusZeus
HeraHera Roman Name: Roman Name:
JunoJuno Zeus’s sister and Zeus’s sister and
wife; reigns over wife; reigns over Mt. OlympusMt. Olympus
Cow/peacockCow/peacock Jealous protector Jealous protector
of marriage and of marriage and punished the punished the women Zeus fell women Zeus fell in love within love with
PoseidonPoseidon
Roman Name: Roman Name: NeptuneNeptune
Son of Cronus; Son of Cronus; brother of Zeusbrother of Zeus
God of the Seas God of the Seas and Watersand Waters
Trident; horses or Trident; horses or bullsbulls
““The Earthshaker” The Earthshaker” and controls and controls stormsstorms
AresAres
Roman Name: Roman Name: MarsMars
God of WarGod of War Son of Zeus Son of Zeus
and Heraand Hera Bloodthirsty Bloodthirsty
and mercilessand merciless
HestiaHestia
Roman Roman Name: VestaName: Vesta
Goddess of Goddess of HomeHome
Powerful Powerful ProtectorProtector
HadesHades Roman Name: Roman Name:
PlutoPluto Son of Cronus; Son of Cronus;
brother of Zeus brother of Zeus and Poseidonand Poseidon
Invisibility Invisibility helmethelmet
God of the God of the Underworld/ Underworld/ Dead and Dead and WealthWealth
AthenaAthena
Roman Name: Roman Name: MinervaMinerva
Daughter of ZeusDaughter of Zeus Olive; owl; Olive; owl;
AthensAthens Goddess of Goddess of
Wisdom and WarWisdom and War Sprang from Sprang from
Zeus’s head and Zeus’s head and his favoritehis favorite
ArtemisArtemis
Roman Roman Name: Name: DianaDiana
Goddess of Goddess of the Moon/ the Moon/ HuntHunt
Sister to Sister to ApolloApollo
HermesHermes
Roman Name: Roman Name: MercuryMercury
Messenger of Messenger of the Godsthe Gods
Appears in Appears in more myths more myths than any other than any other charactercharacter
AphroditeAphrodite
Roman Roman Name: VenusName: Venus
Goddess of Goddess of Love and Love and BeautyBeauty
Sprang from Sprang from the ocean the ocean foamfoam
HephaestuHephaestuss
Roman Name: Roman Name: Vulcan Vulcan (Mulciber)(Mulciber)
God of God of Fire/ForgeFire/Forge
Son of Zeus Son of Zeus and Heraand Hera
Kind, unlike his Kind, unlike his brotherbrother
ApolloApollo Roman Name: Roman Name:
ApolloApollo Son of Zeus and Son of Zeus and
LetoLeto Crow and dolphinCrow and dolphin God of Light/Sun, God of Light/Sun,
Music and Music and ArcheryArchery
Master musicianMaster musician
SourcesSources
Graphics in this presentation were taken from Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:the following web sites:– http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.htmlhttp://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html– http://www.pantheon.org/http://www.pantheon.org/– http://www.messagenet.com/myths/http://www.messagenet.com/myths/– http://mythman.com/http://mythman.com/– http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.htmlhttp://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html– http://www.paleothea.com/http://www.paleothea.com/– http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.htmlhttp://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html
This presentation is for educational purposes This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.or used as a vehicle to make money.