This document provides an overview of Greek and Roman mythology, summarizing the origins and major gods and goddesses. It begins with explanations of what myths are and the early creation myths, including the births of Gaia, Uranus, and their Titan offspring. It then summarizes the later overthrow of the Titans by Zeus and the other Olympians. The rest of the document profiles the most important Olympian gods like Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and others, as well as other mythological figures like the Muses, Fates, and monsters.

1. Greek and Roman MythologyGreek and Roman Mythology
A ReviewA Review
ofof
The Principal Gods andThe Principal Gods and
GoddessesGoddesses

2. What is a myth?What is a myth?
A traditional story rooted in primitive folkA traditional story rooted in primitive folk
beliefs of culturesbeliefs of cultures
Uses the supernatural to interpretUses the supernatural to interpret
natural eventsnatural events
Explains the culture’s view of theExplains the culture’s view of the
universe and the nature of humanityuniverse and the nature of humanity

3. In the beginning...
• …was Chaos (shapeless nothingness)
• Chaos had two children:
– Night (darkness)
– Erebus (death)

4. All was black, empty,
• silent, endless.”

5.  When suddenly, mysteriously, Love wasWhen suddenly, mysteriously, Love was
born of darkness and death.born of darkness and death.

6.  When suddenly, mysteriously, Love wasWhen suddenly, mysteriously, Love was
born of darkness and death.born of darkness and death.

7. And then...
 When Love was born, order and
beauty began to flourish.
 Love created Light and Day.

8. Earth was created.
She was the solid ground, but
also a personality.
Her name was Gaia.

9. The Earth bore Heaven to cover
her and be a home for the gods.

 He was called UranusHe was called Uranus

10. They Were The First ParentsThey Were The First Parents
 They had three kinds of children:They had three kinds of children:
– ThreeThree monstersmonsters with 100 hands and 50 headswith 100 hands and 50 heads
– HecatonchiresHecatonchires

11. Three cyclopesThree cyclopes

12. And 12 Titans- 6 Males and 6And 12 Titans- 6 Males and 6
FemalesFemales

13. Some of The TitansSome of The Titans
(The Elder Gods)(The Elder Gods)
 Cronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titansCronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titans
 Rhea: Wife of CronosRhea: Wife of Cronos
 Ocean: River that encircled the worldOcean: River that encircled the world
 Iapetus: Father of Prometheus,Iapetus: Father of Prometheus,
Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)

14. These were the first characters that hadThese were the first characters that had
the appearance of life, although it wasthe appearance of life, although it was
unlike any life known to man.unlike any life known to man.

15. For some reason Uranus wasn’t veryFor some reason Uranus wasn’t very
fond of his children.fond of his children.
 Especially theEspecially the
HecatonchiresHecatonchires andand CyclopesCyclopes

16. Seriously,Seriously,
 Who could blame himWho could blame him
??

17. So he buried them deep inside of theSo he buried them deep inside of the
Earth.Earth.
 Wait, the Earth is a person. Do you thinkWait, the Earth is a person. Do you think
Gaia was happy to have those big monstersGaia was happy to have those big monsters
shoved back inside her?shoved back inside her?

18. She wasn’t!She wasn’t!
 So she asked her children to help her takeSo she asked her children to help her take
care of their father, but only one of themcare of their father, but only one of them
agreed to help her- Cronos.agreed to help her- Cronos.

19. She made him a very specialShe made him a very special
sickle and asked him to cut offsickle and asked him to cut off
his father’s . . .his father’s . . .
 Well something kind ofWell something kind of
important.important.

20. After that, for some reason, IAfter that, for some reason, I
guess Uranus didn’t want toguess Uranus didn’t want to
be with Gaia, and the Skybe with Gaia, and the Sky
separated from the Earthseparated from the Earth
 Cronos took over and ruled with his wifeCronos took over and ruled with his wife
(and sister) Rhea.(and sister) Rhea.
 I know, gross right?I know, gross right?

