Gods and Goddesses Gods and Goddesses NewsletterNewsletter

Persephone, Pandora’s Box, Persephone, Pandora’s Box, and Poseidonand Poseidon

Roles of ChildrenRoles of Children

• PersephonePersephone– Daughter of Demeter who gets kidnapped when she strays Daughter of Demeter who gets kidnapped when she strays

from Demeter’s watch. She shows the trouble that curiosity from Demeter’s watch. She shows the trouble that curiosity causes for the children of the Gods.causes for the children of the Gods.

• Pandora’s BoxPandora’s Box- Pandora had the curiosity of a child when she opened the box, - Pandora had the curiosity of a child when she opened the box,

and created great chaos like every child is capable of in and created great chaos like every child is capable of in mythologymythology

• PoseidonPoseidon– Poseidon’s sons Orion and Triton represent things that are Poseidon’s sons Orion and Triton represent things that are

symbolic to Poseidon. symbolic to Poseidon.

Roles of Males and Females Roles of Males and Females in in MythologyMythology

• Roles of WomenRoles of Women• Women are generally seen as vain rulers, Wives Of great Women are generally seen as vain rulers, Wives Of great

Gods, damsels in distress or curious people who cause all of Gods, damsels in distress or curious people who cause all of the pain and suffering..the pain and suffering..

• Persephone fits the damsel in distress role when she is Persephone fits the damsel in distress role when she is captured by Hades.captured by Hades.

• Pandora rules the box that Zeus gave to her with great Pandora rules the box that Zeus gave to her with great care, but she opens it with curiosity and all of the evils of care, but she opens it with curiosity and all of the evils of the world fly out. Pandora fits the description that women the world fly out. Pandora fits the description that women always start the conflicts in the world of mythology. She always start the conflicts in the world of mythology. She was also the first woman created.was also the first woman created.

• Roles of MenRoles of Men• Heroes who tend to be very impulsive and can still be seen Heroes who tend to be very impulsive and can still be seen

as great even when they make mistakes.as great even when they make mistakes.• Poseidon is still seen as one of the greatest Gods even Poseidon is still seen as one of the greatest Gods even

though he lost the fight over Athensthough he lost the fight over Athens

The Roles of Symbols and The Roles of Symbols and MythsMyths• PersephonePersephone

– Flowers – represent her spirit and life because when she gets Flowers – represent her spirit and life because when she gets pulled down to the underworld, the flowers fall from her apron pulled down to the underworld, the flowers fall from her apron to represent the loss of her spirit.to represent the loss of her spirit.

– Pomegranate Seeds – Represent death because it symbolizes Pomegranate Seeds – Represent death because it symbolizes how long Persephone has to stay in the underworld.how long Persephone has to stay in the underworld.

– Sadness of Demeter – Turns into the seasons of winter and fall.Sadness of Demeter – Turns into the seasons of winter and fall.• Pandora’s BoxPandora’s Box

– Box – Represents all of the evils in the world that get Box – Represents all of the evils in the world that get released when someone opens it.released when someone opens it.

• PoseidonPoseidon– Trident – Earth shaker and wave maker.Trident – Earth shaker and wave maker.– Horses – Made from the wavesHorses – Made from the waves– Dolphins – creatures of the sea that represent Poseidon.Dolphins – creatures of the sea that represent Poseidon.

Roles of Good and EvilRoles of Good and Evil

• PersephonePersephone– Persephone is brought to a place of evil when Persephone is brought to a place of evil when

she is captured by Hades, but is saved by good she is captured by Hades, but is saved by good when her mother brings her back to the upper when her mother brings her back to the upper world where she is happy.world where she is happy.

• Pandora’s BoxPandora’s Box– Pandora’s box is supposed to hold all of the Pandora’s box is supposed to hold all of the

evils in the world as well as the good.evils in the world as well as the good.• PoseidonPoseidon

- Poseidon uses evil when he is unhappy by - Poseidon uses evil when he is unhappy by sending monsters and making natural disasters.sending monsters and making natural disasters.

