greek and roman mythology an introduction to the principal gods and goddesses
TRANSCRIPT
Greek and Roman Greek and Roman MythologyMythology
An introduction toAn introduction to
the Principal Gods and the Principal Gods and GoddessesGoddesses
What is a myth?What is a myth?
A traditional story rooted in A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of culturesprimitive folk beliefs of cultures
Uses the supernatural to interpret Uses the supernatural to interpret natural eventsnatural events
Explains the culture’s view of the Explains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanityuniverse and the nature of humanity
The Greek mythology of today was The Greek mythology of today was the religion of yesterday.the religion of yesterday.
For the Greeks…For the Greeks…
The gods and goddesses were The gods and goddesses were directly responsible for the success directly responsible for the success or failure of human life, so the or failure of human life, so the Greeks prayed, gave offerings and Greeks prayed, gave offerings and built temples to please them.built temples to please them.
Unlike religions prior to the Greeks Unlike religions prior to the Greeks and most religions today, the and most religions today, the Greek gods were Greek gods were anthropomorphicanthropomorphic—they looked and acted like —they looked and acted like humans.humans.
In the beginning...In the beginning... ……was Chaos (shapeless was Chaos (shapeless
nothingness)nothingness) From out of Chaos, Gaea, or From out of Chaos, Gaea, or
Mother Earth was formed.Mother Earth was formed. Gaea made Uranus (Father Sky) Gaea made Uranus (Father Sky)
to cover her and to be a home to cover her and to be a home for the gods.for the gods.
With Uranus, Gaea created the With Uranus, Gaea created the Titans, the Elder Gods.Titans, the Elder Gods.
The Titans (The Elder The Titans (The Elder Gods)Gods)
There were many of them, enormous in There were many of them, enormous in size with incredible strength.size with incredible strength.
Cronus (Saturn): Ruler of the TitansCronus (Saturn): Ruler of the Titans Rhea: Wife of Cronus, mother of the Rhea: Wife of Cronus, mother of the
OlympiansOlympians Oceanus: River that encircled the worldOceanus: River that encircled the world Mnemosyne: Memory, mother of the Mnemosyne: Memory, mother of the
musesmuses
Then…Then… Cronus, with Gaea’s blessing, defeats Uranus Cronus, with Gaea’s blessing, defeats Uranus
by castrating him and becomes the ruler of all.by castrating him and becomes the ruler of all. Worried that one of his children will do the Worried that one of his children will do the
same to him, he swallows them as soon as same to him, he swallows them as soon as they are born. they are born.
After Cronus swallows five of his children After Cronus swallows five of his children (Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter), (Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter), Rhea gives birth to Zeus.Rhea gives birth to Zeus.
Rhea saves her son by tricking Cronus into Rhea saves her son by tricking Cronus into swallowing a rock in a baby blanket.swallowing a rock in a baby blanket.
The Fall of the Titans The Fall of the Titans
Zeus grows up in hiding and returns Zeus grows up in hiding and returns to challenge Cronus. to challenge Cronus.
He poisons is father in order to He poisons is father in order to rescue his brothers and sisters.rescue his brothers and sisters.
After a prolonged battle, Zeus and After a prolonged battle, Zeus and the gods eventually overcome the the gods eventually overcome the Titans, and become rulers of the Titans, and become rulers of the world.world.
The OlympiansThe OlympiansThe gods ruled from The gods ruled from a palace on the a palace on the summit of Mt. summit of Mt. Olympus, built for Olympus, built for Zeus by the Zeus by the Cyclopes.Cyclopes.
