THE GREEK GODS
ARJUN KAPOOR
GABRIELLA LECCESE
SEUNGMIN YI
RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND
In ancient times people often idolized gods
who looked nothing like them. However this was
not the case in Greek culture. The physical
appearance of gods and the behavior displayed
by these idols closely resembled those who
worshipped them, humans. These gods and
goddesses lived on Mount Olympus, where they
ruled over ancient Greece and served as the
basis upon which many tales and epics were
written, displaying both the pros and cons in
human idealism.
RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND
The Ancient Greeks had many different beliefs about the
Greek Gods. Each major god was the ruler of something broad.
They also had minor gods that were rulers of something more
specific. Pleasing the gods was particularly important because it
meant that good things would happen to the Greeks. The more
satisfied the gods were, the better Greek life would be.
Obviously it was a polytheistic religion, as there were
numerous gods that represented an aspect of Greek life in a
different way. The most common practice in Ancient Greece
was sacrifice. The temples of the Greek religion were not
gathering places because they were where animals were
offered as sacrificial offerings to one deity or another. Some
animal sacrifices were more valuable than others, because they
had been used primarily for that god only. For example, horses
were sacred to Poseidon as roosters were to Hermes.
BASIC BELIEFS IN GREEK RELIGION
The ancient Greeks believed in an afterlife that is
similar to what people believe today. Greeks believed
that once someone has died, he must cross the river of
Styx to go to the underworld. In order to cross by ferry, he
must pay Charon. That is why ancient Greeks placed a
coin under a person’s tongue when they have died. In the
underworld, Hades ruled over the dead with his wife,
Persephone. Cerberus watched over those who entered
and made sure nobody left. Heroes lived happily in the
Elysian fields. However, great sinner had their own
punishments that were assigned by Rhadamanthus, a
judge of the dead. Ancient Greeks believed in an afterlife,
where they would be judged on how they had lived their
lives on earth.
BASIS TO GREEK RELIGION ORIGIN
URANUS
Uranus was the lord of the Universe. He
ruled over heaven and was the father
of the twelve titans.
THE TITANS
The titans were the first twelve children of Uranus
and Gaea. The titans, six massive gods, married their
sisters, the titanesses. Gaea wanted to end Uranus’s
rule, because he was a cruel leader. Gaea chose her
youngest and strongest son, Cronus to overthrow
Uranus. Cronus succeeded, and Uranus fled Mount
Olympus.
CRONUS
Cronus was now the
ruler of the universe.
During his rule, the
humans had a Golden
Age, where everything
prospered. Gaea
became angry with
Cronus when he did
not set his brothers who
were thrown in the
deepest darkest pit
under the Earth by their
father. Cronus knew
that one of his sons
would be strong
enough to overthrow
him, so to protect his
power he swallowed
every god after they
were born.
Cronus’s wife, Rhea,
wanted more
children, so she
sought Gaea’s help
in stopping Cronus
from swallowing his
sixth child. Rhea put
stones in the baby
clothes, and gave it
to Cronus. Cronus
swallowed it, and
Rhea had to hide
Zeus in a cave to
keep Cronus from
discovering him.
ZEUS’S STRUGGLE FOR POWER
Zeus grew up in an isolated cave, where he was nursed by a magical goat, Amaltheia, and
nymphs. After he grew up into a great young god, he chose Metis as his first wife. She was
the goddess of prudence and warned him not to attempt to overthrow his father alone.
Metis tricked Cronus into eating a herb that made him vomit all of his children. Cronus knew
his kids will overthrow him soon, and surrendered his powers and fled. Zeus freed the
Cyclopes and the hundred-armed monsters from Tartarus, who were all grateful. In return,
the Cyclopes made Zeus and the other gods weapons. Poseidon was given a trident, Hades
received a cap of invisibility, and for Zeus, they made lightning bolts. Also, the Cyclopes
created Mount Olympus for the Gods. The titans fought against Zeus in a struggle for power,
but eventually lost and were thrown in Tartarus.
IMPORTANT FACTS ON
GREEK FIGURES
HERA
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Hera
The queen of Olympus
Jealous wife
She hated all of Zeus’s other wives
Zeus won Hera over by pretending he was a distressed
cuckoo bird and flew into her arms for protection
Mother Earth gave her a tree that bore apples of
immortality
She had a hundred eyed watchman to watch over her
precious garden, the Hesperides
Hermes killed her watchman
Hera put his eyes on her favorite bird, the peacock
HEPHAESTUS
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God of smiths and fire
Son of Zeus and Hera
hard working and peace loving god
Husband of Aphrodite
He had forges inside volcanoes on earth
His helpers were the Cyclops
APHRODITE
Goddess of love
Only Olympian who had neither mother nor father
She arose from the sea on a cushion of foam
The three graces, goddesses of beauty, were her
attendants
• Aphrodite had a son, Eros, who shot arrows of love
to unwary victims
• Aphrodite preferred Ares, the god of war, over her
husband, Hephaestus.