Use of Greco Roman Myths Use of Greco Roman Myths TodayToday• LiteratureLiterature

– A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s Dream By William Shakespeare By William Shakespeare– Oberon and Titania represent the King and Queen of the Oberon and Titania represent the King and Queen of the

Mythological world in Athens. Their servant Puck Mythological world in Athens. Their servant Puck represents all of the gods and goddesses.represents all of the gods and goddesses.

• MoviesMovies– The Little Mermaid represents Poseidon as the king of The Little Mermaid represents Poseidon as the king of

the sea.the sea.

• AdvertisementAdvertisement– In scuba diving stores, many carry a product called the In scuba diving stores, many carry a product called the

Poseidon Triton which is a device that helps people Poseidon Triton which is a device that helps people breath under water. The company that makes it is breath under water. The company that makes it is called Leisure Pro.called Leisure Pro.

Heroes and Heroines of our Heroes and Heroines of our WorldWorld

• ParentsParents

• PolicemenPolicemen

• Founding Fathers of The United Founding Fathers of The United StatesStates

• FiremenFiremen– Pop Culture HeroesPop Culture Heroes

•Superman Superman

•BatmanBatman

Mirror Images of Gods and Mirror Images of Gods and Goddesses in our WorldGoddesses in our World

• Pandora’s box is used as an Pandora’s box is used as an expression to say that when one bad expression to say that when one bad thing is done, other bad things follow thing is done, other bad things follow that are related to a first thing.that are related to a first thing.

• Biblical imagesBiblical images– Pandora is interested in opening the box Pandora is interested in opening the box

just like Eve is interested in eating the just like Eve is interested in eating the apple. Both decisions bring out pain and apple. Both decisions bring out pain and suffering for all of mankind.suffering for all of mankind.

English Words Derived from English Words Derived from Greek Greek and Roman Goddesses and Roman Goddesses • PersephonePersephone

– Punicum : Pomegranate Punicum : Pomegranate – Furari : kidnapFurari : kidnap– Tempus: SeasonsTempus: Seasons

• Pandora’s BoxPandora’s Box– Gout : painful inflammation of the jointsGout : painful inflammation of the joints

• Latin: guttaLatin: gutta– Colic – Pain in the colonColic – Pain in the colon

• Latin : ColicaLatin : Colica– Rheumatism – pain in any of the extremities or backRheumatism – pain in any of the extremities or back

• Gk – rheumatismosGk – rheumatismos• Latin – rheumatismLatin – rheumatism

• PoseidonPoseidon– Pearl : Perna : SeaPearl : Perna : Sea– Aqua : waterAqua : water– Equestrian: equus: horseEquestrian: equus: horse– Isthmus: isthmos: narrow strip of landIsthmus: isthmos: narrow strip of land– Trident: three toothTrident: three tooth

BibliographyBibliography

Athena and PoseidonAthena and Poseidon [online]. Available URL: [online]. Available URL: http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~lintott/Mythreader/Gods/AthenaandPoseidon/Athttp://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~lintott/Mythreader/Gods/AthenaandPoseidon/At

henaPoseidon.html#poseidonhenaPoseidon.html#poseidon. 10/27/02. 10/27/02

D’aulaire, Ingri and Edgar. D’aulaire, Ingri and Edgar. Book of Greek Myths.Book of Greek Myths. New York: Bantam Doubleday New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing group, Inc., 1962Dell Publishing group, Inc., 1962

Greek MythologyGreek Mythology [online]. Available URL: [online]. Available URL: http://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Persephone/persephone.htmlhttp://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Persephone/persephone.html

Mythology on Our Solar SystemMythology on Our Solar System [online] Available URL: [online] Available URL: http://www.terryparker.duval.k12.fl.us/Space_Science/Mythology/http://www.terryparker.duval.k12.fl.us/Space_Science/Mythology/, 10/27/02, 10/27/02

Pandora's Box.Pandora's Box. hosted by geocities. Available URL: hosted by geocities. Available URL:http://http://www.geocities.com/una_sorella/stories/pandora.htmwww.geocities.com/una_sorella/stories/pandora.htm