Transcript The Odyssey
The Odyssey The Greek Gods & Goddesses What is mythology? • my-thol-o-gy 1. A body or collection of myths belonging to a people and addressing their origin, history, deities, ancestors, and heroes. [from Greek mūthologiā, story-telling : mūthos, story + -logiā, -logy.] The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company. What is mythology? • A myth is a story, usually of unknown origin, • that describes actual events and is associated with religious belief. Myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman beings involved in extraordinary events or circumstances in a time that is unspecified but which is understood as existing apart from ordinary human experience. Why study Greek mythology? • • To understand ancient Greek civilization -to learn how human beings thought and felt thousands of years ago 1. closer connection with nature 2. little distinction between the real and the unreal -gods are a reflection of what a society values To learn more about human culture as a whole (ourselves) Why study mythology? • To enhance our understanding of literature Greek mythology: the dawning of a new age In the pre-Greek world, gods looked like this: The Greeks made their gods in their own image: All the art and all the thought of Greece centered in human beings. The Greek gods look like us!! The Greek gods also act like we do. •Zeus is the weak man who can’t turn down a pretty face. •Hera is the typical jealous wife. •The gods were companionable, YET they had their dark spots. •Limited sense of right and wrong The Gods and the Creation • The gods did NOT create the universe; the universe created the gods. • Heaven and earth were the first parents. • The Titans were their children, and the gods were their grandchildren. Zeus defeats his father • The Titans, known as the Elder Gods, were of enormous size and incredible strength. • The most important was Cronus, who ruled over the other Titans until his son Zeus dethroned him and seized the power for himself. The Twelve Great Olympians • After the defeat of the Titans, the twelve great Olympians were supreme among the gods. • They lived on Mount Olympus, guarded by a great gate of clouds kept by the Seasons. • They feasted on ambrosia and nectar and listened to Apollo’s lyre. • It was a place of perfect peace and harmony- there was no wind, rain, or snow. The Twelve Great Olympians Zeus Poseidon Hades Hestia Hera Ares Athena Apollo Aphrodite Hermes Artemis Hephaestus Zeus Lord of the Sky, the Rain-god and the Cloud-gatherer; the supreme ruler! • Not omnipotent or omniscient- can be opposed and deceived. The mysterious power Fate is spoken of as stronger than him. • His love affairs with women are endless; he is always trying to hide his infidelity from his wife, Hera. • The reason why someone so majestic is described as unfaithful is because Zeus is a combination of many gods. -The wife of the early god was transferred to Zeus. His bird- the eagle His tree- the oak Poseidon God of the Sea •All-important to the sea-roving Greeks. •His wife was Amphitrite, granddaughter of the Titan Ocean. •Had a magnificent palace beneath the sea, but he was more often found in Olympus. •Gave the first horse to man. •Commonly called “Earth-shaker.” •Often depicted carrying his trident, a three-pronged spear he used to shake and shatter whatever he desired. Hades Lord of the Underworld • Also referred to as Pluto, the God of Wealth (named after the precious metals hidden in the earth). • He had a helmet which made whoever wore it invisible. • He rarely left his dark realm to visit Olympus or the earth. • Not a welcome visitor. • His wife was Persephone whom he carried away from the earth and made Queen of the Lower World. Apollo God of Light; God of Truth; the Archer-god; the Healer • Called Phoebus Apollo; • • • • • • Phoebus means brilliant,” or “shining” “The most Greek of all the gods.” Son of Zeus and Leto Master musician who delights Olympus with his golden lyre First taught men the healing art His sacred creatures: the dolphin and the crow His tree: the laurel Hermes Zeus’s Messenger; the Master Thief; God of Commerce • Zeus was his father and Maia, daughter of Atlas, his mother. • Graceful and swift of motion; wears winged sandals and wings on his hat. • His wand is a caduceus, or a short herald’s staff entwined by two serpents in the form of a double helix surmounted by wings. This staff was first borne by Iris, the messenger of Hera. •Shrewdest and most cunning of all the gods, he stole Apollo’s herds when he was a day old! He won Apollo’s forgiveness by presenting him with a lyre which he had just invented, making it out of a tortoise’s shell. •He was also the guide of the dead. Aphrodite The Goddess of Love and Beauty •Also treacherous and malicious •She was the wife of Hephaestus, the lame and ugly god of the forge. •Her bird: the dove; her tree: the myrtle • She is said to have sprung from the foam of the sea, and her name means “the foam risen.” Aphros is foam in Greek. • Sea-birth took place near Cythera, from where she was wafted to Cyprus. • She charmed both gods and men alike. • The laughterloving goddess. Without her there is no loveliness nor joy anywhere. Ares God of War • Son of Zeus and Hera, both of • • • • whom, Homer says, detested him. Murderous, bloodstained, the curse of mortals; also, a coward. He runs away when wounded in battle. He has a small role in Greek mythology. He is not a distinct personality, but is more a symbol of war. He is the lover of Aphrodite and held up to the contempt of the Olympians by Aphrodite’s husband, Hephaestus. His bird: the vulture Athena Goddess of Wisdom, Peace, Warfare, Purity, Skill, and Reason • She was the daughter of Zeus • • • • • • • alone- she sprang from his head full-grown and in full-armor. Fierce and ruthless battle-goddess in The Iliad. Virgin patron of Athens, the Parthenon was built to honor her. The protector of civilized life, of handicrafts and agriculture The inventor of the bridle, she first tamed horses for men to use. Zeus’s favorite child Her tree: the olive (created by her) Her bird: the owl Athena, the protector of Odysseus The Greek goddess Athena championed many heroes, offering them her advice and protection, helping them to win their battles. In one of her most famous adventures Athena would assume the shape of various men, women, and children to guide the wandering Odysseus. Her protection allowed the suffering hero to finally return safely to his home and family. Works Cited Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. New York: Warner Books, Inc., 1942. Do you believe in guardian angels? Explain and give examples. If you could travel back in time to the misty peaks of Mount Olympus and be a Greek god or goddess for one day, who would you be and why?