Greek Mythology
A Review
of
Gods and Heroes
What is a myth?
•Traditional story
•Uses supernatural to explain natural
events
•Explains the culture’s view of the
universe and how man behaves
Why Study Greek Mythology?
•Provides information about ancient
Greek life, culture, and values
•Many allusions to Greek mythology
today
•Midas Muffler
•FTD
•Ford Mercury
•Apollo spacecraft
•Exciting, fun stories to read
Cronus
•Cronus hears prophecy that
his son will overthrow him
•Cronus swallows every
child his wife has
•His wife gives him a rock in
a blanket and takes baby
Zeus away to grow up
somewhere else
•Zeus comes back and
overthrows Cronus
The Olympians
Zeus
•Supreme god of
the Olympians
•Fathered many
characters in
mythology
•Symbol: lightning
bolt
Zeus
Hera
•Zeus’s sister and
wife
•Jealous protector
of marriage
•Punishes the
women Zeus falls
in love with
Poseidon
•God of the
Seas and
Waters
•“The
Earthshaker”
•Symbol:
trident
Hades
•God of the
Underworld/
Dead
•Cerberus – 3headed dog
•Kidnaps
Persephone
Demeter
•Goddess of the
Harvest
•A Goddess of
the Earth
•When
Persephone
gone, the earth
dies
Athena
•Goddess of
Wisdom and
War
•Sprang from
Zeus’s head
•Symbol: owl
Ares
•God of War
•Son of Zeus and
Hera
•Bloodthirsty and
merciless
Apollo
•God of
Light/Sun and
Music
•Brother of
Artemis
•Symbol: lyre
Artemis
•Goddess of the
Moon/ Hunt
•Tells Zeus she
wants to be a
maiden for ever
•Sister to Apollo
•Symbol: silver
bow and arrows
Hermes
•Messenger of
the Gods
•Appears in
more myths
than any other
character
•Symbols:
caduceus,
winged sandals
and hat
Persephone
•Goddess of the
Underworld
•Abducted by Hades
– her mother,
Demeter, is
heartbroken
•Persephone must
stay in Underworld
for half the year
because she ate
pomegranate seeds
– one month for
every year
Perseus and Medusa
•If you look Medusa
in the face, you
turn to stone
•Perseus kills her by
cutting her head
off while looking at
her reflection in his
shield
Hercules
•Demi-god –
son of Zeus
•Kills his family
while crazed
by Hera
•Completes 12
labors
(difficult
assignments)
Theseus and the Minotaur
• Theseus is a Prince
• Every year, 14 youth sent
to and killed by Minotaur
• Volunteers to be one of 14
• Helped by Adriane
(princess) – ball of thread
– helps him get out of
maze
• Kills the Minotaur
• Becomes king after father
throws himself off cliff
Orpheus and Eurydice
• Orpheus - musician
• His wife Eurydice killed by
snake  Underworld
• Hades agrees Eurydice
can leave and follow
Orpheus out
• Orpheus looks back 
she is gone forever
• He is sad – eventually
ripped apart by forest
nymphs  to Hades 
joins Eurydice
King Midas and the Golden Touch
• King Midas get in
trouble by ruling
against Apollo in
music contest  gets
donkey ears
• Then granted one
wish  wants
everything he touches
to turn to gold
• He hugs his daughter
 she turns to gold
 horrified
• Magic ability removed
Pandora’s Box
• Curious Pandora
created as punishment
to man – for stealing
fire
• Given box of gifts from
god
• Pandora opens box
• All world ills come out
and go throughout
world
• Hope is left
Jason and the Golden Fleece
•Jason seeks his
proper throne
•King tells him that
Jason can be king if
he gets the golden
fleece
•Jason and
Argonauts get the
fleece
•Jason becomes king