Mythology What is a myth?

 A traditional story used to explain beliefs about the world  Uses the supernatural to interpret natural events  The Greeks used myths and the gods/goddesses to explain almost everything  Myths often include Gods/Godesses, Monsters, and Human Heroes The Titans (The Elder Gods)

 There were many of them.  Enormous size, incredible strength  Cronos: Ruler of the titans  Rhea: Wife of Cronos The Olympian Gods

 These gods were said to live on  Cronos and Rhea Mount Olympus were parents of – Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) – Poseidon (Neptune) – Hades (Pluto) – Hera (Juno) – Demeter (Ceres) Zeus

 Roman Name: Jupiter  Supreme god of the Olympians.  Fathered many characters in mythology Hera

 Roman Name: Juno  Zeus’s sister and wife  Jealous  Punished the women Zeus fell in love with Poseidon

 Roman Name: Neptune  God of the Seas and Waters  “The Earthshaker” Hades

 Roman Name: Pluto  God of the Underworld/ Dead  Kidnapped Persephone Demeter

 Roman Name: Ceres  Goddess of the Earth and Harvest Athena

 Roman Name: Minerva  Goddess of Wisdom and War  Sprang from Zeus’s head Ares

 Roman Name: Mars  God of War  Son of Zeus and Hera  Bloodthirsty and merciless Hephaestus

 Roman Name: Vulcan  God of Fire/Forge  Son of Zeus and Hera  Kind, unlike his brother Apollo

 Roman Name: Apollo  God of Light/Sun and Music  Brother of Artemis Artemis

 Roman Name: Diana  Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt  Sister to Apollo Hermes

 Roman Name: Mercury  Messenger of the Gods  Appears in more myths than any other character  Son of Zeus and Maia Aphrodite

 Roman Name: Venus  Goddess of Love and Beauty  Daughter of Zeus and Dione Dionysus

 Roman Name: Bacchus  God of Wine and theater  Son of Zeus and Senele Eros

 Roman Name: Cupid  Young God of Love  Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus Creatures of Mythology

 Satyrs~Gods of the  Gorgons~ snake woods and haired monsters. mountains. Half There are 3, Medusa man, half goat is the most famous.  Muses~ Goddesses Turn human to who presided over stone arts and sciences  Centaurs~ half man half horse. Savage

Heroes of Mythology

 Hercules~ known to  Theseus~ known for be the strongest triumph over many mortal. Completed monsters. Killed the 12 labors given to minotaur in the him by Hera. labryinth Became a god upon  Odyssesus~ King of after his death. Ithaca. Known for  Perseus~ known for his Trojan Horse his quick thinking. idea and his travel s Killed Medusa. home from the Trojan War