AN

INTRODUCTION
TO GREEK
MYTHOLOGY
 Introduction to Mythology
Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths
 Mythology

A usually traditional story of events that serves

to unfold part of the world view of a people or
explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon
. Myths often involve divine, supernatural,
and/or heroic characters.
 Mythology

OR AL collection of fictional stories involving

the actions of gods, goddesses and other
imaginary characters, intended to explain the
unexplainable.
WHAT IS MYTHOLOGY?

“Mythology” is a word used

to describe all myths of a
particular society.

Every culture has its own

myths that help us understand
its customs and ways of
viewing the world.
Mythopedia: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant
 WHAT IS A MYTH?

 A myth is a kind of story.

 Most myths have one or more of these characteristics:
 Myths are usually about gods or supernatural beings
with greater powers and abilities than ordinary humans.
 Myths explain the origins of the world and how humans
came to be.
 Myths take place a long time ago, usually in the earliest
days of humanity (or just before humans showed up on
Earth).
 Myths were usually thought to be true by their original
tellers--no matter how wild or strange they seem to be.
Mythopedia: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant
TWO NAMES, POWERS THE SAME

Many gods and goddesses

have both Greek and Roman
names. That is because the
ancient Romans adopted a
great deal of Greek
mythology and made it their
own.
Often, they changed the
names of the particular gods
and goddesses.
TWO NAMES, POWERS THE SAME

Generally, the deity’s

powers and myths stayed the
same--even though they had a
new name.
As a result, the study of
Greek and Roman mythology
is often grouped together
under the same name--
classical mythology.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MYTHS?

 Myths can…
 Explain how things came to be--like the origin of the
universe or the creation of humans.
 Teach people about the values and beliefs that are
important in their society.
 Contain deep religious significance to the people who
tell and believe them.

Studying myths can teach us about people around the

world -- their cultures and what is (or was) important to
them.
Mythopedia: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant
 HOW DID WE LEARN THESE
STORIES?
 Myths were first passed down through storytelling,
songs, and poetry.
 We learned the stories from written versions, mainly
Homer’s epic poems The Illiad and The Odyssey,
which tell of the great deeds of heroes.
 Other sources were Hesiod’s Theogony, which
describes the origins of the world and the gods, and
Homeric Hymns, as collection of poems addressed to
different gods.

Mythopedia: Oh My Gods! by Megan E. Bryant

 DO MYTHS REALLY MATTER
TODAY?

 YES!!!
 References to Greek mythology are all around us:
 Ever heard of Nike athletic gear? Nike was
actually a goddess of personification and victory.
 What would Valentine’s Day be without Cupid?
Cupid, or Eros, is the god of love as the Greeks
called him.
 Does Apollo 13 ring a bell? The first crewed US
space missions were named for Apollo, the god of
archery and prophecy.
 BOTTOM LINE

References to ancient
myths are everywhere, from
science to pop culture, and
knowing about them will
help you understand more
about the world we live in.
 Classical Greek
Mythology
A collection of stories about a set of gods, based
upon oral tradition, as told and recorded by the
ancient Greeks

Myths served as entertainment, a sense of

national/regional pride, and religious education
 Oral Tradition
The practice of passing along stories, tales, and
folklore by word of mouth

Oral tradition is responsible for many of the

“inconsistencies” of ancient mythology.
 Fantasy
Highly imaginative writing that contains elements
not found in real life

Many science fiction and fantasy books, movies

and comic books are based upon the style and
manner of myths.
Legends

• Definition: fictional stories loosely based upon

real/historical people and events.

• Also known as “tall-tales”

• Are rooted in facts, but stories have been

changed through the years…WHY?
Fables

• Definition: A brief story, often containing

animal characters that teaches a lesson or
moral

• Fables deal with “useful truth”

 “The Classicists”
Greek mythology existed for hundreds of years
before these stories were ever recorded with
written words.

The scholars/poets who recorded the myths

are known as “classicists.”

The major classicists of Greek Mythology

include Virgil, Homer, and Ovid.
The Importance of Myths
Myths were critical to the ancient Greeks

These stories touched all aspects of Greek life,

including art, music, architecture, military
endeavors, religion, and education.

Greek myths and sunlight are represented by

moral quality. Heroes are set in sunlight,
monsters belong to the darkness.
 Categories of Myths
Myths of creation: these explain the beginning
of time, space, and man

Myths of explanation: these explain the great

questions of the universe

Myths of morality: these teach lessons and

reinforce cultural morality
 Why Study Mythology?
Greek myths are the foundations for the arts as
we know them, including movies, television,
commercial products, sports, music, and comic
books.

