The Moirae

•The Moirae were the goddesses of fate.•From this, they are also named the fates.• Their names were Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos.

Introduction to the Moirae

•Clotho would spin the thread of the person’s life•Lachesis would determine how long the person would live.•Atrophos would cut the thread when the person’s time to die had come.

The Moirae’s Names

Story of CompassionOne time, the fates were merciful to allow someone to

take the place of a king who was dieing. Apollo, because the king, who was named Admentus, had taken care of his flocks, begged for the fates to let him live. The fates did not have the power to do so, but said someone could take his place. The king’s wife, Alcestis, volunteered. Her thread was cut and she was banished to the underworld. Hercules rescued her, however, and the two were reunited.

The Greek name for our goddess is the Moirae. There are three of these. Their names are Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. The job these three characters had was to control the live of a person. Clotho would spin the thread of a person’s life, Lachesis would apportion how long the person was allowed to live, and Atropos would cut the thread when the person’s time to die had come. They were around long before the other gods. It is unknown who the Moirae were related to, but they are believed to be the children of Zeus. They do not love anyone except themselves.

Although they look like hags, they sometime feel compassion. They do not need anything except to continue to provide dead to the Underworld. They probably fear Hades because he is, in essence, their boss. On occasion, the Moirae give compassion to certain individuals. They do not want much, except to not be known as merciless creatures. The Moirae are residents, mostly, of the underworld. In Roman, the name for the Moirae is the Parcae.

Moirae Bio Poem

The Muses Intro• There were nine muses altogether.

• Muse means Lades of Song.•They are goddesses of music, song and dance,

knowledge, and are a source of inspiration to poets.• Each muse had her own symbol

The Muses

Name of Muse Her Specialty and Symbol

Calliope Epic Poetry, Writing TabletClio History, ScrollErato Love Poetry, LyreEuterpe Music, FluteMelpomene Tragedy, Tragic MaskPolyhymnia Hymns, A Pensive LookTerpsichore Dance, LyreThaleia Comedy, Comic MaskUrania Astronomy, Globe

The Muses Lives• It is said that Zeus, the father of the Muses, spent 9 consecutive

nights with their mother, Mnemosyne.• They were artistic goddesses who were responsible for creativity

in people.• Their songs brought joy to those who heard them.• They sang at the funeral of the Greek Hero Achilles.• When a claim that another god’s daughters could sing better than

the Muses, they became outraged and turned them into birds.

The Muses

Bio Poem for The MusesThe MusesThey were intelligent, beautiful, creative and careless.Their father was Zeus, and the mother Mnemosyne.They all had different lovers but the most well known is

Apollo.They felt positivity even in the most dreadful places.Their needs are having a creative outlet.They have no fears.They give inspiration to all types of artists.They’d like to see all the creativity they have spurred upon

the world.They were residents of Mount Helicon in Central Greece.They had no Roman name.

The Muses and Apollo

Modern Reference

• The words museum, music and mosaic are derived from the word muse. Their creativity is incorporated with modern places and things that most people recognize everyday.

Museum

Poem

The Graces

They average life for them.

• They would be at Mount Olympian singing and dancing with music to the Gods to make them happy.

Fun Facts

• There could be from three to eight Graces. No one actually knows.

• They are the gods of joy, charm, and beauty.• Their father is Zeus.

Fun Facts cont.

• There is a god named Hephaistos who sometimes said to married to one of the Graces. Other times, it is said that he is married to Aphrodite.

Even More Fun Facts

• Their Roman name is Charites• It is not exactly known who the mother is.

Bio Poem

The GracesJoy, Charm, Beauty, Dance

Relative of ZeusLover of HephaistosWho feels pleasureWho needs to share

Who fears warWho gives joy

Who would like to see other gods happyResident of Olympus

Charites

Bio Poem: King Midas

King MidasHe had donkey ears, could turn things to gold, enemy of

Apollo, was a kingRelative of Gordias, Cybele, Marigold Lover of gold, his daughter, his wifeWho feels pan is good, wealth is not goodWho needs his family, wealthWho gives hospitality to satyrsWho would like to see himself without donkey earsKing Faraquad

King Midas

• Midas is a famous muffler and Brake chain of service stations

• Midas received his “gift” of turning things to gold from Dionysus

• He was the King of Macedonia

King Midas Continued

• Midas at one point loved Gold

King Midas Continued

• When he turned his daughter to gold he changed his ways

Sources

• Thanasis.com• Fabpedigree.com• Panthion.org

Modern ReferenceIn Starwars, the Jedi rely upon the “Force” to

guide them and the whole universe was controlled by this force. The Moirae are related to this because they are the goddesses of fate and destiny.

Narcissus and Echo

Narcissus Introduction•Narcissus was the son of Cephissus,the river god, and Liriope, a nymph. •He was named after the Greek name for the Daffodil.•When he was born, he was told he could not look at himself, or he would die.

Echo Introduction•Echo was a nymph.•She was one of many women who wanted to fall in love with Narcissus.•Her symbol was also the flower because her and Narcissus’ stories were intertwined.

