Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology

What was it?Earliest Soap Operas

Full of sex, violence, and politics.

Gods helped make sense of a cruel and difficult world.

The gods were just as petty, greedy, and self-centered as humans.

Families worshiped them daily before a shrine of statues.

People believed that if you didn’t worship, you got yourself in trouble!

What was it?

The Origins…Chaos gave birth to Uranus and Gaea (Sky

and Earth) who gave birth to…

Titans, Hecatoncharies, and 3 Cyclopes

Let’s Focus on the Titan Kronos….

KronosWife was RheaFeared his children

would kill himSo he ate them all

except Zeus. His mom hid him in cave.

When he was a teenager, Zeus came back and cut open his dad’s stomach, freeing his brothers.

ZeusPoseidonHades

The Drew Straws to figure out who ruled what.

The Big 3

Zeus became ruler of all Gods. Lived in the sky and had thunderbolts for weapons.

Poseidon became ruler of the sea.

Hades became ruler of the underworld.

The Big 3

ZeusHad lots of affairsWife was HeraKept gods peaceful

PoseidonCruised the ocean in

a chariot pulled by horses with bronze hooves and golden hair.

Carried a Trident

Tormented Odysseus

Hades—God of the UnderworldHad 3 headed dog

named Cerebuslevels of Hades1. Tantalus2. Tartarus

Other Gods:HephaestusHeraHermesApolloAresAphroditeDemeterArtemisHeraclesAthenaAchilles

Don’t FREAK OUT!

You’ll get to know them all really well.

Ares—God of WarThe god no one

worshipped.

Even his parents, Zeus and Hera hated him.

Blood-thirsty and feared by the Greeks.

Hermes—Messenger of the godsWorshipped for good

luckLast drink of the

night was toasted to Hermes.

Carried a Caduceus

Athena—Goddess of WisdomBorn when Zeus had

a headache. He had Hephaestus crack open his skull and out came Athena in full armor.

Helped humans like Hercules and Odysseus

Aphrodite—Goddess of LoveThe most smoking

hot babe ever.

But very insecure

Hephaestus—Blacksmith of the GodsUglySkilled at metal

workingCreated PandoraHis forges were

volcanoes!Considered kind and

peace-loving

Artemis—Maiden GoddessLover of the woods.

Archer

Demeter—Goddess of the HarvestHer daughter

Persephone was kidnapped by Hades.

Persephone was kidnapped during winter. Her mom gets depressed and kills all the plants.