Pre-AP World History
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Greek Mythology
A “myth” is a traditional story about gods and heroes that societies use to explain their history and the world
around them. For the Ancient Greeks, their gods and goddesses were immortal beings who lived on Mount
Olympus (a tall mountain in northern Greece), controlled the universe, and occasionally came down to Earth
to cause trouble for humans.
The Greeks myths and gods explained natural phenomena. For example, the Greeks explained the seasons
through the story of Demeter, the goddess of fertility. The goddess Demeter had a daughter named
Persephone who brought her much joy. Persephone was married to Hades, the God of the Underworld. She
lived half of the year with Hades and half of the year on Mount Olympus. Demeter caused things on Earth to
grow, but only when she was happy and with Persephone. Therefore, half the year (summer) is bright and
plants grow fruitfully, while the other half of the year (winter, when Persephone and Demeter are apart) is
dark and lifeless.
Modern science has disproved the Greek myths – we know why the seasons change without explaining the
depression of the goddess Demeter – but this does not make them less real for the ancient Greeks. Read the
following mythological stories, answer some questions about them, and learn about the major Greek gods and
goddesses.
1. What is a myth?
2. List some characteristics of the Greek gods?
3. How did the Greeks use myths and gods in their daily lives?
Greek Creation Myth and Flood Story
In the beginning, there was Chaos, a shapeless, gaping void encompassing the entire universe. Chaos was ruled
by a goddess named Eurynome, which means "far-ruling" or "wide-wandering." Chaos was surrounded by an
unending stream of water ruled by the god Oceanus.
Eurynome was the Goddess of All Things, and desired to make order out of the Chaos. By coupling with the
North Wind, she gave birth to Eros, god of Love, also known as Protagonus, the "firstborn." Eurynome
separated the sky from the sea by dancing on the waves of Oceanus. In this manner, she created great lands
upon which she might wander, populating it with exotic creatures such as Nymphs, Furies, and Charites, as
well as countless beasts and monsters.
Also born out of Chaos were Gaia, called Earth, or Mother Earth, and Uranus, the embodiment of the Sky and
the Heavens, as well as Tartarus, god of the sunless and terrible region beneath the Earth.
Gaia and Uranus married and gave birth to the Titans, a race of formidable giants, which included a particularly
wily giant named Cronus. Cronus overthrew his father and became ruler of the Heavens. He had been warned
that one day his son would overpower him, so he swallowed his first five children by his wife Rhea.
This angered Gaia greatly, so when the youngest son, Zeus, was born, Gaia took a stone, wrapped it in
swaddling clothes and offered it to Cronus to swallow. This satisfied Cronus, and Gaia was able to spirit the
baby Zeus away to be raised on the island Crete.
Zeus grew up to be a powerful god, determined to overthrow his father. He got into immediate conflict with
Cronus, who did not know that this newcomer was his own son. Zeus needed his brothers and sisters help in
slaying the tyrant. Metis, Zeus's first wife, gave Cronus a potion that caused him to throw up his five previous
children, who were Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. Together they went to battle against their
father. Zeus and his siblings banished Cronus to Tartarus, the Dark World under the Earth.
Zeus brought order out of chaos and divided control of the universe among his siblings. He made himself
Supreme God over all, creating a great and beautiful place for his favored gods to live, on Mount Olympus.
Zeus made himself God of the Sky and all its phenomena, including the clouds as well as the thunderbolts. To
his brother Poseidon, he gave the rule of the Sea, and his brother Hades was made god of the Underworld.
Zeus’s sister Demeter became a goddess of Fertility, Hera (before she married Zeus and became a jealous
wife) was goddess of Marriage and Childbirth, and Hestia became goddess of the Hearth.
4. How did the world begin according to Greek myth?
5. What is the relationship between Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades?
6. How does this Creation and Great Flood Story (video clip) compare to stories from other
civilizations (Mesopotamia and the Hebrews)?
Major Greek Gods
Aphrodite was the most attractive goddess of Mount Olympus. She was the goddess of Love, Beauty and
Eternal Youth, arousing desire to gods and humans as well as birds and beasts. In addition, she was connected
with the death/rebirth of nature and human beings. Nevertheless, Aphrodite was a rather weak, frightful
goddess, according to the Iliad. Aphrodite's symbols were the girdle, which she was using to compel love, the
seashell and the mirror. Her sacred animal was the dove.
