Mythology Greek Gods and Goddesses

MythologyGreek Gods and Goddesses An Introduction to The Odyssey

Mythology • What is a “myth”? • Myths are traditional stories rooted in primitive folk beliefs of cultures. • Myths use the supernatural to interpret natural events. • Myths explain the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity. • What we call “Greek mythology” was the basis for the religious beliefs in ancient Greece.

In the beginning… • There was Chaos, shapeless nothingness. • From Chaos was born two children: • Night (darkness) • Erebus (death) • Mysteriously, born from Night and Erebus was born Love. • When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish. • Love created Light and Day. • Earth was created, and Earth bore Heaven to be her shelter, and a home for the gods.

Mother Earth and Father Heaven • Mother Earth was referred to as Gaea. • Father Heaven was referred to as Ouran0s. • Gaea and Ouranos gave birth to three kinds of children: • Three Hecatonchires (monsters that had 100 hands and 50 heads) • Three Cyclopes (plural of cyclops, a giant with one eye). • The Titans

The Titans • The titans were the first characters to have the appearance of life and of men. • They were enormous in size and possessed incredible strength. • The notable titans are: • Chronos (Saturn) – the ruler of the titans • Rhea – the wife of Chronos • Ocean – the river that encircled the world • Iapetus – the father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (all also titans)

The Gods and Goddesses • Chronos and Rhea gave birth to six children: • Zeus • Poseidon • Hades • Hera • Hestia • Demeter • These children, as well as their children, became the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology, the Olympians.

Mount Olympus • Mount Olympus was the home of most of the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. • One major exception was Hades, who was the ruler of the Underworld.

Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) • The god of the sky and weather, especially of rain and lightning. • Zeus is the king of the gods. • As such, he is also the god of civilization and maintains order between cosmic and human affairs.

Hera (Juno) • Zeus’ sister and wife, and the queen of Olympus. • She is the goddess and protector of weddings and marriage. • Though not overly important in literature, she is a revered goddess. • Hera is also very jealous as Zeus had many affairs with mortals.

Poseidon (Neptune) • Poseidon is the brother of Zeus, and embodies the elemental forces of nature. • He is the god of water, earthquakes, and horses. • Poseidon is a crucial figure in The Iliad and The Odyssey, as he punishes Odysseus for his misdeeds, and is the father of the cyclopes.

Demeter (Ceres) • Demeter is the sister of Zeus. • She is the goddess of agriculture, as well as a goddess of fertility.

Hestia (Vesta) • Hestia is the sister of Zeus. • She is the youngest daughter of Chronos. • She is the goddess of the hearth (home). • She was also worshipped as the virgin goddess by cults of women known as the Vestal Virgins in Rome.

Hades (Pluto) • Brother of Zeus • Hades is an Olympian, but he does not live on Mount Olympus. • Hades is the ruler of the Underworld. • He is also the god of fertility and wealth.

Aphrodite (Venus) • Aphrodite was born of the sea when Ouranos was castrated by Chronos. • Occasionally she is depicted as the daughter of Zeus. • Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty, and desire. • She is married to the god Hephaestus.

Ares (Mars) • Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. • He is the god of war. • In some myths, Ares is depicted as the husband of Aphrodite, though many myths say that she is married to Hephaestus.

Hephaestus (Vulcan) • Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera, and brother to Ares. • He is the blacksmith of the gods, and the patron of mens’ handicrafts. • Hephaestus is also worshipped as the god of volcanoes and fire. • Hephaestus is the husband of Aphrodite.

Phoebus Apollo • Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto, the daughter of a titan. • He has a twin sister, Artemis. • Apollo is the god of prophecy, healing, and the arts. • Apollo was not originally the god of the sun, but has been frequently given this title.

Artemis (Diana) • Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. • She is the goddess of wild animals, hunting, and archery. • She is also the goddess of virginity. • Artemis is often mistaken as the moon goddess, though she is not.

Athena (Minerva) • Athena was born from the head of Zeus after he swallowed her mother, Metis, a titan. • Athena is the goddess of civilization, war, and wisdom. • Athena is particularly important in Homer’s poem, and she supports the Greek cause.

Dionysus (Bacchus) • Dionysus was born from the thigh of Zeus after he was tricked into killing Dionysus’s mother with a thunderbolt. • Dionysus is the god of the harvest, especially grapevine and ivy. • He is also the god of wine, poetry, and madness.

Hermes (Mercury) • Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia, the daughter of Atlas. • Hermes is a trickster and a thief. • He was the messenger of the gods, even able to travel to the Underworld. • He was the god of commerce, and a patron of travelers, heralds, and thieves.

Why are the gods and goddesses important? • In Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses frequently interfere with the lives and actions of mortals. • In The Iliad, Aphrodite becomes the patron of the Trojans, often influencing the battle in their favor. • Likewise, Athena becomes the patron of the Greeks, using her influence to assist them, especially Odysseus. • Poseidon also intervened with the war, commanding a sea serpent to eat the Trojan seer Laocoön, who warned the Trojans not to accept the gifts of the Greeks. • Because the Greeks were unthankful for Poseidon’s assistance, he was quick to punish their disrespect following the war: many never made it home.

Mythology and The Odyssey

Gods and Goddesses in The Odyssey • The most important gods and goddesses in The Odyssey are: • Athena, who is the protector of the Greeks and especially of Odysseus • Poseidon, who aided the Greeks but punishes Odysseus for his arrogance and lack of respect • Hermes, who appears from time to time in The Odyssey, typically to aide Odysseus • Aeolus, a lesser god of the winds, who aides Odysseus in spite of Poseidon • Other gods and goddesses are mentioned, but don’t play a significant role, such as Zeus and Aphrodite.

The Sirens and the Harpies • The Sirens (above) were bird-like from the waist-down, but human-like from the waist-up. They sang and lured sailors to their deaths. • The Harpies, like the Sirens, had features of women and birds, but they could fly.

Cyclopes • The cyclopes in The Odyssey are not the same as the original three cyclopes. • In The Odyssey, there are many cyclopes who are the children of Poseidon. • They are still large, one-eyed giants.

The Lotus-Eaters • The Lotus-Eaters were people living in northern Africa who consumed the lotus flower. • The lotus flower was believed to have been narcotic and caused people to become apathetic and lethargic. • Once a person consumed a lotus flower, they never wished to leave.

Laestrygonians • A tribe of giants and cannibals who destroyed passing ships by hurling boulders at them.

Circe • Circe is a minor goddess of witchcraft, and is sometimes described as the most beautiful of all immortals. • She used her magic to transform her enemies into animals.

Calypso • A nymph, often depicted as the daughter of Atlas. • Calypso detained Odysseus for a long time, distracting him from going home and completing his journey.

Scylla • Scylla was once a beautiful nymph, but out of jealousy, Amphitrite transformed her into a hideous monster with six heads, twelve tentacles for legs, a cat’s tail, and six dogs’ heads about her waist.

Charybdis • Charybdis was once also a beautiful nymph who was transformed into a large sea monster whose face is one giant mouth and whose arms and legs are flippers. • Each day, Charybdis swallows a large amount of water and then spits it out again, creating devastating whirlpools.

Tiresias • Tiresias was a blind prophet from the city of Thebes who was famous for his clairvoyance. • Tiresias was blinded by Athena, and cursed by many of the gods. • In The Odyssey, Odysseus must find the dead Tiresias to seek his prophetic advice.

Mythology Greek Gods and Goddesses