Simplified Greek Mythology Slides PDF

I. Prometheus ​ Who was Prometheus? ○​ A Titan, son of Iapetus and possibly Themis. ○​ Known as the "Forelearner" because of his wisdom and foresight. Feast at Mecone ​ A meal shared by gods and men where Prometheus tricks Zeus: ○​ Two choices for Zeus:...

I. Prometheus ​ Who was Prometheus? ○​ A Titan, son of Iapetus and possibly Themis. ○​ Known as the "Forelearner" because of his wisdom and foresight. Feast at Mecone ​ A meal shared by gods and men where Prometheus tricks Zeus: ○​ Two choices for Zeus: 1.​ Bones wrapped in fat: Looks tempting but is worthless. 2.​ Meat wrapped in stomach lining: Looks unappealing but valuable. ○​ Zeus chose the bones, creating a pattern in which the gods receive offerings of bones and fat while humans keep the meat in sacrificial rituals. ○​ Etiological Myth: This story explains why humans burn bones and fat during sacrifices while eating the meat. Theft of Fire ​ After the trick, Zeus, angry, takes fire from humans. ​ Prometheus steals fire back, hiding it in a fennel stalk. ○​ Significance: Fire symbolizes human survival and progress. Prometheus’s Punishment ​ Zeus chains him to a rock, where an eagle eats his liver daily. ​ The liver regenerates each night. ○​ Represents the ongoing struggle and separation between gods and humans. ​ Much later, Heracles frees Prometheus. Different Interpretations of Prometheus ​ Ovid: Prometheus created mankind from mud, making humans superior. ​ Aeschylus: In the tragedy Prometheus Bound, Prometheus helps humanity by teaching civilized skills like writing, math, agriculture, and medicine. II. Pandora ​ Zeus's Second Punishment for Mankind ○​ Pandora, a woman created by gods, is sent as a "curse" to men.  ​ Hephaestus ​ The god of fire and blacksmith, Hephaestus molded Pandora from earth and water. ​ Aphrodite ​ It gave Pandora beauty, grace, and a longing that made her physically weak. ​ Hermes ​ Gave Pandora a deceptive heart and a lying tongue, and made her deceitful and shameless. ​ Athena ​ Gave Pandora the gift of fine craftsmanship and attention to detail, and taught her weaving. ​ Zeus ​ Gave Pandora the trait of curiosity, and a heavy box that was ornately curved and screwed tightly shut. ○​ Described by Hesiod as a misogynistic figure. Pandora’s Jar ​ Pandora opens her jar (commonly mistranslated as "box"), unleashing all the evils into the world. ​ Only hope remains inside: Hope can be seen as either humanity's salvation or cruel temptation. III. Flood Myths ​ Similar to myths across cultures: a flood sent by gods to cleanse humanity. Mesopotamian Flood Myths ​ Ziusudra (Sumer, ~2500 BCE): Saved by the god Enki, he builds a boat and offers a sacrifice. ​ Atrahasis (Akkad, ~1700 BCE): Humans are created to serve gods. Overpopulation angers the storm god Enlil, who sends a flood. Enki saves Atrahasis by building a boat with animals and making a sacrifice. Greek Flood Myth (Ovid) ​ Lycaon: An Arcadian king turned into a wolf for defying Zeus. ​ Deucalion and Pyrrha: A pious couple saved from the flood.  ○​ Oracle of Themis tells them to "throw their mother's bones behind them." ○​ Interpreted as throwing stones of the Earth (their "mother"), which transform into people, repopulating the world. IV. Relationship Between Gods and Men Polytheism ​ Greek religion involved many gods, including Olympians and minor deities (like nymphs of trees, rivers, and seas). Characteristics of the Gods ​ Gods were anthropomorphic (human-like in appearance and personality). ​ They were powerful but not all-powerful (not omnipotent) or all-knowing. ​ Gods were tied to specific places and required worship and sacrifice from humans. ○​ Worship involved an exchange: Humans gave sacrifice and respect in return for favors like prophecy. Interaction Between Gods and Humans ​ Two main ways to connect with gods: 1.