The Gods By: Allie Mahai and Katja Smeltzer
The Lesser Gods
Eros (Cupid)-god of love • Gives good gifts to humans. • Often represented as blindfolded.
The Graces • Aglaia (Splendor) • Euphrosyne (Mirth) • Thalia (Good cheer)
The Muses • Clio-History • Urania-Astronomy • Melpomene-Tragedy • Thalia-Comedy • Terpsichone-Dance • Calliope-Epic poetry • Erato-Love poetry • Polyhymnia-Songs
The Fates • Give men their good and evil at birth • Clotho (Spinner) • Lachesis (Disposer of Lots) • Atropos (Cut the Thread at Death)
Water Gods • Triton-Trumpeter of the sea • Naiads-water nymphs
The Titans And The 12 Olympians
Titans • Ocean(river supposed to encircle Earth) • Tethys(wife of Ocean) • Hyperion(the father of the Sun) • Mnemoyne(memory) • Themis(Justice) • Lapetus(Importance becaue of sons) • Atlas(carried world on shoulders) • Prometheus(savior of mankind)
Zeus & Hera • Zeus (Jupiter) • Drew lots for share of universe • Became God of gods • Lord of sky, rain, and clouds • Can’t be taken down but can be opposed/deceived • Fate stronger • Falls in love over and over • Personality made by combining many gods • Hera (Juno) • Jealous • Wife + Sister of Zeus • Protector of marriage • Punished women Zeus fell in love with • Trojan war could have ended in peace • Cow and Peacock sacred to her • Favorite city: Argos
Poseidon & Athena • Poseidon (Neptune) • God of the sea • Zeus’s brother • Wife: Amphitrite • Gave first horse to man • Control over storm (winds/waters) • Nickname “Earth-shaker” • Carried Trident • Sacred Animals: Horse and Bull • Pallas Athena (Minerva) • Goddess of wisdom, battle, and civilization • Sprang from Zeus’s head as an adult in armor/Zeus’s favorite • Protects state/home/civilization/ handicrafts/agriculture • Parthenon • Olive • Athens
Apollo & Artemis • Phoebus Apollo • God of music and archery • Son of Zeus and Leto • Most Greek of all gods • Master musician/Lyre • Archer-god • Taught men the healing art • God of light and truth • Tree: Laurel • Animals: Dolphin and Crow • Artemis(Diana) • Goddess of the hunt • Protector of the youth • Apollo’s twin sister • Daughter of Zeus & Leto • Lady of wild things • Huntsman-in-chief to the gods • Sacred: Cypress, wild animals • Animal: Deer
Aphrodite & Hermes • Aphrodite (Venus) • Goddess of love and beauty • Daughter of Zeus and Dione/sprung from seafoam • Wife of Hephaestus • Tree: Myrtle • Bird: Dove, sometimes swan • Hermes (Mercury) • Messenger God • Son of Zeus and Maia • Winged sandals and hat, wand • Zeus’s messenger • Shrewd and cunning • Master thief • Guide for the dead
Hephaestus & Hestia • Hephaestus(Vulcan) • God of fire • Son of Zeus and Hera/ Hera alone • Only ugly/lame immortal • Cast out of heaven • Amorer/Smith of Immortals • Kindly, Peace-loving god • Hestia(Vesta) • Virgin goddess, no distinct personality • Goddess of the Hearth • Zeus’s sister • Cities had a public Hearth • Newborns walked around hearth
Ares (Mars) • God of war • Son of Zeus and Hera • Murderous and bloodstained • Coward when wounded • Men “rush to glorious death” • Bird: Vulture • Animal: Dog
Hades & Persephone • Hades(Pluto) • God of the underworld & wealth • 3rd brother of Zeus • Cap of invisibility • Terrible, but not evil • Stole &Imprisoned Persephone • Persephone (Proserpina) • Goddess of the harvest • Daughter of Demeter • Stolen and Imprisoned by Hades
Analogy • Neptune- King Neptune in Spongebob • Triton- Ariel’s dad in The Little Mermaid
The Underworld • Ruled by Hades • Erebus and Tartarus • Charon ferries souls of the dead over the River Styx (money) • Cerebus: 3-headed, dragon-tailed dog who permits all spirits to enter, but none to return. • Rhadamanthus, Minos, Aeacus • Furies punish evildoers • Sleep and Death also reside there • Phlegethon (fire), River Styx, Lethe (forgetfulness) • Manes-good spirits, Lemures-wicked (Roman)
Lesser Gods/Creatures of the Earth • Pan: Son of Hermes, Father of Silenus, noisy and merry (goatherd’s/shepherd’s god) • Silenus: Son of Pan/Brother of Hermes (fat, drunk) • Sileni: Part man, part horse (two legs) • Satyrs: Goat men • Dryads: Tree/mountain nymphs • Centaurs: Half man, half horse, savage (Chiron) • Sirens: Enchanting voices, led sailors to their death
Higher-Level Questions • Do you think Zeus/Hera’s general actions are justified? Who do you think in the right? • Discuss the similarities and differences between the gods and heroes/mortals. • How would you describe Hades? As the “bad guy” or merely an opponent for Zeus?