ZeusZeus
Roman Name: Roman Name: JupiterJupiter
Supreme god of Supreme god of the Olympiansthe Olympians
God of the Sky, God of the Sky, Thunder and Thunder and LightningLightning
Symbols: eagle, Symbols: eagle, lightning boltlightning bolt
HeraHera Roman Name: Roman Name:
JunoJuno Zeus’s sister Zeus’s sister
and wifeand wife Goddess of Goddess of
MarriageMarriage Punished the Punished the
women Zeus fell women Zeus fell in love within love with
Symbols: Symbols: peacock, cowpeacock, cow
PoseidonPoseidon
Roman Name: Roman Name: NeptuneNeptune
God of the Seas God of the Seas and Watersand Waters
““The The Earthshaker”Earthshaker”
Symbols: trident, Symbols: trident, horsehorse
HadesHades
Roman Name: Roman Name: PlutoPluto
God of the God of the Underworld/ DeadUnderworld/ Dead
Kidnapped Kidnapped PersephonePersephone
Symbols: cap of Symbols: cap of invisibility, invisibility, Cerebus (3-headed Cerebus (3-headed dog)dog)
DemeterDemeter
Roman Roman Name: CeresName: Ceres
Goddess of Goddess of the Harvest & the Harvest & AgricultureAgriculture
Symbols: Symbols: sheaf of sheaf of wheat, cornwheat, corn
HestiaHestia
Roman Name: Roman Name: VestaVesta
Goddess of the Goddess of the Hearth & Hearth & HomeHome
Powerful Powerful ProtectorProtector
Symbol: Symbol: fireplacefireplace
AthenaAthena Roman Name: Roman Name:
MinervaMinerva Goddess of Goddess of
Wisdom and Wisdom and Just WarJust War
Sprang from Sprang from Zeus’s headZeus’s head
Symbols: owl, Symbols: owl, oliveolive
AresAres
Roman Name: Roman Name: MarsMars
God of WarGod of War Son of Zeus and Son of Zeus and
HeraHera Bloodthirsty, Bloodthirsty,
merciless & merciless & cowardlycowardly
Symbols: dog, Symbols: dog, vulturevulture
HephaestuHephaestuss
Roman Name: Roman Name: Vulcan Vulcan
God of Fire/ForgeGod of Fire/Forge Son of Zeus and Son of Zeus and
HeraHera Kind, unlike his Kind, unlike his
brother Aresbrother Ares Symbol: anvilSymbol: anvil
ApolloApollo Roman Name: Roman Name:
ApolloApollo God of Sun, Truth, God of Sun, Truth,
Healing, Prophesy Healing, Prophesy & Music& Music
Most handsome of Most handsome of the godsthe gods
Brother of ArtemisBrother of Artemis Symbols: sun, Symbols: sun,
laurellaurel
ArtemisArtemis
Roman Name: Roman Name: DianaDiana
Goddess of the Goddess of the Moon, the Moon, the Hunt & YouthHunt & Youth
Sister to Sister to ApolloApollo
Symbols: deer, Symbols: deer, the moon the moon
HermesHermes
Roman Name: MercuryRoman Name: Mercury Messenger of the GodsMessenger of the Gods Protector of shepherds Protector of shepherds
& thieves& thieves Appears in more Appears in more
myths than any other myths than any other charactercharacter
Symbol: winged Symbol: winged sandalssandals
AphroditeAphrodite Roman Name: VenusRoman Name: Venus Goddess of Love & Goddess of Love &
BeautyBeauty Sprang from the ocean Sprang from the ocean
foamfoam Married to HephaestusMarried to Hephaestus Mother of Eros (Roman Mother of Eros (Roman
Name: Cupid)Name: Cupid) Symbols: shell, dove, Symbols: shell, dove,
sparrowsparrow
DionysusDionysus
Roman Name: Roman Name: BacchusBacchus
God of Wine & God of Wine & FestivityFestivity
Patron god of the Patron god of the Greek stageGreek stage
Symbols: drinking Symbols: drinking cup, leopard, cup, leopard, grape vinegrape vine
PersephonPersephonee
Roman Name: Roman Name: ProserpinaProserpina
Goddess of the Goddess of the UnderworldUnderworld
Daughter of Zeus Daughter of Zeus and Demeterand Demeter
Abducted by HadesAbducted by Hades Symbols: wreath of Symbols: wreath of
flowers, flowers, pomegranatepomegranate
The MusesThe Muses
Nine daughters of Nine daughters of Zeus and Zeus and MnemosyneMnemosyne
Inspired artists of Inspired artists of all kindsall kinds
Goddesses who Goddesses who presided over the presided over the arts and sciencesarts and sciences
““He is happy whom He is happy whom the muses love.”the muses love.”
Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia
The FatesThe Fates
Roman Name: Parcae, MoiraeRoman Name: Parcae, Moirae Three sistersThree sisters
– Clotho (“The Spinner”)Clotho (“The Spinner”)– Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)– Atropos (“The cutter”)Atropos (“The cutter”)
They weave, measure, and cut the They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.thread of life for humans.
The GracesThe Graces
Three Goddesses Three Goddesses of Grace and of Grace and BeautyBeauty
Aglaia (Splendor)Aglaia (Splendor) Euphrosyne (Mirth)Euphrosyne (Mirth) Thalia (Good Thalia (Good
Cheer)Cheer)
The FuriesThe Furies
Three Goddesses of Three Goddesses of VengeanceVengeance– Tisiphone (Avenging Tisiphone (Avenging
Murder)Murder)– Alecto (Unceasing)Alecto (Unceasing)– Megaera (Grudging)Megaera (Grudging)
They punish evildoers.They punish evildoers.
The GorgonsThe Gorgons
Three snake-Three snake-haired haired monstersmonsters
Medusa is most Medusa is most well-knownwell-known
Their look turns Their look turns men to stone.men to stone.
The Lego The Lego PantheonPantheon
SourcesSources
Graphics in this presentation were taken Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:from 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– http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/103708543/in/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/103708543/in/
photostream/photostream/