​ Prayer: Direct communication. 2.​ Prophecy: Seeking answers from oracles like at Delphi. ​ Sexual encounters between gods and humans could result in demigods. Key Idea: The relationship was mutual—humans needed gods, and gods relied on worship from humans. The Birth of the Gods: Summary and Explanation I. Borrowing from Mesopotamian Myth Greek myths drew inspiration from earlier Mesopotamian and Hittite myths. Mesopotamian Gods 1.​ Tiamat (primordial salt water) 2.​ An/Anu (sky, kingship, order) 3.​ Inanna/Ishtar/Astarte (sexual love) 4.​ Enlil/Marduk (storms, kingship) 5.​ Enki/Ea (male fertility, wisdom, trickster) 6.​ Utu/Shamash (sun) Key Mesopotamian Elements 1.​ Succession Myth: Struggles between generations of gods for power. 2.​ Creation Through Dragon Combat: Conflict between an older chaotic force (female) and a younger god who imposes order (male kingship). 3.​ Cosmic and Natural Origins: Creation of rivers, mountains, and the cosmos explained as acts of gods. Example: Babylonian Creation Myth (Enuma Elish) ​ Tiamat: The primordial saltwater goddess, representing chaos, gives birth to monsters. ​ Marduk: A young storm god, demands ultimate authority in exchange for fighting her. ○​ Battle: Marduk uses winds, traps Tiamat, shoots an arrow into her belly, and defeats her army. ○​ Creation: ​ Tiamat's body forms the world: ​ Her eyes → Tigris and Euphrates rivers. ​ Her tail → Milky Way. ​ Her spit and poison → clouds, rain, and fog. ​ Etiology: Explains natural phenomena. II. Greek Cosmogony and Theogony In Greek myths, cosmogony (birth of the universe) and theogony (birth of the gods) are intertwined. Hesiod’s Theogony is the key source. First Generation 1.​ Primordial Beings: ○​ Chaos: Void or gap. ○​ Gaea (Earth): Foundation of the world. ○​ Tartarus: The underworld. ○​ Eros: Desire and procreation. 2.​ Children of Chaos: Represent aspects of nature. Example: Night and Day. Second Generation: Gaea and Uranus ​ Union of Earth (Gaea) and Sky (Uranus): Constant sexual embrace traps their offspring inside Gaea. ​ Their Children: ○​ Cyclopes: One-eyed giants. ○​ Hecatonchires: Giants with 100 hands. ○​ The Titans: 12 deities, including Cronus (Kronos) and Rhea, Iapetus Themis ​ Cronus vs. Uranus: ○​ Gaea, angered by Uranus, helps Cronus overthrow him. ○​ Cronus castrates Uranus with a flint sickle, separating Earth and Sky, creating space for the world. ○​ From Uranus's blood: ​ Furies: Avenging spirits. ​ Giants: Powerful beings. ​ Aphrodite: Goddess of love, born from sea foam mixed with his severed genitals. Third Generation: Cronus and Rhea ​ Cronus and Rhea bear the Olympian gods: ○​ Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. ​ Cronus, fearing his children would overthrow him, swallows them. ​ Zeus's Survival: ○​ Rhea hides Zeus and tricks Cronus with a stone (the Omphalos, later placed at Delphi, the center of the world). Fourth Generation: Zeus and the Olympians  ​ Titanomachy (Battle with the Titans): ○​ Zeus and the Olympians overthrow the Titans with help from: ​ Cyclopes: Forged Zeus’s thunderbolts. ​ Hecatonchires: Fought alongside Zeus. ​ Other Battles: ○​ Typhonomachy: Zeus defeats Typhoeus, a monstrous serpent. ○​ Gigantomachy: Heracles helps Zeus defeat the Giants. Themes in Greek Myths 1.​ Succession Myths: Battles between generations of gods to establish authority. 2.​ Order from Chaos: A shift from chaotic, primal forces (often female) to structured, male-led rule. 3.