Introduction to Greek Mythology What is Greek Mythology?

The people of ancient Greece shared stories called myths about the gods, goddesses, and heroes in which they believed. Each god or goddess was worshipped as a deity and ruled over certain areas of the Greeks lives. These exciting stories explained natural phenomena that could not be explained by science in the ancient world. Why Should We Study Greek Mythology? The Ancient Greek culture has been kept alive by the oral and later written stories handed down through thousands of years. Modern plays, novels, television programs, movies and even advertisements refer to Greek gods, goddesses, heroes and their stories. Adventurous and exciting stories delight and entertain us. Who Were the Gods and Goddesses of the Pantheon on Mount Olympus? Zeus Leader of the Olympian Gods He ruled the Olympians. He was the god of the sky, lightning and thunder carrying a thunderbolt as his symbol. He married Hera, his sister, which was a family habit. He fathered many children with various goddesses and mortals. Hera Wife of Zeus She was the protector of marriage and the home. She was associated with the peacock, because of her great beauty. She and Zeus were always quarreling. She was called the queen of intriguers, a vindictive and jealous wife, who frequently outwitted her husband, Zeus. Poseidon God of the Sea He built an underwater palace with a great pearl and coral throne. Although he chose Thetis, a beautiful water nymph, as his queen, he, like his brother Zeus, was a great wanderer fathering hundreds of children. He was a difficult god, changeful and quarrelsome, but created many curious forms for his sea creatures. He invented the horse for his sister Demeter, whom he loved.

Hades God of the Underworld He was the jealous brother to Zeus and Poseidon. He made Persephone his wife after stealing her from her mother, Demeter, who was his sister. Because he was a violent god, who was also very possessive of every new soul, he rarely left his underworld domain. Demeter-Goddess of Corn and the Harvest She was the goddess of growing things. She was the mother of Persephone, whose father was Zeus. Her daughter was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the Underworld for six months of the year causing the change of seasons. Hestia-Goddess of the Heart She was the sister of Zeus and the daughter of Cronos and Rhea. She represented personal and communal security and happiness. She was thought of as the kindest and mildest of the goddesses. She was of little mythological importance, appearing in only a few stories. Athena-Goddess of Wisdom, Justice, War, Civilization and Peace She was born full grown out of the head of Zeus. She taught man to use tools and taught his wife to spin and weave. She was the best-loved goddess on Olympus. She hated Ares, god of war, often besting him in battle. The Greek city of Athens is named after her. She was said to have created the spider. Apollo-The Sun God; God of Music, Poetry, Wisdom, Light and Truth He was the twin brother of Artemis and the most handsome of the gods. He was also the god of the healing arts and of medicine. He drove his chariot across the sky to pull the sun each day. His son, Phaethon, drives Apollo s sun chariot with disastrous results.

Artemis- Goddess of the Woods, Moon and the Hunt She was the twin sister of Apollo, whose mother was Leto and father was Zeus. She was a chaste huntress, who always carried a silver bow and arrows. She ruled over the untamed places of the earth. Dionysus-God of Revelry and the Vine He is said to be the only god on Olympus with a mortal parent. His creation of wine brings ecstasy and drunkenness to his revelers. Much of the ancient world s greatest poetry was created in his honor. Ares-Cruel God of War He was a ruthless and murderous god, who displayed the worst of humanity s traits. He, along with grief, strife, panic, and terror, roams the earth. Ironically, he was a coward, who fled the field of battle. Hephaestus-God of Fire, Volcanoes and the Forge He was the ugliest of the gods, who was rejected by his mother, Hera, when she hurled him off of Mount Olympus crippling him. He fashioned the armor and tools of the gods on a broken mountain near Mount Olympus. He made beautiful jewelry for the goddesses. Aphrodite-Goddess of Love and Beauty She is the goddess of desire born from sea foam. Another myth credits her mother as Dione and her father as Zeus. After all the gods on Mount Olympus courted her, she married Hephaestus, the ugliest of the gods. Because she was judged the most beautiful of all the goddesses on Mount Olympus by Paris, the other goddesses envied her. Hermes- God of Mischief and Messenger of the Gods He was the precocious son of Zeus and Maia, a Titaness. As a baby, he made a lyre and pipe for his half-brother, Apollo. He carried Apollo s golden staff and flew around the heavens and earth on winged sandals.

