Transcript Greek & Roman Mythology

Greek &
Roman
Mythology
An Introduction to a major religion of
early Mediterranean history
• Polytheistic religion
• Spread through Greek
Colonies & Roman Empire
– Traces of Greek myths found in
Modern Italy, Bulgaria and
Turkey
– The Gods honored depended on
economic and culture needs
within that society
Example of Myth
Themes
1. Provide heroes, examples of
people who demonstrate
admirable qualities
2. Stories of how things came to
be
3. Consequences of undesirable
behavior.
Zeus
- Chief God,
presided, with
12 other Gods
on thrones at
Mt. Olympus
- God of
Thunder &
Lightening
-Olympic Games in honor of him
Hera
Goddess of Marriage
Was of the “Great
Goddess” religions,
many spectacular
temples were built
to honor her
After Homer’s Iliad,
always portrayed as
jealous shrew
Poseidon
• God of Sea, Earthquakes, Horses
• Shape
Shifting
• Lost
patronage of
Athens to
Athena
Hades
• God of the Underworld
• Stern, Cruel and
Unpitying but
just
• Feared by men
• Statue Represents
the kidnapping
of Persephone
Demeter
• Goddess of Agriculture
• Symbolized by sheaf of
grain
Hestia
• Goddess of Hearth,
Domesticity & Family
• Gave up her throne on
Olympus to Dionysus
Athena
• Goddess of
Wisdom, Crafts
and Cunning
Warfare,
Symbolized by the
Owl
• Born from Zeus’
head
• Athens named for
her, she gave them
the olive tree
Apollo
• God of Prophecy, Music &
Healing
• Egoistic
• Associated with the sun
The Twins
Artemis
• Goddess of the Hunt
• Helped women in
childbirth
• Associated with the moon
Aphrodite
• Goddess of Love, Beauty &
Fertility
• Symbolized by dolphins,
doves & swans
• Vain & ill-tempered
Ares
• God of War, or at least
war-like frenzy
• Handsome & cruel, had
affairs with Aphrodite
• Father of Romulus &
Remus, Founders of Rome
Hephaestus
• Blacksmith God, very
skilled craftsman
• Long suffering
husband of Aphrodite
Hermes
• Messenger God with winged
sandals
• Guides dead souls, prankster
who is helpful to humans