Greek Mythology PDF

GREEK MYTHOLOGY OBJECTIVES Explain the role of myths in ancient Greek culture. Discuss the origin of the gods and goddesses. Identify key gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythological creatures in Greek mythology. THE CREATION In the beginning, Kaos ruled the universe. Gaea, the goddess of Earth,...

GREEK MYTHOLOGY OBJECTIVES Explain the role of myths in ancient Greek culture. Discuss the origin of the gods and goddesses. Identify key gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythological creatures in Greek mythology. THE CREATION In the beginning, Kaos ruled the universe. Gaea, the goddess of Earth, was forced to spring out of nothingness. Uranus - god of heaven Pontus - god of ocean Hecatoncheires Cyclops THE 12 TITANS Oceanus - the Titan god of the world ocean and freshwater Coeus- Titan god of intellect, wisdom, and foresight Crius- the Titan god of constellations and ruled over the southern part of the world. Hyperion - the Titan of heavenly light. His name means "the high one". Iapetus - "the piercer", the Titan god of mortality Cronus - king of the Titans, the first generation of gods, and the god of time. Theia - the goddess of sight, vision, and light, and is also known as the "Divine One" Rhea - the Titan who was the mother of the gods, and the goddess of fertility, motherhood, childbirth, and comfort Themis - the goddess of justice, law, and order Mnemosyne - the goddess of memory and the mother of the nine Muses Phoebe - the Greek Titan goddess of the bright intellect Tethys - the Titan goddess of freshwater and a maternal figure to many of the more popular gods The Erinyes Alecto Tisiphone Megaera Goddesses of Vengeance that torture sinners in the Underworld Melia Giants MOUNT OLYMPUS Hecantochires guard the gate where the Titans were locked up Zeus took the sky Hades was given the underworld Poseidon was given reign over the oceans and seas THE 12 OLYMPIANS  ZEUS King of the gods, god of the sky, thunder, and justice  HERA Queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and family  POSEIDON God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses  DEMETER Goddess of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest  ATHENA Goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts  APOLLO God of the sun, music, poetry, prophecy, and healing  ARTEMIS Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and the moon; twin sister of Apollo ARES God of war  APHRODITE Goddess of love, beauty, and desire  HERMES Messenger of the gods; god of commerce, thieves, and travelers  DIONYSUS God of wine, pleasure, and festivities  HEPHAESTUS Greek god of fire, volcanoes, blacksmithing, and craftsmanship  THE UNDER WORLD HADES AND PERSEPHONE  Entrance to the Underworld Cave Rivers CERBERUS  RIVERS Styx: The river of hatred; gods swore oaths upon it. Acheron: The river of pain. Lethe: The river of forgetfulness; souls drank from it to forget their past lives. Phlegethon: The river of fire. Cocytus: The river of wailing. CHARON  REGIONS OF THE UNDERWORLD Tartarus: A deep, dark pit reserved for the wicked and for punishing the enemies of the gods. Asphodel Meadows: A shadowy and neutral realm where ordinary souls resided. Elysium (Elysian Fields): A paradise for the souls of heroes, the virtuous, and those chosen by the gods. Fields of Punishment: Where sinners faced eternal torment, separate from Tartarus in some versions. Isles of the Blessed: A special paradise for the virtuous who reincarnated and lived virtuous lives three times. END