21. Under Cronos and Rhea, though, theUnder Cronos and Rhea, though, the
world had complete peace.world had complete peace.
 T here were no warsT here were no wars
no crimeno crime
no injustice!no injustice!
Even the animals lived in peace!Even the animals lived in peace!

22. It was calledIt was called

23. But Chronos had been told that oneBut Chronos had been told that one
of his children would depose him:of his children would depose him:
So, he ate them!So, he ate them!

24. Except for ZeusExcept for Zeus
 His Grandmother (Gaia) helped Rhea to hideHis Grandmother (Gaia) helped Rhea to hide
Zeus and fed Cronos a blanket-wrapped rockZeus and fed Cronos a blanket-wrapped rock
instead.instead.

25. They hid Zeus in a cave where heThey hid Zeus in a cave where he
was cared for by a goat until he waswas cared for by a goat until he was
old enough to come back and fixold enough to come back and fix
things.things.
 He came home and made hisHe came home and made his
 father barf up his brothersfather barf up his brothers
 and sisters.and sisters.

26. The children divided the kingdomThe children divided the kingdom
between them.between them.
 Zeus (Roman name Jupiter) became theZeus (Roman name Jupiter) became the
supreme ruler of Mount Olympussupreme ruler of Mount Olympus

27. Poseidon (Roman name Neptune)Poseidon (Roman name Neptune)
became the god of the seasbecame the god of the seas

28. Hades (Roman name Pluto) isHades (Roman name Pluto) is
the god of the Underworldthe god of the Underworld
• With his three-headed dog.With his three-headed dog.

29. Demeter (Roman name Ceres) is
the goddess of the earth and
fertility.
She gives us winter every year since her
daughter was
Kidnapped by . . .,
But, I guess that
 is a different story

30. Hera
Who is the
jealous (very)
Protector of
Marriage

31. And Hestia
(Roman name Vesta)
Goddess of
Home

32. Other Olympians includeOther Olympians include
– Athena (Minerva)Athena (Minerva)
– Ares (Mars)Ares (Mars)
– Hebe (Juventas)Hebe (Juventas)
– Hephaestus (Vulcan)Hephaestus (Vulcan)
– Apollo (Apollo)Apollo (Apollo)
– Artemis (Diana)Artemis (Diana)
– Hermes (Mercury)Hermes (Mercury)
– Aphrodite (Venus)Aphrodite (Venus)
– Dionysus (Bacchus)Dionysus (Bacchus)
– PersephonePersephone

33. The OlympiansThe Olympians

34. AthenaAthena
Roman Name:Roman Name:
MinervaMinerva
Goddess ofGoddess of
Wisdom andWisdom and
WarWar
Sprang fromSprang from
Zeus’s headZeus’s head

35. AresAres
Roman Name:Roman Name:
MarsMars
God of WarGod of War
Son of Zeus andSon of Zeus and
HeraHera
Bloodthirsty andBloodthirsty and
mercilessmerciless

36. HephaestusHephaestus
Roman Name:Roman Name:
VulcanVulcan
(Mulciber)(Mulciber)
God ofGod of
Fire/ForgeFire/Forge
Son of ZeusSon of Zeus
and Heraand Hera
Kind, unlike hisKind, unlike his
brotherbrother

37. ApolloApollo
RomanRoman
Name: ApolloName: Apollo
God ofGod of
Light/Sun andLight/Sun and
MusicMusic
Brother ofBrother of
ArtemisArtemis

38. ArtemisArtemis
RomanRoman
Name: DianaName: Diana
Goddess ofGoddess of
the Moon/the Moon/
HuntHunt
Sister toSister to
ApolloApollo

39. HermesHermes
Roman Name:Roman Name:
MercuryMercury
Messenger ofMessenger of
the Godsthe Gods
Appears inAppears in
more mythsmore myths
than any otherthan any other
charactercharacter

40. AphroditeAphrodite
RomanRoman
Name: VenusName: Venus
Goddess ofGoddess of
Love andLove and
BeautyBeauty
Sprang fromSprang from
the oceanthe ocean
foamfoam