A knowledge of Greek mythology enhances a

person’s ability to understand and appreciate
the world as a whole.
Gods and Goddesses in
Classical Mythology
Greek Roman Area of Power
Zeus Jupiter King of the gods; the sky
Apollo Apollo The sun; music
Hades Pluto King of the underworld
Poseidon Neptune Ruler of the seas
Hera Juno Wife of Zeus; marriage
Athena Minerva Wisdom
Demeter Ceres Agriculture; earth
Persephone Proserpine Goddess of the underworld
 Mythology: A Brief Timeline
The beginning: according to popular belief
• Uranus was the “First One”, and he
created the universe.
• Uranus created and married Gaia,
otherwise known as “Mother Earth.”
• They lived on Mt. Olympus
• Uranus and Gaia had many children:
• Some were human-like giants, called the
“Titans”
• Some were hideous, disfigured monsters
• The Titans lived for many years under
Uranus’s cruel reign
• Uranus’s most powerful son would soon
challenge his rule.
• Cronus killed his cruel father and assumed
his role as “king of the Titans.”

• Before Uranus died, he predicted that

Cronus would be killed by one of his sons,
just as he had been.
• What is the logical solution to this problem?
• Because he feared his sons, Cronus ate
his first two sons whole
• Fed up with his baby-gobbling, Rhea gave
birth to her third son in secret
• Rhea dressed a boulder up as a baby and
Cronus ate the rock unknowingly
• Zeus was sent as an infant to be raised in
secret by human shephards
•Cronus married his sister, Rhea, and had:

-Three daughters: Hestia, Demeter, Hera

-Three sons: Posiedon, Hades, and Zeus

•These offspring were considered Titans, but would

later become the gods and goddesses of Greek
Mythology
 The Great Battle!
• Cronus is assisted in battle by his Titan
brothers
• Zeus and his brothers are assisted by the
monsters Cronus had abused and tortured
for years in captivity.
• These monsters included the Cyclopes (3)
and the Hundred-Handed Ones (3)
• Zeus returned to Mt. Olympus as a young
man and poisoned Cronus
• Cronus vomited up brothers Poseidon and
Hades
• Zeus was celebrated as a hero
• An epic battle ensues between Cronus and
his sons for the right to rule Mt. Olympus
and the universe.
 Mythology and Classic Art
• The Battle Between the Gods and the Titans by Wtewael Art Institute of Chicago,
Chicago
 Cronus is Defeated!
• The three sons roll dice to divide Cronus’
kingdom
• Zeus wins, and chooses the empty sky.
• Poseidon secretly wanted the sea.
• Hades is left to bitterly receive “leftovers”
In the underworld.
 Enter the Gods…
• Magically and mysteriously, the children of
Cronus become immortal, and become
gods and goddesses.

• Mythology offers no explanation for this

important transformation!
• The twelve main gods and goddesses are known
as the Pantheon.
 The Pantheon

• There are many gods, goddesses, demi-

gods (half-gods) and supernatural beings
in Greek Mythology.

• The twelve main gods and goddesses are

known as the Pantheon.
Zeus
 Zeus:
• King of the gods, ruler of Mt. Olympus
• Also god of lightning
• Was a powerful and aggressive ruler
• Struck Earth with lightning bolt when upset
• Waged constant war with wife and sisterHera
• Cheated on wife countless times, and had
numerous children with mortals, gods, and other
creatures
 Zeus (continued)

• Was a master of disguise, which aided him

in his philandering

• Was a complex character: capable of

unspeakable acts of immorality and
occasional acts of mercy
Hera
 HERA
• Queen of immortals, goddess of marriage
and childbirth
• Unhappy wife of Zeus
• Disapproved of Zeus’ constant cheating
• Held grudges against Zeus’ “children”
• Often punished Zeus with childish pranks
and vengeful schemes
Athena
 Athena
• Goddess of wisdom and warfare, mistress of
strategy
• Taught men how to use an ax, plough, wheel, sail.
Taught women how to spin and weave (Arachne
story...)
• Mother was Metis, a Titaness
• Zeus became paranoid that his child would harm
him, so he eats her whole.
• Zeus developed a splitting headache
• Hephaestus split his head open with a chisel,
and…
 The “Rebirth” of
Athena
• Athena jumped out of Zeus skull, full-grown
and wearing battle armor.
• One of the most popular and respected
immortals
• Athens, Greece is named for her
Poseidon
 Poseidon
• God of water

• Never had children with sea nymph-Thetis because any son of

Thetis would be greater than Poseiden

• Thetis had a son from Peleus whose name was Achilles

therefore the prophecy came true.

• Difficult, quarrelsome, greedy, liked jokes

• Thought up creature...octopus, squid, jellyfish, swordfish,

dolphin, etc.

