Mythology

- a traditional story of the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social
phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
- FICTION!
- in early times handed down orally from one generation to another.
Ancient cultures used mythology belief systems much the same way that people use modern religion.
- to explain the world/nature, man, and gods
- to instruct or guide proper behavior
- to give a sense of community
Origins of Mythology
Ancient mythology belongs to the oral tradition (folklore, legends, etc.)
1. stories passed orally appealed to the non-literate (non-readers).
2. these stories were a form of entertainment.
3. the stories enabled the passing of history and culture from one group to the next.
Greek Mythology
1. The Greeks were the earliest people to give their gods human forms.
2. The Greeks also gave the gods human qualities and emotions.
3. Greeks were able to determine proper behavior based on what would “anger the gods” or
“please the gods.”
Greek Myth Categories
The Greek myths fall into the following categories:
a. Explains
b. Instructs
c. Entertains
Who Were the Olympians?
- The offspring of the Titans
- Overthrew the Titans in a war to control the universe.
- Led by Zeus, the god of the other gods.
- Zeus and his brothers split territory (Zeus- earth/sky, Poseidon- the seas, Hades- the underworld)
The Twelve Olympians
Aphrodite: the daughter of Zeus, wife to Hephaestus (but had many lovers). She is the goddess of
love and beauty. Her symbols were the dove, and myrtle, a type of evergreen shrub.

Ares: Ares was the god of war, and son of Zeus and Hera. His symbols were armor, dogs, and
vultures.

Apollo: was the son of Zeus and Leto, twin brother of Artemis. He was the god of music, and he is
often depicted playing a golden lyre. He was also known as the Archer, far shooting with a silver
bow; the god of healing, giving the science of medicine to man; the god of light; and the god of
truth. His holy tree was the laurel, and his holy animal was the dolphin.
Artemis: Artemis was the goddess of chastity, the hunt, the moon, and the natural environment.
She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin sister of Apollo. As soon as Artemis was born, she
helped her mother give birth to her twin brother, thereby becoming the protector of childbirth and
labor. Devoted to hunting and nature, she rejected marriage and love. Her symbols were weapons,
stags, and the crescent moon.
Athena: Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom/reason, war, the arts and literature. She was the
daughter of Zeus; her birth is unique in that she did not have a mother. Instead, she sprang full
grown and clad in armor from Zeus' forehead. She was Zeus' favorite child and was allowed to use
his weapons including his thunderbolt. She became the patron saint of Athens, after winning a
contest against Poseidon. Her holy tree is the olive tree and she is often symbolized as an owl. Other
symbols include two types of armor—the breastplate and a shield.

Demeter: Demeter was the goddess of agriculture. She was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea.
Demeter was intimately associated with the seasons. Her daughter Persephone was abducted by
Hades to be his wife in the underworld. Would spend four months each year in the underworld to
grieve for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the world and creating winter. Her
return brought the spring.

Hephaestus: Hephaestus was the Greek god of fire, blacksmiths, sculptors, metallurgy, volcanoes;
thus, he is symbolized with a hammer, an anvil and a pair of tongs. After Hephaestus was born, Hera
threw him from Olympus because he was crippled; he fell into the ocean and was raised by Thetis
and Eurynome. He was later accepted back to Olympus, and became the craftsman of the gods,
creating majestic armors, shields and weapons.

Hera: Hera was Zeus' wife and sister, and was raised by the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. She was the
supreme goddess, patron of marriage and childbirth, having a special interest in protecting married
women.

Hermes: Hermes was the Greek messenger god, or the god of commerce, son of Zeus and Maia.
Quick acting and cunning, he was able to move swiftly between the world of man and the world of
gods, acting as a messenger of the gods and the link between mortals and the Olympians. He was
the protector of travelers, thieves and athletes. His symbols were a winged cap and sandals.

Dionysus: He was the god of fertility and wine, later considered a patron of the arts. Dionysus was
also one of the very few characters able to bring a dead person back from the underworld.

Hestia: Hestia was the goddess of the hearth, family, and domestic life. She was Zeus' sister, but
although initially she was included in the Olympian gods, she was later replaced by Dionysus.

Poseidon: Poseidon is the god of the sea and protector of all aquatic features. Brother of Zeus and
Hades, after the overthrow of their father, Cronus, he drew lots with them to share the universe. He
ended up becoming lord of the sea. He was widely worshiped by seamen. He married Amphitrite,
one of the granddaughters of Titan Oceanus. His weapon was a trident, with which he could make
the earth shake, causing earthquakes, and shatter any object. He was second to Zeus in power
amongst the gods. His symbols were the trident and dolphins.
Zeus: Zeus was the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods. He overthrew his father, Cronus,
and then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades, in order to decide who would succeed their
father on the throne. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods, as well as lord
of the sky and rain. His weapon was a thunderbolt which he hurled at those who displeased or
defied him, especially liars and oath-breakers. He was married to Hera but often tested her patience,
as he was infamous for his many affairs. Using his shield, the Aegis, Zeus could create all natural
phenomena related to the air and the sky, such as storms, tempests, and intense darkness.

Hades: Hades was the brother of Zeus and Poseidon. After the overthrow of their father, Cronus, he
drew lots with them to share the universe. He drew poorly, which resulted in becoming lord of the
underworld and ruler of the dead. Although an Olympian, Hades preferred the Underworld and
rarely left his kingdom. His weapon was a pitchfork, which he used to create earthquakes, similar to
the way Poseidon used his trident. He also had a helmet of invisibility, which he had received as a gift
from the Cyclopes, in order to use it during the clash of the Titans. He was married to Persephone,
daughter of Demeter, whom Hades abducted and carried down to the Underworld.
Other Gods and Goddesses
Eris - Goddess of Discord.
Eros - God of Love.
Helios - Personification of the Sun.
Heracles - Greatest hero of the Greek myths.
Iris - Personification of the Rainbow, also the messenger of Olympus along with Hermes.
Morpheus - God of Dreams.
Muses - Nine ladies of science and arts.
Nemesis - Greek goddess of retribution.
Nike - Goddess of victory.