Apollo was the Greek god of the Music, also called the Sun God. He invented the lute (a plucked string
instrument with a body shaped like a pear), but most popular he was for his playing the lyre. Apollo excelled in
important music contests, competing against Greek god Hermes and the Satyr Pan as well as other deities. In
addition, Apollo owned the precious gift of prophecy, given to him by his father Zeus in his infancy, and was
the patron of the ancient city of Delphi, where the first oracle in Ancient Greece was located. Apollo and
Artemis are twin children of Zeus. His symbols were the lyre, the tripod, and the laurel tree.
Ares, the Greek god of War, was the son of Zeus and Hera. Just like his mother Hera, Ares had a very
difficult character to deal with and was therefore rather unpopular among the other deities and mankind. For
this reason, no Greek city wanted to have him as its patron. He often had conflicts and fights with Artemis,
the goddess of the Hunt and also with his sister Athena, especially during the Trojan War. His symbols were
the spear and the dog.
Artemis, the Virgin Huntress, was associated with the moon, nature, and childbirth. Apollo (the Sun God)
and Artemis are twin children of Zeus. Artemis was born before Apollo and had helped her mother Leto to
give birth to her little brother. Artemis had absolute sovereignty over nature and was said to bring fertility to
all places that worshipped her. Usually accompanied by Nymphs and Oceanids, Artemis loved to hunt with
arrows dipped in poison; oddly enough, Artemis was both a killer of wild animals and their protector. Her
symbol was the bow and her sacred animals were the snake and the deer.
Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, was born fully grown and armed out of Zeus’s head after he swallowed
Metis, her mother. Athena was the goddess who taught mankind various skills such as weaving and sewing to
the women and agriculture and metallurgy to men and was always giving precious advice and stood by on any
danger. She was known as "Athena Nike" (Athena the victorious), as she was believed to have given the
Athenians the victory during the Persian War. Athena's symbols were the distaff and the aegis- a goat-like
shield, to which the head of the Gorgon Medusa was fastened in order to terrify the opponents. Athena's
sacred animal was the owl, the symbol of wisdom.
Hades was the Greek god of the Dead and, according to Plato, [1] he should be considered as one of the
Olympian gods. Hades was the supreme ruler of the Underworld. Almost never did he leave his gloomy
kingdom but was residing there instead, surrounded by darkness and silence. Hades' helper was Charos, the
angel of dead. Charos had the duty to transfer the dead people 's souls with a boat over the River Acheron
from the world of the living to the world of the dead. Furthermore, Hades had a dog with three heads which
was named Cerberus. His sacred symbol was the helmet, which helped him stay invisible.
Hera was the Queen of the Gods, she is most often associated with bitterness and jealousy relating to her
husband. Although Hera was one of the fairest goddesses in Mount Olympus, Zeus gave Hera plenty of reason
to be suspicious and jealous; Hera therefore used to stay in high places in order to keep an eye on her
husband's doings. There were times she would also interfere, causing harm to Zeus' mistresses, since Zeus
himself was invincible. Hera's symbol was the pomegranate, a symbol of fertility, and her sacred animal was the
peacock.
Zeus, the King of the Gods and master of the thunderbolt, had his golden throne on the highest summit of
Mount Olympus and was respected and awed by all Gods and mortals. He was the "Lord of Justice", punishing
anyone who lied or broke an oath, but was fair and always striving to keep a balance of all things.
Furthermore, Zeus was responsible for the weather and was shaping it according to his temper. When in high
spirits, Zeus was blessing the world with fine weather; in case of bad mood, however, he would throw rain,
winds, lightnings and thunderbolts to cause disaster to the mortals. But even Zeus' powers had their limits,
for, however powerful as he was, he had neither the right nor the ability to intervene the decisions of the
Fates. Zeus was carefree and loved to laugh out loud[1]. He possessed the perfect knowledge and was just,
merciful and prudent. However, he was rather unpredictable, and not known for his faith to his wife, Hera.
The main symbol of Zeus was the thunderbolt. His sacred animal was the eagle.
NAME
Aphrodite
Apollo
Ares
Artemis
Athena
Hades
Hera
Zeus
GOD OF:
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CHARACTERISTICS
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FAMILY