GREEK MYTHOLOGY SUPPLEMENTARY HANDOUT

First of all, a distinction must be made between “myth,” which means “story” in Ancient Greek, and “religion”. Although the Greek gods in mythology were the same gods that were worshipped by the people, different aspects of each god were venerated in different locations, at different times, and by people of varying character, social position, and ethnicity. In Greek religious practice, gods were given epithets, or descriptive names. In Athens alone, I have counted several of these for the god Apollo (Pythian = “slayer of the Delphic python”; Delian =”born on Delos”; Patroos=”father”; Lykeios=”of the wolves”; Daphnephoros=“bearing laurel”; Delphinios=”of the Dolphins”; Prostaterios=”guardian”; Hypoakraios=”under the heights”). Each cult-name generally represents a different shrine, and in some cases, a different form. Zeus, for example can be anything from the thunderbolt-throwing bearded man to a snake that lives under the floorboards of your house!

With that out of the way, let’s look at mythology. The main source for the Greek creation myths, and genealogy of the gods is Theogony, a work by a poet named Hesiod, around 700-650 BC. The next page is a genealogical chart that speaks for just how long and complex the poem is. It is a remarkable undertaking, and is printed from: http://www.debbiemcleod.com/mythology/images/genealogy.gif

On the following pages is a chart of the Greek deities, their major functions, their attributes (their symbols, things that they carry, or objects that are seen with them that might help you identify them in art), and an attempt at offering equivalent Roman names. This last aspect is something to be wary of, as Romans had their own religion before they adopted some aspects of Greek culture and religion, and sometimes the identifications of a Greek deity with a Roman one are tenuous at best. This chart is a modified version of that designed by Joe Jansen, University of Texas: http://www.utexas.edu/courses/mythologein/index.html

The modifications are intended to reflect my own additions as a specialist in the archaeology of Greek religion. Not all of the gods are listed on the charts. Greeks had many gods, representing many aspects of life. Each river and many streams had their own god. There were spirits who watched over the forests and the seas. The Greek gods, at worst, were as dangerous and unpredictable as wild beasts, or the monsters that are their cousins (the giants, cyclopes, hekatoncheires (hundred-handed giants), Typhon, etc.) At best, the gods and goddesses had the qualities of mankind, from human nobility, to human pettiness and jealousy. But they had much more power to benefit or harm the objects of their emotions at any given time, so the Greeks offered them worship with a roughly equal dose of thanks and fear.

The underworld, where the dead hoped to wind up (the souls of unburied dead were doomed to roam the earth), was neither heaven nor hell, but a gloomy place of lost souls, wandering around aimlessly and barely aware most of the time. The exception to this is the Elysian Fields, where dead heroes and great people enjoyed relaxation, hunting, games, etc. in a paradisiacal setting.

Greek Roman Parentage Concern Attributes Name Name Sky god, Beard, weather, Jupiter / thunderbolt, Zeus Cronus - Rhea sovereignty, Jove eagle, scepter, oaths, throne guests/hosts Marriage, Matron, Hera Juno Cronus - Rhea family peacock Matron; ears of Harvest, Demeter Ceres Cronus - Rhea corn; often w/ Nature Persephone Wild animals; maidenhood, Bow, short Artemis Diana Zeus - Leto successful skirt; often w/ childbirth, animals coming of age Doves; often w/ Love, human Zeus - Dione or Eros(Cupid), fertility, sexual Aphrodite Venus Uranus' genitals and her son. Often attraction, the sea nude or partially beauty so. Commerce, Hat, caduceus travel, thieves, (staff w/ Hermes Mercury Zeus - Maia leads souls to snakes), winged land of the sandals dead “Male” crafts, Lame, bald; Hephaestus Vulcan Hera (alone) metallurgy hammer Water, sea; Beard, trident; Poseidon Neptune Cronus - Rhea earthquakes, chariot over the horses sea Healing, music Young, / poetry, beardless, lyre, Apollo Apollo Zeus - Leto prophecy, bow, coiffure, disease, laurel wreath borders

Beardless, Ares Mars Zeus - Hera War, violence shield, sword Civilized life / culture; “female” crafts, Helmet, spear, Athena Minerva Zeus - Metis maidenhood, aegis, owl, olive war (for Athenians); cleverness Household, Matron (rarely Hestia Vesta Cronus - Rhea hearth fire pictured) Ivy in the hair; Ecstasy; panther skin; alcohol, often w/ grapes, Maenads and Dionysus Liber Pater Zeus - Semele drunkenness Baachantes, theater, masks, Thyrsus war-frenzy (a staff with a pinecone on it) Goat legs, Wild animals; pointed ears, Pan Faunus Hermes -nymph shepherds horns, musical pipes Club, lion skin Civilizing over head, bow Heracles Hercules Zeus - Alcmene force, strength, or sword in heroism early depictions Beard, duodent The dead, (two-pronged Hades Dis Pater Cronus - Rhea underworld spear), rarely pictured Young woman; The dead; Persephone Proserpina Zeus - Demeter often w/ agriculture Demeter Beard, staff w/ Asclepius Aesculapius Apollo - Coronis Medicine snake, saucer