Myths: stories that use fantasy to express ideas about life that cannot easily be expressed in realistic terms.

They deal with and explore the relationship between human beings and the unknown/spiritual world.

They were once believed to be true.

Scientific: explanations of things in nature

Literary: entertainment; good storytelling

Religious: give meaning to things in life; explain the role of the gods in everyday life

They depict and reveal behavior and problems common to all human beings.

They reflect the attitudes, priorities, and values of the cultures that produced them.

In Greek mythology, gods “did not create the universe… the universe

created the gods”

In the beginning… there was only Confusion and Darkness, Chaos.

From Chaos emerged… Gaea: Mother Earth Ouranos: Father Sky

Gaea and Ouranos had three types of children: three 50 Headed & 100 Handed Monsters, three Cyclops, and the most important the 12 Titans.

Gaea and Ouranous had 6 sons and 6 daughters knows as the Titans.

Among their children was the greatest Titan, Cronus. Cronus gained power from his father, Ouranous, by defeating him. Then, Cronus became ruler over heaven and Earth and married his sister, Rhea. From their union came the Olympian gods.

Power changed Cronus and made him evil. He was so afraid that one of his sons was going to do to him what he did to his father.

So to prevent this when his first 5 children were born he swallowed them immediately after their birth.

One by one, Cronus swallowed Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon.

Since each of they Olympians were immortal when they were swallowed they did not die. Instead they were to be trapped inside of Cronus.

When Rhea was pregnant with her sixth child, she thought of a plan. She secretly gave birth to her sixth child, Zeus, and gave him to Mother Earth to be protected.

Mother Earth decided that the child would be safe if she hid him as far away from Cronus as she could.

When Cronus asked to see the sixth child, Rhea handed him a rock wrapped in a blanket. Just like her previous children, Cronus swallowed the rock without hesitation, just as she had planned.

Rhea was happy and could not wait for the day Zeus would grow up and destroy his father.

Eventually Zeus grew up and Rhea, his mother, told him about what Cronus did to his siblings.

Zeus made a promise to his mother that he would make Cronus pay for what he did.

When Zeus returned to his mother, she disguised him as a servant. Rhea concocted a poisonous potion and Zeus, acting as a servant, put it in Cronus’ drink. The concoction caused Cronus to get sick and vomit.

First, Cronus vomited up the rock. Then each of his five children, one by one. Zeus was seen as a hero for saving his siblings. They were extremely thankful. Once everyone was freed, the six children decided to battle against Cronus.

The war lasted ten years. Neither side could get the upper hand because they were equal in strength. Mother Earth suggested that Zeus and his brothers go free their uncles (the monsters and cyclopes) and have them fight on their side. Zeus and his brothers did as they were advised and freed their uncles. This gave them the advantage they needed. Finally, the war was over. Zeus and his siblings were victorious.

Now that the battle was over, the three brothers had to decide who was going to rule the universe. They decided the fairest way to choose was to draw lots. Hades won the underworld. Poseidon won the sea and Zeus won the heaven and became ruler of all the gods of Mt. Olympus.

ZEUS God of the sky,

thunder, and justice

King and most powerful of the gods; Ruler of Mount Olympus

POSEIDON God of the sea and

earthquakes Brother of Zeus

HADES God of the

Underworld Zeus and

Poseidon’s brother

HESTIA Goddess of the

Hearth and Home her only job was to

keep the fire lit in the hearth on Mt. Olympus

HERA Goddess of

marriage and married women

Exceptionally beautiful

Zeus’s wife

ARES God of War Boastful, cruel and

had no manners Son of Zeus and

Metis

ATHENA Goddess of

wisdom and the arts of war and peace

Zeus’s favorite daughter

Daughter to Metis Born from Zeus’s

Head

APOLLO God of archery,

poetry, music, medicine, and prophecy

Son of Zeus and Leto

Twin brother to Artemis

APHRODITE Goddess of Love

and Beauty Wife of

Hephaestus but lover of Ares and others

HERMES Messenger god

and god of thieves God of commerce,

speed, and trade

ARTEMIS Goddess of the

Wild Things, the moon, and crossways

Daughter of Zeus and Leto

Apollo's Twins Sister

Demeter Daughter of

Cronos and Rhea Goddess of

vegetation Had powers of

growth and resurrection

Dionisis God of wine and

happiness Son of Zeus and

Semele

HEPHAESTUS God of fire and the

forges – Blacksmith to the gods

Son of Zeus and Hera Lame because he

was thrown off Mt. Olympus for interfering with a fight between Hera and Zeus

Husband to Aphrodite