The document provides an overview of Greek and Roman mythology, describing the principal gods and goddesses. It begins with definitions of myth and explains how myths emerged from ancient cultures' attempts to understand nature and humanity. It then recounts the origins of the universe, from the initial void of Chaos to the emergence of Love and the first divine beings, Earth and Sky. Their children included the Titans and three monstrous beings. The major Olympian gods descended from Cronus and Rhea, including Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and others. Each god/goddess is then described briefly along with their domains. The document concludes with summaries of other mythological figures like the Muses, Graces, Furies and

1. Greek and Roman MythologyA ReviewofThe Principal Gods and Goddesses

2. What is a myth?A traditional story rooted in primitive folk beliefs of culturesUses the supernatural to interpret natural eventsExplains the culture’s view of the universe and the nature of humanity

3. In the beginning...…was Chaos (shapeless nothingness)Chaos had two children:Night (darkness)Erebus (death)“All was black, empty, silent, endless.”Mysteriously, Love was born of darkness and death.

4. And then...When Love was born, order and beauty began to flourish.Love created Light and Day.Earth was created.She was the solid ground, but also a personality.The Earth bore Heaven to cover her and be a home for the gods.

5. The First ParentsMother Earth = Gaea (Gaia)Father Heaven = Ouranos (Uranus)They had three kinds of children:Three monsters with 100 hands and 50 headsThree cyclopesThe titansThese were the first characters that had the appearance of life, although it was unlike any life known to man.

6. The Titans (The Elder Gods)There were many of them.Enormous size, incredible strengthCronos (Saturn): Ruler of the titansRhea: Wife of CronosOcean: River that encircled the worldIapetus: Father of Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Atlas (also titans)

7. The Principal GodsCronos and Rhea were parents ofZeus (Jupiter, Jove)Poseidon (Neptune)Hades (Pluto)Hera (Juno)Hestia (Vesta)Demeter (Ceres)Other Olympians includeAthena (Minerva)Ares (Mars)Hebe (Juventas)Hephaestus (Vulcan)Apollo (Apollo)Artemis (Diana)Hermes (Mercury)Aphrodite (Venus)Dionysus (Bacchus)Persephone

8. The Olympians

9. ZeusRoman Name: Jupiter (also Jove)Supreme god of the Olympians.Fathered many characters in mythology

10. Zeus

11. HeraRoman Name: JunoZeus’s sister and wifeJealous protector of marriagePunished the women Zeus fell in love with

12. PoseidonRoman Name: NeptuneGod of the Seas and Waters“The Earthshaker”

13. HadesRoman Name: PlutoGod of the Underworld/ DeadKidnapped Persephone

14. HestiaRoman Name: VestaGoddess of HomePowerful Protector

15. DemeterRoman Name: CeresGoddess of the HarvestA Goddess of the Earth

16. AthenaRoman Name: MinervaGoddess of Wisdom and WarSprang from Zeus’s head

17. AresRoman Name: MarsGod of WarSon of Zeus and HeraBloodthirsty and merciless

18. HephaestusRoman Name: Vulcan (Mulciber)God of Fire/ForgeSon of Zeus and HeraKind, unlike his brother

19. ApolloRoman Name: ApolloGod of Light/Sun and MusicBrother of Artemis

20. ArtemisRoman Name: DianaGoddess of the Moon/ HuntSister to Apollo

21. HermesRoman Name: MercuryMessenger of the GodsAppears in more myths than any other character

22. AphroditeRoman Name: VenusGoddess of Love and BeautySprang from the ocean foam

23. DionysusRoman Name: BacchusGod of WinePatron god of the Greek stageA God of the Earth

24. PersephoneRoman Name: ProserpinaGoddess of the UnderworldDaughter of Zeus and DemeterAbducted by Hades

25. HebeRoman Name: JuventasGoddess of YouthCupbearer to the GodsRestored youth to the aged

26. ErosRoman Name: CupidYoung God of LoveSon of Aphrodite and Hephaestus

27. IrisGoddess of the RainbowMessenger for Zeus and HeraDaughter of the titan Thaumus and the nymph Electra

28. The MusesGoddesses who presided over the arts and sciences“He is happy whom the muses love.”Nine daughters of Zeus and MnemosyneInspired artists of all kindsClio, Urania, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Calliope, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Polyhymnia

29. The GracesThree Goddesses of Grace and Beauty“They give life its bloom.”Aglaia (Splendor)Euphrosyne (Mirth)Thalia (Good Cheer)

30. The Erinnyes (The Furies)Roman Name: Furiae or Dirae (The Furies)Three Goddesses of VengeanceTisiphoneAlectoMegaeraThey punish evildoers.

31. The FatesRoman Name: Parcae, MoiraeThree sistersClotho (“The Spinner”)Lachesis (“The disposer of lots”)Atropos (“The cutter”)They weave, measure, and cut the thread of life for humans.

32. The SatyrsGods of the woods and mountains“Shepherd gods”Goat men (like Pan)Companions of DionysusThey like to drink, dance, and chase nymphs.

33. The GorgonsThree snake-haired monstersMedusa is most well-knownTheir look turns men to stone.

34. The CentaursHalf man, half horseSavage creatures (except Chiron)Followers of Dionysus

35. SourcesGraphics in this presentation were taken from the following web sites:http://www.bulfinch.org/fables/search.htmlhttp://www.pantheon.org/http://www.messagenet.com/myths/http://mythman.com/http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/index.htmlhttp://www.paleothea.com/http://www.entrenet.com/%7Egroedmed/greekm/myth.htmlThis presentation is for educational purposes only; it has not been and should not be sold or used as a vehicle to make money.