Mythology 101

Mythology 101A Guide to Greek and Roman Myths

What is Mythology?o Long ago, people had a hard time

explaining what was happening around them.

o There were no scientists or teachers to explain why things happened - like why we have 4 seasons, for example.

o They made up their own stories to explain why and how things worked.

o These stories are called MYTHS.

What is a Myth?

• Setting is Ancient Greece or another world such as the underworld or heavens.

• Has god/goddesses with superpowers, heroic or godly abilities.

• Out of the ordinary events or heroic deeds.

• Purposes include:to teach a lesson explain how something came to be

What is the difference between a myth and a tall tale/folktale?

A tall tale is a story that has these features:• A larger-than-life, or superhuman, main character with a

specific job.• A problem that is solved in a funny way.• Exaggerated details that describe things as greater than they

really are.• Characters who use everyday language.

•Animated Tall Tales•Read about these tall tales: Paul

Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill

What is the difference between a myth and a fairy tale?

•A fairy tale is a story featuring folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others. These stories often involve princes and princesses, and usually have a happy ending. Usually fairy tales start with “Once upon a time..”

•How many fairy tales have you read? Can you name 3?

•Click here for examples: Fairy Tales for children or Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Anderson.

What is the difference between a myth and a legend?•Legends are set in the present or recent

past. Legends are supposedly true and are used to scare, teach, inform, or entertain. Legends are stories that are handed down through generations- usually by word of mouth. Examples: Legend of King Arthur and the Knight’s of the Round Table, Robin Hood,

•Legend Website

What is the difference between a myth and a fable?

Just what is a fable, you ask?  Well, a fable is a kind of story that:• has animal characters that are smart, foolish, sly, or

clever • has a  character that plays tricks on other characters • has a character that makes a bad decision • has a moral or a lesson learned • is short, sweet and to the point

• Click here to read some of Aesop’s fables.• Click here to watch some animated versions

of Aesop’s fables.• Fable Webquest

Myth, fable, fairy tale, tall tale or legend? The story of The Milky Way• Chinese

The seventh Princess of Heaven fell in love with a poor herdsman and ran away to marry him. When her mother sent soldiers to bring her home, the herdsman chased them away. Seeing her daughter’s husband running, the mother dropped a silver pin to make a silver stream to separate the lovers forever. Eventually, her father allowed her to have an annual reunion with her husband — black birds escorted her across the stream. The Milky Way is that silver stream. The young lovers are the stars Vega and Altair on either side of it.

• NavajoWhen the world was created, the people gathered around Black God to place stars in the sky. Coyote was frustrated by how long it was taking. He threw the bag of stars over his head, forming the Milky Way.

• EgyptianThe goddess Isis spread large quantities of wheat across the sky. We see this bounty as the Milky Way.

• African BushmenThe Milky Way is made of the ashes of campfires.

• PolynesianThe Milky Way is a long, blue, cloud-eating shark.

They are ALL MYTHS•Mainly because they all explain how

something came to be.

Main Greek Myths• Narcissus• Prometheus• Pandora• Adonis and Aphrodite• Apollo

*Read in pairs and summarize in comic strip style!

See examples: http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/englishcart.htm

The Principal Gods• Cronos and Rhea were

parents of▫ Zeus (Jupiter, Jove)▫ Poseidon (Neptune)▫ Hades (Pluto)▫ Hera (Juno)▫ Hestia (Vesta)▫ Demeter (Ceres)

• Other Olympians include▫ Athena (Minerva)▫ Ares (Mars)▫ Hebe (Juventas)▫ Hephaestus (Vulcan)▫ Apollo (Apollo)▫ Artemis (Diana)▫ Hermes (Mercury)▫ Aphrodite (Venus)▫ Dionysus (Bacchus)▫ Persephone

The Olympians

Zeus

•Roman Name: Jupiter (also Jove)

•Supreme god of the Olympians.

•Fathered many characters in mythology

ZEUS: : King of the gods and the skyKing of the gods and the sky

üRoman name: Roman name: JupiterJupiter

üSymbol: Thunder boltsThunder bolts

Interesting Facts about Zeus

He and his siblings fought to gain control ofthe universe from the Titans and Cronus(his father)

He and his brothers (Poseidon and Hades)divided up creation with Zeus receiving thesky as his domain. He was also accordedsupreme authority on earth and on MountOlympus.