Story of Narcissus and Echo•Narcissus was told he would die if he looked at himself.•Many women, including Echo, wanted to fall in love with him.•He rejected them all.•Echo called upon Nemesis, the goddess for revenge, and Nemesis caused Narcissus to fall in love with his reflection. •He died because of this.

Narcissus and Echo Bio PoemThe Greek names for the characters are Narcissus and Echo. Narcissus was named after the name for the daffodil. Echo was a nymph, a character that inhabited trees and forests. Narcissus was born and was not allowed to look at his reflection, or he would die. Many women, including Echo, liked him, but he turned them down. Echo began crying and was on the verge of death when she prayed to Nemesis, the goddess of vengeance, to avenge herself. Nemesis caused Narcissus to fall in love with his reflection and he died.

Narcissus is the son of Cephissus, the river god, and Liriope, a nymph. Echo was, herself, a nymph. Narcissus was a lover of no one, but, later on, a lover of himself. Echo feels lonely, and Narcissus feels self-loving once Nemesis causes him to love himself. Narcissus feared looking at himself, until he was caused to do so. Echo gave love, but Narcissus rejected it. Echo wanted to see revenge upon Narcissus. They are both residents of earth. Narcissus’ Roman name is Narkissos and Echo’s Roman name is Ekho.

Modern ReferenceA way Narcissus relates to the modern

world is through Narcissus Flowers. It is no coincidence that Narcissus was named after a flower and his symbol was a flower.

Achilles Intro

•Achilles was a hero, not a god as many people think.

•He was a fierce warrior who is most noted for his efforts in the Trojan War.

•He was half human and half immortal.•Revenge was the reason for his death.

•His symbol is a shield because of his valiance in battle.

Achilles’ Life• Achilles was born the son of Peleus, King of the Myrmidons of Thessaly

who was human and Thetis, a sea nymph who was immortal. • From his birth, Thetis had an obsession with her son.• Thetis attempted to make Achilles immortal by dipping him the waters of

the Styx River. – This did not make him completely immortal because she held him at the heel,

creating a weak spot. • Thetis knew that he would either gain glory and die early or live a long yet

inglorious life.• She did not want her son to fight but it was what he was destined to do.

Thetis giving Achilles his armor

Thetis dipping Achilles in the River of Styx

Achilles’ Death• He went to battle in the Trojan war. • His best friend, Patroclus, fought beside him.• When Achilles refused to fight, Patroclus, disguised in his

armor, fought in his place.• When Patroclus died, Achilles had a fit of utter rage and killed

many to avenge the death of his friend.• A man called Paris then shot a poisoned arrow into his one

and only vulnerable spot, his heel, killing him.

Achilles mourning the death of Patroclus

Achilles’ Death

Bio Poem for Achilles• Achilles He was a fierce, proud, passionate and tough man who was half human, half immortal. His mother was Thetis, a sea nymph and his father, Peleus, a king. • He had many lovers including Medea and Deidamia. He felt revengeful after the death if his best friend but also honored.• He needed to fight because that was where he could make a difference. If he had to have one fear, it would probably be his heel.• He gave support on the battlefield for his side which made a huge difference in

the outcome of the Trojan War. What he would like to see is success in battle. • He was born in Thessaly, Greece. Achilles had no Roman name because he was not a god since he was half human.

Achilles triumphant in

battle

Modern Reference

• The expression Achilles heel came to mean a small fatal vulnerability. So, the tendon connection the heel to the calf became known as the Achilles Tendon.

Tiresias

His Story

Tiresias was walking in a forest when he found two snakes fighting and hit them with his staff. He was then turned into a woman. Seven years later, he found the same two snakes fighting and hit them again with his staff and turned back into a man.

His Story cont.

• Later, Zeus and Hera were arguing over which gender had more sexual pleasure. So they asked Tiresias since he was both genders. He sided with Zeus so Hera got angry and made Tiresias blind. Zeus couldn’t undo it so he made Tiresias a prophet.

Fun Facts

• He was the son of Everes and Chariclo.• He prophesies in the underworld.• He told Odysseus how to get home from his

20 year journey.

Bio Poem

TiresiasBlind, Prophet, Male, Female

Relative of Everes and CharicloLover of her husbandWho feels challenged

Who needs sight againWho fears Hera

Who gives wisdomWho would like to see again

Resident of ThebesTiresias

Modern Reference

• There is a company who is named Tiresias. They support blind people and help them.

Bio Poem: Pandora

PandoraFemale, good at persuasion, intelligent, curiousRelative of Epimetheus, ZeusLover of EpimetheusWho feels she is beautifulWho needs to be curiousWho fears the godsWho gives good willResident to ancient GreecePandora

Pandora

• First female in Greek mythology

• Every god\goddess gave her a gift

Pandora Continued

• Pandora, in Greek mythology is credited with releasing evil into the world when she opened her box

Pandora Continued

• Pandora means all• Pandora is now the

name of a popular internet radio site

Sources

• Yahoo.com• Thinkquest.com• Pantheon.org