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

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