Zeus

Hera

•Roman Name: Juno

•Zeus’s sister and wife

•Jealous protector of marriage

•Punished the women Zeus fell in love with

HERA: Queen of the gods

•Wife of Zeus•Roman Name:

Juno•Symbol: Golden

CrownInteresting Fact: Hera hated the great heroHeracles since he was the son of herhusband Zeus and a mortal woman. Whenhe was still an infant, she sent snakes toattack him in his crib.• Hera was worshipped throughout Greece,and the oldest and most important templeswere dedicated to her.

Poseidon

•Roman Name: Neptune

•God of the Seas and Waters

•“The Earthshaker”

Poseidon: god of the oceans

•Zeus’ brother•Roman Name:

Neptune•Symbol: Trident

• As the god of horses, he would often adopt the shape of horse.

Interesting fact: When the Olympians gained control of the universe, they agreed that the earth would be ruled jointly, with Zeus as king. This led to a number of territorial disputes among thegods. Poseidon vied to be the ruler of Athens. He demonstrated his power by striking the Acropolis with his three-pronged spear, which caused a spring of salt water to emerge.

Hades

•Roman Name: Pluto

•God of the Underworld/ Dead

•Kidnapped Persephone

HADES: god of the underworld

•Brother of Zeus and Poseidon

•Roman Name: Pluto

•Symbol: Invisible Helmet

Hestia

•Roman Name: Vesta

•Goddess of Home

•Powerful Protector

HESTA: goddess of home and hearth

•Zeus’ virgin sister•Roman Name:

Vesta •Symbol: Sacred

Fire

APHRODITE: goddess of Beauty and Love

•Daughter of Zeus•Roman Name:

Venus•Symbol: Roses

and Doves

Demeter

•Roman Name: Ceres

•Goddess of the Harvest

•A Goddess of the Earth

DEMETER: goddess of grain and harvest

•Responsible for the creation of seasons

•Also known for fertility

•Roman Name: Ceres

•Symbol: Rake

Athena

•Roman Name: Minerva

•Goddess of Wisdom and War

•Sprang from Zeus’s head

ATHENA: goddess of wisdom and law

•Daughter of Zeus •Roman Name:

Minerva•Symbol: Armor

and an Owl

Ares

•Roman Name: Mars

•God of War•Son of Zeus and

Hera•Bloodthirsty and

merciless

ARES: god of War

•Son of Zeus and Hera

•Roman Name: Mars

•Symbol: Sword and Spear

Hephaestus

•Roman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber)

•God of Fire/Forge

•Son of Zeus and Hera

•Kind, unlike his brother

•Limped

HEPHAESTUS: god of fire and forge

• Son of Hera• Fatherless• Roman Name: Vulcan• Symbol: Anvil and Hammer

Apollo

•Roman Name: Apollo

•God of Light/Sun and Music

•Brother of Artemis

APOLLO: god of the sun

• Son of Zeus, twin brother of Artemis• Roman Name: Apollo• Symbol: Golden Chariot and Harp

Artemis

•Roman Name: Diana

•Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt

•Sister to Apollo

ARTEMIS: goddess of the hunt and moon

•Daughter of Zeus and twin sister of Apollo

•Roman Name: Diana

•Symbol: Silver bow and arrow

Hermes

•Roman Name: Mercury

•Messenger of the Gods

•Appears in more myths than any other character

HERMES: Messenger of the gods

• Son of Zeus• Responsible for

guiding souls to the underworld

• Roman Name: Mercury

• Symbol: Winged Sandals

Dionysus

•Roman Name: Bacchus

•God of Wine•Patron god of

the Greek stage•A God of the

Earth

Persephone

•Roman Name: Proserpina

•Goddess of the Underworld

•Daughter of Zeus and Demeter

•Abducted by Hades

Hebe

•Roman Name: Juventas

•Goddess of Youth

•Cupbearer to the Gods

•Restored youth to the aged

Eros

•Roman Name: Cupid

•Young God of Love

•Son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus

Iris

•Goddess of the Rainbow

•Messenger for Zeus and Hera

•Daughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra

Common Themes in Mythology

•Trickery (Trickster=coyote)

Sources

•Graphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:▫ http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html▫ http://www.pantheon.org/▫ http://www.messagenet.com/myths/▫ http://mythman.com/▫ http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html▫ http://www.paleothea.com/▫ http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html▫ http://classroom.springisd.org/webs/crystalc/upload/

greekgodsandgoddesses.pdf• This presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and

should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.

http://classroom.springisd.org/webs/crystalc/upload/greekgodsandgoddesses.pdf