• Was trying to perfect the horse for Demeter and that is why we
have the camel, hippo, giraffe, donkey, and zebra
•Ruled over seas, oceans, rivers and all
the sea creatures
•Did not live in the lost city of Atlantis
•Invented many of the fish and sea
monsters of mythology
•Created the horse for Demeter (*)
Hades
 HADES
• God of the Underworld

• Greeks buried their dead with a coin so that when they

entered "Hades" they could pay the fare on their way to
the river Styx

• Cerberus- 3 headed dog that guarded the gate

• 3 judges awaited the dead - Minos, Rhadamanthys and

Aeacus.

• > if judges were displeased - bad punishments

• > if judges were pleased - Elysian Fields

• Palace grounds were called Erebus- deepest part of the

underworld
 Hades (continued)

• Lived with his kidnapped wife, Persephone

• The Eumenides or the " kindly ones" would

wander the earth in search of evil-doers
and ones that escaped punishment and
their attention persuaded people to suicide
Demeter
 Demeter
• Goddess of the cornfield, mistress of planting and
growing things
• One of Zeus’ favorite females (also sister)
• Had a daughter named Persephone
• Demeter's daughter Persephone was kidnapped by
Hades
• Responsible for the winter and summer seasons,
since Persephone ate the 6 pomegranate seeds, she
will have to stay in the underworld with Hades for 6
months, and nothing will grow on earth because
Demeter will mourn.
Artemis
 Artemis
• Born of Zeus and Leto (a nymph)
• Zeus granted her whatever she wanted: remain a
maiden, many names, silver bow and arrow, deerskin
tunic, 50 ocean nymphs, 20 wood nymphs, hounds,
mountains, and one city

• Was Zeus’ favorite daughter

• Went by Goddess of the Moon, Maiden of the Silver
Bow, Lady of the Wild Things, Huntress, Maiden
Apollo
 Apollo
• God of the sun, patron of music, math,
medicine and poetry. Preached moderation
• Artemis’ twin brother
• Hunted python who hunted his mother
• Showed no mercy against the musician
Marsyas ( unfair competition)
The Flaying of Marsyas
Hermes
 Hermes
• Precocious

• Stole Apollo's cattle and named himself the 12th god

• Taught Apollo to play the lyre and traded Apollo pipes for his
herdsman's golden staff

• Apollo took Hermes to meet Zeus

• Hermes became Zeus's messenger and known as the patron of liars,

thieves, and gamblers, God of Commerce, framer of treaties,
guardian of travelers, took newly dead to Tartarus

• Invented the alphabet, scales, playing cards and card games

• Told Zeus to disguise himself and join in on many adventures of the

mortals
 Hermes
• Messenger god, god of gambling, theivery and
trickery
• Has a sketchy creation:
–Zeus child with a nymph
–Zeus child with a goddess (unnamed)
–Son of two enchanted mortals
*Oral tradition is contributed to the many different
creations of Hermes
Hephaestus
 Hephaestus
• Son of Zeus and Hera
• Was born ugly and fitful
• Hera kicked him from Mt. Olympus
• Was reinstated by Hera for his masterful
skill of jewelry-making
• Hera gave him Cyclops for helpers and
Aphrodite for a bride
 Hephaestus Strikes
Gold…
• Married to Aphrodite, the most beautiful of
all goddesses
• Had no children with his wife
• Endured Aphrodite’s many affairs and
constant flirtations
• Was emotionally scarred by Aphrodite’s
affair with Ares, the god of war
62
 Aphrodite
• Goddess of love and beauty, desire
• Never distracted from her duties
• Born out of primal murder - when Cronus killed
his father Oranus/Uranus a body floated up
from the foam and taken to Olympus
• Hera wanted her married immediately,
Aphrodite chose Hephaestus because he
worked late ( though she planned to meet her
other suitors)
Aphrodite’s Creation
• Version #1: Aphrodite was the son of Zeus
and a Dione

• Version #2: Aphrodite was born of Zeus

and the daughter of one of his arch enemies

But both of these stories are less-than-

accurate twists on the real version…
 Aphrodite (con’t.)
• Discovered by fishermen and taken to Mt.
Olympus as a gift to Zeus
• Hera, fearing a relationship between Zeus
and Aphrodite, insisted that she marry
Hephaestus, her ugliest child
• Aphrodite serves as a constant temptation
for gods and mortals alike.
• Her name literally means “from the foam”
The Real Creation of Aphrodite
• Aphrodite was born from the death of Uranus
• Cronus castrated his father before death, and
threw the “part” into the ocean
• From the bubbling, boiling, bloody foam,
Aphrodite appeared
• She was accompanied at birth by sea nymphs
and doves
• Often depicted as having hatched from a
seashell
Ares
 Ares
• God of warfare
• Was violent, aggressive, and unlikeable
• Was Hera and Zeus’s most despised
son
• Had an awkward love affair with
Aphrodite
• Was actually a coward (traitor)
• Was feared, but not respected by
Greeks