Greek Mythology: The Gods and Creation

The Gods, the Creation, and the Earliest Heroes

The Greeks believed that the universe created the gods, not the gods created the universe
The universe's first children were heaven and earth, and their children were the titans
The titans' children were the gods, so the gods were the grandchildren of heaven and earth
Zeus overthrew the Titans, but they weren't banished, they just took a lower place
The twelve Great Olympians are the supreme gods, called “Olympians” because they live in Olympus, a mountain with a gate kept by the seasons
Zeus (Jupiter) is the lord of the sky, rain, and clouds and wields the thunderbolt
Zeus has many affairs with both goddesses and mortal women
Zeus has an aegis (breastplate) and an eagle as his animal
Poseidon (Neptune), Zeus's brother, is the ruler of the sea and called the “Earth-shaker”
Poseidon controls storms and calms the seas
Poseidon's wife is Amphitrite, Ocean's granddaughter
Poseidon is often seen in Olympus, but his main home is beneath the sea
Poseidon gave horses to man
Hades (Pluto), Zeus's third brother, is the king of the dead and the underworld
Hades is not death, Thanatos is death
Hades is the ruler of the underworld and the god of precious metals
Hades has an invisible cap
Hades is considered terrible, but not an evil god
Hades' wife Persephone is the Queen of the underworld
Hestia (Vesta), Zeus's sister, is the goddess of the hearth, who protects the home
Hestia, Athena, and Artemis are virgin goddesses
Hera (Juno) is the queen of the gods and Zeus' wife
Hera is in charge of marriage and family life
Hera has a peacock as her animal
Athena (Minerva) is the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts
Athena sprang from Zeus' head
Athena is a virgin goddess
Athena's animal is the owl
Ares (Mars) is the god of war
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera
Ares is often depicted as a bloodthirsty and ruthless god
Ares' animals are the wolf and vulture
Aphrodite (Venus) is the goddess of beauty, love, and desire
Aphrodite was born from the foam on the sea
Aphrodite's animals are the dove, swan, rose, and sparrow
Apollo (Phoebus) is the god of music, poetry, the sun, and light
Apollo's animal is the swan
Artemis (Diana) is the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and wild animals
Artemis is a virgin goddess
Artemis' animal is the deer
Hermes (Mercury) is the messenger of the gods
Hermes is the god of commerce, travel, and thieves
Hermes' animal is the tortoise
Hephaestus (Vulcan), Zeus's son, is the god of fire and metalworking
Hephaestus is often depicted as a deformed god
Hephaestus' animals are the donkey and the bird
Dionysus (Bacchus) is the god of wine and fertility
Dionysus' animal is the panther
Dionysus's mother was a mortal
The Romans adopted all the Greek gods and goddesses with slight name changes and modified stories

How The World and Mankind Were Created

The world was created from chaos, using the elements of earth, water, and air
First, the earth was born from the chaos. Then love (eros) was born.
Love created everything from the chaos

The Earliest Heroes

Europa was a Phoenician princess whom Zeus abducted
Zeus transformed himself into a white bull to kidnap Europa
Europa was the ancestor of the Minoans who ruled Crete

Stories of Love and Adventure

Cupid and Psyche is an illustration of love overcoming hardship
Psyche is the daughter of a king who was more beautiful than Aphrodite
Psyche's beauty angered Aphrodite, who commanded Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with the most repulsive man
Psyche was beautiful enough to make Cupid fall in love with her
Psyche is warned not to look at Cupid, but she ignores the warning
Cupid tells Psyche not to fear and returns his love
They are forever together and the story teaches that love is a powerful force that can overcome even the deepest sorrows
Pyramus and Thisbe is a story about star-crossed lovers
Pyramus and Thisbe were from neighboring families who were forbidden to be together
They communicate through a crack in the wall, planning to meet at a certain spot with a white mulberry tree as a landmark.
Thisbe arrives first and encounters a lioness, who rips her veil, which is left behind at the tree
Pyramus arrives later and sees the lioness's bloody paw prints and assumes Thisbe is dead so he kills himself beneath the tree
Thisbe returns to find Pyramus dead and kills herself under the tree
The story is filled with tragic irony, as a misunderstanding leads to a tragic outcome
Orpheus and Eurydice is a story of love and loss, grief, and hope
Orpheus is a skilled musician who can charm even the gods with his lyre
Eurydice, Orpheus' wife, dies after being bitten by a venomous snake
Orpheus travels to the underworld and charms the gods, but he is told he can only take Eurydice with if he doesn't turn back to look at her
Orpheus turns back to make sure Eurydice is still following him
He loses her, but it is a beautiful tale about life and death

