Zeus

Leader of the gods (Earth/sky)

Hera is his wife-distrusted him for having affairs with other goddesses/humans
 Symbols –lightning bolt(throws when angry), and eagle
Poseidon

God of the sea

Worshipped by sailors (honored him for good weather)
 Uses a trident as a weapon

Symbol- horse (given to him by humans) , chariot, dolphins
Hades

God of the underworld
 Brother of Zeus
 Carried a scepter

Owned all the gems and metals in the ground (god of wealth)

Had a three –headed dog
 Kidnapped Persephone
Hera

Zeus’ wife and sister

Protector of marriage – always concerned about Zeus’ affairs

Goddess of marriage
 Peacock and cow are sacred animals
Ares

Son of Zeus and Hera (who disliked him)

God of war
 Carries a bloodstained spear

Causes trouble , steps back and then watches and laughs
Demeter

Goddess of agriculture/plants


Symbols-wheat/barley

Mother of Persephone
Aphrodite
 Greek goddess of love/beauty
 Symbols-roses, sparrows, dolphins

Often related with the sea
Apollo
 Son of Zeus and Leto
 Twin brother of Artemis

God of the sun

God of prophesy, light, youth, music, archery, healing(medicine), plague, and poetry
 Invented the lyre
Artemis

Daughter of Zeus and Leto

Twin sister of Apollo
 Goddess of hunting and wild animals
 Goddess of maidens and childbirth

Goddess of the moon
Athena
 Daughter of Zeus (no mother-remember born out of head)
 Goddess of wisdom , crafts, and knowledge

Warrior goddess

Patron goddess of Athens
 Olive tree
Hermes
 Son of Zeus and Maia(daughter of Atlas)

Messenger of the gods

God of travelers, trickery, theft, commerce, and science
 Wings on his sandals
 Most cunning and clever of the gods

Most referenced

Hephaestus

God of fire/forge (melting metals)
 Volcano
Hestia
 Goddess of home and Hearth(fire)

Sister of Zeus
Prometheus

In charge of creating life (gives to Epimetheus thinks it is below him)

Gives humans fire
 Chained to a rock as punishment from Zeus
Atlas

Punishment was holding up the world
Persephone

Kidnapped by Hades
 Daughter of Demeter

Queen of the underworld
Cronus

Husband of Rhea
 Overthrown by Zeus
 Ate his children
Greek Heroic Stories
 Main character is human, but interacts with gods and goddesses-sometimes even challenging them! In some cases, the heroes may have god blood in them.

The heroic characters are admired by Greeks. They have many good qualities like strength, cleverness, and courage. Still, since they are human, they still have some small weaknesses. They must overcome these weaknesses. The hero of the story must face many challenged, and persevere, by the end of the story.


In many cases, gods, goddesses, and mythological characters interact and cause trouble for the humans.

The two most significant Greek heroic stories are called the Iliad and the Odyssey. Both stories involve the Trojan War.
 If it occurred, the Trojan War took place around 1200 BCE. Hundreds of years later,
Greek poet Homer is credited with telling these stories.

The Iliad is about how the Greeks took down the city-state of Troy (the Trojan Warlasted 10 years).
 The Odyssey is about the hero of the Trojan War, Odysseus, who takes 10 years to return home from war (because he upsets Poseidon).
Odysseus (How is Odysseus like a hero?)
 Odysseus tricked Cyclops

Told soldiers not to kill the Cyclops ( they could not move the stone)

Offered himself to be eaten (brave)

Intelligent made weapon to blind Cyclops (wisdom)
 Challenges Poseidon (brave)