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ARES
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God of war
Handsome and vain
His companion was Eris, the spirit of strife
She had an apple of discord that caused disasters
Ares rushed into war, not caring who won or lost
ATHENA
• Goddess of wisdom
• Favorite child of Zeus
• Her mother was Metis, goddess of prudence and the first wife
of Zeus
• Zeus tricked Metis into turning into a fly so he could swallow
her because if Metis bore a son, he would overthrow Zeus as
his father, Cronus dethroned his own father, Uranus
• She hammered a helmet and weaved a robe for Athena
• Athena came out of Zeus head
• Athena’s constant companion was Nike, the spirit of victory
• She fought with armies who had just reasons
• Athens became her city instead of Poseidon’s because she
gave them a valuable gift, the olive tree
POSEIDON
• Lord of the sea
• Moody and violent god
• His wife was Amphritrite, the daughter of the old sea
god, Nereus
• They had a son, Triton, who had fishtails for legs
HERMES
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Herald/messenger of the gods
Zeus’s son
Happiest of all gods
God of shepherds, travelers, merchants, thieves, and
any other people who survived with common sense
Mother is Maia, a Titan’s daughter
Lived in a cave in Mount Cyllene
Very mischievous
As a child he stole Apollos’ cows and hid them in his
cave
Put everyone to sleep with his lyre
Guided everyone on their “last journey” (to death)
APOLLO
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Zeus’s son/ Leto is his mother
Artemis is his twin
God of light and music
When grown Zeus sent to Delphi the Oracle (most
sacred place in Greece)
Apollo destroyed dragon Python that guarded the
oracle
Used 1000 silver shafts to kill dragon
Nymphs thanked Apollo with songs for killing dragon
Light and Music returned
DEMETER
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Goddess of the harvest
Persephone’s mother
Devastated when Persephone went to Underworld
Most of nature died because she was so upset
Goddess of the seasons
PERSEPHONE
Demeter’s daughter
Married to Hades
Queen of the underworld
Never wanted to leave Demeter
Got tricked into coming to the underworld by
Hades
• Originally did not eat the forbidden pomegranate
seed, but ended up eating it
• Had to stay in the Underworld for a portion of the
year
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ARTEMIS
Daughter of Zeus
Goddess of the hunt
Wanted to remain a maiden all her life
Went to the forest to bathe and a man watched
her named Acteaon
• Changed him into a stag to punish him
• Leto is her mother
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DIONYSUS
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Youngest of the gods
God of wine
Son of Zeus
Mother is a mortal
Kind God
Always has a good time
HESTIA
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Zeus’s oldest sister
Goddess of the hearth
Didn’t have a throne on Mount Olympus
Tends hearths around the universe
HADES
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Zeus’s oldest brother
God of the underworld
Married to Persephone
Lord of the Dead
Never went to Olympus
Stayed in the Underworld
GREEK GODS WHO PLAYED A
ROLE IN THE ODYSSEY
GREEK GODS IN THE ODYSSEY
• Zeus: Ultimate decider of Odysseus’s fate, Athena went to
Zeus to ask him to allow Odysseus to go home to Ithaka.
• Poseidon: He tried to stop Odysseus from getting home
because Odysseus blinded one of his sons, the Cyclopes.
• Athena: Helped Odysseus and Telemakhos throughout their
journeys. Athena continued to help Odysseus throughout his
lifetime because she wanted to get him away from Kalypso’s
Island
• The Cyclopes, The Sirens, Kirke, Kalypso were all minor gods
that played an important role in the Odyssey.
CONCLUSION
The Greek gods were mystical and important
figures in the lives of Ancient Greeks. They were a
source of comfort, because the Greeks used the
gods to explain things they could not. By taking on
human like qualities, the gods were able to connect
more with the people, because although they were
still extremely worshipped, the Greeks felt familiar with
the gods. The Greek gods played a role in Greek
society from the birth to the death of a person
because they were so important.
CITATIONS
Info:
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D’Aulaires’ book of Greek Myths
By: Ingri and Edgar Parin D’ Aulaire
Published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
1540 Broadway New York, New York 10036
Copyright 1962
http://library.thinkquest.org/28111/newpage2.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/greco-roman/overview.htm
Images:
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http://www.google.com/imgres?q=greek+religion+gaea+and+uranus&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=2351&bih=11
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s:0,i:73
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Uranus_(mythology).aspx/Cronus
http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/romanticism/arthistory_romanticism.html
http://www.korealawtoday.com/2012/08/31/clash-of-the-titans-scalia-v-posner-dispute-continues/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_mythological_figures
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