The Quest of the Golden Fleece

The story of Jason and the Argonauts is about adventure, teamwork, and finding the legendary golden fleece
The golden fleece is a powerful symbol of wealth and prosperity
The story describes the struggle between Jason and his allies and the obstacles they face
It emphasizes the importance of bravery, strategy, and the strength of unity
The golden fleece is ultimately obtained, but Jason and his crew face many challenges along the way
The story exemplifies themes of determination, courage, and the power of hope in the face of adversity
The story emphasizes the importance of loyalty and camaraderie, as Jason's company helps him achieve his goal

The Great Heroes Before the Trojan War

Perseus is a hero who slays mythical monsters through ingenuity and the favor of the gods
Perseus's father is Zeus, his mother is Danae
Perseus is tasked with killing Medusa, a monstrous Gorgon with snakes for hair
Medusa's gaze will turn anyone into stone
Perseus is aided by Athena and Hermes to slay Medusa. He obtains an enchanted sword, winged sandals, and a magical bag.
Perseus uses his wits and cunning to overcome Medusa and bring her head back to the King
Perseus ultimately uses the head of the Gorgon to defeat the sea monster Cetus, saving Andromeda from being sacrificed to appease the monster
Hercules is a demigod and a great hero, known for his strength and bravery
Hercules, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, was cursed by Hera to lose his mind
Hercules, in his madness, killed his wife and children
Hercules attempts to repent for his crimes and receives twelve labors from the gods to demonstrate his worthiness
The twelve labors are an iconic representation of the challenges one faces while on their journey to self-redemption.
Hercules eventually cleanses himself of guilt and attains a position among the Gods as a hero

The Heroes of the Trojan War

The Trojan War is a landmark event in Greek mythology
The Trojan War was sparked by the Judgment of Paris
The Judgment of Paris was a contest between the goddesses Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena
Paris, the son of the king of Troy, was chosen to judge the contest and awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite
Outraged, Hera and Athena vow to punish Paris and Troy
Aphrodite promised Paris the love of Helen, wife of Menelaus
After Helen eloped with Paris, Menelaus gathers his forces and launches the Trojan War
The Trojan War is epic poem, with countless brave heroes on both sides
The Trojan War is a fight between the Trojans and the Achaean Greeks
The Trojan War is a story of love, war, and tragedy
The Trojan War is a story of bravery, courage, and betrayal

The Fall of Troy

The Trojan War lasts ten years.
Many tragic heroes fight for both sides
The story of the Trojan Horse is the most legendary story of the Trojan War
The Greeks create a giant wooden horse and pretend to retreat
The Trojans, believing the Greeks have left, are tricked by the ingenious plan of the Greeks and bring the horse inside the city
The horse carried hundreds of Greek soldiers who sneak into the Trojan city and capture it.
The Trojan War ends with the Greeks victorious, but they suffer great losses as well

The Adventures of Odysseus

Odysseus is the leader of Ithaca and a cunning and resilient hero.
Odysseus is a key character in Homer's epic poem The Odyssey
After the Trojan War, Odysseus delays his return to his kingdom
Odysseus encounters many dangers on his sea voyage home, including treacherous monsters, monstrous creatures, and the wrath of the gods
Odysseus perseveres against all odds, demonstrating his strength and cunning to return to his family and kingdom.
He eventually arrives home, but his return is full of twists and turns, as he is mistaken for a stranger at first
His return home and reunion with his family is full of emotion and joy