​ Dragon Combat: A recurring motif to symbolize victory over chaos. Birth of Athena ​ Fourth Generation: ○​ Zeus swallows Metis (goddess of wisdom), fearing she’ll bear a son who might overthrow him. ○​ Athena is later born from Zeus’s head, fully grown and armed, symbolizing intellectual and strategic prowess. I. Helios and His Children Helios ​ Titan associated with the sun; brother of Selene (moon) and Eos (dawn). ​ Represented as driving a fiery chariot across the sky. Phaethon’s Story (Ovid’s Metamorphoses) ​ Phaethon, son of Helios and Clymene, desires proof of his divine origin. ​ Granted one wish by Helios, Phaethon chooses to drive the sun chariot but loses control. ​ His recklessness scorches Libya (turning it into a desert) and threatens the world. ​ Zeus intervenes, striking Phaethon and the chariot down with a thunderbolt, saving Earth. ○​ Etiological Significance: Explains deserts and moral themes about overreaching. Eos and Tithonus ​ Eos (dawn) falls in love with the mortal Tithonus. ​ Asks the gods to make him immortal, but forgets to ask for eternal youth. ​ Tithonus ages eternally, becoming frail and withered until Eos locks him away. II. Poseidon (Neptune) ​ Domains: God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. ​ Iconography: Carries a trident and is associated with sea creatures and chariots pulled by sea monsters. Competition for Athens ​ Poseidon competed with Athena for control of Athens. ​ Poseidon offered a saltwater spring; Athena gifted the olive tree, symbolizing peace and prosperity. ​ The people chose Athena, symbolizing her intellectual and practical favor. Poseidon’s Sexual Unions ​ Known for many unions, fathering children with divine and mortal women. Notable offspring: ○​ Triton (with Amphitrite): A merman figure. ○​ Pegasus (with Medusa): Winged horse birthed after Medusa's death. III. Hestia (Vesta) ​ Goddess of the hearth and home. ​ Central in domestic life but has no major myths. ​ Later replaced by Dionysus in the list of the twelve Olympians. IV. Zeus (Jupiter) ​ Domains: Sky, weather, order, and king of gods. ​ Symbols: Lightning bolt, eagle, scepter, and throne. ​ Establishes divine order and custom, including concepts like xenia (guest-friendship). Marriages and Offspring ​ Married to Hera, fathered several Olympians and countless mortal demigods. ○​ With Leto: Apollo and Artemis. ○​ With Maia: Hermes. ○​ With Metis: Athena. The Moerae (Fates): ​ Born from Zeus and Themis: ○​ Clotho: Spins the thread of life. ○​ Lachesis: Measures the thread. ○​ Atropos: Cuts the thread (ends life). V. Hera (Juno) ​ Domains: Marriage, women’s fertility, and family. Known as "Queen of Heaven." ​ Symbolism: Often portrayed as jealous and vengeful toward Zeus’s lovers and illegitimate offspring. Key Stories ​ Dios Apate (Deception of Zeus): Hera schemes to trick Zeus during the Trojan War, causing chaos and revealing their strained relationship. VI. Hades (Pluto) ​ God of the underworld and riches found beneath the Earth. ​ Married to Persephone. His role ties closely to Greek views on life after death and justice. VII. Demeter (Ceres) ​ Domain: Goddess of grain, agriculture, and harvest; associated with fertility and life cycles. The Persephone Myth (Homeric Hymn to Demeter) ​ Abduction by Hades: Persephone, Demeter’s daughter, is kidnapped to become the queen of the underworld. ​ Demeter’s Grief: Causes the earth to become barren until a compromise is reached—Persephone spends part of the year with Demeter (spring/summer) and part with Hades (autumn/winter). ○​ Etiological Meaning: Explains the seasons. The Eleusinian Mysteries ​ Religious cult centered on Demeter and Persephone, celebrated in Eleusis. ​ Participation was open to all Greeks (excluding murderers). Rituals ​ 8-day annual festival involving processions, initiations, and secret rites. ​ Focused on the promise of life after death and the renewal of life. ​ The Telesterion (temple) housed the Anaktoron (sacred area), led by the Hierophant (priest). ​ Secrecy was paramount, symbolizing personal transformation and reverence for the divine. I. Apollo ​ Parents: