An Introduction to Greek Mythology

The structure of Classical Greek Religion is Polytheistic (more than one God or Goddess)

The stories – or myths – of Ancient Greece involve mortals who are influenced or controlled by Gods and Goddesses

ARES (AIR-eez; Roman name Mars) was the god of war, or more precisely of warlike frenzy. Though an immortal deity, he was bested by Heracles in battle and was almost killed when stuffed into a jar by two giants. When another hero wounded him during the Trojan War, he received scant sympathy from his father Zeus.

ARTEMIS (AR-ti-mis; Roman name Diana) was the virgin goddess of the hunt. She helped women in childbirth but also brought sudden death with her arrows.

DIONYSUS (dye-oh-NYE-sus; Roman name Bacchus) was the god of wine. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and the mortal heroine Semele.

POSEIDON (puh-SYE-dun or poh-SYE-dun; Roman name Neptune) was the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses. Although he was officially one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his time in his watery domain.

ATHENA (a-THEE-nuh; Roman name Minerva) was the goddess of crafts and the domestic arts and also those of war. She was the patron goddess of Athens. Her symbol was the owl. She was originally the Great Goddess in the form of a bird. By the late Classic, she had come to be regarded as a goddess of wisdom

APOLLO (uh-POL-oh; Roman name Apollo) was the god of prophesy, music and healing. Like most of his fellow Olympians, Apollo did not hesitate to intervene in human affairs. It was he who brought about the demise of the mighty Achilles. Of all the heroes besieging the city of Troy in the Trojan War, Achilles was the best fighter by far. He had easily defeated the Trojan captain Hector in single combat. But Apollo helped Hector's brother Paris slay Achilles with an arrow.

HERMES (HUR-meez; Roman name Mercury) was the messenger of the gods and guide of dead souls to the Underworld. A prankster and inventive genius from birth, Hermes aided the heroes Odysseus and Perseus in their quests.

DEMETER (dee-MEE-tur; Roman name Ceres) was the goddess of agriculture. Demeter as the sister of Zeus and the mother of Persephone.

HERA (HEE-ruh; Roman name Juno) was the goddess of marriage. Hera was the wife of Zeus and Queen of the Olympians.

ZEUS (zoose or zyoose; Roman name Jupiter) was the supreme god of the Olympians. He was the father of the heroes Perseus and Heracles, the latter of whom once wrestled him to a draw.

Pan (who is pictured above in the act of sneaking into a gathering of the twelve Olympians) was a god of shepherds and flocks. Pan was the son of Hermes and a nymph. He was born with the legs and horns of a goat, which caused his own mother to spurn him.

APHRODITE (a-fro-DYE-tee; Roman name Venus) was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She was also a protectress of sailors. HEPHAESTUS (he-FEE-stus or he-FESS-tus; Roman name Vulcan) was the lame god of fire and crafts or the two together, hence of blacksmiths. Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera or, in some accounts, of Hera alone. He limped because he was born lame, which caused his mother to throw him off Mount Olympus. Or in other accounts he interceded in a fight between Zeus and Hera, and Zeus took him by the foot and threw him from Olympus to the earth far below.

The previous slide is an example of a poorly designed slide. There is far too much information on the slide, the text is too small to read, and students could become confused by the arrows. Instead of presenting all of this information on one page, it would be better to present information about each God and Goddess on individual slides. Such slides follow.

The ruler of the Gods and GoddessesFather of Athena, Apollo, and others

Goddess of War, Wisdom, Cleverness, and Crafts

God of Music, Poetry, Prophecy, and Medicine

Sun GodRaises cattle on the island of

Thrinacia

God of Invention, Commerce, and Cunning

Messenger of the Gods

Sea GoddessLives on the island of Ogygia

Goddess/ EnchantressLives on the island of Aeaea

God of the Seas, Earthquakes, and Horses

Father of a Cyclops

The Gods often interact with MortalsSome Mortals are given

responsibilities, such as Aeolus

View the video “Olympian Gods of Ancient Greek Mythology” to review the characters we will encounter in The Odyssey

Olympian Gods of Ancient Greek Mythology

Guardian of the Winds

In addition to Gods and Goddesses, Greek

Mythology is filled with various creatures and

monsters that heroes often have to battle

A race of one-eyed giantsAn individual member of the race is

called a Cyclops

A siren is part woman, part birdSings songs to lure sailors to their

death

Six-headed monster who devours sailors

Dangerous whirlpool personified as a female sea monster

(Click on six-headed monster to the left of the ship to review Scylla.)