Greek Gods & Goddesses: The Olympians 12 immortals who dwelt in a palace on Mount Olympus: Zeus Supreme God of the Olympians Youngest son of Titans Cronus and Rhea His siblings: Posiedon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera He and his siblings fought to gain control of the universe from the Titans and Cronus (his father) He and his brothers (Poseidon and Hades) divided up creation with Zeus receiving the sky as his domain. He was also accorded supreme authority on earth and on Mount Olympus. Hera Goddess of marriage Wife of Zeus and Queen of the Olympians She took many forms, among them that of a bird. Interesting Fact: Hera hated the great hero Heracles since he was the son of her husband Zeus and a mortal woman. When he was still an infant, she sent snakes to attack him in his crib. Hera was worshipped throughout Greece, and the oldest and most important temples were dedicated to her. Poseidon God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses One of the supreme Gods of Mount Olympus, but he spent most of his time in his watery domain. Brother to Zeus and Hades Married to the sea-nymph, Amphitrite As the god of horses, he would often adopt the shape of horse. Interesting fact: When the Olympians gained control of the universe, they agreed that the earth would be ruled jointly, with Zeus as king. This led to a number of territorial disputes among the gods. Poseidon vied to be the ruler of Athens. He demonstrated his power by striking the Acropolis with his three-pronged spear, which caused a spring of salt water to emerge. Hermes Hermes was the messenger of the gods and the guide of dead souls to the Underworld. Son of Zeus and a mountain nymph Hermes symbol was his staff. This was a willow wand with entwined ribbons. One of his jobs was to guide dead souls to the underworld, so he was often shown in wide brimmed sun hat of straw. This hat represented his travels.

Interesting fact: on his very first day of life, Hermes found the empty shell of a tortoise and perceived it to be useful as a sounding chamber. Stringing sinews across it, he created the first lyre. Artemis Virgin goddess of the hunt She helped women in childbirth but also brought sudden death with her arrows Daughter of Zeus and Leto Sister to Apollo She is usually depicted as a young woman wearing buckskins and carrying a bow. Interesting fact: Apollo noticed that Artemis was spending a lot of time hunting with the giant, Orion, and he decided to put an end to the relationship. So, he challenged Artemis to prove her skill at archery by shooting at an object floating out at sea. Her shot was perfect. The target turned out be the head of Orion. Ares God of war Son of Zeus He was handsome and cruel in his appearance. Ares is often shown carrying a bloodstained spear, and his throne on Mount Olympus was said to be covered in human skin. Interesting fact: Although he is an immortal deity, he was almost killed when he was defeated by Heracles in battle and then stuffed into a jar by two giants. Hephaestus Lame god of fire and crafts Son of Zeus and Hera He limped because he was born with an impairment that hindered his walking Interesting fact: Hephaestus accomplished many great works of craftmanship, such as the marvelous palaces that he built for the gods on Mount Olympus Dionysus God of wine Dionysus was the son of Zeus and the mortal heroine, Semele Interesting fact: he saved his mother from the Underworld after Zeus consumed her in lightning. Goddess ofagriculture Sister of Zeus and mother of Persephone Often shown carrying a bundle of grain

Interesting fact: Demeter s daughter, Persephone, was gathering flowers one day when the earth opened up and Hades, King of the Dead, emerged from the Underworld. He took Persephone and carried her off to his realm, where she became his queen. Demeter was heartbroken and wondered the earth looking for her daughter. During this time the crops withered, and it became an endless winter. Hades eventually surrendered Persephone for one half of the year the spring and summer seasons. During the other half of the year that she spends in the Underworld coincides with the barren season Apollo God of prophesy, music, and healing Brother of Artemis Often shown playing the lyre, and it is said that he invented the lute Interesting fact: Apollo won several musical contests by playing the lyre. One time he beat Pan, who competed on his own invention the shepherd s pipe. On this occasion, King Midas had the bad sense to say that he preferred Pan s music, which caused Apollo to turn his ears into those of an ass. Aphrodite Goddess of love, beauty and fertility One legend states that she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione. Another legend says that she was born from sea foam She has no distinct attributes except her beauty. She is associated with the dove Interesting fact: the Trojan Prince, Paris, was asked to judge which of the three Olympian goddesses (Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena) were the most beautiful. He chose Aphrodite over Hera and Athena. These two hoped to bribe him with power, but Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman in the world

Athena Goddess of crafts and the domestic arts and also those of war She was the patron goddess of Athens Her symbol is the Owl She is the daughter of Zeus Interesting fact: Both Athena and her brother, Poseidon, wanted to be the patron deity of Athens. Athena proved her worthiness for this honor by causing an olive tree to spring up on the Acropolis. Poseidon struck the ground and caused a spring of water to gush forth. But, because he was the god of the sea, the water was salty. The Athenians considered Athena s gift to be more useful, so she became the city s patron deity.