Son of Leto and Zeus; twin brother of Artemis. ​ Birthplace: ○​ Delos and Ortygia (islands where Leto fled to give birth, assisted by Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth). Areas of Influence ​ Associated with prophecy, music, poetry, healing, light, and rationality. Later conflated with Helios, the sun god. ​ Known as Phoebus ("shining one"). ​ Symbols include the lyre, bow and arrows, and a laurel crown. The Oracle at Delphi ​ Located at Mt. Parnassus, Apollo established his oracle by slaying Python, a monstrous serpent. ​ Delphi became a major Pan-Hellenic center for prophecy, where the Pythia (priestess) delivered oracles while seated on a tripod. Unsuccessful Love Affairs ​ Cassandra: Cursed to foresee the future but never believed. ​ Sibyl at Cumae: Rejected Apollo and lived eternally but grew so old her body faded. ​ Daphne: Turned into a laurel tree to escape him, leading to the laurel becoming Apollo’s sacred symbol. ​ Coronis: Gave birth to Asclepius (god of healing). Asclepius was trained by the wise centaur Chiron. II. Hephaestus (Vulcan) ​ Domains: Metalworking, craftsmanship, fire, and technology. ​ Appearance: Depicted as lame and ugly, yet incredibly skilled. Origins ​ Two versions: 1.​ Asexual birth by Hera in Hesiod’s Theogony. 2.​ Son of Zeus and Hera in later traditions. Being Thrown from Olympus ​ Two stories: 1.​ Zeus threw him off after siding with Hera in a quarrel. He landed on Lemnos, where he was cared for. 2.​ Hera cast him out because of his deformity. He was in this cave and learned about smithing. Made a gold throne for her birthday. She was stuck in the chair. Gets drunk and frees hera. He was later brought back by Thetis, Nereids, or Dionysus. Greek Ambivalence to Technology ​ Represents both awe and distrust of technology. ​ Example from Homer’s Iliad: Olympian gods laugh at Hephaestus puffing around while serving nectar but still respect his skill in building homes for them. III. Ares (Mars) ​ Domains: War, specifically bloodlust, frenzy, and slaughter. ​ Characterization: A less-celebrated Olympian, often seen as impulsive and chaotic compared to Athena’s strategic side of war. IV. Hermes (Mercury) ​ Parents: Son of Zeus and Maia (daughter of Atlas). ​ Symbols: ○​ Hat (traveler’s cap), winged sandals, and caduceus (staff with two snakes). ​ Domains: ○​ Protector of travelers, merchants, orators, thieves, and shepherds. ○​ Psychopompos: Guide of souls to the underworld. ○​ Herald of the gods and messenger. ○​ Killed agus which is a hundred eye things Homeric Hymn to Hermes ​ Describes his mischievous nature, inventing the lyre and stealing Apollo’s cattle as a child but making peace by gifting Apollo the lyre. Twelve Olympian Gods 1.​ Zeus: Sky, authority, law, decision-making. 2.​ Hera: Family, marriage, and women’s fertility. 3.​ Poseidon: Sea, earthquakes, and horses. 4.​ Hestia: Hearth and domestic fire (later replaced by Dionysus). 5.​ Demeter: Fertility of the soil and the harvest. 6.​ Hephaestus: Crafts and metalworking. 7.​ Ares: War and chaos. 8.​ Athena: Wisdom, war strategy, and practical knowledge. 9.​ Apollo: Prophecy, healing, music, and light. 10.​Artemis: Wilderness, hunting, and protector of young women. 11.​Hermes: Travel, commerce, trickery, and communication. 12.​Aphrodite: Love and sexual attraction. Hades: While a major deity, is not an Olympian as he resides in the underworld. Explanations and Themes 1.​ Apollo’s Multifaceted Role ○​ He embodies both rationality (prophecy, reason) and physical strength (archery, light). ○​ Unsuccessful love affairs emphasize humanizing imperfections even in a god of order. 2.​ Hephaestus’ Dual Nature ○​ Contrasts his physical imperfection with extraordinary creativity, showcasing a balance of divine might and mortal-like flaws. ○​ The myths illustrate Greeks' ambivalence toward progress and technology, appreciating its utility but wary of its power. 