41. DionysusDionysus
Roman Name:Roman Name:
BacchusBacchus
God of WineGod of Wine
Patron god ofPatron god of
the Greek stagethe Greek stage
A God of theA God of the
EarthEarth

42. PersephonePersephone
Roman Name:Roman Name:
ProserpinaProserpina
Goddess of theGoddess of the
UnderworldUnderworld
Daughter of ZeusDaughter of Zeus
and Demeterand Demeter
Abducted byAbducted by
HadesHades

43. HebeHebe
Roman Name:Roman Name:
JuventasJuventas
Goddess ofGoddess of
YouthYouth
Cupbearer toCupbearer to
the Godsthe Gods
Restored youthRestored youth
to the agedto the aged

44. ErosEros
Roman Name:Roman Name:
CupidCupid
Young God ofYoung God of
LoveLove
Son ofSon of
Aphrodite andAphrodite and
HephaestusHephaestus

45. IrisIris
Goddess of theGoddess of the
RainbowRainbow
Messenger forMessenger for
Zeus and HeraZeus and Hera
Daughter of theDaughter of the
titan Thaumustitan Thaumus
and the nymphand the nymph
ElectraElectra

46. The MusesThe Muses
Nine daughters ofNine daughters of
Zeus andZeus and
MnemosyneMnemosyne
Inspired artists of allInspired artists of all
kindskinds
Goddesses whoGoddesses who
presided over thepresided over the
arts and sciencesarts and sciences
““He is happy whomHe is happy whom
the muses love.”the muses love.”
Clio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

47. The GracesThe Graces
Three GoddessesThree Goddesses
of Grace andof Grace and
BeautyBeauty
““They give life itsThey give life its
bloom.”bloom.”
Aglaia (Splendor)Aglaia (Splendor)
Euphrosyne (Mirth)Euphrosyne (Mirth)
Thalia (GoodThalia (Good
Cheer)Cheer)

48. The Erinnyes (The Furies)The Erinnyes (The Furies)
Roman Name: FuriaeRoman Name: Furiae
or Dirae (The Furies)or Dirae (The Furies)
Three Goddesses ofThree Goddesses of
VengeanceVengeance
– TisiphoneTisiphone
– AlectoAlecto
– MegaeraMegaera
They punishThey punish
evildoers.evildoers.

49. The FatesThe Fates
Roman Name: Parcae, MoiraeRoman Name: Parcae, Moirae
Three sistersThree sisters
– Clotho (“The Spinner”)Clotho (“The Spinner”)
– Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)
– Atropos (“The cutter”)Atropos (“The cutter”)
They weave, measure, and cut theThey weave, measure, and cut the
thread of life for humans.thread of life for humans.

50. The SatyrsThe Satyrs
Gods of the woodsGods of the woods
and mountainsand mountains
““Shepherd gods”Shepherd gods”
Goat men (like Pan)Goat men (like Pan)
Companions ofCompanions of
DionysusDionysus
They like to drink,They like to drink,
dance, and chasedance, and chase
nymphs.nymphs.

51. The GorgonsThe Gorgons
Three snake-Three snake-
haired monstershaired monsters
Medusa is mostMedusa is most
well-knownwell-known
Their look turnsTheir look turns
men to stone.men to stone.

52. The CentaursThe Centaurs
Half man, halfHalf man, half
horsehorse
SavageSavage
creaturescreatures
(except Chiron)(except Chiron)
Followers ofFollowers of
DionysusDionysus

53. SourcesSources
Graphics in this presentation were taken fromGraphics in this presentation were taken from
the following web sites:the following web sites:
– http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.htmlhttp://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.html
– http://www.pantheon.org/http://www.pantheon.org/
– http://www.messagenet.com/myths/http://www.messagenet.com/myths/
– http://mythman.com/http://mythman.com/
– http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.htmlhttp://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.html
– http://www.paleothea.com/http://www.paleothea.com/
– http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.htmlhttp://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.html
– C Golden’sC Golden’s
This presentation is for educational purposesThis presentation is for educational purposes
only; it has not been and should not be soldonly; it has not been and should not be sold
or used as a vehicle to make money.or used as a vehicle to make money.