Myths

Olympians

Greek Gods

• People had questions

• No answers since there was no science

• Created stories to explain the phenomena rising & setting sun, stars, crops growing

What is a Myth ?

Myths are . . . • Handed down from generations

• 3,000 years old

• The religion, science and literature of primitive people

• What Myths do you know?

• Most famous myths are Greek & Roman

The Titanstitenes ("straining ones")

Cronus

Father of Olympians

Cursed by his father

Ate his children

Titans

Rhea : wife of Cronus

Mother of Olympians

Saved children with Zeus

Cronus and Rhea give birth to the Olympian Gods

The Gods live on Mount Olympus

The Olympian Gods in Greek and Latin

Zeus / Jupiter

Ruler of Mt. Olympus

God of the Sky

Lighting rod

Husband to Hera

Player

Hera / Juno

Queen of Heavens & Stars

Goddess of marriage & fidelity: June

Wife to Zeus

Jealous

Poseidon / Neptune

God of the Sea, rivers, springs, floods, and earthquakes

Carries Tridents

Created the Horse

Hades / Pluto

God of the Underworld, Home of the Dead

Jealous of brothers

Wealthy Rides Chariot with Black Horses

Demeter / Ceres

Goddess of Fertile earth and agricultureHer crops feed mankindCereal comes from “Ceres”

Hestia / Vesta

Goddess of Hearth, Home & Family

Didn’t want to be a Goddess

Watches the fire on Mt. Olympus

Dionysus / Bacchus

God of Wine, Vegetation, Fertility and Theater

Freeing one from one's normal self, by madness, ecstasy, or wine

Balance between madness and normal

Hephaestus / Vulcanus

Son of Zeus & Hera

God of Fire & Craftsmanship

Married Aphrodite

Lame: kicked off Mt. Olympus

Volcano

Ares / Mars

Son of Zeus & Hera

God of War & Slaughter

Coward/ Jealous/ Creates trouble

Aphrodite’s lover

Persephone / Prosepina

Daughter of Zeus & Demeter

Goddess of Underworld & Spring Renewal

Married to Hades

She is the reason we have 6 months of winter & 6 of summer

Aphrodite / Venus

Goddess of Beauty, Love, Sexuality

Born of the Sea or from Zeus

Married Hephaestus

She started the Trojan War

Apollo / Phoebus

Son of Zeus & Leto

God Music, Medicine, Archery, Healing

Twin of Artemis

Took care of man

Vain

Artemis / Diana

Daughter of Zeus & Leto

Goddess of Hunt, animals , forest, and young girls

Twin to Apollo

Hermes / Mercury

Messenger of Gods

God of Travelers, Shepherds, Thieves

Brother to Apollo

Stole his cattle

Athena / Minerva

Goddess of War, Education, Wisdom, crafts weaving

Born from Zeus head

Araneid or Arachnid means spider

Credit

Special thanks to Rory Sideman, English teacher extraordinaire at Franklin H.S. for providing this Power Point.