Greek myths told stories to help explain natural phenomena and involved superhuman beings like gods and goddesses interfering in human lives. The Greeks had an organized pantheon of 12 major gods and goddesses called the Olympians who lived on Mount Olympus, as well as many minor gods and creatures. While the gods had talents like love, beauty, and wisdom, they were also capable of human flaws like jealousy and anger. Certain gods favored some humans and bestowed gifts on them, like Zeus granting strength and protection to Hercules. The point of studying Greek myths is to understand the gods and goddesses in order to comprehend adventures like Odysseus's long journey home after the Trojan War, during which some gods aided

1. World of the Greeks

2. Greek Mythology
Stories told by the Greeks to help them understand the
world around them.
These stories provide an explanation of some unknown natural
phenomena.
These stories consists of superhuman beings, gods or goddess,
interfering in the lives of humans.
Myths were a part of an oral tradition. What does that mean?
Who are some of these beings?

3. The Greek Pantheon
(officially recognize gods and goddess of the Greeks)
The Twelve Olympians
The Greeks believed there were 12 major gods and
goddess that lived on Mount Olympus. They are all
related to one another in some way.

4. The Greek Pantheon
Zeus
Poseidon
Hades
Hera
Athena
Aphrodite
Artemis
Apollo
Ares
Hermes
Hephaetus
Hestia

5. The Others
Greek Myths are not just about
the 12 beings of Mt. Olympus.
The stories also include minor
gods, goddess, and creatures.

6. Fallible Beings
The word “FALLIBLE” means capable of making
mistakes.
In myths, the gods and goddess are fallible. They have
flaws and weakness like humans.
Some of these flaws and weaknesses are jealousy,
anger, revenge, and hatred, just to name a few.

7. Flawless…
Aside from those flaws, the Greek gods and goddesses are the epitome of
various gifts and talents:
Love
Beauty
Wisdom
Speed
Foresight
Justice
Hunting
These are just a few.
Some of them have the power to control the natural elements.

8. Protectors and Gifts
The Greeks believed that these gods
and goddesses favored certain
humans.
As a result, the humans were give
certain talents and helped out of bad
situations because of a god’s or
goddess’s favor.
For example:
Hercules received strength and protection
from Zeus.

9. The Point
Another Hero or Legend like
Hercules is Odysseus.
Odysseus had a great adventure during the
famous Trojan War (Remember the movie
Troy: starting Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, and
Eric Bana; Circa 2004.)
Those adventures are told in the myth
called THE ILLIAD, which is the basis for
the movie Troy.

10. The Point
We are going to read The Odyssey,
which is the continuation of
Odysseus’ adventure after the Trojan
War on his way home.
Some gods favor him and give him
gifts others oppose him and make his
journey home long and hard.

11. The Point
To understand why Odysseus has
such a hard time, we have to
understand the gods and goddesses
first.
That is the point of your assignment:
RL3 Understand literary context by
relating it to historical background.