Mythology
What is a myth?
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A traditional story used to explain beliefs
about the world
Uses the supernatural to interpret natural
events
The Greeks used myths and the
gods/goddesses to explain almost everything
Myths often include Gods/Godesses,
Monsters, and Human Heroes
The Titans (The Elder Gods)
There were many of them.
 Enormous size, incredible strength
 Cronos: Ruler of the titans
 Rhea: Wife of Cronos
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The Olympian Gods
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Cronos and Rhea
were parents of
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Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)
Poseidon (Neptune)
Hades (Pluto)
Hera (Juno)
Demeter (Ceres)
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These gods were said to live on
Mount Olympus
Zeus
Roman Name:
Jupiter
 Supreme god of the
Olympians.
 Fathered many
characters in
mythology
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Hera
Roman Name:
Juno
 Zeus’s sister
and wife
 Jealous
 Punished the
women Zeus fell
in love with
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Poseidon
Roman Name:
Neptune
 God of the Seas
and Waters
 “The
Earthshaker”
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Hades
Roman Name:
Pluto
 God of the
Underworld/
Dead
 Kidnapped
Persephone
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Demeter
Roman
Name: Ceres
 Goddess of
the Earth and
Harvest
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Athena
Roman Name:
Minerva
 Goddess of
Wisdom and
War
 Sprang from
Zeus’s head
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Ares
Roman Name:
Mars
 God of War
 Son of Zeus and
Hera
 Bloodthirsty and
merciless
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Hephaestus
Roman Name:
Vulcan
 God of
Fire/Forge
 Son of Zeus
and Hera
 Kind, unlike his
brother
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Apollo
Roman
Name: Apollo
 God of
Light/Sun and
Music
 Brother of
Artemis
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Artemis
Roman
Name: Diana
 Goddess of
the Moon/
Hunt
 Sister to
Apollo
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Hermes
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Roman Name:
Mercury
Messenger of
the Gods
Appears in more
myths than any
other character
Son of Zeus and
Maia
Aphrodite
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Roman Name:
Venus
Goddess of Love
and Beauty
Daughter of
Zeus and Dione
Dionysus
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Roman Name:
Bacchus
God of Wine and
theater
Son of Zeus and
Senele
Eros
Roman Name:
Cupid
 Young God of
Love
 Son of
Aphrodite and
Hephaestus
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Creatures of Mythology
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Satyrs~Gods of the
woods and
mountains. Half
man, half goat
Muses~ Goddesses
who presided over
arts and sciences
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Gorgons~ snake
haired monsters.
There are 3, Medusa
is the most famous.
Turn human to
stone
Centaurs~ half man
half horse. Savage
Heroes of Mythology
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Hercules~ known to
be the strongest
mortal. Completed
12 labors given to
him by Hera.
Became a god upon
after his death.
Perseus~ known for
his quick thinking.
Killed Medusa.
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Theseus~ known for
triumph over many
monsters. Killed the
minotaur in the
labryinth
Odyssesus~ King of
Ithaca. Known for
his Trojan Horse
idea and his travel s
home from the
Trojan War