Transcript Greek Mythology - St. Monica Catholic Church

Greek Mythology
Cronus and
Rhea
• Married (Titans)
• Ate his children for fear of his
power (five of six and a stone)
• Zeus’s father (also most Olympians)
• Killed his father/destroyed by his
son (helped by Rhea/Gaea)
• Symbol = scythe
Zeus
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God of the sky, Lord of Olympus,
Suffered from human emotions
Many, many children, liked the ladies
Not infallible
Seen as very powerful
Supposed to be neutral; justice
Zeus
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Youngest of Cronus’s kids
Symbol = thunderbolt
Bird = eagle
Oracle = Dodona; through oak leaves
Significant children
– Hercules, Athena, Apollo/Artemis,
Muses (9), and the Fates (5)
Poseidon
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God of Sea, horses and earthquakes
Symbol = Trident, dolphin
Extremely important to sailors
He is extremely moody, quarrelsome,
powerful, and a bit of a joker
Poseidon
• A very “creative” god
– Lots of sea creatures to scare the
nymphs: squid, hammerhead/swordfish,
octopus, jellyfish
– Land mammals for Demeter
• Camel, donkey, giraffe, hippo, zebra
– Came up with the horse
Hades
• Roman name: Pluto
• Lives in the Underworld;
rarely seen on Olympus
• Gloomy, impulsive, quick
tempered, dreary, “death”
• King: just, fair, lacked pity
• Rewards: Elysium
• Punishments
– Sisyphus
Hades
• Famous Story
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Queen Persephone (Demeter’s Daughter)
Kidnaps her from field; cut a deal w/Zeus
Demeter freaks out; boycotts her job
Zeus allows her return IF she doesn’t eat of
the underworld
– Hades “gets to keep” her 6 months a year
• Demeter mourns – so we have winter
Hera
• Roman name: Juno
• Queen of the gods, goddess of
marriage; intriguers
• Symbolizes w/ peacock or cow
• Jealous beyond belief; punish those
she disliked
– She was revered by the Greeks
Hera
• Children: Ares, Hephaestus, Hebe
• Vengeance
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Io (cow chased by fly)
Semele (tricked into seeing Zeus)
Leto (couldn’t have children on mainland)
Hercules 12 labors
Demeter
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Roman name: Ceres
Daughter of Cronus
Goddess of corn/harvest
She’s the only goddess who never
intentionally hurts, tricks or endangers
humans
- Inspired Poseidon’s creation of horses
- Story of Persephone’s kidnapping
- Explains the seasons
Hestia
- Roman Name: Vesta
- Goddess of domestic (home) joy, hearth,
fire
- Every city had a public hearth in which
fire never went out
- Not present actively in ANY myths or
stories
- Humble, supportive, caring goddess
Athena
- Roman name: Minerva
- Birth: “sprouts” from Zeus’s head grown and in full armor
- B/c of birth, she is considered to have great power of
intelligence
- Goddess of: “disciplines” of war, wisdom, intellect,
invention/tools, craftsmanship
- Warrior: Iliad seen as hardcore warrior; most other myths
she is a defensive soldier
- she hates Ares; always ready to fight him
- see her regularly with the goddess of victory: Nike
Athena
- Athens: challenge btwn her
and Poseidon
- P. gave fountain of salt water,
A. gave the olive (useful)
- Owl is her symbol (wisdom)
- Zeus’s favorite (aegis and
thunderbolt)
Athena
- Helpful to heroes
- Odysseus (gets him home and
preps him for the suitors)
- Perseus defeat Medusa
- Helps Hercules
- Arachne: weaver
- spider
Apollo
- Roman name: Apollo
- God of: sun, music, poetry, archery,
healing, divination
- Oracle of Delphi
- god of the people
- Twin sister is Artemis (Leto)
Apollo
- Respected as a “Creative” /
inspirational god
- Traveled by chariot
- Arrows are his weapon
- Hunting / defense
- Is not a warrior god
- Symbols: harp, sun, bow
Artemis
- Roman name: Diana
- Goddess of: hunt, wilderness,
protector of children, animals,
moon (Apollo = sun)
- Helps w/ childbirth
- Symbols: Bow / deer
- Archery – brother and hunt
- Non-warrior
Artemis
- Power to heal / kill
- Important to women because she
represents the “modest” qualities
- Unlike Aphrodite/Athena
- The “new” generation
Ares
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Roman Name: Mars
Fighter: Warrior God (God of War)
Hera =mommy (Ares is momma’s boy)
Quick to anger, jealous, conceited,
cowardly at times
- “Bad boy” – good looking, muscular, tall,
strong
- Entourage: bunch of ruffians
Ares
- Ares + Aphrodite = ???
- Opposites attract; good looks
- Mysterious births
- “Secret” relationship- 3 kids
Athena and Ares hate each other
Greeks “dealt” with him because war was
constant; they needed his help
Aphrodite
- Roman Name: Venus
- Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and
desire
- Mysterious birth; and yearly return
- “Married” to Hephaestus (arranged)
- Son = Eros?
- Sweet towards men, created crushes
- Broke hearts
- Conceited, vain, rude towards women
Aphrodite
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Drama “Queen”, jealous
Animals: dove, swan, sparrow
Part of younger generation of gods
Responsible for Paris taking Helen
- Leads to the Trojan War
Hephaestus
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Roman Name: Vulcan
God of blacksmiths, fire, crafts
Made weapons/armor for gods
Son of Hera (and Zeus?) born crippled,
thrown off Olympus, returns later
• Technically married to Aphrodite
• Not a warrior; respected by humans
– Represents hard work / labor
Dionysus
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Roman Name: Bacchus
God of: wine/vine, fertility, parties
Taught art of winemaking
Arrested and couldn’t be “held”
Son of Zeus and Semele, born from
Zeus’s calf; replaces Hestia
- Respected, but he’s a social problem
Hermes
- Roman name: Mercury
- Messenger god, travel/tricksters
- Lead the dead to Hades
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Son of Zeus and Maia
“Court Jester” playing jokes
Apollo’s cattle: by creating lyre
Lots of kids!!! Varies by story
Hermes
- Aphrodite: 5 kids – Eros/Cupid
- Father of Autolycus – 1st thief
- Grandfather of Odysseus
- Helps Perseus with Medusa
- Considered a friend (and prankster) to
mortals