The Adventures of Aeneas

Aeneas is a Trojan hero who escapes the destruction of Troy and is destined to establish a new city in Italy.
Aeneas is the son of Aphrodite and the Trojan hero Anchises.
He embarks on a series of adventures and a grand journey to build his new homeland
Aeneas is challenged by the gods, monsters, and natural disasters along the way
Aeneas experiences both triumph and tragedy as he struggles to fulfill his destiny
Aeneas is a symbol of hope and resilience, and his journey is a message about the founding of empires from the fall of older ones.
Aeneas' eventual arrival in Italy sets the stage for the founding of Rome as a new power
Aeneas follows the will of the gods and fulfills his destiny as a leader
He embodies the idea that great empires can rise from the ashes of destroyed civilizations

Part 1: The Gods, the Creation, and the Earliest Heroes

The universe created the gods, not the gods created the universe
The universe's first children were heaven and Earth, and their children were the titans
The titans' children were the gods; so the Gods were the grandchildren of Heaven and Earth
Zeus overthrew the Titans, but they weren't banished, they just took a lower place
There are twelve Great Olympians that are supreme gods, called “Olympians” because they live in Olympus
Olympus is a mountain, with a gate kept by the seasons
Zeus is the lord of the sky, rain, clouds and wields the thunderbolt
Zeus has many affairs with both goddesses and mortal women
Zeus has an aegis (breastplate) and an eagle as his animal
Poseidon, Zeus's brother, is the ruler of the sea called the “Earth-shaker”
Poseidon controls storms and calms the seas
Poseidon's wife is Amphitrite
Poseidon is often seen in Olympus but his main home is beneath the sea
Poseidon gave horses to man
Hades, Zeus's third brother, is the king of the dead
Hades is not death, Thanatos is death
Hades is the ruler of the underworld and the god of precious metals
Hades has an invisible cap
Hades is terrible, but not an evil god
Hades's wife Persephone is the Queen of the underworld
Hestia, Zeus's sister, is the goddess of the hearth who protects the home
Hestia, Athena, and Artemis are virgin goddesses
Hera is the queen of the gods and Zeus's wife
Hera is in charge of marriage and family life
Hera has a peacock as her animal
Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts
Athena sprang from Zeus's head
Athena is a virgin goddess
Athena's animal is the owl
Ares is the god of war
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera
Ares is often described as a bloodthirsty and ruthless god
Ares' animals are the wolf and vulture
Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty, love, and desire
Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea
Aphrodite's animals are the dove, swan, rose, and sparrow
Apollo is the god of music, poetry, the sun, and light
Apollo's animal is the swan
Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and wild animals
Artemis is a virgin goddess
Artemis' animal is the deer
Hermes is the messenger of the gods
Hermes is the god of commerce, travel, and thieves
Hermes' animal is the tortoise
Hephaestus, Zeus's son, is the god of fire and metalworking
Hephaestus is often depicted as a deformed god
Hephaestus' animals are the donkey and the bird
Dionysus is the god of wine and fertility
Dionysus' animal is the panther
Dionysus's mother was a mortal woman
The world was created from chaos, using the elements of earth, water, and air as they were born from the universe's essence
First, the earth was born from the chaos. Then, love (eros) was born.
Love created everything from the chaos
Europa was a Phoenician princess whom Zeus abducted
Zeus transformed himself into a white bull to kidnap Europa
Europa was the ancestor of the Minoans who ruled Crete

Greek Mythology: The Gods and Their Roles

Zeus is the lord of the sky and the rain god in Greek mythology. He is known as the king of the gods, ruling over Mount Olympus.
Saturn, also known as Cronus, is the Titan who was overthrown by his son Zeus. The name 'Saturn' refers to Cronus in Greek mythology.
The Greeks believed that the gods created the universe and resided on Mount Olympus, ruling over human affairs.
Poseidon, also known as the 'Earth-shaker', is the ruler of the sea and the creator of horses.
Zeus is often associated with the eagle.
Persephone, also known as Kore, was carried away to the underworld by Hades, making her the 'Queen of the Lower World'.
The Hesperides, also known as the daughters of Atlas, guard the entrance to Mount Olympus.
Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and home, is responsible for maintaining the sacred fire that provides warmth, light, and protection.