3.​ Ares as an Unrefined Counterpart to Athena ○​ Ares symbolizes brute force and destructive chaos, while Athena represents strategic and purposeful action in war. 4.​ Hermes the Trickster ○​ Hermes balances divine and human qualities, blending cunning and helpfulness, mirroring the unpredictable nature of the realms he oversees (trade, theft, and travel). Summary of the Daughters of Zeus: Aphrodite, Artemis, and Athena I. Aphrodite (Venus) ​ Origins and Associations: ○​ Derived from Near Eastern fertility goddesses (Inanna, Ishtar, or Astarte). ○​ Associated with Cyprus (“Cypris”) and Cythera (“Cytherea”), reflecting her connection to love, beauty, and fertility. Key Myths ​ Praxiteles’ Aphrodite of Cnidus: First major nude statue, celebrated her allure and sensuality. ​ Pygmalion and Galatea: Told in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Pygmalion falls in love with a statue he created, and Aphrodite grants it life (Galatea). ​ Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite: Zeus causes her to fall for Anchises, a mortal shepherd. Their union produces Aeneas, the Trojan hero. ○​ Aphrodite is ashamed because Zeus compelled her to lust after a mortal (Answer: C). Lovers and Children ​ Ares: Eros (desire), Harmonia (harmony), Phobos (fear), Deimos (panic). ​ Hermes: Hermaphroditus. ​ Dionysus: Priapus. ​ Adonis: Killed while hunting, his blood created the anemone flower. II. Artemis (Diana) ​ Origins and Cults: ○​ Early worship tied to Asia Minor; represented as a mother goddess and Mistress of Beasts. ○​ Temple at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Attributes and Domains ​ Virgin goddess: Protector of young girls before marriage. ​ Associated with wild spaces, the hunt, and women who died in childbirth (Answer: A). Key Myths ​ Defense of Leto: Punished Niobe for mocking her mother by killing her children (Niobids). ​ Orion: A hunting companion killed due to his boastfulness or betrayal; immortalized as the constellation Orion, chased by Scorpio in the sky.  ​ Actaeon: A hunter who spied on Artemis bathing. She turned him into a stag, and he was killed by his own hounds. III. Athena (Minerva) ​ Symbols and Attributes: ○​ Owl: Wisdom and vigilance. ○​ Olive tree: Gift to Athens. ○​ Snake: Protective force and fertility symbol. ○​ Wears armor, a helmet, and carries a spear. The aegis (a shield or breastplate adorned with the Gorgon’s head) is a key icon. Spheres of Influence ​ War: Represents strategy and rationality (as opposed to Ares’ chaotic approach). ​ Practical Knowledge: Associated with crafts, weaving, and arts. ​ Protector of Heroes: Aids male heroes like Odysseus, Perseus, and Heracles. Key Myths ​ Arachne: A mortal who challenged Athena to a weaving contest. Though Arachne’s skill rivaled Athena’s, the goddess punished her for her hubris by transforming her into a spider. ​ Competition with Poseidon: To become the patron deity of Athens, Athena gifted the city the olive tree, while Poseidon provided a saltwater spring. The olive tree was deemed more useful, making Athena the victor. Athens and the Acropolis ​ Athena Parthenos ("the virgin") was honored with a colossal gold and ivory statue in the Parthenon on the Acropolis. ​ Panathenaic Festival: Celebrated Athena’s role as the city’s protector with processions and offerings. Themes and Insights 1.​ Aphrodite embodies passion and its consequences, highlighting both the joys and vulnerabilities of love. 2.​ Artemis reflects the tension between untamed nature and civilization, protecting the young yet bringing death. 3.​ Athena showcases wisdom, strategy, and the balance between feminine grace and masculine strength, aligning intellect with practical skill.